LG Cover November 13 20/09/2013 10:26 Page 3
November 2013 £3.50
NT BRILLIA ISTS
N n the COLYUWM ALKER O
MICKE t Evian Major a historic IST We COLUMN r Cup Y R E T S MY Solde RyheimT ...as need the WINNET E IN E L n MADE ever see you’ve n re her befo
OUR TOUR OF DUTY...
We tee it up in the Ladies’ Scottish Open! PLUS
Suzann Pettersen claims first-ever Evian Championship
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Becky Brewerton, Charlie Douglass and Holly Aitchison
HAVING YOUR SAY! Your views on the hottest topics in the ladies’ game
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WINTER WEEKENDS
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Ou rr eg u n lar e n Ca qui Fo lla pm o w e n tJ ay nt n N oy’s ’s f tea e PL w c org m US g oo iv gi : T rip l M ing ve itl s f : P X the eis ro ro H ir t b m L jec ot ve al am t s iro rdic l s k h ns t on pe in oe s ... cia l
CHEAT THE WIND
EX CL US IV ES
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Red Tee Breaks 20/09/2013 10:58 Page 1
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LG pp 3 Ed Comm 20/09/2013 14:50 Page 3
Welcome
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
Top-class writing
November 2013 Volume 17 Issue 4
November 2013 £3.50
Our columnists are the best in the business. From P13
Consulting Editor Mickey Walker Editorial Director Dan Murphy
When LG met LET
T BRILLIAN TS
MNISOn the COLUWA LKER
Find out what happened when LG’s Carley teed it up in the Scottish Open P27
OUR TOUR OF DUTY...
MICKEY Evian Major at historic MNIST We Y COLU p MYSTER Solder Cu Ryheims the d ETT ...a nee INE WINN MADELE never seen you’ve e her befor
We tee it up in the Ladies’ Scottish Open!
Deputy Editor Mark Townsend Staff Writer James Tompkinson
PLUS
Windproof browsing 12 stylish ways to deal with blustery conditions P38 What Jodie Rockett, our cover star, is wearing: Golfino Reversible Waistcoat £199, V-neck Pullover £139, Ultra Thermo Trousers £149 and Cable Checked Visor £29,95 – (golfino.com)
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Becky Brewerton, Charlie Douglass and Holly Aitchison
WINTER
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YOUR SAY!
We identify the cosiest places to play and stay
Your views on the hottest topics in the ladies’ game
CHEAT THE WIND Don’t let blustery weather stop you enjoying your golf – we’ve got 12 stylish windproofs inside
Fashion Editor Justine Board Contributor Madeleine Winnett Chief Designer Andrew Kenworthy Designer & Webmaster Daniel Cooper Publisher Tom Irwin Sales Executive Carley Warrington
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EX CL US IV ES
Great tips from Lexi Thompson, Becky Brewerton and Holly Aitchison P25
Suzann Pettersen claims first-ever Evian Championship
EQ UI PM EN T
Learn from the stars
Ou rr eg u n lar e n Ca quip Fo lla m o w e n tJo ay’s nt te n N y’s f a PL ew c org m US g oo iv giv : T rip l M ing e itle s f : P X the ist rom roje Ho ir v ba La ct t ir erd ll m sh on ict sp kin o s on es ec ... ia l
F
ranck Riboud, the guiding light behind the Evian Championship, has often spoken of his desire to keep the unique atmosphere of the event even after it has become a Major. He has certainly done that with the continuation of fundraising events throughout the week. There is the annual football match between professional stars and legends and the players and caddies; the numerous parties for sponsors and their guests in a chic setting; the generosity and acknowledgement towards current players and past champions; and the many fun things that run alongside the main event. In addition, 4,000 children from local schools were invited to the tournament and for the sixth consecutive year the Evian Junior Masters was played over two days with players from around the world. As for the championship itself, despite the stop-start nature, the golf was outstanding. I suppose that’s what we should expect from the world’s leading women golfers, but even so, I thought the standard of golf was at times amazing. The conditions were generally ideal – very soft greens and little wind until the final day. There is no doubting the Evian Championship (Masters, in its previous incarnation) has a unique feel to it. Whether or not it should have become a Major is open to debate, and will be for years to come. I’ve listened to much of that debate, with many people in golf saying why not continue to hold a very special championship, with a unique place in women’s golf, and does it need to be classed as a Major? Of course, I can also understand Evian’s desire for their event to gain Major status. The debate continues! – Mickey Walker OBE
On the cover
Fashion Co-ordinator Eve Burton Finance Director WIll Shucksmith (ACA) Accounts Emma Abbott Chairman Peter Burgess
What we’ve been talking about this month The Evian rain
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It was funny that an event by a bottled water manufacturer should be dominated by the wet stuff. But the sight of greens covered by tarpaulin looked more like cricket than golf. What a shame the new Major should be reduced to 54 holes.
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Lydia’s dilemma
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At the age of 16, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko is clearly ready, in golfing terms, to turn pro. But what will be the consequences to her personal development? It is impossible to know but we certainly wish her all the best.
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Lady Golfer 3
LG pp 4-5 Five mins, Tweets 19/09/2013 15:51 Page 4
THE STARTER
Follow Lady Golfer: @LadyGolferMag
TOP TWEETS It's with mixed emotions that I'm now choosing to step away from the @lpga. Thanks for all your kindness over the years. @SophieGustafson Hmmmm. Cant fall asleep so I am catching up on Dexter now. Gonna have some weirddd dreams tonight @themichellewie I just ran out of luck! My old BMW just broke down on the freeway! @lotta_eucapt Playing in Europe and home on a Sunday night. #priceless. Majorca bound tomorrow with the girls #cantwait #nogolf #holidays @Beany25 (Catriona Matthew) Waking up early, trying to get back on FL time...and starting to feel the wisdom teeth soreness now :/ but caddyshack is on! @Lexi Pretty remarkable the lengths the @EvianChamp has gone to in order to get our 54th hole in today. Tarps on the green, staff scrambling. @TheChristinaKim Not my best golf today. Dreadfully slow and the golf course was a mess! Never taken so many free drops at a major! @Stacy_Lewis Impressed with Freddy's pick of @JordanSpieth! Youth will always deliver #fearless @Jodi_Ewart
Lauren Taylor James Tompkinson talks to the Woburn teenager about turning pro “Winning the British Amateur is one of my greatest achievements, especially to do it at Royal Portrush with my dad on the bag. It was really special. I was very proud to become the youngest ever winner.
“I played my first LET access event recently and winning was just the start I wanted! I had my sister on the bag which was really nice. It has given me a lot of confidence heading into my last few events.
“Being awarded BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2011 was probably the best night of my life. It was a big thrill to mix with stars like Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Darren Clarke. I’ve never been so nervous making a speech though!
“I'm only playing in professional events before tour school, so I decided to turn pro as I had no plans to stay amateur if I didn't get my card. I have worked hard this summer and my ambition has always been to be a professional golfer.
“I really enjoyed my time at Baylor (Texas) – it's a great university with a great team. But after my freshman year I decided that I wanted to focus on turning professional.
“I wouldn't say I have a best mate on tour – I just have a lot of really good friends. I know quite a few players on the LET and other amateurs that are turning professional this year so it will be nice to see everyone. “I’ve enjoyed my time as an amateur. I’ve had some great successes and have loved representing England and Europe in team events.” n Lauren Taylor won the British Amateur Championship when she was just 16, and was subsequently awarded the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year title in 2011. She recently became only the third amateur to win on the LET Access Series and will attempt to qualify for the full LET at the end of the year.
LG pp 4-5 Five mins, Tweets 19/09/2013 15:51 Page 5
LG FASHION
TOP STORY
Reviews by Madeleine Winnett
WALES WIN LADIES’ HOME INTERNATIONALS
PUMA Faas Lite shoes SRP: £75 As the name suggests, these are light golf shoes – but I wasn’t prepared for just how incredibly light they are at only 7oz! I wanted to start jumping around in them as soon as I put them on, and they are waterproof as well. They are extremely comfortable and offer good stability and traction. The colours are fun, and they come complete with two different lace colours for if you wish to be slightly more conservative!
ABACUS Barton StretchLite rain jacket SRP £159 & Pitch OPT stretch trousers SRP £119 I know they are called ‘stretch’ – but they really are! There’s no restriction of movement at all. The material just gives, making it very comfortable. The trousers have the longest zips I have ever seen to mid thigh. The jacket has a neat fitting collar, with chin guard, and it is incredibly light weight. Stylish, practical, comfortable and affordable!
Wales are the new Ladies’ Home Internationals champions following a resounding victory at Scotscraig. The victory is only Wales’ fourth in over 100 years of competition in the annual event, but it follows more recent wins in 1998, 2008 and 2009. The Welsh win was secured in emphatic fashion with a clean sweep of victories over England, Ireland and host nation Scotland.
Wales opened the tournament with a comfortable victory over England before narrowly beating Ireland in a tight contest where the winning margin was a single point. The tournament was then secured against the Scots in the early part of the final afternoon. Amy Boulden, playing in her last amateur event, beat Eilidh Briggs before Wrexham’s Chloe Williams maintained her perfect winning record by beating Lauren Whyte to guarantee the team win.
Commenting on the victory, Golf Union of Wales director of performance Ben Waterhouse said: “This was the most complete team performance in my time with the Union. We have played very, very well. It was a complete team performance with every player contributing. Star player Williams added: “That was a great team performance which was good to be part of. It also felt good to win six out of six. I just played really good golf in each match.”
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Lady Golfer 5
LG pp 6-7 WYWT Sussex 19/09/2013 15:52 Page 6
THE STARTER
WISH YOU WERE THERE?
BRIGHTON Stay in the vibrant town and play at parklands, links or heathlands
WHERE TO STAY Hotel Seattle, Brighton Overlooking the swish marina among a myriad shops and restaurants, this chic modern hotel offers good-sized rooms sp ideal for storing/drying gear. Fabulous breakfast too! hotelseattlebrighton.com
6 Lady Golfer
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LG pp 6-7 WYWT Sussex 19/09/2013 15:52 Page 7
I
Blissful West Sussex (AKA Pulborough) is a dream
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F you are looking to combine a weekend of superb golf by day with some lively refreshment by night, the south coast of England is as good a place as any in Great Britain. The vibrant attractions of Brighton are fairly well known and there is something for everyone in this quirky seaside town. We based ourselves at Hotel Seattle in the marina – 20 minutes’ walk from the centre – and it was the perfect spot from which to head out to enjoy the best golf Sussex has to offer; the large rooms (all stylish and modern) were perfect to spread out our gear in after being soaked on day one. And although the nightlife of the centre is easily accessed, if you’re tired after 36 holes on the links, there are lots of lively bars and good eateries in the marina. We stayed here throughout, because none of the best courses in Sussex are close to each other, so there was not an obvious base. We headed out each day and returned each evening to recharge the batteries ahead of the following day’s action. There is lots of brilliant golf within 45 minute’s drive, starting with West Sussex. Found in a glorious heathland landscape in Pulborough, this is one of the finest inland courses in Britain. Indeed, it suffers very little in comparison with Sunningdale. It is complemented by the two fine 18-holers at Royal Ashdown Forest – a day spent there is certainly one to remember – Mannings Heath, Goodwood and East Sussex National. And despite a surprisingly small number of links (given its length of coast), there is one world-class example (Rye, which requires correspondence with the secretary to enquire about a tee time) and a fine example in Littlehampton. Finally, Cooden Beach is another fun experience on the coast. Lady Golfer 7
LG pp 8-9 Starter 20/09/2013 15:05 Page 8
THE STARTER
ON TEST With our equipment expert and two fellow Trentham members
CALLAWAY X HOT IRONS SRP: £729 (5-P)
MADELEINE WINNETT Handicap: 4 I mistimed my first two shots because the shafts are very flexible – far more so than my usual clubs. However, by the time I hit shots three and four, I slowed my swing down and immediately felt the full impact – sweet strike, effortless hit and good ball flight. They will definitely be appreciated more by higher handicappers with slower swing speeds who should find them easy to use with the clubs doing all the work for them!
MANDY AMBERT Handicap: 13 Personally I struggled to get to grips with these clubs. Having read the reviews, I was looking forward to longer length and a more forgiving performance. To start with all I got was a ‘thud’. I persevered thinking, check your grip, alignment and back to basics. Still no major improvement for me. I found the weight distribution and lightweight shaft did not produce the feel good factor that I was hoping for – sorry!
BRENDA CHATTERJEE Handicap: 35 I can’t say that the clubs looked particularly attractive, but grey is not a colour that appeals. In all fairness only the grip is grey and this did feel comfortable. I had no problem at all in using these irons. No particular effort or practice swings were necessary when using them for the first time which speaks volumes! The loft and length were as one would expect and overall I thought they were more than satisfactory.
8 Lady Golfer
LET ACCESS SERIES VICTORY FOR WOBURN’S TAYLOR Woburn’s Lauren Taylor has become only the third amateur in history to win an event on the LET Access Series following victory in the Norrporten Ladies Open. The 19-year-old finished one shot clear of the Netherlands’ Chrisje de Vries and Sohvi Harkonen from Finland in the tournament, played at Sweden’s Sundsvalls course. Ahead of the final round, Taylor was lying in sixth place, four shots off the lead. But a excellent final-round 72,
including four birdies, was enough to ensure the victory. The final round was played over two circuits of a composite loop of nine holes after wet weather made sections of the course unplayable. Taylor now joins Pamela Pretswell and Linn Andersson
UK FEMALE MEMBERS IN DECLINE A recent study by KPMG has revealed that there are now fewer female golfers in the UK than in Germany, despite the UK having four times the amount of courses that their European neighbours have. According to the report, there are approximately 1.2 million golf club members in Britain and Ireland, but over three quarters of those members are adult males. Adult females make up just 14 per cent of UK club members. By contrast, 35 per cent of golf club members in Germany are adult females.
as amateurs to have won on the LET Access Series. The youngster now intends to leave her golf scholarship at Baylor University, Texas, and play the remainder of the LETAS series with the intention of turning professional ahead of next season’s Ladies’ European Tour.
REVIEWED LAMKIN
Germany currently has 220,000 female members, compared to 180,000 in the UK and Ireland. The alarming nature of the figures are heightened by the fact that the UK and Ireland have over 3,000 golf clubs compared to just 719 in Germany.
Crossline Ace 3Gen grips Just to be different I chose a grey grip, and I am very happy with it on my driver. It seems very tacky at first, making it feel very secure. The effects do wear off but are quickly restored when you wash them! It is very comfortable and provides good vibration dampening, but without feeling at all thick. Available in three sizes. SRP: from £5 per grip By Madeleine Winnett
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LG pp 8-9 Starter 20/09/2013 15:05 Page 9
SALMOND BACKS CLUBGOLF AS IT DRIVES MORE GIRL MEMBERS Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond has said he is encouraged by data which shows that the governmentfunded ClubGolf programme has introduced many more children to the game. A survey of 81% of Scottish clubs showed that over half the children that joined in 2011 and 2012 did so through ClubGolf. More significantly, over a third of all girl members at Scottish clubs have come through the progamme. “These figures are extremely exciting, showing more young people participating in the game,” said Salmond.
PARALYMPIC STAR BOOSTS GOLF Paralympic gold medalist Josie Pearson received her first golf lesson as part of a programme designed to encourage more disabled people to take up the sport. The ISPS Handa PGA Academy Programme was launched last year and provides tailored lessons and coaching by PGA professionals to thousands of disabled golfers in the UK. “I am wheelchair bound so I was a little apprehensive at first but with Craig's experience through the ISPS Handa PGA Academy Programme he made it really easy,” said Pearson.
TALENTED ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR FEMALE GOLFERS England Golf has secured for places for young British female golfers on the Talented Athlete Scholorship programme for 2013/14 The scheme helps athletes to stike a balance between academic university studies with training and competition. The scheme runs at various institutes throughout the UK, inlcuding Bath, Southampton,
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London, Loughborough, Leeds, Birmingham and Sheffield. Rebecca Wood, the England Golf Women’s Performance Manager, said: “These awards will provide fantastic strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and lifestyle support for players, providing that they can visit their local TASS site regularly.”
Lady Golfer 9
LG pp 10 Di Meets... 20/09/2013 12:26 Page 10
THE STARTER
How long have you been playing golf and who introduced you to the game? My first game of golf was at Middlesbrough Municipal Golf Club and I must have been about 10 I suppose. My dad had given up cricket because of a dodgy back and needed an alternative pursuit. My abiding memory – beyond his increasingly furrowed brow as impatient members gathered behind us – was the rascals from the housing estate running onto the fairway to steal your ball and then sell it back to you. How is your golf at the moment and what is your handicap? My game is currently on hold – I was playing more than ever until my son came along two years ago and the longer I’ve left it the more intimidating the 1st tee is becoming! I got down to 14 before I stopped which is decent for someone who can’t chip or putt. Where do you play? I was a member at Hampton Court Palace which was about 40 minutes from my home in south west London (as near as it gets) and loved the openness of the Royal Park. A friend from New Zealand came over to play St Andrews and Gleneagles but when he went home he was more excited about the deer on the greens at Hampton! You have started a new show Saturday Night Football on Sky Sports with Jamie Redknapp, how often do you play golf with him? We haven’t yet! I’ve been invited but I’ve told him I want to play a bit first to remember how to swing!
Jamie Redknapp in action
10 Lady Golfer
DI MEETS... DAVE JONES
“I AM THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF DRIVE FOR SHOW, PUTT FOR DOUGH” TV presenter and Lynx ambassador Di Dougherty chats to Sky Sports anchor and presenter Dave Jones about his game
How competitive is Jamie? He’s practically a pro, given that he actually plays every day. And he’s got two kids! How does he manage that? And he only lives five minutes from his course. (Note to self move out of London). What are the strengths to your game? I played a lot of cricket in my youth so ball striking always
came pretty naturally – especially off the tee. I am the perfect example of drive for show, putt for dough... Do you prefer inland or seaside courses and which is your favourite course? I will play anywhere – you always find a couple of nice holes on any course. I’ve holidayed a couple of times with the family at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus – I know the sunshine helps but it’s beautiful. What was your best round of golf? My first ever medal at Hampton Court. I’d had a blazing row with my then girlfriend the night before and barely slept but I turned up with little hope and shot 82 off
18. It killed my handicap.
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
28/3/13
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LG pp 12 Letters 19/09/2013 14:37 Page 12
Your Letters
The Star Letter each month wins a
STAR LETTER A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF SEXISM WITHIN GOLF CLUBS Dear LG, The Bournemouth Association of Golf Clubs holds an annual competition, held at Queens Park Golf Course, played off handicap from the white tees. Ladies are allowed to play, but they must also play from the white tees. Ladies are given an extra six shots – worked out according to yardage and standard scratch.
Since its inception I am only the seventh woman to have won the competition. I play off 18 so was given a handicap of 24. I finished joint first with a net 67 along with two men. The competition then went to a three-hole play off, and I was given four shots. I won the play-off on my gross score so did not need the handicap, but there was a
fair bit of chat back in the club house from "the boys" saying it was not fair as the ladies were given too many extra shots. If the competition was so biased towards the ladies then I really do think more than seven women in 102 years would have won the trophy. Cheryl Noble (pictured right, above), via email
Cobra Baffler T-Rail+ Fairway or Hybrid Available in 22/25/28/31/34 in the hybrid or 18/20/22 in the fairway version with a ladies’ graphite shaft. www.cobragolf.co.uk Please state your preferred loft when you submit your letter. Send your letters to: Lady Golfer, Unit 2, Arena Park, Tarn Lane, Scarcroft LS17 9BF or email: letters@sportspub.co.uk
WONDERFUL OLD COURSE MEMORIES
TIME TO CHANGE THE HANDICAP SYSTEM? Dear LG, I belong to a small section of lady golfers, and this week, I played to my handicap, producing a net 74. The next best score was a net 78 by a lady outside of her buffer zone. The SS went to 77 and I got cut 0.9. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind having my handicap cut because that is what golf is about. However, I do mind getting cut when all I did was to play to my handicap. Surely, something should be done about this dire system. Estelle Winter, via email
12 Lady Golfer
Dear LG, St Andrews was showcased wonderfully at the Ricoh Women’s British Open. For golfers from all over the world, St Andrews must be a focus and even those with only a slight interest cannot fail to be inspired and excited by a visit to the famous town. You don’t even have to spend any money or visit anywhere special - the whole town is built around golf. Just stand there and soak it up. My abiding memory of playing over the Old Course is not of a good score but of a single shot. My drive on 18 stopped on the middle of the road and despite being offered a drop I elected to play it. There are always watching
crowds leaning on the distinctive trellis fence. As we waited a short while for the green to clear, one of the watchers called out to me, exclaiming, "You're not going to play off the road are you?" I played an 8 iron off the tarmac, made the green and got my 4. The warm-hearted crowd gave me a great round of applause and I felt like Jack Nicklaus just for a moment. Neil Sjoberg, via email
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LG pp 13 Mystery Columnist 19/09/2013 14:37 Page 13
Mystery Columnist Why we should introduce a new event – the Ryheim-Solder Cup
F
INA, the World Governing Body for swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised and open water swimming announced in July 2013 that from September 2014 Mixed Relay Events will become part of all major FINA events. The response on social media from the aquatic world was one of support and delight. Two men and two women in a relay team. Simple, mixed participation at the highest levels – already a feature in tennis. Why would it be a problem? This got me thinking if golf was ready for professional mixed events? Could a new event ‘The Ryheim-Solder Cup’ be introduced? The respective Ryder and Solheim Cups and the British men’s and women’s Open events are fabulously well supported by sponsors and the golfing public and firmly entrenched in the European sporting calendar. Could Great Britain add another must-watch golfing event? Could the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, inaugural golf event feature a mixed foursomes? A 36-hole medal qualifier followed by knockout for top 16 pairs. What great TV! Who would Great Britain’s golfing equivalent of Andy Murray & Laura Robson be? Oh and for the record my money would be on two of our brightest young talents Charley Hull and Danny Willett. Personally I think an event of this nature could work. It would, in whatever form it were to manifest itself, be a great platform from which to www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
? Buddy up Could we merge these team events?
promote the game of golf as a family activity. Moreover it could do a lot to set an example of how men’s and women’s sport can work together for the good of the game. Maybe then the golfing community at large could spend more time discussing how to get more participants of either gender playing golf rather than the merits or otherwise of single-sex golf clubs! Oh – and for the record – I don’t mind. Do what you like, within the law. However, these clubs – men’s or women’s – who choose to have single-sex membership should not be
selected to host Major championships. There are some 3,000 other courses to choose from. All of whom would welcome new members, of either gender, and the commercial spoils that go with being the venue for the Open Championship. Golf in Great Britain is still very traditional, despite the 2010 Equality Act, there are deeply drawn lines around men’s and women’s participation and in many clubs never the twain shall meet. England Golf and the County Golf Partnerships are working towards bringing the Unions and the Associations together
but for many, particularly in the north of England, it is a slow and painful process. There is ample room for tradition but golf needs to act as one. The game as a whole needs more players and for those players to play more often. Anything that can be done to encourage men, women, girls, boys and families to play golf should be firmly supported.
Mystery Columnist • 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 13
LG pp 14-15 Columnist MW 19/09/2013 14:39 Page 14
COMMENT
Mickey Walker The organisers could not have done more to turn the Evian into a Major
W
ITH the Evian Championship having just taken place for the first time as the fifth Major of the year, now is a good time to reflect on how successful the inaugural Championship was and indeed whether or not the event should have ever been allowed to be awarded Major status. There is no doubting the commitment and financial backing of Franck Riboud, the CEO of the Danone Group of companies of which Evian is a part, to make the Evian Championship, the course and everything involved with the event very special. The plan to redesign the Evian resort course to bring it up to the standard expected of hosting a Major was unbelievably ambitious and some would say crazy given that they had a year to accomplish the changes and that Evian is hardly in a geographical location to make such a massive redesign practical. All credit must go to European Golf Design team and the designers, Jeremy Slessor and Dave Sampson, Steve Smyers the LPGA’s design consultant, but especially the team of John Clark and Julian Mooney from EGD and the course superintendent at Evian – Yannick Le Hec who were regularly on site overseeing the work. Thousands of tonnes of earth were moved to extend and redesign the greens, along with sand helicoptered in for the many new bunkers, and hundreds of people worked tirelessly, even when there was 14 Lady Golfer
Picture perfect The Evian enjoys a sensational setting
snow on the ground to get the course ready for play. One of the most severe winters of the last 40 years didn’t help and neither did the prolonged hot and dry weather of July, August and early September followed by torrential rain the week before the championship. It really was a minor miracle and testament to all those involved that the course and especially the greens were as good as they were. Everyone was in agreement that the main design changes to the layout of the course – the 5th hole and the final four holes were a huge improvement. What the players were also in agreement with was that some of the contouring of the new greens was too severe, especially on the 2nd and 15th holes. Having said that, the fact that the whole course was so wet meant that the new greens were very
playable. In drier, firmer conditions that probably wouldn’t have been the case. The newness of the greens – some of them had only been laid in June – meant that they were not going to drain well. When the heavens opened late on Tuesday afternoon, the greens, and in particularly the swales and hollows of the more extreme greens, flooded very quickly. The high water table meant that just a little bit of rain would result in more flooding, which on Thursday proved to be the case. Just one eighth of an inch of rain caused the greens to flood again, which eventually led the whole day to be a washout. On Friday and Saturday the weather cooperated and then the unique precaution of covering all the greens with tarpaulins after the conclusion of play on Saturday meant that despite some heavy overnight rain and a few
showers on Sunday morning, a 54-hole championship could be completed the next day. The general opinion amongst the English-speaking members in the media centre was that with all the changes to the course why not wait until the course has had chance to settle down and mature for a good year and then host the Evian Championship as a Major in 2015. This year’s championship was a success despite the weather problems and newness of the golf course. The world-class field and global diversity of the top players guaranteed lots of interest and validation of the event’s new status. I had a great week in Evian as part of the commentary team for the Golf Channel and world feed. I am already looking forward to next year when the course will have had time to bed in, and when I’m sure that Evian will have made www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 14-15 Columnist MW 19/09/2013 14:40 Page 15
New rivals Suzann Pettersen and teenager Lydia Ko
more improvements. I would like to see the amenities for the general public improved such as there being more eating places, toilets and grandstands as well as at least one area for fans to shelter in case of inclement
weather. One thing is for sure, and that is that Evian had made an Herculean effort to do everything possible to make this year’s championship and new Major a success and will want to keep improving things as much as they can.
SUZANN AND LYDIA ON the back nine on Sunday the Evian quickly developed into a battle between Suzann Pettersen of Norway and the 16-year-old amateur phenomenon from New Zealand Lydia Ko. Ultimately Suzann prevailed by two shots, but the championship came down to the wire when Lydia nearly chipped in for a birdie on the last hole and Suzann left her approach putt 12 feet short. When will Lydia Ko turn professional? I think that we can expect the answer to that very soon and that she will make her professional debut sooner rather than later. Lydia has already forgone over $1 million in prize money as she continues to win professional tournaments while still an amateur. As she said at the www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
Evian, she has a great support system around her including her family, longtime coach Guy Wilson, and her friends, and they need to be comfortable with her decision as much as she does. Many congratulations to Suzann on her great play. As she said after her victory, which followed on from Europe’s historic Solheim Cup win in the States, her victory in the Safeway Classic in Oregon, and hosting her own charity event to raise money for “The Right To Play” in her native Oslo: “This has been the best five weeks of my career!”
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 15
LG pp 16-19 Columnist Mad Win 19/09/2013 14:42 Page 16
COMMENT
Madeleine Winnett How my fellow Trentham members and I ended up naked on the course
Free drop? Not your everyday escape from the sand
L SPECIA
ED D N E T X E LUMN CO
I
seem to have spent an inordinate amount of time naked on the golf course this month! And if that comes as a shock to you, I can assure you that it was even more of a shock to me. If there is an advert for the Great British reserve – it’s me! I spend less time denuded in a day than it takes for Usain Bolt to run a few metres, so heaven knows what possessed me when I woke up one morning and decided to do a naked golf calendar. I doubt that any golf club is
16 Lady Golfer
free from knowing someone who has had breast cancer, and it seems that my age group – the late-40s, early-50s brigade – just seems to be the hardest hit by it at the moment. Several of my friends at Trentham have suffered from the ravages of the disease, and Sue Turner, stalwart of Staffordshire and Wales, died last year aged 50. So, I decided that our age group should do something to help. As if doing a naked calendar
wasn’t enough of a challenge in itself, I thought I would make it even more complicated by using the rules of golf at the same time, since many golfers – even seasoned players – still don’t seem to know even fundamental rules. However, I am confident that after staring at one of these rules every day for a month, you are unlikely to forget it again! Ringing people to ask how they felt about taking their clothes off on the golf course elicited many responses, but the one which made me
laugh the most was the lady who unhesitatingly said yes, but with the stipulation that I gave her enough warning so that she could have her eyelashes done! The prospect of skipping round the course in my birthday suit was fairly terrifying to me, so the thought that someone else was only worried about how big her eyes might look was quite frankly – well, eye opening! Borrowing a buggy the next day without admitting why, eyelash lady (alias our vice captain) and I headed off to a
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LG pp 16-19 Columnist Mad Win 19/09/2013 14:42 Page 17
How not to play through
quiet corner of the course to compose our first shot. I needed a pond and a lifesaving orange ring to preserve her modesty – not actually realising quite how big the hole in the centre of it was! After a few bouts of hysterical giggling, and a few cries of “I’m never going to get to be lady captain now” we were quite pleased with our first efforts. Thus we boldly drove back to where we had left the rest of our props. I had a basic idea of what rules to use, and some
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props to accompany them, but didn’t know if they would work until we staged them first. Buoyed by our first triumph, I spotted a perfect bunker for the next shot, so my model skipped out in a spritely fashion, wearing only a rhubarb leaf and a rake. And this is where it all started to go wrong! Until she picked it up, I hadn’t realised just how small rakes are, or how far apart the teeth are, and at the same time, I spotted a men’s fourball who had sneaked unnoticed onto
a tee about 130 yards away. I wasn’t sure if they had seen us, but as we drove back to the clubhouse later, they were sitting outside having a drink. Being asked what you have been up to isn’t easy to reply to with an innocent “nothing!” when you get out of the buggy with a table, a wilted rhubarb leaf, a ball pyramid and a bird headcover! Incidentally, a rhubarb leaf is an incredibly challenging prop since it wilts so quickly in the heat, and a cunning idea to restore its rigidity in the freezer
I recently read about a road rage driver who has been jailed after he aimed a fake gun at a driver who wouldn’t let him into a queue of traffic. Apparently, he had been trying to pull out of a petrol station during rush hour, and became frustrated at waiting when no-one would let him into the queue. Now, I’m not particularly keen about the prospect of ending up in jail for pulling a similar stunt on the golf course, but if you ever find yourself in a situation where the men’s fourball in front won’t let you through, I am sure it would have an immediate effect!
Lady Golfer 17
LG pp 16-19 Columnist Mad Win 19/09/2013 14:43 Page 18
COMMENT
...continued How my fellow Trentham members and I ended up naked on the golf course
made the situation 10 times worse when it went black with frost bite and then fell apart completely! My father’s rhubarb patch is now decimated as I needed so many back ups. However, we had clearly been scuppered as one of the men mentioned that as they were standing on the tee someone said: “She looks very orange” (when obviously spotted carrying the ring). Then another one said: “What is she doing with that rake? And why hasn’t she got any clothes on?” Personally, I would have asked that question the other way round, but I couldn’t go to sleep that night, because the bed started shaking as I kept giggling at the thought of their conversation! Now that word was out, I then
18 Lady Golfer
panicked at not having asked permission first. As my long list of golf club misdemeanours grows, I thought that being spotted ‘au naturel’ out on the course would probably top them all, so I immediately went to confess to the secretary before I was ‘invited’ to see him! Fortunately, he found it very amusing, and I liked his reply that being naked wasn’t
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.
actually in the club protocol. The next evening I was out there again with someone else, and she also took my photos. As I only had a very short time before the next men were going to come into view, she helpfully suggested a code word of “oh my word it’s getting hot out here” if she spotted them. That’s not a word, it’s an epistle! I was thinking more along the lines of a stifled scream or “HIDE!” When we changed locations for a different shot in a more exposed location, she also helpfully said she had moved the buggy nearer so that I could dive into it if someone came. I spotted an immediate flaw in her well-intentioned plan. Just in case you ever happen
to find yourself naked on the course and need to hide, don’t choose something with no sides and a clear Perspex windscreen! Alas, I don’t have enough space to cover all the stories – such as the two men who called back in alarm to ask if we had seen anyone go into the water after they spotted my shoes on the bank, and thought there might have been a body in there. But I just hope that we end up making thousands of pounds for the Pink Ribbon Foundation. Now that’s the true definition of naked ambition!
Madeleine Winnett • Lady Golfer’s equipment expert is a Staffordshire county player and never short of a forthright opinion on the game!
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LG pp 16-19 Columnist Mad Win 19/09/2013 14:43 Page 19
Get your copy
of the calendar Want to support the Pink Ribbon foundation by buying Madeleine’s calendar? A copy costs £7 plus £1.50 p&p. Please send cheques made payable to M. C Winnett to Trentham Golf Club, 14 Barlaston Old Rd, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, ST14 8HB. All proceeds go to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for Breast Cancer. Madeleine adds that if anyone wants to send an SAE that would save her lots of work!
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Lady Golfer 19
LG pp 20-21 Evian Review 19/09/2013 14:45 Page 20
FEATURE
Major No 2 for
Pettersen Mark Townsend on how the Norwegian finally added to her 2007 LPGA win at the Evian
HOW IT HAPPENED The game’s new fifth Major, the Evian Championship, might have only managed three rounds after some poor weather but that won’t matter to Suzann Pettersen. The Solheim heroine held off 16-year-old Lydia Ko by two shots with rounds of 66, 69 and 68 with Lexi Thompson in third for her best Major effort. Japan’s Mika Miyazato led overnight but then dropped five shots on the front nine and Pettersen and Ko soon took control on the Sunday. The youngster was still in it until the final hole and Pettersen finally closed her out when finding the 18th green with a hybrid and then two-putting.
20 Lady Golfer
PETTERSEN GETS THE BALANCE RIGHT It was one of the game’s curiosities that Pettersen only had one Major to her name. Since her victory in the 2007 LPGA Championship there have been endless top 5s, three of them this year, but it was the missed cut at the US Open which provided the wake-up call to kick on again. In France the 32-year-old was, in her own words, ‘on her best behaviour’ on the course. There might not have been smiles at every turn but she was more relaxed and less hard on herself, and it paid off. “I feel like I’ve come to this
age where I’m too old to be around and not be happy.” Her putting was also on. This has been the Norwegian’s Achilles Heel in previous Majors, often she looks the best player from tee to green and then fails to take advantage. Here, she did.
EUROPE’S DROUGHT FINALLY OVER Catriona Matthew was our last Major champion at the Women’s British Open in 2009. In that time the two Solheim leaders, Pettersen and Matthew, have provided our biggest challenges though 16 Majors went, in the majority,
the Asian players’ way. Since retaining the Solheim Cup Pettersen (twice) and Matthew have prevailed, the hope now is that the likes of Caroline Hedwall, Aza Munoz and Beatriz Recari can push on in the big ones. Each currently have just one top 10. Anna Nordqvist could be our next best hope. The hardy Swede won the 2009 LPGA Championship on just her fifth LPGA start, and has added four top 10s since. This year she was 7th, 12th, 11th, 11th and 44th in France. Some players look comfy on the biggest of stages, Nordqvist is one of those.
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LG pp 20-21 Evian Review 19/09/2013 14:45 Page 21
Stay tall Paula Creamer tries an interesting on-course drill
Park life No fourth calendar Major for Inbee
ANOTHER KNOCKOUT START FOR KO Lydia Ko will likely turn pro at the start of next year, she could have banked around $1.2m already. The 16-year-old’s start to her career has been nothing short of sensational; she has won four times, now has a Major second place and this was her sixth Low Amateur in the Majors. In 25 starts, 15 of which have been on the LPGA Tour, she is yet to miss a cut. To put into some sort of context where the New Zealander is with her life, she might not play in the seasonending tournament on the
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KO blow Lydia set to find the green and Anna Nordqvist
LPGA Tour as she has exams the week before. “They’re meant to finish about a week before the tournament. I don’t want to go there with like five days of practice and just rock up at the tournament because I don’t really practise during exam time.”
PARK RUNS OUT OF STEAM At St Andrews all the talk was of whether Inbee Park could win four straight professional Majors, something that had never been done before. She eventually finished in a tie for 42nd as the early
season’s heroics caught up with her. With five Majors up for grabs this year the chance to make history remained but, despite being the defending champion in France, she could only finish T67. The Korean is still a clear leader on the world rankings but Pettersen is fast closing on her and would dearly love to get to the top of the game. The most astonishing aspect of the rankings is Ko already sitting up in fifth spot. Twelve months previously Ko was 42nd, Pettersen 8th and Park 7th – a lot can change in a year.
EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
LEADERBOARD 1 2 3 4
S Pettersen L Ko (am) L Thompson S Yeon Ryu S Ri Pak 6 C Choi A Stanford S Lewis Others 19 C Hedwal P Creamer A Munoz 44 J Ewart Shadoff
-10 -8 -6 -5 -4
Lev
+4
MC C Hull, L Davies, C Kerr
Lady Golfer 21
LG pp 22-23 Scottish Open 19/09/2013 14:46 Page 22
FEATURE
Ready to go Carley (left) with Sophie Giquel-Bettan and partners
SCOTTISH
ALLIANCE
LG’s very own Carley Warrington enjoys a taste of the professional life as she takes part in the Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield Links
LG pp 22-23 Scottish Open 19/09/2013 14:46 Page 23
E
VER since finding out that I would be playing in the Ladies Scottish Open the thought of it had rarely ventured too far from my mind. Evenings had been spent on the practice ground, a bout of the shanks, most likely brought on by nerves, was now in the system and even when asleep my mind was at Archerfield Links and the brilliant Fidra course. My professional playing partner would be Sophie Giquel-Bettan of France, who had finished seventh last year, and who had only missed one cut this year. On the day of the tournament I woke up mildly confused having dreamt that I had acquitted myself so well that Catriona Matthew had picked me to play in the next Solheim Cup and that I would go into training for the matches with her compatriot (and defending champion this week) Carly Booth. I was hoping that it would be some sort of premonition, the events of the next two days might prove otherwise! With a tee time of 7.50am I arrived early for breakfast but, having spent the best part of the next half hour staring at an endless stream of tour professionals, left myself just a handful of shots to warm up. A collection of wedges – and no shanks – on the range and everything seemed OK and I headed to the 10th tee quietly terrified and over excited. Ordinarily I would have hit a driver but, given the extenuating circumstances, the headcover of the more faithful Baffler came off and, despite a bit of a skinny one, the fairway was found. We both parred the first three holes before I managed to hit the flag with my tee shot at the 13th to get on the card and, buoyed by my first contribution, strode purposefully to the next tee where I would receive one of
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Rough stuff Catriona Matthew en route to another win
At the turn The picturesque 9th on the Fidra Links
Tree iron Sophie gets back on the straight and narrow
my two shots. And then proceed to hit it out of bounds or, at least, in a large clump of gorse bushes. Onwards and upwards. Sophie began the front nine with a flurry of birdies and, when she did make the odd mistake, I managed to fill in the blanks and we finished the day on four under. The leaders might have been 10 shots ahead but we were in the hunt for a prized finish inside the top 15, and a part of the final round on Sunday, and I had loved every second of the experience. Day two and a mid-morning
tee time and, slowly but surely, we would tiptoe on to the lower reaches of the leaderboard. Sophie picked up where she left off on Friday with a pair of birdies at the start of the front nine while I added pars when required to get the scoreboard ticking on to six under at halfway Better still our playing partner, Tara Davies from Wales, who had endured a tough year after a foot operation was playing out a magical round, holing six-footer after six-footer while also adding three birdies. And then after my first (and last) birdie of the week at the
11th the wheels of our AngloFrench alliance began to fall off. Thinking my professional partner had recorded yet another par I picked my ball up at the 14th, only to be told that she had moments earlier had to chip out sideways. I then repeated the very same mindless trick two holes later. Shots were now being dropped at a rate of knots, a few new French swear words were taken on board and we finished with a whimper rather than the required bang. Growing up I had always harboured dreams of becoming a professional and, one day, playing on tour. After two days sharing the same privileged playing ground this was quite an eyeopener into how good these players really are and the few (physical and mental) mistakes they make. I did return to Archerfield on the Sunday but as a spectator. The player, Catriona Matthew, who had dominated my Thursday night dreams was now living out the reality of being one of the best in the business. A second win in this tournament in just three years and, for the large home support and this very enviable fan, the perfect end to the perfect week.
EVENTSCOTLAND Carley was a guest of EventScotland who are responsible for managing Scotland’s investment in golf events on behalf of the Scottish Government, including the 2014 Ryder Cup. Since 2003 EventScotland have supported 49 major events.The Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open provides a terrific platform for Scottish golfers with a record eight Scots in the field at Archerfield Links, with four finishing inside the top 10. Archerfield Links is one of East Lothian’s collection of brilliant courses which include Muirfield, North Berwick, Luffness and the three Gullanes. www.visitscotland.com/golf
Lady Golfer 23
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C O U
LG pp 25 Lead to Instruction 19/09/2013 14:47 Page 25
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 Lexi Thompson
Here we see an excellent example of how Lexi uses the ground to help her create massive power in her tee shots. The straight legs tell us just how much she is using the ground to create an extra bit of leverage, forcing her body upwards to create more force and therefore speed through the ball.
It’s fairly common now to see a lot of the young ladies with both heels off the ground at impact and a great extra power source. The upward and forward pushing off the ground ensures that the arms are fully extended through the shot giving excellent clubface control and a really powerful release. There may be a few wayward shots to start with but stick with it and you will gain more yardage from the tee.
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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
Lady Golfer 25
LG pp 26-27 Douglass Instruction 19/09/2013 14:47 Page 26
INSTRUCTION
UPHILL BATTLE
Charlie Douglass on coping with awkward lies
26 Lady Golfer
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LG pp 26-27 Douglass Instruction 19/09/2013 14:48 Page 27
P
LAYING from an uphil lie should not hold any fears but too often you see players making a poor contact or losing balance. We’ll talk about how to deal with the slope in your swing in a moment but, firstly, remember that the ball will launch at the same angle as the slope you are hitting from so it will therefore have a higher trajectory than normal. This means that you will need to take more club to carry the distance of your shot.
NOTE THE SLOPE A common mistake is to get the set-up wrong, either with the ball position or the angle of your body. Always remember: whether
you are in the fairway, rough or in a greenside bunker set your shoulders to the same angle as the slope that you have to negotiate.
ON BACK FOOT For this shot you will need to move your ball position to the middle of your stance. You will then need to set your shoulders to the same angle
Charlie plays on the LET and Access Series. She is attached to Brocket Hall GC and is sponsored by Callaway, LoudMouth Golf, Osteopathy First and Golfsmart International. Follow Charlie on Twitter @LeftyProCharlie
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as the slope you are hitting from; distribute your weight accordingly so your weight should be loaded into your back leg.
RIGHT TO LEFT Due to the uphill lie the movement in your lower body will be restricted. Therefore, you will be more dependent on your top half
and your hands and arms to hit the shot. This will mean you will be likely to hit a draw so factor that into the shot when you are getting lined up. Lady Golfer 27
LG pp 28-29 Aitchison Instruction 19/09/2013 14:50 Page 28
INSTRUCTION
PERFECT TRANSFER A great drill to improve your weight shift
W
E would all like a few extra yards off the tee; for many an improved weight shift will help this. Too many amateurs do not distribute their weight properly throughout the swing getting stuck
on the front foot in the takeaway and then spinning out of it. Try this on the range and we will soon have you firing your weight through at impact, giving you confidence to attack the ball and tighten up your accuracy.
YOU 1ARE SPINNING?
When players slice it they come over the top and spin out of the shot. If you are a slicer then you will quickly see that your left side is getting nowhere near the stick at impact.
28 Lady Golfer
HIP OVER 2 LEFT LEFT HEEL Place a stick two inches from your left foot and see how you set up to that. With the driver I’d like to see your left hip pretty much above your left foot. Check that your head and torso are behind the ball at address.
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LG pp 28-29 Aitchison Instruction 19/09/2013 14:50 Page 29
England’s Holly Aitchison plays on the LET where she has finished second twice. www.hollyaitchison.com Twitter @hollyaitchison
TO 3 TRANSFER THE RIGHT
This also gives you a good idea of whether you are reverse pivoting – where your weight moves towards the target i– n the backswing. Make sure that your weight transfers on to your right side. In the through swing look to hit the stick on the way down and you’ll soon add some extra distance and accuracy.
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Lady Golfer 29
LG pp 30-31 Brewerton Instruction 20/09/2013 15:09 Page 30
INSTRUCTION
C
HUNKING your bunker shots can be very frustrating and a difficult habit to get out of. Until now. People think that you need to produce a steep swing to provide the necessary height but the club (normally your most lofted one) will do that even if swung on a shallow path. Bunker shots need to be played with momentum and commitment so remember to keep the club and your body moving throughout the shot.
STOP FATTING IT! Leaving your ball in the bunker? Help is here at hand
Becky Brewerton plays on the Ladies’ European Tour and was a member of the 2007 and 2009 Solheim Cup teams. The Welsh star has won twice on tour.
LG pp 30-31 Brewerton Instruction 20/09/2013 15:10 Page 31
DON’T GET TOO STEEP
YOU NEED MOMENTUM
A lot of amateurs play the ball too far back in the stance and get too steep in the takeaway. You can see here that the ball is behind the middle of my stance, we want it to be at least ahead of this point.
So when the club is coming down into the ball, instead of going forward with some momentum, it is hitting down into the sand. The club gets stuck and you haven’t got the strength to get the ball out.
KEEP THE HANDS LEVEL
CLUBHEAD PAST THE HANDS
In the autumn the sand will become thicker so this will accentuate any problems. Get the ball further forward, your hands should stay level and play it with a shallow swing. See how open my clubface is.
A good physical reference is to try and accelerate the clubhead past the hands to encourage the shallower swing. This will help to take less sand and then keep the body turning to a full and committed finish.
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Lady Golfer 31
LG pp 32 Columnist JS 19/09/2013 14:54 Page 32
COMMENT CHI POWER GOLF: RECREATING THE PERFECT GOLF SHOT
Jayne Storey Put some Chi in your swing!
C
HI is the Chinese word for energy, life force, or breath. Chi-power GOLF is a method of performance improvement based on the ancient traditions of the East, including Chi Kung (breathing exercises), Tai Chi (a soft-style martial art) and Zen Meditation. This unique approach to playing better golf focuses on four key areas of development, each designed to help you achieve consistency and perform your best in the pressure situations. Mastering biochemistry: controlling nerves, anxiety and adrenaline to keep emotions neutral under pressure Performance breathing: overriding the ‘stress response’, to maintain performance in pressure situations Getting in the zone: reducing mental interference Superior biomechanics: achieving better balance and relaxation at address for a more consistent swing Let’s take a look at how to apply these principles to your game. MASTERING BIOCHEMISTRY When it comes to your performance breaking down
Inner peace Breathing can really help your golf game
under pressure, the first thing to buckle is not your mental game nor your swing technique, but your nervous system which controls both. Anxiety itself is the result of chemical changes in the brain and nervous system which can, in fact, be halted by controlling the ‘stress response’ and restoring the biochemistry to a state of calm neutrality, known as the ‘relaxation response’. Both of these states are hardwired into your physiology and, just as you can unravel under pressure, so too you have the ability to take control of your mind and emotions and reestablish your equilibrium. PERFORMANCE BREATHING When you focus on your breathing, you take control of your innate ‘stress response’, which, in turn, governs your mental and emotional states. Deep breathing sends increased oxygen to your brain which floods your nervous
32 Lady Golfer
system with endorphins, lowers your heart rate, relaxes your muscles, increases your mindbody connection and creates a calm, yet focused state from which to swing. GETTING IN THE ZONE Research shows the following three essentials are required in order to play golf ‘in the zone’; skill, passion and immersion (the absence of mental interference). Therefore, the zone is a natural state available to any golfer who loves the game and who has sufficient technical understanding and who can learn to play with a quiet mind, one shot at a time, one breath at a time. Golfers performing at their very peak experience an increased level of alphabrainwave activity, identical to the brainwaves exhibited by those who practice meditation; the terms ‘in the zone’ and Zen are interchangeable as they describe
a similar transcendent state, one which reduces the internal dialogue, thus minimising selfinterference. SUPERIOR BIOMECHANICS Tai Chi is the world’s most popular exercise system for improving balance. Better balance provides greater lower-body stability at address and throughout the swing for more consistency and power. Relaxation: Neuroscience has now proven that relaxation techniques such as Tai Chi can help the body to produce fluid, powerful and effortless motion, particularly when under pressure.
Jayne Storey For more information about personal and group tuition, Skype programmes, video downloads and free monthly newsletter, please contact Jayne Storey on 07986 447 250 or visit www.chipowergolf.com
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Lady Golfer 33
LG pp 34 Lead to Equipment 19/09/2013 14:55 Page 34
YOUR GEAR The latest club reviews I New equipment I Fashion I Style tips I Electric trolleys I Pull trolleys
SWING FREELY WITH FOOTJOY’S NEW M:PROJECT New shoe delivers maximum feel through minimum construction FOOTJOY’S latest shoe is based on the philosophy that minimum construction delivers maximum feel throughout the swing. The incredibly lightweight M:Projects are designed to allow your feet to move freely and without restriction.
Precision-constructed from a proprietary leather by Pittards for a thin-yet-strong specification, this cutting-edge shoe has been designed to deliver a full range of motion. It opens up a genuine process of shoe fitting that should be conducted by your
club professional. Elsewhere in the FootJoy range – notably the XPS-1 – are shoes that offer a huge amount of support for your feet and ankles. The M:Project works on the opposite basis. Those of us who tend to get ‘stuck’ on our right side may
well benefit from the M:Project, while others whose legs have a mind of their own ought to try a shoe like the XPS-1. The shoe is available in both cleated and spikeless versions. SRP: Leather/Mesh spikeless £95; Leather Spiked £105; Boa £115
Going low An industry-first Laser Thin Duramax rubber compound acts as a low-profile and highly flexible conduit from ground to feet
Wearing A ProTekt toe guard provides additional abrasion resistance
Last not least A last allows for a generous forefoot shape so toes can easily spread and maintain grip
Get down The M:Projects get you as close to the ground as possible while maintaining stability
LG pp 35-37 Titleist Ball Fitting 19/09/2013 14:58 Page 35
WHICH TITLEIST BALL
IS BEST FOR YOU? We all know Titleist produce quality balls, but are you sure you know which one suits your game the best? Four LG readers find out, via a ball fitting...
LG pp 35-37 Titleist Ball Fitting 19/09/2013 14:58 Page 36
EQUIPMENT
W
hich ball is best for you and have you ever considered what you might be missing out on with others on the market? Are you looking for maximum distance off the tee? Or is spin on your approach shots the most important factor? Maybe you are seeking better feel in your short game? For many durability is the key. And for others still, it simply comes down to value for money. All of these are really good reasons to make a choice, but what really matters is that having reached a conclusion you get the ball you are looking for. And unless you go through a fitting or do some extensive testing of your own then it’s hard to know for sure. Perhaps, like many of us, you are the kind of golfer who
36 Lady Golfer
automatically reaches for a Pro V1 whenever a competition comes along. And if so, that’s great – it’s overwhelmingly the most
THE FITTING
PROCESS “Ball fitting is relatively new for us,” says Richard Harries. “We are a green-to-tee ball-fitting company. It’s not all about speed and spin – it’s about your preferences, like colour and feel and price. The fitting element is all about performance but your preferences are at least just as important.” “There are a lot of myths about Pro V1 and x. ‘I don’t hit it hard enough to compress it’ is a comment I hear a lot but although it feels different you can’t even see it on super-slow-motion cameras.”
popular ball in golf, both with amateurs and on tour for a reason. But do you actually know what you are gaining in terms Richard Harries explains the principle differences between the various balls in the Titleist range and outlines the brand’s fitting philosophy Our testers were invited to do some chipping and putting with all the balls from the Titleist range to compare the feel and performance. Richard then used a TrackMan launch monitor to watch each player hit full shots with a range of clubs from wedge to driver. While assessing the data, each tester had the chance to tell him what they thought of the feel and flight. Richard then recommended two balls for each tester to take out on to the course to play some holes with and offer feedback.
of performance, beyond the confidence of knowing you are using the best and a ball that has won countless Majors? Or maybe you don’t believe there is really that much of a trade-off at all in performance between a premium ball at £50 per dozen and a budget one at a fraction of the cost. We know these are questions that deserve answering. So for some straight-talking and to find the answers, we invited Titleist’s custom fitting specialist Richard Harries to Moor Allerton Golf Club in Leeds to give four of our readers the benefit of his expertise. The idea was to empower them with some key information then let them test out the theory for themselves and put the balls into practice. Here’s what happened.
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 35-37 Titleist Ball Fitting 19/09/2013 14:59 Page 37
LYNN HAYNES
ANGELA TAYLOR
Handicap: 27
Handicap: 11
BEFORE Current ball: Bridgestone e6 What she says: I’ve only occasionally used a premium ball. What she looks for: I don’t really know – it just depends if I play well! AFTER Recommended balls: Pro V1 and Pro V1x Lynn’s findings: I want to use both! The softer one stops but you need to hit
it a bit harder around the greens. Accuracy-wise it would be the Pro V1. I now know that I don’t hate Titleist and that they are only for the good players – I can hit these! I’m a convert and I’ll buy some. Verdict: Pro V1 and Pro V1x
What she says: I use a premium ball in the summer but my best round was with a Molitor! I’ve got naturally good feel and touch. I like to use a new ball for every round. What she looks for: Whatever my husband’s got in his garage! AFTER Recommended balls: Pro
MARY MARTIN
Handicap: 13
Handicap: 16
BEFORE Current ball: Titleist Pro V1s – generally cast-offs from my husband because he uses them!
What she looks for: I like No 3s. I always have a good round with a No 3! AFTER Recommended balls: Pro V1 and Pro V1x Linda’s findings: I’m a
PRO V1
V1 and Pro V1x Angela’s findings: The Pro V1 for me. I tried it with my Callaway and I was more confident with it. The long shots held – that was the key. My husband said Pro V1s were too soft but he was wrong! Verdict: Pro V1
What she says: I have never bought a golf ball in my life! What she looks for: Whatever I can find, win or steal off my husband! But I do like Titleist best. You can tell the difference when you’re putting – sound and feel is very important on the greens and that is half the job.
Verdict: Pro V1
AFTER Recommended balls: Pro
Engineered to deliver exceptional distance, consistent flight, very soft feel, ‘Drop-and-Stop’ greenside control and longer-lasting durability. SRP: £51 per dozen
PRO V1X Designed for golfers seeking high launch and low spin for long straight distance, consistent flight, ‘Drop-and-Stop’ greenside control and longer lasting durability. SRP: £51 per dozen
NXT TOUR
BEFORE Current ball: –
lasher! It was equal between the two. Both balls were great around the green and gave me more control. I could well go with the recommended Pro V1, it’s about trust and Titleist do the job. I could get the ball to stop so I’ll stick with them.
THE TITLEIST
RANGE
BEFORE Current ball: Callaway Warbird or Titleist (but not usually Pro V1)
LINDA NEWMAN
What she says: I like to have a ball that gives good feel on the green.
OUR TESTER S
V1 and Pro V1x Mary’s findings: I hit my best drives ever! I couldn’t split them. It was the same performance for both but the Pro V1 felt a bit softer. I still wouldn’t buy them but I would do if money were no object. Verdict: Pro V1
RICHARD’S VERDICT: All the ladies had quite low ball speeds so Pro V1 and x work better for them on long game because they help the ball stay in the air for a bit longer. And of course they get great control around the greens, which they have all commented on today.
With thanks to Moor Allerton Golf Cub in Leeds for the use of their facilities, and particularly head professional James Whitaker - www.magc.co.uk
Both NXT Tour and NXT Tour S deliver low driver and long iron spin for outstanding distance and also offer excellent short game scoring performance and soft feel. SRP: £34 per dozen
NXT TOUR S Golfers can find an NXT Tour that meets their personal preferences as NXT Tour S provides a softer compression feel and is available in white and high-optic yellow. SRP: £34 per dozen
VELOCITY The explosive distance of the new Velocity ball is the result of leadingedge design, proprietary technology and the unparalleled precision of a world-class manufacturing process. SRP: £28 per dozen
DT SOLO Titleist developed the new DT SoLo with one objective in mind: design the softest compression feel possible and deliver the long distance and control that are the DT standard. SRP: £21 per dozen
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
Lady Golfer 37
LG pp 38-39 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:18 Page 38
Shoot the
breeze As the wind blusters around you this winter, don’t be discouraged. Blow away the cobwebs and get out on the course in one of these excellent, shiver-stopping windproofs.
Gloria Wind Jacket, Pebble, Daily Sports ÂŁ90
LG pp 38-39 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:18 Page 39
In association with
LG pp 40-41 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:09 Page 40
Reversible Waistcoat £199, V-neck Pullover £139, Ultra Thermo Trousers £149, Cable Checked Visor £29.95 - all Golfino Ecco Classic Golf Hybrid Shoes £105
LG pp 40-41 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:09 Page 41
In association with
Annapurna Bonded Fleece, Sunderland of Scotland ÂŁ82
LG pp 42-43 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:03 Page 42
LG pp 42-43 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:03 Page 43
In association with
Left - Quilted Jacket, Daily Sports £90 | Bobble Hat, model’s own, Ping Above - WindVent Windsor Vest, Pink, Abacus £79.99 | Lunar 1/4 Zip Base Layer, LIJA £49.99
LG pp 44-45 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:10 Page 44
LG pp 44-45 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:10 Page 45
In association with
Left - Beyonce Windstopper Jacket, Deep Orchid / Topaz Blue, Galvin Green £179 Above - Woven Tech Pant £55; Tile Print Polo £45; Lite Fill Jacket £75 - all Puma
LG pp 46-47 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:12 Page 46
Sonar Climate Pant, Black £79.99, Lunar Turtleneck Base Layer, White £44.99, Pulse Gold Packable Jacket £89.99 - all LIJA Ecco Classic Golf Hybrid Shoes £105
LG pp 46-47 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:12 Page 47
In association with
100% Cotton Polo £15; Soft Shell Katie Gilet £55; Tour Flex Isla Jacket £69 - all ProQuip
LG pp 48-49 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:14 Page 48
LG pp 48-49 Fashion 19/09/2013 15:15 Page 49
In association with
Left - Men’s Dundee Windstopper Sweater, Charcoal £139.99; Bella Full Zip Plaid Wind Jacket £59.99 - all Sunice Above - Lunar 1/4 Zip Base Layer, Peri £49.99; Sphere Zip Front Vest, £69.99 – all LIJA Hair and Make up: Dani Haigh, Gurdeep Kaur Digpal, Olivia Anderson Photography: Chris Chippindale (chrischippindalephotography.co.uk) | Photographer’s Assistant: Zoe Booth
LG pp 50 Fashion Shops 20/09/2013 13:29 Page 50
MISS DESIGNER GOLF Key brands: Green Lamb, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Under Armour, LIJA, Puma, Cutter and Buck, Fairway and Greene How to buy: Online at MissDesignerGolf.com Website: MissDesignerGolf.com Tel: 0800 3763 596 Product details: Green Lamb Waterproof Stormstopper Jacket, was £89.95 now £28.95.
EUREKA Key brands: Daily Sports, Rohnisch, Ping Collection, Adidas How to buy: Online at eurekagolf.co.uk Website: eurekagolf.co.uk Tel: 01915 841 198 Product details: Daily Edith Vest £75
WEAR TO
SHOP Beat the worst of winter with stylish windproof apparel
LADIESGOLF.CO.UK Key brands: Green Lamb, Nike, Galvin Green How to buy: Online at ladiesgolf.co.uk Website: ladiesgolf.co.uk Tel: 01634 914 020 Product details: Nike Ladies Ribbed Peaked Bobble Hat £17.99
GOLF GARB Key brands: Daily Sports, Ping Collection, Nike, Green Lamb How to buy: Online or by telephone Website: golfgarb.co.uk Tel: 01225 745 758 Product details: Daily Sports water-resistant jacket with suede-style trim (£99.99) and Daily Sports bobble hat with cosy fleece lining (£29.99)
ONE UP GOLF Key brands: One Up Golf, AshB, Proquip, Under Armour, Crocs How to buy: Online or by telephone Website: oneupgolf.co.uk Tel: 0844 5572011 Product details: One Up Golf Wind Defence Trousers, £85
GOLFING LADY ONLINE Key brands: Rohnisch, Nivo, Daily Sports, Green Lamb. How to buy: In store at Royal Winchester GC or online. Website: golfingladyonline.co.uk Tel: 01962 859 222 Product details: Windbreaker, Nivo, £105.50
50 Lady Golfer
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Miss Designer Golf 19/09/2013 10:24 Page 1
NCG Academies 19/09/2013 09:46 Page 2
PLAY | LEARN | ENJOY
WINTER GOLF ACADEMIES Golfer NATIONAL
By
CLUB
T R A V E L
Escape the cold this winter and join us for a week of playing and teaching at fabulous 5-star Penina in the Algarve.
transform your game; for the social golfer they are great fun weeks, with the added benefit that you leave a better golfer.
Our teaching weeks have something for everyone: for the better player it is the ideal way to get your game in shape for the new season; for the higher handicapper it could be the week you make the changes to
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
resort and a great climate when winter is gripping the UK! Our head teaching professional Richard Ellis leads the weeks, and is supported by a team of top PGA professionals. Richard is one of the top teaching pros in the UK. He has gained hands-on experience from working with some of the best-known coaches and players in the game.
Call +44(0) 1753 754355 or Email golfpro@golfbreaks.com or visit www.golfbreaks.com/pga-pro for more information
NCG Academies 19/09/2013 09:46 Page 3
TRIP DATES
“
I was nervous about coming but we had a great fun, learned a lot and I can't wait to come back! – Olivia Brown, Novice with no handicap
”
“
I would highly recommend these trips. It is individually tailored and you get lots of attention from the three pros – Nigel Hall, 17 Handicap
November: Saturday 15th - Thursday 21st December: Saturday 14th - Thursday 19th January: Saturday 18th - Thursday 24th February: Saturday 15th - Thursday 21st March: Saturday 15th - Thursday 21st
”
“
I am hitting it great! Highly recommended as an intensive week to get your game in shape – Johnny Marsh, 6 Handicap
”
WHAT’S INCLUDED 5 nights’ B&B at 5* Penina 4 rounds of golf 2 hours’ coaching per day Complimentary transfers Complimentary range balls
From
per person without coaching
£649 per person £749 with coaching From
* Based on twin or double sharing & exclusive of flights
Golfer NATIONAL
CLUB
& We’ve partnered with Golfbreaks.com to deliver these weeks. Golfbreaks.com are the largest golf travel company in Europe and as a member of ABTA & IAGTO, you can be safe in the knowledge that you are travelling with a recognised and respected industry leader. Golfbreaks.com are also ATOL bonded and can book flights for these trips. T R A V E L
LG pp 54-55 Coworth Park 20/09/2013 13:46 Page 54
LG pp 54-55 Coworth Park 20/09/2013 13:46 Page 55
SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND
k r a P h t r o Cow
Justine Board spends a laid-back weekend in Berkshire enjoying the informal luxury of this recently renovated country house hotel
E
verything about Coworth Park is designed to make you relax; 40 minutes from central London but nestled in such an idyllic corner of Berkshire, bordering Windsor Great Park, that you feel days away from any urban stresses. On the day I arrived the weather was glorious, the sky the colour of cornflowers and the grass so lush and verdant and well, green, it seemed hyperreal, like a CGI creation. But there’s no artifice about this place. It is the real deal and every inch the 5-star country house retreat, from the creamy Palladian-style façade and liveried doormen to the nail-scissor-precise lawns and 240 acres of wooded estate. The sort of place where muddy boots are welcomed (there’s an equestrian centre after all) but afternoon tea is served with starched linen and fine-bone china. The main mansion house is 18th-century Georgian and drop-dead gorgeous. All 30 bedrooms and public spaces are modern and airy in muted neutral tones and with design quirks (walls decorated with
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painted horseshoes, fourposter beds made of wroughtiron trees) that lend a quintessentially English eccentricity. There are another 40 similarly smart rooms and suites in cottages and converted stable blocks. The property was renovated and reopened in 2010 by luxury hotel group the Dorchester Collection, and facilities are of the highest spec, from rainfall showers and underfloor heating to Nespresso machines in the bedrooms. Coworth’s golfing pedigree lies in its proximity to prestigious courses such as Sunningdale, the Berkshire and Wentworth. At the latter, Coworth’s concierge will book you a tee time, arrange the transfer and wrangle you a personal caddy and buggy hire. Your effort is minimal until the 1st tee. But Coworth also has much
Factfile Coworth Park, in Ascot, is part of the Dorchester Collection group of hotels www.coworthpark.com Rooms start from £258 and spa break offers are available
to offer non-golfers either looking to while away a weekend in golfing widowhood or combine a round with other pursuits. If relaxation’s the aim, head to the spa, a light-filled architectural work of art, half submerged in the landscape as though slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding woodland. It isn’t huge but treatments and therapists are both excellent and use products from Aromatherapy Associates, Carol Joy or Kerstin Florian. The large indoor pool space is sleek, tranquil and minimalist. There’s a large steam room and sauna or for warmer weather, an adjoining sunken sun terrace, moulded into the surrounding grounds. For the less lethargic there are is shooting, fishing, croquet and a truly excellent equestrian centre whatever your skill in the saddle. Bikes are available for a leisurely pedal around the estate, or take a very civilised afternoon tea on the Mansion House terrace overlooking formal gardens and the beautiful wildflower meadow beyond.
Coworth is also a great foodie destination and gourmets should head to Restaurant Coworth Park, the elegant fine dining room specialising in modern classics made with seasonable, traceable ingredients such as Swaledale lamb or Cornish red mullet. Or try the nine-course tasting menu – at £85 per person (without wine) it’s decadent but cooking is of the highest standard. If you can’t be bothered to take off your muddy boots, try the Barn instead, a more relaxed, rustic option, serving comfort food and hearty British classics. Coworth is a rare gem, a luxury country house hotel that is both traditional and cutting edge. As you would expect from a member of the Dorchester Collection, service is impeccable but there are no thick-pile carpets and dusty damask curtains here; rather a lighter, cleaner aesthetic using leather, marble and glass, plus some truly beautiful pieces of specially commissioned artwork tapping into both equestrian and woodland themes. Informal luxury at its finest.
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LG pp 56-58 Winter Play & Stay 20/09/2013 15:11 Page 56
PLAY & STAY
Give yourself something to look forward to this winter by arranging a trip to one of these great destinations
SELSDON PARK HOTEL AND GOLF CLUB Surrey Don’t let the Croydon postcode fool you, Selsdon Park feels every inch the country retreat. The austere, crenellated facade, grand wood panelling and huge fireplaces make you think of a Scottish baronial estate, while the warm, comfortable bedrooms are more English country chic, but altogether this is a classy affair. Weekenders can take advantage of the 18-hole traditional parkland golf course, a challenging par 73 offering something for everyone but rewarding length. Alternatively there’s a super slick leisure club with smart, newly refurbished treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. Or take advantage of the 205 acres with a leafy woodland walk, beautiful at this time of year in its autumn shades. The Tempus restaurant serves classic dishes using local ingredients and also offers a healthy-eating menu for the gym bunnies. Rooms from £60 www.selsdonparkcroydon.co.uk
MANOR HOUSE & ASHBURY HOTELS Devon To paraphrase shamelessly, to be tired of the Manor House & Ashbury Hotels is to be tired of life. There are a mind-boggling array of activities on offer, from seven 18-hole courses (with a fleet of 400 buggies) to tennis, bowls (crown green and 10pin), shooting, snooker, football, basketball, a craft centre... the list goes on. Plus there’s the Hydro Spa with pool, saunas, steam room and spa baths. Both hotels are located on the same site on the edge of Dartmoor National Park (add guided nature walks to your options), both are full board and most activities, including golf, are free of charge. Brilliant for families, kids will never be bored whatever the weather and the Kids’ Club also allows stressed-out parents the chance of quality time to themselves. Two-night weekend breaks from £110 per person, full board www.manorhousehotel.co.uk
LG pp 56-58 Winter Play & Stay 20/09/2013 15:11 Page 57
THE GLENEAGLES HOTEL Perthshire The daddy of golf resorts, voted Best in the World at the 2013 Ultratravel Awards and still as majestic as when it opened its doors in 1924. The austere facade belies a warm, welcoming atmosphere and the decor is as Scottish gothic as you’d like without slipping into pastiche. Gleneagles will host the 2014 Ryder Cup so as you’d expect, facilities are superlative, as is the Espa Spa and Espa Life wellness programme (award alert: winner of Best British Fixer at the 2013 Conde Nast Traveller Spa Awards). Dining options range from French classics at The Strathern and two Michelin star fare at Andrew Fairlie to Mediterranean classics at Deseo. Rooms from £235 for B&B www.gleneagles.com
ST MELLION INTERNATIONAL RESORT Cornwall St Mellion is a world away from traditional country house retreats – no brocade curtains and overstuffed sofas here. Unashamedly modern, St Mellion is light, bright and the huge glass windows positively gleam. Over 450 acres of Cornish countryside offers a stunning setting for two excellent courses, the Jack Nicklaus Signature and the Kernow. Combine golf with relaxation at the Elemis Spa, with treatments including the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial and for weary, post-round limbs, the Musclease Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap. Finally, depending on whether you’ve packed your finery, choose from the fine-dining An Boesti restaurant for confident cooking such as Guinea Fowl with Chorizo or Scallops with Pork Belly, or else leave the jacket at home and head to the informal Bewdern Brasserie for hearty dishes like Steak & Ale Pie or Fish and Chips; there’s also a fully-equipped gym. Rooms from £72 for B&B www.st-mellion.co.uk
MATFEN HALL Northumberland Matfen Hall is an impressive early 19th Century manor house, sitting squarely in its parkland setting to the north west of Newcastle. Matfen was restored by its owners in the late nineties and the love they have for the building is clear to see. The 53 rooms are classically, comfortable decorated – Principal Rooms are huge with four-poster beds and bathrooms the size of London flats. The 27 holes of parkland golf are a test for all abilities plus if you still want more there’s a driving range, practice area and nine-hole par 3 course. The spa uses Elemis products, has spacious treatment rooms plus a beautifully designed, lightfilled indoor pool, crystal steam room and herbal sauna. The Library restaurant serves accomplished classic dishes using local ingredients – some from the surrounding estate. Rooms from £89 for B&B www.matfenhall.com
LG pp 56-58 Winter Play & Stay 20/09/2013 15:11 Page 58
THE GROVE London The Grove is a modern oasis just 18 miles from central London. The Mansion House dates from 1703 but inside it feels coolly contemporary with opulent rooms swathed in velvet. The more recent West Wing houses sleek and spacious family rooms with luxurious fittings and views over the Walled Garden. The championship course (Tiger Woods won a 2006 WGC event here, the week after the Ryder Cup in Ireland) has no members, making it one of the most welcoming courses in the UK, and it is immaculate. The Espa Spa is easily one of the best in the country, both indulgent and serene. For dinner you can go as smart as you’d like. Colette’s has 3 AA Rosettes and is for serious foodies while the relaxed gourmet buffet at the Glasshouse will leave you spoilt for choice. Rooms from £285 for B&B www.thegrove.co.uk
DRAYCOTE HOTEL Staffordshire Draycote is a stylish, modern hotel to the south of Rugby, specialising in golf breaks and warm, friendly staff. It’s for golf purists who want a weekend away on the course, not messing around with extraneous pursuits like facials and massages. Whitefields Golf Course is both spectacular and challenging. The 18-hole, par-71 course overlooks Draycote Water and provides testing entertainment for all abilities. There’s no spa, but the Papaveri Restaurant is diversion enough, serving British classics alongside international favourites like Thai Green Curry and Butternut Squash Risotto. Sunday lunches are legendary. Rooms from £92 for B&B www.draycotehotel.co.uk
ROCKCLIFFE HALL County Durham Rockcliffe opened its refurbished doors as a luxury hotel, spa and golf course in 2009 and has been quietly gathering acclaim ever since, either as a base for exploring Durham and the North East coast, or as a five-star destination retreat. The golf course is challenging but scenic, featuring lakes, wetland and woodland. A slick golf concierge means you can concentrate on your game. The state-of-the-art Spa is huge and the facilities excellent; stained glass windows in the pool room make it an almost religious experience. You can easily while away a full day here, emerging renewed and reenergised. Dining options include the gothic splendour of flagship restaurant the Orangery or the Brasserie, overlooking beautiful surrounding parkland. www.rockcliffehall.com Rooms from £136 B&B
LG pp 59 Top 10 Lincs 19/09/2013 15:21 Page 59
PLAY AWAY
Lincolnshire's
FINEST We highlight 10 great places to play on a visit to the East Midlands county
NORTH SHORE Five-time Open champion and renowned designer James Braid laid out the course at North Shore in 1910. The course and attached hotel sit in an unrivalled position, being the closest to the sea in Skegness and offering marvellous views across The Wash to the Norfolk coastline. The holes are a mix of both parkland and linksland and the unique aspect here is that there is a seamless switch between styles. There are 27 holes and the hotel contains 34 rooms, making North Shore an ideal Lincolnshire stay-and-play venue.
WOODHALL SPA (HOTCHKIN) The Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa is recognised as one of the finest inland courses in Britain. Gorse, broom and heather are prominent and the course contains no less than 110 bunkers which are unforgiving. Golf has been played here since the late 1800s, but the course that stands today was designed in 1905. The single greatest strength is its lack of weakness.
SEACROFT This wonderful links layout was founded in 1895 as a nine-hole track, and expanded in 1900. The middle stretch of holes is outstanding, packed with classic risk-and-reward par 4s and par
5s. With just three genuine links courses occupying the coastline between Dunbar and Hunstanton, Seacroft is rightly considered a must-play for all.
FOREST PINES Set amid a backdrop of ancient pines and undulating heathland, Forest Pines boasts 27 holes of outstanding golf along with a wonderful spa retreat and topclass accommodation. Each of the three loops are excellent in their own right, and the course has hosted many national and international events – most recently the R&A’s Boys’ Home Internationals.
in the grounds of the Belton House estate and contains 27 high-quality holes. With irrigated fairways and fast greens, Belton Park provides a good year-round test. There is an abundance of wildlife and deer are frequently seen stalking the fairways.
LINCOLN Lincoln was founded in Lincoln City in 1891 and moved to its present site at Torksey in 1903. The current layout was designed by five-time Open champion JH Taylor. With its mature trees, easywalking fairways and just a touch of water, the course offers a true test.
BELTON PARK
HOLME HALL
Founded in 1890, this course lies
Located on natural heathland
and containing an abundance of gorse, broom and heather, Holme Hall is an outstanding course situated close to Scunthorpe and a matter of minutes from the M180 motorway. The toughest holes probably come on the front nine.
MARKET RASEN The course at Market Rasen is a challenging, picturesque, heathland layout with many natural hazards, including the River Rase which meanders its way through several holes. It is by no means the longest course in the area, but it is certainly well- bunkered and narrow, tree-lined fairways make for a stern test nonetheless.
LOUTH
ELSHAM
Situated less than a mile from the A16 bypass in the heart of rural Lincolnshire, Louth is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and offers panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. The 5,682-yard parkland layout was originally founded in 1995, and the tree-lined fairways wind through gently rolling hills. Temporary greens are non-existent, making Louth a course for all seasons. The course is complemented by a period clubhouse, providing excellent facilities for both members and visitors.
Established in 1900, Elsham is located in a tranquil wooded setting and is easy to access from the M180 – located just five minutes from J5. The layout provides a wonderful mix of both parkland and heathland holes and measures 5,672 yards. There are many outstanding holes here, but the par-4 2nd is the signature. It has a sharp dogleg to the right and plays up to a green guarded by trees and a stream. Former Open and US Open champion Tony Jacklin is an honorary member.
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Lady Golfer 59
LG pp 60-63 Club Golf Ads 20/09/2013 10:39 Page 60
COURSE DIRECTORY
ELSHAM
GOLF CLUB
Louth Golf Club
2014 Society Packages ELSHAM GOLF CLUB A PREMIER GOLF COURSE IN LINCOLNSHIRE Visitors and Golf Societies are warmly welcomed Monday to Friday and some Sunday afternoons by friendly golf staff with packages tailored to meet your needs. Elsham Golf Club has facilities to match any golf club in Lincolnshire and we believe you will not be disappointed.
Available from £25 Bookings now being taken
Winter Special £17.50 18 holes with choice of All Day Breakfast or small Fish & Chips
GREEN FEES 18 holes is £40.00 and 36 holes £50.00 per person. Special Offer is available on Thursday mornings at £25.00 per round. Twilight golf after 3.30pm is available at £20.00 per round. Monday to Friday. Fourball any weekday £120 for four. WINTER PACKAGE - Coffee, 18 holes of golf and one course meal just £26 per head. From 22nd October - 28th March 2014
No Winter Greens New online booking available
For more details please contact us on
01652 680291 or email office@elshamgolfclub.co.uk Elsham Golf Club | Barton Road | Elsham | Brigg | North Lincolnshire | DN20 0LS
Telephone: 01507 603681 Email: louthgolfclub@btconnect.com www.louthgolfclub.com
Welwyn Garden City Golf Club 2013/14 SOCIETY PACKAGES Now booking Winter Packages From £18 per person Nov 13 – Mar 14 quote WGCWinter13 for exclusive discount. Firm, true greens during the Winter due to fantastic course and greens drainage. Play the best kept course in Hertfordshire – Book Now! Also booking for 2014
WELWYN GARDEN CITY GOLF CLUB
Mannicotts | High Oaks Road | Welwyn Garden City | Herts | AL8 7BP
www.wgcgc.co.uk | secretary@wgcgc.co.uk
60 Lady Golfer
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LG pp 60-63 Club Golf Ads 20/09/2013 10:39 Page 61
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COURSE DIRECTORY
BOWOOD PARK HOTEL BG
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2 Day Golf Break to include: I ON
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BRITA I N’S BEST
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BG
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RESIDENTIAL GOLF BREAKS 2013 2012 M n N AT
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100 L
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Available midweek or weekends
AL
UNDER £50
I ON
COURSES
1 Nights Bed & Breakfast • 1, Three Course Evening meal • 2 Rounds of Golf November: £65pp December: £59pp
3 Day Golf Break to include:
BG
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2 Nights Bed & Breakfast • 2, Three Course Evening Meals • 3 Rounds of Golf November: £105pp December: £99pp Available midweek or weekends
4 Day Golf Break to include: Prices frozen for 2014
3 Nights Bed & Breakfast • 3, Three Course Evening Meals • 4 Rounds of Golf November: £145pp December: £139pp Available midweek or weekends • All package tariffs above are based on 2 people sharing a twin/double room.
Additional golf break benefits in 2013: Organiser FREE OF CHARGE for groups of 16 and above
• Single room upgrades may incur a per night supplement.
• Superior room upgrades incur a supplement of £10 per person per night. • Buggy hire is available at £22 per round or £33 per day. Advanced booking is advisable.
BOOKING HOTLINE
01840 213017 Bowood Park Hotel & Golf Club, Lanteglos, Camelford, Cornwall PL32 9RF For further information please visit us at www.bowood-park.co.uk or contact us at golf@bowood-park.co.uk or 01840 213017
Follow us on
@bowoodparkgolf
MOOR ALLERTON GOLF CLUB Coal Road, Wike, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS17 9NH
4-BALL FROM £100
SOCIETY PACKAGES FROM £25PP CALL NOW TO BOOK A GREAT DAY OUT
27 GLORIOUS HOLES STATE OF THE ART PERFORMANCE CENTRE 62 Lady Golfer
0113 266 5209 www.magc.co.uk www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
LG pp 60-63 Club Golf Ads 20/09/2013 10:40 Page 63
Near Wareham 5 Star British Tourist Board Venue
GOLF G OLF & CO COUNT NTRY C CLUB
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Once you step off the plane, we take care of everything; from airport transfer to hotel accommodations to tee-off time, ensuring that there are no disappointments or unpleasant surprises to ruin your holiday!
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• Winter Society Packages from £25pp (Mon–Fri)
GREY OWL GOLF
Let us organise your bespoke golfing break FRANCE • BELGIUM • SPAIN • ITALY Contact Bill Anslow Tel: 01206 841994 • Fax: 01206 841995 Email: bill@greyowlgolf.com • Web: www.greyowlgolf.com Champs de Bataille - France
2014 Spring Golf Breaks 2 Day Golf Break £85pp 3 Day Golf Break £159pp
www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
FREE Golf & Hotel for organiser of 12+ booked for Mar & Apr 14
Lady Golfer 63
LG pp 64-65 Equipment, Fashion Ads 20/09/2013 12:01 Page 64
EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY
PINE RIDGE GOLF CLUB
Pine Ridge is a venue for all seasons. Whether playing golf, bringing the family ten-pin bowling, planning a special event, or simply coming up for a relaxing drink or meal, you will always find a friendly welcome.
Winter Society Days from £25pp 4 ball for £100 Weekends - Play from £21pp with our Just Play Discount Card Pine Ridge Golf Club Old Bisley Road | Frimley | Camberley | Surrey | GU16 9NX T: 01276 675444 | E: pineridge-sales@crown-golf.co.uk www.pineridgegolf.co.uk
64 Lady Golfer
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LG pp 64-65 Equipment, Fashion Ads 20/09/2013 12:02 Page 65
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www.ladygolferonline.co.uk
Lady Golfer 65
LG pp 66 Columnist CK 19/09/2013 15:53 Page 66
COMMENT
Claire Kane On the tee...the alternative starter’s spiel
H
AVING an official starter welcome you at an Invitation or Open competition is quite comforting but, if we’re honest, how many times do we listen to what they’re saying. Usually we’re far too busy frantically rummaging in our bags for balls and tees, swapping cards or warming up to take heed of instructions. I’ve often wondered if they were to announce an alternative set of reminders and warnings whether we would sit up and take more notice. * Visitors are very welcome and naturally have the honour to tee off first, despite probably not having a clue where they’re going. * Preferred lies are NOT in play so, if you land in a divot that a previous golfer has failed to repair, then you have our greenkeeper’s full permission to quietly curse, blaspheme and bemoan your own bad luck as early as the 1st approach shot. * Sprinkler heads indicate the yardage, although beware if you hit one with your ball you’ll need the prediction skills of Russell Grant to find it. * Our greenkeepers have either ‘stepped out of bed the wrong side’ or are taking their
Poor excuse
I was going well until making that 10
66 Lady Golfer
Pressure? Not the best place for a quick hook
revenge for not being able to work on the course because the pin positions are perfectly placed to three putt. * If you suffer from bladder weakness and are in desperate need for the loo, then a grubby-looking toilet can be found on the 9th. Unofficially, there are a few well-watered bushes and trees throughout the course but, for health and safety reasons, we’re unable to officially endorse them. * At the halfway house you’ll be served with a wobbly plastic cup, full to the brim with warm, sugary orange or red water. If you’re lucky, the groups beforehand haven’t been too greedy so there’ll be a few decent biscuits left as well. * Save your best scores for the last few holes under the
countback rule although, if it’s a shotgun start, then remember to excel on the 16th, 17th and 18th, whenever you happen to play them – who said golf was fair! * Our competition secretary actively encourages numeracy and literacy or at the very least a half legible, signed card. * The changing room will be hot and humid as large numbers of ladies desperately search for a couple of square inches to go about their business of transformation. Tripping over strewn bags is a particular safety hazard which can last several days due to owners departing without them. * Bijou and compact showering facilities are available and, in case you’ve forgotten to pack a towel, we
have a few crispy ones available for extra exfoliation. * Our treasurer encourages you to support the bar while you wait hours for the remaining competitors to complete the course, probably delayed due to players failing to comprehend the rules of slow play, particularly the meaning of ‘keeping up with the group in front’. * Finally, we have an ‘Excuse of the day’ competition for the most inventive justification of a poor shot. This popular award is the highlight of the committee’s day so feel free to submit multiple entries.
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
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