Worldwide Golf February 2016

Worldwide Golf The Middle East’s No.1 Golf Magazine

FEBRUARY 2016, ISSUE 178

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EXCLUSIVE FEATURES

PAULA CREAMER BRANDON STONE MIKE WEIR CRAIG SLATTERY TIM HENMAN INSTRUCTION

SWING LIKE THE PROS

Martin Kaymer TALKS ABOUT THE OLYMPICS AND UPPING HIS GAME FOR THE RYDER CUP – BUT MAJORS REMAIN THE TOP PRIORITY

GEAR TALK

ANDY SULLIVAN INTRODUCES THE LATEST PING G SERIES

WIN

1 x VIP hospitality pass and a place in 2016 Hero Indian Open Pro-Am with Emirates Airline

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Worldwide Golf is the Official Media partner to The European Tour in the Middle East and the official magazine of the Emirates Golf Federation

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WORLDWIDE GOLF EXECUTIVE EDITOR SINCE 1999

GARY PLAYER

All Set for a Fun First GPI in the UAE Gary Player – The 9-time Major Champion and 9-time Senior Major Champion who has witnessed and been a part of some of the most historic and memorable golfing occasions, reflects on the game today.

A

S our Gary Player Invitational at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi fast approaches I am excited at launching the first GPI in the United Arab Emirates and the first in the Middle East. It’s also very gratifying to see such an interesting cross-section of professional golfers joining our cause in seeking to provide a brighter future for those less fortunate than ourselves.

With Japan coming on board to host a GPI we will have six Invitational events, which will make our goal of extending our existing $60 million fund-raising figure to the magical $100 million mark all the more achievable. Who would have thought that when we introduced our first Gary Player Invitational we would have succeeded in establishing the biggest individual invitational fund-raising charity event in golf?

I’m so pleased to be coming back to Saadiyat Beach for what is sure to be a memorable event and the start of a very important UAE charity drive over these next five years.

I am justly proud of the Saadiyat Beach course. I love the course situated on the ocean and I rate it among the best of the almost 400

courses I have designed all around the world. When we were allowed to dredge the ocean to use some of the most magnificent sand I had seen, I knew it was going to be an outstanding layout. Fortunately, everything turned out the way we wanted it. Naturally, the course is only as good as the people who are looking after it and I have to say that each time I have been back to Saadiyat Beach the course has been in immaculate condition. I am equally proud that it is one of the most ecoconscious course in the region.

Showcase It would be good to see Saadiyat Beach host the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in future years to showcase the course to the world on television and give golfers another reason for coming to Abu Dhabi. With the enthusiasm of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in introducing golf programmes to school children and creating young golfers, I can see golf playing a major role in the emirate becoming a thriving worldwide golf destination.

With the support of wonderful sponsors, like the Abu Dhabi Sports

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Council and TDIC along with Rolex, SAP, Callaway, and others, we are able to deliver a world-class golf experience and, in doing so, create a powerful fundraising platform. We will have 18 professionals from 12 countries including two of the world’s top 40 players – Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger and England’s Andy Sullivan.

We are also fortunate to have a funloving array of talent from both The European Tour and the Ladies European Tour taking part in the Union of Golf and Giving.

The Player Foundation was established in 1983 by my son, Marc, and is funded primarily by our six Gary Player Invitational events presented through Black Knight International.

Since its inception the Foundation has raised more than $60 million for charities worldwide.

It is the perfect opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others less fortunate for the betterment of impoverished children and communities throughout the world.

We don’t need to look hard for these opportunities. When you spot the chance to give back to the world, act on it. You will have made life better for others and yourself. n

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Danny Willet plays an XR Driver in competition. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

EXTREME FORGIVENESS + ADVANCED AERODYNAMICS

February 2016

CONTENTS Features

26

Cover Feature: Martin Kaymer

22

Brandon Stone

32

Paula Creamer

34

Craig Slattery

83

Germany’s two-time Major champion talks exclusively to Worldwide Golf about his season ahead – a busy year as he focuses on Majors, Ryder Cup qualification and the small matter of the Olympic Games.

WWG meets South Africa’s latest European Tour sensation. Big things are expected of the 22-year-old European Challenge Tour graduate as he embarks on his maiden European Tour season – and having already won the SA Open last month, he’s off to a flying start.

The former US Women’s Open Champion came to the UAE for the first time and WWG caught up with the colourful star who helped to promote the colour pink to see what makes her tick.

While watching his elder brother Lee Slattery almost quit the game due to a lack of funding, Craig Slattery started a buisness to offer a helping hand to those players struggling financially with life on Tour.

STYLE

WWG sits down with former tennis star and +1 handicapper Tim Henman as he prepared to tee it up in the Pro-Am at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

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February 2016

CONTENTS Regulars Starter 12 The This month our focus turns to one of the finest 63 67

Instruction Putting Secrets 53 Cowen’s Never miss a putt from 6 feet

layouts on the West Coast of Australia – Lake Karrinyup CC, home of the Perth International.

with this handy tip from Master PGA Professional Pete Cowen.

Columns

David Howell and Pete Cowen talk about the latest goings on in the world game.

54

Sky’s the Limit

58

Use the Force

Arabian Golf

All the latest news from the leading golf clubs in the region as Michael Harradine wins the Emirates Amateur Open for the second time in three years.

Tour News Senior Invitational Pro-Am takes off 16 Sharjah The stage is set for the Sharjah Senior

Martin Dewhurst, PGA Professional at Al Zorah Golf Club, talks to WWG about his history as a club pro and how he’s finding his feet in the UAE.

Jonathan Craddock, PGA Professional at Emirates Golf Club, explains how a great golf swing is based on solid foundations.

Invitational presented by Shurooq next month with the finer details being announced.

19

ETPI hosts Tour stars tuning up

20

World Round-Ups

The European Tour Performance Institute at Jumierah Golf Estates was a hotbed of action as it welcomed countless Tour stars ahead of the Middle East Swing. Find out who was in town and what they thought about the fantastic facilities.

Reports, quotes and results from the recent events on The European Tour and the US PGA Tour.

87 Competition 1 x VIP Hospitality pass and a place in the Pro-Am at the Hero Indian Open with Emirates Airline

Gear out your game 39 Iron Jason Ashley and Scott Sullivan test the new Nike Vapor Fly, the Cobra King Forged Tech and the Callaway Apex CF16 irons.

42 44

Andy Sullivan’s G Force

Three-time European Tour winner Andy Sullivan gives us his take on the new Ping G series driver.

Gear Experience Day 48 Titleist WWG is on site at Abu Dhabi Golf Club as several WWG winners were given the VIP treatment, testing equipment and getting custom-fitted with the latest Titleist gear.

Ping G Series

Ping fans rejoice – the new G Range is their first set of new clubs in 18 months, following the success of their G30 line. Find out what leading buyers and club professionals think when we went to test them at the ETPI at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

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51

eGolf Megastore

WWG talks to eGolf Megastore owner Dean Cheesley about the progress of the Al Quoz-based outlet.

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February 2016

Editor’s Letter

Get set to hit it further and putt better IT’S that time of year when the PGA Merchandise Show comes around and we get a glimpse of how the heavyweight manufacturers look to wrestle valuable market share percentage off each other with their latest designs. The story is no different year on year as we are a predictable market to please. More distance and improved accuracy is always going to be a winner. So it comes as no surprise that in 2016 we will have improved hardware that delivers what every golfer is searching for. Yet, no manufacturer has developed a putter that guarantees to reduce your putting average! Now that would be a winner.

In last month’s issue we saw how Nike and Cobra both found individual ways to reduce spin and increase carry for improved flight and total distance gains. In this issue we talk to European Ryder Cup hopeful Andy Sullivan, who has switched from Ping’s top-selling G30 to their latest G Series driver. Both look identical but he’s picked up some more distance and consistency across the face, so it went straight in the bag after he tested it. Read his full feedback on page 42.

Ok, so the dream putter that shaves shots off your round by correcting your inconsistent stroke might not exist, but PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen shows you on page 53 how to rarely miss those six footers using the Pop Putting Method.

In our iron test with the team from Golf House in Dubai we put the Callaway Apex CF16, Nike Vapor Fly and Cobra King Forged Tech on the range with the TrackMan to see how they differed over previous models, and how the individual technology would benefit the golfer. This has to be one of the

closest tests we’ve ever done, with only a yard separating all three. Read the full report on page 39 to see how they differed.

Our exclusive cover feature this month is with Martin Kaymer who talks openly about the Olympic Games and how he plans on getting into The Ryder Cup team for Hazeltine in September. We also caught up with Paula Creamer in Abu Dhabi who was happy to offer tips to aspiring golfers and share some of her stories, along with finding out about her lifelong obsession with the colour pink.

Our interview with Craig Slattery, brother of European Tour player Lee, gives an insight to the hard graft and pressures that go on behind the scenes as rookie players try to find their financial feet in the fiercely competitive sport. Craig, seeing the issues his brother had to endure first hand, has set up an agency designed to take the pressure off the professionals so they can concentrate more on their game.

Read the full feature on page 34.

For our competitions this issue it’s a pro-am delight, with Emirates Airlines offering a place in the Hero Indian Open along with hospitality for one at New Delhi Golf Club from 16-20 March.

A little closer to home on March 16, we have two spots available at the Sharjah Senior Invitational Pro-Am presented by Shurooq. For more information on the event and the compeition please turn to page 16.

To enter these two great competition go to our website www.worldwide.golf and click on competitions.

Alex Gallemore Worldwide GOLF 10

ISSUE No. 178, FEBRUARY, 2016.

Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd. Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE. (Tel) +9714 340 3785.

Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore.

Executive Editor: Gary Player.

Editor: Alex Gallemore. alex@wspglobal.com.

Publisher: Mike Gallemore. mike@wspglobal.com General Manager Dubai: Richard Bevan: rick@wspglobal.com Editors: Todd Staszko, Scott Grayston.

Production/Design Editor: Thameem Rayyan.

Editorial Panel: Gary Player, Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Todd Staszko Photography: Getty Images, Joanna Eardley.

June 2009 SSN 1- 46805671 Approval UAE National Media Council: Ref.816 30/5/2007 Trade Licence No. 1/104375/15280

Printed by: Raidy, Dubai Worldwide Golf specifies that postpress changes may occur to any information given in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised.

REFRESH YOUR GOLFING HORIZONS

The spectacular par-72 course at Al Zorah Golf Club has been designed by the famed Nicklaus Design Group and is located in Ajman, a 25 minute drive from Dubai International Airport. Managed by Troon Golf, this magnificent facility

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The Course

Lake Karrinyup Country Club The pearl on Australia's West Coast

C

ONSIDERED one of the finest courses on the West Coast of Australia, Lake Karrinyup Country Club is hosting The European Tour’s co-sanctioned Perth International tournament for the fifth consecutive year this month.

Founded in 1928 with a layout designed by former Australian Open winner Alex Russell, the business partner of legendary course architect Alister Mackenzie, Lake Karrinyup provides a wonderful setting for golfers while maintaining a delightfully tranquil environment for the native wildlife, flora and fauna, including kangaroos.

In addition to its recent commitment to the Perth International, Lake Karrinyup, which is located just 13km north of the centre of Perth, was the venue for four Australian Opens and was twice host of the Johnnie Walker Classic.

The inaugural Perth International took place in 2012 with Bo Van Pelt emerging victorious in an all-American battle with future US PGA Champion Jason Dufner.

The following year Korea’s Jin Jeong defeated Ross Fisher in a play-off and in 2014 Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen emerged victorious from a packed leaderboard to take the title ahead of Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson.

The tournament was not held last year but this season the Perth International returns to the schedule and has moved from it’s previous spot in October to February 25 – 28. Past winners at the venue include South African legends Gary Player, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els.

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STARTER

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STARTER RYDER CUP IS SPIETH'S PRIORITY

Shorts allowed NEW European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley’s decision to allow players to wear shorts during practice or pro-am days on The European Tour has been met with almost universal approval from members of the field in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship last month. “Isn’t this great?” smiled Ernie Els (below), while Ian Poulter (above) tweeted: “It’s 2016 not 1990. Get rid of the stuffy old rules that hold golf back.

Make it more fun everyone.”

Meanwhile the R&A were quick to announce that shorts must not be worn at any point by professionals at the week of The Open Championship.

Q U O T E S ‘’I want to be part of the crew. It would be a pretty good foursome.

I’ve got to take care of a Major and then maybe I can join the crew.’’

– Rickie Fowler on turning the so-called “Big Three” of Spieth, Day and McIlroy into a “Big Four”

World No.1 Jordan Spieth has declared that Ryder Cup success is at the top of his priorities this year as he hopes the United States can end the run of three successive defeats in the biennial competition.

“We’re tired of hearing about changes that need to be made,” said Spieth ahead of his UAE debut in Abu Dhabi. “We’re tired of hearing about the past. We’re ready to believe in a younger, more hungry team going forward – we’re going to go in believing that it’s a completely clean slate.”

Spieth is set to spearhead the US team alongside the likes of Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed when the matches start at Hazeltine National GC in Minnesota in late September and potential teammate Justin Thomas, 22, who won his first US PGA Tour event last season at the CIMB Classic, has said he would rather win The Ryder Cup than a Major in 2016.

Look out Europe!

MICKELSON ANXIOUS ABOUT THE SEASON AHEAD

Five-time Major winner Phil Mickelson is “Optimistic, but also nervous” about his chances of success in 2016. Without a win since The Open in 2013, Lefty parted company with long-time coach Butch Harmon and has reportedly begun a swing overhaul with Australian coach Andrew Getson. “I’m hopeful that this off-season, the work I’ve put in will get my swing back on the plane that it has been in the past, and allow me to hit the shots I’ve been able to hit as I did in the past,” he said.

O F

T H E

‘’He’s got '60' printed on his ball and, on the first tee, I said ‘I didn’t realise you put your age on the ball." – Andy Sullivan pokes fun at 2016 European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke.

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DID YOU KNOW:

Tiger Woods has made the cut in 92 per cent of his starts on the US PGA Tour.

STENSON TO SKIP WGC MATCH PLAY Henrik Stenson has announced he will miss the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas next month as he tweaks his schedule in the run-up to The Masters.

“Unfortunately, when they shuffled the Match Play I needed a week off and I feel it’s beneficial to play the week before the Masters,” he said, while also confirming part of his summer schedule. “No WGCBridgestone for me and No French Open.

Because of the clash with the French Open I decided not to make anyone happy or mad. I’m just not playing.”

M O N T H “It’s not unfair to compare Jordan with Tiger because Jordan is doing exactly what Tiger did at the same age.”

– Butch Harmon discusses the similarities between the current and former World No.1.

WIN

TOUR NEWS

SHARJAH SENIOR INVITATIONAL PRO-AM PRESENTED BY SHUROOQ STARTS TO TAKE OFF

I

NTEREST in the Sharjah Senior Invitational Pro-Am presented

by Shurooq is gathering pace throughout the UAE and beyond.

The 18-hole Pro-Am, hosted by Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, takes place on Wednesday, March 16, with the Press Conference unveiling exciting future plans starting the proceedings at 10.0am. The Press Conference will feature three former Ryder Cup stars along with representatives from Shurooq, The European Tour and Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club.

Following the Press Conference, H.E. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani will preside over the Official Opening of the Golf Academy at 11.0am, preceding the golf clinic at 11.30am when European Senior Tour winners Des Smyth, Paul Broadhurst and Ronan Rafferty will demonstrate how the game should be played and offer tips and advice to the day’s attendees.

Lunch is at 12.0noon on the stunning

SENSI Terrace, then a photo session before the announcement at 12.50pm signals the players to head for their tees for the shotgun start at 1.0pm where one of the Pros will repeatedly play holes 3 and 12, while another also plays holes 8 and 17 with every group. The third Pro will also play one hole with each group at some point during their round, meaning the invited amateurs will play a total of five holes with a European Senior Tour Professional.

The format will be a best 2 from 4 Shambles with all five scores to count on the four par-3s. The best 2 from 5 modification will also apply when the ‘roaming’ Pro joins the group for an additional hole.

The Presentation Dinner takes place at 6.30pm with multiple prizes awarded from a variety of events running throughout the day’s play and concludes with an entertaining Question and Answer session with Smyth, Broadhurst and Rafferty on

an invitation from Worldwide Golf for two golfers to play in the Sharjah Senior Invitational Pro-Am presented by Shurooq at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club on Wednesday, March 16.

Lunch on the stunning SENSI Terrace is at 12.0noon and the shotgun start is at 1.0pm. The amateurs will be joined by the three European Tour winners on five holes during the 18 holes round. The Presentation Dinner is at 6.30pm with multiple prizes awarded from a variety of events held throughout the day’s play.

To enter go to competitions at www.worldwide.golf

their escapades during their lifetime playing on The European Tour and Senior Tour.

The Pro-Am promises to be a fun day for all as sponsors and invited guests play the Peter Harradine-designed layout which will showcase Sharjah’s merits as an international golf and tourism destination.

Nick Tarratt, Director, European Tour International Dubai Office, said: “We’re excited to see a European Senior Tour initiative in Sharjah and back in the UAE and the region. Shurooq and the Sharjah Government have been great supporters and their efforts, along with that of Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, to make this initiative happen are to be commended.”

H.E. Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, Chief Executive Officer, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), commented: “We’re delighted to be supporting this wonderful event that will promote the emirate of Sharjah on the local, regional and global stage.

Sharjah has many merits as a hub for business, sport and tourism and we look forward to welcoming our friends, clients and associates to play with some of these great names from the world of golf.”

Ziad Al Sharabi, Sales and Marketing Director, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, added: “This event is a fantastic platform for us to showcase our excellent floodlit course and leisure facilities to both the local residents of Sharjah and the international market.

We will be opening our new state-ofthe-art Golf Academy and we’ll be proud to show what the club has to offer during this great event.”

Pictured left to right: Nick Tarratt, Director, European Tour International Dubai Office; H.E. Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, Chief Executive Officer, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Ziad Al Sharabi, Sales and Marketing Director of Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, are pictured at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club.

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Samer El-Maalouf, Corporate Alliance Manager, Shurooq, pictured with Martin Du, Director of Golf, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, at the 2015 DP World Tour Championship.

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TOUR NEWS

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES’ EUROPEAN TOUR PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE HOSTS STARS AHEAD OF ‘DESERT SWING’

T

HE renowned European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai has once again proved to be the perfect warm-weather training base for the stars of The European Tour as they prepared for this season's ‘Desert Swing’.

Tommy Fleetwood, Joost Luiten, James Morrison and Thorbjørn Olesen were among the players making use of the ETPI’s state-of-the-art practice facilities as they honed their game ahead of what has become one of the most important stretches on The European Tour schedule, while the likes of Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett, Shane Lowry and Rafa Cabrera-Bello have all been using the cutting edge facility recently. With the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic following the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship a good showing in the ‘Desert Swing’ can provide the perfect springboard to a successful season, as last year’s Desert Classic winner, and subsequent Race to Dubai Champion, Rory McIlroy, will testify.

'World-leading facilities'

The ETPI at Jumeirah Golf Estates is one of only two such facilities in the world – the other being at Terre Blanche in France – and is equipped with everything a player needs to sharpen up their game and physical condition. As well as the ultra-advanced swing and putting labs, specialised gyms and treatment rooms and extensive practice areas at the ETPI, Jumeirah Golf Estates also boasts two world-class courses – the Earth, home to The Race to Dubai’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, and the Fire. course.

“We’re extremely proud of our facilities and courses

here at Jumeirah Golf Estates,” says Neal Graham, General Manager, Club Operations. “The European Tour Performance Institute is a world-leading facility and it’s testament to how highly it is regarded within the game that so many of The European Tour’s top players choose to come here to practice. We’ve been delighted to host these great players over the last few weeks and we wish them all the best for the season.”

Four-time European Tour winner Luiten comments: “It’s always great coming to the ETPI. It probably has the best facilities in the world, nice weather and Dubai is always a fun place to be. It’s the ideal way for me to prepare for the new season with the Desert Swing coming up. In addition, practicing here allows me to drive to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, rather than fly.

'Fun and Benificial'

“I love the short game area at the ETPI which allows you to play into different wind directions and situations.

You can practice all different types of shots here because there are a lot of options, which makes this facility so much fun and beneficial.”

Morrison, winner of last year’s Open de España, said: “We’re very spoilt coming to the ETPI. There are two great golf courses, two brilliant gyms, and now the Jumeirah Golf Estates clubhouse is finished it’s amazing. Coming here at the beginning of the year puts me in great stead for the new season. “ Fellow Englishman Fleetwood, who won the 2013 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles added: “The facilities at the ETPI are about as good as it gets. When it’s cold and damp in the winter at home, it’s incredible coming out here to practice.” n

“It’s always great coming to the ETPI. It probably has the best facilities in the world, nice weather and Dubai is always a fun place to be. It’s the ideal way for me to prepare for the new season before the Desert Swing starts. I love the short game area at the ETPI which allows you to play into different wind directions and situations. You can practice all different types of shots here because there are a lot of options, which makes this facility so much fun and beneficial.”

– Joost Luiten

About Jumeirah Golf Estates European Tour Performance Institute: The ETPI was developed by the European Tour’s medical and performance services team to allow golfers of all abilities to make use of the knowledge that has been amassed by the Tour’s performance and medical practitioners over the past 20 years using data from the best players in the world.

Visit JumeirahGolfEstates. com for more information and connect with Jumeirah Golf Estates on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram.

Worldwide GOLF 19

Tour News Date: Jan 7 - 10 Event: The BMW SA Open hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni Venue: Glendower GC, Gauteng, South Africa Winner’s Cheque: €158,500

Date: Jan 7 - 10 Event: Hyundai Tournament of Champions Venue: Plantation Course at Kapalua. Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii Winner’s Cheque: $1,180,000

STONE MAKES EMOTIONAL BREAKTHROUGH

SPIETH DOMINATES IN HAWAII Jordan Spieth almost matched the US PGA Tour record for total score under par with a resounding eight shot victory at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. The talented American finished on 30-under par as he carded a closing six-under par 67 to finish clear of the field with first round leader Patrick Reed his closest rival.

"It is a bit tricky to have such a big lead. Your mind wanders throughout the round. I got off to a dream start, which helps it. But it's tough, we just tried to stay patient."

Pos. Name 1 Jordan Spieth 2 Patrick Reed T3 Brandt Snedeker

Country USA USA USA

-30 -22 -21

Brandon Stone could barely hold back the tears as he tapped in on the final green to secure his first European Tour title with a two-shot win over Christiaan Bezuidenhout at the BMW SA Open. Stone was in great form as a third round 65 saw him open up a two shot lead, and he was finally crowned the champion after an up-and-down final round that included seven birdies and six bogeys.

“It’s too good to be true. I’m overcome with emotions at the moment. There was a lot of ups and downs in that final round but to come out on top at the end is incredible."

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

Pos. Name

66 64 65 67 65 69 67 69 67 72 65 67

262 270 271

1 2 3

Brandon Stone

Country RSA

Christiaan Bezuidenhout RSA

Daniel Brooks

ENG

-14 -12 -11

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

71 67 65 71 70 69 70 67 68 67 70 72

274 276 277

Date: Jan14 – 17 Event: Sony Open in Hawaii Venue: Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii Winner’s Cheque: $1,044,000

GOMEZ OUTLASTS SNEDEKER FOR VICTORY IN PARADISE Fabian Gomez birdied the second play-off hole to down Brandt Snedeker and win his second US PGA Tour title at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Gomez was in top form as he carded a final round 8-under 62 to vault up the leaderboard and sign for a 20-under total of 260 alongside Snedeker. The Argentine's round included an impressive seven birdies in a row from the sixth through to the 12th and he carried his momentum into the play-off as he sealed his first win since last season's FedEx St.Jude Classic.

“I’m really, really happy. I felt good all week long and was able to put on a great round today. It’s my second victory on tour. I got on a streak with seven putts in a row and it made me feel like I could go on and win the tournament.”

Pos. Name 1 2 3

Fabian Gomez Brandt Snedeker Zac Blair

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Country ARG USA USA

-20 -20 -19

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

69 64 65 62 63 65 66 66 65 65 64 67

260 260 261

WORLD ROUNDUPS Date: Jan 14 – 17 Event: Joburg Open Venue: Royal Johannesburg & Kenssington GC, Jo’burg, South Africa Winner’s Cheque: €153,809

DUFNER CLINCHES FOURTH TITLE

PORTEOUS IN CONTROL IN JOBURG Haydn Porteous became the second young South African in succession to claim their maiden European Tour title as he wrapped up a two-stroke victory at the Joburg Open. Porteous fired rounds of 66-66-68-69 to post an 18-under-par total and finish clear of Zander Lombard with Bjorn Akesson, Daniel Im, Anthony Wall and Justin Walters a stroke further back.

“When I get home and things start to calm down I’m going to have a proper think about it. All the doors that are open because of winning the Joburg Open, it’s a dream come true.”

Pos. Name 1 2 3

Haydn Porteous Zander Lombard Bjorn Akesson

Country RSA RSA SWE

-18 -16 -15

Date: Jan 21 - 24 Event: CareerBuilder Challenge in p'ship with Clinton Foundation Venue: PGA West, TPC Stadium Course - La Quinta, CA Winner’s Cheque: $1,044,000

Jason Dufner secured his fourth US PGA Tour title with a play-off victory against David Lingmerth at the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta. Dufner survived a big scare on the first play-off hole to force the second hole where he sealed the victory. Lingmerth had made up five strokes on Dufner in regulation to make the play-off but couldn’t find the winning touch.

“It’s a tough tour to win on. There are great players playing every week on great golf courses. This week I felt like I was one of the best in the world.”

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

Pos. Name

66 66 68 69 71 64 65 71 70 64 70 68

269 271 272

1 Jason Dufner 2 David Lingmerth T3 Phil Mickelson

Country USA SWE USA

R1 R2 R3 R4 -25 -25 -21

64 65 64 70 68 68 62 65 68 65 66 68

Total 263 263 267

Date: Jan 21 - 24 Event: Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Venue: Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE Winner’s Cheque: €409,686

FOWLER ON TOP IN ABU DHABI RICKIE Fowler clinched his second European Tour title with a onestroke victory over Thomas Pieters at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Fowler moved into position with a stunning third round 65 and closed out the victory with a 3-under-par final round to finish clear of the Belgian, with World Nos 1 and 3 Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth also in the top ten.

Fowler made a double bogey on the par-3 seventh to sit just one stroke ahead but then holed a superb bunker shot for eagle on the following hole to move clear again. After a string of pars he then made birdie on the difficult 17th and a par on the closing 18th was good enough for the win.

“This was a big one. Last year after having a multiple-win season, to come back and work on getting back in the winner’s circle after a successful season and keep moving forward - this is a great start.”

Pos. Name 1 Rickie Fowler 2 Thomas Pieters T3 Henrik Stenson

Worldwide GOLF 21

Country USA BEL SWE

-16 -15 -14

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

70 68 65 69 69 73 64 67 65 72 70 67

272 273 274

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Worldwide GOLF 22

FEATURE BRANDON STONE

AS BRANDON STONE ENDED THE 2015 CHALLENGE TOUR SEASON WITH HIS PLAYING RIGHTS FOR THE 2016 EUROPEAN TOUR FIRMLY SECURED HE FELT HE WAS ON THE CUSP OF SOMETHING SPECIAL. JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER HE FINISHED SIXTH IN THE NBO GOLF CLASSIC GRAND FINAL IN MUSCAT AND 14TH ON THE ROAD TO OMAN HE WAS STEPPING INTO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER AT THE LION OF AFRICA CAPE TOWN OPEN, THE THIRD-TO-LAST EVENT ON THE 2015 SUNSHINE TOUR IN HIS NATIVE SOUTH AFRICA. FAST FORWARD INTO THE NEW YEAR AND HE IS CELEBRATING HIS MAIDEN WIN ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER CLINCHING THE BMW SA OPEN HOSTED BY THE CITY OF EKURHULENI AT GLENDOWER CC. MIKE GALLEMORE SPEAKS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE 22-YEAR-OLD AS HE LOOKS BACK ON HIS PROGRESS ON THE CHALLENGE TOUR AND FORWARD TO LIFE IN THE FUTURE AS A FULLY-FLEDGED EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYER.

▶ Worldwide GOLF 23

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BRANDON STONE

FEATURE

A

S my conversation with Brandon Stone progresses one thing becomes abundantly clear – he is enjoying his ride on the crest of a wave of success. Stone is the latest South African sensation to make his mark on The European Tour after winning the BMW SA Open against a field that included the likes of Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Branden Grace.

“To get the first win at the first tournament of the 2016 calendar year is quite special,” enthuses Stone. “I felt like I’ve been playing well for the past four or five months now.

I think I’ve done well by just sticking to the processes that my coaches and I put in place a few years ago when we were looking at goals and what kind of things we wanted to accomplish.

“All that work had built up towards this one victory – but it had been two years of planning and effort that’s led up to it,” says Stone, who became the youngest winner at 22 years and 265 days, of the South African Open since it became co-sanctioned with The European Tour in in 1997.

Stone’s dedication certainly paid dividends last year. He had a superb season on the Challenge Tour, culminating in a sixth place finish at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final which helped him clinch his playing rights on the top Tour for 2016.

“I think with the NBO event becoming the Challenge Tour’s Grand Final made it a special occasion,” says Stone, who posted six top tens on the Challenge Tour last year. “I’d played in Oman before and done pretty well, finishing in a share of fourth place in 2013, so it was nice to feel I’d achieved my goal in Muscat last November when I needed a good finish to earn my card.

“I’ve always liked the Greg Normandesigned golf course and I liked Oman and the people there. The hospitality is great and it’s a well-run event. I feel comfortable in the surroundings out there and I think it showed in my performance. The golf course is designed with the wind in mind and when it gets gusty it can be a real challenge.

“I think the Challenge Tour is an extremely difficult Tour to do well on because there

are so many good players and so many guys trying to get their playing privileges for the following season.

“The guys who did get their cards at Almouj Golf played great golf for the whole season but there were some players who played really well and didn’t make it. That shows you just how tough it is, so for me to be one of those lucky few who did earn their card it felt very special.

“There are a lot of good young players coming through and I think we’re going to see more and more quality players competing on the Challenge Tour in the coming years and they’re going to be pushing the top players on The European Tour for years to come.”

For Stone, golf is a sport that runs throughout his family. Both his grandfather and his father played high level golf. His father, Kevin, an experienced Sunshine Tour player, coaches the South African Amateur Junior Team and his grandfather, Sam, played for his country. Brandon was proud to have them both standing by the 18th green as he sealed his maiden European Tour victory .

“I think having them there to share that winning moment with me was something very special,” says Stone. “But there was also a lot of stress and nervousness involved.

They said they were more nervous than I was out there – but I doubt that. It’s a memory that I’ll treasure forever.”

Stone excelled in his junior days and when he moved to the United States to the University of Texas he found himself rubbing shoulders with the current World No.1 Jordan Spieth.

“Even at college you could tell Jordan was a special player and there was an incredible aura around him,” says Stone. “We all knew he was going to be a great player but we had no idea he’d be so good so soon, so it was quite a surprise.”

If Stone continues his rapid rise up the golfing ranks he’ll find himself back in Spieth’s company at golf’s top table sooner, rather than later. n

“There are a lot of good young players coming through and I think we’re going to see more and more quality players competing on the Challenge Tour in the coming years.” – Stone

ALL SMILES: The top 15 players on the European Challenge Tour Ranking after the conclusion of the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final at Almouj Golf, Muscat, Oman, with Brandon Stone pictured sixth from the left (standing, in black) who finished sixth and qualified in 14th place.NDON STONE

BRANDON STONE

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DON’T LOOK BACK IN ANGER MARTIN KAYMER TELLS RICHARD BEVAN THAT HE WON’T BE LOSING ANY SLEEP ABOUT AN UNCHARACTERISTICALLY QUIET 2015 SEASON AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT YEARS OF HIS CAREER GETS UNDERWAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

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EXCLUSIVE MARTIN KAYMER

Worldwide GOLF 27

EXCLUSIVE MARTIN KAYMER

F

OR Martin Kaymer, 2016 is a big year.

Very big indeed. Last season was a lean one by the lofty standards the two-time Major-winning German has set himself over the course of a glory-laden career. Unusually for Kaymer, he failed to register a win anywhere in the world and lost his US PGA Tour card after missing out on qualification for the FedExCup Play-offs, which caused him to come up two events short of the minimum of 15 required tournaments to retain his full playing privileges.

But with the small matter of the Olympic Games and The Ryder Cup on the horizon this year, Kaymer has bigger things to occupy his mind than his US PGA Tour status. If the coolheaded manner in which the 31-yearold despatched that famous winning putt to complete the Miracle of Medinah and confirm Team Europe as Ryder Cup champions in 2012 taught us anything it’s this: Kaymer is not a player lacking in mental toughness nor is he likely to go into panic mode after one uncharacteristically quiet season.

“To be honest I don’t think there is anything that could come along in my career that would be any bigger than that putt at Medinah,” says Kaymer in my conversation with him at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, scene of his first European Tour victory back in 2008 and two further wins in 2010 and 2011.

“Facing a 6-7 footer for such a massive success or loss – the pressure was immense. What I learned from that moment was only positive because I made the putt. It was a good putt, it wasn’t a shaky one. So knowing the way I handled that situation mentally, it was so positive. I took a lot from that.”

Kaymer was required to tap into his reserves of selfbelief to recover from the shock of losing a 10-shot lead during the final round in Abu Dhabi last season, which allowed Gary Stal to deny him a record fourth Falcon Trophy, and he believes such low moments are just as

“THE RYDER CUP YEARS, SOMEHOW SUBCONSCIOUSLY, YOU DO A LITTLE BIT MORE. WHEN IT COMES TO ME, I PRACTICE A TINY BIT MORE. I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOCUS ON IMPORTANT TOURNAMENTS THAT CARRY MORE RYDER CUP POINTS.” important as the highs of Medinah in the continuing evolution of a professional golfer.

“You need to ask yourself the right questions, that’s very important,” he says. “You need to be very honest with yourself, find a solution as to why it happened and find the answers – and I certainly did that.

“Once in a while you do think about it. That’s just human and very normal. But at the end of the day, I don’t want it to overshadow all the success and the great experiences and emotions I’ve had on this golf course. I don’t want that. It was only two hours. I had

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enjoyed something like 50-55 great hours here at Abu Dhabi before that, so I’d rather focus on that.”

Kaymer’s exploits in Illinois four years ago mean that he’ll forever be associated with the legacy of The Ryder Cup and having been part of the last three victorious European teams, he’s determined to make sure he’s in Darren Clarke’s line-up at Hazeltine National this year.

“The Ryder Cup years, somehow subconsciously, you do a little bit more,” he says. “When it comes to me, I practice a tiny bit more. I have a little bit more focus on important tournaments that carry more Ryder Cup points.

“You do think about The Ryder Cup a little bit, it shouldn’t affect you, but it does affect me in a very positive way. Somehow, I motivate myself a little bit more than normal in Ryder Cup years.

“But I won’t really start thinking about The Ryder Cup until May or June. All the big points are available in the Majors and the World Golf Championships. It’s not always the case that if you win, for example, the Dubai Desert Classic, that you’re guaranteed a spot in The Ryder Cup. You have to win or be very consistent in the big ones.”

Despite the media making much of the loss of his US PGA Tour card, the former World No.1 insists that his 2016 schedule will remain fairly similar to last year’s as he’s allowed to play 12 US PGA Tour events through sponsor’s invites as a non-member, while any additional European Tour appearances he makes will strengthen his bid to be on Team Europe’s flight to Minnesota in September.

“The number of tournaments I’ll play will be the same,” says Kaymer who turned down full membership of the US PGA Tour the year after winning his maiden Major title at the 2010 US PGA Championship and went on to rise to the top of the World Ranking during the 2011 season. “In fact, I could probably play a couple more events in Europe which will be good for Ryder Cup qualification. For me, it’s no big deal. People talk about

EXCLUSIVE MARTIN KAYMER

‘IF HADN’T WON TWO MAJORS PERHAPS MY OPINION ON RATING OLYMPIC SUCCESS HIGHER THAN A MAJOR WOULD BE DIFFERENT,’ – MARTIN KAYMER it more than I think about it.” The question that players are repeatedly asked this season is whether they would rather win a Major or Olympic Gold in 2016. The vast Majority have plumped for a Major – as Rory McIlroy says: “I’ll be remembered for my Major championships.”

Admittedly, Kaymer is in a more privileged position than most of his colleagues, having already tasted Major success twice with his play-off victory over Bubba Watson for the 2010 US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits and his epic eight-stroke victory in the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst. But, nonetheless, he takes a different viewpoint on where his priorities rank this season.

“If hadn’t won two Majors perhaps my opinion on rating Olympic success higher than a Major would be different,” he says. “But I have those Majors and I know what that feels like – and it’s probably the greatest feeling you can have in an individual sport.

“There is so much more history with the Olympic Games. You fight for your country alongside other elite athletes in different sports and you only get the chance once every four years. On Tour we get four chances to win a Major every year. So if you ask me now what would I rather win – it would be a Gold medal.

“I did a charity tournament recently and got to play and hang out with many former Olympic athletes. Being with them, talking about the spirit and the passion of the Olympics has opened my eyes to it and what sport at that level is really all about.”

Despite being unable to take a break for as long as he would have liked during the off season, Kaymer is feeling good as he sets out for his three-way assault on the Olympics, the Majors and The Ryder Cup. “I’ve been practicing a lot so the key will be how quickly that starts to show in tournament play. This year

I’ve had a fairly short winter break because my season last year was fairly long. I played until December 14th.

Then I went skiing for five or six days, spent Christmas at home (in Germany) then flew back to Phoenix where I practiced for two weeks. I got back in Dubai to practice for about a week before playing in Abu Dhabi. So it was fairly short in terms of trying to get away from golf.”

His record at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is widely acknowledged (three wins among six top 10s in 10 appearances, and a tied 16th finish in last month’s tournament) but Kaymer has also racked up four top-five finishes at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, including runner-up in his maiden appearance in 2008, and a couple of top 10s at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Not surprisingly, he judges the ‘Desert Swing’ to be the ideal platform from which to launch the quest for top honours each season.

“I think a major reason as to why I’ve done so well and why I enjoy playing here – especially in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Desert Classic – is that the tee shots really suit my eye and I think I can read the greens very well,” he says.

“Now, if you put those two together, hit more fairways and make more putts than usual you’re bound to score well and finish higher up the leaderboard. Coming to the Middle East for these early season events has always helped because when I’ve done well it has justified the hard work and practice that I had done before them. It gives me confidence at the start of the campaign.”

One thing is for sure: Kaymer won’t be wasting any time looking back in anger about the outcome of last season. It’s just not in his nature. Besides, he’s much too busy looking forward to one of the biggest seasons in his career. n

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TaylorMade R15 v M1 WWG: You’ve been using TaylorMade’s M1 driver – how does it compare to the R15 in your opinion?

Martin Kaymer: The M1 has two heads and I’ve tried both the bigger and the smaller heads. I’ve found that the smaller head gives me more control.

It doesn’t spin as much so I have more consistency.

Yes, it gives me a few more yards in distance, but it’s more important to me to hit a few more fairways.

Distance isn’t the No.1 thing when it comes to winning. It’s all about making a few putts. If you watch players like Jordan Spieth, look at his short game. That’s where it’s won and lost.

Consistency in the bag WWG: Once you’re fitted for a driver do you stay with the same settings or do TaylorMade work on a number of different settings so you can dial it in to the course and the conditions?

Martin Kaymer: I’m fairly simple. Once I find a driver that works I like to keep it. With change often comes doubt. I like to get used to something and work with it.

Consistency in the bag WWG: What’s the best piece of advice you can give to amateurs who are struggling to gain distance of the tee?

Martin Kaymer: A lot of amateurs try to hit it hard with their arms and their hands but it’s more about working on rotation. Work more on the core and rotation and get the speed through that, rather than trying to get it with your arms and hands.

THE TOP THREE TAYLORMADE CLUBS IN MY BAG My putter – TaylorMade Ghost Tour – It’s the most important club that I carry. I put three lines on this one so it helps me with the alignment a bit more. I also added the SuperStroke grip a year ago, which is a massive help.

My 7 wood – TaylorMade R7 – It’s quite old now but I still love it. I actually own about five of them that I bought off Ebay because they don’t make them as much anymore!

My three wood – TaylorMade AeroBurner – It’s so good off the tee and I can control the flight in most conditions. I can definitely work the ball with it. It’s an important club for par fives or narrow fairways.

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Paula Creamer EXCLUSIVE

PINK PANTHER

FORMER WORLD NUMBER TWO AND 2010 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN CHAMPION, PAULA CREAMER, VISITED THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP LAST MONTH. THE SOLHEIM CUP STALWART IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR HSBC AND WAS HAPPY TO OFFER TIPS TO ASPIRING GOLFERS AND SHARE SOME OF HER STORIES. WORLDWIDE GOLF MET UP WITH THE 29 YEAR OLD ON THE DRIVING RANGE TO GAIN AN INSIGHT INTO HER CAREER ASPIRATIONS, HIGHLIGHTS AND LIFELONG OBSESSION WITH THE COLOUR PINK.

WWG: Being such a golfing icon in the ladies game, it must have been exciting to finally come to the UAE? Paula Creamer: I’ve always wanted to visit the UAE because I thought it would be interesting to see the different culture and the way of life for myself. I wish I could go out and play some golf rounds but I don’t think I’ll have enough time. Next time I come, I’m definitely going to play some of the amazing courses out here.

WWG: What do your friends think about the golf scene in the UAE? Paula Creamer: All the girls who come over for the OMEGA Dubai Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour absolute love it. They say nothing but good things. It unfortunately doesn’t work out for my schedule to play in the tournament.

WWG: If you had a choice, would you prefer to win an Olympic gold or a Major this year?

Paula Creamer: If I could get a Gold Medal, that would be incredible and an unforgettable honour. The highlights of my career have been all the times I have represented my country. Winning the U.S Open was mind-blowing. I can’t even put it into words how that felt. However, the chance to compete for a Gold Medal – that only comes around once every four years so that’s why I would prefer Olympic Gold.

WWG: You’ve had so much experience playing in the Solheim Cup, can you describe what it feels like to play in a team event like that?

Paula Creamer: I have played in six Solheim Cups now and I have loved every one of them. It’s a surreal feeling playing with 12 girls who you are usually competing against. You are not just playing for yourself, you are competing for your country. The tournament is always tense and stressful but so rewarding if you come away as the winning nation like we did in the last one in Germany. I’ve had so many fond memories from these events.

WWG: Why is your nickname ‘The Pink Panther’?

Paula Creamer: I was given this nickname because I love the colour of pink and always have something pink on, whether it’s a ribbon in my hair or the colour of my shoes. I was given the nickname when I was 16. I was walking around a driving range and my friend Casey Wittenburg said: “What are you – The Pink Panther or something?” It has stuck ever since and now he is on my golf balls and is my head cover. It’s a good nickname to have, so I’ll take it.

WWG: Is the Pink Panther head cover your lucky charm?

Paula Creamer: I have to go through a lot of them because they often start to fade from pink to white and aren’t pink anymore. I don’t want to say it’s lucky because I’m not really superstitious but he will never not be on my golf bag.

PINK MANIA

WWG: What’s the craziest pink item that you own?

Paula Creamer: I have a pink pool table, pink ping-pong balls and a pink golf cart. Also, my treadmill is black and pink so these are all unique items in my favourite colour.

WWG: If you could have anything pink, what would it be?

Paula Creamer: It has to be a pink car. I have always wanted a pink car!

WWG: Dream fourball? n My dad because I’ve never beaten him before. n Shaquille O’Neal because it would be amazing to watch him play golf. n My grandpa.

Worldwide GOLF 33

Craig Slattery (left) and older brother Lee Slattery (right), pictured at Jumeirah Golf Estates, didn’t have “a priveleged upbringing” but after receiving some financial support at a crucial time in his development, Lee has gone on to establish himself on Tour. Craig’s new company, SGS, aims to help other talented players do the same.

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FEATURE CRAIG SLATTERY

SLATTERY’S

$OLUTION MART

F

WATCHING HIS OLDER BROTHER LEE, NOW A TWO-TIME EUROPEAN TOUR WINNER, ALMOST HAVE TO QUIT THE GAME DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDING, INSPIRED CRAIG SLATTERY TO START AN INNOVATIVE BUSINESS AIMED AT PROVIDING A FINANCIAL ‘HELPING HAND’ TO EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYERS WHO HAVE YET TO FULLY ESTABLISH THEMSELVES.

WORDS: RICHARD BEVAN PICTURES: JO EARDLEY

early struggles at close hand inspired younger brother Craig, a talented golfer himself with a background in finance, to come up with a clever business idea aimed at providing funding for fledgling or fringe European Tour players in need of the ‘start up’ cash to sustain themselves until they are established on Tour.

“We launched Smart Golf Solutions (SGS) just over 18 months ago,” says Craig, who bears a striking resemblance to his brother.

“We saw there was a gap in the market to help young professionals who were coming through the ranks via the feeder tours.

“We found that there were players who were qualifying for The European Tour every year but weren’t taking advantage of that qualification. They were passing up on their cards and it was purely down to the funding aspect, nothing else. We thought, ‘this shouldn’t be happening’ because some players were slipping through the net that shouldn’t be.

“I’d seen what Lee went through and I wanted to come up with something innovative to help these players out and get the best out of their careers as they are coming through.

Smart Golf Solutions gives the players some funding and allows them to pay for expenses, hotels, flights etc. All we wanted in return was a percentage of their on-course earnings.”

SGS have estimated that a European Tour

player needs around £2,000 (AED 10,445) per week on average to get from tournament to tournament and pay for their meals and accommodation and the raft of other expenses that come with the territory.

“Once you have established yourself on the Tour, the costs go up,” says Craig. “To get you through on a yearly basis, playing around 25 tournaments or more, we average it out at about £2,000 a week. That’s enough if you budget correctly to get you through the season. You might get some club sponsorship as well which can top you up.”

The older Slattery brother has been out on Tour for well over a decade and paid his dues on the mini-tours prior to that so he has a personal insight into just how expensive the life of a touring golfer can be.

“You can pay £1,000 (AED 5,222) a week for a good caddie and hotels are never cheap because we’re usually playing at expensive venues” says Lee. “Then there are long haul flights to pay for.

You can comfortably rack up £100,000 (AED 522,288) a year, even as a young player coming out on Tour, and to raise that in sponsorship you need to be a serious talent.

“There are not many guys out here who could raise that kind of money. Therefore, any sort of backing is a huge help. A golfer can go from being an average Tour player into a great

IFTEEN years ago Englishman Lee Slattery was forced to take a year out of the game and go to work in a High Street clothes store because, financially, he simply couldn’t afford to stay out on Tour.

He might have been lost to the game for good had it not been for the members at his local golf club in Formby, Lancashire, who took out share options against his future success which generated enough capital for him to have another crack at the big time.

He’s gone on to make good on his promise and then some – topping the 2014 Challenge Tour Rankings and winning two European Tour titles, including last season’s M2M Russian Masters.

But it could have turned out very differently had he not had a financial helping hand at that crucial stage in his career and Slattery’s story is by no means unique.

While the media spotlight is placed firmly on the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth – young superstars backed by big sponsors almost since childhood and with the financial security to seamlessly make the transition to the top echelons of the game – there are many more in the shadows who fall by the wayside.

Exceptional talents forced to quit the game simply because they lack the funding to pay for the season-long run of hotels, flights, caddies, meals, transport. Witnessing Lee’s

Worldwide GOLF 35

FEATURE CRAIG SLATTERY

SIBLING RIVALRY: Lee and I played lots of golf together when we were younger. We both played at county level.

Tour player by being financially secure and Craig’s company offers that chance.

“Financial pressure certainly has a huge impact on golfers,” he continues. “The young guys who start off on Tour can certainly struggle. When I was young, I stopped playing for a year because I didn’t have enough financial backing. Once I got that, my game evolved and I managed to get onto The European Tour. “ It was great from there on but even the first couple of years on The European Tour were tricky as I struggled to keep my card. We spend a lot of money in competing so it’s a huge help if a company can fund these golfers like Craig’s new company is doing. I think this is something The Tour has needed for a long time.”

The service that SGS offers is not an entirely new concept but Craig believes that their business model is what sets them apart, as it has player welfare at its heart.

“What we did differently to most companies that have provided this kind of service in the past is to make it as fair as possible for the golfers,” he says. “We cap the returns and work it on a sliding scale so the more the golfer earns, the less they pay us back. This would be accumulative so we know exactly how much they owe at the end of the year.

“After six months of research that involved us speaking to players and golf management companies, we found a formula that made everybody happy.”

In order for SGS to make any money, they need players on the books who they believe to be good prospects, capable of delivering a ‘return on investment’ which is where Craig’s role becomes more of a talent scout.

“I spend most of my time looking at stats

At one stage I was a lower handicap than Lee. When I was 11 years old I played off 11 and Lee played off 13. Then over the next few years it changed. I got down to low figures when I was young but if I’m honest I was only better because I was 5ft 8 and Lee was only 5ft. His short game was magic but I could hit it 50 yards further off the tee. How things have changed! – Craig Slattery

and examining trends from the last 10 years,” he says. “It’s a workable formula but there’s some risk as well. However, I feel like I have enough knowledge and experience in this field to see what the pattern is and how we can act according to the trends.

“For instance, we discovered that the percentage of Challenge Tour graduates who keep their European Tour card after their first year is slightly higher than players who qualify though Q-School. But we’ve also noticed the trend that many players who qualify through Q-School use the Challenge Tour category to play a full year on that tour instead of taking advantage of The European Tour card that they’ve got. So there are a lot of elements to consider.

“I worked with Chris Lloyd, Daniel Brooks and Daniel Gaunt last year and I want to increase the number to 10 or12 this year and gradually go on from there. It’s important to have the right players and build the business slowly.”

Fellow Englishman Brooks, who won the rain- shortened Madeira Islands Open in 2014 and got the 2016 season off to a flyer with a third place finish at The BMW SA Open hosted

by City of Ekurhuleni, believes that the peace of mind provided by SGS has been crucial in his development.

“Starting the 2014 season without a sponsor was a very worrying time for me as the costs of playing are so expensive,” he says. “SGS gave me the backing, removed the stress, and allowed me to play golf. It’s been a Godsend.”

With so many Tour golfers in need of some support to bridge the gap until their talents start reaping financial rewards, Craig Slattery’s company clearly offers a smart solution for many of golf’s emerging talent. n

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THE COST OF TOUR LIFE

CADDIE

£800 PW (AED 4,156)

HOTEL

FLIGHT

FLYING HIGH: Craig Slattery is hopeful that his innovative Smart Golf Solutions company will take off.

£500 (AED 2,597) £500 (AED 2,597)

MEALS / MISC £200 (AED 1,039) AVERAGE WEEKLY COST:

£2,000 (AED 10,390) CRAIG’S SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING

I always had an interest in finance. I worked with a large financial brokerage all over the world in places like Moscow and Vietnam. This experience has helped me deliver results in an industry I love and want to be involved in long-term with Smart Golf Solutions.

C A L L A W AY A P E X C F 1 6 | N I K E F LY VA P O R | C O B R A K I N G F O R G E D T E C H

Gear Ironing out your game

Distance, feel and accuracy are three pivotal factors that determine which irons are the best on the market. Callaway, Nike and Cobra have all recently released a new iron range that features innovative technology to help players reach the greens with more ease and precision. Scott Sullivan, General Manager of ProGolf International, teamed up with Jason Ashley, the Custom-fit Specialist for Golf House, to test out and compare the three different irons at The Address Montgomerie, Dubai. With the assistance of TrackMan, they are able to analyse and assess where the irons stand in the market and how they compare with each other. Let’s find out what Scott and Jason’s thoughts were after hitting numerous shots with the three hottest, new irons in the game.

Nike Vapor Fly

Cobra King Forged Tech

Callaway Apex CF 16

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C A L L A W AY A P E X C F 1 6 | N I K E F LY VA P O R | C O B R A K I N G F O R G E D T E C H

TECHNO TIME

CALLAWAY APEX CF 16

AED 5075 steel AED 5915 graphite

So what new technology has been introduced that make these irons better than their predecessors?

Scott Sullivan: The Callaway Apex CF 16 has the cupface technology, which is the first time they have applied it to a forged head. This gives you consistent ball speed across the face in a forged Apex design.

The Nike Vapor Fly features a resin material that frees up 14 grams of discretionary weight that was positioned towards the perimeter and deeper in the head of the iron.

This makes the club even more forgiving. It also has a strong Nexcor face that flexes more effectively at impact.

COBRA KING FORGED TECH

AED 3995 steel

The Cobra King Forged Tech has a multi-material construction. This means that tungsten weight is strategically placed in the heel and toe to move the centre of gravity more towards the middle of the golf club. This improves the forgiveness of the iron.

They all felt amazing to hit so the only way we can really determine the difference is by asking Jason who has the Trackman results.

Jason Ashley: I might have had a chance of beating Scotty on the golf course today because he wasn’t at his best! It’s intriguing how you described the new technology because they have correlated precisely with the TrackMan data.

The clubs have done exactly what you said.

NIKE VAPOR FLY

The Callaway produced excellent ball speeds even on off-centred hits. It was the fastest out of the three irons. The speed cupface is unbelievable technology that makes a huge difference when we compare Callaway to other products.

The resin certainly affects the centre of gravity with the Nike Vapor because the launch is much higher than the others and it has less spin.

The Cobra produced good ball speeds and you said it felt powerful which is definitely a positive sign.

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AED 2995 steel AED 3,495 graphite

WATCH THE VIDEO AT

Scott Sullivan: “It was an exciting task testing out these three different irons because some great technology has been implemented into these clubs.

All three irons felt fantastic to hit. They are all aimed at a mid-low handicap player down to about a 15 but I disagree with this because I feel these SpacePort clubs could suit all types of players.”

WorldwideGolf WorldwideGolf

NUMBERS GAME If we look at the numbers, all the clubs performed similarly in terms of distance. The Callaway was averaging 176., the Nike was going 176.8 yards and the Cobra was travelling the furthest at 177.1 yards.

There’s hardly anything to separate these irons.

7 IRON

APEX 7 IRON

VAPOR 7 IRON

KING

CLUB SPEED (mph)

BALL SPEED (mph)

SPIN RATE (RPM)

LAUNCH ANGLE

90.4 128.1 6,059 13.7 93.0 124.2 5,474 16.2 89.1 127.7 5,849 13.9

º

CLUB SPEED (mph)

BALL SPEED (mph)

SPIN RATE (RPM)

LAUNCH ANGLE

CLUB SPEED (mph)

BALL SPEED (mph)

SPIN RATE (RPM)

LAUNCH ANGLE

ATTACK ANGLE

R

TOTAL (Yards)

CARRY (Yards)

TOTAL (Yards)

CARRY (Yards)

TOTAL (Yards)

L

ATTACK ANGLE

L

CARRY (Yards)

-3.0 176.1 185.3 -6.7º 176.8 186.2 -6.8º 177.1 185.9 º

R

ATTACK ANGLE

SHAFTS Apex: True Temper XP 95 Vapor Fly: True Temper ZT85

MODEL 95

FLEX S300 R300

WEIGHT 95.0g 93.0g

TORQUE 2.1o 2.3o

MODEL 85

FLEX S R

WEIGHT 107.0g 107.0g

TORQUE 2.1o 2.2o

MODEL C-Taper Lite

FLEX S R

WEIGHT 110.0g 105.0g

TORQUE 2.1o 2.2o

Cobra: KBS Tour C-Tape

Scott Sullivan: I see that the Nike Vapor Fly has a longer shaft than the others, does that affect anything?

Jason Ashley: It is about half an inch longer than the other irons – that helps improve the clubhead speed.

You can confirm this from the results.

Scott Sullivan: Out of the three, the Cobra has the best shaft with the KBS Tour C-Tape.

The two coolest and trendiest new drivers on the market are exclusive to Golf House. Head down to the shop at The Address, Montgomerie, Dubai where Jason can adjust the clubs to suit your needs and boost your power from the tee.

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PING G SERIES

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SULLIVAN GETS A LITTLE

GForce Andy Sullivan had a remarkable season in 2015, winning three tournaments on The European Tour and coming close to taking the prestigious DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The 28 year old Englishman has a realistic chance of playing a part in Darren Clarke’s European Ryder Cup team if he continues in the same vein this season and he hopes to take his game to a new dimension after upgrading to the new PING G Series.

Worldwide Golf: The G 30 range is a tough act to follow, do you think PING have achieved it with the G Series?

Andy Sullivan: I do. The new look, the weight saving in the woods and the reduced drag, make for impressive numbers in testing.

WWG: What improvements do you think PING have made with this new range?

Andy Sullivan: For me PING have always made good looking clubs but the new G series range has improved my spin numbers with the driver and I’ve gained more control. In addition, I strike a lot less mishits and find the fairways more often. Also the driver head sound is improved and even more impressive.

WWG: They say ‘if it aint broke dont fix it’ – after such a good finish to last season, were you apprehensive about changing your clubs?

Andy Sullivan:I was. My PING equipment served me so well last year but it’s difficult to not put something straight in play when it looks good and the performance is improved from what you have previously used.

WWG: Looking at the new driver, what would you say are the key benefits it brings?

Andy Sullivan:I felt I had gained some clubhead speed, mostly because of the Dragonfly technology that enabled the designers to reduce the head weight. There’s also a reduced drag on the clubhead due to the added Turbulators and Vortec technology.

WWG: What are your first impressions of the innovative Crossover club that is part of the G series and how could it add a new dimension to your game?

Andy Sullivan: I haven’t tested it enough yet as I’m so happy with my current PING Hybrid.

WWG: Have you noticed that the launch is much better with the new G fairway woods?

Andy Sullivan:Yes, higher launch and less spin, so more distance and less effected by windy conditions.

WWG: What are your thoughts on the visual style and colour of the new clubs?

Andy Sullivan:I love the G drivers look and with the new design I find it much easier to set up square on every shot, due to the added Turbulators and graphics on the top of the head.

WWG: Which is your favourite from the new range?

Andy Sullivan: The G driver.

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GEAR

PING BLAZING A TRAIL WITH THE LAUNCH OF G SERIES

P

ING hasn’t released a new set of clubs for 18 months after the huge success of the G30 line. However, the new G Series could go one further. An abundance of golf fanatics are excited about the launch that is hitting the Middle East on February 12. A real buzz has been circulated by the likes of Bubba Watson and Andy Sullivan using the new clubs at the start of the 2016 season.

Worldwide Golf were lucky enough to head down to Jumeirah Golf Estates’ European Tour Performance Institute to see the new line for the first time and gather some opinions from the buyers and professionals who were testing them out.

What did the purchasers and pros have to say about the new range......?

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Mathew Parker

Senior Teaching Professional at the European Tour Performance Institute The first thing you notice about the G Series is the look. They’ve stuck with the matt black like their previous drivers. This is a style that is both eye-catching and voguish.

The next thing you see is this new dragonfly effect. This aerodynamic taping on the top of the head is unique and benefits your power with the driver. Some weight has been taken off the head. As a driving range pro, I certainly felt that the off-centred hits had a little bit more stability and the dispersion was tighter than Ping’s previous models. I could launch the ball high without much spin, which is something that I’m lookong for from my driver. When I struck it on the sweet spot, it felt fantastic so I’m really looking forward to this G Range being available on the market.

Martyn Hamer Teaching Professional at Yas Links Abu Dhabi

Dean Cheesley

Founder of eGolf Megastore THIS IS a very impressive new launch and I’m pleased to see the Ping G Range coming in. We’ve heard a lot about it coming through the United States so there has been a lot of buzz surrounding this new product. I am a big fan of the way the new G driver sets up and particularly the impact it makes on the ball. It’s got a trendy look and when you set the club down against the ball it just feels solid and gives you confidence to strike the ball as far and accurately as you can. It’s a club that I know all the customers in the region are going to enjoy hitting.

My first impression of the G Range was that it’s very different to any products Ping has produced in the past. The irons have a chrome-looking finish that’s appealing on the eye.

My favourite new product from the G Range is the Crossover because it’s a new idea I’ve never seen before. This club would be extremely useful for amateur golfers who struggle with their long irons because it gets the ball up into the air nice and quickly but it’s also very appealing to look at when addressing the ball. The new dragonfly technology on the driver makes perfect sense and is a great addition because it adds more stability to the head and increases the speed. It also helps you align the ball so that is helpful. The forgiveness of the drivers was the thing that hit me the most with the G Series. The off-centred hits still made the ball perform well. Furthermore, the Alta shafts make the clubs very light, which allows the user to create more clubhead speed. This driver suited my game down to the ground.

David Stevenson

General Manager at Sportsworld I used to work with Ping for ProSports International so I was eagerly anticipating the launch of the new G Series. This new range is innovative and it had to be after the success of the G30. Ping never fail to move forward with the design and engineering of their golf clubs. When the new driver was being explained to me today with the dragonfly feature, it sounded amazing. My

Worldwide GOLF 45

favourite product is the new fairway wood because it looks fantastic. When golfers look at the head they will believe they can put the ball in the air. I love the idea of the Crossover and think it’s a great replacement for the four iron. In addition, the new G irons are fabulous. All in all, it is an incredible launch

by Ping – who, once again, have hit the ball way out of the park.

T H E L O N G E S T, M O S T F O R G I V I N G TITLEIST IRON EVER.

N E W TITLE IST Distance comes from speed, launch and high moment of inertia (MOI). New Titleist AP1速 irons help all golfers to play their best thanks to a 360 undercut cavity with a thin, fast face design and industry-leading use of high density tungsten weighting for speed and stability. AP1 irons deliver maximum distance and maximum forgiveness.

O U R B E S T P L AY E R S ’ I R O N MADE EVEN BETTER.

N E W TITLE IST Players know that the only thing more satisfying than hitting a pure iron shot is hitting more of them. New Titleist AP2ÂŽ irons feature an innovative co-forged design with a low CG for increased speed.

And the sophisticated placement of high density tungsten weights low and on the perimeter provides more forgiveness and Tour-proven, consistent distance.

Visit titleist.co.uk/clubfitting to fi nd out where you can get fit for new AP irons and 816 hybrids.

GEAR

TITLEIST THRILL GOLF FANS WITH EXTRAORDINARY

‘EXPERIENCE

DAY’ FOUR TRIAL STATIONS:

WARM UP STATION:

915 drivers, 716 irons and the 816 hybrid range were tested. The players got a limbered up and learned what set up worked best for them with the help of the custom fitters.

BALL FITTING STATION:

S

EVERAL lucky Worldwide Golf winners were among a group of professionals and keen amateurs who were given the VIP treatment on January 17 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, when they had the opportunity to test out and get custom-fitted with the latest Titleist gear. The most exciting aspect of the day was that the majority of the products the group tested have yet to hit the market, making this a once in a lifetime experience that is usually reserved only for the top Tour pros.

The golfers were split into groups and rotated around four testing stations. The whole process was made easier by the helpful Titleist custom-fitters who explained the products and the new technologies that had been introduced, as well as finding the most suitable equipment for each player.

WEDGE STATION: Golfers got to try out the latest range of Titleist wedges and get fitted to maximise the full capabilities of the products. The lucky bunch were given a sneak preview of a new line that has not even been launched yet!

SCOTTY CAMERON STATION:

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about golf balls so Titleist tried to dispel all of those and help the golfers find a ball that suited their game.

Launch and spin are important factors and players of different abilities are suited to different balls. The brand new DT TruSoft golf ball was among those tested.

Players tried out and tested some new putters to see how they can improve by identifying which toe shape, length, weight, lie and loft suited their game.

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WHAT DID THE PARTICIPANTS AND ORGANISERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE DAY?

Rayhan Thomas

Paul Byrne

2016 Qatar Open winner Handicap: +2

Member at: Emirates Golf Club Handicap: 4

This day has epitomised what it means to get the ‘Titleist Treatment’. Being able to try out all the different clubs and balls gives you an insight into what we are looking forward to in the game in 2016. Days like this are as close as you can get to experience how a Tour pro is treated.

It’s been a truly fantastic day at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. I would recommend an experience like this with Titleist for all golf fans because it’s a real eye-opener for amateur golfers.

There is a science to all the clubs, especially the wedges, that is extremely intriguing and fascinating to discover.

The fitting concept will really have benefitted so many of the golfers as well because

James Evans

Member at: Arabian Ranches Golf Club Handicap: 15

It was an excellent opportunity being part of this because it’s not every day that amateurs get to test out gear that hasn’t even been launched yet on the market. It was interesting to have the technical features explained before trying out the gear so you got to understand the product and its capabilities. Titleist is one of the top brands in golf and that has certainly been emphasised and proven in this Experience Day.

everybody has a different shape, size and swing. Titleist always seems to be at the cutting edge, particularly with their drivers and wedges. 2016 is going to be a huge year for the brand.

Sean Reilly

Member at: Royal Tara Golf Club (Ireland) Handicap: 12 I thoroughly enjoyed the Titleist Experience Day because it was educational and lots of fun. It was an excellent day out that made me envious of all the professional golfers that get to do these types of events all the time. Thanks Worldwide Golf!

Chris Beaumont

Titleist Golf Club Marketing and Interactive Manager

It was a fantastic day bringing in lots of local amateurs and professionals to try out our new products and assess how they look and feel. These types of exclusive days are extremely beneficial for Titleist because we are able to get immediate feedback from the consumers. There is no better feeling than when you have made a product that suits a golfer’s style and improves their game. The feedback has been exceptional and I think many people have found out how crucial it is to find the right club and ball.

SHAFT HEAVEN

IT’S A WEDGE FEST!

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WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf WorldwideGolf

THE GOLFERS CHOOSE THEIR WEAPONS

GEAR

eGolf Megastore Tel: +971 4-338-5770 Unit 1, Mansoor Building, Street 26, Al Quoz 4 www.egolfmegastore.ae

eGolf Megastore Thriving “We maintain and regularly update a trade in value guide which catalogues all of the major driver, fairway, hybrid, iron, wedge and putter models over the past five years.” – DEAN CHEESLEY

F

OUR months ago Dubai-based businessman and scratch golfer Dean Cheesley made the bold move of giving his thriving online golf retail company a physical presence. Not just any physical presence - eGolf Megastore, situated in Al Quoz 4 in Dubai, stands at a whopping 6,400 square feet over two floors, making it the largest golf store in the UAE. We caught up with Dean to find out if it’s all been plain sailing...

Worldwide Golf: The store has been open 4 months now, how has business been – better or tougher than expected?

Dean Cheesley: Business has been going well to date. The first two months was all about ensuring that we put in place the most comprehensive range of equipment in the region and it’s great to receive regular customer feedback that we have successfully achieved that. We’ve also been refining our repair shop services and custom-fit area and our customers can expect more great things to come from that as we will be shortly introducing our premium line of custom shafts for custom fitting.

WWG: Has the transition between online trading and shop trading been a simple process or have there been challenges to overcome?

DC: There have been numerous challenges to say the least! Integrating an online store with a bricks and mortar one was undoubtedly the single most challenging exercise of the

business to date, simply because there were multiple intricacies in the integration process that could not have been reasonably anticipated in advance! In the end it has been very rewarding as we now provide our customers with the online platform or the retail store for their chosen mode of purchase.

For sheer convenience, some golfers are happy to purchase from the comfort of their home or offices and receive our fast overnight delivery, while others prefer to browse and purchase in store after trying and comparing brands.

WWG: What brands are available in store?

DC: We carry all of the major brands under a single roof. The whole concept of the Megastore is to offer golfers in the region a true ‘one-stop-shop’ for their golfing needs.

We currently stock 43 golf specific brands including all of the leading brands: Titleist, TaylorMade, Nike, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Under Armour, Adidas and Footjoy. February is also a great time of year for the consumer as we’ll introduce some cool new products towards the end of the month that were launched at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, USA, last month.

WWG: You offer the facility to trade in old clubs and also to test out equipment and get properly fitted in store – tell us about that?

DC: We maintain and regularly update a trade in value guide which catalogues all of the major driver, fairway, hybrid, iron, wedge

Worldwide GOLF 51

and putter models over the past five years.

Customers can conveniently check the value of their equipment in store or online at www. egolfmegastore.ae/tradeins.html prior to trading in their old equipment. We then issue in-store credit for use on future purchases. On the custom fit side, our British PGA Qualified Professional offers free in store custom fitting utilising the latest FlightScope launch monitor technology in one of our two hitting bays.

WWG: What new lines have you got coming in that we should be excited about?

DC: The 2016 Under Armour collection will arrive both online and in store in mid February, which we’re excited about. It’s no secret that Under Armour is coming up in a very big way and challenging Nike Golf as the No.1 apparel brand in golf. It’s also fascinating to see the impact Jordan Spieth is having on the growth of the brand. On the equipment front, we’ve got a huge release set for February 19 with the new TaylorMade M2 Driver and Irons, which is the AeroBurner replacement positioned at a lower price point to complement the TaylorMade M1 released last year.

Another big launch this month is the Ping G Range of Drivers, Fairways, Hybrids and Irons to replace the G30 line, available from February 11. We are offering by appointment only fitting sessions ahead of the official launch date. Having tested the product with the Ping team last month, it has the potential to be the No.1 driver of 2016.

www.golfworld.ae

Instruction

By Pete Cowen, Master PGA Professional

INSTRUCTION

PETE COWEN

1

RARELY MISS FROM WITHIN 6FT WITH POP PUTTING METHOD I SPENT all my life trying to find the perfect putting stroke. I always stuck by the traditional opening and closing method that works on rotational arc but this isn’t the best method. It is difficult to master because you need amazing timing, a constant ball position and a consistent release pattern. The technique I am about to teach you is far easier.

The physics behind putting is that you want the club to have a square club face at impact. Therefore, if we are opening and closing when swinging the putter, there’s a greater chance that the face is not going to be square and your putt will not find the cup.

Instead of using the opening/closing method, you should use a technique that Brandt Snedeker uses called The Pop Method. This is when you get the putter face square and move it in a circular motion so the shoulders are making a consistent movement.

This helps you apply pressure to the putt instead of swinging at different lengths to determine the power. Your distance control is pivotal when putting and The Pot Method helps you have more control as you are always hitting it on the square face with the same technique and movement.

Watch Snedeker putt because he rarely ever misses from 6ft or under. You can be the same if you follow these tips and watch the video of me instructing this putting technique on www.Worldwide.Golf WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf WorldwideGolf

Worldwide GOLF 53

Martin Dewhurst, the PGA Professional at the UAE’s newest golf venue, AL Zorah Golf Club, is flourishing in his new role in The Middle East. He is buoyant with the vibe around the golf club as they set their sights on becoming one of the best golf clubs in the United Arab Emirates. Al Zorah GC has made an exemplary impression on the golfing public since opening at the beginning of December.

Worldwide Golf: Was it a difficult decision to leave one of Troon Golf’s and Europe’s leading golf resorts, Costa Navarino to move to Al Zorah Golf Club?

Martin Dewhurst: I enjoyed a wonderful four years living and working in Greece at Costa Navarino but I felt it was the right time to move on to a new challenge and when Philip Henderson (General Manager) gave me the call to ask if I was interested in moving to the UAE I immediately said yes! It’s always exciting to be involved in a new property which has a strong and exciting vision.

Worldwide Golf: As a leading golf coach, do you still find time to play yourself?

Martin Dewhurst: I am very much in love with the game itself and I play regularly and practice hard as I am

SKY’S THE

LIMIT trying to improve my game year on year. I really believe as a golf coach that if you are enthusiastic about your game then it will rub off on your own students.

Worldwide Golf: Will you be participating in any of the UAE PGA events?

Martin Dewhurst: I am looking forward to teeing it up with the other pros, playing at all the fantastic courses here in the UAE. They have a great schedule and I hope to finish somewhere towards the top of the order of merit at the end of the season.

Worldwide Golf: Being the first Teaching Professional here at AL Zorah what teaching philosophy will you be implementing?

Martin Dewhurst: I try to teach my players how to play golf rather than just teaching swing mechanics. I wouldn’t

Worldwide GOLF 54

say that I teach one method to all of my players as we are all different shapes, sizes and with varying levels of athleticism but what I do like to see in all of my students is that they all have very tidy fundamentals (Grip, Start Position, Body Angles).

Worldwide Golf: Where do you feel like you have gained your experience and knowledge from?

Martin Dewhurst: I try to think of myself as a student of the game, always learning, trying to keep up to date with the current trends but I could pinpoint two things. Firstly, whilst I was undertaking my PGA Training, I worked at one of Europe’s busiest driving ranges in Vienna, Austria, where I worked alongside eight extremely knowledgeable professionals who I used to sit and watch teach lessons for many hours

INSTRUCTION FEATURE

Worldwide Golf: You seem like you enjoy using social media, what can we expect to see from you in 2016?

Martin Dewhurst: Yes, I really enjoy making the golf videos, whether it be instructional or on-course content.

We try to make them as interesting, insightful and diverse as we possibly can, giving our viewers a great insight into Al Zorah Golf Club. You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter (@alzorahgolfclub).

Worldwide Golf: Do you think the course is going to attract people who play at clubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Martin Dewhurst: I think there’s a lot of interest from people all over the United Arab Emirates because it’s the first golf club to open in over six years over here. It’s going to take a few months until we finish all the landscaping here and make it feel like an established course but when this time comes, I think it will be one of the best golf courses in the UAE. Worldwide Golf: Has working at Al Zorah Golf Club lived up to your expectations so far?

Martin Dewhurst: This is my first time working in the Middle East and I am so fortunate to be working at an exciting, new club like Al Zorah. It’s been open for just over a month and the condition

of the course is excellent. The quality of the turf is fantastic, it’s tight and lovely to hit an iron shot from, and then the design of the green complexes are excellent with a surface to match. It’s an amazing golf course to play at and work at. It follows the high standards that Troon Golf are associated with.

Worldwide Golf: What impact do you think Al Zorah Golf Club will have on the local community as the first golf course to open in Ajman?

Martin Dewhurst: It’s exciting for the people of Ajman to see the first golf course in construction and now open for play. We have received an overwhelming amount of interest from the local population and we look forward to raising the profile of the game and making both the golf course and practice facilities more accessible for everyone. We will be structuring our lesson programmes to attract the local schools and businesses as well as creating a strong female presence at the golf club.

Worldwide Golf: Will you be creating a strong Junior Club similar to the other Troon facilities in the UAE? Martin Dewhurst: Our vision is to create a thriving junior section. Just recently we have implemented our ‘Young Bears’ programme which runs every Friday and Saturday for children between the ages of 5 and 16 currently attracting juniors from Ajman, Sharjah and Ras Al Kaimah. It would be great if we could create Ajman’s very own Rory McIlroy or Michelle Wie.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf WorldwideGolf

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n Four years as Head Professional at one of Europe’s and Troon Golf’s leading golf resorts, Costa Navarino in Greece. n Opened the luxury Troon Short Game Academy, ‘Private Golf Moments by Olazabal’, at Velaa Private Island in The Maldives. n A six-year stint in Vienna, where he worked with golfers of all levels at Fontana Golf Club – widely known as one of the best courses in Europe.

Martin Dewhurst

and secondly, from the coaches I’ve had many lessons off over the years.

These are coaches who have worked with PGA Tour winners, European Tour winners and Major Champions.

Background

ALMARTIN ZORAH DEWHURST GOLF CLUB

INSTRUCTION

SWING LIKE

THE PROS Two common essentials for 99% of professional golfers are a perfect grip and a great start position. Very rarely will you see a good player with a poor grip and poor start position.

PGA Professional at Al Zorah Golf Club

Backswing During the backswing, the golfer needs to make a full rotation of the shoulders, hinging the wrists to make an ‘L’ shape between the arm and the club at the top of the swing. The hinging of the wrists and the rotation of the shoulders are going to help us maximise our power sources during the downswing.

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MARTIN DEWHURST

Correct grip When I am coaching, my preference is to see my golfers gripping the club nicely in the fingers and not holding the club too much in the palm of their hands.

I like to see a nice athletic start position, a triangle created between both of the arms and the upper body slightly tilted behind the ball.

With a seven iron, the body weight should be a 50/50 split with the ball positioned in the centre of the stance. As a golf coach, you can usually tell if someone is going to have an aesthetically pleasing golf swing from their set up position.

Downswing During the downswing, the golfer must drive left with the lower body, releasing the hips, then the upper body followed by the arms and finally the club, which is going to help us increase clubhead speed, lag and compression, adding up to a better strike and more distance.

This will bring the player into a full end position with the weight fully transferred onto the left leg with the chest and hips pointing towards the target.

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The finish I believe that it doesn’t matter what level of golfer you are, if you start the swing correctly, make a full back swing and then swing through the ball, finishing on your front leg then you have a great chance of hitting the ball both accurately and powerfully.

INSTRUCTION

WITH PROFESSIONAL JONATHAN CRADDOCK

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T the Dubai Golf Academy at Emirates Golf Club, I have been privileged to work in association with Pete Cowen, one of the world’s leading golf coaches. The knowledge held by Pete is second to none and what I have gained from him over the past six years has given me a great foundation. Last year, I and the other Professionals at the Academy became Dr Kwon Biomechanics Certified. Dr Kwon’s research and findings have further enhanced the importance of Ground Reaction Forces (GRF).

“A great golf swing is built on solid foundations”

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- Pete Cowen

THE importance of using the ground is pivotal in creating the right forces and moves in the golf swing, thus increasing consistency and power.

My previous article titled ‘The One Inch Drive’ was centred around the importance of utilising the forces created within the muscles, instead of dragging the body mass. The latest Star Wars movie triggered an old idea that I used to help understand the way the body could move.

Rather than thinking of the swing as a lateral rotation from side to side, we really need to get the concept of the movement working from bottom to top, then again from top to bottom in the downswing.

Although the push and pull exercise isn’t an actual representation of the golf swing, it is a perfect way to feel how one thought or movement can create other movements.

In this case, by simply thinking of starting a motor by pulling the right shoulder up, the right side of the body will coil away from the ground, or in this case, my left ankle. This, in turn, moves the weight to the inside of the right foot.

Then by simply pushing the right hand down and relaxing the body, the left side of the body will react and move the other way, firstly down, then around and up into the finish.

The benefit of this motion is that you can clearly see the body rotating around the centre without any thought of rotation as we know it.

It is quite an efficient way of moving the centre of pressure with little movement of the centre of mass.

I like to think of the downswing as being a reaction of the counter movements in the backswing.

Use this practice drill to feel the correct Ground Reaction Forces. Using the ground correctly in between the feet will enable you to create the correct loading and unloading of pressure during the backswing, downswing and through the swing.

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You don’t have to make huge changes to improve your game, merely improve the efficiency of your motion.

To learn more, contact The Dubai Golf Academy at Emirates Golf Club on +971 4 417 9845 or email: emiratesacademy@dubaigolf.com.

Book a round of golf on one of our championship courses at Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club or dine in one of our favourite restaurants for a chance to win a host of exciting monthly prizes. #dubaigolfapp

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Worldwide GOLF 59 12/22/15 11:27 AM

INSTRUCTION

4 FOCUS POINTS FOR IMPROVING BUNKER PLAY

By Malcolm Young, Senior Teaching Professional, Arabian Ranches Golf Club

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BUNKER PLAY IS AN AREA THAT MANY GOLFERS STRUGGLE WITH BUT WITH THE RIGHT FOCUS, BUNKER PLAY CAN EASILY BE TRANSFORMED INTO ONE OF YOUR STRENGTHS.

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Feel the sand beneath your feet – sand texture can change and this helps you get a feel for the swing required. The feet should be worked into the sand, but not excessively below the surface. This helps to ensure the strike is below the ball, using the sand as a cushion for the shot.

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Turning the lead foot towards the target with a light pressure on this side allows the player to work the club and body through the shot for better impact and shot control.

2

Finally, the main key is to commit to a full finish on each shot.

Too many golfers quit in fear of overhitting the shot. Focusing on the finish will help you keep a smooth tempo and committed shot movement.

4

Don’t let the clubface open too much.

Typically, golfers exaggerate this, making it harder to control the club direction at contact. A square-to-slight open clubface simplifies this shot, allowing the club’s sole and bounce to work the shot towards the target.

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Worldwide GOLF Columnist

Pete Cowen

Big Four on the horizon With Rickie Fowler winning in Abu Dhabi he is fast approaching the playing level of the current Big Three.

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AVING celebrated the success of the 2015 season with the guys I coach for amassing more than $25 million in prize money throughout the season it was good to start the first event of The European Tour’s Middle East Swing with five of our stable in the top-11 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Thomas Pieters played some outstanding golf in finishing runner-up to winner Rickie Fowler, just one shot behind the American.

Due to the fog delays Henrik Stenson had to play 26 holes on the final day, which had a serious effect on his injured knee, so soon after surgery.

Alejandro Canizares and Joost Luiten both played impressively to finish in a tie for fifth place and Thomas Bjørn put in a vintage performance to share 11th place.

We’ve been talking about the new Big Three of Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy but I think it could soon be the Big Four if Rickie Fowler continues to play the sort of steady, consistent golf he’s been producing lately.

good to see Canadian Mike Weir, winner of the 2003 Masters Tournament, taking part.

To hear Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler talking so positively about playing in the event has got to be good for golf, and particularly for The European Tour.

If Jason Day, Adam Scott and some of the other leading Australians also started spreading the word that The European Tour have some great tournaments it would be a huge benefit to the world game.

The players have always been in favour

To hear Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler talking so positively about playing in the event has got to be good for golf, and particularly for The European Tour.

Perfect Start Winning the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane Golf Club last July and now the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and competing in last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open has made Rickie an international star.

The Abu Dhabi tournament provided the perfect start to the Middle East Swing with four of the world’s top six players competing, with Americans Jordan Spieth and the Champion, Rickie Fowler, joining Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson. It was also

of the principle of a ‘World Tour.’ The leading players prefer to play around 21-24 tournaments per year worldwide and they will always pick the events they like to play.

Consequently they don’t get to play all the tournaments they’d really like to. But now we are in the post-Tiger Woods era, and with so many world-class players out there grabbing the headlines The European Tour should do whatever they can to rearrange their schedule a little to group their top-

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class tournaments to attract the world’s best players.

They should aim for three windows of opportunity during the calendar year. The Tour already has the Middle East Swing in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai which attract many of the leading players.

Some guys are happy to play all three tournaments in successive weeks but others choose to play two out of the three and sometimes the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters loses out for being the second event of the trio.

Gathering Momentum The second window should be concentrated around The Open Championship with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship figuring prominently.

The third group of events should be built around the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

The Final Series is gathering momentum with the tournaments in Turkey, South Africa and The Tour’s season ending climax to The Race to Dubai with prize money of $7 million, $7 million and $8 million respectively for the three events.

The Tour has been gradually working towards this goal in recent years and they have a tough task in keeping the lesser events alive for their members and for their sponsors.

Every tournament needs a minimum of three big names but that is getting more and more difficult to achieve.

The game is in good shape but it’s going to be hard going to keep everyone satisfied. n

Worldwide GOLF Columnist

David Howell

Youngsters lead the way

Impressive early season wins for Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler point to another year of youth beating experience.

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NOTHER year begins, another victory for Jordan Spieth.

This time in Hawaii at the Tournament of Champions.

What a perfect start for the man who’s on top of the world rankings. You get the distinct feeling it was like laying down a marker for his biggest rivals Jason Day and Rory McIlroy – as if to say ‘catch me if you can.’

Rory declined the opportunity to compete in that select field event and, as has become his custom, he took a good long break and started his year off at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, a tournament that has become the signal for The European Tour season to be fully underway.

What a good event it has become, bigger crowds, bigger stands, a great expat atmosphere, as good a tournament course as you will find anywhere and, of course, a world-class field.

Joining Rory were Jordan and the tracksuit bottomed, basketball-shoed Rickie Fowler. It was a look I was going to debut before he stole my anticipated glory. I will forgive him, however, as he stole everyone’s thunder by pipping the field by a single shot to win his second European Tour title in as many years.

Fulfilling one’s potential is not an easy thing to do. Fowler is doing that with ease now and will be a genuine contender for the Majors this year, which will be an exhilarating prospect for thousands of young golf fans.

Good account Rory gave a good account of himself, finishing in typical style with an eagle at the last to come third. After eight weeks off he will be relatively happy with that, I would think and I’m sure he will look forward to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic with relish on a course where he has won twice.

The top five players in the world all

bring something different to the screen at the moment, which is just what golf needs after the Tiger years.

Rory has his grace and power; Jason Day seems to bludgeon his way around a course, albeit with textbook technique; Spieth gives a masterclass each week on how to play the game – or should I say on how to score, and how to be clinical, and think, and avoid making mistakes

I hope to play my best golf in my forties, but right now the younger guys at the top of the rankings are at the peak of their powers and they will be difficult to shift from their lofty position. and win golf tournaments; while Dustin Johnson simply smashes the ball, finds it, which isn’t too hard as its normally 325 right down the middle of the fairway, and wedges it seemingly all without thinking.

Rickie brings the game to a new young audience with a swing that is so natural, while all the time gradually being improved under the watchful eye of Butch Harmon.

Rickie has a big tournament mentality and is as good as anyone down the stretch. Add Bubba Watson into the mix, with his flare and power and you have a new Big Six leading the charge (and if I could fit in Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose I would, of course). As we know, golf allows the great players to continue playing for years.

It’s unique in that way in professional

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sport, so whilst we will still see great performances from Mickelson, Els, Westwood and the like it does start to feel like they are now the supporting cast rather than the stars of the show.

I mean no disrespect in saying that.

I, too, hope to play my best golf in my forties, but right now the younger guys at the top of the rankings are at the peak of their powers and they will be difficult to shift from their lofty position.

One thing that has changed this year is the ban on anchoring the putter and only time will tell which few players of note are badly affected by this rule change.

I am a great believer that the putter should be held conventionally but I can imagine the angst for a professional like Tim Clarke, who has used the long putter his whole life. I hope he finds a way to putt just as well but in a different, more conventional style.

Great Ambassador Last month I played with Ernie Els in the South African Open and I marvel at what a great ambassador for South African golf Ernie has been.

Watching him interact with the crowd on his way around Glendower GC made me realise just how many people he has befriended over the years. The South African players flock to be around him and that’s simply because of the way he has treated them as they make their way on The Tour.

Ernie still has a true love of the game.

Although he missed the cut he stayed to present the trophy as Tournament Ambassador then duly entered the Joburg Open at the last minute to try out a cack-handed putting method, which I’m pleased to report was an improvement, he told me.

Let’s hope the Big Easy can once again make the game look easy and occasionally give the young guns a run for their money. n

ArabianGOLF NEWS FROM THE LEADING CLUBS IN THE REGION

AL AMERI DOMINATES FIRST NATIONAL MONTHLY MEDAL OF 2016 Yaslam Al Ameri dominated the first National Monthly Medal of the year at the Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club, winning the overall competition with 39 Stableford points and also the

best gross prize for his round of 83. The runner-up, on a countback, was Abdulla Al Marzooqi with third place going to Lora Al Marzooqi on 34 points.

In the ‘A’ Division (handicap 0-13) it was

THE NATIONAL JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME HOLDS WINTER CAMP IN DUBAI AND ABU DHABI The Emirates Golf Federation’s National Junior Development Programme (NJDP) has been in full swing over the winter break.

From December 20-31, the players from the NJDP have been involved in daily training sessions at the European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) at Jumeirah Golf Estates and at Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi.

National Team Coach, Greg Holmes and National Team Performance Coach David Condon joined forces with ETPI Coaches Mark Gregson-Walters, Tim Backhouse, and Mathew Parker to ensure that each player received training at the highest level.

The juniors were exposed to all areas of player development, including swing technique, pre-shot routines and course management.

National Team Performance Coach David Condon and Mohammed Abdulla Saeed discussing the slopes of a green.

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Mohammed Al Hajeri who took home the spoils with 34 Stableford points while the ‘B’ Division (handicap 14-24) was won by Reema Al Heloo for her score of 44 Stableford Points.

EGF PARTNERS UP WITH ‘TEE & PUTT’ MINI GOLF The Emirates Golf Federation has started the New Year by launching a new partnership with Tee & Putt Mini Golf.

EGF Members who produce their EGF card at one of the Tee & Putt Mini Golf facilities will now receive 15% off a round of mini golf. Tee & Putt Mini Golf will now also offer special birthday party rates for all EGF Members.

The popular mini golf franchise offers three different “glow in the dark” mini golf courses at Wafi Mall, Arabian Center, and Dalma Mall.

“This is a great way

for the EGF Members to receive more from their membership,” said Robert Fiala, EGF Sales and Marketing Manager. “Added benefits like these will bring an added value to the EGF Membership.

“This is also a great way for parents to introduce the game of golf to their kids. There is nothing better than a fun night out with the family playing Mini Golf.”

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT… ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB T

HE Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship has attracted some of the game’s biggest stars over the 10 years of its existence and last month’s tournament was no different as World No.1 Jordan Spieth succumbed to the lure of Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the first time and was joined by World No.3 Rory McIlroy along with eventual champion and new World No.4 Rickie Fowler.

While prize fund and appearance money undoubtedly play their

Thomas Bjørn

Favourite Hole: My favourite hole on this golf course has got to be Hole 9.

part, the fabulous golf course has a lot to do with the allure of the Desert Swing’s opening event.

As the action unfolded in Abu Dhabi last month, Worldwide Golf spoke to some of the professionals to find out which holes make the biggest impression on them and why. The pros also offered some tips to help us mere mortals during a round at the famous course.

Mike Weir

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th

Most Challenging Hole: Hole 14 has got to be one of the most difficult holes on the golf course.

Why? It’s a tough driving hole that leaves you with a demanding second shot. Everybody else thinks it’s tough so every time I play this hole it’s a challenge that I enjoy.

Tip for Hole 9: Hit the fairway or you’re in trouble!

Lee Slattery

Favourite Hole: It has to be the final hole – Hole 18.

18th

14th

Why? It’s a very demanding tee shot and is massive for a par 4. The hole involves a dogleg to the left and if you don’t hit the fairway from the tee, you’re not reaching the green in two shots because the rough is very penal here at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. You are lucky to hit the balls 60 or 70 yards from this. After the tee shot, you’re second shot is about 220-240 yards away from the hole so you see a lot of over par scores on the 14th.

Tip for Hole 14: Play it almost like a par 5 if you’re an amateur and stay to the right because it’s close to 500 yards. The key to this golf course is to keep the ball in the fairway because the rough is so deep.

Why? It’s a great amphitheater that can suit all types of players. The shorter hitters can still have a go at the green on their second shot so it’s a very fair par five. It’s a tight drive and then a ‘risk and reward’ second shot.

It’s a brilliant hole to conclude a round here in the UAE capital.

Tips for playing this course: You’ve really got to have a great touch with the putter to score well. The greens run around 13 on the stimpmeter, which is incredibly fast. The amateurs usually love fast greens because you have more chance of your putts rolling in.

David Horsey

7th

Favourite Hole: They have made quite a few changes at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club this year and I think a lot of them are very good. My favourite hole has now become the 7th.

Why? They have made the green much wider which brings the right flag in and the water into play so it’s a far more intriguing hole. It Tips for Hole 7: If you’re going for the green over the water, make sure you stick to the left so you avoid getting wet.

Eddie Pepperell

Favourite Hole: It’s a fantastic golf course but if I had to pick one hole it would the 18th.

18th

Why? It’s such a fun hole with a narrow drive and an eagle opportunity on the long thin green if everything goes to plan. The grandstand to the left makes it so exciting when you are playing your second shot.

The 18th is an amazing hole to finish on.

Tip: Hit the ball straight because you’re not getting very far if you land in the rough.

MARK YOUR DIARY

FEBRUARY 11

TaylorMade Putting Championship

18th

Victor Dubuisson Favourite Hole: Hole 18 is the one I enjoy the most at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Why? It’s a beautiful par five that you can reach in two if you hit a good drive.

I think it’s one of the best finishes on The European Tour.

Tip for Hole 18: I’m going to make it sound easy. Hit a driver onto the fairway, fairway wood onto the green and then two putt. Wish it was as simple as that.

Most Challenging Hole: Hole 14.

Why? Because it’s the longest par 4 on the course.

15th

Felipe Aguilar Favourite Hole: I love Hole 15.

Why? Because you see quite a few hole-inones on this par three. Most of the holes are long and can be punishing so it’s enjoyable to have an easier par three on the card.

Tips for this course: Take some power off your drives if there’s a chance of them going wayward because you’re in trouble if you land in the rough.

FEBRUARY 19

Abu Dhabi Men’s Open Day 1

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www.adgolfclub.com

+971 (0)2 558 8990

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GOLFERS’ PARADISE AT THE GOLF SHOP.

CLUBS CAN BE REPAIRED AND CUSTOMISED AT THE GOLF SHOP.

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB GENERAL MANAGER PAUL BOOTH.

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

JASON EILERD EXEMPLIFIES THE FIRST CLASS SERVICE IN THE GOLF SHOP.

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bu Dhabi Golf Club was honoured at the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show in Orange County, Florida with a prestigious Platinum Award from the Association of Golf Merchandisers in recognition of the exemplary standard of its Golf Shop.

“We’re delighted to receive this esteemed award,” said Abu Dhabi Golf Club General Manager Paul Booth. “We’re very proud of our

Golf Shop which offers a huge range of well known brands as well as official merchandise from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

“We place a great deal of emphasis on guest service and our knowledgeable sales team do a fantastic job.”

One of the highlights of Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s Golf Shop is the one-to-one custom club fitting service which allows guests to

get their clubs set up exactly right for their individual swing characteristics using state of the art TrackMan technology.

“Having your clubs correctly fitted is hugely important,” continued Booth, “and we’re delighted to have that service available on site so guests can leave with their new clubs, knowing that they are set up properly for them.”

Lee Shoots The Lights Out In The Etihad Airways Night Flight

EXCITEMENT BUILDING AHEAD OF MEN’S OPEN

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ne of the most hotly anticipated events on the Abu Dhabi Golf Club calendar is just around the corner with entries now open for the 2016 Abu Dhabi Men’s Open Sponsored by Titleist.

The 36-hole strokeplay tournament will take place on Friday 19 th and Saturday 20 th February and is open to PGA professionals and male amateurs with a handicap of 9.2 or below. One amateur hoping to join the field to defend the title he won by three shots over recent Qatar Open winner Rayhan Thomas is Craig Vance. The Englishman is currently recovering from injury but he’s hoping to regain his fitness ahead of one of the region’s most prestigious tournaments.

“After losing the much coveted Abu Dhabi Men’s Open Championship in 2014 to Craig Smith, a seasoned tour professional, I was pleased with my performance in the 2015 event although I felt I could have gone much lower with the golf I was playing at the time,” said Vance. “I’m unsure if I’m going to be able to make a title defence due to an injury I picked up at the Dubai Creek Open recently trying to keep up with Bayhaan Lakwadala’s impressive performance on the last

FEBRUARY 20

Abu Dhabi Men’s Open Final Day

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2015 ABU DHABI MEN’S OPEN CHAMPION CRAIG VANCE HOPES TO RETURN THIS YEAR

nine holes. I’ve entered the 2016 Abu Dhabi Men’s Open Championship and am hoping to make a full recovery to defend the title…. Inshallah!”

The field for the event will be capped at 78 players and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

For more information or to obtain an entry form please contact Jack Emerson at jemerson@adgolfclub.ae. The closing date for entries is February 6th, 2016.

i Ran Lee put in a stunning performance under the floodlights of holes 19 – 27 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to win the January edition of the Etihad Airways Night Flight with a score of 24 Stableford points.

In what was an incredibly close fought contest. Boja Aguirre took the runner-up spot with 23 points while Lina Tyson finished third with 22.

The Nearest the Pin was won by Miguel Marti while Aguirre was in the prizes again by winning the ‘Longest on the Runway’ challenge.

FEBRUARY 25

The Etihad Airways Night Flight

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Pro Am Professional Winner, Georg Schultes collecting his trophy from Kasia Szelag and Magdy Al Kholy.

Third Time lucky for Georg Schultes in Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am P

GA of Austria Professional, Georg Schultes, secured his maiden PGAs of Europe Tournament win after coming out on top of a two-man play-off at the 2016 Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Eastern Motors at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.

“I’ve been here since the beginning – it’s my third year here in Al Ain,” said Schultes. “I’ve finished with results of second or fourth in the first two years so I feel like I was due - I didn’t want to jinx it but it’s third time lucky, so It feels pretty good!”

The final day of the tournament lived up to all the expectation of a tight and thrilling finale . Overnight leader Schultes had a 4-shot cushion going into the final day and with his excellent record in the tournament it seemed that this was his time to build upon his previous fourth and second place finishes.

Making a move early in the day was the PGA of Austria’s Christoph Pfau who fired in five birdies and an eagle on his way to a 7-under 64, which saw him fly up the leaderboard to hold the early clubhouse lead.

Great playing conditions led to great scorescards but no one foresaw the quality of the round that was about to come from last year’s runner-up, Alex Wrigley (PGA of Great Britain and Ireland).

A phenomenal round from the member of the victorious 2015 PGA Cup team saw him soar up the leaderboard and pile the pressure on Schultes in spectacular fashion. A strong opening to his final round was followed by an even stronger back nine with a blemish-free course record of 10-under 61, leaving Schultes to face the challenge of not dropping a shot on his closing six holes.

Schultes built on his overnight score immediately with a birdie at the first before dropping a shot

at the par-5 third before returning to 9-under on the ninth. With news filtering through of Wrigley’s record-breaking round, the pressure increased as his overnight lead evaporated. Seemingly unfazed, one birdie and one bogey on his inward nine saw him finish on 9-under and join Wrigley in a tie for first place to force a play-off.

With both players just missing out on birdie putts on the first extra hole it was halved with pars. They headed back down the 18th matching each other shot for shot. Wrigley had first go at a birdie chance but his putt slipped past the hole. Schultes was left to hole the same putt he had missed in regulation but this time he holed it to compensate for near misses in previous years.

‘Really happy’

“I thought to myself the first time we played the 18th hole that he’d shot 61 so I went into it pretty open but as soon as he missed that short putt on the first play-off hole I thought I was in with a pretty decent shout,” said Schultes.

Gavin Chappell, Golf Manager at AESGC, said: “I’m really happy for Georg to finally see him win this event at his third attempt and particularly with him coming close in the previous two years.

“Commiserations to Alex on shooting an amazing 61 to make the play-off to then having to settle for the runners-up spot again as he did in 2015.

“I would also like to say a huge thank you to Mohammad Al Momani and his team at Eastern Motors for their continued support in this event as well as Aref Hamad Al Awani and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their involvement. Without thesm we would not be able to stage this hugely successful and popular event.”

Mohammed Al Momani, General Manager of Eastern Motors, said: “Congratulations to Georg

Schultes and the entire team! It’s been an exciting and unique tournament this year with 20 different nationalities including Emiratis taking part. We are truly pleased to be a part of this elite sport as it is in line with our Mercedes-Benz brand persona as the authorised dealership.

“Golf is gaining more ground in Al Ain, and the UAE at large, corroborating that our efforts of engaging with the community these last few years has been successful. We are looking forward to seeing new players emerge and existing professionals to reach their athletic goals.”

In the Team Tournament Rockliffe Hall’s team led by PGA Assistant Professional Jonny Dye, completed a wire-to-wire victory after a closing 87 points (-15) built on their four-point overnight lead to win the title for the first time.

In second place was Rockliffe’s Head Professional, Jonathan Stacey, who had valiantly stayed in touching distance of Jonny and his team but their closing 86 points (-14) was not quite

Pro-Am Team Winners, (left to right) Richard Roper, Tanny Sinfield, enough.

Tim Walker and Jonny Dye with Kasia Szelag and Magdy Al Kholy.

P72 ARABIAN GOLF ▶

A RABIAN RANCHES GOL F C LUB CREEK JUNIORS WIN AT ARABIAN RANCHES Arabian Ranches hosted

ARGC their annual Junior Team Invitational last month with seven teams represented from across the UAE. Held in a unique format on the Academy Par 3 course, teams of six players from each club pair up to play a 2-player scramble with each pairing’s score added together to form a team total. Coming out on top was the team from Dubai Creek with a score of 155 as they finished ahead of the team representing the Butch Harmon School of Golf by two

strokes. In third place was Arabian Ranches with 185 while Emirates Golf Club took fourth place with a score of 190. Saadiyat Beath and Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club finished in a share of fifth while The Address Montgomerie Dubai finished in last place.

The event, which has been hailed a great addition to the junior golf development at Arabian Ranches is now in its fourth year and is sponsored by the JTS Medical Centre.

McLENNAN AND RAMAGE CROWNED NEW YEARS DAY CHAMPIONS ARGC DOUGLAS McLennan

and Eddie Ramage wer crowned the New Years Day 2-Player Strokeplay Scramble champions after a superb performance saw them score a

gross 63 for a net 60 and a 1.4 shot victory over Kevin Barrett and Chris Miller. Taking third place on the day was the duo of Mark Kenaghan and Ian Souter due to their score of 62.3

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S H A R JA H G O LF & S H O O T I N G C LU B JUNIOR OMAR SHINES IN MIDWEEK MEDAL SGSC Junior member Omar Karim

captured his first title of the year after shooting a nine hole total of net 30 to win the Centro Sharjah by Rotana Midweek Medal supported by Mekar.

Division 1 saw Namir Al Naimi shine with a superb score of net 36 while Division 2 was won by Gary Hibbert for his effort of net 36.

RED FACES FOR THE MANAGEMENT, BEATEN

BY TWO TEAMS IN FOUR PLAYER SCRAMBLE ARGC THE annual beat the

management four player scramble was held recently with over 16 teams turning out in the hope of claiming a rare victory over the management team.

The management team consisted of Malcolm Young, Scott Clelland, Stephen Scott and Russell Hewitt and they set out hoping to deny the members any bragging rights.

They started well and despite a

wobble on the long par-3 seventh they posted a net score of 61.

However, two teams scored better to leave the management team with red faces. The two teams both scored net 60.8 and after a countback it was the team of Mark Evans, Colette Doughty, Detlef Proschold and Nicola Brown who took the overall spoils ahead of Aaron Birch, Neil Armitage, Roland Roth and Siba Shakib.

AWESOME ADRIAN’S THE MAN IN UNITECHNIK STABLEFORD Adrian Manning returned 37

SGSC Stableford points to win the

recent edition of the Unitechnik Monthly Stableford by a single point over Hans Ettengruber.

Ettengruber however took some consolation in claiming the Division 2 title while Division A was won by Shaheen Butt who finished on 34 points.

AL AIN EQUESTRIAN SHOOTING & GOLF CLUB

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S HARJ AH GOLF & SHO O TING C LUB

THREE ACES TAKE THEIR TROPHIES FOR 2015

Y.D. KIM WINS THIRD ORIENT MONTHLY MEDAL

THE Academy course

AESGC witnessed three aces in 2015

The third Orient Travel – SGSC Malaysia Truly Asia Monthly Medal saw Y.D. Kim sign for for a superb score of net 68 to take the event by six shots over runner-up Mike Robson.

from three very keen young golfers.

Brothers Peter and Daniel Whittaker both holed out for aces last year and so too did Benjamin Abbott.

Bogdan Schiopu, Daniel Whittaker, Peter Whittaker, Benjamin Abbott and Charmaine Bakker.

DOMINIC FOLLOWS IN FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS Dominic Manning followed

SGSC in his father’s footsteps by capturing the Unitechnik Monthly Stableford for January, with 40 points to win the same event his father won a month earlier. The Division A title went to Vice Captain Vivian Verma for his score of 38 points while the Division B title went to Gary Hibbert also with 38 points.

RAMESH RUNS HOME WITH FIRST WIN OF THE YEAR

Ramesh Wijerattne claimed

SGSC his first victory of the year

in the latest Coral Beach Resort Midweek Stableford thanks to a superb nine hole tally of 20 points.

The Division 1 title was claimed

by Namir Al Naimi who carded 17 points with runner-up going to Tony Bang for his 15 points.

In Division 2 it was Timothy Craig who scored 19 points to win by a single point over Omar Karim.

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YAS LINKS GO L F C LUB CROMBIE CLINCHES THE AUDI MEDAL ALASTAIR Crombie shot

YLGC a fantastic 76 to take the overall gross prize in the first Audi Medal of 2016. In Division ‘A’ Daniel Griffiths shot a net 71 to win by two from junior member Jonathan Selvaraj while in Division ‘B’ Jon Broadhead defeated his wife on a countback to take the spoils after the happy couple both finished with a net score of 70.

JEFF GLASGOW FLIES OFF WITH SUPERB MEDAL VICTORY AESGC JEFF Glasgow clinched the

honours in Division ‘A’ of last month’s Etihad Airways Monthly Medal with a superb net 66 for a three-shot win over Men’s Captain Erik Smith. Sakura Kawakami took third place in the top division with a score of 70 while in Division ‘B’ Ian Mines shot a 71 to win by two

strokes from John Walters.

Division ‘C’ saw Neville Bakker take the spoiles with a fantastic 64, four strokes clear of Ron Gladish and Stephen Thornton who took second and third place respectively after a countback. The top gross score on the day came from Nick Poisat with a 71.

GARBUTTS WIN A&B DIVISIONS IN HERTZ SOCIAL STEPHEN Garbutt signed

AESGC for a haul of 20 points to top

LEAR ON TOP IN ETIHAD OPEN YLGC YAS Links guest Neil Lear

stole in with a stronger back nine to deny Kia Hing-Tan and take the spoils in Division ‘A’ at last month’s Etihad Open.

Both players scored 36 Stableford points but Lear’s better inward nine saw him take the title with Gregory Cox third, one point further back.

In Division ‘B’ Richard Henderson took the top spot with an excellent score of 39 points, one ahead of James Forsythe with Abdullah Al Marzooqi in third place with 37 points.

the pile in Division ‘A’ of the Hertz Thursday Social recently, one point clear of Jimmy Shanahan with Larry Benson in third place on 18 points.

Lady Captain Martine Garbutt clinched the honours in Division ‘B’

with a score of 19 points, one clear of Ian Mines with Kenny Franklin in third place.

In Division ‘C’ Shaon Cotgrave took the spoils by one point ahead of Mark Grant with a score of 19 points with Tom Leach settling for third place.

P75 ARABIANGOLF CONARES GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE G.O.D.S & VIKINGS STILL THE SOCIETIES TO CATCH THE G.O.D.S sit at the top of the Conares league with 15 points but having played all their games they are in danger of being overtaken by the Dubai Exputts 1 and the South African GS. The Exputts 1 joined the G.O.D.S on 15 points and have two games in hand while the South African

GS sit three points off the lead with two fixtures remaining. The D.I.G.S and Happy Hookers are well adrift at the bottom of the table with just three points each.

In the BMW league, the newly formed Vikings Society held onto their lead while the GOATS

Conares League

Played

Won

Lost

Tied

Points

G.O.D.S Dubai Exputts 1 South African D.I.G.S Happy Hookers

8 6 6 6 6

5 5 4 1 1

3 1 2 5 5

0 0 0 0 0

15 15 12 3 3

made their move and now sit just two points behind the leaders. Third placed G.T.I and fourth placed Lamprell both have a chance of qualifying for the play-offs and face each other in the next round of fixtures. The Kegs have played all their matches and sit in last place on six points.

Vikings Golf Society

6

4

2

0

12

Vikings Golf Society GOATS Golf Society G.T.I Golf Society Lamprell The Kegs Dubai

6 6 6 6 8

4 3 3 2 2

2 2 3 3 6

0 1 0 1 0

12 10 9 7 6

PICTURED FAR LEFT: Frederik Anderson, Jaydeep Sarkar, Aslam Semaar and Sinar Suraj before play.

PICTURED LEFT: Raseed Ahmed, Daya-Riaan Sallie, Raymi Van Der Spek and Martin Geskes line-up prior to play.

ASEAN AND SPORT2BUSINESS TOP THEIR LEAGUES ALL the societies in both the SNTTA and Worldwide Golf Leagues have now collected some valuable points after the first set of fixtures following the New Year break in the Conares Golf Society League.

Leading the charge after round three in the SNTTA League is the Asean GS after claiming both their games on the 18th hole. Ramli Sulaiman and Saifulnizam Saion managed to just shade their match against the Mushdash pairing of David Loftus and Didier Sanders while the other fixture was settled with a 25-footer on the final hole as Capt Zein and SNTTA Travel League Asean Dubai ExPutts 2 Gulf Rock Kingspan Mustdashdubai

Jumadi Husani overcame Wayne Classen and his partner Suman.

The battle for second spot is intriguing as both Gulf Rock and Dubai ExPutts 2 shared the points in their head-to-head fixtures to leave them locked in second place on 9 points each.

In the Worldwide Golf League Sport2Business claimed two wins again to build up a six point lead over the other four teams in the group. Randall Mohammed and Sam Dormer played their best golf to take down Sharjah Golf Members top pairing with a 7-up victory while Joerg Muller and Fathi Al

Played

Won

Lost

Tied

Points

4 6 6 4 4

4 3 3 1 1

0 3 3 3 3

0 0 0 0 0

12 9 9 3 3

PICTURED RIGHT: Players from the SGSC Society and Sport2Business smile for a photo before teeing off.

PICTURED FAR RIGHT: Teams from Asean and Mustdash pose for a photograph before going head-to-head.

Worldwide Golf League Sports2Business Indian Expats Woestyn Boere Hackers Naboodah SGB Sharjah Golf Members

Busaidy had a difficult battle against Namir Al Naimi and Micheal Vinas but managed to get the better of the duo down the stretch to seal a 3-up win.

In the other fixture the Naboodah SGB and the Indian Expats shared three points apiece with a win each.

Vivian Verma and Sanjoy Das clinched a win for the Expats on the 15th hole against Andy Karaninski and Alan McNamata but the Naboodah SGB pairing of Kevin Perrins and Joe Farina won their match against A.M Khan and Ravi A.E after a keenly fought match.

Played

Won

Lost

Tied

Points

6 4 4 4 6

4 2 2 2 1

1 1 2 2 5

1 1 0 0 0

13 7 6 6 3

P76 ARABIAN GOLF ▶

T O W ER LINKS G O LF CL UB

BICKELL AND BIDDLECOMBE ARE SIMPLY THE BEST TLGC CAVAN Bickell and David Biddlecombe teamed up to clinch an easy

win in the recent Links Betterball Stableford tournament. The duo notched an impressive six-point win over Gavin Brown and his partner Partha with Jihad Azzam and Simon Payne taking third place on 39 points.

ROBBIE AND ANDY SHOOT THE LIGHTS OUT ROBBIE Cunningham and Andy Cormack decimated the field in the recent 2-player Turkey Shoot as they posted a net score of

FANTASTIC FADY HITS TOP FORM FADY Azzam sealed a

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R AS AL HAM RA GOL F C LUB , MUS C AT

YOUNGSTER ELLIOT’S AMAZING HOLE IN ONE clearly a promising golf talent. He has the potential to be an excellent player. Gary, who is the Vice Captain here, always ensures that Elliot plays the game the right way. He is very enthusiastic and has a great attitude for one so young.

“Given the right opportunities, he could develope into a very good golfer. His father is keen that Elliot progresses in the game and encourages him at every opportunity.”

Elliot is currently a student at the British School Muscat and currently has a handicap of 24.

“My hero is Rory McIlroy - I like his style,” he said. “I want to become a golfer once I leave school.”

Biddlecombe in the recent weekly social after both players returned a haul of 19 Stableford points. With both players tied at the top it was Azzam who eventually prevailed by one stroke in the resulting card countback. Cavan Bickell and Joe Wivou were also in contention but finished one point shy of the overall winning total.

Finishing in last place on the night with just eight points was the unfortunate Ahmad Mustapha, and for his trouble he went home with the wooden spoon.

WIVOU AND AZZAM VICTORIOUS JOE Wivou rolled back the

TLGC years as he found himself back in the winner’s circle with a much anticipated victory in the Gross Division of the December Challenge.

Wivou shot a 78 to win by seven from J.I. Park and Cavan Bickell who took second and third place respectively after a countback.

In the net division Jihad Azzam shot a superb 69 and after a more fruitful inward nine he was handed the trophy ahead of Ashutosh Shukla who had to settle for second place.

JU M E I R A H G O LF E S TAT E S

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TWELVE-year-old Elliot Battersby accomplished a hole-in-one at the Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, Oman, recently on the par-3 13th hole during a social event, with his father Gary, brother Sam and Club Captain Geoff Murray looking on in astonishment.

The fourball knew Elliot’s crisp 7-iron to the 128-yard hole was close, but didn’t realise until they got to the green that he had holed it – a feat father Gary is still trying to achieve after a lifetime playing golf.

“We were not sure about it until we got closer to the green. It was an amazing achievement for the young lad,” said Murray. “Elliot is

RAH

TLGC countback win over David

30.62 to finish well clear of David Biddlecombe and Derek Fisher, with Jihad Azzam and Jiho Park taking third place.

KORNESKI CROWNED JGE MEDAL CHAMPION Kayleigh Korneski was crowned the JGE Members Medal Finals Champion after scoring a net 71 over the Earth course.

Simon Howells took the best gross prize with his score of 80 while Division ‘A’ was won by Shankar Majrekar for his score of net 74.

In Division ‘B’ it was Richard Billington who came out on top with a score of net 76.

With Korneski already securing the overall title, the Ladies division was won by Michelle Walsh-Hall as she recorded a net 76.

JGE

HEMRAJ THE HERO AT MONTHLY MEDAL Aqeel Hemraj carded a stunning round of net 68 to win the January Members Monthly Medal by three shots from Gianluca Sparacino.

In Division ‘A’ it was Hisham Shammas who edged out Terry Waite in a countback after both players finished their rounds on net 74.

Debbie Murray romped to a comprehensive victory in the Ladies draw, finishing ten shots clear of Bernadete Futschik after signing for a net 73.The best gross score of the day went to Joshua Hill who signed for a gross 73.

JGE

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D U BAI CREEK G O LF CL UB AL HAKIM AND MARGHOOB RECORD CAPTAINS DAY WIN DCGYC The annual Captains Day at Dubai Creek

SUPER SACCHINI LANDS BIG BRAND LADIES MONTHLY MEDAL

The first Big Brands Ladies Monthly Medal

DCGYC of 2016 ended with Daniella Sacchini

Golf & Yacht Club honoured Men’s Club Captain Joeseph Ghossub and Ladies Captain Harini White.

In the end it was the team of Aziz Al Hakim and Jamal Bin Marghoob who stormed to victory with a tally of 42 Stableford points. Tobias Parkin and Bayhaan Lakdawala finished runners-up on 40 points while David Gowans and Joy Lirio clinched third spot.

Joseph Ghossoub (2015 Club Captain, Dubai Creek), Aziz Al Hakim and Jamal Bin Marghoob (Winners), Harini White (2015 Ladies Captain, Dubai Creek)

BHARIA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS HIS JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

carding a superb 1-over par round of net 72 to secure a four shot victory over Paula Savage. Haide Write took home third place while Glory Xavier claimed the best gross score of the day thanks to her round of 92.

Arkesh Bhatia successfully defended his

DCGYC title at the Junior Club Championship,

defeating Junior Club Captain Dhruv Nair to win the prestigious 36-hole tournament for the second straight year.

Rishi Nair was the overall winner in the net category with Adam Savage and Tyra Sabharwal finishing joint runners-up. Eshna Bhargava was crowned Girls Junior Club Champion.

NAIR SNARES MASHREQ MEDAL CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL The Grand Final of the Mashreq Medal

DCGYC Championships saw Dhruv Nair coming out on top to secure a tense two-shot victory over fellow Dubai Creek member Henna Jodha with David White taking third place.

Pictured above:: Rashid Hamood (DCGYC Assistant Golf Experience Manager), Vanessa North (DCGYC Ladies’ Captain), Dhruv Nair (Mashreq Medal Championship Grand Final Winner), Pat Morrow (DCGYC Men’s Captain) and Stephen Hubner (DCGYC Director of Golf Operations).

LAKDAWALA EDGES OMEGA CREEK MEN’S OPEN FOR FIRST EGF WIN Bayhaan Lakdawala was crowned

DCGYC the OMEGA Dubai Creek Men’s Open Champion after edging out Craig Vance in a thrilling finale to the first EGF Order of Merit event of 2016. Lakdawala’s two-day total of gross 143 was four shots better than runner-up Vance’s score while Miki Mirza took third place with 148.

In the net division it was Jamal Saab who took the top prize with a final two-day total of 139 to defeat John Fellingham by seven shots. Steven Kelbrick took third place for his total of net 152.

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E MIRATES GOL F C LUB

WESTLEY BURKE WINS OMA EMIRATES JANUARY MEDAL Westley Burke emerged as the overall victor of the OMA Emirates January Medal, carding a 5 under par net 67 to prevail by four shots over runner-up Gokul Mani. In the ‘A’ Division (handicap 0-10) it was Mani who secured a one-stroke victory with a net 71 to finish one shot ahead of runner-up Kush Sama.

The ‘B’ division (handicap 11-20) category was won by Westley Burke as finished five shots clear of Mike Butler while Raj Janardhan took the ‘C’ Division (handicap 21-28) crown with a net 72.

The best gross score of the day belonged to Ewan Cameron for the second consecutive month with a four over par round of 76.

EGC

HARRADINE CLINCHES THE EMIRATES AMATEUR OPEN Michael Harradine claimed the 27th Omega Emirates Amateur Open as he defeated Bayhaan Lakdawala by four shots to win the event for the second time in three years.

Harradine’s two-day seven under par tournament total of 137 was enough for him to edge out Lakdawala in an exciting finish which saw Rayhan Thomas take third place.

EGC

Winner Westley Burke with EGC Director of Golf Barney Coleman.

BHANDOPADHYAY TAKES FIRST MEDAL OF 2016 Rekha Bhandopadhyay came out on top in the year’s first Monthly Medal, taking the Silver ‘A’ Division (hcp 0-14) by four strokes over runner-up Fiona Berry. Lynne Dickenson topped the Silver ‘B’ Division while Kiyono Taniuchi sealed the Bronze Division.

EGC

P78 ARABIAN GOLF ▶

A L HAM RA GOLF CL UB FANTASTIC FOY TAKES NEW YEARS CUP Rob Foy got his New Year off

AHGC to a fantastic start by scoring 41 Stableford points to win the New Years Cup by two points over Gary Newell.

Foy carded 20 points on the front

nine and 21 points on the back nine, including a stunning net albatross on the final hole to seal the win in some style. Ma Lin Min took home third place in a countback over fourth placed Faheem Janjua.

JOHN KIDDIE TAKES MONTHLY MEDAL John Kiddie continued his

AHGC domination of Al Hamra’s

season long Order of Merit by clinching the December Monthly Medal thanks to a winning score of gross 84. Second place went to Niilo

Maki-Petaja who finished just one shot behind. In the net division it was Pierre Lefebvre who came out on top in a countback over Anette Lagerberg after both players carded identical rounds of net 71.

STEWART AND IVALL EXCEL IN FIRST MEDAL OF 2016 Brian Stewart carded an impressive round of

AHGC gross 76 to win the January Monthly Medal

by a single shot over runner-up Niilo Maki-Petaja.

Third place went to Dave Faulkner for his score of gross 79.

In the net division it was Steve Ivall who edged out Mike Dunn on a countback after both players carded rounds of net 70. Mohammed Darwish was just one shot back as he took third spot.

KENNETH FLYNN SHINES IN BLACK TEE CHALLENGE Kenneth Flynn took top honours at the

AHGC annual Black Tee Challenge at Al Hamra Golf Club, carding an excellent round of gross 84 to edge out runner-up Fredrick Fender by a single shot.

In the net division it was Brian Stewart who took top spot for his round of 75 while Morten Fender finished in second place with a score of net 80.

Terri Stewart topped the Ladies Gross Division with a score of 93, beating fellow member Rita Englebrecht in a countback.

The ladies net division was won by Diana Brown for her round of 79.

RITA AND ERIC ENGELBRECHT BAG CHRISTMAS SCRAMBLE AHGC Rita and Eric Engelbrecht carded a net score of 66.6 to narrowly win the two-man Christmas

Scramble over runners-up Dave Faulkner and Tony Cox. Third place went to John Kiddie and Mike Dunn who finished the competition with a net score of 67. 2

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P81 ARABIANGOLF ▶

T HE ROYAL GO L F C LUB

LADY CAPTAINS DRIVE-IN A GREAT SUCCESS Winning BANZ Group team of (left to right) Royal Golf Club’s Director of Golf Philip Waine; Club Captain Jason Smith, John Boland and Peter O’Brien.

BANZ GROUP TEAM WINS THE ROYAL GC PRO AM The BANZ Group team clinched

TRGC first place in the Royal Golf

Club’s 2016 Pro-Am tournament with an excellent team score of eight under par. The team, led by the Royal Golf Club’s Director of Golf and PGA Professional Philip Waine, comprised Club Captain Jason Smith along with John Boland and Peter O’Brien. They sealed a one-stroke

win over a team from Wadi Al Saeed Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, comprising professional Paul Stent along with Joshua Olson, Gregory Kortzman and Nadir Youssif while the team of RGC Teaching Professional Juan Fuentes led his Seef Dental team of Mike McKinzie, Mel Knotts and Hanne Hansen to third place on six under par.

AHMEN AND HOBDAY GET IT DONE ON NATIONAL DAY TRGC BAHRAINI Farooq Ahmed

and his British playing partner Barry Hobday won the 13th annual National Day Golf Tournament, sponsored this year

by Audi Centre Bahrain, for the first time in five attempts playing together, after compiling an aggregate total of 85.

The duo, who had teamed up for four of the last five National Day Tournaments, scored 41 points

on day one and 44 on day two for their winning tally, which was good enough for a one-point win over Mohamed Al Khalifa and Sanjay Lal. Third place went to Saqer Al Noaimi and Bijan Majidi after they failed to build on an excellent opening score of 44, managing only 40 on day two to lose out on a countback for the silver medal position.

Nick Oswald, Regional Sales Manager for Audi Middle East with winners Farooq Ahmed and Barry Hobday, and Steven Hill, General Manager, Motors Division, Behbehani Bros. W.L.L

TRGC THE team of Debbie Lane, Tabea Lutz, Mary Fox and Clare McMenamin

clinched first place in the Royal Golf Club’s annual Ladies Captain Drive-In event with a team net score of 60.6. The tournament, which marked the official handover of the Club Captaincy from the previous year’s Ladies Captain Anne Quintino to 2016 Ladies Captain Karin Lutz, was played in the Texas Scramble format and in addition to prizes for the top teams a cheque for BD 3251 was presented to the Palm Association’s Chairperson, Karen Tennant. This was the sum raised through various golf events last year at the Royal Golf Club in aid of the Bahrain-based charity.

ULTRA LOW SCORES IN HOGMANAY HACK TRGC THE four player team of Yaseen

Le Falher, Saud Al Sharif, Eid Meftah and Taimur Malik compiled an excellent net 55.9 to win the annual Hogmanay Hack tournament. Finishing second with a 56.7 was the team of Ali Al Kowari, Khalifa Daij, Ahmed Mohamed and Ali Al Hakam with third place going to Barry Hobday, Andy Love, Sam Hobday and Stewart Hutchinson on 61.8.

Category 1 winner Majid (left) with Phil Waine, Royal Golf Club Director of Golf

YOUSIF MAJID WINS CAPTAINS’ DAY DRIVE-IN TRGC YOUSIF Majid narrowly topped

the pile in category one of the 2016 Captains’ Drive-In Tournament with a score of 36 stableford points, one clear of Peter O’Brien.

In the second category Arun Varma took the spoils with a one-point win over Naeem Ulla Khan with 35 points while a score of 38 points was good enough for Jamie Bowen to clinch the honours in category three.

Around 60 Members competed in the Individual Stableford tournament which was held to mark the official start of the new tenure of the Club’s Captains.

This year Jason Smith will be representing the golfing gents while Karin Lutz represents the ladies.

The two captains made their official drives off the 10th tee and competitors had the chance to buy

Winner Yousif Majid pictured with Royal Golf Club Director of Golf Philip Waine.

a flag in advance and use it to mark where they thought the captains’ drives would land. The money raised from the flag sales were donated to the Captains’ chosen charities.

The Arch London is a luxurious Georgian townhouse hideaway in the heart of Central London. A regular resident amongst the top ten hotels in the capital on TripAdvisor, the officially rated five star property is renowned as one of London’s best kept secrets for those in the know. The hotel is tucked away on a calm residential street a stone’s throw from the city bustle of Bond Street, Hyde Park and the West End and spans seven Grade II listed former Georgian townhouses and two mews homes.

English heritage is fused with contemporary boutique design in the decor, which features walls covered in eye-catching hand-made wallpaper and artwork by rising British talents. The interior of the foyer is quietly glamorous, boasting studded leather, statement artwork, marble and glass, and a specially commissioned video painting of iconic London scenes is digitally projected. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ and Pride of Britain, the hotel boasts 82 bedrooms, including four sumptuous suites spread over six floors. Spacious interconnecting rooms are on offer for families or larger groups.

Guestrooms are all light, airy and spacious with high Georgian ceilings. The hotel also boasts a warm, opulent Martini Library lounge area for guests to enjoy fine cocktails or Afternoon Tea. Plus, Hunter 486 restaurant, which is named after the 1950s dialing code for Marylebone and offers a ‘Best of British’ inspired menu. Designed with an air of nostalgic London glamour, the restaurant features gleaming leather booths, blown glass chandeliers and statement artwork.

www.thearchlondon.com Worldwide GOLF 83

STYLE&TRAVEL

on course with

tim henman hsbc ambassador tim henman talks golf at abu dhabi golf club Richard Bevan caught up with the former world no.4 and discovered another sport that he is incredibly talented in and passionate about.

Worldwide GOLF 83

STAR SPOTTING: TIM HENMAN EMIRATES COMPETITION DRIVING RANGE TEE TIMES ‘FAVOURITE FIVE’: MIKE WEIR

84 87 88 91 92

TENNIS ISN’T THE ONLY SPORT THAT HAS PLAYED A BIG PART IN TIM HENMAN’S LIFE.

TIM HENMAN: NOT JUST ACE WITH A RACQUET “I’VE PLAYED A COUPLE OF COURSES IN THE UAE AND BECAUSE I WATCH SO MUCH GOLF ON TELEVISION, IT’S GREAT TO ACTUALLY TEST THEM OUT IN PERSON.” TIM HENMAN

O

VER a decade ago, Tim Henman was Britain’s tennis gem as he rose all the way up to world No.4, reaching six Grand Slam semis and winning 15 career ATP titles along the way. However, since he hung up his racquet in 2007, golf has become a favourite pastime of Henman’s. This isn’t just a hobby for the former serve-and-volley maestro, the 41 year old is a plus-handicapper. Worldwide Golf spoke to the talented star before he went out and competed in the Pro-Am on the practice day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Worldwide Golf: Have you always been interested in golf or is it something you picked up after retiring from tennis?

Tim Henman: Golf was actually a big part of my life when I was a kid. Back then my family used to holiday in Portugal quite a lot and from the age of five or six I played lots of golf. I continued to play and often found the time to play while I was on the tennis tour. Now I’ve got a bit more free time, I play more golf than I do tennis. Midland Bank sponsored me when I was 21 playing tennis and then they

Worldwide GOLF 84

became a part of HSBC. I’ve been lucky enough to come to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for the last six years. It’s a brilliant event with some of the best players in the world, a great course and some sunshine so it’s always a pleasure to come back.

WWG: Do you enjoy playing on courses in the United Arab Emirates?

TH: The courses here in the UAE are fantastic. I’ve played Yas Links, which is a really nice course. I’ve played a couple in Dubai and because I watch so much golf on television, it’s great to actually test out the courses in person. When I compete in the Pro-Ams, I get to experience what the rough is like for tournament conditions and the speed of the greens so it’s an amazing challenge.

WWG: Do you think the Race to Dubai concept works?

TH: I think it’s worked very well. It’s given all the players a focal point – they all start from zero at the beginning of the season and the person that accumulates the most points at the end is European No.1.

S TA R S POT T I N G

WHAT IS YOUR HANDICAP? I currently play off +1.

HENMAN WARMING UP FOR A PRO-AM AT THE ABU DHABI HSBC CHAMPIONSHIP 2016.

HOW MANY SCRATCH GOLFERS ARE THERE? ACCORDING TO THE USGA, 1.6-PERCENT OF MALE GOLFERS WITH A USGA HANDICAP INDEX HAVE INDEXES OF ZERO OR BETTER. AMONG WOMEN GOLFERS, THE PERCENTAGE IS EVEN SMALLER: 0.37-PERCENT. SO THE PERCENTAGE OF GOLFERS WHO ARE SCRATCH IS VERY, VERY SMALL.

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS? I drive the ball well and strike it okay.

ANY WEAKNESSES? I definitely need to hole a few more putts. I think my putting is average.

FANTASY FOURBALL: Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Nicolas Colsaerts (because he’s standing behind you!)

FAVOURITE GOLFER TO WATCH: I really enjoy watching Rory play on Tour. I’ve been able to see him play up close and personal here in Abu Dhabi and the way he strikes the ball, it’s such a free-flowing swing.

And he hits his driver a lot which I like! He’s the most impressive.

ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT GOLF BEING AN OLYMPIC SPORT? It’s going to take time for the situation with golf and the Olympics to evolve. If you go back to the mid-80s when tennis was a trial sport in Los Angeles in ‘84 and then a main Olympic event in ‘88 in Seoul I think tennis players were thinking along similar lines to golfers this year. Tennis players grew up watching and wanting to win the Grand Slam titles – just like golfers want the Majors. Now, you fast forward 30 odd years and see the reaction to Andy Murray winning Gold in London in 2012 and Nadal winning in Beijing – tennis at the Olympics has really established itself as a huge moment on the calendar. I’m sure golf will take a little bit of time but it’ll be good for the game.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT

TWO OF THE GREATEST BRITISH TENNIS PLAYERS TEAM UP - TIM HENMAN AND ANDY MURRAY.

WorldwideGolf WorldwideGolf

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BE INSPIRED The ball rises in to the air, with the azure sky and turquoise sea providing the perfect backdrop. It’s a magical moment. Next it rolls towards the hole - Eagle!

You will always remember these golf course gems, designed to perfection in the Indian Ocean.

MAURITIUS

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SEYCHEL L ES

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MALDIVES

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MADAGASCAR

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Win

CO M P E T I T I O N

1 x VIP hospitality pass and a place in the 2016 Hero Indian Open Pro-Am with Emirates Airline To enter go to www.worldwide.golf and answer this question: Which golf course will stage this year’s Hero Indian Open from March 17 -20?

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THE NEW PORSCHE

718

IN THE 20 years since its debut, the Porsche Boxster has established itself as the benchmark roadster. Today, a new generation of the mid-engined two-seater is unveiled, powered by a newly-developed range of flat four cylinder turbocharged ‘boxer’ engines. At the same time, Porsche have rebranded the models as the 718 Boxster and 718 Boxster S. These new models continue the tradition of the Porsche 718 mid-engined sports cars that won numerous races in the 1950s and 1960s, powered by four-cylinder ‘boxter’ engines. It also sits neatly beside the established sports car icons with numbered identities – 718 Boxster, 911 Carrera, 918 Spyder, 919 Hybrid.

More powerful yet more fuel efficient, the centrepiece of the new model series is the 718 Boxster which develops 300 hp (220 kW) from its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine. The 718 Boxster S has a 2.5-litre engine, which develops 350 hp (257 kW), its greater power literally boosted by its use of a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. In fact, Porsche is now the only manufacturer to offer this technology in production cars with petrol engines, both in the 911 Turbo and 718 Boxster S.

Power gain The considerable power gain of 35 hp (26 kW) compared to the previous Boxster models is matched by the impressive efficiency of the new turbo engines. The new 718 Boxster models have fuel economy improvements of up to 13 per cent.

Complementing the more powerful engines is new suspension tuning and uprated brakes, ensuring the characteristically dynamic and emotive Boxster driving experience remains distinctive.

The exterior design of the new model line has also advanced comprehensively. The vehicle has been completely revised, except for the luggage compartment lids, the windscreen and the powered convertible roof.

Inside, a newly-designed dash panel frames the cockpit. In addition, the latest generation of Porsche Communication Management (PCM) has state-of-the-art touchscreen and mobile phone preparation included as standard. The navigation module is available as an option.

Besides the advanced design, the enhanced standard equipment of the new 718 Boxster makes the new generation models even more attractive.

Efficient turbo power from four cylinders The addition of a turbocharger significantly boosts torque. The pull of the 2.0-litre engine in the 718 Boxster has increased by nearly a quarter versus the prior model, with 380 Nm of torque (a gain of 100 Nm) available from 1,950 rpm to 4,500 rpm. In the case of the 2.5-litre engine in the 718 Boxster S, this generates 420 Nm (60 Nm more) across a speed range from 1,900 rpm to 4,500 rpm.

Consequently, the new 718 Boxster models sprint even faster. The 718 Boxster – with optional PDK double-clutch automatic transmission and the Sport Chrono Package – sprints from 0 – 62 mph in 4.7 seconds (0.8 seconds quicker). The equivalent 718 Boxster S accomplishes this in 4.2 seconds (0.6 seconds faster). The top speed of the 718 Boxster is 275 km/h (170 mph), and the 718 Boxster S has a top speed of 285 km/h (177 mph).

Improved fuel consumption The Porsche turbo concept is boosting driving performance while improving fuel economy. In the 718 Boxster, the four-cylinder flat engine with PDK has a NEDC Combined fuel consumption figure of 40.9 mpg (5.1 mpg more than the previous model). In the 718 Boxster S, the 2.5-litre turbo engine with PDK returns 38.7 mpg Combined (4.3 mpg more than the previous model).

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D R I V I N G RA N G E

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Luxury in the heart of the Golf Community Located just a ‘9-iron’ from Jumeirah Golf Estates (home to The European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship) and The Els Club and within easy reach of Arabian Ranches, the Ghaya Grand is the perfect choice for your Dubai golfing break. We offer our guests outstanding service with quality standards in a 5-star deluxe hotel. Moreover the true soul of Ghaya Grand is its innovative concept, which ensures that each stay at Ghaya Grand Hotel is an extraordinary experience To book your personal tour, call +971 (0) 4 429 3300 IMPZ (Tecom), Dubai, UAE | info@ghayagrandhotel.com | www.ghayagrandhotel.com

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TEE TIMES

VIBRANT COLOURS AND STYLE MAKE OMEGA PLOPROF STAND OUT The OMEGA Ploprof has long cemented its place as OMEGA’s most water-resistant divers’ watch, surviving and performing under the crushing pressures of the ocean since 1970. In fact, even the famous ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau experimented on the OMEGA Ploprof, using it to test man’s physical and psychological capacities under water.

In 2009, the Ploprof was reintroduced with a modern update, submergible to a depth of 1200 metres and featuring the revolutionary OMEGA Co-Axial movement.

This year, the unique model is back as the “Ploprof OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer”, with four dramatic editions that add even more new technology and aesthetic allure. In all models, the case is built from titanium (around 40% lighter than stainless steel and more resistant to corrosion). The polished mesh bracelet is titanium too, and comes with a reassuring “Sharkproof” title. Rubber versions of the straps can also be added in corresponding colours. On the bezel of each model, Super LumiNova has been added to illuminate the watch in dark conditions.

• In the first unique Ploprof model of 2015, the case is combined with 18K Sedna™ gold on the bezel, crown and security pusher, as well as the hands and indexes. A polished blue bezel has been added with OMEGA Ceragold™ numerals, and the piece is completed by a captivating blue lacquered dial.

• The second version instantly stands out for its polished electric blue ceramic bezel ring and lacquered white dial which complements the orange aluminium and varnished blue hands.

• A third model continues the theme of titanium by using it on the dial, and includes a grey silicon nitride bezel ring with orange aluminium and varnished white hands completing the look.

• Finally, a darker model of the Ploprof features a lacquered black dial, polished black ceramic bezel ring and the same orange aluminium and varnished white hands as the previous model.

These new editions have also been updated with OMEGA’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8912. In addition to the regular chronometer certification from COSC, each watch and its movement has passed 8 intensive tests that have been approved by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). With Master Chronometer certification, the Ploprof proudly reaches a new industry standard for anti-magnetic resistance, chronometrica performance and precision.

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TO P 5 CO U R S E S

‘FAVOURITE FIVE’ with Mike Weir 5

Portmarnock Golf Club (Dublin, Ireland)

3

Riviera Country Club (California, USA)

1

Pebble Beach Golf Links (California, USA)

I would love to play this golf course in tournament conditions. It’s such a nice, challenging course that’s straight in front of you. The bunkering is fantastic and it’s a marvelous challenge for any player.

NICKNAME: WEIRSY AGE: 45 FROM: SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 1992 PROFESSIONAL WINS: 15

4

Kingston Heath Golf Club (Melbourne, Australia)

2

Augusta National Golf Club (Georgia, USA)

I played the Australian Tour a lot in the early 1990s and this golf club was one of my favourites. It is incredibly bunkered and has some of the best greens I’ve ever putted on. In addition, being located in the sandbelt region of Australia adds to the magic of this course.

George C. Thomas Jr. built this golf course with the full intention of testing every club in the golfer’s bag. It is long and demanding but also features some short holes that are very scorable. Strategy is crucial on this course and you need to be able to shape the ball both ways to get birdie opportunities. It’s an extremely demanding golf course but it’s a challenge that I thrive on when playing.

Again, this is a very demanding golf course. Augusta is fascinating because it is so diverse at different times of the year. The course is much harder in tournament conditions than in a normal round and you really need to be comfortable with every club in your bag to be ready for the challenge. It’s a really special and unique golf club.

I adore the area where the golf club is situated on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey County, California. The golf course is demanding but as you can see from my previous picks, this is something I enjoy. I want to be challenged enough to have to use every golf club in my bag. There’s such an amazing mix of holes on this course, it never gets boring and keeps you on your toes throughout. What a course. It has to be my No.1 in the world.

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2016 OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Thursday, February 4 to Sunday, February 7, 2016.

Available at:

OMEGA Boutiques - Dubai: BurJuman • Deira City Centre • Dubai Mall • Dubai Festival City • Mall of the Emirates • Mirdif City Centre • Jumeirah Beach Hotel • Sahara Centre • Wafi and at select Rivoli Stores.

Abu Dhabi: Marina Mall • Yas Marina • Toll Free: 800-RIVOLI