E A S T ’ S
N O.1
G O L F
M A G A Z I N E
1999
NOVEMBER
2023
EST
M I D D L E
T R N A P M A R ahm
C CAN THE SPANIARD
REATE MOR
LD TOUR CHA R O W P D E H T AT RY E HISTO
F E A T U R E DJ FLANDERS
FOCUS
TROON INTERNATIONAL’S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ON GROWING THE GAME
Worldwide Golf is the Official Media partner to the DP World Tour in the Middle East and the official magazine of the Emirates Golf Federation
ALEXANDER BJÖRK
SWEDE SET TO CEMENT PGA TOUR P YING PRIVILEGES
MPIONSHiP?
+ APEX UTILITY WOOD + ELS CLUB WINS BIG + FLEETWOOD’S SWING
VOICE OF THE TOUR GUY KINNINGS
Ryder Cup Director Deputy Chief Executive Officer – European Tour Group Chief Commercial Officer - European Tour Group
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recently returned from Rome and the 44th Ryder Cup. I may be biased, as Executive Director of the event, but it was one of the most spectacular sporting events I have ever witnessed. The first tee, with 4,800 people right on top of the players, created a true Roman amphitheatre atmosphere. The golf course, completely remodelled with match play in mind, proved a dramatic test and was in exceptional condition. The fans were at their tribal and enthusiastic best, with Luke Donald’s Team Europe ultimately doing the DP World Tour proud with a thrilling 16.5 – 11.5 victory. This year’s contest, played against the backdrop of the historic city of Rome, truly connected with fans around the world. A total of 271,191 people from 100 different countries attended in person at Marco Simone, with the ballot for tickets seven times oversubscribed and attracting applications from 140 countries. Our early figures also show significant increases in engagement on social media, even from the recent recordbreaking editions. There were 2,653 posts across official Ryder Cup social channels during the week, which led to more than 600million impressions and pageviews. Early figures show video views on Ryder Cup social media channels amounted to 198million, with a total of 27million fan interactions, contributing to the channels gaining half a million new followers. There was an emphasis on trying to get fans access to hallowed team areas where possible, and footage from the European team bus on the Sunday night - with the players celebrating their victory in exuberant fashion - amassed 14million views on social media in the first 48 hours. Those scenes really captured what it means to play for something bigger than yourself, which is something that inspired Luke and his players throughout his Captaincy. Early figures also show notable increases across global broadcasts, with a rise in average viewership on Sky Sports in the UK of 38 percent compared to the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and 25 per cent up on the 2018 edition at Le Golf National, making it the most watched Ryder Cup on Sky Sports on record. I am sometimes asked whether the mantra of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies to the Ryder Cup. I believe the core sporting element inside the ropes produces incredible drama, and does
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not need to be tinkered with, but we should always find new ways to enhance the already special spectator and viewer experience outside the ropes. The Ryder Cup is not only a time for the golf aficionado to enjoy elite competition. It is also a moment where the sport can break into mainstream culture, and in so doing, attract new fans. We must try to utilise that fact for the betterment of the game. One example of innovation was a new partnership with Roc Nation - Jay-Z’s entertainment agency - and the Grammy Award winning rapper DJ Khaled, who became an ambassador for the event. He is a golf fanatic, regularly showcasing his love of the game to his 37million followers on Instagram. European Captain Luke Donald actually visited his home before the match, with a fun content piece showing two experts in very different fields bonding over their love of the sport. These sorts of collaborations are key for bringing in younger and more diverse fans into golf. New York in 2025 will have a tough act to follow, but a Ryder Cup in the city that never sleeps, with its notoriously passionate and rowdy sports fans, will be a tantalising prospect. The Ryder Cup has never been in a healthier place. We now look forward to finding out who will be crowned this years Race to Dubai Champion at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November. Our victorious Ryder Cup stars will be out in force that week, for what is always a dramatic conclusion to the season. The tournament keeps growing as an entertainment spectacle and the 2023 edition will have even more activities on-site for families to enjoy. Friday has been designed as our community day, Saturday will be ladies’ day, and Sunday will be family day. If you haven’t already, make sure you secure your free general admission tickets whilst you still can.
Contents N O V E M B E R
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16 With the DP World Tour Championship celebrating its 15th edition this month, we take a look at the stats and facts behind the season-ending event.
Starter 18 FORE THE FUTURE We take a look how this month’s DPWTC is set to be the most sustainable yet.
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Features
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20 JON RAHM
The Spaniard has his sights set on a record-extending fourth triumph at the season-finale in Dubai.
34 WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Our photographers share their top ten photos from last month’s World Amateur Team Championships in Abu Dhabi.
24 NICOLAS COLSAERTS
The Dubai-based star looks back at his first tee antics in Rome.
26 ALEXANDER BJÖRK The surprise package on the DP World Tour this season gives us an insight into how he’s taken his game to the next level.
38 DJ FLANDERS
30 BILLY FOSTER
General Manager Tom Rourke gives us the low-down after their latest award win.
Troon International’s Executive Vice President on growing the game in the Middle East.
44 ELS CLUB
The legendary caddy shares his memories from last month’s Ryder Cup in Rome.
46 YAS ACRES The Abu Dhabi-based club has so much more to offer than just a spectacular golf course.
ISSUE No.262 NOVEMBER 2023 • Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd • Published in Dubai by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd • PO Box 24677 • Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Editor-in-Chief: Alex Gallemore • Editor: Thomas Wragg (tom@wspdubai.com) • Publisher: Mike Gallemore (mike@wspglobal.com) • Multimedia Journalist: Will Kent (will@wspdubai.com) • Production/Design: Shamshad Nayakkan • Editorial Panel: Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Thomas Wragg, Will Kent • Photography: Getty Images • June 2009 SSN 1- 46805671 • Approval UAE National Media Council: Ref.816 30/5/2007 Trade License No. 1/104375/15280 • Worldwide Golf specifies that post-press changes may occur to any information given in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised.
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Contents N O V E M B E R
Columns
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Instruction 52
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FAIRWAY FREEDOM
CHIARA NOJA The 17-year-old gives us an insight into a busy October as she continues to recover from injury.
Perfect the use of your fairway woods this season with these simple tips.
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TAKEAWAY TECHNIQUE
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PETE COWEN The Master PGA Professional shares his thoughts on why golfers’ shouldn’t be criticised for taking the money.
Yas Acres pro Marc Arnold talks through the key checkpoints when starting the swing.
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SWING SEQUENCE Take an in-depth look at Tommy Fleetwood’s swing as explained by pro Jonathan Craddock.
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DAVID HOWELL The Englishman explains why Europe were so successful in Rome.
QUICK9
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TYRRELL HATTON
Gear
The Englishman answers nine weird and wonderful questions.
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CALLAWAY UT & UW Looking to improve your long game? These two clubs from Callaway may be for you.
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WHAT’S HOT? We take a look at some of the hottest products on the market.
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EDITOR’S LETTER
The race ends here
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fter 44 tournaments in 26 different countries across the season, the 2023 Race to Dubai comes to an end this month with the fifth and final Rolex Series event of the year at the DP World Tour Championship. While the race for the Harry Vardon Trophy might not be very close, with Rory McIlroy enjoying a rather healthy lead at the summit of the Rankings, there’s still so much to play for at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The biggest of those prizes, outside of the tournament trophy and European No.1 title, is arguably the ten PGA Tour cards on offer to DP World Tour players that are not already exempt. Adrian Meronk currently leads the way in those rankings, with numerous starts in Signature Events, including the Players Championship, available for the leading player following the conclusion of the season-ending event. I think I speak on behalf of most when saying that I would love to see Adrian end the season top of the list after the disappointment of not making the Ryder Cup squad despite his emphatic form over the last 12 months. He also has a very slim chance of being crowned the winner of the Race to Dubai, but he would need to triumph at this month’s Nedbank Golf Challenge to stand any chance, and even then, he would still be over 1000 points off Rory at the top.
But with over 2000 points on offer to the champion at the DP World Tour Championship it remains a possibility he could become the first Pole to win the Race to Dubai if he were to win the two final events of the season. What an achievement that would be.
SOLD OUT
In what will be the 15th edition of the tournament, it was great to hear that general admission tickets for the weekend sold out last month for the second consecutive year. Hats off to tournament organisers for making the event so much more than just golf, which has been pivotal to attracting new fans to the game over the years. From the wide range of activities on offer in the Championship Village to the free golf lessons and live music in the evenings, there really is something for everyone at the DP World Tour Championship. Let’s hope some of those new faces at the Earth course will head down to their local club for some lessons, hit a few balls at Topgolf, watch the game regularly or even pick up a copy of Worldwide Golf magazine!
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Thomas W ragg
COURSE
EARTH COURSE Photography: Getty Images
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HOLE
PAR 3 | 245 YARDS | 224 METERS
This long par 3 is normally a three or four iron which plays seven to eight yards downhill with a big bunker short and to the back left. There are different sections to this green and the ball tends to run away from left to right. The tricky pins will be on the left and you will need to allow an additional five yards of carry, but it’s only 14 yards deep there. Anything slightly long will find the deep back bunker. You are always happy walking off this green with a par.
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HOLE
PAR 4 | 499 YARDS | 456 METERS
This par 4 can play long, especially into the wind, with players hitting a driver and four iron, sometimes a fairway metal. But even downwind the second shot still plays 8 yards uphill, and you can still leave with a six iron approach. This is a large three-tiered green which narrows for the first 20 yards with run off to the left. The front section of the green is only about 12 yards wide and to reach the pins at the back you still have a 25 yard carry over the left-hand greenside bunker. A very challenging approach with a iron, especially when you are trying to get it to stop quickly. Again, another hole you are happy to walk off with a par.
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Foster’s guide to the hardest holes on Earth
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ver the last three years the same three holes have kept their status as the toughest holes at the DP World Tour Championship, so the players with past experience know when to attack and when to adopt some pragmatism. The hardest of the lot comes in the form of the long par-4 9th, measuring 499 yards. Jon Rahm played the hole in 2-over last year but was tidy enough elsewhere to emerge victorious for a record third time. The par-3 4th ranked the second hardest hole for the third consecutive year last time out, with the hole playing +0.16 over par. There were only
17 birdies on the hole over the four rounds – the lowest total of the 18 on the Greg-Norman designed track. The par-4 12th ranked third toughest for the third successive year, having been the toughest in 2019. Slightly uphill at 476 yards, the hole played at +0.13 over par in 2022, witnessing 128 pars, 23 birdies and 49 bogeys. Here, legendary caddie Billy Foster, who was on the bag for Lee Westwood when he won the inaugural edition in 2009 and Matt Fitzpatrick for his triumph in 2020, talks us through how to conquer the three hardest holes.
12
HOLE
PAR 4 | 476 YARDS | 435 METERS
The 12th is quite a long hole but you’ve got a generous enough tee shot aside from the big bunker on the left waiting for you – it will be in the region of a drive and a mid-iron. The second shot plays around 10-12 yards uphill and it’s a blind shot with a big bunker short left of the green, where it’s 15 yards carry to the left section of the green. There are two or three sections of slopes on this putting surface, so it’s about getting on the right part of the green whether it be the front, middle or back. The back pins are quite difficult to get close to because there’ are a couple of humps and hollows on the right side especially – if you’re not on the correct section it’s a tough two putt. It’s a real tough hole and you’ll see a few bogeys.
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STARTER
DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP Photography: Getty Images
DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP BY NUMBERS
STAT PACK WINNERS - 9 COURSE RECORD JUSTIN ROSE - 62 MOST WINS JON RAHM - 3
Rory McIlroy will be the outright leader in appearances at the season-ending event when he tees it up this month with 13 starts at the final Rolex Series tournament of the year. The Northern Irishman is currently tied on 12 outings with Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer and Rafa Cabrera Bello.
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Before the inaugural DP World Tour Championship in 2009, only three players had finished as European Number One having also won the final event of the season – Ronan Rafferty (1989), Colin Montgomerie (1993) and Justin Rose (2007). Since moving the final event to Dubai, it has happened on six occasions with Lee Westwood (2009), Rory McIlroy (2012, 2015), Henrik Stenson (2013), Jon Rahm (2019) and Collin Morikawa (2021) winning both the DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai in the same season.
71.952
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No player has more top five finishes without winning the tournament than Charl Schwartzel. The South African has finished inside the top five on four occasions – 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016. The leader of top fives in the event is Rory McIlroy with eight, followed by Matt Fitzpatrick with five – both players have won the tournament on two occasions.
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Of the players to have played at least 20 rounds, Eddie Pepperell holds the unfortunate record of the worst Stroke Average with 71.952 from a total of 21 rounds - the Englishman’s odd number of rounds is due to retiring after the first round in 2018 due to injury. Rory McIlory tops the leaderboard for Stroke Average with an impressive 68.479 from 48 rounds.
7,048,100 Jon Rahm boasts the most prize money won at the tournament, banking a tidy €7,048,100 in his four appearances. The Spaniard has three wins and one fourth place finish to his name. The tournament has only been settled by a play-off on one occasion, with Robert Karlsson needing two extra holes to overcome Ian Poulter in 2010.
123,014 Since teaming up with No More Bottles UAE, the tournament has saved 123,014 500ml plastic bottles from being used by dispensing 61,507 litres of water into reusable bottles.
1 There have been a whopping 12,732 birdies on the Earth course since the tournament began in 2009. Rory McIlroy leads the way with 253, with Lee Westwood in second place on 210 and Ian Poulter third with 192.
12,732 7,399 There have been 7,399 bogeys in the last 14 editions, with Martin Kaymer carding the most with 107. Ross Fisher added a blemish to his card on 100 occasions, while Rafa Cabrera Bello made bogey 98 times during his 12 starts on the Earth course. Kaymer also has the most double bogeys in tournament history with 15.
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STARTER
FORE THE FUTURE Photography: Getty Images
FORE THE FUTURE AFTER LAUNCHING THEIR GREEN DRIVE INITIATIVE TWO YEARS AGO ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY, THE EUROPEAN TOUR GROUP HAS SINCE SHOWCASED A PLETHORA OF SUSTAINABLE PROCESSES AS THEY LOOK TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2040.
75% of tournament waste will be recycled with waste management partner Averda. Championship Village and all spectator venues will be built by Dubai-based temporary infrastructure company Wicked, who advocate sustainable building practices. Volunteers will be provided with a t-shirt that can be reused at other DP World Tour events and they will be incentivised to reuse.
No plastic water bottles will be sold on site. In collabration with No More Bottles UAE, water walls will be positioned around the course.
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his season saw the introduction of the new Green Drive tree planting campaign which has seen 100 trees planted, in partnership with One Tree Planted, for every player that drives the green at events throughout the year, while the Hero Dubai Desert Classic became the first Rolex Series event to achieve GEO Certified Tournament status. With an intensified approach towards priority issues such as climate change; biodiversity loss; air and ocean pollution; and sustainable and ethical procurement firmly at the forefront of the Green Drive, the initiative is looking to end the 2023 Race to Dubai in style with the most sustainable DP World Tour Championship to date. The tournament will have a whole host of unique practices in place in order to hit that goal, with perhaps the most interesting of those a Middle East first – the Earth Lounge, located on the 16th green, will be fully powered by a mixture of solar panels and hydrogen generators, resulting in 100% CO2 Emission reduction. We caught up with Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Head of Sustainability at the European Tour Group, to find out more about the Earth Lounge and how supporters can play their part for the Green Drive during tournament week. Worldwide Golf: What inspired the European Tour group to fully power the Earth Lounge with a mixture of solar panels and hydrogen generators? Maria Grandinetti-Milton: Through our event suppliers Flow, we were delighted to consider a solution for this year’s event that would withstand the load the event required, in addition to driving us forward to reach our sustainability targets. The Flow technology very cleverly balances the infrastructure’s needs, pulling power from both the solar panels on the roof where possible and the hydrogen generator when more is required. This hybrid concept is a first in the region following significant government investment in green power plants, which will play a pivotal role in hydrogen production in the near future. It is exciting to see this kind of innovation come to life for the first time! WWG: How will this benefit the environment? MGN: The use of hydrogen and solar power for this infrastructure effectively results in a 100% reduction in carbon emissions, which has significant benefits to the environment.
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WWG: How do you believe being one of the first event organisers in the region to embrace green power solutions positions DP World Tour Championship as a leader in the industry, and what message does it send to others in the event sector? MGN: We are incredibly fortunate to be in a position to trial this technology and hope that by doing so and showcasing it at our events that it paves the way for others in the golf industry, sports industry and indeed the wider events industry to consider alternatives. We believe that true sustainability and a road to Net Zero will only be achieved by strong industry collaboration and working together. Our door is always open to share and collaborate in this space. WWG: Could we get to a point in the future where almost everything at the tournament is powered by solar panels and hydrogen generators? MGN: We are moving ever closer to having greener technologies more readily available; a working hydrogen solution would not have been so readily available last year for example; but globally solutions are arising that are more innovative and in turn becoming more accessible. I think being realistic that a hybrid solution of powers is where the future is at – so sources can be balanced according to demands. Technologies are moving so quickly now that I would be happy to be proven wrong with a newer, greener solution in a few years time! WWG: What can supporters do during tournament week to play their part in the sustainability drive? MGN: It starts by travel. Travel to the event sustainably, using public transport where possible. Come prepared with a refillable bottle (and your sunscreen!) and perhaps try a plant-based meal in the village. Meat counts for a significant number of our catering emissions and our plant-based options are pretty popular now at events. Lastly – please recycle any waste you do have onsite at our events! WWG: Are the European Tour Group still on track with reducing their carbon footprint by 50% by 2030, and being fully net zero carbon by 2040? MGN: We are on track and have made a lot of progress over the past 12 months. I’m proud of how my colleagues are really rallying around this effort. Along with other global sports bodies and governments we are working hard to reduce our emissions across all operations and continually seek greener solutions where possible to ensure we get to Net Zero.
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R A M PA N T R A H M Photography: Getty Images
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JON RAHM JON RAHM JON RAHM JON RAHM JON RAHM JON RAHM
RAMPANT
RAHM JON RAHM RETURNS TO THE EARTH COURSE TO DEFEND HIS DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE THIS MONTH, SEEKING A RECORDEXTENDING FOURTH TRIUMPH AT THE SEASON-ENDING SHOWPIECE. HE’LL ARRIVE IN DUBAI FULL OF CONFIDENCE AFTER HELPING TEAM EUROPE REGAIN THE RYDER CUP IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH CAME JUST FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE SPANIARD BECAME THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO WIN BOTH THE MASTERS AND U.S. OPEN FOLLOWING HIS EMPHATIC VICTORY AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL. HERE, THE WORLD NO.3 GIVES US AN INSIGHT INTO BEING A EUROPEAN RYDER CUPPER, HIS LOVE FOR THE DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP AND WHY HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF A GOLF JUNKIE. Worldwide GOLF 21
FEAT URES
R A M PA N T R A H M Photography: Getty Images
ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A EUROPEAN RYDER CUPPER It’s the ability to walk through those gates and those doors and forget about who you are outside of this week, what you have done or what you may do afterwards, really truly doesn’t matter. In my case, obviously the Spaniards have a legacy to live up to. It’s certainly not easy, right. The three main figures before me, Seve, Ollie and Sergio, are three guys that if I’m not mistaken, all three of them have earned 20 points in the Ryder Cup; three out of nine are Spanish. So it’s a lot to live up to and it’s something that really inspires me, especially when José is around. He always tells me little things to inspire me in that sense. So following in their footsteps and how they try to make the team better is the way I’ve approached it as well. I try to do my part in the team room. It’s the fact that we can go in there and make fun of each other and nobody really cares. We all laugh, and that’s about it. I mean, you need to be able to make fun of yourself and it’s a truly humbling experience to be part of this team. ON HOW VITAL IT WAS TO SECURE A HALF IN HIS OPENING SINGLES MATCH AGAINST SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER Extremely. I told myself I wasn’t going to look at the scoreboards, but it’s hard not to see them. I’m looking at my putt and the scoreboards are right in my way. So, it’s hard not to catch yourself lingering. But I think I did a really good job in the end. Seeing those scores, refocused the task at hand. ON LAST YEAR’S WIN AT THE DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP It was very special. I said that I felt like I was defending the title three years
ago that I couldn’t come and defend. I was proud of myself for that and how well I did, especially on the weekend. It’s pretty unusual for me to win a tournament driving it as bad as I did, and to have the other parts of my game carry me to my win, it’s something really special. I managed it really well, and I felt really comfortable on the greens, made a couple of clutch putts. For a year where I heard my putting was bad, it felt really amazing to get it done like that. ON WHEN HE THOUGHT LAST YEAR’S WIN WAS UNDER HIS CONTROL When I hit my second shot on 18 and I had 65 yards to the pin. Then I was like, okay, now we’re good. Up until then, no. I definitely made it more stressful. It’s only a two-shot lead. If I hit it in the water on 18, I have to do well to make a bogey, or just hope to keep it on dry land. I was in control of myself but I can’t control what other people do. So yeah, once I laid up on 18, I was pretty sure I could get up-and-down in four shots. ON HIS SUPREME RECORD AT THE EARTH COURSE Well, it’s a golf course in which if you can drive it well, like I have in the past, you can have a lot of advantages. There are certain bunkers you can cover. There are certain holes where you can have a much shorter iron coming in and actually have a chance to make birdies, especially if you put it in the fairway. So off the tee, it’s a massive advantage. It’s no surprise that Rory has had success here as well. I’m not surprised by Collin two years ago, one of the straightest drivers on tour, had such a good week as well. It’s a combination of things. It all starts off the tee.
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Rahm cruised to a four-stroke triumph over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson at the Masters Tournament
Your iron game needs to be precise. The greens are very undulated, and you want to be on the right section of the green. If you are on the right section, you will you have a birdie chance; if not, you will have a complicated one putt. But I think what it boils down to is being off the tee. If you can hit it long out here with some accuracy, you’re going to have a lot of chances. The par 5s are long and you have a couple long par 4s.
ON BEING A GOLF JUNKIE I know the details of a lot of players’ careers. I like history in general and the history of the game and I like seeing what players have done in the past. I’m a golf junkie, if you say that. I’m the guy who, you know, if the kids don’t wake me up, even before we had kids, I’m up at 5:30, 6:00 in the morning looking at reruns of tournament on YouTube
and videos and looking at things players have done because I like it. I love the game, and I love learning about it. You can always learn something watching those things. I wouldn’t be able to explain it, it’s just something that interests me and I like knowing. I think I might have annoyed a few people by recalling 15 of the shots they have done in the past at tournaments - always good ones, obviously. I think Rory made a remark about something like that, I think when it was at the last Ryder Cup. I was talking to Shane, I don’t know what shot with Shane I was talking about. And Rory kind of stopped me and he said, “By the way, he’s going to do this with the 15 next shots that you’ve done in your career that you can remember.” So yeah, I just love it. I love the game and I love learning about it.
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ON SIGNING A NEW DEAL WITH CALLAWAY IN THE SUMMER WHICH INCLUDES AN EQUITY STAKE I like to be involved in companies I believe in. The fact that they allow me to have equity in it, it shows faith in both parts. I’m all in on what I do, and I’m going to give it my best on the golf course, and they’re showing me that they trust me enough to be a part of it, and I know they’re going to give it their all to give me the best product possible. With that said, even before that, before this deal was signed, they’ve asked me my input in equipment, and I probably could have demanded a lot more, I’m just not going to be the kind of person who is thinking about what to do so much. They obviously have engineers that are much better at that than I am. I can only give them what I’m feeling on the golf course. They’ve taken that into consideration and they’ve come up with some products. So, yeah, if I think of things I’m definitely going to voice them, and they’ve heard every single one of them.
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NICOLAS COLSAERTS Photography: Getty Images
THUNDERCLAP
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urope ensuring their unbeaten run on home soil will continue to 34 years was clearly the standout moment from last month’s Ryder Cup showdown in Rome, but a close second was surely watching Dubaibased Nicolas Colsaerts leading an earsplitting thunderclap on the first tee. The spectacular scenes of the Belgian star at Maco Simone Golf & Country were even more remarkable, given the fact that at the end of 2021 he found out the news he had fluid and multiple blood clots in his lungs caused by a rare kidney disease called primary membranous nephropathy To see the 40-year-old fight back from that disease to designating himself chief of the thunderclap in front of the packed grandstand on the first was nothing short of mesmerising and would have sent shivers down many a European spine. Worldwide Golf: Your first time being a Vice Captain in the Ryder Cup - How special was it in Rome that week and what was your standout memory? Nicolas Colsaerts: It was extremely special to be in Rome after being named Vice Captain for the first time in my career. You are grateful that the Captain puts trust in you for your level of relevance, your understanding of what the Ryder Cup is all about, your connection with the twelve men that are representing Europe and the way you can contribute to Europe winning the cup back in anyway shape or form. The standout memory would have to be warming
up the crowd on the first tee with the Viking/ Thunder Clap, which has slowly become a bit of a signature tradition for the European supporters. WWG: How much did you enjoy getting them fans going on the first tee? NC: It’s funny because I was kind of pushed into entertaining the crowd on the first tee. My first experience doing it was in 2018 when I was entertaining guests for Rolex; me and my good friend Greg Havret went onto the first tee at Le Golf National and did the Viking Clap for the first time, so I have to thank Greg for pulling me in because he helped me understand how to get everybody involved in the right way and make it last as long as possible. On the second day of this year’s edition, I selfishly wanted to get every inch of vibe from the crowd for personal satisfaction – it was absolutely amazing! WWG: We’ve seen plenty of videos on the bus after the Ryder Cup...what exactly did you boys get up to that night and how was the head in the morning? NC: The journey from the course back to the hotel on that Sunday night was extremely special to be a part of. To see the raw emotions and extreme joy from everybody involved, whether that be players, caddies, partners and staff with smiles on every face, is something that will stay with everyone on that bus for a long, long time. The headache on Monday morning wasn’t too bad for me, but I’m sure there were a few sore heads!
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WWG: Now you’ve had a taste of being Vice Captain would you like to Captain the side in the future? NC: Being named Vice Captain gives you an idea of what it would be like to maybe have the main job in the future, but people have to understand that it’s a huge responsibility. You probably give 12-18 months of your life to the cause, as there is so much detail that goes into being the skipper for Team Europe. But who knows? If it happens, it won’t be in the next couple of editions but maybe further down the line. I’m quite happy with gaining the experience of being a Vice Captain a few more times, before eventually, maybe, getting the top job. Time will tell. WWG: You finished sixth at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship the week after the Ryder Cup, which was your first top 10 since 2020 - Do you think being a part of that Ryder Cup squad in Rome gave you extra motivation to perform at a higher level? NC: It helped without a doubt for me to perform the week after, for many different reasons. I was involved in something that is really dear to me, all of a sudden you hear your name in the crowd and you’re amongst the best players in the world for a full week – if that doesn’t motivate you, I don’t know what possibly could. It’s probably the first week of the year where I played freely without anything else on my mind and it felt extremely good to be out there on the course only worrying about myself and my golf game.
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ALEXANDER BJÖRK Photography: Getty Images
Emerging From The
Shadows ALEXANDER BJÖRK IS AN UNEXPECTED STANDOUT STAR ON THE DP WORLD TOUR THIS SEASON, WHO NOW FINDS HIMSELF ON THE VERGE OF PGA TOUR PRIVILEGES. WILL KENT RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE SWEDISH GOLFER, DELVING INTO THE RAPID IMPROVEMENTS IN HIS GAME WHILE ALSO FINDING OUT EXACTLY HOW CLOSE HE CAME TO MAKING LUKE DONALD’S RYDER CUP TEAM.
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ALEXANDER BJÖRK Photography: Getty Images
Björk is set to make his fourth career appearance at the DPWTC this month
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any would describe Alexander Björk as a journeyman pro; I would describe him as unlucky. In truth, it’s been an unexpected and remarkable year for the 33-year-old which now has him on the verge of obtaining a PGA Tour card through his Race to Dubai ranking. But despite this flourishing season of European golf, he was still unable to force his way into Ryder Cup selection. “I played with Luke Donald in the Czech Masters, the second last tournament of qualifying, and he requested to play with me,” said Björk. “I shot 13 under and was leading, so I thought I had quite a good chance. “I finished second the week after just before the cut off. I thought I was 50/50 to get in. “I got a phone call from Luke after the close of play of that tournament which unfortunately for me was a negative one. I’m guessing I was one of a few that just missed out. “I watched a little bit on TV with mixed feelings because I was close to getting on the team. It’s always a great tournament to watch. It was a really strong performance from the European team and I’m happy for the guys.”
“I’VE TRIED A NEW THING IN WORKING WITH A MENTAL COACH AND IT’S REALLY HELPED ME IN HAVING THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE IN THINGS. IT’S HELPED BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURSE TO FOCUS ON THE RIGHT THINGS.” Granted, it’s hard to argue with Donald’s choices now given the result. And admittedly the Swede isn’t a household name, nor does he have a high-profile CV of wins. But he’s had eight top ten finishes on the DP World Tour this year – more than any other competitor. He’s one of the most improved players in the sport. “I’ve hit my driver a lot straighter than I’ve done before and my mental approach is a little different,” Bjork responded when quizzed about what’s clicked in 2023. “I think those two pieces are the biggest things that have been a lot better this year.
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“I’ve been seeing a mental coach since October 2022. I felt like last year I didn’t enjoy playing. I was not happy on the course and I felt like there was a lot of stuff I needed to work on. “I’ve tried a new thing in working with a mental coach and it’s really helped me in having the right perspective in things. It’s helped both on and off the course to focus on the right things.” The 2018 Volvo China Open winner ranks third this year for driving accuracy, finding the fairway 68% of the time. That’s a ten percent increase when compared to last year. Professionals often talk about how they are desperately looking for those one or two percent gain, so this improvement is massive. “I’ve not really been working specifically on trying to hit more fairways,” continued Björk. “For me it’s more been about the mental side of it with regards to how I feel when I get on the tee. You always try to hit it straight, but I haven’t been working on anything extra in that. “I think definitely the Callaway Paradym driver has helped me. It’s the best driver for me that I’ve ever had. When I started hitting it in January, I felt like I had a much more confidence with it. It’s really forgiving for me and it’s the best driver I’ve had.
“Also, because I’m in the fairway more my iron game this season has been a lot better this year. I had a really strong season in 2018 when my irons were really, really good. Since then it’s been up and down, but this year it’s close to where I want it to be.” There’s still work to be done to cap off a brilliant season, with a possible Masters invite looming as well as the previously mentioned PGA Tour card. The strategic alliance may have received it’s criticism over recent months for lacking any genuine impact for DP World Tour players, but we are starting to see the benefits now at the business end of the campaign. “I’m trying to focus on making a really good finish to the season and play well in the tournaments I have left,” added Björk. “It would be a fun opportunity to play in the US on the PGA Tour, I definitely hope I can make it. I’ve never played there before. “I understand that the category is not the best. You won’t get in a lot of the big events, but I think there’s a safety net if you’re not having a good year on the PGA Tour, you can go back to play DP the next season in a good category. There’s not really any risk to go over there, it’s an opportunity. “I definitely want to play the Masters as well. With a really strong finish, I think I can get close. I’ve always wanted to play the Masters.” If Björk is to break into the Official World Golf Ranking top 50 before the year’s end and therefore claim an invite to Augusta, he’s going to need a strong result at the upcoming DP World Tour Championship. While the presence of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy make the task of winning the event all
the more difficult, Björk has had some fantastic success of his own before at the Earth course including a runner-up finish in 2021. The Swede is a combined 37 under par for his three appearances at the event, with his best round there being a 65 back in 2018. The tournament traditionally puts a priority on hitting the fairway, which then opens up birdies opportunities. It suits Björk’s game. “I’m really excited,” he added. “That’s one of my absolute favourite events that I’ve ever played. I like that course, and I really like to play in Dubai. “It wasn’t great not being able to play last year because of my form, so I’m really happy to be back in the final. It’s a tournament I feel I can do really well in.
“It’s a course where accuracy is key and also the greens – you play into small areas which benefits my approach game. The greens are always perfect and I like to putt on fast greens.” In the Middle East, it’s common for golfing careers to take substantial strides due to the opportunities and prizes offered at tournaments here. This year is no exception, especially for Björk. After 14 years as a professional, the Swede is now on the brink of a life-changing opportunity with PGA Tour status within his reach. While some may perceive him as a late bloomer, this month presents a golden opportunity for him to transform his commendable career into a great one.
The Swede finished 18 under par to win the 2018 Volvo China Open
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B I L LY F O S T E R Photography: Getty Images
TIME
STANDING THE TEST OF
with Billy Foster
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n recent years it’s become increasingly difficult to know more about the players, not just as golfers but their true character. Netflix’s Full Swing documentary has been a huge success, as we got to know some of the big-name players off course a little more, but when the cameras are on, we all act a little differently. The days of bumping into players at the clubhouse bar after a tournament feels like a lifetime ago. These days most disappear from the locker room and race to the nearest airstrip to jump on a private jet to get home. Thankfully the management companies have not restrained the caddies too much, although many will be minful of not dropping their employers in trouble, but if you are after the best stories and a laugh
over a pint these lads will have you in stitches. These unsung heroes of the professional game have to be a psychiatrist, coach, friend and, more often than not, someone to blame when all goes wrong, which is why many burn out and drift away from the game. One caddy many regard as the best in the business is England’s Billy Foster, who has been on the bag for some of the greats of the game, from Seve and Tiger to Westwood and Fitzpatrick. Which is why it was great to see him getting the recognition he deserved in Rome, when Luke Donald presented him with a personalised replica of the Ryder Cup trophy engraved with all 16 years Billy has been involved with the iconic team event.
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Worldwide Golf: Billy, what did it mean to receive your own replica trophy from Luke? Billy Foster: To get a Ryder Cup trophy in the team room in front of 20 or 30 people was humbling beyond words. I was incredibly touched that Luke thought about getting that for me. It’s engraved with my name on it, all the Ryder Cups I’ve caddied in, and the dates all the way round the bottom of the trophy. It’s an incredible gesture, which I’m truly grateful for. It’s very special to me and will get pride of place back home. WWG: Luke was obviously very thoughtful, but what was he like as a Captain? BF: As you can imagine I’ve seen a lot of Captains over the years, and I’ve always said that Paul McGinley was the best, but Luke is right there with him - both are natural leaders. Luke spoke to everyone to make sure they were never in the dark. We had meetings every night and he would speak to everybody, including the caddies. His attention to detail was spot on and to have him involved again would be a huge boost to the team at Bethpage in 2025. WWG: As Ryder Cups go where did you rate Rome? BF: It was certainly in the top three or four I’ve been involved with. At first glance I thought it was a bit wide open and would suit the Americans, but it turned out to be a great match play course. The fans were amazing, and the atmosphere reminded me of the K Club in 2006, which was just remarkable. It’s the fans that certainly make the Ryder Cup and they delivered in Rome. WWG: What was it like not having the old guard around this year, it must have felt odd? BF: I’ve said before that it’s a travesty not to have the likes of Westwood, Garcia and Poulter in the back room, but time moves on. When you have the likes of McIlroy, Rahm, Fitzpatrick, Rose and Hovland, they are big figures in that locker room. It’s a changing of the guard but it would be great to see the European legends that went over to LIV involved in the future. They would make great Captains with a wealth of knowledge to call on. Let’s just hope it all gets resolved sooner rather than later. WWG: Having caddied for Seve in the past how does it compare to working with Matt Fitzpatrick, as they are two completely different characters? BF: It’s chalk and cheese. Fitz is laid back, methodical and extremely well disciplined with everything he does. Seve during a Ryder Cup was like trying to put a muzzle on an aggressive Rottweiler. He wouldn’t mind being confrontational and didn’t mind the argy-bargy. In fact, it fired him up. Seve loved to feel like he was fighting for points. Matt loves to win but he goes about it in a completely different way. WWG: The Ryder Cup high continued for yourself and Matt, as you both went on to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship at St. Andrews, but how did you manage to switch from the glorious playing conditions in Italy to the driving wind and rain in Scotland? BF: You’re in autopilot mode. I’ve done this job for so long now and have a feel for things the
Billy pictured with FItzpatrick after the pair won the Afred Dunhill Championship last month.
moment you step on the range and see how the ball is travelling. Within a few holes you can adapt the yardages accordingly. We travel and play courses around the world at high altitude in the summer to wet Scottish links in the autumn. Therefore, no two weeks are ever the same and adapting to the greens or elements is just part of the job. WWG: It’s great to see Alex Fitzpatrick joining Matt on the DP World Tour. Have you passed on any advice? BF: It’s great to have Alex out there and he’s doing incredibly well. He’s already secured his Tour card for next season, but I have not given him any advice, I leave that to Matt. I’ve just given encouragement. WWG: You have been on the bag for Matt and Lee Westwood when they won the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, but what is the key to mastering the Earth course? BF: It’s well known you need to be a good driver of the ball. There are a lot of undulating greens, so you need to be both long and accurate off the tee to set up the right approach. Then you also need to control your distances with your irons to find the key areas on the greens. These two elements of the games are where both Matt and Lee are brilliant, but the final part is short stick. Setting up birdie chances is one thing, holing them is another. WWG: There is a great deal on offer financially these days but how has life as a caddie changed over recent years? BF: The way caddies have been treated over the last few years, it’s changed incredibly, and what they’re doing on LIV is giving the PGA Tour a bit of a shot in the arm. The lads are getting looked after so well on LIV, that things are improving on the Tours.
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LIV set the bar for the rest to follow really, and they are following it, but I mean, when I first started, I couldn’t afford to get in an aeroplane. I was sleeping in bushes and tents, and staying in £2 a night hostels in Madrid, and it was terrible. There were no yardage books, no food, no credit cards and no range balls. Recently one of the caddies in America said he’d been on his player’s private plane and the seat didn’t recline flat, it only went three-quarters of the way back, and there was no WIFI! I reminded him of what life in the early days use to be like as a caddy, and he was very quick to apologise for his modern-day moan. So yeah, it has changed incredibly. It’s great to see the Tour’s recognise the caddies. In the last two events in America, the Tour Championship and the BMW, caddies got their own courtesy cars, an X5 for the week, and our own parking spot. WWG: Sorry to end it on this one Billy. But have you decided a time in which you will be hanging the bag up? BF: Well, if I give Fitz three wrong clubs in the first three holes in Dubai, that could be it! Seriously, I don’t know, I still enjoy the job. If I’m fit enough to do it, I’ll still do it, but obviously I’m getting to the stage where I will need to review things. A mate of mine who runs a ski shop in Austria gave me the best bit of advice. He got the tape measure out across the desk and said: “Billy – this is your life, on the tape measure. Let’s say one inch equates to a year and let’s say you live to 90. So now you are 57 inches and after 75 inches you’ll be knackered, so you need to enjoy 57 to 70. After that you will be too old. So, do what you want to do now as your body will be too broken, so enjoy the next 10 years.” I owe it to my missus to spend more time with her, so maybe I will review things in a few more years. Or who knows, you might see me at 78 on a mobility scooter with the clubs still on my back!
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M E M O R AT B L E M O M E N T S Photography: Will Kent
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
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t was an unforgettable two weeks at Abu Dhabi Golf club last month as the UAE played host to the World Amateur Team Championships for the first ever time. An incredibly strong American side which consisted of
three of the top five amateur players in the world won the Eisenhower Trophy by 11 shots. A week later, Republic of Korea put on another dominant display in the Espirito Santo Trophy as their young team won by four. The standard
of golf on display was truly remarkable and proved the future of golf is bright with so much promising talent coming through the ranks. Here, we’ve selected 10 of the most memorable snaps from the two tournaments.
Golden hour with World Amateur No. 1 Christo Lamprecht warming up on the range before his early tee time.
Jamie Camero carded an under par round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club while representing UAE.
The USA team of Gordon Sargent, David Ford and Nick Dunlap claimed victory under the desert sun at the Eisenhower Trophy.
USA star Gordon Sargent in action off the 10th tee at Abu Dhabi Golf. Club
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Finland’s Katri Bakker captured here in action on the first tee under the rising sun.
England’s Caley McGinty plays from a greenside bunker on the final day.
Lara El Chaib, who hit the first tee shot of the Espirito Santo trophy, in action here on day four of the event.
Japan finished in a share of 17th place at the Eisenhower.
UAE team mates Intissàr Rich and Jamie Camero embrace before teeing off at the Espirito Trophy.
Korea won the Espirito Santo Trophy for the fifth time.
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DJ FLANDERS Photography: Troon
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DJ FLANDERS
DRIVING SUCCESS
THOMAS WRAGG SAT DOWN WITH DJ FLANDERS, WHO WAS APPOINTED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF TROON’S INTERNATIONAL DIVISION AFTER MARK CHAPLESKI RETIRED AT THE END OF JULY, TO FIND OUT HOW HE PLANS TO PUT HIS STAMP ON THINGS AT THE GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT GIANT AND HOW TROON INTENDS TO HELP GROW THE GAME IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
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DJ FLANDERS Photography: Troon
Worldwide Golf: You’ve worked for Troon for 24 years, starting as an Assistant Professional to now sitting here as Executive Vice President of Troon International. It’s been quite the journey, hasn’t it? DJ Flanders: It has, but that’s the beauty of being with a company like Troon. As they grew, they created opportunities for individuals like myself and I was the one who always put my hand up and was willing to go anywhere - I went from Texas to Scottsdale, Scottsdale to Japan, Japan to Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi to New York, New York to Bahrain, and from there to Dubai to work in the corporate office. There was always an opportunity that was available or extended to me, and I always took it. Through that I felt like I was able to kind of climb the corporate ladder along the way, which is great. WWG: How much do you enjoy travelling around the world and taking on new challenges at Troon properties? DJ: I enjoy it. I was always a turnaround person for Troon, and once a club was turned around, I easily got bored when things were more normalized, I guess you could say. What the unique challenge at this office provides is there’s always a challenge somewhere. You’re always travelling around looking at new facilities that we’ve just acquired that we need to turn around and bring up to Troon standards and the operational and financial expectations that come with that. I feel very comfortable in this role because it keeps me challenged constantly. I think I’d get quite bored if I was at one single standalone facility. WWG: You’ve been recognised numerous times over your career for the work you’ve done with Troon, but what has been the standout memory for you? DJ: I’d probably say the turnaround at Abu Dhabi Golf Club is one that I’m most proud of. That’s a perfect example of how much you can move the needle when you hire Troon and you have owner support to put the Troon standards in to turn the facility around. I do remember when we were going through it, I wasn’t on every members Christmas card list! But I’m happy to say that when you look back now, a lot of those members that were there during those turnaround times are very proud of what we’ve achieved, and I think they think very highly of Troon as well. WWG: Mark Chapleski established Troon in the region for a number of years. What have you learned from him and how will you put your own stamp on things going forward? DJ: I have been very fortunate that the majority of my 24 years with Troon have been working with Mark. I kind of followed Mark to Japan, as he was at the club in Japan that I went to prior to myself and he’s the one that brought me over to Abu Dhabi. I went to New York briefly but then he brought me back to Bahrain and then brought me into this corporate office. So, I’ve really been shadowing him for many years. He’s an extremely good operator and they are very difficult shoes to fill, but I feel like I’ve worked with him long enough that I’m just going to continue to do the things the way that Mark has done them, but bring a little bit of my expertise of being at the property level a little bit longer in my career than Mark was. He worked more in corporate than he
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did in the day-to-day, so I feel like I can add a little bit of a nuancing, a compliment to the way that he was running the operations in the past, a bit, more of the devil in the details. Hopefully that will help push us to kind of another level in the in this office. But huge shoes to fill, and mad respect for Mark Chapleski. WWG: We’ve seen Troon help grow the game across the world, but how can they specifically help grow the game here in the Middle East? DJ: I think we’re slowly doing that, but it definitely needs to be a lot more organic. We need to be a lot less focused on all the rules, a little less of being the clothing police and make the experience a bit more comfortable. We need to embrace people coming out and enjoying the golf course, particularly off the back of what’s happening with Topgolf. Everyone that’s going to a Topgolf facility is not necessarily tucking their shirt in and wearing slacks. They’re going in a t-shirt with a hat on backwards wanting to play golf. When they show up at our golf courses, after having that experience, I feel like we need to embrace that and allow them to use our facilities. We’ve always kind of had that approach to golf, but I think now because of the Topgolfs of the world and the Popstrokes in the U.S., we’re getting more and more of that clientele that are wanting to play the golf that way. I feel like we need to embrace them and support them doing that, and that is going to make them more comfortable with the golf course, which will help grow the game. WWG: How hard is that challenge to convert someone who plays Topgolf every now and again to going out on the golf course regularly and playing a full 18? DJ: It’s a big stretch. I think you’re starting to see more and more of our golf courses amending access and not making people play the full 18 holes, while some of our courses offer short opportunities in the morning before the first tee time, where you’ll just play nine holes before going to work. It’s definitely a challenge, but I think the game as a whole is starting to understand that – you’re seeing
more and more non-traditional golf courses, which may be six, nine or 12 holes, that are addressing that exact problem, where you can go out and play just a few holes and leave. I think the more non-traditional golf course designs are going to help us with capturing more golfers as we move forward. WWG: Golf Saudi have invested heavily in golf in recent years and look set to continue pumping money into the sport. How big could golf get in The Kingdom in the next 10, 20, 30 years? DJ: They’re involved in a lot of really impressive projects, so I think they could be quite a golfing destination in the future. We’ve been partnered with Golf Saudi for quite some time, helping them with growing golf in the region, and we’re obviously involved with Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, so I think with their commitment to what they’re trying to achieve and diversifying off of oil and creating golf tourism, I think they’re going to hit that mark. I think what’s going to be the challenge for them is educating golfers that there is such good golf in Saudi. Once we get some people over there to experience the Saudi hospitality and these amazing golf courses that they’re building, more and more people will come. Look how long it took us here, right? Patience might be a little bit thin out there, but this one might just take a little bit time for golf tourism to really take off. I’m confident it’s going to happen with the projects that they’re doing and with Golf Saudi behind it. WWG: Would Troon be up for hosting a LIV Golf event at one of their properties in the UAE? DJ: Definitely. We already have LIV Golf events at Centurion Golf Club in London and Royal Greens in Saudi, which are both Troon properties. I think it’s a great format, I’m a Range Goats fan and my son is a Crushers fan. It’s still going to take time and it needs to grow, but I think there is space for all of the entities with what LIV Golf, the DP World Tour and PGA Tour are trying to achieve – that’s the most politically correct answer I can give you! But I do think there’s space for everyone. I like some of the things that they’re doing,
“
WE NEED TO BE A LOT LESS FOCUSED ON ALL THE RULES, A LITTLE LESS OF BEING THE CLOTHING POLICE AND MAKE THE EXPERIENCE A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE.”
and anything we can do to get the younger generation engaged in the game is a good thing. WWG: Is there anything exciting in the pipeline for Troon in the Middle East that our readers need to be aware of? DJ: There are some positive projects in the Middle East that we’re currently engaged with some owners on, but unfortunately there are NDAs in place so we can’t mention those. I’d also say, we’ve got some great stuff going on in Oman with our latest work with La Vie and converting Muscat Hills into a really good golf course that I think people are going to enjoy. That’s going to be quite the destination in the future. Along with all the stuff happening in Saudi, we’ve got Royal Golf Club in Bahrain which is going through a major renovation of the greens and is hosting a DP World Tour event next year. If there’s anyone in the region that hasn’t played that facility, it’s definitely one that they need to put on their list. It’s always been a good golf course, but after the renovation, I think it’s going to be even more enjoyable. There’s a lot of exciting things going on.
QUICKFIRE Best golfing memory in the UAE? It’s definitely got to be playing with my son at Yas Links right before they hosted the Abu Dhabi Championship for the first time. My older son and I played in tournament conditions, which was a great experience. Favourite golfer and why? Freddie Couples. This is embarrassing and will be used against me, but to this day, I will watch him hit balls on YouTube for 30 minutes just to get his tempo – that’s literally how I warm up for golf. And do you play like him after? Not at all!
LIV Golf finished their regular season at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club last month
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Favourite hole in the Middle East and why? I’m going to say the 18th at Els Club, only because I have won many bets on that hole and it’s so close to the bar to celebrate all those wins!
FEAT URES ELS CLUB
Photography: Provided
THE JEWEL OF THE
MIDDLE EAST
THE ELS CLUB DUBAI HAS SOLIDIFIED ITS PLACE AS ONE OF THE FINEST PLACES TO PLAY THE GAME IN THE REGION AFTER BEING CROWNED ‘MIDDLE EAST’S BEST GOLF COURSE 2023’ AT THE PRESTIGIOUS WORLD GOLF AWARDS CEREMONY.
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he win marks quite the 12-months for the Ernie Els-designed course under the management of Troon Golf, with the club soaring from their ‘Dubai’s Best Golf Course’ win at last year’s event to winning arguably the main accolade at last month’s edition, much to the delight of General Manager Tom Rourke, who has overseen a raft of enhancements since taking up his position in July 2020. We caught up with Tom to get his thoughts on winning the award, how the club has ensured the course is always in tip-top condition and what lies in store next for The Els Club. Worldwide Golf: Last year you won Dubai’s Best Course, this year you’ve won the Middle East’s Best Course - how happy are you and the team to have received such an award? Tom Rourke: Last year, we were really happy to be named Dubai’s Best Course. This year, we’re even more excited because we just won the title of the Middle East’s Best Course at the World Golf Awards 2023. Receiving these awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in making The Els Club a great
experience for our members and guests. It’s not every day that you get recognized as the best, and it’s all thanks to our incredible team. This win is not just for us; it’s for everyone who has been a part of this journey. WWG: What’s next...the best course in the world? TR: Our team has worked really hard to make The Els Club Dubai a great place for golf enthusiasts. The many hours of dedication, hard work, and passion have all led to us winning these important awards. But what’s next for us? We’re wondering if we can become the best course in the world. We’re excited to keep improving our course and facilities and providing our members and guests with an outstanding experience. WWG: How much work goes on behind the scenes with the agronomy team to get the course in tip top shape? TR: Our agronomy team plays a crucial role in keeping our course in great condition throughout the year. They continuously monitor and manage the grass, soil, and overall landscape. They carefully assess
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things like soil health, nutrient balance, and pest control to maintain healthy fairways and greens. Our greenkeeping experts are knowledgeable in turfgrass management, which includes mowing, aeration, and overseeding to keep the grass thick and strong. The team is also responsible for designing and maintaining bunkers, tee boxes, and rough areas. They take care of sand traps to make sure they look good and provide a challenge for golfers. WWG: We’re a month or two into the new season in the UAE, what are current course conditions like with all the added footfall? TR: The course is in great condition! The greens look really good, and the fairways are in perfect shape. We’ve been working hard to make sure every golfer has a great experience. Of course It’s not just about golf; it’s about the overall experience. Our clubhouse is lively with the newly renovated 261 Restaurant & Bar with a whole new menu serving delicious food, and guests taking advantage of beautiful views. So, whether you’re here for golf or just to enjoy the atmosphere, we’ve got everything you need.
WWG: You celebrated your 15th anniversary last month - what has been the secret to the Els Club’s success in that period? TR: Our 15th anniversary celebrations were fantastic! We organised a fun Texas scramble event for the membership and celebrated in style with lots of Ernie’s favorite food and beverages. Ernie Els shared a video to thank the members for their support and moments like these remind us why The Els Club is special. Our anniversary celebrations weren’t limited to just our members. We opened our doors to the public for a memorable open day event, and we were delighted to have over 2000 people especially from the surrounding Dubai Sports City Community. As we look back on our journey and celebrate these milestones, we’re eagerly anticipating the future. The best is yet to come.
WWG: You guys have been busy over the last few months with the renovation of the restaurant and the the new holiday rooms anything else in the pipeline over the coming months? TR: We’ve given our restaurant a considerable renovation, and we’ve introduced some delicious new dishes to satisfy all our members and guests taste buds. My favorite is the new deli offering where we have inhouse sandwiches, pastries and cakes as well as soft serve ice cream, frozen yoghurt and ice coffee available which is ideal for grab and go before you tee off or to enjoy on the terrace. We’ve also introduced our comfortable holiday rooms and these have been well received as we are fully booked till the end of the year. We have some interesting plans for the upcoming months. While we can’t reveal everything right now, be assured that we’re always working to provide you with new, enjoyable, and memorable experiences.
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WWG: Finally, I believe you recently received the honour of being awarded Advanced Fellow Manager Status of the Professional Golfers Association, which only eleven people across the world have achieved. How proud are you to recieve such an honour? TR: I feel very humble and proud to be awarded Advanced Fellow Manager Status of the PGA. To be part of such a distinguished members organisation dating back to Victorian times and to think how far the organisation has come educating and training thousands of golf professionals to degree standard is a remarkable journey to be part of. I understand that the PGA has over 8,000 members in 80 countries across the globe, there have previously been 10 members recognised with the honour of becoming an Advanced Fellow Manager and to become the 11th is a great honour.
FEAT URES YA S AC R E S
Photography: Provided
YAS ACRES GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
THE UAE’S COMMUNITY
SOCIAL HUB
Y
as Acres Golf & Country Club may well be the newest kid on the block in the UAE, but with the world-class facilities and unbeatable hospitality on offer at the Abu Dhabi-based club, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’d been in the game for a long time. But you could argue that they have been here for an eternity, with Viya Golf, part of wasl Hospitality & Leisure, managing the clubs golf operations, leisure facilities and dining outlets for the last 12 months. It’s safe to say their arrival has been been a gamechanger for the venue, with the club not only boasting one of the finest manicured nine-hole golf courses in the region, but also offering a unique beginner program, a family fair for the local community and a stateof-the-art country club, which is home to a gymnasium, swimming pool, padel courts and a whole lot more.
We caught up with Ann Daniel, Cluster Membership Manager - Viya Golf, to find out why the club’s off course facilities stand out from the rest. Worldwide Golf: Yas Acres has been under the Viya Golf umbrella for just over a year now – How have those last 12 months been and have you made any changes to the way Troon used to run things? Ann Daniel: Yas Acres Golf and Country Club is a magnificent facility, known for its award-winning golf course, and under the stewardship of Viya Golf is evolving into a comprehensive country club that caters to the entire family. During our first 12 months, we’ve been very much focused on driving overall awareness of the facility, as well as the various golf, leisure and F&B product offerings both to the local Abu Dhabi market, as well as nearby Emirates. We have
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launched two new F&B concepts (The Black Room and The Grillhouse), introduced a Food Truck to service our guests at poolside and who enjoy Padel tennis. Looking ahead, we have some exciting projects on the immediate horizon. One of these is the establishment of a supervised kids club called ‘Little Acres’, providing fun and educational learning experiences for children up to 8 years old, as well as a cinema room for children up to 12 years old to enjoy. Additionally, before the end of the year we will open our pet-friendly garden – ‘Happy Tails’, to enhance the overall experience for our members and guests’ furry companions. Viya Golf have invested in enhanced training and development for all of our staff, ensuring the entire team from the course marshals to top level management are working towards a common goal and operating as “One Team”.
We believe this plays a huge part in the service excellence we provide to all members and guests and encourages a positive working environment. In summary, these 12 months under Viya Golf have been marked by positive changes and ongoing development at Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, ensuring that it remains a premier destination for leisure, recreation, and family enjoyment. WWG: Aside from the stunning floodlit course, what other facilities does the venue boast that you are keen to shout about? AD: Aside from the new projects and facilities I’ve just mentioned, we have a fantastic swimming pool that’s great for simply lounging by or developing your stroke and putting in your lengths. Our separate kids’ pool is a great addition to keep the little ones engaged for hours on end. Our four Padel courts, offer an exciting new recreational option. Furthermore, we’ve invested in our members’ well-being by updating our stateof-the-art gymnasium, ensuring it stays at the cutting edge of fitness facilities. Our three unique dining outlets continue to provide a diverse and delightful culinary experience for our members and guests. Yas Acres Golf & Country Club is in the heart of a thriving community, and we have developed the perfect place for the entire community to come together and enjoy a leisure experience catered to their needs.
WWG: What do the club offer novices who are looking to get into the game? AD: Yas Acres stands apart from our other Viya Golf Clubs, namely Yas Links Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club; as this is the home of our ‘Get Into Golf’ program, specifically designed for complete beginners. We have everything a beginner needs, all the way from our exceptional floodlit practice facilities that encompass a short-game area with 3 target greens, inclusive of a large putting green, as well as a large grass-tee driving range, through to our very welcoming and friendly colleagues and expert coaching staff. Our coaching team is aptly led by PGA Senior Teaching Professional Marc Arnold, who aside from Get Into Golf, offers a diverse range of lesson packages to meet all abilities. These packages include specially tailored Ladies and Men’s Group Lessons designed to cater to beginner and intermediate golfers. Additionally, we are thrilled to introduce our innovative Junior Development Programme, thoughtfully crafted to guide young enthusiasts on their golfing journey, gradually nurturing them from beginners to accomplished competition-level players. WWG: We’ve seen you guys shout about the Family Fair event on social media - What exactly is that? AD: Yas Acres Golf & Country Club has always been the epicentre of community spirit and
togetherness. Since March 2023, we hosted our first Family Fair which aims to encourage residents to come together and build stronger social connections within the community. Our Family Fair happens once a month at our stunning pool location with plenty of Kids Activities, from educational workshop to water playground and more. We also have a variety of live cooking stations to compliment our food truck, providing a diverse menu that caters to a range of tastes and dietary preferences. Include options for kids, adults, and health-conscious customers, ensuring there’s something for everyone. WWG: You’ve just been crowned United Arab Emirates’ Best New Golf Course 2023 at the World Golf Awards – How proud are the Viya Golf team to have received that honour having only been at the helm for the last year? AD: We are immensely proud and deeply privileged to have won the title of the Best New Golf Course in the UAE at the 2023 World Golf Awards. It is truly an honour to receive this prestigious award and this recognition reaffirms our unwavering commitment to excellence and our dedication to creating a golfing experience that stands out and exceeds expectations. We are grateful for this remarkable achievement and look forward to continuing to set new standards in the world of golf.
To learn more about all the stunning facilites on offer at Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, please visit www.viyagolf.com/yasacres Worldwide GOLF 47
CHIARA NOJA COLUMN
BALANCING EXAMS AND GOLF IS TOUGH, BUT PART OF THE JOURNEY CHIARA NOJA
T
he title of my column last month mentioned how October was destined to be an exciting month for me, and well, it was pretty jam packed to say the least. Let’s just say, I had to write this column just before leaving for the airport as I struggled to find any other spare time! Last month, I optimistically mentioned how my injured shoulder was on the path to recovery. Unfortunately, it seems that the healing process is taking longer than I anticipated, and it’s still in the back of my mind on the golf course. However, I’m not one to complain, especially with the golf season’s final stretch upon us. Instead, I’m channelling my energy into rehab exercises, hoping to regain my full strength as soon as possible. Despite the discomfort, it felt great to be back on Tour in Hong Kong at the start of October. The first round was a bit rough, but I attribute that to the nerves from being away for a while. Fortunately, the second round went much smoother, and I started to find my rhythm. It’s a shame the final round was cancelled due to a typhoon, as I felt confident I could have climbed higher than my final position of tied 38th. Regardless, it was a fun week and an unforgettable experience. Following Hong Kong, I had the unique opportunity to defend my title at the Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia a few weeks later. While it wasn’t my week on the course, the experience of defending a title at a new venue was truly exciting. Congratulations to Alison Lee on her triumph; I’m already looking forward to next year’s challenge. But golf wasn’t the only thing on my plate this October. It was a month full of exams, adding an academic challenge to my busy schedule. I had to tackle my biology GCSE and English Language exam a couple of weeks before that. Juggling golf and exams is no easy feat, but it’s all part of the journey. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue pushing myself in all areas of life, whether it’s on the golf course or in the classroom. As November dawns, I’m currently undecided if I will play on Tour again this year. I won’t be teeing it up at the Mallorca Ladies Open, and I’m unsure about the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de Espana a week later. The truth of it is I’ve not been able to practice enough with my shoulder injury and my golf has suffered. It’s really frustrating, but I realise it’s just part of it. My priority is returning to full health and getting better. Beyond November, I’m already beginning to set my sights on 2024 once my shoulder is fully healed. This year has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and it’s taught me to cherish every moment, whether it’s a title defence, a challenging round, or a demanding exam. The journey continues, and I’ll keep striving to improve in both my sport and academics.
In the midst of all this, one thing remains clear: October was indeed an exciting month with plenty of lessons learned. As I prepare for the end of the 2023 I’m eager to see where this journey takes me. Golf, exams, and the future all converge in a whirlwind of experiences, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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PETE COWEN COLUMN
PLAYING TO COMPETE OR IS IT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY?
I
t was a shame to see money matters being raised once more at the Ryder Cup, but players claiming they are not getting paid is just nonsense. The American players all get $100,000 towards their personal charities, which is far from nothing, especially when all other costs are taken care of. Plus, it’s an honour to represent Europe or America. But that is the problem with the modern game. Honour has been overtaken by greed. Not just in the game of golf, but in life in general. Tours around the world are offering unsustainable amounts of prize money and only the bottomless pockets of the Private Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia can afford to keep on signing the cheques. You can never blame any sportsman or woman for going after the money, as playing professional sport is all about making a living. The better you become at any profession the more you are valued. LeBron James, Lewis Hamilton and Cristiano Ronaldo aren’t scrutinised for making vast sums. So, I have no idea why the lads on at LIV Golf are being criticised. Tyson Fury, Ronaldo, Formula One and countless others are paid millions by PIF so I don’t know why golf should be any different. If you want to go deeper, understanding why PIF and the PGA TOUR are paying vast sums to players, you have to go back to the 1997 Masters when a young Tiger Woods demolished the best in the world. From that moment on golf would never be the same commercially and Tiger’s appeal moved the game on in the same way Michael Jordan evolved the value of basketball. I don’t think money is the main issue in the game right now. Not having the best in the world competing against each other is damaging the game for everyone. Excluding Brooks and Smith no other LIV players are in the top 50. That just makes no sense and the only way this can get resolved is for the Tours to get around a table and work it out and work as one. Who knows where PIF/ PGA TOUR/DP World Tour discussions are going to end up but right now there needs to be a way for the best in the world to compete against each other outside the Majors. For many of these elite players money is not as important as playing competitive
golf, especially for LIV members wanting to get match fit prior to the Majors. What would happen if these players approached the promotors of the Dubai Desert Classic and offered any appearance or prize money to the Emirates Golf Federation to help grow the game at a grass roots level, or for local children’s charities. Would other leading PGA TOUR and DP World Tour players where money is not an issue follow suit, it would be interesting to see what happens. It would certainly put players on the spot who claim that they are not playing for the money. I know some might view that LIV players would be using that tactic to buy world ranking points, but for the likes of Bryson, DJ, Smith and Brooks they are not concerned about the rankings, as they are exempt to play in the Majors. This would just be a fair way to ensure they are competitive heading into the 2024 Masters. Unless the best in the game can compete against each other to determine who is the best golfer in the world, it will become an opinion not a calculated fact.
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CAN WE SIGN THE YEAR OFF WITH A FINAL VICTORY? I know those players will not be teeing it up at the DP World Tour Championship this month at Jumeirah Golf Estates but having the likes of Rahm, McIlroy, and Fitzpatrick in the field will make it a great event, as they know what it takes win on the Earth course. Obviously, I’m going to be rooting for my players. Matt won the Alfred Dunhill Links last month and the last player of ours that did that was Danny Willett, and he went on to win the DP World Tour Championship, so let’s hope that plays out again. Or could Victor Perez end the year with another Rolex Series victory in the UAE? Either would be a great way to sign off the year for our team. ■
DAVID HOWELL COLUMN
TEAM EUROPE HAD NO WEAK LINK IN ROME DAVID HOWELL S
eize the moment, grab the opportunity with both hands, cometh the moment cometh the man, we could go on and on, but sometimes actions speak louder than words and one man seemed to do this better than anyone, Luke Donald, the victorious Captain of the European Ryder Cup Team. What a triumph, for all concerned, the Organising Committee from the DP World Tour, the Italian Federation, all at Marco Simone and of course the fans without whom this titanic bi-yearly battle would not be the same. But mainly what a triumph for Luke and his merry band of men, all twelve of them, to a man they all played their part in a tremendous team effort. The Captain cant hit the shots, but they can set the tone, in fact they must, and Luke did this with aplomb. From the moment he stood on stage at the opening ceremony serenading his Italian friends with a word perfect opening in Italian he had them in the palm of his hand. If nothing else it showed his team that the Captain was ready, prepared and a man with a plan, a powerful combination for anyone, but deadly for a man that rose to the pinnacle of his chosen career. I was lucky to be commentating in Italy so I had a front row seat as well as being able to soak up some of the atmosphere and my take aways are thus. Firstly the Ryder Cup format is absolute genius, enough golf over the first to days for us to go hard on why one team is taking a hammering, whilst simultaneously knowing that if a couple of putts go the other way on Sunday that pummelling could turn into a redemption story in the blink of lip out. Europe’s new look team looked all the better for being exactly that, a fresh new team, with a piece of golfing legacy within their grasp, they looked excited by the prospect of adding their names to the storied list of European legends that had come before. It is something Europe does better than the Americans for some reason, wanting to be part of Ryder Cup history, to follow in Seve’s footsteps, or Sergio’s, Westwood’s or Poulter’s for that matter. Luke’s picks for his back room team hit the spot perfectly, and the team looked supported without being burdened by superstars on the sidelines, the perfect mix of experience and youth to cheer them on, well if you can call Nicolas Colsaerts as youthful that is. The course played a starring role in proceedings too, the 16th played a huge role, our very own golfing colosseum was formed and boy did players from both sides put on a show at the 16th. If you didn’t chip in on 16 then you weren’t really trying it seemed. Ultimately however it was the way Europe started that made the difference, and the hottest man in world golf led the way. Hovland, the smiling assassin, the man who’s short game has gone from the outhouse to the penthouse pummelled a drive up the first fairway. His partner, the young swede Åberg, who was burdened by homework assignments just a few months ago, leaked a 7 iron a tad to the right, into the trickiest of positions.
A year ago an up and over putt would have been the play from Hovland but this is a new Viktor, a man with a FedEx Cup to his name. This Viktor clipped a chip from the green with such assurance that his partners heart rate would have been calming by the beat, that is until this most sublime shot found the bottom of the cup, blue on the board, heart rates up, Lowry, 465 yards away on the tee pushing the air with gusto normally reserved for Major wins. That moment, that very first chip was the moment Europe took the ascendancy and they never let it go. A Friday morning whitewash ensued, a magical start banishing the ghost of Whistling Straits immediately. Højgaard joined the party with a monster putt on his opening hole. MacIntyre, who looked at his must uncomfortable in the build up, calmed himself next to an imperious Justin Rose before sealing an unbeaten record on Sunday against the US Open Champion Wyndham Clark. Lowry the cheerleader got points, Rahm turned into Seve, Rose became Langer, Rory played like the Major winning Rory we once knew, simply put there was no weak link, it truly was an incredible performance. Hatton, coming off a lacklustre record played like a star, complimenting Fleetwood who flushed it all week long. In the end the final moment was Tommy’s, a drive so pure into the heart of the 16th green that Americas wonderful fightback came to a shuddering halt, and that is how close it was. Had Fowler found that swing at that moment this column might look very different, but he didn’t, and Tommy did and that is what Ryder Cup golf is all about. In the grand scheme of Ryder Cup history I think this match deserves a high placing, last day drama, opening day heroics, crowd interaction with hat gate all added to the event, and in the end I think Samuel Ryder will have been pleased, cross Atlantic friendships ultimately strengthened, but through fierce competition. (I don’t know Mr Ryder’s views on caddy player interactions so best left unsaid on that front!) And the right man lifted the trophy aloft, Luke Donald, former World Number One, Ryder Cup winning captain, leader of men.
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INSTRUCTION
FA I R W AY F R E E D O M Photography: Will Kent
BY
MATTHEW KIDD
TEACHING PRO SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB
FAIRWAY WOOD FREEDOM! Using the fairway wood off the ground can be a very challenging shot for most amateur golfers. It’s a very low lofted club which requires good contact in order to get the ball flying in the air. However, these clubs can be so useful by giving you extra distance on the course as well as using it on the tee box for more constant tee shots when the driver isn’t performing. With three simple steps, the fairway can go from being your worst club to your best club.
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STEP ONE – BALL POSITION: In my lessons, I see most amateurs setting up with the fairway wood incorrectly which cause many inconsistencies. I like to see the ball being placed just off the lead heel around a ball width from the heel. Ball position is key when it comes to this club as it allows you to strike the ball more on the up creating a good launch angle which helps with maximising distance. This the part of the swing is not to be overlooked as without a good set up then you’re going to struggle straight away.
STEP TWO - POSTURE: What amateurs often do is align themselves with the ball when it’s positioned further forward. This creates a closed shoulder alignment and promotes a more of an over-the-top swing which causes the club to hit on top of the ball, rather than brush the grass. What I like to see is players positioning their head and body directly in the middle of the feet - as if you were hitting a seven iron. This allows the shoulders to be neutral and helps create a straighter shot as well as creating a more in-to-out swing path, devoloping a shallow angle of attack.
Watch Matthew explain his three simple tips in greater detail by scanning the QR code to the right!
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STEP THREE – CONTACT: When we have the ball position as well as our posture set up correctly, we now want to brush the grass as we swing. I see most amateurs try and brush the grass using the leading edge of the fairway wood which causes the swing to be steep as well as delofting the club, making it more difficult to get the ball in the air. When brushing the grass, we want to feel the bottom of the club brushing the grass rather than the leading edge. This will help maintain the loft by creating a nice brush through the grass and hitting the ball towards the middle of the face launching the ball in the air.
LOOK OUT FOR THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf Worldwide.Golf
INSTRUCTION
TA K E A W AY T E C H N I Q U E Photography: Will Kent
TAKEAWAY TECHNIQUE BY
MARC ARNOLD
SENIOR PROFESSIONAL YAS ACRES GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB,
marcarnoldgolf
A
couple of months ago I wrote my last article for Worldwide Golf magazine about mastering the weight shift in the Initial part of the takeaway. Hopefully you’ve had enough time to practice that now, and we’re ready to move on to the next step of the swing. The lead arm is such an important part of moving the club and that’s where I want you to focus next. Some of the most common faults I see at Yas Acres Golf and Country Club is during the takeaway, people get the club
stuck behind the hands which can cause several issues in the swing. Fat, thins, and in general poor contact. What I prefer to see during the takeaway position is getting the lead arm extending while also getting sufficient wrist hinge. The club should point more down the line, rather than behind me. This helps us get into a better position at the top of the backswing, and that is going to help us in the downswing. You’ll have more control over the clubface. which ultimately will result in better shots.
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When my lead arm is parallel to the ground, I’m making sure I’ve got an L shape with my wrist hinge. In other terms, it should look like a 90 degree angle. I’m also making sure my arms and upper body are connected. Combining this with the correct weight transfer will make a huge difference to your game. The golf swing
is such a quick movement so you need everything in place early on to help you play good golf. If you get the club in a bad position in the takeaway, then you’ll spend the rest of the swing trying to correct your initial error. This all takes practice, but you will see big improvements.
LOOK OUT FOR THE VIDEO AT
Master your takeaway by watching Marc explain his technique in more detail by scanning the QR code to the right!
WorldwideGolf Worldwide.Golf
T AT YAS ISLAND'S PREMIER GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB EXPLORE NOW
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GEAR
CALL AWAY A PEX UT & U W Photography: Callaway
Callaway Apex UT & UW BY WILL KENT
I
f you’re in the hunt to bridge the gap between your four iron to three wood, Callaway have two new options from the Apex family which may tickle your fancy. Both of these clubs are suited to the better player, but as with anything golf equipment related, you need to try before you buy. To break things down, the Apex Utility Wood is a go-to option for many of the best players on Tour, with the unique profile promoting launch and distance benefits from a high lofted fairway wood while still carrying the versatility of a hybrid. Callaway claim it’s a club with a multi-purpose offering that decent players can use with confidence.
The marketing ploy for the Apex UT iron is similar and designed to provide better golfers with a powerful yet versatile option from long range. Precision is paramount and the 455 forged face cup is engineered to provide exceptional distance and feel. The manufacturer insist it’s a workable option off the tee. We found both of these clubs to have small but noticeable differences in terms of performance, but are totally different in size, look and feel. The choice between these two really does come down to the finer details of tuning your bag to perfection, while also being dependant on what course you’re playing.
“
IF YOU PREFER HITTING LONG IRONS OVER THREE WOODS OFF THE TEE, THEN THE UT IS A GREAT OPTION. I’LL BE PUTTING IT IN MY OWN BAG.”
STUART SMITH
Precision Golf Custom Fit Specialist
Available in 17, 19 and 21 degrees of loft with a clubhead shape inspired by in-depth feedback from Tour pros
Ranges from 18 to 23 degrees of loft (two to four iron) while the head has a pre-worn leading edge to cut through the turf more efficiently
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TESTING
If you haven’t read our last two editions, I’m a midhandicap player who occasionally breaks 90 and I test these clubs every month against Stuart Smith, a former Tour professional who hits it a long, long way. This should hopefully help to give you an indication as to who these clubs are designed for and if you can relate to either of us. Hitting a straight iron shot isn’t the strongest asset of my game, so when I was presented with this UT I wasn’t expecting great results. With it in my hands and looking down at the head behind the ball, I actually felt like I could hit it. That’s always a good start. The steel shaft was admittedly pretty heavy (there’s an option for a graphite), but the head was thick and chunky. It almost looked like it was designed for a newcomer.
BUT COULD I ACTUALLY HIT IT? The honest short answer is no. I couldn’t swing it fast enough at 87mph clubhead speed. I found the centre of the face a couple of times which felt wonderful, but from a selection of 15 shots I was hitting it all over the place. I couldn’t consider taking it to the course. Stuart, on the other hand, unlocked the full capabilities of the club and was getting great distance. He was getting over 240 yards of carry with a clubhead speed in the region of 100mph. He was hitting tight draws down the Jumeirah Golf Estates range and said he’d consider putting it in his own bag to use off the tee in certain situations. The Apex UW was a different story, though. Looking down at it, the
appearance is between a hybrid and a three wood. It also had a shaft which was two inches longer than the UT which clearly makes a big difference when in the hands of an amateur. The gloss black also really appealed; it’s a really nice looking club. I also found this UW so much easier to hit. I was getting 218 yards of carry with a degree of reliability with regards to dispersion. Stuart was hitting a similar shot shape, but was getting up to 10 yards further carry with a little more spin in his comparison to his UT shots. There were only small performances differences for him which were surprising consider the drastic difference in length, look and design when comparing the two.
VERDICT
I need to improve my golf before a driving iron starts to become a realistic option. The Apex UT is clearly a technology-packed, exciting new offering which will no doubt appeal to many good golfers. With its penetrating ball flight and the slightly lower spin numbers from Stuart’s Trackman results, it’s suited to course where you want maximum roll from the tee. It’s the sort of club which would work really well on a course like Yas Links. The Apex UW is a more much forgiving piece equipment and I expect this to be popular with many single figure handicappers. It flies a long way, not just for myself, but also for Stuart while the additional spin in comparison to UT should help to hold a few more greens here in the Middle East. Both options are impressive, visually appealing and worth considering if you want to improve your long game.
Carry Clubhead Speed Ball Speed Spin Rate
STUART (Pro) Apex UT Apex UW 244 yards 255 yards 99 mph 103 mph 148 mph 153 mph 3000 rpm 3400 rpm
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WILL (Mid Handicapper) Apex UT Apex UW 190 yards 217 yards 87 mph 93 mph 119 mph 134 mph 3200 rpm 3200 rpm
GEAR
THE STORE
Fun and comfortable collection that looks at home on and off the fairways
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Footjoy collection hits the UAE fairways Get the 2024 Spring/Summer collection ahead of the rest of the world. Being in the Middle East we rarely get golf products ahead of the rest of the world, especially when compared to the American market. So when Footjoy recently announced they would be making their 2024 Spring/ Summer collection available this November in the UAE we thought it fitting to showcase the collections. Named Ocean Park, Huntington, Dunes and Arcadia, the collections bring a fresh classic look to the fairways The fun and colourful designed polos are externally logo free and go well with chinos and jeans for that
casual off course look. On course the various colourways and patterns give you a wide variety of combinations to create your own unique look and style. We’ve always been a fan of the Footjoy apparel range for the quality of materials they use and the fit. Whether you are tall and slim or powerfully built, the Footjoy range can accommodate most shapes and sizes. Now you can upload your latest social media posts and have the latest look ahead of your golf mates around the world.
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J. Lindeberg Arlene Golf Cap
J. Lindeberg Staff Print Bag
Titleist Trufeel Golf Balls
Keep the sun out of your eyes on the green with the Bluesign-certified, PFC-free micro poly Arlene Cap. This elastic, lightweight cap offers ventilation eyelets to keep you dry, and a terry cotton moisture band lines the inside.
Organise and transport your golf equipment in style with the printed Staff Golf Bag. Crafted from durable synthetic leather, this bag features a seasonal monogram print on the side panels and embroidered Bridge branding in contrasting colours.
All the feel, all the distance, all Titleist. New Titleist TruFeel™ is the softest Titleist golf ball re-designed for more distance than ever before and with a thinner cover for improved feel around the green. Plus, the quality you expect from the #1 ball in golf.
AED 195
AED 3,195
AED 185 / dozen
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Bolle Bolt 2.0 S Sunglasses
Mizuno Pro 225 Limited Edition Black Iron Set
G/Fore Men’s G.112 P.U. Leather Golf Shoe
The small sized Bolle Bolt S has long been a firm favourite and now the icon has been revisited and modernised. The Bolt S 2.0 keeps the performance and compact package that is has long been known for, including an adjustable nosepiece and now with the addition of Bolle’s innovative Volt+ Polarised lenses.
The second generation of Mizuno’s Hot Metal Blade and the most playable of the Pro series, the Mizuno Pro 225 Irons are designed for consistent ball strikers that prefer the look of a blade, but are seeking added distance. The irons feature a revised CORTECH forged hollow body and a Grain Flow Forged multi-thickness face that combine to generate exceptional ball speeds. While distance is a boon in longer irons, better players seek precision and control in their shorter irons and wedges.
The G/Fore Menís G.112 P.U. Leather Golf Shoe supports a premium performance with an athletic style and cutting edge innovation that is equipped for optimal traction and stability with a low drop and superior arch support. It’s the go-to shoe for all day play on the course.
AED 435
AED 7,665
AED 950
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ARABIAN GOLF CLUB NEWS
Photography: Provided
JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES
Castell and Emmerson team up for victory
Juliette Castell and Mitsuko Emmerson got their hands on the Jumeirah Pairs trophy last month after the duo recorded eight net birdies and two net eagles en route to carding a superb net 61 on the Fire course. Rony El Haber and Adam James missed out on top spot after a countback, while Martin Stewart and Bradley Stuart were two shots behind in third place.
Duffy and Curtis dovetail to perfection
Conor Duffy and Ronan Curtis dovetailed to perfection to shoot an impressive net 30, which saw them win the latest Curry Club
event at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Oliver Turnbull and Mark Mackenzie, who made three net eagles, narrowly missed out on top spot on a countback, while Rosine and Francois Natali completed the top three with a net 33.
SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB
Siddique shines in Monthly Stableford
Samiuddin Siddique got the season started in style by topping the leaderboard at the Monthly Stableford after carding an impressive three under par 69. Former Club Captain Rory Thomson was three strokes behind in second, while Sami Butt was crowned Gross Division championship with a score of 74. EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION
AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB
Lee triumphs at Harradine Cup
Jae Woong Lee emerged triumphant in the recently held Harradine Cup after carding an impressive 38 points, three ahead of Josephine Dubuisson and Seyran Pogosyan. In Division 2, Dave Hoggins claimed victory with 36 points, closely trailed by Jung Hee Lee and Woo Jung Kim, while Duckjing Hong bagged Nearest the Pin on the 11th and Longest Drive on the 18th.
Quartet secure Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final spots
Vidur Sethi, Anca Pirvu and Anca Mateiu all claimed victories in their respective Divisions at the BMW Championship to secure their spot in the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final, where three spots in the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am are up for grabs. David Moody, who was the overall runner up in the event, will also join the trio after an impressive score of 40 points on the Majlis.
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QUICK NINE
T Y R R E L L H AT T O N Photography: Getty Images
QUICK 9
IN THE
BAG
TYRRELL HATTON
Six-time DP World Tour winner
Miss a putt, or miss a fairway? Fairway
Last film you watched? Knives out
DRIVER: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9.5) SHAFT: Mitsubishi Diamana TB 80 TX THREE-WOOD: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees @14)
Fill in the blank, pineapple on pizza is… Almost acceptable!
Favourite course you’ve ever played?
TPC Sawgrass
Last time you paid for a round of golf? We played Old Head on a Guiness golf tour last year… it was worth the money!
Lose all of your hair, or gain 50 percent more hair? Gain 50%.
SHAFT: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 80 TX SEVEN-WOOD: Ping G430 Max (21 degrees @19.5) SHAFT: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 80 TX IRONS: Ping i230 (3-6), Ping prototype (7-PW)
Favourite childhood TV show? Scooby Doo
Messi, or Ronaldo? Messi
SHAFTS: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X WEDGES: Ping Glide 4.0 (50-12S, 5412S), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60-T) Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (54), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (60)
If you could ask Tiger one question, what would it be? Pass
PUTTER: Ping Vault Oslo BALL: Titleist Pro V1x
Worldwide GOLF 62