LG Cover September 13 Frame 22/07/2013 18:02 Page 3
September 2013 £3.50
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Can Europe triumph on American soil for the very first time? IN OUR PREVIEW
n We talk to US captain Meg Mallon n Ali Nicholas on beating America n Mickey Walker: Europe can win
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Your guide to the best places to be pampered In association with
CHARLEY England’s teenage sensation is eyeing up a Solheim Cup debut
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16.07.13 11:31
LG pp 3 Ed Comm 23/07/2013 11:33 Page 3
Welcome
I
T was depressing to learn that your average golf fan would rather watch a runof-the-mill men’s PGA Tour event than Inbee Park making history by winning her third consecutive Major championship. The US Women’s Open, probably the biggest individual event of the season, was available to watch live on Sky Sports – but only via the red button. Anyone tuning in was presented with default coverage of the PGA Tour’s AT&T National, about as lowkey a week as there is in American men’s golf, especially in the absence of the injured tournament host Tiger Woods. Mercifully, at various points of the weekend, weather disruptions meant that more viewers got to see the US Open than would otherwise have been the case. You can only hope that they liked what they were saw and will make a point of tuning into ladies’ golf the next time they have an opportunity to do so. Like it or not, we can only presume that the viewing figures were higher for the men’s event and that’s why it took priority for Sky. Those of us who did take advantage of the red button were treated to another incredible display of frontrunning. Winning consecutive Majors is practically impossible; Inbee is making it look both easy and inevitable. We are watching history in the making – and the beginning of the next great period of domination by a female player. The only note of caution for Inbee comes in the form of Yani Tseng, who has gone from a similar level of superiority over the rest to a player currently struggling to make cuts. Golf can do that to you.
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On the cover The Solheim Cup
Volume 17 Issue 2
There is real optimism that this could be the year when Europe finally win on American soil. Learn more in our comprehensive preview. P16
September 2013 £3.50
Deputy Editor Mark Townsend Staff Writer James Tompkinson Fashion Editor Justine Board
Alison Nicholas was a brilliant captain two years ago in Ireland. Read her thoughts on this year’s match. P27
TIME FOR
Breath of fresh air
SPAS
Black to Fuchsia
Consulting Editor Mickey Walker Editorial Director Dan Murphy
Ali’s experience
Charley Hull is not your average young golfer. But she seems destined for stardom. P18
September 2013
SOLHEIM
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Can Europe triumph on American soil for the very first time?
GOLF!
IN OUR PREVIEW
n We talk to US captain Meg Mallon n Ali Nicholas on beating America n Mickey Walker: Europe can win
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ALSO INSIDE CHEC K OUT OUR LATE ST FASHION PAGE S In association with
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Contributor Madeleine Winnett Chief Designer Andrew Kenworthy Designer & Webmaster Daniel Cooper Publisher Tom Irwin
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Sales Executive Carley Warrington
CHARLEY England’s teenage sensation is eyeing up a Solheim Cup debut
Yes, we’re pleased with our fashion headline! P52
Fashion Co-ordinator Eve Burton Finance Director WIll Shucksmith (ACA) Accounts Emma Abbott Chairman Peter Burgess
What we’ve been talking about this month Fulford treat
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The European Ladies’ Team Amateur came to England, and specifically North Yorkshire, last month. The event was well attended and all at Fulford were treated to a wonderful display of golf from some very talented young players.
Tel 01132 893 979 editorial@sportspub.co.uk ISSN 1369 4790 Published by © Sports Publications Ltd. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. Readers are advised to check pricing and details of availability before making any journeys. All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of Sports Publications Ltd. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from participation in any offer, competition or advertising contained within
Old Course invite
Carly bares all
Muirfield’s members
Watch out for next month’s issue when we’ll be reporting on the experience of playing the Old Course – the day after the Ricoh has finished. Many thanks to Visit Scotland for the invitation of a lifetime!
Well, not quite. The appearance of Carly Booth in ESPN’s annual Body Issue, alongside none other than Gary Player, was eye-catching. One thing Carly certainly does not suffer from is a lack of confidence. Good luck to her.
Another year goes by and there are still no female members at Muirfield. We think this sad state of affairs will change at some stage but only when it suits the Honourable Company, and perhaps not until the next generation.
Lady Golfer 3
NCG Academies 22/07/2013 14:33 Page 4
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We organise informal competitions with great prizes – and our unique handicap system ensures everyone has a chance of winning. Think a ski trip for golf, in better weather – 10 hours of tuition, five rounds, a 5-star
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NCG Academies 22/07/2013 14:33 Page 5
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LG pp 6-7 Amateur, Tweets 22/07/2013 14:10 Page 6
THE STARTER
Follow Lady Golfer: @LadyGolferMag
TOP TWEETS What did I just do today? Its amazing.. thanks to all the people @usopengolf and the fans!! @InbeePark At fulford today to support the England team!! @EnglandGolf #c’mannnnn! @kellylouise92
No medal for England at Fulford James Tompkinson saw the host nation finish fourth at the European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championships
E
NGLAND’S bid to win the European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championships fell away on the last two days as Spain secured the title in front of large crowds at Fulford. The home team, represented by Georgia Hall, Bronte Law, Hayley Davis, Meghan MacLaren, Lauren Taylor and Sarah-Jane Boyd suffered a semi-final defeat to the eventual champions and then lost to Finland in the bronzemedal match on the final day of a memorable event at the historic York club, which was presented in examplary condition. The tournament started well for the home side, as they finished sixth in the strokeplay standings following excellent rounds for MacLaren (72),
How they finished… England Position: 4th Strokeplay position: 6th Matchplay: Beat Netherlands 4-3 | Lost to Spain 4.5-2.5 | Lost to Finland 4-3
6 Lady Golfer
Davis (72) and Law (69) on the opening day. That set up a quarter-final against the Netherlands, and after resounding victories for Hall and Davis (7&5) and Law and Taylor (1up), it looked as if England would march into the semi-finals. However, a resurgent Dutch showing in the singles matches left the contest in the balance, and it was left to Boyd to secure the point needed to take England through on the 21st hole of her play-off match. England started brightly in their semi-final showdown with the Spaniards. The successful pairing of Hall and Davis delivered another point for captain Emma Brown after staging a remarkable comeback from three down to win on the last hole. Scotland Position: 12th Strokeplay position: 10th Matchplay: Beat Norway 3-2 | Lost to Belgium 3-2 | Lost to Ireland 3-2 Wales Position: 13th Strokeplay position: 11th Matchplay: Lost to Germany 4-1 | Beat Slovenia 4.5-0.5 | Beat Italy 3-2
However, Law and MacLaren slipped to a two-hole defeat. In the afternoon singles matches, Hall registered her first defeat having been 1up, but her foursomes partner Davis continued previous success to win her singles match, with Taylor also contributing a half point. Boyd failed to recover from an early setback, and despite a spirited performance from Law, she could not earn the full point needed. Having knocked out the home team, Spain completed a resounding 5-2 victory over Austria in the final to continue their recent success in the event. England entered the final day with a chance of winning the bronze medal, but failed to secure a point in the morning foursomes matches and despite wins for Hall, Davis and MacLaren in the afternoon singles games, the team lost 4-3. England coach Steve Robinson said: “We’ve given a lot of people a lot of entertainment and we ended up playing for a medal. We would have liked to win one, but I can’t fault the girls for effort. I’m proud of them.”
Countdown to EU Solheim Cup Team annoucement started & antepenultimate chance for players starts this week @LETGolf Wow huge congrats to my Ajga peep @JordanSpieth on his 1st PGA tour win !!!!!!!!! Us teens like to win in playoffs @JessicaKorda Happy National Mojito Day. Not sure when, why & where it stated. My Favorite’s raspberry. Fresh mint, rberry, lime, rberry rum and sprite. @ANNIKA59 Really enjoyed playing with Brooke Henderson today! What a talent!!! Only 15! @themichellewie You don’t have to hit your most lofted wedge out of a bunker sometimes a 52, a pw or even a 9 iron works better. @Kstupples Traveling with my violin. Getting strange looks. Wonder if people think its a water pistol, an oversized make-up bag or foldable 7 iron. @TheSandraGal
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LG pp 6-7 Amateur, Tweets 22/07/2013 14:10 Page 7
Booth appears in ESPN body issue LET Tour player Carly Booth has bared all for the latest edition of ESPN’s body issue, an annual edition of the magazine which aims to celebrate the incredible fitness of sports stars from around the world. The issue sees Scottish player Booth, 21, pose nude alongside a range of other stars – including veteran legend Gary Player.
Golfing Lady goes live Golfing Lady are set to launch a brand new e-commerce website – www.golfingladyonline.co.uk. The website will feature all the stock from their current shop at Royal Winchester GC, which is the only stand-alone shop in the south of England which sells ladies’ golf equipment. Commenting on the launch, Golfing Lady’s Steven Hunter said: “We are really excited ahead of the launch of our new website. We’ve been established in Hampshire for 25 years and now feel that this is the right move for us. We want to be able to look after everyone across the country and hopefully the new online platform will provide a way of doing that.” The website will launch in early September.
Nivo 2013 collection
Nivo 2013 collection
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Lady Golfer 7
LG pp 8 Di Meets... 23/07/2013 12:25 Page 8
THE STARTER
How long have you been playing golf and who introduced you to the game? I started playing golf when I was 10 as my parents are keen golfers. Mum and Dad first took me out on to the fairways. The whole family is obsessed with the game! I grew up in Lancashire and played Stonyhurst Golf Course a lot in my youth. My mum taught at the prep school there and she’d often take us out for 9 holes. Golf continued for me throughout my time at Sedbergh and Durham University. What is your handicap? My handicap is 12 and my game is particularly average at the moment. I’ve changed my grip, which is hurting my control. I used to have a snap hook, now I have a power slice! Mentally I’m in all sorts of trouble as I often have no idea where my driver is going! Where do you play? Sunningdale. You’ve just returned from commentating on the Lions tour Down Under, did you manage to play golf? I had the privilege of playing Royal Melbourne when I was in Australia with friends. What an awesome test of golf and great to see Ernie Els’ name on the board in the clubhouse with a round of 60! Which of the presenters at Sky Sports have you played with and who do you think is the best golfer? Well, Di, you are pretty handy around the greens and we have played in a few mixed foursomes together. What about those family holidays we’ve enjoyed in North Wales? Yes, we’ve played golf in North Wales quite a bit, haven’t we? Our families have holiday houses next door to each other and they both back on to a golf course so every family get together involves golf competitions. 8 Lady Golfer
DI MEETS... WILL GREENWOOD
“WE NAMED OUR SON ROCCO AFTER WATCHING THE 2008 US OPEN – WHAT A GREAT NAME!” TV presenter and Lynx ambassador Di Dougherty chats to the former England rugby player Will Greenwood – who also happens to be her cousin! What are your strengths? I am a fighter on the course I would say! Never give in, scrap for every point and go for every pin. Do you prefer inland or seaside courses and which is your favourite course? I prefer seaside courses and one of my favourites is Hunstanton, Norfolk. My wife and I got married round the corner from there. As my cousin I know you follow the golf closely! Who is your favourite player? Rocco Mediate is actually one of my favourites! After watching him in the US Open in 2008 we decided to call our youngest son Rocco. What a
great name! But also what a great, fun, charismatic guy Mediate is. Who is the most well dressed golfer in your opinion? I think Adam Scott always looks like a class act. Sharp clothing that suits him down to the ground. I think the girls also appreciate the way he dresses! Why do you like golf? For me, golf is about having a great time with friends and family and reconnecting with those I’ve not seen in a while. Also I love the competitiveness, even if it’s just nine holes on a Tuesday night with a mate, we always play for something!
DI TEAMS UP WITH LYNX “I became the ambassador for Lynx last year and the brand is growing from strength to strength. We all remember Ernie Els and Fred Couples winning Majors with Lynx equipment, the company are building on that heritage and are keen to remember their history in today’s market. The company also recognises the importance of the women’s Tour and is very keen to support female British golfers. Design, style and performance are key for Lynx and their innovative ideas are clear to see in their new ranges.” lynxgolf.co.uk
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Lynx 59009_297x210_MM_WomanGolf:Layout 1
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LG pp 10-11 Columnist Mad Win 23/07/2013 14:08 Page 10
COMMENT
Madeleine Winnett Turning my birthday celebrations into a golfing occasion
I
HAVE just celebrated a significant birthday. Having scraped through what hopefully equates to the front nine, I still have plenty to look forward to, since I invariably enjoy the back nine more. I don’t wish to tempt fate here by saying that my life expectancy must surely have gone up since I stopped falling off riding school ponies every weekend – although I do still have a penchant for sports cars, and the chance of finding me at the bottom of a crevasse with a pair of skis attached to my feet hasn’t really diminished – but I’m probably not quite as gung ho as I used to be. However, some character traits don’t seem to diminish with age. As I was planning my 50th party, all my days as a Blue Peter devotee came flooding back. I made everything that Valerie Singleton had to offer – although I never did seem to be able to master the tinselcovered coat hangers that masqueraded as the advent crown! I think, though, I have finally made amends. I never know where my ideas come from but suddenly I get an inkling, and I’m off. This time, it was the imponderable question of place names. I could have simply written them on fancy card strips, but that would have been too easy. I needed a challenge that would tie me up for weeks so the concept of golfing place names was born. I had a vision of golf flags, but they needed anchoring, so I came up with the idea of sawing golf balls in half. Genius – except have you any idea how hard it is to saw 10 Lady Golfer
Eccentric Two pins on a green is confusing
a golf ball in half? I had never felt the urge to try this before, and now I know why! They are impossible little blighters, and they fight back! Gripping a round object in a straight-sided vice is problematic enough, but as the outer cover of a ball is soft, you have to squeeze it so hard, you can’t get the saw blade through it without applying your entire body weight – and then the ball pops out. As one never to give up easily, I opted for mechanical assistance and took my balls
Your views Do you agree with Madeleine’s opinions? We give away a Cobra Baffler fairway wood or hybrid to the author of our Star Letter. Email us to let us know what you think.
to a friend who has a band saw. For those of you not well versed in carpentry, it’s a vertical saw blade which makes an unholy racket spinning at the speed of light, and has a particular fondness for severing fingers. As I find my fingers quite useful for playing golf, I applied joined-up thinking, and decided to hold the balls in a clamp when passing them through the blade. And this, indeed, proved to be highly successful first up. Triumphantly, I showed my perfectly bisected ball to the owner of the saw, whose incredulity declared that what I had done was impossible. Nervelessly, I stepped up to the plate again, only for the ball to jam halfway through, and on my third attempt when the ball got stuck, the saw fused. Oops! At this point, my friend had seen enough, decided that his livelihood was
in danger, and took over. Half a ball then flew forwards, while the other half went backwards and upwards, hit the roof, bounced around and disappeared. After we stopped ducking I went in pursuit of the missile. If you think trying to find a ball in the undergrowth is hard, I can assure you that it is nothing compared with searching for half a ball in a shed. My five-minute search time came and went, and under the extreme duress of balls pinging everywhere in the interim, I reclaimed my prize. Four halves down, 46 to go! I then had to sand the frayed edges of the balls and drill them. Forget Bob the Builder, this was Mad the Maker in full flight! The cottage industry then moved to the kitchen table for the delicate operation of measuring, cutting and white painting of skewers, before www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 10-11 Columnist Mad Win 23/07/2013 14:08 Page 11
taping them up ready for the black paint. I was getting excited about my professionalism before I moved to the more delicate stage of cutting, glue-ing and attaching the flags. Super Glue didn’t exist in the halcyon era of Shep and now I know why. It’s dangerous. I managed to stick my little finger to the kitchen table more than once, and said a few words that Valerie would never have uttered as I ripped the skin off. Pleased as I was with the results, I was worried that the fruits of my labour wouldn’t be fully appreciated if the white of the balls blended into the table cloths – so I decided to mount them on green carpet holes. That again was a good idea until I found out how hard carpet was to cut and that it set my tennis elbow off! However, even that didn’t stop me coming up with more thoughts of how to torture myself with golfthemed party ideas. I started blue tacking after-dinner mints onto tee pegs, but that then meant cutting more carpet circles and polystyrene pizza bases to insert them into. By then, though, I was really on a roll. I didn’t want to humiliate people by putting them on the highest-numbered table away from the top table; I wanted to insult them properly, by naming the furthest flung tables ‘Out of Bounds’ and ‘Three off the tee’ etc. As a final touch, I then procured some large advertising ball pictures (more cutting!) on which to write my table names. After all, what www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
does it really matter if my season comes to a premature end again thanks to all my cutting injuries – I’ll be too busy setting up golfpartyplanners.com. There is one unfortunate side effect, however, in that I do suddenly seem to have an uncontrollable yearning for sticky-backed plastic!
In good faith As regular readers may imagine, I have endless amounts of patience when cold callers ring me trying to sell me double glazing, or wanting to find out my opinion on matters for a survey – especially if I have just found out that the CSS has gone down to put me out of my buffer zone! However, after being asked if I have had a good day, rather than being abusive or slamming the phone down any more, I now find that it is amazing how quickly the conversation ends if I use the simple question, “Can I talk to you about Jesus?”
Madeleine Winnett • Lady Golfer’s equipment expert is a Staffordshire county player and never short of a forthright opinion on the game!
Lady Golfer 11
LG pp 12-13 Lija LG Survey 22/07/2013 10:28 Page 12
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We've got two great prizes to give away FALL 13 COLLECTION THE PRIZE INCLUDES: Base layers Polo shirt Winter trousers Softshell vest Softshell jacket Wind sweater SPRING 14 COLLECTION THE PRIZE INCLUDES: Capri Short Skort Jacket Knitwear Five polo shirts Cap To learn more about Lija go to www.lijastyle.com
LG pp 12-13 Lija LG Survey 22/07/2013 10:28 Page 13
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2013-07-03 09:30:22
LG pp 15 Solheim Lead 22/07/2013 10:29 Page 15
SOLHEIM CUP 2013 Your unmissable guide to the biggest event in ladies’ golf. The countdown starts now...
IN OUR PREVIEW
Alison Nicholas Meg Mallon Charley Hull Mickey Walker
LG pp 16-17 Solheim Scenesetter 22/07/2013 14:14 Page 16
SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW
lucky? Seventh
time
Mark Townsend outlines the main talking points as Europe attempt to win away for the first time in Solheim history
1
EUROPE NEED TO MAKE HISTORY
The most obvious point that will be repeated throughout the week is that Europe have never won on American soil. They have been close but the nearest they have got to winning, or even retaining, the trophy is 12.5 points. Overall, in six matches in the States, the accumulative scores are 87.5 to 60.5. But then again the holders had never won when not ahead after the first two days as they did in Ireland; the
16 Lady Golfer
scores on the Saturday night were 8-8. While home advantage is enormous, things change, history is rewritten and, at some point, we will win away. Let’s hope it’s this year.
OURSELVES FOR THE SINGLES 2 SAVE
In years gone by the likes of Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies have had to play all five sessions. Days begin around 5am, end maybe 16 hours later and are packed with gruelling head-to-head contests. It catches up. In the past this has had to happen due to a lack of real depth in the team. Now, though, we have more players who are able to sit out a session and then come out firing in the remaining four matches.
In Ireland only Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer played in the first four matches; the former had to pull out with an injury just before the start of the singles while Creamer was stuffed by Catriona Matthew. Easier said than done, particularly if you fall behind early on, but there are 12 points available on the Sunday of the 28 in total.
year. The way it is debated it is as though there is a magic number of debutants; enough to keep things fresh but not too many so we appear too naïve. Alison Nicholas used three of her four picks in 2011 to instil some new blood, players with matchplay pedigrees and none with the baggage of three straight defeats. New pairings began while the responsibility sat very well on the shoulders of Suzann Pettersen and Matthew. Carlota Ciganda (below), both a winner and runner-up in the
CAN BE A GOOD THING 3 ROOKIES Much is always made of the number of newcomers each
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 16-17 Solheim Scenesetter 22/07/2013 14:14 Page 17
British Amateur, will make her debut this year. Caroline Masson is also well placed to make it and England’s Charley Hull and Jodi Ewart could join them.
HANDS WILL FINALLY MISS OUT? 4 EXPERIENCED
Laura Davies has never missed a match. She last won in 2010 (when she was victorious five times) and, at 49, it seems unlikely that she will be in the States. But there have been signs of some better form and a big week at St Andrews could elevate her into yet another outing. Even more surprising, after her heroics and four perfect wins at Killeen Castle, may be the omission of Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson. The 39-year-old has only made the cut once this term on the LPGA Tour. She has received an invite for the WBO at St Andrews and, like Davies, would need something spectacular. From 2011 it looks like Mel Reid, Christel Boeljon, Maria Hjorth, Karen Stupples and Sandra Gal all look like needing a helping hand from Captain Neumann.
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LOOK AS SOLID AS EVER (ON PAPER) 5 AMERICANS
Things could all change very quickly for the American outfit with the top eight in the standings, the next two from the world rankings and then two picks. As things stands Meg Mallon should be delighted with the backbone – Lewis, Kerr, Lincicome, Stanford and Creamer – having no problems while the next two on the list are Lexi Thompson and Jessica Korda. The pair combined for two wins in the 2010 Curtis Cup and both would bring a fresh feel to things. Michelle Wie’s form might have dipped again but you suspect the 2009 star will be there and ready for some welcome matchplay action.
Lady Golfer 17
LG pp 18-20 Solheim Charley Hull 22/07/2013 10:31 Page 18
SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW
Just
sevente Charley Hull could be set to rewrite the record books. Mark Townsend meets her
W
HOEVER said that nobody remembers who finishes second had evidently not encountered Charley Hull. At the start of the year the 17year-old did not even have a full card for the LET after narrowly missing out on the top 30 at Tour School. She is now third on the Order of Merit. Her first five events all finished with the same result – second place in every one. Adjectives are easily bandied around, particularly for one so young, but the start to her professional career has been nothing short of sensational. For a rookie who still has two teenage years left, to be continually answering questions over any possible disappointment of the lack of a win says plenty. There has been no American college system to prepare for life on tour, no sponsorship deals nor regular caddy. Life on the golf course is simple for the Woburn youngster. “I said at the beginning of the year that I don’t want to have to worry about club deals or anything like that, I just want to go out and play golf. I had to prove myself before any of that and I think I’ve done that now. It has also helped to take the pressure off me.” The teenager’s approach is particularly refreshing in a modern golfing world of cloak and daggers over equipment. She uses one driver on the tighter courses and a different one that provides a bit of extra length on others. With the pressure off, Hull was second in
Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, the Netherlands (at which point Hull took over at the top of the Order of Merit) and then Germany. “I wouldn’t say I was surprised as there are so many good players on the LET but the start has been great. “I have really enjoyed playing with Lee-Anne Pace and Carlota Ciganda. I learnt a lot from Lee-Anne in Morocco.” Then, trying a new caddy, she finished in a tie for 40th in Slovakia. What hadn’t quite worked out was the relative overload of information; Hull is a feel player who plays as much by instinct as she does by numbers. A bit like her great hero, Seve. “I grew up watching his short-game videos with my dad and whenever I’m behind a tree I always think ‘what would Seve do’? “I practise with an old Mizuno 1-iron which is like a butter knife. I sometimes use it on the course and somehow hit it well out of the rough. “It doesn’t matter what I’m playing in, I just hit it, find it, then hit it again.”
LG pp 18-20 Solheim Charley Hull 22/07/2013 10:31 Page 19
een
LG pp 18-20 Solheim Charley Hull 22/07/2013 10:32 Page 20
SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW
And she hits it well, staggeringly well. The previous few hours have been spent providing some brilliant instruction and entertaining us with a variety of drivers which are hit left to right, right to left, 10 feet off the ground and, finally, a handful dispatched without the need for a tee. All are played with metronomic accuracy and to a running commentary of amusing tales from her early days on tour. Hull is supremely confident in her golf but there isn’t a hint of cockiness or any mention of any being the new (very) talented kid on the block. The youngest of three sisters, Hull has her feet firmly on the ground. Then, having posed for photos and demonstrated what the rest of us can only aspire to for half the morning, there is just one request – to hit one more ball without the need for anything out of the ordinary (and the chance to feed her seemingly neverending appetite to hit balls). The middle of another fairway is found. Hull’s other great heroes growing up were Laura Davies
20 Lady Golfer
and Annika Sorenstam. In her first tournament as a professional in Morocco she played alongside Davies in the third round – and promptly shot a 64. She might get to meet her favourite Swede at this year’s Solheim Cup, just two years after playing in the Curtis Cup. Hull was part of the recent squad get-together at the venue but she is not getting carried away just yet. “It’s definitely a focus but I’ve got quite a few events before then so I’ll be concentrating on them. It was on the radar at the start of the year and now it is more on the radar. “I always think the better player always shines through in strokeplay but we won’t get to play much matchplay as professionals so it will be fun if I got in. “I would like to take on any of them (Americans) but it would be pretty cool to take on Paula Creamer. I’ve not met any of them yet.” Hull’s previous sojourns to the States have, predictably, ended with success. In her first Major, at last year’s Kraft Nabisco, she made the cut and then shot a 68 on the
Saturday. This was the tournament where her invite had seen her initially miss out on selection for the Curtis Cup squad. Otherwise she has dazzled from an even earlier age. “I won a matchplay event in America when I was 14 and last year won the Harder Hall, when I beat Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn from Thailand, which was the first time a Brit had won it since Catriona Matthew. Lexi Thompson had won it the year before.” If Hull does manage to make it onto Lotta Neumann’s side it will be one of the truly great stories of the year, male or female. To put it into some sort of context the previous youngest players in the competition were, for Europe, Suzann Pettersen at 21 years and five months. For the States Paula Creamer is the current youngest at 19 years and one month. Hull will be 17 and five months. Europe is quickly coming to terms with what Hull is capable of, fingers crossed the United States will do likewise come the middle of August.
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LG pp 22-24 Solheim Mallon 22/07/2013 10:33 Page 22
SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW
M
EG Mallon is in the same position that just three other American captains have been in; that of trying to regain the Solheim Cup on home soil. Each time the hosts have come through and each time Mallon has been a part of the process. On the last occasion, at Crooked Stick in 2005, she secured the winning point against Karen Stupples. Now the 50-year-old makes the transition from assistant in 2009 and Junior Solheim captain two years ago to captain of the main ship. In Mallon the home side have someone who is open, honest, funny and charming. The emphasis will be on fun and, whatever the result, a glass will be raised by the Michigan native. You qualified on all eight teams that you played on. How difficult is it to focus on playing well and not obsess about qualifying? I sent an email to the top 30 players to say to concentrate on winning tournaments and, if they do, everything will take care of itself. If they concentrate on the top 20 they will finish 21st. That was the best advice I could give them going into the final push. Is it more about current form than picking a player who has performed well in the past? I liken it to pieces in a pie. You would like a player who has previous Solheim Cup experience, who is playing well, fits the course and can handle getting a pick. So there are a lot of factors rather than being the hot player at the time. I have had my solid five who have been a lock since the beginning of the year and they are all Solheim veterans, then there are the young
players who have some experience in international team play. But the Solheim Cup is a different beast as far as anything that they have competed in. This is the first year that we have two picks from the world rankings so it could completely change late on at St Andrews. It is going to be interesting to say the least. We will have two hours after the last putt drops so let’s hope that it will be easy rather than hard. Dottie (Pepper) will be working for the TV so she will come straight from the booth to join Laura (Diaz) and I. The modern way of thinking seems to be to rest someone at least once – will you be following that? I kind of learnt that from Beth Daniel in 2009 and that worked really well. It is not just the three days, it is the whole week and it is draining. When it comes to the singles you want to have your players at their best. I would love to have my players in four, or in some cases three, matches but you have to go with your gut feeling and there could be a situation where someone plays five and someone two. We are also at the Colorado GC, which is hilly and altitude is a big factor. No matter how fit you are, 36 holes in an intense atmosphere will take it out of you. How do you think Michelle Wie has taken to the Solheim – she was unbeaten in 2009 and won one of her four matches in Ireland? She has embraced it. In 2009 you were worried about how a young player would handle everything and I think it made her shine more than any other event she has played in. In Ireland she also played well. If Suzann Pettersen hadn’t birdied the last three holes she
might have had another great Solheim Cup. I think she is maybe trying too hard to make the team and that can happen when you’re not playing well but she is working really hard to get herself out of this run. You first played in 1992, are you amazed how much the event has come on with planning all the outfits and menus etc? It is wonderful. In 1992 it was considered a huge upset when Europe beat us at Dalmahoy and that kind of made the whole event take off and become a competition. In Scotland we were so pleased to get the mushroom soup and that lovely bread. We have done the food for the course so now we are working on menus at the
LG pp 22-24 Solheim Mallon 22/07/2013 10:33 Page 23
Dial
for a
masterplan
Mark Townsend speaks with US captain Meg Mallon on how her and her spiky vice-captains plan to win back the coveted trophy
LG pp 22-24 Solheim Mallon 22/07/2013 10:33 Page 24
SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW Emotional Mallon and Pepper (left) back in 1994
Build up Much goes into the pre-match hype
All smiles Time to celebrate the win of 2005
hotel. The clothing is pretty much done. It is a bit like preparing a wedding for seven straight days. What have you learnt about yourself as an assistant captain and junior captain? Hopefully I will bring what I have learnt and loved about the Solheim Cup in all the years that I have played in it. It is supposed to be a fun event, you want to play your best golf and you want to be competitive but you are playing a game. I want to make it an environment where the players can perform their best and hopefully you can do that when you are having fun. You should enjoy it. I like looking at the stats and putting together pairings but I also like to look at the bigger picture and seeing what personalities go together. I have a vision of what the week should be like but you have to be able to adapt as it is ever changing every day. Ireland was a great example of that. You have had a team meeting at Colorado GC – 24 Lady Golfer
will it suit a certain type of player in any way? Length will help but it is a second shot course and you have to position yourself on the greens in order to prosper. You can hit it in the middle of the greens and two putt but to win holes there are a lot of risk and reward elements. There is a drivable par 4 where you could make eagle or even a hole in one. It is a terrific matchplay course and you need to be very creative with your short game.
was because they were such close friends. Laura has known Dottie since she was about nine years old and that went deep and it was a family thing as well. So there has been a reconciliation and some forgiveness so it has been great to see them reconnecting. Time has helped and I know Dottie completely regrets what has happened and what transpired and things have moved on.
Do you have any say in the course set-up? No, we’re not allowed to do anything. The LPGA sets the course up and I think that’s probably best for the overall event. Sometimes there is too much put upon the captain and you can overthink how you set up the course.
On a positive note it is great to have Dottie back involved in the competition? Arguably you could say she was the face of the competition in the 90s, she always wore her heart on her sleeve and she still is so passionate.
In an interview Laura Diaz said she would never do an interview with Dottie Pepper again after her comments (see box) in 2007. Now they are your assistants... There were hurt feelings and the reason they were so hurt
Is there a favourite Solheim moment for you? I could pick every Solheim Cup, win or lose. We hit shots we never hit in regular events and being able to pat each other on the back at the end of it is great. I love everything about it.
At Dalmahoy Catrina Nilsmark was celebrating all around me while I am holding her ball, then in 2005 I had the winning putt and my team is around me so I have experienced it in so many ways. You play individually all the time so I embraced it. There were matches that were so intense and that is all part of playing sport.
CHOKING FREAKIN’ DOGS DOTTIE Pepper was working for the Golf Channel at the 2007 matches in Sweden. The Americans kept missing putts and when Laura Diaz and Sherri Steinhauer failed to close out their match, Pepper's voice could be heard during the cutaway saying: "Choking freaking dogs!" She thought they had gone to a commercial break, they hadn’t. Her commentary got back to the Americans and Pepper, who didn’t remember saying it, only found out about it six hours later. Her job with the Golf Channel was under threat but she survived the storm. Understandably the players were fuming and some refused to speak with her again. Once upon a time Pepper was a shoo-in for the American captaincy – it is only now that she is back in the Solheim fold.
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LG pp 27-29 Solheim Nicholas 22/07/2013 10:34 Page 27
The art of Alison Nicholas led Europe to victory in the last Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle. She reflects on that most memorable of weeks with Mark Townsend
LG pp 27-29 Solheim Nicholas 22/07/2013 10:35 Page 28
SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW
A
LISON Nicholas had been here before, going to bed on the Saturday night of the Solheim Cup locked at eight points apiece. In the States in 2009 the hosts then won or halved the first five matches and that was pretty much that. Two years of trying to mastermind a first overseas win had come to nothing, albeit an heroic effort for the first two days. Then, in Ireland two years ago, Europe rallied from what looked like yet another American victory. Suzann Pettersen birdied the last three holes to beat Michelle Wie, Caroline Hedwall won the last two holes for a half against Ryann O’Toole and it was left to Azahara Munoz to seal just a fourth European victory. Laura Davies, who has played in every one, insisted this was the best. How much easier was it being a captain at home? The support at home is key; it’s your 13th man and your 15th club. In America you will get ‘U-S-A U-S-A, all the way’ every minute of the day so you have to prepare your team for that and try and embrace it. You took the decision to not play anyone in all five matches, how did that come about? You look through the record books and it was obvious that there was a trend there. Previous captains maybe didn’t have strong enough teams to rest players and playing all five sessions would then backfire as they were too tired for the singles. I discussed it with all the players and they all agreed that we would adopt that strategy. It was a question of how many points the players could contribute to the total, not how many games they would play. You get tired and fatigued, not just physically but mentally, so I think it was a good strategy. The Americans actually did the opposite and a couple of
28 Lady Golfer
Ole ole ole The Irish crowds were the 13th man
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LG pp 27-29 Solheim Nicholas 22/07/2013 10:35 Page 29
them played in the four pairings. How difficult is it to keep the daily team talks fresh? We spoke every night and they were mainly quick ones. Most of the time I would try and make them laugh but I used lots of analogies from previous captains and I got some information from past Ryder Cup captains so it wasn’t too difficult to keep things interesting. In Ireland it was obvious it was a real team effort and that an enormous amount of planning had gone into the win? I had a team of helpers who were so enthusiastic and who knew the players well. I built that environment up over a few years and it was crucial to have people who were upbeat and ready to have a laugh really. I briefed them on what I wanted them to do and what attitude I would like around the players and they were fantastic. They were the glue that held the team together and really helped to encourage the players and say the right thing at the right time. Likewise the caddies – I tried to develop those relationships early on and got on really well with the guys. There was a certain amount of doom and gloom about the place on the Saturday night with America winning the last three matches. How easy is it to ignore all this? I don’t listen to it, what’s the point?! The media like to create a story and that’s fine but at the end of the day I know what the players are capable of achieving and that they could pull it out of the bag, simple as that. It’s all about believing in yourselves and the team and it doesn’t really matter in what others think. It’s like Justin Rose at the US Open being in a tunnel, we were in a tunnel. www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
made them tick. It is all to do with observation and looking at the record books. They were playing well so why not, they’ve also got no baggage. It’s all about the person.
Perfect plan
The backroom team were crucial
When did you decide your singles order? We had a skeleton plan but you have to see how everyone is playing. I had so much advice from different people, which I welcomed, but I had to make my own decision. Catriona Matthew seemed the perfect leader, she loves matchplay and has got a brilliant record. We felt that she could get us the point and then you hope that the lead can swing your way. We knew it was going to be tight as it was 8-8 overnight so you know it is likely to go down to the last few matches so I kept a few players back. You never know, it’s never as precise as you might think and there is a lot of luck involved. A good break here will, and did, help but the guts and determination of the players was critical. Hedwall and Munoz were both rookies – was that a concern or is the whole rookie thing overplayed? It wasn’t a concern; Hedwall thrives on being in the hunt. In 2011 every time she was up there she finished it off so you knew that she enjoyed that side of it. Munoz is the same, she has got a great matchplay record. She had won the British Amateur and was runner-up in the US Amateur and these are both matchplay events. I did my research and talked to a lot of people who knew the players well and knew what
You have lost as a captain so you will know what Rosie Jones was going through? It’s not fun and you will always question yourself. I thought I had done a good job in 2009 but sometimes it is out of your control. But you do chastise yourself as we are all competitors and you want to win. Rosie was fine. At the end of the day it doesn’t define you as a person. Sport can be overplayed in that respect. We had a bit of a laugh about it and she struggled with it as well, she didn’t like losing and neither do the USA. They are worse losers than we are. Did you have a private celebration? We hadn’t won for a long time so there were lots of interviews and celebrations in the weeks after Killeen. It is a lot more work than people imagine and you pour yourself into the whole thing. It is not easy managing a lot of people as everyone has different expectations. I was just pleased for the players, I do believe that they are just as good as the Americans and better ball strikers but we just don’t have that ‘can do’ mentality like them. They breed that from an early age and they are taught to believe in themselves and that’s what I was trying to instil into the players. Of course I celebrated but I didn’t do anything outrageous, I was just very pleased and content. What is the best bit of advice you could pass on to Lotta Neumann? I have sat down with Lotta a few times. I think the bottom line is to just enjoy the experience and have fun. I can’t believe it is two years already. Lady Golfer 29
LG pp 30-31 Columnist MW 22/07/2013 14:16 Page 30
SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW
Mickey Walker The waiting is almost over – the Solheim Cup is finally upon us!
F
OR the first time since the matches started in 1990, I feel that we have a very real chance of winning the cup on American soil. Of course there have been several occasions when the matches have been tied going into the final day’s singles on American soil – in 1994, 2005 and 2009. On one occasion, in 2002 at Interlachen, we even had the lead, 9-7, going into the singles. Sadly for European fans on all of these occasions the USA went on to win the singles series convincingly. So why do I feel that this year we have a good chance to win? For several reasons. Firstly, I think that we will have a very strong team, with a number of our players playing at or close to their best. Suzann Pettersen (World No 3) and Catriona Matthew (13) will lead things. Suzann has had a win already this year and several other near misses and don’t put it past her to add to her Major win before the end of the year. Catriona just narrowly lost out on adding to her single Major when she lost out to the World No 1 Inbee Park after a fourhole play-off in the recent LPGA Championship. Catriona is in the best form of her life and revels in the cut and thrust of matchplay. Apart from in her very first appearance in the Solheim Cup in 1998, Catriona has won all her five singles matches, including a convincing 6&5 win over Paula Creamer when playing top in the win at Killeen Castle. Incidentally, that was the first time that Paula had ever lost a singles. 30 Lady Golfer
Leading star Catriona handed PC her first singles loss
After our two star players, we have what I’m calling the Spanish Armada, the trio of Azahara Munoz, Beatriz Recari and Carlota Ciganda. Azahara also played in Ireland and won a crucial point against Angela Stanford. Since then she has won her first LPGA title – the
OUR DREAM CAPTAINCY TEAM Europe are very lucky in their trio of captains and assistants for the matches in August. In Lotta Neumann, Europe have the trailblazer who inspired a nation of Swedes to take up the game of golf. And her two vice-captains, Annika Sorenstam and Carin Koch, need no introduction. They have the experience, knowledge and inspiration to cope with the pressure of playing in America. I can’t wait for the matches to begin!
Sybase Matchplay Championship in 2012. Her compatriot Beatriz won her second LPGA title this year, and Carlota, the long-hitting 23 year old from Pamplona who was not only the LET Rookie of the year in 2012, but also won the Order of Merit too, has since combined playing on both tours and only narrowly missed winning her first LPGA title when she was runner-up to Inbee in the North Texas LPGA Shootout. Caroline Masson, the German player who contended with Carlota last year for the Order of Merit title and who is now a rookie on the LPGA Tour, looks set to make the team. As a steady rather than spectacular player Caroline will need to be beaten rather than lose in her matches. If she putts anywhere near her best, she will be a hard player to beat and a very useful partner. No-one will forget another
Caroline – this time the Swedish variety in the form of Hedwall, who was one of the heroines at the last match, when her half point against Ryann O’Toole was a key to our exciting victory. There are a number of excellent players who would be a strength in the team. Anna Nordqvist, another Swede looks set to make the team by right for her third consecutive match. France’s Karine Icher could qualify for her second Solheim Cup appearance, and who would bet against 17-year-old Charley Hull being in the team – she would certainly be one of my picks if I was captain. So, it looks as if Europe will have a much younger team, and one full of players who play a lot, if not most of their golf on the LPGA Tour. The one ever-present Solheim Cupper, Laura Davies, and regulars Sophie Gustafson and Maria Hjorth, look unlikely to www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 30-31 Columnist MW 22/07/2013 14:16 Page 31
2011 heroine Gustafson has been out of form of late
make it. I don’t think that our newcomers will be overawed by any of the Americans. I believe that the American ‘old guard’ will no longer have an aura of being invincible. Our singles record needs to improve, but I think that it will
particularly after the style of the win in Ireland. Europe will be playing against their fans as well. That is extremely tough, but if we came so close to winning in 2009 when the fans were really hostile, I know that we can pull off a win this time!
THIS TIME WE HAVE THE STRENGTH IN DEPTH In past matches we’ve been playing catch-up psychologically not to feel inferior to the Americans when playing against them one on one in the singles. There is also no doubt that Europe have lacked strength in depth. That put a lot of pressure on our top players and on the captain to play them in all five matches. Alison Nicholas broke the thinking that it was mandatory to play our best players in every match in order for us to win. The week of the Solheim Cup is the most demanding of any player’s career both emotionally and physically, so there is absolutely no doubt that resting every player at least once before the singles is the best strategy. www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
It is a hopeless situation going into the singles – even if we have a lead as we did at Interlachen in 2002 – with our leading players exhausted. At the last Solheim, Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer played in all four series of pairs. The former was then injured and could not play her singles while the latter got soundly beaten. I’m not taking anything away from Catriona, but tiredness was almost certainly a factor in the scale of the loss – she just couldn’t produce what she had when it was most needed.
Mickey Walker • Lady Golfer’s consulting editor captained Europe in the first four Solheim Cups. She regularly appears on Sky Sports as an expert summariser
Lady Golfer 31
LG pp 32 Solheim Abacus Outfits 23/07/2013 11:24 Page 32
SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW
Europe’s outfits We reveal the Abacus clothing our team will be wearing in Colorado
T
HE Abacus Sportswear match wardrobe focuses on performance and comfort for the challenging climate the ladies will encounter in Colorado during the month of August – typically humid, with warm, sunny mornings, and thunderstorms and rain showers in the afternoon.
All the clothing is available to purchase with the Solheim Cup crest at www.solheimcupeurope.com/shop The players’ Sunday outfits will not be revealed before the day. For more information, visit www.abacussportswear.com
THE OUTFITS PRACTICE DAY
CAPTAIN’S
CHOICE Europe’s captain Liselotte Neumann on the challenging conditions her players will face, and the importance of performance clothing As captain, what considerations do you need to make regarding team clothing? The climate is a very important consideration. It will be humid, so light, breathable clothing is a must. When playing in these conditions, it is important to keep the heat away from the body as much as possible so light colours are also important for our outfits. Abacus Sportswear is going to make sure we have the lightest, most breathable clothing possible. Waterproof clothing could be important? Absolutely. Abacus Sportswear has historically provided really good waterproofs – something light that you can just throw on if there’s a shower or a storm – which is exactly what the girls need when playing in these kinds of conditions. We want good water resistance, but at the same time, lightness and breathability.
FRIDAY
What performance aspects do lady golfers look for? For me, I want to look good out there, so the right colours are important. I also find light fabric with plenty of stretch is best for my swing.
SATURDAY
How important is it to be stylish and fashionable? It is always important to look good because it makes you feel good. On a day where you have to perform your best, you need to be feeling your best. That’s exactly what we need. There’s nothing better than leaving your hotel room feeling good – it makes you feel stronger and it gives you confidence. Is creating a wardrobe for 12 individuals a real challenge? The challenge of making 12 girls of 12 different shapes and sizes all look good in the same outfit, takes practice and experience. Abacus Sportswear also makes sure there is something for all of us. Whether the girls are most comfortable in shorts or skirts, short or long-sleeved shirts, there will be something that suits.
32 Lady Golfer
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your perfect golf break The Carlyon Bay Hotel has led the way amongst Cornwall’s luxury hotels, setting unsurpassable standards in service and comfort. Perched above the golden sands of Carlyon Bay, this wonderful luxury hotel stands in 250 acres of private grounds, including sweeping gardens and a championship golf course. Here at the Carlyon Bay Hotel, you will find 6,500 yards of challenging yet hugely enjoyable golf. The Par 72 course is the most stunning cliff top golf course in Cornwall and one of the most spectacular championship golf courses to be found anywhere. You play the first ten holes right on the cliff top and many of the 18 holes have breathtaking views across St Austell Bay. The course is highly maintained with immaculate greens in pristine condition throughout the year. The ladies professional shop is the only one in Cornwall of its kind, it provides a unique shopping experience specializing in ladies equipment, designer clothing and accessories.
When staying at the hotel, residents can enjoy FREE golf daily on the 18 hole championship course. Our experts will be happy to help you find the ideal golf equipment and accessories. Great golf facilities • 18 Championship golf course • 9 hole approach course • 10 acre practice ground • Friendly Club House • Two professional shops Hotel facilities • 86 Luxury bedrooms • Spa • Indoor & Outdoor heated pools • Treatment rooms • Tennis courts • AA Rosette awarded Bay View Restaurant • Taste Brasserie • And much more...
Call 01726 812304 or visit www.carlyonbay.com The Carlyon Bay Hotel, Sea Road, Carlyon Bay, St Austell PL25 3RD
Ladies golf ad.indd 1
12/07/2013 09:49
LG pp 39 Spas | Carlyon Bay 23/07/2013 12:27 Page 39
Lady Golfer Spas
in association with
Carlyon Bay Hotel St Austell, Cornwall www.carlyon-bay.com Tel: 01726 812 304 Location, location, location. The Carlyon Bay Hotel has a stunning setting on a cliff top overlooking St Austell Bay. The golf course is equally spectacular, stretching out over 6,500 yards with the first 10 holes hugging the coast and offering spectacular views. The Spa itself is impressive, with sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy spa bath, indoor pool and the real showstopper – a 23m outdoor heated pool with THAT view. Reward yourself post-round with the Golfer’s Treat – an Elemis Sole Delight foot treatment followed by a Deep Tissue Back Massage. Then head down to private Carlyon Cove to feel sand between your pampered toes. Bliss. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £140 per person for 1-night stay on DB&B basis, including a 60 minute treatment in the Elemis Spa
An elegant retreat for health, beauty and wellbeing, set in the stunning surroundings of Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa.
THE
SPA
at Formby Hall
Moments of
SERENITY SPA RETREAT
RELAXING SPA BREAK FROM £65* Your residential spa break package will include overnight accommodation in a luxurious Executive Room, full English breakfast, two course dinner in L|ThirtySeven plus a 25 minute Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage.
ESPA ESSENTIAL TENSION MASSAGE - 25 MINUTES This massage is tailored to address any areas of concern and uses the most appropriate massage techniques along with the ESPA Body Oil to suit your needs.
YOU CAN UPGRADE TO A 50 MINUTE TREATMENT FOR £15 per person WE’RE VERY SOCIAL
*Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability. Friday, Saturday and Sunday supplements apply at £50 per night per room. Prices per person, based on 2 people sharing an executive twin or double room. Single occupancy charges apply at £35 per room. Full pre-payment on booking. Non-transferable and non-refundable. Valid until 30th September 2013. Complimentary upgrade only valid for stays Monday - Thursday.
Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, Southport Old Road, Formby, Merseyside L37 0AB
Visit www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk or call 01704 875 699 for more details.
LG pp 41 Spas | Formby 23/07/2013 12:27 Page 41
Lady Golfer Spas
in association with
Formby Hall Southport, Merseyside formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk | Tel: 01704 875699 Slap bang in the middle of England’s Golf Coast, Formby Hall boasts an excellent course and the UK’s first PGA Residential Golf Academy. The Spa is sleekly stylish with zen design touches. The treatment menu is extensive, with more unusual rituals including the Gravity Retreat, performed on a dry-float bed, and the Atlas Rasul, a body treatment using mineral-enriched clay. The 20m pool is slickly designed, plus there are enough facilities for a Slinky to unwind, including spa pool foot spas, steam rooms, ice fountains, experience showers and heated relaxation beds. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £139 per person for a 1-night stay on a DB&B basis, including a 60-minute treatment in the Spa and complimentary Rasul Mud treatment
LG pp 42 Spa Ads 23/07/2013 14:12 Page 42
Lady Golfer Spas
LG pp 43 Spas | Barnham, Celtic 23/07/2013 14:14 Page 43
in association with
Barnham Broom Nr. Norwich, Norfolk www.barnham-broom.co.uk Tel: 01603 759 393 Barnham Broom is home to two championship courses set within 300 acres of the picturesque Yare Valley, just 15 minutes from Norwich. The spa is equally impressive. Face and body treatments use luxurious Espa products, hands and nails are taken care of by Jessica and the perfect safe-andsunless tan comes courtesy of St Tropez. Spa-goers can also take advantage of the excellent facilities at the Edge Health Club, including tennis and squash courts, plus relaxation pool, sauna and steam room for the more contemplative... Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: See the website for the latest deals
The Celtic Manor Resort Usk Valley, South Wales www.celtic-manor.com Tel: 01633 413000 Home to the 2010 Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor’s golfing credentials are exemplary. Re-create Graham McDowell’s winning putt then retire to the Forum Spa, voted Best Spa in Wales (2012 Good Spa Awards). Signature treatments include the exotic Elemis Herbal Steam Temple, a traditional Arabian cleansing ritual using medicinal chakra muds and the Elemis Aroma Spa Hydrotherapy. Facilities include gym, saunas, steam room, Jacuzzi, plunge pool and relaxation pool overlooking the Rooftop Garden. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £159 per person for 1-night stay on DB&B basis, including 50-minute Frangipani treatment and spa lunch
LG pp 44 Spa Ads 23/07/2013 14:13 Page 44
Lady Golfer Spas MACDONALD
HILL VALLEY HOTEL, GOLF & SPA | SHROPSHIRE
Afternoon Tea Package Includes Afternoon tea for 2, 1 x 30 minute treatment from the choices below: Decleor Aromatherapy back massage, Decleor Aroma time precious facial, Jessica File and polish to hands, Jessica File and polish to toes, Decleor Tranquility Scalp massage. Fluffy Robes, towels and slippers are provided whilst using full access of the facilities. PLUS 20% discount on additional treatments and 10% discount on any Decleor retail products.
Monday - Thursday £29pp • Friday - Sunday £39pp
To book please contact us on 0844 879 9199 or email: Beauty.hillvalley@macdonald-hotels.co.uk
LG pp 45 Spas | Hill Valley, Ardencote 23/07/2013 14:15 Page 45
in association with
Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf and Spa Whitchurch, Shropshire www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk | Tel: 0844 8799049 Combine town and country at Macdonald Hill Valley. Close enough for a shopping trip to historic Chester or Shrewsbury but set in acres of scenic gardens with a relaxed country club feel. Lounge around the heated indoor pool, relax in the thermal suite or opt for a Decleor facial or massage. Or else hit the impressive gym, specced out with Technogym equipment, allowing you to retire guilt free to the stylish Borders restaurant to rebalance your calorie deficit. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £139 per person for a 1-night stay on a DB&B basis, including a 30-minute treatment in the Spa
Ardencote Manor Hotel and Spa Warwick, Warwickshire www.ardencote.com | Tel: 01926 843111 At Ardencote, a four-star family-run hotel in the heart of the Warwickshire countryside, the emphasis is on combining exercise and relaxtion. They also make it easy with a challenging 9-hole course, tennis and squash courts plus a gym to tick the exercise box. Follow this with guilt-free lounging in the indoor pool, sauna, steam room or Jacuzzi. There is also an outdoor heated pool and hot tub. Spa Days are inspired by English country gardens – try the Rose Afternoon Tea Spa Day. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £139 per person for a 1-night stay on a DB&B basis, including a 30-minute treatment, lunch and glass of wine in the Spa
LG pp 46 Spa Ads 23/07/2013 14:14 Page 46
Lady Golfer Spas
m acdonald
portal HOTEL, GOLF & SPA lady golfer exclusive spa or golf break offer Accommodation in one of our well appointed classic double or twin bedrooms 3 course Dinner in the award winning Ranulf Restaurant Award winning Full English Breakfast Choice of a 30 minute spa treatment or golf on one of our 3 golf courses From £99 per person sharing For groups of over 12 guests, the organiser stays and plays free!
promo code mg4 T's and C's Offer is subject to full prepayment and is non transferable or refundable. Book and pay by 31st October 2013 for stays up until the 31st March 2014. Saturday supplement of £20 per person applies. Based on two people sharing a classic double or twin room Single supplement of £30 applies. Offer is valid at Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa only and can not be transferred. This offer can not be exchanged for cash.
Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa, Cobblers Cross Lane, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 0DJ | T 0844 879 9082 | F 0870 194 2235
macdonaldhotels.co.uk/theportal
LG pp 47 Spas | Portal, Forest Pines 23/07/2013 14:17 Page 47
in association with
Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa Tarporley, Cheshire www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk Tel: 0844 8799082 Set in the heart of rolling Cheshire countryside, this hotel gives you the chance to brush up on your technique at the indoor academy or forget about your game in the Spa. Facilities include an airy, light-filled 18m pool with lovely views over the countryside, saunas, aroma steam room, ice room and experience showers. Treatments use Decleor products or Jessica for manis and pedicures. Spa packages start at just £40 per person. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £109 per person for a 1-night stay on a DB&B basis, including a 60-minute treatment in the Spa
Forest Pines Brigg, Lincolnshire www.qhotels.c.uk Tel: 01652 650770 In a single year, Forest Pines have fished 6,000 golf balls out of the water hazard at the 7th. If that sounds like too much of a challenge, head instead to the less intimidating waters in the tranquil Spa; sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and indoor pool with heated poolside loungers to loll on. An extensive treatment menu includes Elemis facials, massages and rituals plus Fake Bake spray tans and GELeration nail treatments. Both golf and spa breaks are available. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £99 per person for 1-night stay on DB&B basis, including 2 treatments in the Spa plus wine and chocolates
LG pp 48 Spas | Shaw Hill, St Mellion 23/07/2013 14:18 Page 48
Lady Golfer Spas St. Mellion International Resort Saltash, Cornwall www.st-mellion.co.uk | Tel: 01579 351351 St. Mellion is an unashamedly contemporary resort and feels fresh, light and breezy, yet sits happily in 450 stunning acres of ancient Cornish countryside. The advantage of a modern resort is space and St. Mellion has bags of it, with two 18-hole courses (including the highly rated Jack Nicklaus Signature Course), 3 restaurants, leisure club with 3 pools and a health and fitness club. Plus the Elemis Spa, where you can cocoon yourself away from all that activity and take advantage of an excellent range of Elemis treatments and therapies, or just relax in the spa pool and sauna. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £139 per person for 1-night stay on DB&B basis, including 2x30-minute treatments in the Elemis Spa
Shaw Hill Golf and Spa Hotel Chorley, Lancashire www.shaw-hill.co.uk | Tel: 01257 269221 Shaw Hill is a beautiful Georgian mansion overlooking a scenic woodland parkland course. The leisure club includes a tranquil Greco-Roman themed 18m pool, conducive to lounging around, plus a Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. There is also a fully equipped gym, timetable of classes and Le Visage Beauty Salon where treatments can be booked directly. Take advantage of the Spa Indulgence package, a half day with use of all leisure club facilities plus Classic Afternoon Tea for £25. Exclusive BookaSpa.com offer: £139 per person for a one night stay on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis, including a 25-minute treatment and 18-holes
LG pp 49 Spa Ads 23/07/2013 14:17 Page 49
in association with
WELCOME TO
SHAW HILL GOLF & SPA HOTEL Spa Indulgence Days £25.00 per person served with Classic Afternoon Tea Treat your loved ones to a Spa Indulgence Day - with use of the swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and fully equipped gymnasium followed by Afternoon Tea, served until 3pm in one of our lounges.
What to stay over night? We have 30 bedrooms at the hotel and Spa Breaks are from £95.00 per person, based on 2 sharing. This includes ½ facial or back massage (treatments must be booked at least 4 weeks prior to arrvial and are available Monday to Saturday only) with le Visage, Three course dinner, bed and full English Breakfast served in Vardon’s Restaurant. Call us to book now
Tel 01257 269221 www.shaw-hill.co.uk
Vale Resort 22/07/2013 12:20 Page 1
LG pp 51 Galvin Colour 23/07/2013 11:26 Page 51
FASHION
What made you think that colour was missing? When Galvin Green was founded most golf clothing was very conservative in colour options – navy, dark green, khaki and an occasional red. We wanted to do something different and started out using very bright, bold colours.
IN GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOUR
Galvin Green inherited a golfing world of black, navy and uninspired tartans. Now they lead the way in bold colours. Their product director Mats Lundqvist explains how the transformation took place
How daring was your first foray into bright colours? Our early 90s collections were very bright – with Gore-Tex rain suits in orange, purple, yellow and bright green! How different (if at all) are ladies to men when it comes to embracing bold colours? These days, I don’t think the difference is that big. Perhaps men are a bit more conservative when it comes to colours. But on the golf course, both men and women want to look smart and stand out. How much more difficult was it to convince the UK to broaden their horizons? At first, we saw a lot of raised eyebrows. But quite soon, it was clear that golfers liked what they saw and accepted the more colourful approach. Galvin Green garments were seen to be very different in appearance to other brands on the UK market and that appealed a lot. To what extent are your colours inspired by broader fashion and the catwalks? We look at catwalk fashion in places like Paris and Milan as well as other sports fashion and equipment trends to get inspiration for our new colours every year. How would you like your clothes to be perceived by female British golfers? We would like to be perceived as a leading sports fashion brand with garments offering outstanding built-in function, comfort and quality as well as style. What sets Galvin Green’s latest collection apart? We have further developed our
multi-layer concept to include an even wider selection of garments and colours within each layer, particularly within the ladies’ range. Our colour themes have been refined, with accessories colourcoordinated to create a series of stunning outfits. What has been the secret to Galvin’s enormous success? All our designs have been developed with a total focus on golf and what you need or don’t need on the course. A big part of our strength lies in the fact that we are 100 per cent focused on one sport, as we have no side business in other clothing such as skiwear. So, we can spend all our time developing clothing just for golfers.
British golfers have understood what we are all about. They understand that well-designed clothing actually can make you feel more comfortable on the course and therefore help improve performance. What colours/themes will we see next season? In the 2014 ladies’ collection we have three new colour themes: spicy orange with electric red and white trimming; midnight blue with spring green and white trimming; and platinum with purple rain and white trimming. What is your favourite piece from the ladies’ collection? The Naomi golf trouser in Ventil8 fabric is a great piece. It looks a really nice fit and I’m told that it’s very comfortable.
The Alison, our new jacket in Gore-Tex Paclite Technology fabric with stretch inserts, is also a great-looking garment. What are the values of Galvin Green as a company? Our total focus on golf, our ambition to create the ultimate golf clothing and our promise of ’we never compromise’.
LG pp 52-53 Fashion 22/07/2013 15:55 Page 52
Lady Golfer Fashion
BLACK TO FUCHSIA THE This month our superb Yorkshire-based lady golfers layer flattering shades with feminine pinks to create fun and chic outfits perfect for the course this September
LG pp 52-53 Fashion 22/07/2013 15:55 Page 53
In association with
LG pp 54-55 Fashion 22/07/2013 15:56 Page 54
Lady Golfer Fashion Margaret, handicap 13 Thermal Women’s Golf Jacket £60, Nike Golf, (nike.com); Black Gilet £99 J. Lindeberg (jlindeberg.com); Thelma Tank £44.99 Ping Collection (pingcollection.co.uk); Trousers: Model’s own; DryJoys shoes £110 FootJoy FootJoy (footjoy.co.uk)
LG pp 54-55 Fashion 22/07/2013 15:57 Page 55
Ann, handicap 21 Pink Amelie Polo £44.99, Ping Collection; Techno Stretch trousers €159 Golfino (golfino.com). Andrea Cardigan £64.99, Marta WB Vest £49.99, Belt £29.99, Rohnisch (rohnisch.com); shoes: Model’s own. In association with
LG pp 56 Fashion 22/07/2013 15:57 Page 56
Lady Golfer Fashion
In association with
Jean, handicap 16 Water Repellent Lambswool Sweater £55, Windproof Gilet £55, Abbie Polo Shirt £15, all ProQuip (proquipgolf.com); trousers: model’s own; WeatherSof Glove £8.50, FootJoy
golf just got
www.poodle.eu
sexier
LG pp 58-59 Fashion 22/07/2013 15:58 Page 58
Lady Golfer Fashion
LG pp 58-59 Fashion 22/07/2013 15:58 Page 59
In association with
Left - Visor £15, Nike (nike.com/golf); Argyle Pullover £55.99, Daily Sports (golf2golf.co.uk); Abbie Polo £15, Grace Waterproof Trousers £75, both ProQuip; Golf Hybrid shoes £150, Ecco (ecco.com/uk) Above - Moondance Waterproof Jacket £79.99 & Trousers £59.99, both Ping Collection; Thermal Jacket £60, Polo Shirt £25, both Nike Hair and Make-Up: Dani Haigh, Gurdeep Kaur Digpal, Olivia Anderson All Images: Getty- Shot on location at Aldwark Manor and Rudding Park, North Yorkshire With special thanks to: James Whitaker at Moor Allerton www.jwgolf.co.uk; The Ladies: Jean, Susan, Pam, Ann, Melanie and Margaret; Golf Garb www.golfgarb.co.uk
LG pp 60-61 Fashion Shops 23/07/2013 13:21 Page 60
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2 Daily Sports White/Pink Polo £41.99 3 Lija Raglan Zip Polo £54.99 4 Green Lamb Skort White £59.95 5 Lija Classic Argyle Vest £54.99 6 Abacus Whiting Long Sleeve £69.99 7 Pret a Golf Lisbon Lace Sleeve Top £69
8 Abacus Scoonie Fleece Jacket £69.99 9 Daily Sports Miracle Capris £67.99 10 Tommy Hilfiger Natasha Twill Cap £25 ily
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11 Nivo Fuschia Polo with Wicking and UV Protection £38
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LG pp 60-61 Fashion Shops 23/07/2013 13:22 Page 61
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1 Galvin Green Dee Insula Bodywarmer £79
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2 Green Lamb Mini Geometric Print Shirt £44.95 3 Nivo Black Sleeveless £36 4 Pret a Golf Pleat Collar Top £65 5 Nivo Quick-Dry Spandex Shorts £60
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6 Galvin Green Beyonce Windstopper £189
7 Abacus Mauna Skort £79.99 8 Tommy Hilfiger Victoria Cardigan £120 9 Sunice Susan Firework Print Polo £49.99 10 One Up Golf Monica Polo Shirt £38
11 Tommy Hilfiger Laurie Polo £55
SHOP
Inspired by our fashion shoot? Think pink if you’re looking to stand out this season...
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K een reen sto lub Gr g, G : In olf C y n u Pi ob hG w t ort k Ho tterw e hec : C unts Lu nlin r e o off disco m or o al eci e for ruk.c 9 p S in e 9 f l 1 l on ygo 57 lad 55 5 : w 14 t: 0
LG pp 62-63 Fashion Shop Ads 23/07/2013 12:42 Page 62
FASHION SHOPS
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62 Lady Golfer
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 62-63 Fashion Shop Ads 23/07/2013 12:42 Page 63
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www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
Lady Golfer 63
WILL YOU WIN THE MACH DUNES MILLION? Play Mach Dunes This Summer and Get a Chance to Swing for $1,000,000!
t he se S ee w hat ha pp en ed w he n pl ay er s t oo k t he ir sh ot
FROM NOW THROUGH
15 October 2013, anyone who plays an 18-hole round at Machrihanish Dunes can register to be entered in a drawing to return to the course and swing away for $1 million!*
Four lucky golfers will be chosen to come back to “the world’s most natural golf course” and take a shot at a hole-in-one on our picturesque 14th hole. Sink the shot and you’re a winner!
Visit MachDunesMillion.com to see what happened when “Old Tom” Morris challenged tournament players earlier this summer to take a swing at winning $1 million. Your shot could be next!
It’s that easy—so book your golf getaway to Mach Dunes today!
www.MachDunesMillion.com tel: 01586 810 000 | e-mail: info@machdunes.com | Machrihanish, Scotland
To enter, register at the Machrihanish Dunes Golf House before you play an 18-hole round between 15 July and 15 October 2013. Four (4) players will be randomly chosen to participate in the $1,000,000 hole-in-one contest at Machrihanish Dunes on 26 October 2013. $1,000,000 USD prize consists of a 20-year annuity of approximately $50,000 USD per year before taxes. Prize value when converted to other currencies may vary and fluctuate with exchange rates. Winning entrants will be notified within 48 hours of drawing by phone or email and will need to travel to Mach Dunes on 26 October at entrant’s expense to participate. Entries limited to one per person. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. For full contest terms and conditions, please visit www.machdunesmillion.com.
*
LG pp 65 Lead to Instruction 23/07/2013 13:22 Page 65
YOUR GAME Hit it further and straighter I Hole more putts I Short game I Golf psychology I Course management
TOUR TIPS: What you can learn from Inbee Park 1) South Korea’s world-beating star has set the game alight this year with her heroics in the Majors. This is largely due to Inbee hitting 70 per cent of the greens in regulation in her three Major wins this year and averaging 28 putts per round. No doubt to achieve this she has been pitching it close and this picture tells the thousand words as to why.
2) The things that impress me most about this motion is the quiet leg work through the ball, which allows the shot to be played primarily with the shoulders and arms. There is also no hand manipulation at all through the shot which allows Inbee to use the bounce correctly on the bottom of the club which will no doubt allow her to have excellent aim and distance control with her pitching. There is much for the amateur lady golfer to admire here.
Analysis by Sandy Smith. Sandy is Carly Booth's coach, a PGA Fellow Professional and the head pro at Ladybank in Fife. For more www.sandysmithgolf.com or Twitter @sandysmithgolf
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
Lady Golfer 65
LG pp 66-67 Zuel Instruction 23/07/2013 13:23 Page 66
INSTRUCTION
Henni Zuel is a member of the Ladies’ European Tour and first played on tour at the age of 13 in Portugal. You can follow her on Twitter @hennizuel
66 Lady Golfer
THE RIGHT CLUB
CORRECT ADDRESS
Most amateurs are beaten before they address the ball. For a 40-yard shot like this you should ignore your most lofted clubs and play a wedge or even an 8 or 9-iron.
Address the ball with 60 per cent of your weight on the left side and ball in the middle of the stance. See how I have leaned into the shot rather than setting up to try and scoop it out.
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 66-67 Zuel Instruction 23/07/2013 13:24 Page 67
THE LONG
BUNKER
SHOT Henni Zuel makes the hardest shot in the golf a good deal easier
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MAKE A FULL SWING
TRUST YOURSELF
Open up the clubface and swing as you would with a regular bunker shot, releasing the club and using the bounce of the club. The bounce is there to help you so make sure you use it.
For this shot I would play it with a full swing, both back and through. Trust plays a big part here so complete your takeaway and turn your chest towards the target after impact. COMMIT!
Lady Golfer 67
LG pp 68-69 Ralph Instruction 23/07/2013 13:25 Page 68
INSTRUCTION
ON THE
Hannah is currently playing on the LET Access Series having played on the main tour in 2010. For more on the Sussex youngster visit www.hannahralphgolf.co.uk
LG pp 68-69 Ralph Instruction 23/07/2013 13:25 Page 69
RIGHT PATH Hannah Ralph on how to quickly rectify your swing faults
X
This is a great drill for alignment for when you are practising. It is easy and straightforward and the best thing is that it will give you immediate feedback on the path of your swing. Lay three tour sticks or clubs down, one for your feet and two for the path of the club. Now get your feet and shoulders in line with the target and get used to swinging down this line.
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By setting up with your feet open to the target you more than likely will also have your shoulders open. If your shoulders are open to the target you will swing from out to in across the target line and not on the right path in relation to your target. From this position the bad shot is often a pull or a slice and there is too much to do to correct a poor set-up position.
X
A common fault is coming over the top at the impact position. Here your clubhead will pass over the stick on the left on the followthrough. Or if you swing from the inside you will hit the stick on the right post impact and your hands will have to rescue things. The idea is to get lined up, swing down the right path and train your muscle memory.
Lady Golfer 69
Masters Promo Open 22/07/2013 14:34 Page 70
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Where will I stay? Columbia – a town an hour away from Augusta. At the event, your base will be the 1018 Club, 400 yards from Magnolia Lane. Are flights included? No, due to the diverse needs of our guests. We can book your flights if you need us to. Which airports can I fly from? The two most popular are Manchester and Heathrow. How long is the flight? From Manchester, the flight to Philadelphia is eight hours. Then there is a 70-minute hop to Columbia.
How much golf can I watch? The decision is yours - our packages range from one day at the course to four but we can accommodate any request. Can I play golf when I'm there? Of course - let us know at the time of booking and we’ll organise it for you. How much is it going to cost me? Prices start from £2,295 per person. We require half of the money up front. How much spending money will I need? Once you are out there, drinks and food are free in the hospitality area so, in theory, you don’t have to spend a penny more.
Call 01132 893 979 email masters@sportspub.co.uk or visit
www.nationalclubgolfer.com/masters 70 AUGUST 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com
Masters Promo Open 22/07/2013 14:35 Page 71
THE JUNIPER TOUR £2,295per person*
Arriving on Friday this tour includes viewing of the alwaysexciting final round, transport to and from the course, three nights' accommodation in the Marriott Hotel, and full hospitality at our exclusive venue at Northwood. What the price includes: • A pass to see the final round of the 2014 Masters • Transport to and from Augusta • Three nights four-star hotel accommodation • Hospitality at the 1018 Club • Golf on Saturday can be arranged • Full itinerary and event documentation *based on twin sharing, flights not included
THE MAGNOLIA TOUR £3,695per person*
You will arrive on Thursday for the first of your four nights' accommodation at the Marriott Hotel, Columbia. The Magnolia package includes viewing of the tournament on Friday and Sunday with the option of playing golf on the Saturday. What the price includes: • Live action Friday and Sunday at the Masters • Transport to and from Augusta • Four nights four-star hotel accommodation • Hospitality at the 1018 Club • Golf on Saturday can be arranged • Full itinerary and event documentation *based on twin sharing, flights not included
THE REDBUD TOUR £4,995per person*
THE HOLLY TOUR £6,695per person*
You will arrive on the Tuesday April for six nights' accommodation and three days at Augusta. Golf on Thursday and Saturday at top quality local courses is included. What the price includes: • Live golf on Wednesday, Friday & Sunday at the Masters • Transport to and from Augusta • Six nights of four-star hotel accommodation • Hospitality at the 1018 Club • Golf on Thursday at Woodcreek GC with transfers • Golf on Saturday at Hounds Lake with transfers • Full itinerary and event documentation *based on twin sharing, flights not included
The golf enthusiast's dream package. You will arrive on the Monday and stay at the Sheraton Hotel for seven nights, viewing the golf on four days and playing on Tuesday where many of the players live and practice during Masters week. What the price includes: • Live golf on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday • Transport to and from Augusta • Seven nights of four-star hotel accommodation • Hospitality at the 1018 Club • Golf on Tuesday and Thursday, with transfers • Full itinerary and event documentation *based on twin sharing, flights not included www.nationalclubgolfer.com | AUGUST 2013 71
LG pp 72 Equipment Directory Ads 22/07/2013 12:08 Page 72
EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY
72 Lady Golfer
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LG pp 73 Lead to Equipment 23/07/2013 13:26 Page 73
YOUR GEAR The latest club reviews I New equipment I Fashion I Style tips I Electric trolleys I Pull trolleys
NEW NIVO COLLECTIONS APPEAL TO EVERYONE The OPTIC and SPIN lines will keep you stylish through the summer Nivo are perhaps best known for their eyecatching and functional styles, and their new collection certainly fits the bill on both fronts. Featuring two distinct fashion styles, the new OPTIC and SPIN collections have
been designed to appeal to golfers across the market. The OPTIC collection is dominated by sharp black and white contrasts, while the SPIN collection is based around the mix of both colours and patterns in an exciting
and vibrant way. Both new lines are made from quick and breathable fabric which is designed to keep you cool on the course, and the UV cut protects your skin from the sun while on the course.
LG pp 74-75 Equipment 23/07/2013 13:27 Page 74
EQUIPMENT
ONTEST Madeleine Winnett and two readers run the rule over the latest gear
YONEX EZONE SD FAIRWAY WOOD SRP: £149
PSP The Little One My initial thought was, “Oh my word!” The head is so small, I couldn’t believe it’s bigger than a golf ball – and it barely is! I giggled when addressing the ball, thinking I’d never be able to hit it. It looks even stranger behind the ball with the top line being so thick in proportion to such a small head. Then I hit it, stopped giggling immediately, and said, “Oh my word” again – but for all the right reasons this time. It is just brilliant! Forget this being a warm up/training club designed to help you see the sweet spot in your own clubs – I wanted to keep it in my bag permanently! SRP £89.95
GLENMUIR Heidi Sleeveless Polo Shirt For those who prefer the tops of their arms covered, the identical beautiful colouring and styling are available in a short sleeved version. It looks good in black, but I adore the grenadine shade of red. The shirt feels very soft against the skin and the button detailing at the front is unusual. The shaped fit gives it a feminine, flattering touch. A lovely summery golfing shirt. SRP £44
SOLAR SPORT Sunscreen Sun cream is usually a nuisance to apply before golf – and almost impossible to apply mid round – because you don’t want greasy hands. Problem solved! This spray dries within seconds, leaving hands grease free and non slippy. Also perfect for scalp and partings, leaving hair perfectly dry, without stickiness. The sun block effect is excellent, and the After Sun spray is incredibly effective at cooling fiery skin. Great concept, great product and great small size providing 200 sprays. SRP: Original £4.99, UVPro30 £5.99
74 Lady Golfer
MADELEINE Handicap: 4 What a great club! In fairness, it’s not not my first choice of colour – but at least it’s not girly pink! – and it is too flexible for me. But, I still really liked it! Aesthetically, the head shape is very attractive. At 18° this is more lofted than my own 3 wood, but it made it very easy to hit. The strike is effortless and I found it extremely forgiving. A pleasure to hit! MANDY AMBERT Handicap: 13 I liked this club down to the reflective head cover! It’s light in weight, well balanced and on contact has a generous sweet spot. I felt that even when not struck well the outcome was good. With an 18˚ club face the trajectory is higher than my own 3 wood. Distance wise, no real improvement but I felt confident and that’s what it’s all about. Would I buy one? Yes.
BRENDA CHATTERJEE Handicap: 35 Surprisingly, I found this club easy to handle. It just felt comfortable and I made regular contact with the ball, distance varied as one would expect, as my handicap is high. It’s an attractive club to look at and felt well balanced even though the head felt a tad weighty. I thought that it helped in some way to improve my consistency and accuracy in the direction I intended the ball to travel. Overall a resounding ‘Yes’.
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LG pp 74-75 Equipment 23/07/2013 13:27 Page 75
NIKE NG360 App Nike have officially launched their NG360 golf app in Europe. The Apple-only application has been incredibly popular in the USA, and was named one of iTunes' top 10 sports apps. In a nutshell, NG360 is a simple, effective, and free way to track your scores, understand your stats, and improve your skills. It works quickly and is easy to operate. Indeed, once the app is switched on and you've found the course you are playing (it is pre-loaded with 5,000 in Europe), filling in details is child's play. Simply indicate where your tee shot went, put in your score and number of putts, and it does the rest. SMOOTH OPERATION The controls are easy to use, simple to grasp and it works quickly FREE ON APP STORE NG360 won’t cost you a penny and could save you shots LOADS OF FREE VIDEOS From fitness to instruction, Nike have got it covered STATISTICAL GENIUS The app displays your key stats clearly and shows you your misses YOUR LEADERBOARD Compare your scores and stats with those of your friends/colleagues
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Lady Golfer 75
LG pp 76 Club Golf Ads 22/07/2013 12:11 Page 76
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76 Lady Golfer
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LG pp 77 Equality 23/07/2013 13:28 Page 77
WHAT HAS EQUALITY EVER DONE FOR ME?
QUITE A LOT ACTUALLY A personal response to an issue that has caused lively debate across the country
I
N the May issue of Lady Golfer, Madeleine Winnett expressed her personal dissatisfaction with the 2010 Equality Act and its implications for her golf. The changes may not suit Madeleine but clubs need to look to the future. The Equality Act is an opportunity for change that should, if implemented correctly, encourage more women, especially working women and young couples into golf. The majority of UK clubs are currently facing some very big challenges – declining memberships, an absence of waiting lists and the axing of joining fees, increasing competition from club consortiums, for example
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Crown Golf, and hotel groups, such as De Vere. Not to mention the run of poor weather leading to lost visitor green fee and catering revenue and the ageing membership profiles. The England Golf Club Membership Questionnaire Result Book 2012, a national survey of the sport, identifies the male:female breakdown in golf clubs is 84%:16%. Furthermore 69 per cent of all members are aged 45 years plus. Just 6 per cent are aged between 16 and 24. These beg the questions where are the future members coming from; and how do we recruit more women? Equality means opportunities for women to play throughout
the weekend, not just at allotted times. It means couples can actually play together in the same competition and spend time together. Women working full time, without the luxury of a midweek round followed by lunch and bridge, can play in a full competition with a choice of playing partners not just the other ‘business ladies’. Increasingly women work. If women’s sections are to survive and thrive in the future, there needs to be recognition of the need for a change to reflect the changes in society. Golf clubs need to embrace equality and change and not just pay lip-service to the law. Many clubs still don’t allow women to play in the Saturday
competition. In fact in many clubs little, apart from subscription fees, has changed. In some instances the women’s committee have stated that they don’t want change. How selfish. What about the future? How are we going to attract younger people, couples and more women to join if we endorse and support inequality? Without change some clubs will no longer be able to support a women’s section. How equal is that? n The female author of this piece works within golf and wishes to remain anonymous as her views do not necessarily represent those of her employers
Lady Golfer 77
LG pp 78-79 Club Golf Ads 23/07/2013 10:44 Page 78
COURSE DIRECTORY
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78 Lady Golfer
Follow us on
@bowoodparkgolf www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 78-79 Club Golf Ads 23/07/2013 10:44 Page 79
Tylney Park Golf Club
An example of the very best inland golf available in Britain The championship course was redesigned in 2005 by Donald Steel and Tom Mac Kenzie 4 for 3 offer on green fees £40 Mon-Fri • £50 weekend Membership Availabilities joining fee being suspended in all categories at the moment Tel: 01256 762079 or email contact@tylneypark.co.uk Rotherwick, Hook Hampshire RG27 9AY
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Lady Golfer 79
LG pp 80 County Champions Ads 22/07/2013 14:07 Page 80
COUNTY CHAMPIONS
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Summer Packages and Green Fees from £55pp October Rates from £45pp Winter Bookings now being taken from £30pp Please quote Lady Golfer to secure these rates. Visit our website for last minute deals and internet bookings
www.fulfordgolfclub.co.uk Contact Gary / Fiona for further information
01904 413 579 • info@fulfordgolfclub.co.uk 80 Lady Golfer
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LG pp 81 County Champions 23/07/2013 13:29 Page 81
PLAY AWAY
County Champions Two fabulous courses perfectly set up to make your next ladies’ away day a memorable one
Moor Allerton, West Yorkshire A top-class North Leeds course with a modern flavour
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About and large, sloping greens A number of the game’s great remain. Sometimes it is the and good have been case with three loops of nine associated with Moor that one is weaker than C HA MP Y Allerton. Dr Alister the others, but not T I N MacKenzie here. T C provided the A T N CO 66 1154 original design, Top Hole t: 0113 2 .uk g a and the club The par-3 17th is w: m c.co NH p: LS17 9 moved to a new the course’s home a few miles signature, a sublime down the road in short hole over water. 1971, when Peter Alliss Only a real mis-hit will end became the head up wet but only a properly professional of the new Robert struck mid-iron shot will find the Trent Jones Sr-designed layout. putting surface with sand featuring on all sides. The Course Today, in 220 acres of rolling Card Wrecker Yorkshire countryside, the With the wind at their back the course is a treat. Over 20,000 big boys can get up in two trees have been planted to from an elevated tee at the add some definition but the par-5 27th – but it’s risky as the Trent Jones hallmarks of huge green is across a valley and teeing grounds, plenty of water guarded by water and sand.
CHAMP
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Fulford, North Yorkshire York classic where Langer famously climbed a tree
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About While Fulford’s 6,900 yards off Fulford used to be home to the tips is still plenty long the Benson & Hedges Cup – enough – and more – for one of the most popular those of us that consider our events on the professional golf to be a hobby, the length calendar. of the course eventually led to This York course is also its retirement from the famous for the image of a European Tour. young Bernhard Langer C HA TY M perched in the ash Top Hole UN tree at the side of The par-5 11th is CONTACT the 17th green, one of the most t: 01904 413 579 after his picturesque holes fulfordgolf club.co.uk approach on the course, p: YO10 5 DY became lodged in with the tee set its branches. below a heathercovered incline. The Course The dense population of trees Card Wrecker around this heathland course, The 13th is one of the toughest that was designed by Major holes you will ever play, Charles Mackenzie, shape the featuring out of bounds on the fairways – which are guarded left, gorse, trees and five by timber at almost every turn. bunkers.
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www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
Lady Golfer 81
LG pp 82 Columnist CK 23/07/2013 13:30 Page 82
COMMENT
Claire Kane Tuition or torment, what’s it going to be?
I
HAVE decided golf pros are like dentists, most of us only visit them when we want to enhance our game, or the result of our swing becomes painful. The frustrating aspect of golf is you can rarely see the problem yourself. So far as my brain is concerned I do exactly the same for a bad shot as a good one, so I’m at a complete loss as to why my arms sometimes fail to listen to my brain and the ball either shoots off at an angle or I start to dig up the course. You’d think with a few lessons and a bit of practice you’d soon be driving in the right direction but many a golf lesson has ruined a game. I remember once standing on the 1st tee and my opposition casually mentioning she’d recently had a lesson. I recollect thinking ‘oh the poor soul, she doesn’t stand a chance’ and I was proved right! For me, one of the worse things an instructor can do is to break down and analyse the swing. Attempting to remember the numerous steps is like being given directions –
Left a bit... Is that stronger or more neutral?
82 Lady Golfer
Take heed Too much info can be hard to digest
you can only recall the first couple of instructions and after that everything becomes a jumble and is guaranteed to reappear in the wrong order. Being focused is important and I recall a pro enquiring what did I want to get out of the lesson. I resisted the flippant but truthful answer about wanting to be a singlefigure golfer on the basis I’d only booked him for half an hour and I didn’t want to waste 20 minutes observing his attempts to control his laughter. In my early golfing days jargon such as ‘out to in’, ‘in to out’, ‘open and shut’ ‘hitting on the up/down’, ‘going through the ball’ seemed confusing but I’ve since picked up the lingo, although there has been the odd red-faced moment when my instructor has had to
point out that when he said to move left, he meant my left and not his! Pros love their gadgets and on one occasion a label was placed on the face of my 3wood for feedback – as if I didn’t already know when it went wrong! It was fascinating seeing marks scattered right across the clubface but I later learnt if I’d played with the label in a competition, I’d have been disqualified as it gave me an advantage. Although exactly what sort of advantage when I was striking it so badly would have been debatable. I once played a lady who a had a most unusual swing
where she methodically pulled her club back to an upright position and then released it over her shoulder to produce an attacking motion more like an axe about to split a log. It was utterly mesmorising but by the 4th hole I had to stop looking (ball spotting was definitely out) as I would have replicated the action by the 15th hole. Shame the same visual learning skills don’t kick in whilst I’m watching players on the European Tour.
‘ONE OF THE WORSE THINGS AN INSTRUCTOR CAN DO IS ANALYSE THE SWING’
Claire Kane Claire is a freelance journalist, a keen golfer and someone who doesn’t take herself, or her golf, too seriously. Follow her tales on twitter @golfsnippets
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
Golfing Lady 23/07/2013 12:50 Page 1
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