National Club Golfer January 2013 Issue by Sports Publications

ALSO INSIDE: SECRET SECRETARY n WATERPROOFS n TITLEIST WOODS

RED

ALERT INTRODUCING NIKE’S NEW VR_S COVERT

BRITA IN’S TOP 100

LINKS 2013

n A celebration of seaside golf n How many have you played? in association with

High performance 460cc full pear-shaped driver with exceptional forgiveness and control.

High performance 445cc classic pear-shaped driver with forgiveness and Tour-inspired workability.

INTRODUCING THE NEW TITLEIST 913 DRIVERS. To get the most out of your game, you need to get the most out of your equipment. The new Titleist 913 drivers, with innovations to the face insert, rear weight and lower CG location, deliver more speed and more distance. Titleist 913 drivers also provide more performance and forgiveness, with uncompromising looks, sound and feel. And our patented, industry-leading SureFit™ Tour hosel technology allows loft and lie to be adjusted independently to provide all serious golfers with the most precise ﬁt for their game. To learn more, visit titleist.co.uk and see how far Titleist driver technology can take your game.

High-speed, forged face insert provides more speed over a larger area of the face.

Rear weight and improved CG location provide optimum launch with reduced spin for longer distance. Industry-leading SureFit Tour hosel technology is like having a “Tour Van in a hosel.” It delivers independent loft and lie adjustment for the most precise ﬁt available.

Join Team Titleist at titleist.co.uk

ALSO INSIDE: SECRET SECRETARY n WATERPROOFS n TITLEIST WOODS

RED

ALERT

INTRODUCING NIKE’S NEW VR_S COVERT

BRITA IN’S TOP 100

n A celebration of seaside golf n How many have you played?

LINKS 2013

in association with

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Dan Murphy DEPUTY EDITOR Mark Townsend STAFF WRITERS Joe Whitley James Tompkinson CONTRIBUTORS Robert Rock Colin Callander Chris Bertram Chubby Chandler PHOTOGRAPHY Getty Images Thinkstock CHIEF DESIGNER Andrew Kenworthy DESIGNER & WEBMASTER Daniel Cooper COMMERCIAL MANAGER Tom Irwin DISPLAY SALES MANAGER Richard Holt SALES EXECUTIVES Neil Braddish Luke Kelly Tom Lenton Jamie Miles FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Will Shucksmith ACCOUNTS Emma Abbott PRINT/REPRO Precision Colour Printing, Telford SUBSCRIPTIONS Telephone 01274 851 323 All prices include postage: UK – £42 (12 issues) Europe – £42 (12 issues) World – £52 (12 issues) SPORTS PUBLICATIONS LTD Unit 2, Arena Park, Tarn Lane, Scarcroft, West Yorkshire LS17 9BF, United Kingdom Telephone: 0113 289 3979 e-mail: editorial@sportspub.co.uk

Editor’s Comment ELCOME to our celebration of the best links courses in Great Britain. I have no doubt that when you scrutinise our list you will have your own views and suggestions – and I sincerely hope you share them with us and your friends. Frankly, that’s the whole idea. Equally, I believe this is a strong and robust list and so I look forward to justifying it if and when we are challenged. When I was speaking to golfers about compiling this list I was reminded that for many links golf is something of an unknown. Others, I realise and respect, simply prefer playing inland, but I would urge those who have played very little on our seaside courses to make an early New Year resolution to broaden their horizons. We are incredibly lucky that our coastline is littered with these special courses, and while golfers from all over the world treasure their visits and experiences here, I’m not sure we in Britain always do the same. On your first few visits, you may well find yourself wishing you were back home playing a manicured parkland rather than trying to drill a wood into a small green with a left-to-right wind whipping across. Stick with it, because I’m sure you will find that the satisfaction of finding practical solutions to the conundrums that playing links golf creates is immensely satisfying.

We want our secret secretaries (and indeed NCG is a free, mo club managers, nthly magazine distri buted to the although that isn’t golf clubs of Gr eat Britain. quite as catchy a Written specific ally for you, title) to be able to the serious golfe r, we aim to speak freely about provide an insigh tful and trustworthy the issues their club guide to all aspects of the is facing and what life game is really like. We want to present a range of views, from municipal nine-holers to exclusive championship venues, and public, proprietary and private clubs alike. I invite any club officials who would like to share their views with a national audience to drop me an email and can assure them we will respect their anonymity. QUIPMENT ranges are now being unveiled for the new season, which makes it a busy and exciting time of the year for us. I’ve been out and about a lot recently and have personally seen new offerings from Callaway, Titleist, Nike, Cobra and Mizuno to name but five. I believe there has never been a wider and stronger choice of equipment so if you are thinking of a new investment in the coming months then I can safely say you will be spoilt for choice.

AST month we ran our first Secret Secretary column and I’m pleased to say it captured readers’ attention. We are not saying that the views expressed were necessarily typical or representative – and indeed that is the point of this feature.

DON’T MISS IN THIS ISSUE P24: WIN A HOLIDAY TO DUBAI

P124: NIKE’S NEW COVERT DRIVER

How good does that sound as we approach the shortest day of the year? This is a pretty special competition – it includes your flights for a start – and it’s free to enter on our website

NCG was in Orlando last month to attend Nike’s global product summit. The highlight was undoubtedly their stunning new VR_S Covert driver – which is sure to make a splash next season.

IME WIN A HOLIDAY OF A LIFET READERS’ COMPETITION

ISSN 1354 2532 Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. Readers are advised to check pricing and details of availability before making any journeys. All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. The views expressed in National Club Golfer do not necessarily represent the views of the company or the editor. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from participation in any offer, competition or advertising contained within National Club Golfer.

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HIGH VISIBILITY

COVERT Cavity back The Covert has a deep hollow the like of which you will not have seen before

unsurpassed facilities.

of the Emirates Golf Club, host Dubai European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Omega first allLadies Masters, was the in the grass championship course in Middle East when it opened the 1988. Its 36 holes include one of the Majlis – regularly ranked the World’, ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in the only 18and the Faldo Course, to offer hole course in the region Golf & Yacht night golf. Dubai Creek Club includes a championship golf course, a 9-hole par-3 course, bars, and academy, six restaurants pool, gym, tropical swimming and Park marina, executive villas, will stay. Hyatt Dubai, where you to This five-star hotel is home of an inspired assortment including restaurants and lounges, the award-winning French Kitchen, Thai the brasserie Traiteur, and Café Arabesque, the Terrace the Amara the Lobby Lounge. And day spa spa is an award-winning and offering unparalleled luxury elegance.

HIGH-SPEE D CAVITY BACK

Red warning The Covert has a highly visible crown with the boldest of aesthetics

Previously only seen in irons, this leads to more forgiveness and higher ball speeds on off-centre shots

There is a huge visual impact – but Nike say you don’t notice the swoosh once you are standing over the ball

Fairways SRP: £159.99

HIGH SPEEDS HIGH-SPEC

Hot face Nike say this driver gives high ball speeds off a greater portion of the face

TOUR MODEL

Tour fairways SRP: £189.99

Double adjustability Change loft and how the driver sits independently of each other

Nike VR_S Covert and VR_S Covert Tour Lofts: Adjustable between 8.5 & 12.5˚ Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage SRPs: £249.99; Tour Available: February £349.99

NIKE INTRODU CE THEIR STRO NGEST DRIV ER TO DATE

IT might seem hard to imagine that a driver that But arguably more is bright red with significant a swoosh on the and innovative take off loft and crown is that the VR_S the face opens. accurately described could be Covert is the first That’s fine as as Covert but long as you hit club to it the real story independent adjustability allow the either low with this driver and right or high of loft is and not to be seen and lie. left. If it’s the at address. other way round, Nike have brought This is done courtesy you are struggling. multiple of a new technologies patented Dual With this driver, to the game that Axis. To explain, you choose have never been with a single-axis the loft (at 1˚ gaps seen before – adjustment, starting at 8.5 and top of the list whenever you and going up is the concept alter the loft you to 12.5˚). Then of a cavity-back driver. also change the whether you would way a club sits like it to sit – add loft and the open, neutral face also closes; or closed. That gives you 15 choices 124 JANUARY and, according 2013 to | www.nationa

lclubgolfer.com

Nike, 42 yards of dispersion, based on a 250-yard drive. Meanwhile, the high-speed cavity back, previously only seen in irons, offers more forgiveness and higher ball speeds on off-centre shots while the NexCOR face creates higher ball speeds from a larger area of the face. There is little doubt this is the best driver Nike have ever brought to market.

The NexCOR face creates higher ball speeds from a larger area of the face, meaning you can miss the middle of the club and still generate distance close to your maximum

Hybrids SRP: £129.99

The Tour version has a slightly smaller head, a deeper face and a shaft that is 10g heavier

WHY THE COVE RT IS SPEC IAL

Nike Golf’s global golf club business director, Rob Arluna, on what sets this driver apart “We have created a gamechanging piece of technology that has already begun a growing industry buzz. “It is visually exciting, it feels and sounds amazing and, most importantly, it creates powerful

results with a high degree of control. Golfers and our Nike Golf Tour athletes are going to have a lot of fun with this driver. ”You might think that the hollow cavity back would lead to sound issues but in fact the opposite is true. “I guarantee you – this is the best-sounding driver we’ve ever made.”

Tour hybrids SRP: £159.99

NEXCOR

EXPLAINED

NexCOR face technology is designed to deliver faster ball speed and longer shots from a wider area of the face. It creates more speed thanks to a variable face thickness that moves the sweet spot higher from the heel to the centre, where most golfers make impact.

Irons SRP: 4-P, steel £449.99; 4-P graphite £519.99

www.nationa

lclubgolfer.com

4 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

| JANUARY

2013 125

PRECISE SHOTS REQUIRE PRECISION TECHNOLOGY.

NEW VOKEY SM4 WEDGES. The Advanced Spin Milled Technology in the New Vokey SM4 wedges deliver maximum spin and control that enable players to hit precise shots. Master Craftsman Bob Vokey has covered every detail in this fourth generation of Spin Milled wedges. His experience working with the best players in the world has resulted in a line that represents his most extensive range of options to date, including more choices in loft, bounce and tour-proven sole grinds. Visit Vokey.com and learn more about the science of hitting it close.

Join Team Titleist at titleist.co.uk

ON THE TEE Your essential guide to the world of golf â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including competitions, quick tips, interviews and new gear

6 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

MOMENT OF THE MONTH

AN Poulter must be wishing 2012 would never end. In late June, he was struggling to make Europe’s Ryder Cup team and had broken 70 only once in a Major. Then he was T4 at the French Open, shot a closing 67 at the Open to finish ninth and his consistency in the PGA at Kiawah gave him another Major top 10, this time in third. We all know what then happened at the Ryder Cup. Following Medinah, his closing 65 saw him finish fourth at the BMW Masters – then a week later he fired two 65s at the weekend to scorch to victory in the star-studded WGC HSBC Champions at Mission Hills. Never usually one openly to doubt his own ability Poulter admitted at Shenzhen he must carry his killer matchplay ability into strokeplay events – and by that he means Majors. In the space of six weeks, the idea of the man from Milton Keynes claiming a Major title does not seem so unlikely.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 7

ON THE TEE

| GEAR |

THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR GAME

R ELA G I S VE EXC U

TITLEIST 913F & 913H We were the first in the UK to test these new woods. This is our verdict

Insight on the design Steve Pelisek, Titleist’s general manager, on the key features

Classic looks “We’d rather focus on moving the CG back, we don’t think moveable weight technology is that effective so why bother making the sacrifice in the inherent design of the club.”

Lower spin

Key facts and figures Titleist 913F and 913H Available: February 8 SRPs: 913F & Fd £215, 913H £197 913H lofts: 17, 19, 21, 24 & 27˚ 913F lofts: 13.5, 15, 17, 19 & 21˚ 913F.d lofts: 13.5 & 15˚

“From the 910 the CG is closer to the neutral axis with the launch rates pretty similar but the spin is quite a bit lower – there’s more speed in the 913 and a pretty significant distance gain. The F is more forgiving than the low spin F.d, both pretty neutral in terms of the draw bias. This will be the major seller of the two.”

Shorter hosel “The 913 has a shorter hosel to get the weight down and reduce the spin. You need to get it launched with a ‘boring trajectory’. Unlike the driver where you can switch the shaft from your 910, you can’t with the fairway or hybrid. This has a different SFT mechanism.”

8 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

THE NCG VERDICT Dan Murphy was the first to see and test the new fairways and hybrids

The 913 H Steve Pelisek, Titleist’s general manager, on the new hybrid “It’s a progressive design. We’re trying to make a set of clubs that work together. A lot of players have two hybrids and they are that difficult transition from metal woods to irons. “We have tried to build that transition into the clubs – a 17˚ plays a little different from a 24˚. Actually pretty different clubs. “We moved the CG as far back as we could in the 17 and 19 to make them play a bit more like a metal wood. With the 24 and 27 we can move the CG a little forward and cut some of the speed out.”

Seeing new Titleist equipment for the first time is always special, but never more so than when we arrived at their national fitting centre in St Ives recently to find a pile of pristine boxes containing the new 913 fairways and hybrids tucked away at the far end. Even the fitters had yet to see them – so they were just as excited as we were. The first thing to say about the fairway woods is that the 913 F.d, the deeper-faced model, now has much broader appeal than its predecessor. Previously, this was a niche product, because only the strongest players could get a flight from it. Now it is a genuine alternative. “The purpose of the three-wood has evolved,” says Steve Pelisek, Titleist’s general manager. “It’s now more of a second driver than a fairway wood. Put a ball on a tee and it’s a much different dynamic than off the turf. You want low spin but not so extreme that it is unhittable.” To my eye, the F.d is actually easier to use than the F, especially from the tee. The head is much bigger and much deeper. I suspect I’m not alone in thinking that. I didn’t find it hard to use at all – in fact quite the opposite. As for the F, the head shape and the way it sits are exquisite – but it is very compact, so to me it’s much more of a club for use off a tight fairway lie than a tee. If you mainly use a fairway wood off the tee, the F.d might have more appeal. As for the hybrids, I much prefer the new head shape compared to the 910. It looks more compact at address – Pelisek decribes it well in saying it has a “slimmer waistline in look”. To me, it looks like a hybrid that will give a penetrating flight and not want to turn over – which is exactly what I want. It’s early days, but it could be the start of something special between us.

ON THE TEE

WE’D RATHER BE PLAYING...

WALTON HEATH Two fabulous heathland courses at a club steeped in tradition

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und week ro tive One mid an attrac r both fo n o o n r – or play e £165 aft £205. It’s . s d n at weeke

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10 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

| GRASS ROOTS

E indulge our love of links golf this month with an issue which has been 10 years in the making. And while we would almost always rather be playing beside the seaside, if anything is going to lure us away from the coast itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a class heathland. Walton Heath has two such courses and this is the par-3 2nd hole on the New. This Surrey club can sometimes be overshadowed by its nearneighbours Sunningdale and Wentworth yet boasts enormous history and tradition of its own: from being the favoured club of parliamentarians in a more sedate era to James Braid being its long-serving professional to hosting arguably the greatest side in Ryder Cup history in 1981. There is very little to choose between the Old and the New â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both are fixtures in any GB&I Top 100. 01737 812380 www.waltonheath.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 11

ON THE TEE

| ARCHIVE |

CAPTURED ON FILM

JULY 21, 1985 Sandy Lyle makes history with Open victory at Sandwich

12 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

INCE Tony Jacklin’s victory at Royal Lytham in 1969, no British player had threatened to win the Open. It was in truth a bleak period for British golf, illustrated by the fact we had to ask continental Europe to join us to make the Ryder Cup competitive. By the early 80s there was some light at the end of the tunnel though, with Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle winning frequently on the European Tour. And in 1985, while Faldo was asking David Leadbetter to take his swing apart and start again, Lyle was using his more homegrown method to claim a Major. In winning the Open at Royal St George’s, he became Britain’s first champion for 16 years and more remarkably Scotland’s first since Tommy Armour in 1931. Despite his pedigree – Lyle had won 10 times on tour and played in three Ryder Cups to that point – the Shropshire-born player was an unlikely winner. Going into the last round, two previous Major champions – David Graham and Bernhard Langer – held the lead, with Greg Norman and Mark O’Meara also lurking. Lyle was three back. However, the Australian and the German both carded closing 75s – Langer went out of bounds on the 14th – to allow Lyle to sneak home by a shot with a closing 68. Lyle also found trouble off the 14th tee but produced a remarkable birdie and then overcame similar adversity at the last. His approach rolled agonisingly off to the left of the green and he left his delicate chip short, meaning a steely two-putt was required to finish on 282 and edge out Payne Stewart. Jose Rivero and Christy O’Connor Jnr joining Graham, Langer and O’Meara in third. That area to the left of the 18th green is called Duncan’s Hollow, referring to the 1922 Open when George Duncan, needing a four to tie with Walter Hagen, hit his second into the hollow but failed to get up and down, handing Hagen the first of his four Open victories. After 1985, some dubbed it ‘Sandy’s Swale’. Incidentally, the 1985 Open was the last with a double cut.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 13

ON THE TEE

Analysis by Gary Alliss, pro at Ladbrook Park. The ‘King of the Swing’ has twice captained the PGA Cup side. w: ladbrookparkgolf.co.uk

Gainey has an unorthodox action – but methods such as his can and do work. Very rarely are such players consistent winners though. Gainey has been on the PGA Tour for 15 years with only one victory. Any of us can cope with unusual movements provided we balance the strange move with a compensation to secure a correct impact position – otherwise you will spray it everywhere.

For the purist Gainey has too crouched a posture, a slight mismatch between both hands, a very late wrist set in the backswing and a lack of weight transfer. However when Tommy is on form he is able to rectify his posture, lifting his spine so the club returns to the ball on plane.

He pulls the club through impact with his very strong left forearm while holding off any release from his right forearm – hence the weird-looking followthrough position. This hold off enables the clubface to be delivered squarely to the ball while maintaining good clubhead speed on the correct path and good approach angle.

14 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

| QUICK TIP |

HOW TO COMPENSATE IN

YOUR SWING

LIKE TOMMY GAINEY How the PGA Tour winner is able to square the clubface

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S U R PA S S I N G E X P E C TAT I O N S

T E R SECC Y R A T E R SE

r her) the (o im h s e iv g y ymit Our secâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anon ey really think th t a h w y a s licence to

oes a joining fee have any place in the current economic and golfing climate? Yes – ours is £2.5k

great way to encourage this section in particular, my concerns are over the potential dilution of membership subscription.

re Hon Secs a thing of the past? Golf clubs are having to be more business-minded than in years gone by and therefore many are seeking a full-time secretary/manager. I wouldn’t say that Hon Secs are a thing of the past, because many clubs will not see the benefit of the payroll as their income streams will not justify the expense. What is certain is that clubs without an employed secretary will become more and more reliant on the expertise of their committee members.

as your club ever offered free coaching to attract new members? We have previously offered a series of group lessons to new lady members, which proved popular.

hy are there not more women secretaries? There are significantly more now than there were a couple of decades ago, when the golf industry was perhaps more maledominated. I’m sure this trend will continue to change in the years to come.

ow much interest do you get through Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn etc? Twitter is probably the most useful at the moment and is a great way to communicate news efficiently.

oes a dress code have any place in the current social and golfing climate? Yes, I firmly believe that whilst we need to embrace modern views, there will always be a place for the traditions in golf, dress code I consider to be a major one, especially on the course. There will always be variances on dress code requirements from one venue to the next and it is therefore up to the club where you choose to play.

hat percentage of your members get value for money? 90 per cent.

hen was the last time your club had a waiting list to join? We are still in the fortunate position where we still have one for full male members and juniors although it is significantly reduced in comparison to the 80s and 90s.

o you run any competitions over shorter loops/nine holes? We have offered these over a number of years now and we have received some positive comments

“Many clubs have the expertise in-house to manage a bar, but not many have the expertise run an efficient kitchen. This could prove costly in the long run.” regarding them. However the vast majority of members still prefer the normal format with only a minority ever playing in the reduced game, most often in the winter months.

o you do anything different to attract new women members? Presently we offer a reduced joining fee to encourage new lady members.

ow much should a golf club be involved with the local schools? We have run a very effective

teaching link up with a local school, which in the past year has seen our junior section filled.

an you see a time when most clubs will have a flexible membership – like pay a small amount to be a member and then buy credits? Not sure, I know this does work well for many clubs and the benefits are clear to see. What has been and always will be a difficult age bracket to attract is the 18 to 35-year-olds, those without the disposable income of the more senior golfers. The flexible memberships are a

s there still a place for having stewards running the bar and kitchens against outsourcing catering and bar? It depends on the club and its turnover in those areas. At a time when clubs are being more careful with their finances, we are certainly seeing the end of free accommodation and bills paid for mentality. What is worth noting is that many clubs have the expertise in-house to manage a bar, however not many will have the expertise to run an efficient kitchen. This could prove far more costly in the long run for a club.

ow badly would a member have to behave to be thrown out the club? Repeat offence of anything that was against the club’s by-laws!

hat is the strangest request you have ever had from a member? Permission to tie their cat to their golf bag so it could walk round with them. n WOULD you like to be our Secret Secretary for a month? Total anonymity guaranteed – and the chance to get a lot of frustration off your chest! Simply send an email to editorial@sportspub.co.uk and we will send you some questions to answer...

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 17

ON THE TEE

THE STIFFEST CHALLENGE

| GRASS ROOTS

AMAZING GRACE

We look at three Challenge Tour hopefuls hoping to step up in 2013

YOU only need to consider the case of Branden Grace to appreciate quite how tough the Challenge Tour is. Last year the South African was unable to make it into the top 20 and then came through Q School. This year the likes of Peter Uihlein and Nick Dougherty also failed. As did several former European Tour winners.

2012 IN NUMBERS Lowest round: 61 (10) Charlie Ford – Challenge de España

Lowest 72 holes: 261 (-27) Kristoffer Broberg – Rolex

Lowest first 36: 129 (15) Kristoffer Broberg – Rolex Trophy

Course records: 16

Lowest final 36: 129 (-15) Chris Lloyd and Daniel Brooks – Rolex Trophy

Holes-in-one: 10

First-time winners: 14

Play-offs: 9

Albatrosses: 3 Most top-10 finishes: Andreas Harto 9

ESPEN KOFSTAD

KRISTOFFER BROBERG

JAMES BUSBY

THE Norwegian (above) finished the season in some style winning the Grand Final in Italy to top the Order of Merit. The 25-year-old’s season sparked into life when he won in Italy in July and he added another five top-10 finishes before his win at San Domenico. But, while the majority of the 20-something hopefuls have dreamed of a career in the game from an early age, the Norwegian only realised he could make it when he won a college event in his second year at the University of Denver. He finished college and then turned professional only two years ago. Last year on the Challenge Tour he finished in a credible 35th spot. This year he moved on another level again and closed out the season with a flawless four-under 67 in the Grand Final to secure his biggest pay day to date. Interesting fact: His mother was a European skiing champion in the 1970s.

BROBERG’S progress on the European Tour could be one of the most interesting stories of 2013. What happened this year was bordering on the ridiculous. The 26-year-old was playing on the Nordic League in 2011 and won twice there early this year and it was not until May that he made his Challenge Tour debut, finishing ninth. In his next start, in August, he won, he was victorious again the following week, third the week after and top dog for a third time in the last week of August to gain instant promotion to the European Tour. After some understandable invites on the main tour he was back in Denmark where he notched up a fourth win. In five tournaments he was an incredible 89 under par. Interesting fact: The Swede’s stroke average, 67.59, was nearly two shots better than the next best.

BUSBY arrived at the Grand Final in the 45th and last spot in the field. He left Italy with a place on the European Tour. A tie for second rocketed him into 16th place but it is not the greatest comeback that he has pulled off. Just one month after turning professional eight years ago, the Englishman was involved in an accident which would keep him out of the game for two years. He was bed-bound for the first year and thought he would never swing a club again. But he made it back to the EuroPro Tour for four years before qualifying for the Challenge Tour. In the Grand Final he had to finish second or better – he then produced four birdies in his last nine holes to squeeze home. Interesting fact: Darts legend Phil Taylor is Busby’s hero – ‘If you can call darts a sport I think he is the best sportsman in the world.’

18 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

TATISTICALLY PEAKING

318

NINE

BOOM BABY Nicolas Colsaerts heads the driving distances (in yards) on the European Tour in 2012. The Belgian Bomber also hits two thirds of every fairway

Top 10s by Rory McIlroy on the ‘European Tour’ in 13 starts. His missed cuts came in his US Open defence and at the PGA at Wentworth

€199,996

Gareth Maybin’s earnings on the European Tour this season. The Northern Ireland player is in 110th spot on the Money List

TOP10 WORLD RANKINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Rory McIlroy Tiger Woods Luke Donald Lee Westwood Adam Scott Louis Oosthuizen Justin Rose Jason Dufner Brandt Snedeker Webb Simpson

AV. PTS 13.01 9.12 8.77 6.72 6.23 6.21 6.17 5.91 5.70 5.70

PERCENTAGE OF SCRAMBLES BY TOP MAN LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR

HOME-GROWN TALENT Number of British and Irish players inside the top 10 of the Race to Dubai going into the season-ending Dubai World Championship

December 6-9 Nelson Mandela C’ship December 13-16 Alfred Dunhill Championship, South Africa

COMING UP...

DEC www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 19

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ROBERT ROCK My personal links journey – from Burnham & Berrow to Lytham Y first experience of links golf was as a junior at Burnham & Berrow in the Carris Trophy in 1995. I played with Paul Casey, and Justin Rose ended up winning that week so not much has changed really. It was always great to go away and to play at a links made it even more fun. I then played some more in some national assistants events and friends and I used to jump in the car to Southport as often as possible where my particular favourite was always Hillside. My first glimpse of how tough it can be came in Final Qualifying for the Open Championship at Southport & Ainsdale and it was unbelievably windy and, at the time, I really didn’t have any idea how to play it. Some drives would go forever, others I couldn’t keep it anywhere near the fairway in the cross winds. I always remember playing with Miles Tunnicliff and he gave me a real lesson in how to cope with the conditions. I have now played in six Opens. Turnberry in 2009 was a real eye-opener and not exactly helped by breaking my favourite driver a few weeks before the championship. You had to have all the shots, the fairways were hard to hit and the approach shots all needed some sort of shape to get at the pin. So it was no great surprise to see Tom Watson, who has all those skills plus so much experience, almost pull off the greatest win of all time. Then you play the Old Course and there are loads of ways of playing it and you can shape the ball in different ways to attack it as the greens are so big. The 11th at St Andrews would be my favourite Open hole. It is almost like an infinity green and is not an overly hard tee shot but, if you get it wrong, you are really up against it. The bunker short is not an option, going long leaves very little chance of getting up and down and playing safe to the right leaves a horrible putt. The bunkering is key to laying out a great links – they are always penal, always seem to be in the right places and the classics have all stood the test of time. This year’s Open at Lytham proved that better than anywhere and there and Turnberry really test your skills from the tee.

Tough cookie I would always take a par 3 at the 11th on the Old Course

Preparing for an Open you want to have played it as often as you can and in as many different conditions as possible. So I would go and play it a few weeks before and try and be adaptable with my game plan if the weather suddenly changes. Away from the UK there are some incredible links in South Africa and Kennemer in the Netherlands has been one of my favourite stops on the European Tour. In the last couple of years I have begun working with course designer James Edwards and I have done a lot of reading around the subject and now look at courses with a different eye these days. James will do all the drawings and my involvement is to add my experience of playing so many different courses. It is definitely a learning experience but I love a lot of the strategy that goes into the design ideas. We are currently working on the James Braid-designed Orsett GC in Essex and it has been fascinating to analyse and restore the original integrity of Braid while looking to awaken what is definitely a sleeping beauty.

For mor e details on Robe rt and James’ designs visit www.ja mesed golfdesig wards n.com

The beauty of links golf is that it is playable by anyone if you play off the right tees. We play so many courses on tour where they are just not suitable for the average amateur and it is just not enjoyable. On a links the fairways are generally wide enough, there aren’t huge carries and the greens are quite sizeable. If you miss a green you don’t have to play a tight little pitch with a lofted club, you can chip and run it or putt. And if you find a fairway bunker you play the shot just like the pros and the only goal is to get it out and make sure your next effort is from the fairway. There really is nothing like links golf.

• Sponsors: Emirates Palace, BlackStar and BBT For more follow on Twitter @RobRockAcademy and www.robertrock.co.uk

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 21

CHUBBY CHANDLER How I took the step from player to manager WOULD love to have had a manager when I was playing on the European Tour to take all the off-course worries away and let me do nothing but concentrate on playing golf. The only trouble was nobody wanted to look after me so throughout my career I was head of my own one-man band – golfer, travel agent, housing manager, restaurant guide, sponsor negotiator, psychologist and packer-in-chief. It was all good preparation for the job I went into after retiring in my late 30s so many moons ago. International Sports Management was born in Mere GC in the late 80s with me at the helm and Debbie Howard (now Finch and married to tour pro Richard) at the tiller. My company would become renowned immediately pre-and-post millennium as the one which guided Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood through the undulating fairways and water hazards of European golf. But when I first started out, just a handful of my mates on tour came under the ISM umbrella – Denis Durnian, Carl Mason, Phil Harrison and Derrick Cooper. Eight months later they were joined by Richard Boxall, who now follows the tour behind a Sky microphone. Darren came in August 1990 after being introduced through a mutual friend and Lee three years later. Rather than contracts with any of our players, I have always gone for a handshake on the basis that if it was good enough for Arnold Palmer and Mark McCormack then why not everybody else. I think our style of management is unique and although we are always on the look-out for talent, it is important that we get on with and like the golfer as well. My network of ‘spies’ includes a couple of ex-pros in Stuart Cage and Ian Garbutt and all our other current players. A pro can definitely spot potential and if either Darren or Lee says: ‘So-and-so can really play’ you know they’re not kidding. It took us a while to get our first Major champion and, although not having one was something that was missing from our CV, it wasn’t anything that I lost any sleep over. It was well worth the wait however because

22 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

My boys At the Old Course with the lads

‘I would say our management style is unique’ Louis Oosthuizen not only collected the oldest and greatest championship of them all, but also claimed his Open Championship at the home of golf, St Andrews. I didn’t look on it as a relief, just a very proud moment in the career of a young player and a slightly older company. And once Louis had opened the door, there was a rush of others to join him and in 2011 we went to the US PGA Championship needing to pick up the Wanamaker Trophy to complete a season’s Grand Slam. It was not to be on that occasion but with the quality of players we still have performing at the top of the game and a long list of others eager to join them, there may well be another chance. Hopefully Lee will etch his name on the honours board of Major champions because I can’t think of anybody in golf who deserves one more. But even if he doesn’t there are not many

players in the game who can say that at one stage they were World No 1. Finally, well done to one our team, Espen Kofstad, who became the first Norwegian to top the Challenge Tour money list. At the start of the final weekend of the year he was projected to finish fifth but then didn’t drop a single shot to win the tournament and the Order of Merit. Simon Wakefield and Alexandre Kaleka also made it so, already, we’re all looking forward to the 2013 season. One thing I’d like to see is somebody from the ISM stable winning on the continent of South America next year. Modesty forbids me telling you who the only person from our company to have achieved this honour to date. But it was at the 1985 Sao Paulo International… and he didn’t have a manager!

• Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler is the managing director of International Sports Management. His clients include golfers Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel and cricketers Michael Vaughan and Stuart Broad. Visit www.sportism.net to learn more

STAY Y PLAY

“I am delighted to be the Close House Attached Tour Professional. I think it is a perfect course that has the capability of staging a major tournament in years to come” Lee Westwood, The Close House Attached Tour Professional

To book your golf break break please call us on 01661 85 22 55 To www.closehouse.co.uk email enquiries@closehouse.co.uk or visit www.closehouse.co.uk

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WE have joined forces with Dubai Golf and Park Hyatt Dubai to offer two readers the opportunity to experience world-class golf and hospitality during a fabulous fournight holiday that will take in some of the Middle East’s most spectacular courses. Dubai Golf manages two of the most established and renowned clubs – Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. The clubs boast three worldclass championship courses, luxurious clubhouses, restaurants and golf academies. Park Hyatt Dubai is a luxury waterfront retreat, adjacent to the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club located at the heart of the city, and featuring stunning architectural design, world-class cuisine, a renowned, award-winning day spa, personalised services and unsurpassed facilities.

The prize n Return flights from the UK to Dubai with Emirates Airlines for the winner and a guest n Four nights’ bed & breakfast accommodation at the five-star Park Hyatt Dubai (sharing a room) n Golf for two on the Majlis Course n Golf for two at Dubai Creek n Night Golf for two on the floodlit Faldo Course at the Emirates

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Emirates Golf Club, host of the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, was the first allgrass championship course in the Middle East when it opened in 1988. Its 36 holes include the Majlis – regularly ranked one of the ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in the World’, and the Faldo Course, the only 18hole course in the region to offer night golf. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club includes a championship course, a 9-hole par-3 course, golf academy, six restaurants and bars, gym, tropical swimming pool, marina, executive villas, and Park Hyatt Dubai, where you will stay. This five-star hotel is home to an inspired assortment of restaurants and lounges, including the award-winning French brasserie Traiteur, the Thai Kitchen, Café Arabesque, the Terrace and the Lobby Lounge. And the Amara spa is an award-winning day spa offering unparalleled luxury and elegance.

Luke Donald

Lee Westwood

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WORLD #1 IN WORLDWIDE PLAYERS 20,319 Nearest Competitor

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Jiyai Shin

Ian Poulter

Bill Haas

Geoff Ogilvy

Rickie Fowler

Roger Chapman Bo Van Pelt

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Zach Johnson Louis Oosthuizen

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DWIDE #1. #1 IN WORLDWIDE WINS 174 Nearest Competitor

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Join Team Titleist at titleist.co.uk Source: Darrell Survey, Sports Marketing Surveys Inc. Northmountain International. Based upon results through 11/11/2012 on the U.S. PGA, U.S. LPGA, Champions, Web.com, South African, Asian, Korean, OneAsia, Australasian, Japan, Canadian PGA and PGA European Tours.

BRITA IN’S TOP

100 LINKS COURSES 2013 Definitive guide to seaside golf

Britain’s Top 100 Links in association with

BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

WELCOME

This is how we put our list together – from the panel to the assessment criteria

REGULAR readers will not need telling, for our words have long betrayed us, but the fact is we are lovers of links golf at NCG. The heathlands of Surrey, Leeds et al undoubtedly have their attractions but, given the choice, we always head to the coast for our golf. Some of you will find this statement superfluous, being already converted to the charms of the seaside. Others, though, we recognise, will either not agree with our passion for links – or indeed have little experience of this type of golf. We hope this feature caters for all three groups, offering an objective ranking for the connoisseur and some insight into why it is such a special form of the game for the less enthusiastic. To that end, we include several features within the section, which we hope entertain and inform.

WHAT WERE WERE LOOKING FOR Courses situated within a mile of the sea There are many different definitions of what a links is – Colin Callander has something to say aboutthison page 37 – but for the purposes of this list, we decided any course within a mile of the sea was eligible. This means some courses that are undoubtedly downland or clifftop in nature are included – and there is even one out-and-out parkland. The essence of seaside golf By which we really mean links golf. Above all else, this means firm underfoot conditions. The ball must bounce and run. Suddenly, the game is richer and more interesting. The player has more options. Strategy is more important. The concept of subtlety is introduced.

30 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

It also means a breeze. Without one, the game is diminished. That doesn’t mean you would choose to play in a gale – only that you might encounter one. The essence of seaside golf is that you must adapt to the conditions. Only the strongest characters fully embrace the challenge. A true test Not in the sense of needing to be championship-length, rather in terms of being the most thorough possible examination of your game. As it happens, most of the very best links courses in Great Britain are on the Open rota. That is hardly a coincidence. Unlike the Ryder Cup, quality of the course is paramount when it come to the Open Championship. But none are great courses merely because they are long. Quite the opposite. A true test is one that calls for mastery of all parts of the game.

OUR PANEL The list was compiled by NCG’s staff, headed by editor Dan Murphy – a man who walks with a slight lean to the left, so used is he to battling into a links headwind. Dan was aided (Ed’s note: and very occasionally confronted) by opinions from in-house staff as well as freelancer contributors. This wideranging panel means every course has been played by at least three different panellists at least once. More usually, they will have been played by more than three people, and played more than twice. We humbly suggest this gives the ranking an authority which surpasses other course listings.

in association with

WHERE ARE THESE BIG NAMES RANKED?

WHAT I A LINKSS COURSE ? It’s a con

PRINCE’S Did these three loops of nine make it into the top 50?

tentious p oint‚ so turn to p37 for th e (OK, our) definitive definition

THE CASTLE COURSE How high was the seventh course in St Andrews placed?

MACHRIHANISH DUNES Be prepared for a surprise spot for this modern masterpiece

Test of time Where will Machrihanish appear?

Variety The best seaside courses offer a little bit of everything. Play in windy, fast-running conditions and the scorecard means little. A par 4 of over 400 yards can be little more than a 3 wood and a pitch in one direction; a 350-yarder the opposite way might need a drive and a long iron. You might play one par 5 and have an eagle putt, then be unable to reach the green on a par 4 in two. Play off the right set of tees and you ought to have a decision to make on every tee. The skilful links practitioner knows when to attack and when to throttle back. Challenge We intend this in the broadest sense. Where would you want to play if you could take your best game (regardless of whether you are a scratch man or a novice). Where would you get the most

satisfaction from? Which courses would give you the chance to enjoy your good shots the most? WHAT WASN’T A FACTOR Pomp and ceremony Links golf is all about simplicity and the game being reduced to its most basic elements. To us, the links game involves simply testing your skills in a natural environment. The less fuss, the better. The off-course experience For the purposes of this list we did not look at clubhouses, practice facilities, warmth of welcome, halfway houses, signage or indeed anything at all outside the moment you walk on to the 1st tee until the time you leave the 18th green. Goodie bags This is a feature about golf courses – pure and simple.

Price We spoke as we found, regardless of whether the green fee was nearer £300 or £20. Bringing ‘value’ into the mix makes things very complicated. Length We are presuming, as a discerning golfer, you are capable of choosing a set of tees that will provide a balance between challenge and playability. Personally speaking, we get as little pleasure from playing a great course from tees so far forward that we can carry all the trouble from the tee as we do from being too far back and needing to hit a couple of woods to most of the par 4s. The Open-hosting courses that make up the majority of our top 10 are not there just because they have all been lengthened over the years to well over 7,000 yards. They are there because they are great courses.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL We rank on course quality, not controversy. So was it top 10?

ROYAL LYTHAM Many find it modest – so did our panel buck the trend?

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 31

in association with

BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

100

NEWBURGH

Aberdeenshire Designer: McAndrew What to expect: Like many in the higher echelons of this Top 100 list, this Aberdeenshire course is a tale of two halves. No one would deny the older, back nine is the stronger and it certainly enjoys the better land, on the flat at sea level. The front nine is less dramatic but still perfectly enjoyable. Why it’s special: The front nine might not be quite as entertaining but given you know what awaits on the back nine, which is pure links, then how can you fail to enjoy yourself at this homely club?

CARNOUSTIE (BURNSIDE)

Angus Designer: Unknown What to expect: On the same piece of land as the championship course, the Burnside offers many of the same values – a demand for honest shot-making and largely flat greens. Inevitably overshadowed by its famous sister course, this should still be on any Angus trip itinerary. Why it’s special: The turf at Carnoustie is tight, even and firm. This is links golf in its purest form but with a little more margin for error and less stringency than its famous sibling.

DUFF HOUSE ROYAL

Aberdeenshire Designers: Braid/Mackenzie What to expect: Not a links! This is the only parkland course in our list, even though it is located right on the coast, or more accurately a tiny inlet of the North Sea between Banff and Macduff. It qualifies comfortably under our ‘within a mile of the sea’ criterion. Why it’s special: Putting all that aside, what you will find at Duff House Royal are fabulous views – the aforementioned River Deveron proving to be a hazard for those who wander off the tee at the 7th, 16th and 17th holes.

LONGNIDDRY

East Lothian Designer: Colt What to expect: Among the pure seaside courses of East Lothian is this delightful combination of woodland and links golf. We rather enjoy the woodland holes here and somehow the juxtaposition works nicely; Scots Pines, gorse, sea-buckthorn and rough provide the definition and the penalties. Why it’s special: No par 5s and nearly half the course is made up of par 4s measuring over 400 yards – this a serious test for even the strong player, so don’t think you are turning up to go low.

32 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

CRAIGIELAW

East Lothian Designer: Steel What to expect: This modern championship links has undulating greens, deep bunkers and spectacular views over the Firth of Forth and Gullane Hill. It is a welcome addition to East Lothian’s links portfolio – and recommendations rarely come any higher than that. Why it’s special: Attached to the clubhouse, the Lodge has 25 wellappointed rooms with views to the Forth, Gullane’s courses and Fife. In short, a perfect base for a East Lothian golf break. NCG is plotting a trip there in 2013...!

FORTROSE & ROSEMARKIE

Highlands Designer: Braid What to expect: At first glance it seems impossible that 18 holes have been squeezed into this piece of land, which is situated on the Chanonry Peninsula. Although short it is packed with hazards and small greens that putt beautifully. Why it’s special: The likelihood is that you will remember as many holes here as you will anywhere months after playing. The 4th and 5th and nearby lighthouse immediately spring to mind while a collection of short 4s will tease and tempt on the way home.

FAIRHAVEN

Lancashire Designers: Steer/Braid/Thomas/Steel What to expect: An Open Championship final qualifying venue which has a good deal of class about it, with excellent bunkering, lovely turf and notably pristine greens. Why it’s special: Fairhaven boasts one of the finest opening holes in Britain, a par 5 which in many respects is how all rounds should begin; the drive and lay-up must be straight enough to avoid fairway bunkers but the short pitch gives one a chance to open with something encouraging.

ASKERNISH

Outer Hebrides Designers: Old Tom Morris/Ebert What to expect: Uncovered a few years ago, Askernish is an Old Tom Morris classic that had been lost and grown over. Its restoration is an ongoing labour of love, a piece of history which is now available for all to savour and enjoy. Why it’s special: Just being on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides is an unforgettable experience, let alone playing golf on a course that is just like your golfing predecessors would have experienced a century ago.

Duff House Royal Golf Club Banff, Aberdeenshire AB45 3SX

Situated on the Ythan Estuary, with beautiful views overlooking the North Sea & Sands of Forvie National Nature Reserve

2 miles north of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, and 12 miles north of Aberdeen. Celebrating 125 years of golf on Udny Links

Visitors always welcome, including Saturday mornings Discounts of up to 50% available dependent on party size Play Newburgh and Murcar for only £105 A beautifully manicured golf course with the unique distinction of being designed by two of Scotland’s outstanding golf course architects, James Braid and Dr. Alister MacKenzie. The course is flat with little rough and the large “MacKenzie” two-tier greens, many well positioned bunkers and trees, make the course a severe but fair and enjoyable challenge to golfers of all abilities

Pro shop, bar & catering, practice facilities & competitive green fee rates. Groups most welcome.

01261 812062 www.duffhouseroyal.com

Book on-line at www.newburghgolfclub.co.uk or call 01358 789058

fortrose&rosemarkiegolfclub Celebrating 125 years | 1888 - 2013

James Braid’s 18 hole challenging course within the narrow Chanonry Peninsula. Breathtaking scenery and a dolphin colony in the adjacent firth are additional attractions for discerning golfers from far & wide who make a visit to Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club a must on their golfing calendar. Ness Road East, Fortrose, Scotland IV10 8SE Twitter @FortroseGC1888 Facebook Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club Links

PORTHMADOG GOLF CLUB Gwynedd, North Wales • 18 hole Par 71 6363 yards

Office: +44 (0)1381 620529 / 620733 secretary@fortrosegolfclub.co.uk

www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk

Craigielaw Golf Club A B E R L A DY | E A S T LOT H I A N | S COT L A N D | E H 3 2 0 P Y

…truly a golfer’s paradise One of the finest Courses in Wales

Opening soon our 25 bedroom golf lodge… Great play and stay packages available More details from our site www.craigielawlodge.com

WINTER 4 BALL FROM £70 1st October - 31st March Quote AMN11 Online booking available

Website: www.porthmadog-golf-club.co.uk E-mail: Secretary@porthmadog-golf-club.co.uk Please phone or Fax 01766 514 124

Tel: 01875 870 800 Email: info@craigielawgolfclub.com www.craigielawgolfclub.com www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 33

in association with

BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

PLANNING YOUR BREAK IN WALES

NAIRN DUNBAR

Highlands Designer: Unknown What to expect: A combination of links and parkland holes offer welcome variety and there’s plenty of length to test your driving too. If you stray from the fairways, there is gorse, heather and bushes of various descriptions waiting to swallow up your ball. Why it’s special: The small town of Nairn, which was a fabulous host for 2012’s Curtis Cup matches that were won by GB&I against the odds, boasts two outstanding courses. You must stay long enough in this lovely spot to experience both of them.

PORTHMADOG

North Wales Designer: Braid What to expect: A steady front nine of parkland and heathland golf followed by some sensational stuff among the dunes on the second half. The change in terrain is remarkable; walk past the clubhouse to the 10th tee and suddenly you are in truly magnificent golfing land. Why it’s special: The golf club is situated only a mile or so from Clough Williams Ellis’ worldfamous Italianate village at Portmeirion where TV series ‘The Prisoner’ was filmed.

PWLLHELI

North Wales Designers: Morris/Braid What to expect: A first-class links-parkland hybrid. Value is not part of our criteria so we mention Pwllheli’s outrageously good value (see below) for your information. Views over Cardigan Bay and Snowdonia are impressive, but this is about more than scenery; it is about astutely designed holes laid out over fabulous links terrain. Why it’s special: For this quality of course to be available for £34 in the summer and £17 in the winter seems too good to be true. But believe us – that is the case.

BAMBURGH CASTLE

Northumberland Designer: Rochester What to expect: A shortish but exhilarating examination where you don’t get to play a par 4 until the 5th. Few courses can match the unspoilt views – from the 14th tee you can enjoy the sea on three sides with unspoilt beaches, Holy Island and the eponymous castle. Why it’s special: There are par 4s and 5s to go at with plenty of chances for birdies but, to do so, shots need to be shaped and crafted. The pick of the short holes is the 8th where a rock can play havoc with your tee shot.

34 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

PWLLHELI (left), Porthmadog and North Wales (below) are three of many wonderful Welsh links in our Top 100 – and planning your trip to play them has never been easier. WelshGolfBreaks.Com work with all the clubs featured in our list and can offer packages to suit all budgets and preferences. Their programme is now 10 years old and they are seeing increasing numbers of golfers travelling to Wales – many booking with Welsh Golf Breaks. Wales has quality courses, fantastic value and a very warm welcome. They offer a superb bespoke service and a price-match guarantee that they will not be beaten. 01822 618148 or visit www.welshgolfbreaks.com

KILMARNOCK BARASSIE

Ayrshire Designer: Moon What to expect: Barassie has all the elements of classic links golf – but is a traditional and modest club that tends to stay away from the limelight. In recent years, nine new holes have been added so the club has 27 in total. No wow factor, just a rock-solid links. Why it’s special: Sandwiched amid the likes of Western Gailes, Irvine Bogside, Dundonald and Gailes, not to mention nearby Troon, you could easily miss Barassie. Don’t make that mistake – it’s a treat.

WEST KILBRIDE

Ayrshire Designers: Morris/Braid What to expect: Simple seaside fare which improves as the round progresses. The stretch on the back nine by the shore is top class, with all the best ingredients of links golf. Plus the friendliest members in this Top 100 list. Why it’s special: Because no-one really knows about it. For some reason – possibly because it is the most northerly of Ayrshire’s courses and a little bit detached from the rest – it is never spoken about along with the Irvines, Troons, Gailes and so on.

NORTH WALES

North Wales Designers: Cummins/Hilton What to expect: Determining this as holiday golf might be a little patronising but it is packed with entertainment and great views of Anglesey and the Snowdonia mountain range. You will also do well to find a better value day out. Why it’s special: It really comes to life as you enjoy the run along Conwy Bay from the 9th to the 11th but what will linger most are the back-to-back par 3s at 16 and 17 which criss-cross one another. They’re quirky, fun and, individually, two great holes.

Seascale Golf Club

Winter 2012/2013 Green Fee rates

Mon - Fri: Round £25.00 • Sat, Sun & B.H: Round £27.50

Late Start Deals - available from just £12.50 FourBall Special - £90 includes 18 holes, soup and sandwiches (Mon-Fri only) Both subject to availability and prior booking

Please call for details of all our special packages

Tel: 019467 28202 Sec - See website for details of our Winter Opens Email: seascalegolfclub@googlemail.com www.seascalegolfclub.co.uk

VISITORS WELCOME WINTER TICKET NOW AVAILABLE Contact the Secretary on

01294 275979

The Banks, Seascale, Cumbria CA20 1QL

Bamburgh Castle Golf Club The Wynding, Bamburgh, Northumberland NE69 7DE

WINTER GREENFEES CONTACT

Midweek - £30 round • £38 day Weekend - £35 round • £45 day

Secretary Michael Robinson For Special deals 01668 214321 see our website Clubhouse 01668 214378 Fax 01668 214607 Packages available for groups of 12 or more.

Website www.bamburghcastlegolfclub.co.uk email sec@bamburghcastlegolfclub.co.uk.

Nairn Dunbar Golf Club Championship Links Course

Clwb Golff Pwllheli (Pwllheli Golf Club)

Discounted golf available during the Winter months of December, January & February- from £40 per 4 ball, online booking available Group & Society bookings now being taken for 2013 Golf Road, Pwllheli, Gwynedd LL53 5PS Office: 01758 701 644 Pro: 01758 701 644 Email: admin@pwllheligolfclub.co.uk Web: www.clwbgolffpwllheli.com

www.welshgolfbreaks.com Experience golf, as it should be!

BOOK FOR 2013 BY 31ST DECEMBER AT 2012 PRICES! Check our website for Nairn Ticket details 2 Championship Courses at special rates

A fantastic 3 day, 2 night golf break to include golf at any three of the following courses: The Rolls of Monmouth, Woodlake Park, Monmouth, The Monmouthshire And choose from the following local hotels: The Punch House, Bistro Prego, The Kings Head Prices from £135 per person A fantastic 3 day, 2 night golf break to include golf at any three of these championship venues: Ashburnham, Machynys Peninsula, Pennard Links, Pyle & Kenfig, Southerndown, Royal Porthcawl (supplement payable for this course)

And choose from the following quality hotels: The Dragon Hotel, Stradley Park Hotel Prices from £220 per person

Call us today to discuss your golf break requirements. We will not be beaten on price and service.

www.nairndunbar.com

Telephone 01822 618 148 Website: www.welshgolfbreaks.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 35

Prestwick St Nicholas

Isle of Purbeck Golf Club

This true links course, which counts ‘Old’ Tom Morris as a founder member, was described by Henry Cotton as “a smaller edition of the best championship courses we possess”. The high quality of the course remains true today, evidenced by the Club having been invited to host various professional and amateur competitions and, in 2011, to co-host with Prestwick Golf Club, the Scottish Area Team Championship. Also, please contact us for information on the ‘Prestwick Pass’. See our website for a video of the course.

WINTER GREEN FEES £35

Winter Golf from Nov 1st 4 Ball for £100 inc morning coffee, bacon bap, 18 holes and a one plate meal after play. Tee off before 11am County Cards accepted please phone for details

Now available to book online at www.purbeckgolf.co.uk Check the website for special deals and Open details

Tel: 01292 477608 Fax: 01292 473900 e-mail: secretary@prestwickstnicholas.com website: www.prestwickstnicholas.com

Clubhouse now open to non-members for bar and restaurant meals

www.purbeckgolf.co.uk 01929 450354

Castletown Golf Links You are invited to play on a classical links with great views and a friendly welcome. Come and enjoy our revamped clubhouse as we look forward to hosting golfers from the main land and Ireland.

ES GREEN £F2E7

Winter 42 Summearc£kages

Special p bookings for group ERSHIP ND MEMB NON-ISL A 206 S FROM £ PACKAGE

Bookings can be made by contacting the pro shop on 01624 822211 or online at www.castletowngolflinks.com CA STLETOWN GOLF LINKS | FORT ISLAND | DERBYHAVEN | ISLE OF MAN | IM9 1UA

36 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

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BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

COLIN CALLANDER The essence of links golf – and my concerns that it is under threat T is sometimes said that Great Britain and America are two countries separated by a common language and one example of that is the different way people on opposite sides of the Atlantic refer to a links. American golfers are frequently guilty of using the words links and golf course interchangeably – as in Pebble Beach Links – whereas in the British Isles knowledgeable exponents of the royal and ancient game know the word links actually refers to a specific type of golf course and that true links are exceedingly rare. A few years ago two eminent golf magazine editors, Malcolm Campbell and George Peper, wrote an excellent book entitled ‘True Links’ in which they argued there were only 246 genuine links in the world. Most of those links were found in Scotland (84), Ireland (58) and England (53) but they also identified 15 in Wales, 14 in Continental Europe, nine in New Zealand, seven in Australia, five in North America and one in South Africa. Pebble Beach, it should be added, did not make the grade, and nor should it because it is a clifftop course and not a proper links. When it comes to defining what a true links is, most commentators settle for courses that are built on the rough land that ‘links’ the sea to the arable farmland further inland. It is an adequate definition but I prefer the elongated version found in The British Golf Museum in St Andrews, not least because it hints at the biggest threat facing many of our links today. This definition found at the Home of Golf describes links as those courses found on “a stretch of land near the coast….characterised by undulating terrain, often associated with dunes, infertile sandy soil and indigenous grasses as marram, sea lyme, and the fescues and bents which, when properly managed, produce the fine textured tight turf which links are famed.” True links golf, at its best, is, as Campbell and Peper describe it, “the game distilled to its core values”. It requires skill, an ability to withstand the elements and, above all else, imagination. As the famed British golf writer and TV

Baked fairway Classic links conditions at Hoylake, ‘06.

‘True links golf is the game distilled to its core values’ commentator, Henry Longhurst, said: “On every shot, whether a short pitch or a full drive, you must step back and say, ‘Wait a minute, what exactly do I want to do here?’” In a similar vein, the great Bobby Jones argued: “There is always some little favor (sic) of wind or terrain waiting for the man who had judgment enough to use it and there is a little feeling of triumph, a thrill that comes with the knowledge of having done a thing well when a puzzling hole has been conquered by something more than mechanical skill.” Links golf is all about playing the right shot at the right time, or at least it should be. Glance back at the definition of a links found within the walls of the Golf Museum at St Andrews and you will see that it includes the words “when properly managed”. That is an important proviso but, unfortunately, it has been increasingly ignored in recent years with the result that a sizeable

number of our classic links no longer play like traditional links at all. At the worst-affected of these links overwatering and over-fertilisation has resulted in the fescue and bent grasses which used to dominate the sward all but disappearing, replaced by the same annual meadow grass which infests too many of our inland courses. This, in turn, has dramatically altered the playing characteristics of the courses and all but nullified the need for shot-making. I would argue this is an extremely worrying development and needs to be addressed lest links golf in its purest form becomes endangered or at least confined to an even smaller number of coastal golfing outposts than it is at present. Put another way, American links aficionados should be ‘pissed’ at what is happening. Over here, with our different use of vocabulary, we should be very concerned indeed. In the meantime, I do hope you enjoy NCG’s Top 100 Links 2013.

• Colin Callander is a former editor of Golf Monthly and is a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Elie and Welwyn Garden City.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 37

HAYLING

GOLF CLUB HAMPSHIRE

No Winter Greens No Tee Mats No Preferred Lies No Mud

Hayling Golf Club offers a classic 129 year old Links course with tight fairway lies and pot hole bunkers protecting lightning fast Greens. Located on the picturesque Hampshire shoreline, surface water drains rapidly into the old shingle banks below; which means that in the depths of Winter the course is playable – even if you wear white shoes!

Over 100 years of collective experience resides with the highly qualified Greenstaff who passionately deliver a great course throughout the year. Whilst the adjacent Solent Water acts a huge storage radiator it sometimes gets chilly. That’s why the legendary warmth of the clubhouse is so welcoming. Designed in the Art Deco style of a 1930’s ocean liner, the clubhouse is amazingly only 10 years old and offers all the modern facilities – along with hot food at modest prices and served with a smile. When your course is closed or not playing well, just check the website diary on www.haylinggolf.co.uk then call Mark and David, the PGA Professionals, in the ProShop to find a good time to play. Call 02392 464491 or email haylinggcteebookings@hotmail.co.uk

HAYLING GOLF CLUB | LINKS LANE | HAYLING ISLAND | HAMPSHIRE | PO11 0BX

in association with

BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

SHERINGHAM

Norfolk Designer: Dunn What to expect: Sitting on the cliffs just to the north of this pleasant coastal town, get Sheringham on a clear day and you will be glad to be alive. Natural and rugged, the toughest holes are usually those beside the railway towards the end. It is a thrilling and exhilarating experience and should be on any itinerary of those playing in Norfolk. Why it’s special: Secluded to the point of isolation at the far end, sometimes the silence is only broken by the sound of an old steam train approaching.

ISLE OF PURBECK

Dorset Designer: Colt What to expect: High on the cliffs with views out to the Isle of Wight, this is holiday golf in its original form. But don’t mistake it for a stroll in the park – any Coltdesigned course will have plenty of clever little devices to make you work for your score. Why it’s special: Set on land once owned by the children’s author Enid Blyton and family, there is something timeless about the surroundings of bracken and gorse. And the views in every direction are spellbinding.

PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS

Ayrshire Designer: Hunter What to expect: Yes, the town of Prestwick has more than one fine seaside course. This traditional links, not especially long, has most of the elements you would expect from a top-class seaside Ayrshire course. The best holes come near the beginning and end. Why it’s special: Maybe visitors have relatively modest expectations when they come here so it is the element of pleasant surprise, but it seems that everyone who comes here loves the quality of the greens and genuine friendliness.

SEASCALE

Cumbria Designers: Campbell/Lowe What to expect: Links golf in a pure form, as it used to be in the early days of the game. Some bigname links claim to be minimalist – but Seascale genuinely is the real deal. No frills and no fuss, just cleverly designed holes offering great variety and turf which almost every course in the land would dearly love to own. Why it’s special: Co-hosted the English Amateur Championship in July this year with Silloth – deserved recognition for this hidden gem.

KILSPINDIE

East Lothian Designers: Ross/Sayers What to expect: Tucked between the villages of Gullane and Aberlady, Kilspindie is a quintessentially Scottish links experience. Play here on a summer’s evening for maximum enjoyment. Leave the driver in the car boot and enjoy the challenge of hitting short irons and wedges to fabulous greens. You can score well, but it is far from a given. Why it’s special: The woodpanelled clubhouse is ancient and unique and a series of short par 4s offer you the chance of a couple of heart-warming birdies.

HAYLING

IRVINE

Ayrshire Designers: Braid What to expect: An interesting combination of the quirky and the exacting. Some of our panel love it for the former – with some fabulous green complexes and blind shots – while others rated it for its stiff two-shotters. Why it’s special: The 4th, ‘The Moor’, is 289 yards so looks an easy birdie. Wrong. The West Coast railway line is out of bounds on the left and runs the full length of the hole. There are no bunkers but, as well as the train track, the River Irvine lies behind the plateau green which rejects anything short.

CASTLETOWN

Dorset Designer: Taylor/Simpson What to expect: This is an honest, unpolished and genuine links. Reconstructed in the 1930s, it now makes much better use of the many virtues of the land. Some panellists would have had it higher. Why it’s special: There are very few true links on England’s south coast (believe it or not , this and Rye are arguably the only two east of Devon) so Hayling should be treasured. And the art deco clubhouse is absolutely magnificent, offering fabulous views out to sea.

Isle of Man Designers: Old Tom Morris/Mackenzie Ross What to expect: Wild and rugged, Castletown is a thrilling place to play, especially on those holes adjacent to the water’s edge. Watch out for the drive on the 17th across the sea – there are shades of the 9th at Turnberry. Why it’s special: You will have to leave Great Britain to play it. The Isle of Man is technically not part of the UK either but if we didn’t include it here then where would we? It’s far too good not to be part of the debate. Under a new owner, it is set to make real progress.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 39

Goswick Links Golf Club

Play great links golf at the 1st Open Qualifying Course in the North East of England

The course measures a mean 6,803 yards from the medal tees, is rarely affected by the weather, and is playable all year round from dedicated tees to full greens. All this set in the most stunning Northumbrian coastal scenery, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

GROUP PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR 2013 Starting from £30. Conditions apply.

See website for details Goswick Golf Club, Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland TD15 2RW 01289 387256 Email: goswickgc@btconnect.com

www.goswicklinksgc.co.uk

ROYAL NORTH DEVON GOLF CLUB England’s oldest links golf club extends a friendly welcome

GREEN FEES Sunday - Thursday £55 Friday & Saturday £60 Twilight £30 - After 4pm

Membership available Full £620 Country from £265 Comfortable Clubhouse with lounge bar, dining room (full catering available), museum room and other amenities.

40 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

in association with

BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

HEADING FOR EAST LOTHIAN?

GOSWICK

Northumberland Designers: Braid/Pennink What to expect: England’s most northerly links sits between Newcastle and Edinburgh and sets a stern examination for all who visit. An Open qualifier, it unsurprisingly boasts superb views over the North Sea as well as to the Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle. Don’t underestimate it. Why it’s special: The north-east of England is not exactly blessed with links courses so to find the genuine article here is a real bonus. Consistently impressive from start to finish.

ST ANNES OLD LINKS

Lancashire Designers: Lowe/Herd What to expect: This is such an honest links. There is a lack of splendour on what is essentially a flat, box-shaped piece of land but it more than makes up for it with the quality of almost every hole. Why it’s special: The 9th, a famous par 3 set in the dunes, would not be out of place down the road at Royal Lytham. As a whole, this is a piece of linksland deserving of greater appreciation. Bobby Jones famously took measurements of it in 1926 to use in his own course design work.

ROYAL NORTH DEVON

Devon Designers: Old Tom Morris/Fowler What to expect: We’re still not sure if there is anywhere quite like Westward Ho! – at first glance a wide-open landscape with little in the way of definition. Only in time can you appreciate the different way most holes can be played. Why it’s special: The clubhouse, packed with memorabilia, is worth the visit alone. Then there are the drives over vast bunkers, woodenslatted bunkers, marshland and spiky grasses. It might appear simple, but it rarely is.

GLASGOW GAILES

Ayrshire Designer: Park Jr What to expect: A great driving course, with fairways lined by heather and gorse not to mention the railway line that is such a feature of Scotland’s west coast. Our panel vowed to get back here in 2013, for the feeling among some was that it could easily have been placed higher. Why it’s special: Gailes is a rare combination of links and heathland and offers yet another compelling reason to visit Ayrshire for your next golf trip. Classy and understated.

IT is well known that East Lothian is something of a links paradise. And any visit to the area should consider Musselburgh Old and Winterfield. Playing Musselburgh Links is to making a pilgrimage to the oldest course in the world. The course provides an experience like no other, and even allows players to hire hickory clubs for their round. The course is within close proximity to both Royal Musselburgh and Longniddry. Meanwhile, if you are heading towards Dunbar then be sure to stop at Winterfield. The course hugs the East Lothian coastline and managing the wind makes for a demanding yet thoroughly enjoyable round.

GULLANE NO 2

East Lothian Designers: Park/Pennink What to expect: There is very little difference in quality for the most part between this and the more celebrated No 1 – certainly the terrain and turf are the same. Some would say No 2 enjoys greater variety; it is certainly more scorable. Why it’s special: Gullane is a golfer’s paradise. You could argue, with some justification, that is every bit as special as St Andrews – it is certainly less commercial and less hassle. Play here and be transported back in time.

TAIN Highlands Designer: Old Tom

Morris What to expect: Lots of gorse and the occasional glimpse of the sea. The fairways are wider than they can look and if you can cope with the wind then decent scoring is not impossible. You also need to negotiate an unsual 1st – your approach is played over a fence! Why it’s special: As an Old Tom Morris design, you can expect outstanding use of the natural terrain and the occasional nod to the outrageous – which in this came comes with a blind wedge over dunes to the 11th green.

PYLE & KENFIG

South Wales Designer: Mackenzie Ross What to expect: A perfectly enjoyable front nine which is more parkland in nature – then a highoctane back nine of a quality found nowhere else outside of the most famous names in British and Irish golf. That is genuinely no exaggeration – it’s that good. Why it’s special: Views over the Bristol Channel, Gower Peninsula, Sker House and the Welsh Mountains can be drunk in – if you manage to pull yourself away from the challenge of feathering your ball between the dunes.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 41

in association with

BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

WHY WE LOVE LINKS... Five of the biggest names in the game explain their passion for seaside golf Tiger Woods “Links golf allows you to be creative. We play so much in the States where everything is up in the air. Over here, you get to use the ground as an ally and hit different shots. It is neat to hit bump and runs, and to putt from 50 yards off the green, and to hit 5 irons from 135 yards and run the ball in. “I wish we played more courses like this. It would be nice to see a Ryder Cup played on a real links course. The courses on the PGA Tour are virtually the same apart from the length of the rough. I think the players enjoy going back to the old-style courses like Oakmont and Congressional because we don’t get a chance to play venues like that much any more. “Coming over here just enhances how much I experiment. A lot of guys just get into a mode where they hit one normal shot all the time. If you are limited by that, when that one shot goes awry, you have no shots to go back on.”

Padraig Harrington “There’s a massive adjustment to links golf. I can’t explain to people the difference of hitting the golf ball, on links turf, beside the seaside. The

temperature is even a factor compared to playing golf on a sunny golf course in pristine condition, with the ball sitting up. With a 7 iron, with the same amount of wind, I’m not talking about a difference in wind, I’m talking about a difference in temperature, you’re talking about 30 yards in difference. And you have to adjust for that. It takes a while. It’s not always about what most people think about a traditional links golf course, which is being able to hit the ball low. At times you will have to do that. There is a varied amount of shots, but it’s just really getting used to chipping off the turf and controlling your distance off a different turf which we don’t play that often.”

opposed to the air. “That makes the misses less severe so I’ve really enjoyed learning a few shots off the tee. “I learned to love it probably around 2004 when my coach Dave Pelz and I spent some time working on those low shots and keeping it in play. “Earlier in my career, I was playing the ball in the air and letting the crosswinds take it – my poor record in the Open probably reflected that. “My performance at Sandwich (in 2011) helped my confidence. I had a point where I really enjoyed and appreciated the challenge of the bad weather. “I don’t know where that happened along the way, whether it was last year or five, 10 years ago. But I started to really enjoy the tough weather conditions.”

“It would be nice to see a Ryder Cup played on a real links course.” – Tiger Woods

Phil Mickelson “My mindset has really evolved over the last decade or two, since I’ve learned to get the ball on the ground quickly. That has made playing in the bad weather much easier because it means the ground affects the ball as

Ernie Els “I’ve always felt very comfortable on links courses and I remember when I first came over here in 1989 as an amateur and played in the Open at Royal Troon. It was love at first sight

you might say. I just found the whole experience very natural to my game – I could see the shots easily in my mind’s eye and playing shots in the wind felt almost like second nature. “You have to hit it solid on a links course and that’s always been a strong feature of my game. “I enjoyed feeling that links turf under my feet again and playing a mix of different shots into and around the greens. That’s always a lot of fun. “The Open Championship, is my favourite Major of the year. I’ve got a pretty nice record in it and that’s something that I think accurately reflects my love of links golf.”

Tom Watson “Playing links golf has always been — not always, but since about 1980 — a great pleasure to me. I nearly lost my ball with my first shot on a links but by 1980 I had learned to accept the bad bounces. If you don’t like something, you’re not going to do particularly well at it. And I was making too many excuses. You’ve got to learn to live with the bounce. “If you’re not playing well, that’s one thing. But don’t blame it on the golf course. Blame it on yourself. Play the golf course for what it gives you.”

JACK’S FAVOUR ITE “Muir field

is a very sp ecial place to m e. I have a great love for it. I think it’s th e best of the cours es on the Open rotatio n.

in association with

BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

WALLASEY

Merseyside Designer: Old Tom What to expect: A rugged, testing and, at times, jaw-dropping links, which was once home to Dr Frank Stableford – and is thus the birthplace of his scoring system. Duneland and some spectacular tees, most notably at the 4th, will live long in the memory. Why it’s special: The last four provide a quite superb climax. The short 16th is anything but while the next runs alongside the aforementioned 4th. The view back down the 18th from the clubhouse is one of the best anywhere in the UK.

SAUNTON (WEST)

Devon Designer: Pennink What to expect: Not as grand or bold as its sister course – few are. Instead, after an elevated opening drive played between two huge dunes, it becomes more subtle, though equally as inspiring. The West was only re-opened post-war as recently as 1974 though it was originally formed in 1897. Why it’s special: A treat all the way round but the short 16th and 18th deserve special mention. The first is the more scenic, played from on top of a hill while the latter is a classic finishing hole.

MONIFIETH

Angus Designers: Robertson/Pirie What to expect: The perfect summer evening venue. A generally flat, easy-walking links whose rippling fairways lead to seriously slick greens, some of which are enclosed by tall pines. Why it’s special: This is where Tom Watson encountered links golf for the first time. His debut blow? A fine drive up the middle – which he nearly conceded lost before discovering it in a bunker. It must have caught the edge of a mound and rebounded into sand; it was not quite love at first sight.

SEATON CAREW

Durham Designers: MacKenzie/Pennick What to expect: Rugged and by no means pretty, Seaton Carew offers much more than it initially promises. Set aside the industrial surroundings and you have a links of real pedigree. Some of our panel would have liked to see it placed a touch higher. Why it’s special: Not many realise good Seaton Carew is – many of the holes here would not be out of place some 80 miles or so north up the coast in East Lothian. Combine it with a trip to Goswick and you will be very happy.

44 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

PERRANPORTH

Cornwall Designer: Braid What to expect: Don’t expect to find any winter greens here, do expect to find some incredible putting surfaces and even better views of the North Cornwall coastline overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Not the very longest but oodles of fun to be had. Why it’s special: Each hole has been given a distinctive Cornish name and the original design has never been changed since James Braid laid it out in 1927. You will be in for a very early treat at the 2nd (Whym Wham) which weaves its way to a blind green.

LEVEN LINKS

Fife Designers: Unknown What to expect: The epitome of the minimalist links. Don’t expect thrills and spills, just straightforward seaside golf. They let the fairways get burnt here so, assuming we get a vaguely decent summer next year, head to Fife to drive your ball 300 yards down these scorched brown fairways. Pity the designer is unknown – he deserves credit for his work. Why it’s special: Two clubs, Leven Golfing Society and Leven Thistle Golf Club play over the historical links, which dates back to 1846.

LITTLESTONE

Kent Designers: Purves/ Braid/MacKenzie/Pennink/Steel/ Alliss What to expect: In the southeastern corner of England, this is a firm and fast links played across largely flat ground. As one of the driest areas in Britain, it excels in the winter, when the only real clue as to the time of year is in the temperature. Why it’s special: Littlestone finishes in some style, with the mighty 16th a tremendous dog-leg par 4 that rises to a table-top green and the next a par 3 that is easy on the eye.

BRORA

Highlands Designer: Braid What to expect: Some think a trip to the Highlands is made by a round at Brora, as opposed to Royal Dornoch, which says plenty. An out-and-back links which is laid out before you and which now boasts some first-class accommodation on site. Why it’s special: This typifies a place to take your friends for an unforgettable day. It might look like you can drive the 1st, or reach the par 5s or prosper on the shorts 4s, yet you rarely do. You will love the short holes, in particular the 9th at the far end of the course.

Lytham Green Drive Golf Club

Monifieth Golf Links

Medal Starter’s Box Princes Street, Monifieth, Angus DD5 4AW

Monifieth Medal Weekdays £55, Weekends £65 A unique challenge to golfers

The Ashludie Weekdays £25, Weekends £30 Offers golfers immense enjoyment

Winter Offers November 1st - March 31st 1 round of golf £15.00. Twilight Golf (every day after 2.00pm) Only £6.00

OFFER 1 WINTER GOLF WITH FOOD

OFFER 2 WINTER GOLF WITH FOOD

1 round of golf with coffee & bacon barm Only £18

1 round of golf with pie, peas & gravy Only £22 (min of 4 players)

Now taking Society Bookings for 2013 To book any of the above offers call 01253 737 390 Opt 4 e: secretary@lythamgreendrive.co.uk www.lythamgreendrive.co.uk

Golfer NATIONAL

CLUB

.COM

Proud to be celebrating our Centenary in 2013

Enquiries: 01382 532767 Email: Day package including a round of golf on each bookings@monifiethlinks.com course plus full catering £79 (Mon-Fri only) Online booking facility available via Winter rates apply until 31st March 2013 our website: www.monifiethgolf.co.uk Special online rates also available via our website

Littlestone Golf Club CHAMPIONSHIP QUALITY ALL YEAR ROUND

& LINKS

GOLF AT ITS VERY BEST

Looking for a venue for your winter golf day, winter membership or just a first class round of golf with friends this winter?

Look no further! www.littlestonegolfclub.org.uk Tel: 01797 363355 New Romney | Kent | TN28 8RB

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 45

TENBY GOLF CLUB WINTER OFFERS

Society Golf from £23.00 Play and Stay in our Dormy House from £65.00 inc b+b and 2 rounds of golf! Enjoy a superb winter golf break on a Rolex World Ranked Course. No trolley bans, no temporary greens. 5 minutes from Tenby town centre

Tel 01834 844447/842978 www.tenbygolf.co.uk 46 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

in association with

BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

LUNDIN

Fife Designer: Braid What to expect: Once part of the same course along with neighbouring Leven, the two are now separated by a low stone wall. Half the holes are on the flat, lower piece of land with the remainder climbing on to a plateau. Why it’s special: In the opening and closing stretches the pure linksland is intersected by little burns and ripples that demand you play with foresight and precision. It is easy to think golf in Fife begins and ends in St Andrews but in fact there’s much more to enjoy.

PANMURE

Angus Designer: Braid What to expect: Sitting next door to Carnoustie, you won’t be surprised to learn Panmure is of a similar ilk; linksy turf, rippling fairways and pot bunkers, but also gorse, bushes and mature trees. The 6th, ‘Hogan’ (see below) is a truly magnificent golf hole. Why it’s special: Ben Hogan, an intensely private man, warmed up for his legendary Open win in 1953 here, away from the crowds and hype of Carnoustie. He spent two weeks getting used to the smaller British ball and the tight links turf.

TENBY

South Wales Designer: Braid What to expect: Old-fashioned seaside golf alongside an oldfashioned seaside town. Sometimes flat and sometimes uneven, the ground is perfectly suited to running shots. Indeed, Tenby can get running nice and fast when we get a halfway decent summer. Why it’s special: The opening stretch is sensationally good – as long as you like blind holes and surprises. We find that kind of thing absolutely brilliant fun – hence this placing on the verge of the top 60. The green site at the 3rd is especially memorable.

PRINCE’S

Kent Designers: Hutchings/ Lucas/Campbell/Morrison What to expect: A former Open Championship venue with three nines – Shore, Dunes and Himalayas. If time doesn’t allow all three, be sure to tackle the first two. Recent improvements have really polished this Kent jewel which runs alongside Sandwich. Why it’s special: We love the Dunes and, should you start here, its opening hole requires a radarlike long iron to find the green. Things get no less interesting but certainly more scoreable as the nine progresses.

CONWY

Caernarvonshire Designers: Harris/Pennink What to expect: A solid if unspectacular links which will require you to use every club in the bag with skill in order to maintain a tidy scorecard. Laid out in the shadow of Conwy Mountain, many holes overlook the estuary towards Llandudno and Anglesey. A modest end but otherwise top notch. Why it’s special: Douglas Adams’ three paintings from 1893 – ‘Difficult Bunker’, ‘The Putting Green’ and ‘The Drive’ – are all based on the links at Conwy.

MONTROSE

Angus Designers: Morris/Park What to expect: Heaps of history and heaps of fun. Golf has been played here for 450 years and it is thus one of the seminal links golf experiences. A modest, uphill opener gives rise to a run of classic seaside holes starting with an elevated tee shot onto the 2nd’s gorgeous rippling fairway and a brilliant par 3 to a table-top green. Why it’s special: The fifth-oldest course in the world has three clubs based on its links: Montrose Caledonia, Montrose Mercantile and Royal Montrose.

ARCHERFIELD (DIRLETON)

East Lothian Designer: Russell What to expect: Although the sea is only rarely in view, the Dirleton is set up to be a links in character, with outcrops of gorse often separating one hole from the next. The greens are large, quick and far from level in places. A fine complement to its woodland-links sister, the Fidra. Why it’s special: There is the feel of luxury and class at Archerfield, and especially when the Dirleton opens out to offer views of the golfing paradise that is the East Lothian coastline.

PENNARD

South Wales Designers: Braid/Cotton What to expect: James Braid once declared he had never seen a better piece of natural land for a course. Don’t expect flat lies and a day of smashing your driver, rather form a plan and plot your angles around this stunning layout. Why it’s special: With incredible views of the sandy beaches of Three Cliff and Oxwich Bays, the ruins of an 11th-century castle, grazing cattle and some thrilling topography a game here will really thrill the senses. The 16th and 17th are wonderful.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 47

in association with

IS LINKS GOLF THE BEST? NCG’ST GREATE DEBA

NCG’s editor and deputy editor try to argue about the relative merits of links golf... but for once they end up agreeing

YES AS a junior brought up in Leeds on a staple diet of parkland, the rare experience of a seaside course was as intimidating as it was exotic. On the one hand, my scuttling 5 woods that never got more than a yard off the ground were suddenly a more potent weapon, bounding along the unyielding Ayrshire fairways of Kilmarnock Barassie, the venue of my firstever links experience. On the other, trying to hit a tee shot as the wind whistled into us, only to top it into the nearest gorse bush or watch as it was

Links golf is the original and best form, says Dan Murphy

carried away into some foot-long scrub was hard work. I can still remember making the occasional par in the midst of double and treble bogeys – and how fulfilling it was to play one of these holes something approaching properly. Over 20 years on, I feel exactly the same. There is no greater satisfaction than playing a single shot, a hole or better still an entire round on a links course something like competently. It gives me a sense, however briefly, of what it is to be a proper golfer. You have to cope with the elements and being out of your comfort zone, and deal

48 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

with adversity. Most of all, you must have a plan. The game is infinitely richer when it is played along the ground, when there is an element of judging where to pitch your shots and how to flight them. If the ball stops where it lands, what difference does it matter if your shot is played over a bunker or a water hazard? Very little. But if coming in from the left side of the fairway means it is almost impossible to access a front-left pin set behind a bunker, then there is a premium on driving position. Fairways can be wider, there is

no need for heavy rough and yet there is actually more of a reward for driving accurately. The game is three-dimensional. On a 350-yard links dogleg, from the tee you need to judge not only what line to choose, but also how far to hit it. All golf is good. This is not a stance against inland golf. (Indeed, heathland golf is based on the same, running basis as links golf.) But give me the whiff of a sea breeze, a bare lie and a raised green and I'll happily devote the remainder of my days attempting to solve the conundrum.

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HAVE YOUR SAY: Tell us your views by writing to the address on p4 or by emailing letters@sportspub.co.uk

YES DURING my most recent round of golf I came across three signs before completing the 1st hole – one about raking the bunkers, the one about the USGA pitchmark survey and some directions for the path my trolley needed to follow. All of these are perfectly acceptable of course and we are all as intolerant as each other when it comes to the condition of our home club. Yet what most of us really, really get off on is a rugged, unkempt links where little, on the surface, is perfect. We have to contend with clusters of thick rough, unplayable

says Mark Townsend – I can’t really argue with that

lies in sand and balls careering off at 45˚ into clusters of thick rough and unplayable lies in sand. With the wind up we then see our putts run merrily on, off the other side of the green or simply return to our feet. Yet, bizarrely, this is what makes it so special. It’s not perfect but it is. My favourite walk anywhere in the world is from the 2nd green to the 3rd tee at Royal Dornoch. As walks go it’s not the longest, maybe 40 yards at the most, but, at the end of it, comes a sight like few others. Suddenly the course is unveiled – holes are

flanked by blazing gorse, bunkers stand out like beacons while a sandy beach divides the links from the Dornoch Firth. This, to me, is perfection. Personally, I find one of links golf’s special charms is the necessity to keep the ball down. Or, in layman’s terms, putt from anywhere and everywhere. If you are unable to chip you will prosper in this arena more than any other. There is always a way of getting from A to B and, if you are able to solve the riddle, there are few things as satisfying. Likewise when your drive

catches the wind to hurtle it forward another 50 yards, or your wayward approach catches a slope and dribbles down to six feet, or when a putt, somehow, across a green measuring 40 yards, disappears underground. And there are shots that you are incapable of playing, for some a chip from a bare lie over trouble, an escape from a six-foot-deep bunker or trying to get up in two on a shortish par 4 into a howling wind. Here we can marvel at how good the really good players are and merely giggle at our own inadequacies.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 49

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BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

IDYLLIC RETREAT FOR HIGHLANDS

GOLSPIE

Highlands Designer: Braid What to expect: A highly unusual, if not unique, blend of links, parkland and heathland. The holes that run parallel to the sea on the front nine are outstanding, but the ones that follow as the course heads inland to the turn are arguably even better. Not totally linksy, not totally heathland in style – just a remarkable and delightful mixture. Why it’s special: At Golspie the character of the course changes often and this gives it a rare old charm at what is one of the most humble clubs in our list.

DUNBAR

East Lothian Designers: Old Tom What to expect: The first three, played across an old deer park, give little guide of what is to follow. All but the last are then sitauted on a classic, narrow piece of links land sandwiched between a stone wall and the coastline. Why it’s special: Not the longest but still plenty good enough to host Local Final Qualifying for Muirfield next year. The beauty is the natural feel and flow to Dunbar, which takes advantage of some fascinating contours. Interestingly, it hosted the PGA Championship in 1968.

TREVOSE

Cornwall Designers: Colt/Campbell What to expect: A coastal course on a grand setting – Trevose stretches to well over 7,000 yards from the back tees. A fantastic base for a holiday, there is something in the air that makes you delighted to be here. Trevose offers a beguiling mixture of clifftop and links golf which is always memorable. Why it’s special: The par-5 4th shows Trevose as its very best – straddling sand hills to access a hidden green by the beach where you can hear, see and taste the ocean. Thrilling stuff.

MORAY (OLD)

Moray Designer: Old Tom What to expect: Fantastic greens, rippled fairways and fast-running conditions, as well as plenty of gorse. If you wanted to provide an example of pure links golf, you could hardly do better than coming here. Why it’s special: There are shades of the R&A’s headquarters in St Andrews about the clubhouse here that provides a fitting backdrop to an outstanding closing hole played to a large raised green. Stay at Skerries, hop over the wall at dawn and be back for breakfast – mornings do not come any better.

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TO play Moray (below) as well as Nairn, Fortrose & Rosemarkie and Castle Stuart, base yourself at Sandown House. It has received a VisitScotland five-star rating – one of only three guest houses in the Highlands to achieve such a standard. This luxurious fivebedroom Nairn retreat has undergone an ambitious redevelopment plan and was named Scotland’s Best Guest House at the Golf Tourism Scotland Gold Standard Awards. According to VisitScotland, Sandown House is one of only three guest houses in the Highlands and 22 across Scotland to have received the five-star commendation. For further information visit www.sandownhouse.com

ST ANDREWS (CASTLE)

Fife Designer: David McLay Kidd What to expect: A championship links for the new Millennium. McLay Kidd admits he pushed the envelope on this design, so keen was he to reward the St Andrews Links Trust’s faith in him with a spectacular layout. It is certainly that, and with the more acute slopes on some greens softened off in recent years it has become more playable. Why it’s special: It is the first championship course to be designed in St Andrews for over 100 years.

MURCAR

Aberdeenshire Designer: Simpson/Braid/Webster What to expect: Bordering Royal Aberdeen, Murcar has much to recommend it. Tight in places from the tee, it is a links that rewards accuracy and precision throughout. Some can be a trifle bemused by Murcar but any discerning linksman will know when to attack and when to play safe between and over the dunes. Why it’s special: The run alongside the sea that begins with the par-5 4th, played to a plateau green, is as good a stretch as you could wish to see.

ASHBURNHAM

South Wales Designers: Taylor/Hawtree/Cotton What to expect: A surprise. Ashburnham is not as fashionable these days as it was back in the 1960s when professional events were held here but visitors are rewarded with an authentic links experience of real quality. Why it’s special: Get to the turn and you begin a stretch running alongside the beach of drama and excitement – this is the Ash, as the locals affectionately call it, at its best. A modest start and finish should not disguise the high level of quality in between.

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BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

SOUTHERNESS

Dumfries & Galloway Designer: Mack Ross What to expect: An honest, generally unspectacular links whose quality increases to a high level down the stretch. Heather, gorse and pot bunkers mean it is plenty exacting enough to test elite amateurs in the Scottish Amateur and British Boys. Why it’s special: There are no enormous dunes to be wowed by, but there are pleasing panoramic views of the Solway Firth, the Lake District and the Galloway Hills. The scrunch as you tread the white-shell paths is also strangely enjoyable.

ROYAL ST DAVID’S

North Wales Designers: Finch-Hatton/More What to expect: A stingy and entirely misleading par of 68 might fool you into thinking Harlech is something other than a championship course of great stature. In fact it is supremely testing throughout. Why it’s special: The setting in the shadow of Harlech Castle – which sits up on the hill – is dramatic, unique and inspiring. The 15th is arguably the best par 4 in all of Wales, twisting through the dunes to a hidden, sunken green.

ARCHERFIELD (FIDRA)

East Lothian Designer: Russell What to expect: One of the latest additions to the riches of golf in East Lothian, having been opened as recently as 2004. But, it is said, Mary Queen of Scots once tackled its original six holes. Nowadays, with a nice slice of irony, it hosts the Ladies’ Scottish Open. Why it’s special: A wonderful mix of a picture-postcard front nine which runs between the pines before a more traditional links stretch coming home. Upturned greens and large waste bunkers make the short holes the toughest.

ST ANDREWS (JUBILEE)

Fife Designers: Angus/ Auchterlonie/Steel What to expect: Recently improved and extended by Donald Steel, the locals reckon the Jubilee is the most complete test in St Andrews. The fairways are flatter than on the Old, but there is more in the way of dunes lining them. Some – many in fact – suggest it is also the most exacting. Why it’s special: Most visitors to St Andrews do not even realise it is there. Yet here is a 7,000-yard links without a single weak hole. How bizarre.

SEACROFT

THE MACHRIE

Lincolnshire Designer: Fernie/Campbell What to expect: To be impressed. Despite the quality of this eastcoast links, it is almost unheard of beyond the immediate area. Just outside Skegness, it might not be the first place you would think of visiting but if you do so you surely won’t regret it. Why it’s special: The front nine goes out, largely on one side of a spine of dunes, and the back nine returns on the opposite side. Sometimes links courses are the embodiment of simplicity. This is an excellent example.

RENAISSANCE

East Lothian Designer: Tom Doak What to expect: The architect is a student of the game so he was hardly likely to waste this special opportunity. It begins with treelined, inland-style holes and then moves to a spectacular clifftop location. Why it’s special: Sandwiched between Muirfield on one side and Archerfield on the other, which in turn borders North Berwick, this is arguably the world’s finest stretch of golfing coastline – and all within easy reach of Edinburgh. The Renaissance is a new addition to its brilliant portfolio.

Isle of Islay Designers: Campbell What to expect: The archetypal quirky links experience. It is a course that was tended to by rabbits and sheep in the early days – and it remains delightfully minimalist in presentation. This gorgeous seaside course on the remote Isle of Islay off the west coast of Scotland is well worth the journey. Why it’s special: The drive off the 7th tee is awesome, asking you to clear a huge dune which seems 100ft high and too close to you to ensure the required elevation. Great fun.

MACHRIHANISH

Argyll Designers: Old Tom What to expect: A taste of golfing history. Old Tom got the boat over to Machrihanish in 1879 and did not take long to lay out the course which exists today, so conducive was the land to hosting a golf course. The holes towards the end of the front nine are awesome. Why it’s special: The 1st, ‘Battery’, is well known to be a sensational opener played over the edge of the beach but there are many more classic holes – we love the gloriously named back-to-back two shotters at the 5th, ‘Punchbowl’, and 6th, ‘Balaclava’.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 53

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BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

GULLANE NO 1

East Lothian Designer: Unknown What to expect: The original attraction of a tiny town that revolves around golf, No 1 quickly climbs – more so than perhaps any other comparable links – away from the clubhouse. It is a consistently stringent test. Why it’s special: Just stand on the 7th tee and look around you. Bernard Darwin called it the finest view in golf and it’s hard to argue. Play your way back down Gullane Hill and then settle in at the Old Clubhouse for the evening. Call in at Archie Baird’s Heritage of Golf Museum next to the pro shop, too.

RYE

Kent Designers: Colt/Simpson/Campbell What to expect: Tradition, idiosyncrasies and timeless style – and that’s just the clubhouse. Rye is a law unto itself but if you arrive with the right attitude then you will find this Kent links irresistible. It is the ‘one course for the rest of his life’ for former Walker Cup player and Sky Sports commentator Bruce Critchley. Why it’s special: The sleepered bunkers have both charm and menace while a couple of the short holes are simply classics. Some of the panel would have had it top 30.

MACHRIHANISH DUNES

Argyll Designer: McLay Kidd What to expect: A natural seaside course. Celebrated designer McLay Kidd (who holidayed on Machrihanish beach as a child) insists he did not have much to do to create this wonderful links – Mother Nature had done almost all the work for him. Magical. Why it’s special: Mach Dunes’ owners have refurbished the Ugadale Hotel opposite the 1st tee of Mach Old as well as the Royal Hotel in nearby Campbeltown, creating the possibility of a wonderful golf break.

ABERDOVEY

North Wales Designers: Fowler/Colt/Braid What to expect: The clubhouse is alongside the railway station which tells you the history of this muchloved Welsh links, a favoured holiday spot dating back back to the 19th century. It arguably offers the most spectacular holes in Welsh golf and visitors rarely return from this coastal outpost anything other than satisfied. Why it’s special: Packed with one-off holes, the pick might just be the short par-4 16th, drivable yet fraught with danger, not least from the ubiquitous railway.

BURNHAM & BERROW

Somerset Designers: Fowler/Alison/ Hilton/MacKenzie/Colt What to expect: All but five holes are played amid dramatic duneland but by and large you can see where you are going on this exceptional links which has hosted the English Amateur six times. Be sure to assess where to ‘miss’ your approach unless you possess a demon short game. Why it’s special: The opportunity is there to prosper on the front nine, the idea to then hold on from the marvellous 12th onwards, which begins a fabulous finale.

DUNDONALD

Ayrshire Designer: Phillips What to expect: Like many of the great Ayrshire links (Turnberry being the exception), Dundonald will not seduce you with its vista, but take the holes at face value and you have a supreme modern layout. Kyle Phillips is especially proud of what he created here and it is a shame it has not been shown to a wider audience. Owned by Loch Lomond, but you can play it. Why it’s special: There is an honesty about Dundonald that is endearing and makes it a course that grows on you. It is packed with strong holes.

LUFFNESS

East Lothian Designer: Old Tom What to expect: Next door to the three Gullane courses, Luffness arguably occupies a better piece of golfing land, being flatter and more consistent for the most part. Yet strangely it is rarely spoken of in reverential tones. It ought to be, for after a modest beginning there is some high-class fare to be savoured at this traditional club. Why it’s special: The real joy of Luffness is that it looks and feels like Muirfield while being that little bit shorter and less punishing. Walkable from Gullane town centre too.

SOUTHPORT & AINSDALE

Lancashire Designer: Braid What to expect: This two-time Ryder Cup venue remains a host for Open qualifying and is another jewel in the North West coastline. It begins with a par 3 in front of the clubhouse and the variety, in terms of strategy and nature, continues throughout. Why it’s special: The par-5 16th, which runs alongside Hillside, will likely dominate your post-round chat. Known as ‘Gumbleys’, it requires an approach over a bank of sleepers. Our favourite hole comes at the next.

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I REALLY

WISH I HADN’T... It isn’t all heavenly sunsets and deft chip and runs to a couple of feet. Dan Murphy recalls some of the trials and tribulations of playing GB&I’s finest links over the past decade

2002, East Lothian ...promised my editor a game at North Berwick in the week of the Muirfield Open So there I was, a week into the job, at Muirfield to cover the Open. I’d gone up early to report on final qualifying (then played over the preceding weekend). Next thing I know, my editor was tasking me with organising a game for the Tuesday evening. North Berwick, I suggested, with precisely no idea how to make it happen. We ended up playing Gullane 2 that evening. And I felt I had surpassed myself by pulling that off.

2009, Arran ...missed a ferry and still failed to play Shiskine We were on a family holiday to the Kintrye Peninsula when a day trip across to the Isle of Arran was suggested. We took a huge detour to see 12-hole Shiskine, on the west coast. There was just time to

wander on to the final green and survey the view before reluctantly leaving to catch the ferry. Apart from it turns out there wasn’t really time... and the ferry was moving gently across the water by the time we pulled into the harbour.

2004, Moray Firth ...tried to play 54 holes in a day This was my first visit to the Highlands, it was late May and we were trying to drink in as much as possible. When we studied our itinerary of 36 holes a day multplied by four, we were pleased. Then we realised that Nairn, unforgivably, had been omitted. A few phone calls later and it was all sorted: Moray (Old) at 0645, Nairn Dunbar at 1100 and Nairn at 1600. Michael Corstorphine, the secretary, had to buggy us out to the 5th tee, some way down the coast, to ensure we were well clear of a singles match

56 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

behind. The consequence of which was that, once we had finished our 54th hole of the day, we had to walk (more like hobble) a mile back to the clubhouse. We slept well that night.

2008, North-east Scotland ...underestimated the drive between Nairn and Cruden Bay This has happened a lot, but never quite as badly. On a map, it doesn’t look that far from Inverness to Aberdeen. It’s actually about a three-hour drive. Which is not really what you want after 36 holes at Nairn in a stiff breeze. It’s a beautiful drive cross-country through Elgin. Just not in the circumstances.

2006, Suffolk ...played a second 18 of the day in a brutal March easterly East Anglia is my favourite destination for a winter golf trip – in my experience, the coastal

courses are sand-based, it’s dry and you rarely have lingering snow. Which is not to say it’s to be confused with playing in Spain. On this day, an easterly of easterlies was ripping across Felixstowe Ferry, not exactly a sheltered spot, and it just got colder and windier as the day went on. The morning round was bearable but going out again was a mistake. I never stopped shivering and barely made a par. I was still cold the following morning.

2003, Kent ...run out of daylight at Royal Cinque Ports It’s the Open at Royal St George’s and we have secured a late-evening booking next door at Deal. Unfortunately, we’re not the only ones to have had the idea. We spend the best part of an hour on the 1st tee and the course is packed. There’s no chance of cutting on to the back nine so we

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Royal Cinque Ports In a good deal more daylight than we finished in

just keep going. Then the sun goes down and we are on the 11th, over two miles from the clubhouse. Then it gets dark, 10 minutes later, and we are on the 12th, about two miles from the clubhouse.

2004, West of Ireland ...arranged to stay at Adare Manor with a dawn tee time at Lahinch Don’t ask how it happened (basically a sheer greediness to play more links golf). Long story short, we had a drive of at least two hours to make a tee time of 0645, or else follow a coach-load of Americans round Lahinch, which wasn’t terribly appealing. ...and Tralee that afternoon... And anyway, we were supposed to be at Tralee by early afternoon so we had to be off Lahinch by 10.30. That’s another decent drive away. Especially when you don’t realise that the way to getfrom Clare to

Kerry is by a ferry, and so you add about 60 miles to your journey. ...in a storm It would all have been fine (well, a bit less ridiculous anyway), apart from we played Lahinch in a storm. Leading to an impromptu laundry being set up in the back of our car in a bid to get our kit dry before reaching Tralee. That day was the ultimate waterproof test – and I have never been more pleased, before or since, to own a Galvin Green suit and hat. My colleague was sadly less fortunate.

2005, The length of Britain ...arranged to play in Kent on Monday and Cruden Bay on Friday It wasn’t really my fault. I had a long-arranged trip up to Aberdeen in the diary then, at short notice, I was invited to Deal, which you shouldn’t ever turn down. It didn’t really occur to me until after we

had finished at Cruden that a long golfing week had begun a good 600 miles further south.

2008, Islay ...squeezed in 36 holes at The Machrie with a dinner appointment at Turnberry The weather was perfect and the company good. So it seemed a pity not to make the most of a visit to the outpost of The Machrie, on Islay. Unfortunately it meant almost running round in the afternoon then jumping straight on a boat back to Troon for the two-and-a-half hour trip back to Troon. A few beers while enjoying the views of Arran and Ailsa Craig on the way back and I was a) falling asleep in my dinner and b) sporting a severe bout of sunburn.

2004, Ayrshire ...failed to explained myself clearly to the office at Troon We thought we were there to play

that year’s Open venue as preparation for a feature in our next issue. They thought we wanted to know the infrastructure arrangements in the case of a mass evacuation during the championship and the minutiae of the greenkeeping operation. I spent an hour poring over aerial maps while my colleague took notes on the mechanics of bunker raking. It wasn’t exactly what we had in mind. But at least we were then let loose on the links, and soon we had long forgotten about the travails which had gone before.

2002-onwards ...ever turned down an opportunity to play links golf The truth is, I don’t regret any of the above. It has been a pleasure to play by the seaside over the last 10 years and I am extremely lucky to have had the repeated privilege of tackling Britain’s finest courses. I will never take it for granted.

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BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

SILLOTH ON SOLWAY

Cumbria Designers: Grant/Vardon/ Taylor/Braid What to expect: A proper championship links. Silloth might not have an enormous reputation, but that is not because it is a ‘fun’ seaside course – she is only fun if you can tame her. No, this underexposure owes more to its remote location on Cumbria’s west coast. It plays a lot longer than its 6,641 yards; the wind can be a brute. Why it’s special: Just look at the list of men who have shaped Silloth – the unheralded Davy Grant is in good company!

CASTLE STUART

Highlands Designers: Gil Hanse What to expect: A clifftop course with a links feel, this new venture is the work of Kingbarns mastermind Mark Parsinen and designer-of-the-moment Gil Hanse. They have created a course where you can drive it wildly and still score well if your approach shots and short game are sharp. Why it’s special: ‘Eyebrows’ surround many greens, upturned pieces of turf which mean you cannot constantly putt onto greens and have to trust your chipping. A great idea, if you like chipping.

HUNSTANTON

Norfolk Designers: Fernie/Braid/Sherlock What to expect: Hunstanton is endearing, homely and distinguished. It manages to be an out-and-back links where you never play more than a couple of holes in the same direction. Why it’s special: This is a great place to be and it mixes the unusual with the straightforward, and the outrageous with the honest, beautifully. The magnificent last four holes sum this up perfectly. We are big fans of heading to Norfolk for an earlyseason golf trip.

FORMBY

Southport Designers: Park/Braid What to expect: Links golf, but not as you know it. Formby is part of the Southport glitterati but has its own distinct character, with trees playing a part in almost every hole. This is especially true towards the end of the front nine, the holes weaving between tall pines which offer enough seclusion to allow the 6th, 7th and 8th to be laid out parallel to each other. Why it’s special: The course plays around Formby Ladies course, which sits right in the middle of the main track. A stellar host to the 2005 Curtis Cup.

ROYAL CINQUE PORTS

Kent Designers: Hunter/Braid/ Campbell What to expect: A slow start with a modest 1st hole but after that it’s consistently entertaining – and at times outrageous on the back nine. Some brilliant green complexes make this an unforgettable test. Why it’s special: Following recent programme of improvements to both the layout and the presentation, few links present a better, truer definition of what the game in its seaside form is all about. Expect quick, brown fairways.

ST ANDREWS (NEW)

Fife Designers: Old Tom /Hall Blyth What to expect: Flanking the Old Course (the New is to your right on the way out) yet entirely different in character, the New possesses little of the whimsy but rather more in the way of honesty. And the greens are often the best in the town. Why it’s special: The New makes clear what is required on first encounter, making it a classy and sober test. Just like the Jubliee it is criminally under-appreciated by the wider golfing public – but not by the locals.

WEST LANCASHIRE

Merseyside Designers: Cotton/Hawtree What to expect: A host for Open Final Qualifying and often the toughest of the lot. Only one of the par 4s, the 18th, plays dead straight while the others wind merrily left and right, their angles defined by steep-faced bunkers. The oldest club in the country. Why it’s special: If anywhere merits the description of ‘good, honest links golf’ it is West Lancs. It might lack a touch of the spectacular but the back tee on the 13th would suggest otherwise. A star among a lot of big names.

WESTERN GAILES

Ayrshire Designers: F Morris/F Hawtree What to expect: Laid out in a figure of eight, Western Gailes has the railway running down one boundary and and the ocean on the other. This is links golf at its very best – and the back nine is a beast in a wind. You won’t be disappointed by Western Gailes. Why it’s special: What a test. Depending on the wind, and it’s usually a westerly, the 17th is one of the hardest par 4s you will ever tackle, while the short 6th is just pretty, its green in hollows at the base of the dunes.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 59

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BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS WHAT MAKES A LINKS?

year. I played on a links one January where they were using temporary tees and I asked them why and they said to preserve the proper tees. I asked them what they were saving it for and told them: this is your time.”

“The best definition I ever heard was from a book in the 1950s on the links courses of Great Britain and Ireland and it talked about ‘the sandy deposits that link the beach to the soil’. “Now, this can come about from either receding seas or by being among the sand dunes. “Originally, people said they were ‘going to the links’ and it was nothing to do with golf at that stage. “I guess how far inland or above sea level a course can be and still be a links depends on how far in or up the sand could be blown. “Whether it’s a poor links or a good links is another question but if it is links land then there’s your answer. Modern machinery can help a great deal but doesn’t fundamentally change whether somewhere is a links or not. “Nature can’t be put into a box and a ribbon put round it.”

YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR MODERN IRISH LINKS?

YOUR FAVOURITE LINKS IN BRITAIN? “Can you give me three? Birkdale, Turnberry (right) and Muirfield. They’ve got lots of sand. They are beautifully presented for golf, nicely defined and they encourage you to play good golf. “And St Andrews, that’s a place that makes us cry. “They are clearly set up. Definition is the key. I like a course with definition. It’s the same with art. I don’t like pale, washed-out colours and blurred lines. You need to be able to see the penalties and also the rewards. “There’s too much talk of the penalties these days, we’re all cry babies. I prefer to look at the rewards and the sense of achievement, but you can’t have that without some penalties for failure.”

HOW DO YOU VIEW BLIND SHOTS? “Blind shots are OK in moderation, like everything else. I don’t think they necessarily fit well in this day and age. The game is expensive the days and we do so much more travelling. People only play courses once. They don’t like hitting at a post and finding their ball in a bunker or some rough. “It’s wonderful for those of us

An audience

WITH RUDDY Pat Ruddy owns The European and designed many of Ireland’s modern classics. His views on

links golf are pure gold dust who know. The experience of rushing, if you’re young enough – to the top of the hill to find out where your ball has finished. Did it roll on to the green or fall into the bunker? “You need a variety. The people who make boxes of chocolates offer you a selection. When you go to a restaurant you are presented with a menu.”

ARE LINKS THE BEST FORM OF THE GAME? “I like all types of golf but I don’t enjoy it so much when it’s wet and my ball plugs when it lands. I don’t like finishing my round with my shoes covered in mud and my trousers muddy up to my knees. “At this time of year it is the time for the linksmen to rejoice; you can play all 12 months of the

Sandy Hills at Rosapenna is a giant and truly lovely new links. This moves over and through the great dunes which the Old Masters chose to ignore, perhaps because of the lack of capital and machinery, and presents numerous Hallelujah moments, the chief of which is the view of ocean and mountain and golf as one crests the fairway on the 6th. Ballyliffin is another miracle of the age. It has an ‘old links’ dating from the 1940s and the new Glashedy links. Six lovely new holes were created on the old (7th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th) to allow the Glashedy to get out from the clubhouse into the vast dunes beyond with gratifying results. The Glashedy is a thoroughly modern links devoid of blindness but with the same dunes turbulence and scenery as Royal County Down and Ballybunion but with the added benefit of intensive attention to the demands of the modern game. There is nothing dated here and the wise selection of tees will give every golfer a great experience.

WHAT ABOUT A HIDDEN GEM? Portsalon was a charming throwback to a bygone age when I was called in by the club in the early 90s. Criss-cross holes, some blind, which worked well in the quiet old days had to go to cater for busier times and the links needed to be stretched from less than 6,000 yards to just under 7,000 yards. Twelve new holes were created in the process and one of the big talking points concerns two new double greens. Murvagh (Donegal) was designed by the late Eddie Hackett but needed updating and the club has been proactive in this regard since 1992 in which time we have redesigned holes 1, 2, 4, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 18. This is now a true oasis of golfing splendour.

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TRUMP

Aberdeenshire Designer: M Hawtree What to expect: As good a piece of land as exists anywhere in the British Isles as a canvas. It is (very) early days yet, but presuming the turf and grasses develop as they surely will, this course is only heading in one direction. Why it’s special: The sheer scale. So many links courses are compromised by the dimensions of the land but there are no such problems here. At least half the holes are show-stoppers in their own right.

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CRUDEN BAY

Aberdeenshire Designers: Old Tom Morris/A Simpson/T Simpson/Fowler What to expect: Fun. It is a flinty heart indeed that does not fall in love with Cruden Bay. There are holes here you will never see anywhere else – and nor should you – so do not miss out on the experience. The club is forward thinking and continues to improve its main attraction. Why it’s special: The view from the clubhouse will tell you all you need to know. True, there may be a couple of weak holes, but many more are out of this world.

ROYAL PORTHCAWL

South Wales Designers: Gibson/Colt/Simpson What to expect: Quite simply the best course in the Principality with views of the Atlantic Ocean from every hole. Far from flat, so it can be a brute or a beauty depending on the strength of the wind that whips in from the Bristol Channel. Why it’s special: Even given the obvious difficulty, Porthcawl still offers the opportunity to reach its four par 5s as well as picking up the odd birdie but disaster could equally as well follow. The unrelenting incredible views will add to or make up for either case.

KINGSBARNS

Fife Designers: Phillips What to expect: A modern masterpiece, sculpted by the eye of Kyle Phillips – and a lot of earthmoving machinery. Some see this manufactured aspect as a negative, others view it as enormously impressive given that the course looks as if it has been there for a century. Why it’s special: The 12th is a great hole, a par 5 from an elevated tee which hugs the coast and whose name ‘Orrdeal’ notes the 606-yard hole’s length as well as pay tribute to the former landowners of the green site.

ROYAL LIVERPOOL

Merseyside Designers: Chambers/Morris/Colt What to expect: Much like Lytham, the views are not of the leading variety but, like this year’s Open venue, the golf is. On a gusty day Hoylake can be as tough as anywhere, on a calm one it is exquisite which you will be thankful for as early as the daunting 1st. Why it’s special: The short holes are sensational, with the 11th the pick of the bunch, and this separates a brace of brilliant par 4s. Host of 11 Opens, 18 Amateurs 1983 Walker Cup.

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ROYAL WEST NORFOLK

Norfolk Designer: Ingleby What to expect: Once you have been here a few times everything makes perfect sense but the crossing of a beach to access the 1st tee, double fairways and sleepered bunkers make it an extraordinary first-time experience. Why it’s special: Brancaster has a unique sharm. Certainly the clubhouse has to be seen to believed. And the more you see of the course, the more you recognise the quality and subtlety of the design.

HILLSIDE

Lancashire Designers: Hawtree/Steel What to expect: On one side S&A, on the other Birkdale. In between, for plenty, sits the best of the trio. A course that jinks this way and that, with an outcrop of pines thrown in, it will excite and thrill at every turn. Why it’s special: Many experts prefer the front nine but it is unlikely you will not be discussing the panorama from the 11th and 17th tees and all that goes on between afterwards. Greg Norman has labelled the back nine the very best in Great Britain.

PRESTWICK

Ayrshire Designer: Old Tom What to expect: Some of the most outrageous holes that have ever been designed – yet they all work somehow. It begins with a short par 4 where tee, fairway and green are all tight alongside the railway line – enough said. Why it’s special: As the venue for the first 12 Open Championship, a sense of history hangs over every blade of grass. Playing here just feels like a privilege. The clubhouse is, like Royal North Devon, a museum and will enlighten, entertain and inform you after your immense lunch.

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ROYAL ABERDEEN

Aberdeenshire Designers: R Simpson/A Simpson/T Simpson/Taylor/Braid/Steel What to expect: A sensationally good front nine an inward half that has been much improved recently by Donald Steel. The 2011 Walker Cup venue is classy, well maintained and very fair. Why it’s special: As the 6th oldest club in the world, Royal Aberdeen is rightly proud and aware of its position in the game’s history. Somehow that carries across the course itself as well.

SAUNTON (EAST)

Devon Designer: Fowler What to expect: A course worthy of hosting the Open – it’s that good. Much like Royal Birkdale, much of the course runs between the dunes and the view from the clubhouse should be savoured for hours on end. Why it’s special: The 1st hole is as magnificent a test as any opening hole and the fact that it remains a consistently brilliant challenge thereafter is some achievement. The finishing three holes match those of the first few with the 17th arguably the pick.

NAIRN

Highlands Designers: A Simpson/Old Tom Morris/Braid/Sayers What to expect: A serene round when the Moray Firth is sunlit and the Black Isle beyond it is in clear view. The greens here are as pure as you will ever putt on. The course is mainly flat but for a brief foray inland on the back nine. Why it’s special: There is a feeling here of links golf at its absolute best. The conditioning is so good without being anything other than natural. Some say the inland holes are a weakness, others would argue they add variety.

ST ENODOC

Cornwall Designers: Braid/McEvoy What to expect: An evocative, timeless and beautiful location. St Enodoc is as pleasant a place to spend a golfing holiday as can be imagined. It has rare elevation for a links course, and with it come views of the Camel Estuary. Peter McEvoy was apprehensive about tweaking it, but did a fine job. Why it’s special: You can be distracted by the surroundings but to concentrate on the course itself for a minute, the closing stretch of the 16th (par 5), 17th (3) and 18th (4) is stunning.

ROYAL TROON (OLD)

Ayrshire Designers: Strath/Fernie/Braid What to expect: There is a certain plainness and lack of splendour about Troon in its early stages but it soon gathers pace and you know the Postage Stamp is waiting at the far end. There is barely even an average hole on the back nine, which is for the most part a brutal but satisfying challenge. Why it’s special: The obvious hole to pick out is the 8th, but how about the almighty par-4 11th, where the view from the tee is simply of railway line and gorse.

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BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

HOW TO GET THE MOST

OUT OF LINKS GOLF Has our Top 100 whetted your appetite for some links action? This is what you need to do

DISREGARD PAR...

It’s only supposed to be a guide anyway, so don’t get too wrapped up in it. There are times when five is a very good score, regardless of handicap, on any par 4. Even ones only 350 yards on the card and stroke index 14. Just keeping adding to your Stableford score, even if only in singles, and wait for things to change, as they inevitably will. And anyway, it’s not like you’re trying to qualify for the Open, is it?

...AND MAKE HAY WHEN THE SUN SHINES

Having said all that in 1), when things are in your favour, be sure to capitalise. You will get the chance at some point to make a few birdies thanks to a downwind par 5 or a couple of short 4s so if you can cut a corner or get near the green with your drive then fill your boots.

USE YOUR GPS AND/OR YARDAGE BOOK

You need to know how far away fairway bunkers are, because on links courses they often protect angles of doglegs and dictate strategy. Otherwise you are going to see your best drives trickling into sand a lot – and it really isn’t a pleasant feeling.

START EARLY

Try to make sure you’re on the back nine by that stage, hopefully going downwind.

GET A DECENT HAT

I don’t normally wear a hat but I make an exception if the weather turns and I’m on a links. There is only one solution: Galvin Green’s Aura. Stylish it is not, but this Gore-Tex deerstalker is incredibly effective when the rain comes down. You can even bend over a putt without getting a drip down your neck.

“There is no shame in getting your putter out from well off the green. It’s a very wise choice.”

This is a general golfing truism, but especially by the seaside. You can get some sensational early mornings, when it’s relatively calm. By the time most people have had their breakfast, the clouds have gathered and the breeze is strengthening.

IN IN DOUBT, PUTT

Off tight lies and closecropped turf, two things are apparent: 1) you need to be a very good chipper to avoid duffs, 2) you

can putt from great distances and the ball rolls truly. There is no shame in getting your putter out from well off the green – in fact it is a very wise choice.

...OR AT LEAST USE A 7 IRON

If you do need a bit of elevation, perhaps because you’re in some semi-rough, the 7 iron bump and run is very commercial. It’s a really simple. Nudge the ball forward and let it run up to the hole . The best news is, it doesn’t really matter if you blade it a little.

BE YOURSELF

Links golf is still the same game – so don’t try to reinvent your game. You can only dance with who you brought to the ball so the advice here is to relish the challenge and remember that, come what may, a good, wellstruck shot will get the job done at a links just as it will on a parkland.

Dawn raid Playing links early reaps huge rewards

Tralee Golf Club

Tralee Golf Club has a history dating back to 1896. In 1980, a spectacular, 165-acre seaside site was located in Barrow, some 15 miles outside of town, and Golfing legend Arnold Palmer was contracted to design a layout that would be memorable. The first thing that strikes the arriving visitor is the stunning good looks and spectacular views. But far more than just good looks, Tralee presents a challenge that similarly ranks up there alongside the most revered courses on the planet. Miss the opportunity to play the course that Arnie helped Mother Nature design and you will be missing one of golf’s most inspiring experiences.

Voted among the World’s Top 10 ocean courses - Golf Channel Excellent group and Society packages available on request. Contact the office on: T: +353 (0)66 713 6379 • F: +353 (0)66 713 6008 E: info@traleegolfclub.com • www.traleegolfclub.com

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SKIBO CASTLE

Highlands Designer: Sutherland/Steel/ T MacKenzie What to expect: Improved almost beyond recognition in recent years, Skibo always enjoyed a special site, with water all around it. Now it is beautifully prepared as a true links. Why it’s special: Secluded to the point of isolation and quiet to the point of silence, you will not find better links surfaces to play from at any other course in this list.

Worth the work Skibo Castle is now a links of rare quality

COURSE INSIGHT

THE REBIRTH OF SKIBO CASTLE By David Thomson, Skibo’s Director of Golf “Prior to our new owner buying the club we would talk about the changes we would make if he did buy Skibo. When the purchase went through we went ahead with most of the changes pretty quickly; this is the benefit of not having a committee to deal with. “Firstly we consulted with Tom Mackenzie who used to work with Donald Steel, the original designer; he knew the land and could help with the drawings. Myself and our course manager Gary Gruber had a good idea of what we wanted but having the drawings helped us envisage the changes. Although we had the drawings done a fair percentage of the changes were done by eye, Gary and I just being on site and moving dirt here and there. It was a really interesting project. We actually moved over 250,000 tonnes on the 2nd hole creating dunes on both sides of the fairway and making one of our weaker holes one of our strongest. Over three years we we have altered most of the original layout. “We completely redesigned the 7th, 10th, 12th, and 13th holes. Along with these changes we also have done other major work on the rest – including removing all the gorse, which has really made a massive difference to the whole look of it. We now have fescue growing throughout the course; it looks great when the wind blows – something I would recommend to anyone making changes. One of the main ideas we had was to open all our external views and hide all the internal ones so you get the feeling of being the only person on the course. So far the feedback we have had has been fantastic both from our members and many of the pros who have been here over the last few years. I don’t recall many complaints since the changes have been competed. We had a few at the beginning as people couldn’t see what we were trying to do. Now however they all agree what we have achieved is quite exceptional.

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ROYAL BIRKDALE

Lancashire Designers: Low/F Hawtree/Taylor What to expect: Many people’s idea of England’s foremost course is a links where the fairways are largely flat corridors between some tumultuous dunes. The opening hole here is as testing as at any course in this list. Why it’s special: Perhaps the finest hole is the short 12th, with its raised green naturally protected by the sand hills. Birkdale is fair and stern, with the due gravitas of an Open venue.

NORTH BERWICK

East Lothian Designer: Unknown What to expect: The nearest you will get to the Old Course away from St Andrews, but arguably a more charming experience, certainly one where the sea is constantly close by and in view. Quirky does not come close to describing some of the holes here. Why it’s special: There are holes of uniqueness here – such as the 13th, when the green and fairway are separated by a stone wall, and the 16th, which has a putting surface comprising a pair of table tops and a large dip in between.

TURNBERRY (AILSA)

Ayrshire Designer: Ross What to expect: From the 4th to the 11th, the Ailsa takes you on a journey like no other, hugging the coastline. The start and parts of the back nine are not quite as magical but when the sun is shining a round here is heavenly. Why it’s special: Where to start? The sight of the sun melting behind Ailsa Craig, perhaps, or the 9th, Bruce’s Castle, with its championship tee calling for a drive over the rocks to the distant fairway. The whole resort is special.

ST ANDREWS (OLD COURSE)

Fife Designer: Unknown What to expect: At times underwhelming, truth told, on the way out, expect to be puzzled by the Old Course at first sight – it is far from clear where to aim towards or what her secrets are. Why it’s special: The merest thought of standing on the 1st tee or walking down the last is enough to send a shiver down the spine. The entire back nine, picking lines off steeples and chimneys in the at-first distant town, is an experience like no other. Ultimately, you can but adore it.

ROYAL ST GEORGE’S

Kent Designers: Laidlaw Purves/Pennink What to expect: This quintessentially old-fashioned links was the first English course to host the Open, in 1894, and even features flags adorned by St George’s crosses. Why it’s special: Often played across spines of dunes rather than between them, Sandwich is gloriously contrary at times and its rumpled fairways never less than entertaining. Some – Jack Nicklaus for one – aren’t madly keen, but we are huge fans.

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Fine fairways Lytham has more definition than you think.

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EXCLUSIVE

MY LOVE FOR LYTHAM By Nick Price

ROYAL LYTHAM

Lancashire Designer: Lowe What to expect: A championship links that offers no scintillating sea views yet challenges and charms the discerning golfer. Some may be surprised to see it above Birkdale, but our panel were unanimous in this decision. It is rightly noted for its 200-plus bunkers, which are true penalties and often require you to splash out sideways or even backwards. But not enough is made of the ground surrounding the traps – it has been skilfully sculpted to attract balls to its sand – from as far away as 30 yards. Why it’s special: The closing stretch is second only to Carnoustie in terms of difficulty on the Open rota – and then not by much. A string of exacting two-shotters culminates in your bunker-dominated drive on the last.

“I love Lytham, it’s a great test. The first time you see it you’re not so sure because you can’t see very much, certainly not the sea, and it’s all enclosed. “It’s a pretty flat course, in fact. But the more you play it the more you get to like it. “That is some finishing stretch, but you also have the 16th in there which gives you a chance to make a birdie near the end. “Back in 1988, when Seve and I both eagled the 7th, we drew away from Faldo so we knew that one of us was going to win. “It was a very exciting time. When you’re playing well and you’re up against one of greatest players ever to play in my generation. “I was convinced I was going to beat him that day because I was hitting the ball as well as I possibly could. “But typical Seve – he hit one of the greatest shots I think I’ve ever seen, live or being there. “It was on 16, after the car park scenario in 79. He hit a beautiful iron off the tee and just hit the prettiest 9 iron you’ve ever seen in your life. “It wasn’t a full shot, just a little cut, you know, just a threequarter cut, and he nearly holed it. It was absolutely perfect. “That was where he got one shot ahead of me. But I never thought that was it. I’ve played a lot of golf and it’s never over until it’s over. As you can tell, I still have fond memories of that championship and Lytham.”

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3 Great Courses To Play 2013 Tee Times Available Online

Tel: +44 (0) 1241 802277 Fax: +44 (0) 1241 802271 Email: golf@carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk

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CARNOUSTIE

Angus Designers: Old Tom Morris/Braid What to expect: Carnoustie is arguably the most complete examination of your long game to be found in Britain. Mistakenly renowned for excessive difficulty, it would be more accurate to say it is both thorough and demanding. Play Carnoustie with an open mind and you will note that the greens are invariably flat and mostly generous. Similarly, the landing areas from the tee are clearly delineated and by no means tight. It is not pretty – you catch only the occasional glimpse of the sea – and nor is it quirky, but it represents the apotheosis of fairness. Why it’s special: The Carnoustie turf is out of this world – tight and even, meaning you never get a bad lie on the fairway. The test is relentless and it is true that the course is far from generous, something that is summed up by the forward tees that are still well over 6,500 yards. Nothing comes easily here – which is why it is so satisfying to play well.

ROYAL DORNOCH

Highlands Designers: Old Tom Morris/Taylor What to expect: To fall in love. That is what happens to most firsttime visitors, for whom Dornoch proves simply irresistible. This is arguably the most charismatic, evocative course in all of Britain, and is also as much fun to play as anywhere else. It begins quite modestly – as Tom Watson once said, only after the 2nd does it fully reveal itself: “With Dornoch, it’s the setting. So beautiful. You arrive on the 3rd tee and whole course is there in front of you. It’s a special place.” Why it’s special: It has everything you could wish for, starting with almost constant views of the beach and sea. It does not demand length, and the secret to its defences, apart from the wind, is the raised greens. They make positioning essential and then give you the choice of using pretty much any club in your bag.

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MUIRFIELD

East Lothian Designers: Old Tom Morris/Colt/Simpson What to expect: Muirfield is by no means spectacular. The sea is at a distance, there is little in the way of dunes and the ground is relatively even for the most part. The bunkers are not the deepest, the course is not the

longest nor is there any one hole that embodies it. And that is exactly why Muirfield is the best. It is simply one supreme hole after the next, all the way from start to finish. Every part of your game will be tested and it is virtually impossible to pick fault with any aspect of the playing experience. Muirfield excels in its consistency – and that is why the great players praise it universally.

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Why it’s special: To stand on the 1st tee, looking at the gentle curve of the fairway to the right, the tall grasses on either side shimmering in the breeze, must be one of golf’s greatest pleasures. For a links course, Muirfield is pristine, and the same is true of a peerless design that never stops posing demanding questions. Its famous choreography sees the front nine run in a circular sweep

around the perimeter, returning to that famous red-roofed clubhouse in time for an inward loop that is exactly that. The result of this ingenious design is that you never play more than three consecutive holes in the same direction. The angles are constantly changing and so too is the wind, and that is what makes Muirfield such a formidable and complete test.

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Strategic test Muirfield is a golferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf course

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BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LINKS

THE TOP 100 LIST IN FULL – AND WHERE TO FIND THEM 100 Newburgh, Aberdeenshire

91 Pwllheli, North Wales

82 Irvine, Ayrshire

49 St Andrews (Castle), Fife

99 Duff House Royal, Aberdeenshire

90 West Kilbride, Ayrshire

81 Isle of Purbeck, Dorset

48 Ashburnham, South Wales

98 Craigielaw, East Lothian

89 Porthmadog, Gwynned

80 Seascale, Cumbria

47 Southerness, Dumfriesshire

97 Fairhaven, Lancashire

88 Bamburgh Castle, Northum’d

79 Hayling, Dorset

46 Archerfield (Fidra), East Lothian

96 Carnoustie (Burnside), Angus

87 Kilmarnock Barassie, Ayrshire

78 Castletown, Isle of Man

45 Seacroft, Lincolnshire

95 Longniddry, East Lothian

86 North Wales, North Wales

77 Goswick, Northumberland

44 The Machrie, Isle of Islay

94 Fortrose & Rosemarkie, Highls

85 Sheringham, Norfolk

76 Royal North Devon, Devon

43 Royal St David’s, North Wales

93 Askernish, Outer Hebrides

84 Prestwick St Nicholas, Ayrshire

75 Tain, Highlands

42 St Andrews (Jubilee), Fife

92 Nairn Dunbar, Highlands

83 Kilspindie, East Lothian

74 St Annes Old Links, Lancashire

41 Renaissance, East Lothian

73 Glasgow Gailes, Ayrshire

40 Machrihanish, Argyll

72 Gullane No 2, East Lothian

39 Gullane No 1, East Lothian

71 Pyle & Kenfig, South Wales

38 Machrihanish Dunes, Argyll

70 Wallasey, Merseyside

37 Burnham & Berrow, Somerset

69 Monifieth, Angus

36 Luffness, East Lothian

68 Perranporth, Cornwall

35 Rye, Kent

67 Littlestone, Kent

34 Aberdovey, North Wales

66 Saunton (West), Devon

33 Dundonald, Ayrshire

65 Seaton Carew, Durham

32 Southport & Ainsdale, Merseys’e

64 Leven Links, Fife

31 Silloth On Solway, Cumbria

63 Brora, Highlands

30 Hunstanton, Norfolk

62 Lundin, Fife

29 Royal Cinque Ports, Kent

61 Tenby, South Wales

28 West Lancashire, Merseyside

7 25 49 64

60 Conwy, Caernarvonshire

27 Castle Stuart, Highlands

22 42 62

3 10 50 94

54 63 75 14 27 92 99

93 11 19 23 52 100 2

56 58 69 96

1 44

38 40

59 Archerfield (Dirleton), E Lothian

26 Formby, Southport

9 36 39 41 95

58 Panmure, Angus

25 St Andrews (New), Fife

46 51 59 72 83

57 Prince’s, Kent

24 Western Gailes, Ayrshire

56 Montrose, Angus

23 Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire

55 Pennard, South Wales

22 Kingsbarns, Fife

54 Golspie, Highlands

21 Royal Porthcawl, South Wales

53 Trevose, Cornwall

20 Hillside, Merseyside

52 Murcar, Aberdeenshire

19 Trump, Aberdeenshire

51 Dunbar, East Lothian

18 Royal Liverpool, Merseyside

50 Moray (Old), Moray

17 Royal West Norfolk, Norfolk

12 16

24 33 73

47 31

84 87 90

80 78 4

16 Prestwick, Ayrshire

5 20 26 97

15 Saunton (East), Devon

28 32 74 82

91 89

8660

14 Nairn, Highlands

70 18

13 St Enodoc, Cornwall 45

12 Royal Troon, Ayrshire

11 Royal Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

10 Skibo Castle, Highlands

9 North Berwick, East Lothian 8 Turnberry (Ailsa), Ayrshire 7 St Andrews (Old), Fife 61

6 Royal St George’s, Kent

48 55

5 Royal Birkdale, Lancashire

71 21 66 15 13 53 68

37 35 81

6 29

4 Royal Lytham, Lancashire

67 57

3 Royal Dornoch, Highlands 2 Carnoustie, Angus 1 Muirfield, East Lothian

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in association with

THE TOP 25 LINKS Every single one of these names offers genuinely world-class seaside golf

PORTMARNOCK HOTEL & LINKS

Co. Dublin Designer: Langer ‘Resort’ golf doesn’t come any better than this. It is proper links fare – you would expect nothing else considering the designer.

PORTRUSH (VALLEY)

Co. Antrim Designer: Colt The second course at the famous Antrim club is top quality too. As the name suggests, this much under-rated links winds it way between the dunes on the valley floor. The finish is brilliant.

CONNEMARA

Co. Galway Designer: Hackett A great story behind the creation of this links can be found on its website and the course itself is equally enjoyable. Lovely views out to the Atlantic and the 12 Bens mountains.

DONEGAL (MURVAGH)

Co. Donegal Designer: Hackett A top-class front nine fizzles out slightly on the back side but this is still a big, wild and very honest links – a favourite of Darren Clarke’s as it happens. Well worthy of its place here.

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OLD HEAD

Co. Cork Designer: Kirby, Merrigan, Higgins, Hackett, Carr It raises the purists’ eyebrows but those playing for entertainment absolutely adore Old Head. Holes like the 2nd and 4th stand comparison with any in this list.

PORTSTEWART (STRAND)

Co. Antrim Designer: Giffin A course of two halves. In 1981 the club purchased extra land and local schoolteacher Des Giffin laid out seven spectacular new holes. The back nine is inevitably less stellar.

ENNISCRONE

Co. Sligo Designer: Steel Tweaked and improved on a few occasions down the years, Donald Steel has added some of his own in recent times and it is now a course which can never be described as boring. A fabulous stretch along the shore on the back nine too.

BALLYLIFFIN (OLD)

Co. Hackett, Lawrie, Pennink, Faldo Designer: Co. Donegal You might think this is the cuddly younger sister of the Glashedy but in fact it has been tightened up by

in association with

IN IRELAND 2013

Spellbinding Tralee, even by Irish standards, is spectcular

Sir Nick Faldo in recent years after he landed here in his helicopter and immediately fell in love with the place.

TRALEE

Co. Kerry Designer: Palmer After a fun but sometimes unremarkable front nine (though the 2nd, curving round the edge of the cliffs, is a huge exception), things get really interesting on this Arnold Palmer design coming home. By interesting we mean ridiculously exciting action between, around and over some serious dunes. In fact, it will take your breath away.

THE ISLAND

Co. Dublin Designer: Hawtree, Hackett, Howes North of Dublin near Portmarnock is this unpretentious, charming little links that weaves between the dunes.

ROYAL DUBLIN

Co. Dublin Designer: Colt Noted for its slick greens, Royal Dublin is not as rugged as some on the list but is consistently good. According to no less an authority than Padraig Harrington, a Dubliner himself: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Royal Dublin is perfect for anyone staying in the

city and looking to play a great links golf course"

PORTSALON

Co. Donegal Designer: Ruddy This second home of the McGinley family has been improved and lengthened recently and it might surprise some to be found so high here. But from personal experience last summer, we can tell you it is perched right on the beach and is proper links fare. Immensely enjoyable.

BELMULLET (CARNE) Co. Mayo

Designer: Hackett Some on the panel thought this could go even higher. Carne takes a lot of getting to, perched on the extreme west coast of north-west Mayo. Once there, you lap up a cute and enormously quirky links.

CO SLIGO (ROSSES POINT)

Co. Sligo Designers: Combe, Campbell, Colt, Alison After a modest start, you fire off from a clifftop to a fairway below which seems in a different world. After that point, Rosses Point is very good, Benbulben dauntingly looking over your every shot.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 81

in association with

TOP 25 LINKS IN IRELAND

Regal golf The 3rd green at Royal County Down

BALLYLIFFIN (GLASHEDY)

Co. Donegal Designer: Ruddy More Ruddy action here, so you’re right to think it is a big, bold championship layout with much hitting required to tame it. Epic.

BALLYBUNION (OLD)

Co. Kerry Designer: Simpson Tom Watson’s personal favourite really gets going on the back nine where the fairways are cut through massive dunes.

DOONBEG

Co. Clare Designer: Greg Norman Norman claimed he did little more than mow a few fairways here, so perfect is the land for a links course. There are some classic holes – not least the par-5 1st.

CO LOUTH (BALTRAY) Co. Louth

Designer: Simpson There’s nothing particularly special to look at on first glance but this classic old links soon grows on you. A championship course which will appeal to the serious, discerning links enthusiast.

ROSAPENNA (SANDY HILLS)

Co. Donegal Designer: Ruddy Ruddy is the man behind the newer course at this tremendous resort and you will once again be severely punished for mis-hit shots. A brilliant modern championship links that could easily have been placed higher.

THE EUROPEAN CLUB

Co. Wicklow Designer: Ruddy Pat Ruddy’s baby is a modern masterpiece. It is not for the fainthearted, and indifferent golf will be severely punished. But if you can muster some decent golf, you will be thrilled and charmed.

LAHINCH (OLD)

Co. Clare Designer: Old Tom Morris This is a links best known for its impossibly quirky moments – such as the blind 4th and 5th. Dig a little deeper and there are lots of fine, sturdy holes as well.

WATERVILLE

Co. Kerry Designer: Fazio Redesigned by Tom Fazio to sensational effect, Waterville is a big course of big holes – like the last, where an elevated tee gives you an immense view of a fairway lined by dunes and the Atlantic.

ROYAL PORTRUSH (DUNLUCE)

Co. Antrim Designer: Colt After a moderate 1st, Portrush is simply sensational for the next 12 holes with some great views of the Irish Sea leading to fabulous green complexes. The 14th, Calamity Corner, is a high-octane start to the run for home.

PORTMARNOCK

Co. Dublin Designer: Purves We returned to this traditional club on the northern outskirts of Dublin in summer 2012 and it reminded us of just how good it is. It may lack the ‘wow’ factor but is arguably the best test of golf in the country. Ireland’s answer to Muirfield – very, very classy.

ROYAL COUNTY DOWN

Co. Down Designer: Baillie, Old Tom, Vardon, Colt For many years it was mysteriously under-rated, but a Walker Cup match has helped to elevate this magical course to its rightful place as the best in GB&I. It combines aesthetic appeal and a golfing challenge like no other course in the British Isles. It was a comfortable winner among the panel which, given our ‘experts’ adore Portrush and Portmarnock, tells you highly we rate RCD. Simply the best.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 82

THE JEWEL OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

his peaceful, stress-free island oasis has a long tradition of hospitality towards travellers that makes it among the most welcoming of holiday destinations. Of course, it helps that Cyprus offers great value for money and that everybody speaks English and drives on the left-hand side of the road! But for those who want more than two weeks lounging in the sun, Cyprus has few peers when it comes to variety. Some of the country’s 2.2 million annual visitors head straight out on tours to the magnificent monasteries

and exquisite Byzantine churches. Others embark on bacchanalian wine tours, gourmet trails or bird watching in the mountains. The activities on offer are as varied as the landscape, which switches between rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, rocky hills and forest covered mountains. It is no wonder that families return year after year to the same converted farmhouse in the same old sleepy village or to one of Cyprus’s many first class hotels. With a bewildering legacy of more than 10,000 years of history, Cyprus has spectacular theatres, Roman mosaics, Crusader bridges and Venetian fortresses. While hotels offer cuisine from around the world, it would be a mistake not to have sampled the local cuisine at one of the many tavernas and restaurants offering authentic Cypriot cooking.

As the southernmost island in the Mediterranean, with transparent waters, fabulous beaches, excellent golf courses and year-round sunny skies, there are many reasons why CYPRUS is often described as a jewel

Cyprus boasts four championship golf courses designed by some of the finest golf architects from Donald Steel, Cabell Robinson to the newest Sir Nick Faldo designed course. Seven of the UK’s best known golf operators have united to form the largest travel consortium in Europe. GTOC endorses Cyprus’s quest for a place on the world golfing map, with more courses being built this beautiful Island is most definitely a developing golf destination to be taken seriously.

ENQUIRIES For further information call Cyprus Tourist Office on 020 7569 8800 or visit www.visitcyprus.com For golf enquiries call the Golf Tour Operators Consortium on 020 8660 9905.

PLAY AWAY Exciting destinations | Latest deals & offers | Connoisseur Clive | Travel hints and tips | Competitions

CONNOISSEUR CLIVE VISITS LAS COLINAS, SPAIN “As much as I would love to tease and tempt you with a ‘turn the page for more’ type request, I can’t. I have failed you, dear reader, in my task to wax lyrical about this stunning resort. For now. “Having been dispatched to all corners of the globe in recent times, as the coming months will demonstrate, time has conspired against me so consider this a postcard to tide you over. “Safe to say I did royally succeed on the golf (and food) front and even managed to get the old pins out which was some achievement in late November. Something Mrs Clive couldn’t help but notice upon my return.” Until next month, Clive

Golfer NATIONAL

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PLAYAWAYNEWS

TRAVEL NEWS IN BRIEF SUCCESS FOR YOUR GOLF TRAVEL Your Golf Travel cofounders Ross Marshall and Andrew Harding were named Entrepreneurs of the Year at the 2012 Spear’s Wealth Management Awards. They beat off stiff competition to claim the top honour at the prizegiving ceremony held at Phillips de Pury, Victoria. DREAM MASTERS TRIP WIN Hertfordshire golfer Geoff Thrower clinched a dramatic play-off victory in the final of Seve Day at The Belfry – and bagged himself a dream trip to the 2013 Masters. Set up by Your Golf Travel, Seve Day has so far raised more than £70,000 for charity. LA MANGA HOSTS NEW EVENT Golf and darts fans are being offered the chance to take part in the first annual Golf and Darts Classic at Spain’s La Manga Club resort. Several top darts players will make appearances, with a team of four people costing €2,352 (approx £490 approx per person).

GOLF GIVES BALEARICS 161 MILLION EURO CASH INJECTION Golf is having a huge impact in the Balearic Islands, with a recent report showing that golf tourism generated €161 million in revenue for the islands in 2011. Managing director of Balearics Sotheby’s International Realty, Daniel Chavarria Waschke, said:

“With 24 golf courses in just 3,640 square kilometres, Mallorca has a unique selling point to outshine other second home destinations. The climate allows you to play 12 months a year and usually without having to book far in advance or have a membership.”

Mallorca is an island perfectly suited to outdoor living and it will always be en vogue for second homes. With the British, Germans and Swiss the keenest to live by the fairways, frontline golf property is second only to frontline sea property in terms of demand and price.

NEW ACADEMY AT PARADIS Paradis Hotel and Golf Club in Mauritius have launched a new junior academy aimed at providing a way for families to come together and improve their golf on holidays Designed with the assistance of French professional Dominique Larretche, private professional coaches are on hand to show beginners the basics and offer coaching to more seasoned junior golfers on how best to improve their game.

GREAT DEALS TO MOROCCO Menara Travel are offering fantastic deals on golf break packages to Morocco, with prices starting from as little as £465 per person. Golfers can enjoy a stay in either four or five-star

luxury, with all inclusive hotel options, and golf packages over a range of courses both available. For more information call 0207 371 2030, visit www.morocco4golf.com or email infor@morocco4golf.com

MALLORCA COURSES MAKE CUT The second edition of the Rolex World’s Top 1000 Golf Courses featured two Mallorcan greats – Golf Alcanada and Golf Son Gual. With only 23 Spanish courses making the cut for the Top 1000, and some 32,000 courses in existence, entry was considered to be an excellent achievement. Golf Alcanada is set in an idyllic location and boasts stunning coastal views, while Son Gual features large lakes and olive trees.

IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS FOR EMIRATES The Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, has completed a multi-million pound investment project to improve their irrigation systems. The new systems will enhance the quality and consistency of playing surfaces while at the same time reducing the course’s water consumption. Craig Haldane, Director of Golf Course Maintenance at Emirates Golf Club, said: “The irrigation project is another major

86 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

milestone that allows us to maintain the course to the exacting standards that our members and guests have been accustomed to enjoying. “The system is so technically advanced that I can take out my mobile phone, connect to the irrigation system and turn on individual irrigation sprinklers.” The course is home to events on both the men’s and ladies’ European Tours.

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Grey Owl Golf Let us organise your bespoke golfing break

FRANCE BELGIUM SPAIN AND ITALY Contact Bill Anslow Phone: 01206 - 841994 • Fax: 01206 - 841995 E-Mail: bill@greyowlgolf.com Website: www.greyowlgolf.com

SPECIAL OFFER 4 ball, 4 nights, 4 rounds + 1 free dinner + Return Airport Transfers From £235pp 4 nights B&B in a twin/double room, 4 rounds of golf , based on 4 people travelling. Costs do not include flights. Terms and conditions apply. From 15/11/2012 to 24/6/2013 A Golfing Experience 82 Quickley Lane - Chorleywood - Herts WD3 5AD Tel +44 (0)1923 283 339 www.agolfingexperience.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 87

Golfer NCG WINTER ACADEMIES NATIONAL

CLUB

PLAYAWAY

Get your game into shape with a week of warm-weather training at Penina ABOUT DAVE

TRAINING FROM PGA PROS

MY PENINA DIARY Dave Simpson attended a winter academy last year. Here is his account of the experience SATURDAY We flew at midday from London into Faro. After a short coach transfer, we checked into the fantastic resort. At our welcome dinner, we were introduced to the team and talked through the rest of the week. The pre-trip information was helpful in giving me an idea of what to expect.

SUNDAY

sense. Our golf swings were each individually filmed to be compared with the movement later in the week. We played at the resort’s Championship course, which was in brilliant condition, helped even more by the sunshine.

MONDAY We focused on the long game in the morning. Again the pros were fantastic at spotting and explaining the weaknesses in my swing. I even hit a draw for the first time in my life! The afternoon playing on the course was a great fun, as we had all got to know each other much better.

My hotel room really lived up to five-star standard and after a hearty breakfast, I was very excited to start our first session. The PGA pros started the morning by explaining how a good golf shot should be constructed. It was very insightful, and just by understanding the task, I realised why some of my bad golf habits had affected my game for so long. It already started to make so much

88 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

“I’m in my 40s and I play off 14. In all honesty my game has been in decline for a while. I hadn’t had any lessons for years and my short game, in particular, was getting progressively worse. “I heard about these teaching holidays from a friend, who spoke very highly of the experience. I had my doubts as I’m no spring chicken and it’s not as though I’m a professional – far from it! What got me thinking was that I knew I would have to play more this year following a promotion at work and I didn’t want to look like a fool in front of important clients and colleagues. “The way the information is put across is clear and easy to digest. I’ve made some good friends because it turns out that all the other people on the course were in the same boat as me. Plus, doing it in the winter gets you away from the UK at the worst time of year and sets you up for the season ahead. “My game has improved so much my friends could scarcely believe I was the same player!”

TUESDAY Here we started the short-game session with bunker shots followed by putting. I picked up lots of good tips. I noticed, during my play in the afternoon, that my pitching had already improved through the exercises we did with the wedges in the morning. Had a great round!

ABOUT THE PROS

WEDNESDAY Short-game coaching in the morning focused on pitching and chipping. Now I’m understanding the techniques, the shots have become a lot easier. It’s great to have the afternoon playing time, as I can put what I learn into practice straight away. I really enjoyed the farewell dinner with my fellow golfers – they’ve been brilliant company this week!

THURSDAY I took the evening flight option, which gave me time to fit in another round in the sun before my transfer and flight back to London. What a fantastic week!

At the NCG WInter Teaching Academies the coaching is led by top PGA professionals Richard Ellis and Brian Green. Top 100 coach Richard (left) has gained hands-on experience from some of the game’s best-known coaches and players and has featured in several magazines including NCG, Today's Golfer and Golf World. He has a specialist knowledge of biomechanics. Brian (right) has been a full-time coach for over 15 years, giving thousands of lessons to golfers ranging from complete beginners to tour players. By applying easy-tofollow fundamentals he believes anyone can build a better game.

WINTER TEACHING ACADEMIES 2013

LE MERIDIEN PENINA GOLF & RESORT, PORTIMAO, ALGARVE, PORTUGAL

EARLY BOOKING RATE

£985*

Get your game in shape for next season

Benefit from top-class instruction from British PGA pros

Meet like-minded British golfers

Stay and play at 5-star Penina in the Algarve

WHAT THE PACKAGE INCLUDES i 5 nights’ accommodation at the 5-star Le Meridien Penina Golf & Resort based on twin share, including breakfast i 3 dinners (including ½ bottle of wine or a beer with meal)

TRIP DATES: JANUARY 19-24 | FEBRUARY 16-21 MARCH 16-21 *Based on return flights from London Gatwick to Faro and twin share accommodation. Flights from other airports may vary. Cost of all flights may be subject to change. Single supplement and nongolfer rates available on request

i 4 x 2-hour golf clinics from PGA professionals i 4 x rounds of golf i Use of Spa facilities (Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room etc.) i Return flights from London, inclusive of checked luggage

and golf equipment i Return airport – resort group transfer

To learn more and to book call 01782 510 800 or email academies@nationalclubgolfer.com All travel and accommodation arrangements are booked by Quality Golf Destinations LTD, with whom your trip is fully travel bonded

U7420

Golfer TUNISIA BECKONS NATIONAL

CLUB

PLAYAWAY

Why you should visit the north African country in February. By Barry Ward

CITRUS CLUBHOUSE

YASMINE VALLEY

CITRUS LES OLIVIERS

F your vision of holiday bliss is playing a week-long, 72-hole tournament over two superb sun-drenched courses then read on. The event is the Tunisian Festival of Golf, to be played in February over the courses of Golf Yasmin and Golf Citrus, the two leading clubs in the beach-side resort of Hammamet, a short drive from the capital Tunis. Open to all golf club members with official handicaps, the event is a four-round Stableford, off full handicap, in which players drop their worst score en route to compiling a 54-hole total. There is a host of prizes and an enticing programme of social events, with accommodation provided in a newly-refurbished four-star hotel on the beach and

YASMINE VALLEY

next door to the golf courses. Hammamet, a beach-side town, is Tunisia’s premier holiday resort. It has three 18-hole courses, many first-class hotels and is a 40minute drive from Tunis airport. The attractions are many and varied: sound and often luxurious hotels are inexpensive, and moderately-priced green fees allow golf tour operators to offer attractive holiday packages. Take a bottle of water and no harm will befall you. It’s a coastal region, so a sea breeze is standard and a bonus is the beach and the varied attractions for non-golfers. The Phenicia Hotel is situated on a wide, sandy beach, 5km from the centre of Hammamet and surrounded by an extensive garden area. The two golf clubs are virtually next door and there is a

90 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

THE TUNISIAN FESTIVAL OF GOLF • February 9 to 16 • Flights with Tunis Air from Heathrow or Manchester • Includes flights, transfers, all meals, seven nights’ accommodation, some drinks, and five days of golf (including a warm-up competition) • £995 per golfer sharing a twin or double room, and £769 per non-golfer sharing a room. Includes all airport taxes and golf club carriage • The tournament is supervised by a professional golf director and was devised by Menara Travel of London in co-operation with the Tunisian Tourist Board. For further details visit www.menaratravel.co.uk or call 0207 371 2030

free daily transfer service to and from the hotel. A consortium of five hotels built Golf Club Citrus in 1992, with its two 18-hole courses and a nine-hole par-3 course. Next door is Golf Yasmin, which opened in 1989 with 27 holes, including a short course. Yasmin is laid out in undulating country, with hills on one horizon, mountains on another, with the sea in view from the higher ground and the city on the other flank. Golf Club Citrus is marked by the disparity of its two major courses. Les Oliviers is gently undulating with expansive targets. The second course, Le Forest, is wooded and tight, with several acute dog-legs bringing blind shots and a supreme challenge. n Barry Ward is editor/publisher of www.posh-golf-travel.com

TUNISIA GOLF FESTIVAL 9 - 16 February 2013 - HAMMAMET The Tunisia Golf Festival is open to amateur golfers of all levels

£995 per golfer on all inclusive (Sharing a Double or Twin Room)

£769

per non-golfer on all inclusive (Sharing a Double or Twin Room)

£60: Single room Supplement (for 7 nights) Including: Return Flight + 7 Nights’ Accommodation on all inclusive in the PHENICIA HOTEL 4**** in HAMMAMET + 5 Rounds of competitive golf and playing on the YASMINE Golf Course x 2 + CITRUS Golf x 3 (on the LA FORET Course + LES OLIVIERS Course) + 2 Cocktail Parties + Prizes Presentation Ceremony & Gala Dinner with entertainment & Drinks + 1 Massage of 20 Minutes in the SPA centre of the hotel + Excursion + Airport Transfers + Golf Transfers + Assistance

For further information please contact

Menara Travel Ltd

www.menaratravel.co.uk t: 0207 371 2030 e: info@menaratravel.co.uk

GOLF IN MOROCCO MAZAGAN BEACH & GOLF RESORT 5* - Morocco From £989pp on ALL INCLUSIVE & UNLIMITED GOLF Including: Return Direct flight from Gatwick to Casablanca inc Taxes & check-in luggage of 20Kg & Golf Carriage + 5 Nights on ALL INCLUSIVE (Accommodation + Meals + Drinks “Soft & Alcohol”) + UNLIMITED GOLF at the MAZAGAN GOLF CLUB “Links Course – Gary Player Design” + Free Shared Buggy + Complimentary driving Range access + 01 Round of golf at the ROYAL GOLF EL JADIDA including transfers + 50% off of SPA + Transfers from and to Casablanca Airport + Complimentary Access to CASINO & Night Club + Complimentary Access to Leisure & Wellness Activities...

MARRAKECH From £549pp on Bed & Buffet Breakfast Including: 07 Nights on Bed & Breakfast in the DELLAROSA HOTEL 4* in the centre of Marrakech+ 05 Rounds of Golf with your preferred pre-booked Tee Times and playing the PALMERAIE Golf & AMELKIS Golf & SAMANAH Golf & ROYAL Golf & AL MAADEN Golf + Airport Transfers + Golf Transfers.

PALMERAIE GOLF RESORT MARRAKECH “PALMERAIE VILLAGE 4*” From £485pp on Bed & Buffet Breakfast Including: 07 Nights on Bed & Buffet Breakfast in the PALMERAIE VILLAGE 4**** + 05 Rounds of Golf with your preferred prebooked Tee Times playing on the PALMERAIE GOLF COURSE + Airport Transfers

For bookings & further details please contact

Menara Travel Ltd

www.morocco4golf.com t: 0207 371 2030 e: info@morocco4golf.com www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 91

TWO OF KENT’S FINEST BROKE HILL AND CHELSFIELD LAKES

A WARM WELCOME FOR EVERY OCCASION Broke Hill Golf Club & Chelsfield Lakes Golf Centre will take care of your every need, no matter what the occasion. Let us bring some warmth to your round this winter... Mention National Club Golfer during December and January and receive a

FREE Handwarmer OR Cup of Hot Coffee Green Fees from JUST £17 NO Winter Tees - NO Winter Greens - OPEN 364 days a year Great Locations - Tranquil Surroundings - Friendly Staff *T’s & C’s apply, incl.:available Dec 2012 & Jan 2013, one handwarmer or take-away coffee per player, only available on rack rate green fees (incl Loyalty Card rates)

CHELSFIELD LAKES GOLF CENTRE

BROKE HILL GOLF CLUB

Court Road | Orpington | Kent | BR6 9BX

Sevenoaks Road | Halstead | Kent | TN14 7HR

Tel: 01689 896 266 | Email: sales@chelsfieldlakesgolf.co.uk

Tel: 01959 533225 | E-mail: sales@brokehillgolfclub.co.uk

Web: www.chelsfieldlakesgolf.co.uk

Web: www.brokehillgolfclub.co.uk

PLAY AT HOME Scotland | Wales | North East | North West | East Midlands | West Midlands | South East | South West CLUB OF THE MONTH BOWOOD GOLF RESORT Hotel, Golf and Spa complex in Wiltshire THIS classy resort is the perfect destination whether you are in search of a family holiday, a romantic weekend away or a golf trip with your friends. The championship course was designed by Dave Thomas and is set in undulating woodland. The greens are renowned locally – even at this time of year, making their winter deals, start at just £30pp very attractive options. Off the course, there is a luxury spa with a gym, steam room and pool and you will certainly eat well at the Shelburne and Clubhouse Brasserie. www.bowood-hotel.co.uk 01249 823 881

Amazing value Take advantage of Bowood’s winter deals

IN THE CLUB DIRECTORY THIS MONTH... Golfer NATIONAL

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COURSEDIRECTORY BURROWS IS CHESHIRE PLAYER OF THE YEAR A Lymm golfer became the first winner of Cheshire’s Player of the Year award. Luke Burrows represented the county nine times in 2012, showing incredible form and recording just one loss in the entire year. Heswall’s Oliver Carr finished second and county captain Dave Peel came third in the standings.

NORTH WEST Cheshire | Cumbria | Lancashire | Merseyside

SENIOR OPEN QUALIFYING VENUES ANNOUNCED Three of the most outstanding links courses in the North West – Formby, Hillside (pictured) and Southport & Ainsdale – will host the Monday Qualifying event prior to the 2013 Senior Open Championship. Over 300 golfers will participate in the qualifying competition on Monday July 22 and they are likely to be vying for around 30 spots in the final field from Thursday July 25 to 28. Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director of

COBRA GIVEAWAY BENEFITS REGION COBRA has given away hundreds of golf clubs to support County Golf Partnerships in the North West as they work to encourage more people to get into golf. The company has donated over 200 packs, each of four 7 irons, to be used by beginners at tasters and follow-on coaching sessions with PGA professionals. ENGLAND SQUAD SUCCESS FOR AREA Three young golfers from the North West region have been selected for England Golf Select regional training squads for the upcoming year. Eloise Healey (West Lancashire), Sophie Lamb (Clitheroe) and Emily Shea (Fairhaven) will join the top 23 English girls in the squad. Georgia Ball, Ana Dawson, Bethany Greenhalgh, Lucy Jamieson, Freya Johnson and Natasha Slater also made it into the Birdie squad.

GREAT DEALS TO BE SAVOURED IN WINTER AT GARSTANG Despite being located in an area which is

dominated by great links courses, Garstang is one of the finest parkland courses in the North West. This remarkably mature and testing layout is home to some of the county’s best inland greens and excellent drainage that makes it playable throughout the year. With a fantastic Best Western hotel attached, Garstang is an ideal play-andstay venue. The club also boasts some fantastic offers, including a three-night stay with breakfast, dinner and three rounds of golf for just £58pppn.

LANCASHIRE SUCCESS CELEBRATED The success of Lancashire’s golfers has been celebrated at a dinner hosted by the Lancashire Golf Union. Bill Bromilow was congratulated on his unprecedented success in his five years as captain and was presented with the Northern Counties League Trophy. The team came so close to becoming the county

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championships, said: “The development of the Senior Open Championship has followed the pattern established by the Open, whereby qualifying rounds create a truly open competition where anyone at the top of his game can win this great championship. “This is the first time the Senior Open Championship has been held in Southport and we anticipate substantial local support for the return of many of the game’s great champions to Royal Birkdale.”

champions in Bromilow’s last game while Mike Gray and Stuart Fawcett were recognised for helping to secure the Seniors League and won the Big Six tournament.

BROMILOW ENDS CAPTAINCY TENURE Bill Bromilow has retired as county captain after five years in charge. Bromilow guided Lancashire to two English Championship victories and a Northern League Counties win. He will continue in his role as an England selector for the R&A.

HILLSIDE YOUNGSTER WINS DAILY TELEGRAPH TITLE A Hillside youngster has triumphed in the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship at Close House in Northumberland. English girls’ champion Emily Taylor came out on top after leading throughout the three rounds. The 18-yearold, who led after a 73 and shared top spot with Samantha Giles (St Mellion, Cornwall) after round two, closed with a 74 for a three-shot win over Giles, with Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth, Surrey) finishing third on a score of 228.

NORTH WEST VENUES TO HOST SENIORS Hillside, Formby and S&A will welcome stars

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COURSEDIRECTORY YORKSHIRE SEASON ENDS AT WOODHALL

YORKSHIRE’S 2012 county season came to a close at Woodhall Spa for its annual Champion of Champions tournament. Yorkshire were represented by Dan Brown, Stuart Pond and Nick Marsh in the Mens, Seniors and Boys Championships respectively. Marsh had the most success, finishing second in the boys’ tournament.

NORTH EAST YOUNGSTERS IN ENGLAND BOYS SQUAD TWO young golfers from the North East region have been named in the England Boys training squad for the upcoming season. Current English Under16 champion Jake Storey (Alnmouth) will be joined in the 11-man squad by former England Under-16 title holder Jack Hermeston (City of Newcastle). ENGLAND SQUAD SUCCESS FOR NORTH EAST GIRLS TWO young golfers from the North East region have been selected for the 2012/13 England Golf Select regional training squad. Laura Alexander (Eaglescliffe & District) and Kirsty Beckwith (Moortown) will join the top 23 English girls in the squad.

NORTH EAST Cleveland | Durham | Northumberland | Tyne & Wear | Yorkshire

CHESTERFIELD HOSPICE BENEFITS FROM CHARITY DAY A CHARITY golf day in South Yorkshire has raised £400 for a local hospice. Many local businessmen turned out for the event at Wath, which was organised by American Golf’s Meadowhall store manager Paul Howley and spearheaded by PGA professional Paul Davies. The day comprised of a fourball tournament and a charity auction boasting prizes from top name

FILEY BECOMES 600TH GOLFMARK CLUB FILEY has become the 600th club to achieve the GolfMark, England Golf’s award for junior and beginner-friendly facilities. The GolfMark scheme, which

incorporates Sport England’s Clubmark award, was launched in 2006. “We are very, very pleased to have GolfMark,” said John Spaven. “It is extra special to be the 600th club and we are really pleased to receive this recognition. “It has been two years hard work and we appreciate the support we have had from Richard Brown, our regional development officer from England Golf,” Spaven added.

SHEFFIELD STAR TRIUMPHS A SHEFFIELD youngster has triumphed in the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship at Close House. Hallamshire star Matthew Fitzpatrick won the tournament by a clear margin over Joe Brooks. Fitzpatrick, the British Boys Champion, came into the event unsure about his form because of his A Levels studies. But

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brands such as Lyle and Scott, Adidas, Stewart, Srixon, Motocaddy, Powakaddy, Yonex and Ping. Commenting on the day, Howley said: “It felt great to hand our donation to Ashgate Hospice, they are a brilliant local organisation. “Big thanks must go out to every one of my team for being involved, and more importantly, wanting to be involved, it really made the difference,” he added.

after a 73 he responded with a 68 to take a threestroke lead. Despite drizzly conditions, the 18-year-old returned a best-of-the-day 74 for a seven-stroke victory.

NORTHUMBERLAND YOUNGSTER STARS FOR ENGLAND

A NORTHUMBERLAND golfer helped England’s youngsters to a clean sweep victory in the Home Internationals. England Under 16 champion Jake Storey won both his matches as they beat Wales 9-3 against Wales, before wins over Scotland and Ireland at Huddersfield.

STACEY IS TOP STEWARD A ROTHERHAM steward has been named the Fuller’s London Pride Steward of the Year for England Golf’s North region. Wath’s Dawn Stacey scooped the award at a London ceremony. The competition, now in its sixth year, is run jointly by Fuller’s and England Golf and aims to identify the steward who provides the most welcoming and enjoyable experience at the 19th hole. Dawn swapped her life in the retail trade for the role of club steward 13 years ago.

HOSPICE BENEFITS IN CHARITY DAY AT WATH Darts legend John Lowe among the stars turning out

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COURSEDIRECTORY TRETHORNE LOSE IN MINERS LAMP CHALLENGE Trethorne suffered defeat in the bi-annual Miners Lamp Challenge at La Manga Club in Murcia, Spain. The Trethorne team won the fourballs and trailed their Spanish hosts by just a single point heading into the final day singles. Unfortunately, the Spanish team were too strong on the final day and ran out comfortable victors.

SOUTH WEST

LA GRANDE MARE WIN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY SEVENS GUERNSEY club La Grande Mare have won the 2012 Hampshire County 7s tournament after prevailing in the finals day at Rowlands Castle. The team from Guernsey beat Waterlooville in the semi-finals and then went on to win five of the six matches played in the final against fellow Channel Island club Ryde. In the third-place play-off match Basingstoke took an early lead by winning the

VISIT MANOR HOUSE Situated in unique Cotswold countryside in the stunning valley of Castle Combe, the undulating landscape at Manor House provides a great adventure for any level of golfer. Designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clarke in 1992, it is now widely regarded as one of the finest courses in the South West. YOUNGSTERS SECURE ENGLAND SPOT Four South West youngsters have been selected for the England Golf Select regional training squad. Jemima Gregson (Knowle), Chloe Howard (Boringdon Park), Sophie Keech (Lyme Regis) and Victoria Wakeley-Jones (Minchinhampton) will join the top 23 English girls in the squad. Grace Connelly, Megan Giles, Charlotte Heeps, Grace Jackson, Caley McGinty, Maddie Stone and Emily Toy are in the Birdie squad.

GREAT YEAR-ROUND GOLF AT TRETHORNE OFFERING a challenging and beautifully maintained course along with a vibrant and friendly atmosphere

Trethorne is the perfect place to escape to for a golf break. The club is set in Launceston on the border between Devon and Cornwall and is conveniently located just off the main A30. Commenting on a visit, Windsor Golf Society said: “If you are looking for a golf break for a group, look no further. The staff are great, nothing too much trouble, good golf and good food.” Trethorne recognises that many different aspects make up a good golf break and the club delivers an experience beyond any expectations.

BOWOOD’S PERFECT BLEND SET in the heart of Wiltshire Bowood Golf and Country Club offers an enticing combination of play and stay. It is home to a difficult and exciting course as well as an impressive hotel and spa. The Championship course offers a stern test to even the best players and can measure over 7,300 yards, and is

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first two games but Waterlooville fought back to take the next four and secure victory. One key to success has been an unchanged team, with the seven-man line-up of Wasif Anees, Neil Black, Adie Coquelin, Paul Cosnett, Andy Harte, Simon Huxtable and David Jeffery competing in each round of the tournament. Approaching its anniversary, La Grande Mare is set in 120 acres on Guernsey’s west coast.

coupled with well-placed hazards and superb greens. The complex is set in 2000 acres of Grade I listed parkland mapped out by designer Capability Brown.

ENJOY YOUR WINTER GOLF AT BOWOOD PARK Bowood Park is set in 230 acres of North Cornwall’s rolling hills and woodland. It features superb greens, all built to USGA standards, and its excellent drainage system means the course rarely falls foul of even the most extreme weather.

ESCAPE TO WOODBURY PARK IF you are looking for an escape this winter, then Woodbury Park has the perfect golf break packages at unbeatable prices. Until March 31, guests can take advantage of two fantastic deals on stay-and-play packages. For golfers who want to end their weekend with a break, you can enjoy a night in the hotel with golf for just £94.50pppn if you stay on Sunday or Monday. Otherwise, the hotel has a variety of breaks which begin at £115 and are ideal for both societies and individuals.

LA GRANDE MARE THRIVE IN COUNTY 7S Guernsey club earn success with victory over Ryde in final

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WALES

Email your club’s news to editorial@sportspub.co.uk

GOLF LIVE HEADS TO CELTIC MANOR

PLAY AND STAY AT RHOS-ON-SEA A HIDDEN gem tucked away on the North Wales coastline, Rhos-On-Sea boasts an idyllic location with stunning coastal and country views. The course provides a perfect blend between parkland and links terrain, and the on-site hotel offers excellent play-and-stay packages including two rounds of golf from as little as £65pppn. JUNIOR WIN FOR VALE RESORT THE Vale Resort has secured victory in the Welsh Junior Inter Club Championships at Builth Wells. In testing conditions and heavy rain, the Glamorgan team won the championship from runners-up St Pierre and third-placed Mold GC. WELSH SUCCESS IN TOP 100 WELSH courses are celebrating consistent success after several venues were named in National Club Golfer’s Top 100 Links Courses. Royal Porthcawl, Royal St David’s, Aberdovey, Pwllheli, Tenby, Ashburnham, Porthmadog, North Wales and Conwy have all made the list, which recognises the best places to play links golf in Great Britain and Ireland.

RYDER Cup venue Celtic Manor will welcome stars from sport and showbusiness in May for Golf Live 2013. Ian Poulter, Darren Clarke and Paul Casey are all avid supporters of the event, along with home-grown hero and former Masters champion Ian Woosnam. Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will oversee four teams of celebrities who will take part in the newly created Celebrity Cup.

MANLEY MISSES OUT ON TOUR CARD STUART Manley will not play on the 2013 European Tour after failing to qualify for the Qualifying School finals in Portugal.

The Mountain Ash player finished with a four-over-par total of 292 at Campo de Golf El Saler, despite carding a 68 in the final round. After securing a win for Great Britain and Ireland in the 2003 Walker Cup, Manley joined the Challenge Tour. He earned a place on the European Tour the following year but has never managed to finish in the top 115 to secure automatic retention of his card. The result in Portugal means another season on the Challenge Tour for the Welshman – 10 years after his Walker Cup heroics.

PLAY AND STAY AT THE VALE ONE of the country’s most popular resorts, The Vale, in Glamorgan, is set in over 650 acres of stunning countryside. It is home to a fantastic, 143-bedroom, four-star hotel, Wales’ largest spa and an unrivalled selection of sport and leisure facilities. With two championship courses, some fantastic society and corporate packages, an impressive

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Speaking about the event, Montgomerie said: “Golf Live has created a real buzz since it started and I’m really excited at the prospect of the new celebrity competition. There is no other event like it in golf, and for golfers to be given the chance to come along and see the interaction between the pros, the general public and now the celebrities is fantastic.” For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.golfliveevent.com

shop and top-class coaching facilities, it is ideal for anyone looking to take a golf break. What’s more, dinner, bed, breakfast and golf packages start from just £99.

TWO NEW LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIPS THE Golf Union of Wales has introduced two new ladies’ championships to the 2013 calendar. The Welsh Ladies MidAmateur Championship will be held on May 19 and the Welsh Ladies’ Inter Counties Stroke Play Championship will be a team event played on July 16.

WALES DISAPPOINT IN SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONALS DESPITE home advantage, Wales could only manage a third place finish in the Senior Home Internationals at Southerndown. The tournament began in the worst way possible for the hosts as they succumbed to a heavy 7.5-1.5 defeat at the hands of reigning champions Ireland. Another defeat followed against England before the team rallied to beat Scotland 5-4. The trophy was won by England, who produced a shock to beat Ireland in the final match.

CELTIC MANOR TO HOST GOLF LIVE Celebrity event will take place at the Ryder Cup venue in May

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NORTH WEST Cheshire | Cumbria | Lancashire | Merseyside

GREAT DEALS TO BE SAVOURED IN WINTER AT GARSTANG Despite being located in an area which is

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champions in Bromilow’s last game while Mike Gray and Stuart Fawcett were recognised for helping to secure the Seniors League and won the Big Six tournament.

MUST PLAY We unveil another top-class British course

MUST

HURLSTON HALL, Lancashire

PLAY

Enjoy this hidden gem that has been polished in recent times ABOUT HURLSTON HALL is a very well designed Donald Steel course that blends perfectly into the surrounding landscape. Despite being a venue which underpins classic core golfing values and is a delight to play, Hurlston Hall could also be regarded as a hidden gem when compared to nearby courses such as Royal Birkdale. Extensive work has been carried out over the last year to make the bunkers a stronger visual and playing feature. The results are now evident to see, with holes more appealing to the eye and demanding tactical awareness and course

management skills if a good score is to be returned. THE COURSE Panoramically stunning and set among rolling Lancashire countryside, the course is set in 135 acres of pure parkland. The emphasis of this par-72 course is on enjoyment. The strategic use of natural elevation, well-placed traps and the finely sculptured contours of the greens present an inspiring challenge. The risk-reward nature of the course means that there is always the opportunity to card a personal best, yet players can often be undone when trying to be overly adventurous.

This particularly holds true on the par 3s. A good example of this is the 170-yard 2nd, which despite being classified at the easiest hole provides a stern test. The tee shot plays into the wind and requires players to clear the largest lake on the course.

BIRDIE CHANCE The 13th offers a rare scoring opportunity. It is one of the shorter par 4s and, provided the ball is kept straight, there is little to scare players. There is water to the left and two bunkers at the front edge of the green.

CARD WRECKER At 429 yards, the par-4 10th is a hole few players would relish facing. There is water in play throughout, with one pond down the left from the tee and a second strategically placed in the centre of the fairway. The green is two-tiered with a huge bunker to the right so a bogey is perfectly acceptable.

LOCATION On the A570 between Ormskirk and Southport. Satnav L40 8HB. GREEN FEES Winter rates; weekdays £27, weekends £32. Juniors from £13. CONTACT www.hurlstonhall.co.uk 01704 840 400

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NORTH WEST DIRECTORY

WINTER PACKAGES WINTER SPECIAL

Price: Weekday £30.00 - Weekend £34.00 Coffee & Bacon Baps • 18 Holes of Golf 2 Course Meal (Parties of 12 and over) Other Packages available. Please contact us for more details. Hurlston Hall Golf & Country Club welcome Societies & Visitors all year round

Telephone: 01704 840400 • Email: info@hurlstonhall.co.uk

www.hurlstonhall.co.uk

Hurlston Lane, Scarisbrick, Lancashire, L40 8HB

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COURSEDIRECTORY TRANQUILITY AT BEESTON FIELDS This is an attractive tree-lined parkland course located close to the centre of Nottingham. There are plenty of picturesque holes that will test your strategy as well as your brawn. But the real key to success here is mastering the sometimes severely sloping greens that can become devilishly quick throughout the year.

THORPENESS IS BRITAIN’S GREENEST COURSE A Suffolk club can claim to be the greenest in Britain after landing a national prize at a prestigious environmental awards ceremony. Thorpeness was named winner of the Overall Environmental Achievement Award at the STRI Golf Environment Awards 2012, organised by the Sports Turf Research Institute, a leading industry expert in the preparation and maintenance of sports pitches.

YOUNGSTERS SECURE ENGLAND SPOT Two young golfers from the East Midlands region have been selected for the 2012/13 England Golf Select regional training squad. Emily Slater (Woodhall Spa) and Olivia Kelly (Erewash Valley) will join the top 23 English girls in the squad. WOODHALL SPA TO HOST COACHING CONFERENCE England Golf has announced that their annual two-day coaching conference will be held at Woodhall Spa. The event offers coaches the opportunity to exchange ideas on coaching and programmes used at national, regional, county and club level. The event will take place on January 10th. For more information visit www.englandgolf.org

RAMSDALE PARK RAISES £1000 FOR CHARITY Kind-hearted golfers at Ramsdale Park Golf Centre have raised £1,000 for two local charities.

Golfers from the public pay-and-play centre’s par-3 club have raised the money through a percentage of weekly match fees, unredeemed prize vouchers, a charity day and individual donations. The total amount raised will be split between the Nottinghamshire Hospice and the John Eastwood Hospice. Kate Purdue, fundraiser for the Nottinghamshire Hospice, said: “It’s great to work with local groups such as this who can see the benefit directly in their local community and the donation will do so much for patient care for local people.”

WINTER FUN AT NORTH SHORE NORTH SHORE sits in an unrivalled position, being close to the coast and offering some marvellous views across The Wash to the Norfolk coastline. The course is a mix of parkland and linksland. Often when this is the case you might enjoy nine holes of one before a change of flavour but here it constantly moves

Ian Willett, course manager at Thorpeness, said: “This award is beyond all our expectations. We are privileged to work in an area of outstanding natural beauty and to help conserve a rich habitat for a variety of wildlife. “We take our environmental responsibilities extremely seriously and work hard to ensure that our course is a wildlife haven.”

from one to the other The venue is an ideal stop in the winter, and with the 1st and 10th tees sitting outside the hotel it makes for 27 holes of high quality golf.

FRILFORD HEATH – 54 CLASSIC HOLES Frilford Heath is one of very few clubs which boast three outstanding courses. What makes the venue really special is the sandy soil its 54 holes occupy. The turf is a delight to hit from and you can expect firm conditions underfoot even when other nearby courses are soggy.

PAINTER LEADS DERBY TO VICTORY A Kedleston Park youngster led Derby College to victory in the Inter Collegiate Tour Event at Wishaw. Will Painter blew the rest of the field away with a two-under 70. Painter secured birdies on four of the last six holes, and needed only 28 putts. Performance Golf Academy Derby programme director Nigel Furniss commented: “Will showed a positive and focused attitude on the course which was a major factor in his score.”

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EAST MIDLANDS DIRECTORY

A perfect venue for a golf day Home to the English Amateur 2013

WINTER PACKAGE from

£50

per person

Available from 1 Nov to 31 Mar INCLUDES: • Unlimited golf on any of our 3 championship courses • Coffee on arrival and the famous ‘Frilford Brunch’ events@frilfordheath.co.uk

Frilford Heath | Abingdon | Oxon | OX13 5NW | 01865 390 864 www.frilfordheath.co.uk

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FRILFORD HEATH GOLF CLUB

BULWELL FOREST HUCKNALL ROAD, BULWELL, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Come and visit Nottingham’s Oldest Golf Course

18 HOLES Weekdays £15 Available until 31/3/13

SOCIETY PACKAGES Groups of 6 - 11 Save 20% Groups of 12 - 17 Save 25% Groups of 18 - 23 Save 30% Groups of 24+ Save 40%

SAVE £££! Email us at secretary@bulwellforestgolfclub.co.uk

Call us today on 0115 976 3172 Visit our website for online bookings

www.bulwellforestgolfclub.co.uk

SHERWOOD FOREST ‘Heathland golf at its very best’

GREEN FEES Summer - From £60 round • £80 day Winter - From £35 round Sherwood Forest Golf Club | Eakring Road | Mansfield | Nottinghamshire | NG18 3EW T 01623 627403 • E info@sherwoodforestgolfclub.co.uk • W www.sherwoodforestgolfclub.co.uk

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SOUTH WEST

GREAT YEAR-ROUND GOLF AT TRETHORNE OFFERING a challenging and beautifully maintained course along with a vibrant and friendly atmosphere

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coupled with well-placed hazards and superb greens. The complex is set in 2000 acres of Grade I listed parkland mapped out by designer Capability Brown.

2 Day Golf Break to include:

BOWOOD PARK HOTEL

1 Nights Bed & Breakfast • 1, Three Course Evening meal • 2 Rounds of Golf 1st Jan – 31st March: £71pp April & October: £105pp May – September: £115pp

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“I have just one word to describe Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club and its facilities – Superb! This Cornish cracker is a must visit!” John E. Morgan – Former PGA and European Tour Star

Available midweek or weekends

RESIDENTIAL GOLF BREAKS 2013 2012

3 Day Golf Break to include: 2 Nights Bed & Breakfast • 2, Three Course Evening Meals • 3 Rounds of Golf 1st Jan – 31st March: £105pp April & October: £164pp May – September: £175pp

Available midweek or weekends

4 Day Golf Break to include: 3 Nights Bed & Breakfast • 3, Three Course Evening Meals • 4 Rounds of Golf 1st Jan – 31st March: £155pp April & October: £218pp May – September inclusive: £240pp Available midweek or weekends • All package tariffs above are based on 2 people sharing a twin/double room. • Single room upgrades incur a supplement of 50% of the per person package price.

Additional golf break benefits in 2013: Organiser FREE OF CHARGE for groups of 16 and above

• 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

@bowoodparkgolf

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SOUTH WEST DIRECTORY

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FREE GOLF

Organiser Goes FREE! The Organiser receives FREE Golf & Accommodation for groups of 12 or more

GOL

AWARD D

Wolfedale GOLF COURSE WE OFFER • Full range of equipment • PGA Qualified lessons • 6 hole Starters Course • Golf Shop and repairs • Full bar facilities • Equipment hire

Situated in beautiful parkland with panoramic views over the tranquil Dorset countryside.

THE CADDY BAR Relax and enjoy the full bar facilities offered in our friendly Caddy Bar. We have local real ale, local food, tea & coffee. Bar snacks are also available.

For more information please contact us on Golf Shop: 01305 260186 Caddy Bar: 01305 262486 www.wolfedalegolf.co.uk

5 STAR ccccc COMMENDED HOTEL & LUXURY LOG HOMES TO RENT • Close to Poole & Bournemouth • • 2 Fantastic Golf Courses • • Dinner, Bed, Breakfast & Free Golf from £67.95pppn • 12 Luxury Detached Log Homes to rent. Min 2 night, sleeps 8, sauna, log stoves.

You won’t be disappointed!

CALL TODAY 01929 472 244

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Are you a South West club? Want to appear in our new regional directory? • Attract new members • Attract societies from nearby clubs • Attract visiting parties from further afield

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Golfer

SOUTH EAST

HADLEY WOOD PROVIDES PERFECT COMBINATION SUPERB golf, impeccable function facilities and a secluded setting combine at Hadley Wood. Surrounded by peaceful parkland well off the beaten track, it is hard to believe you are only 11 miles from the centre of London.

FEATURED COURSE: BOTLEY PARK, Hampshire

NATIONAL

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COURSEDIRECTORY

HAMPSHIRE YOUNGSTER STARS FOR ENGLAND A HAMPSHIRE golfer has helped England’s youngsters complete a clean sweep in the Home Internationals. Jack Singh Brar remained unbeaten as the squad travelled to Llanwern to beat Wales, then triumphed 10-5 against Scotland at Pannal before beating Ireland 10-6 at Huddersfield. NATIONAL PRIDE FOR YOUNG GOLFERS FIVE young golfers from the South East region have been selected for the 2012/13 England Golf Select regional training squad. Emma Allen (Meon Valley), Jelina Fernando (Mid Sussex), Emily Royer (Chart Hills), Luan Skeates (Buckinghamshire) and Charlotte West (Ellesborough) will join the top 23 English girls in the squad.

THE Macdonald Botley Park Hotel, Golf & Spa in Southampton features an 18-hole, par 70 course that meanders through 176 acres of idyllic parkland and water features. This parkland course will appeal to both the serious golfer and beginner alike with water coming into play at various points throughout the course with the 9th, 11th and 18th holes being particularly notable. This is a wonderfully relaxing course which has

HOEBRIDGE SALUTES CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS HOEBRIDGE Golf Centre recently welcomed the return of its 2012 winners for a Champion of Champions

tournament. Stuart King and Roger Hill from Farnborough emerged victorious from a field of over 80 previous winners, but the pair had to rely on a countback to seal the win.

RICHARDSON EARNS TOUR SPOT A FORMER England international secured a place in the Hong Kong Open after winning the Hong Kong Open Amateur Championship at Clearwater Bay. Edward Richardson, from Hemsted Forest, eased to a whopping 14-stroke victory over Chinese Taipei’s Liu Yu Jui. “It all came together over the past couple of days after I started the

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been designed with golfers’ enjoyment in mind. The 12-bay covered driving range, practice bunker and putting area allow golfers the opportunity to properly warm up before setting out on to the challenging course. If there are three stand-out holes they would be the difficult 7th, the short 11th over water and the spectacular views of the lake and fountain from the closing 18th.

tournament pretty badly,” said Richardson. He was forced to stop playing for two and a half years after being diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare blood disorder, in 2008.

NEW MANAGER AT WYCOMBE HEIGHTS NEW Wycombe Heights Golf Centre general manager Graham Rolland has vowed to make the venue a focal point for the community. “Wycombe Heights is a jewel. It is not just a golf facility, it is a community centre and eatery open to everyone,” he said.

YOUNGSTERS IN RYDER CUP BATTLE OAK Park recreated the magic of Medinah in an attempt to inspire the next generation of golfing talent. The Surrey club hosted the fourth annual ‘Academy Ryder Cup’ – a junior tournament which mimics the format of the Ryder Cup. Twenty four juniors were split into Europe and USA after earning places from a qualifying field of over 80 players. General Manager Simon Edwin said: “The publicity generated by events like this can only mean one thing – more golfers.”

• SOCIETY DAYS FROM £18.50PP • GOLF BREAKS FROM £72.50PP 1 NIGHT & 2 ROUNDS • VISITOR GREENFEE £15 ALL DAY WEDNESDAY* *October 1st 2012 – March 31st 2013

MAIDSTONE ROAD, HEADCORN, KENT TN27 9PT

01622 890866 www.weald-of-kent.co.uk

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COURSEDIRECTORY

Are you a South East club? Want to appear in our new regional directory? • Attract new members • Attract societies from nearby clubs • Attract visiting parties fromfurther afield

Call 0113 289 3979 or email info@sportspub.co.uk

Facilities 4 Star Hotel, Spa, Tennis, Bar, Restaurant, Putting Green, 12 Bay Driving Range, Buggies, Trolleys, Custom Fitting, Lessons, Pro Shop

Contact Details

STUNNING SOCIETY GOLF PACKAGES FROM JUST £27.95 Call our golf team today

Macdonald Botley Park Hotel, Golf & Spa Winchester Road, Boorley Green, Southampton SO32 2UA Telephone: 0844 879 9034 Email enquiries via website www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

0844 879 9034

www.MacdonaldHotels.co.uk/BotleyPark

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COURSEDIRECTORY YORKSHIRE SEASON ENDS AT WOODHALL YORKSHIRE’S 2012 county season came to a close at Woodhall Spa for its annual Champion of Champions tournament. Yorkshire were represented by Dan Brown, Stuart Pond and Nick Marsh in the Mens, Seniors and Boys Championships respectively. Marsh had the most success, finishing second in the boys’ tournament.

NORTH EAST Cleveland | Durham | Northumberland | Tyne & Wear | Yorkshire

FILEY BECOMES 600TH GOLFMARK CLUB FILEY has become the 600th club to achieve the GolfMark, England Golf’s award for junior and beginner-friendly facilities. The GolfMark scheme, which

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after a 73 he responded with a 68 to take a threestroke lead. Despite drizzly conditions, the 18-year-old returned a best-of-the-day 74 for a seven-stroke victory.

NORTHUMBERLAND YOUNGSTER STARS FOR ENGLAND

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COURSEDIRECTORY

Are you a North East club? Want to appear in our new regional directory? • Attract new members • Attract societies from nearby clubs • Attract visiting parties from further afield

Call 0113 289 3979 or email info@sportspub.co.uk THE FULFORD (YORK) GOLF CLUB 1906 – 2012

WINTER RATES Available from £30pp Packages also available Original home of the British Ladies Open Championship; and the Benson & Hedges and Murphys Cup European Professional Events Visit our website for last minute deals and internet bookings

www.fulfordgolfclub.co.uk Contact Gary / Fiona for further information

01904 413 579 • info@fulfordgolfclub.co.uk www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 107

Golfer NATIONAL

CLUB

COURSEDIRECTORY HUGE SUMMER TURNOUT IN WORCESTERSHIRE More than 1,000 people have opted to try golf in Worcestershire this summer. A wide range of activities across the county have made it easier for youngsters and beginners to trail the sport. The schemes are run by the Worcestershire County Golf Partnership, which brings together the men’s union, ladies association and PGA professionals.

CHARLEY SECURES WARWICKSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT Ben Charley has secured victory in the Warwickshire Junior Order of Merit Championships after a tight contest at West Midlands. In a tight event, Charley did well to hold his nerve and a total of 38 points for the Stoneleigh Deer Park junior captain to take the maximum 3,000 points on offer, propelling him to the top of the overall rankings.

FEATURED COURSE: SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE was originally formed in 1892, making it one of the oldest courses in the Midlands. The club moved to its current site in 1908 and six-time Open champion Harry Vardon was commissioned to design a new layout. Such luminaries as Vardon, Harry Colt, James Braid and Donald Steel have all inputted ideas into the course design and their efforts are well rewarded at what is one

TRENTHAM AWARDED GOLFMARK STATUS TRENTHAM has been awarded GolfMark status for attracting junior players and beginners onto the fairways. The Staffordshire club – a regional qualifier for the Open Championship

of the finest venues in the area. Set in 160 acres of rolling parkland, it can play as long as 6,587 yards off the black tees with a tight par of 71. The middle stretch, holes 7 to 14, provides six par 4s at well over 400 yards and provide an interesting challenge and a stern test even for skilled players. Visitors are welcomed throughout the year and can enjoy use of the practice facilities as well as coaching or clinics with the club professionals.

and widely regarded as one of the best in the county – has been honoured with the award, which recognises golf facilities which are friendly and safe for children and newcomers to the game. The junior section at Trentham is thriving under junior committee chairman Rob Inchley and senior PGA teaching professional Ashley Salt, with coaching available from the age of eight upwards. General manager Richard Minton says: “GolfMark shows we are creating a positive environment in which children can learn and play golf.”

CANNOCK PARK’S GREAT OFFERS BORDERING the beautiful Cannock Chase you will find Cannock Park, a mature parkland. Built in 1988, the club prides itself on being one

108 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

of the best municipals in the Midlands and has been recognised with a leisure industry award. A full membership can be purchased for £440, with

junior memberships £138. Pensioners and students receive a 50 per cent discount, as do those who are on benefits or unemployed.

RUGBY STEWARD LANDS AWARD Yvonne James has been named Fuller’s London Pride Golf Steward of the Year. The Rugby steward added the national title ahead of the other regional winners in an all-female line-up. The win held added significance for James, who made the 2011 finals but missed out on the top prize.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 109

WEST MIDLANDS DIRECTORY Societies welcome throughout 2012

Golf Packages from £22.50pp (including food)

New 28 bay Driving Range

Wassell Grove Lane, Hagley, West Midlands DY9 9JW

For bookings contact the Society Co-ordinator Tel: 01562 883701 www.hagleygolfandcountryclub.co.uk

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COURSEDIRECTORY

Are you a West Midlands club? Want to appear in our new regional directory? • Attract new members • Attract societies from nearby clubs • Attract visiting parties fromfurther afield

Call 0113 289 3979 or email info@sportspub.co.uk

Cannock Park Golf Course

Weekday 4 Ball £40.00 after 12pm £30.00

Weekend 4 Ball £50.00 after 12pm £40.00 Must be pre-booked

t: 01543 578500 Membership Prices – available from January 1st 2013 £30.00 dd per month 7 day green fee membership £360.00 per year green fee one off payment

Available 7am till Dusk (times may vary throughout year)

Contact The Golf shop on 01543

Offer ends 24/12/12

578850

Managed by (WLCT) Wigan Leisure Culture Trust in partnership with Cannock Chase District Council

110 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

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COURSEDIRECTORY RAMSAY MISSES OUT IN INDIA RICHIE RAMSAY was denied his second win of the year after slipping to a play-off defeat at the Hero Indian Open. The Aberdonian, who won the European Masters in September, was beaten by Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand. “I stayed committed to every shot but some days, things just don’t go your way,” said Ramsay. VALENTINE’S DAY IN HICKORY OPEN RICK Valentine beat Australia’s Perry Somers to land the World Hickory Open at Monifieth Medal and Carnoustie Burnside. The PGA pro and director of golf at Loretto School, Musselburgh finished on a total of 156 and then finally beat Somers in a six-hole play-off. Loretto School celebrated a double win Valentine and 15-yearold John Dunn Butler and George Cumberland winning team event. “This was John and George’s first attempt at hickory golf and they played incredibly well,” said Valentine.

SCOTLAND Email your club’s news to editorial@sportspub.co.uk

HENRY AND DOAK SECURE EUROPEAN TOUR CARDS SCOTT Henry and Chris Doak have both clinched 2013 European Tour cards following the seasonending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final on the Challenge Tour. Glaswegian Henry, a two-time past Scottish Boys, Boys’ Stroke Play and Men's Stroke Play champion, and Greenock’s Doak both finished in the top 11 in the final rankings. Henry was disappointed with his performance in Italy after a closing 74 left him tied 39th, but it was still enough to hang on to a top-11 spot. “I'm really looking forward to next year,” said the 25-year-old, whose win at the lucrative Kazakhstan

CLUB RAISES £4,500 FOR CHILDREN’S CHARITY A CHARITY golf day at Pitlochry has raised almost £4,500 to help young cancer sufferers and their families. Club officials were overwhelmed by the support received by the 22 teams

who participated in the Stableford competition to support CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity. A prize draw was made by member Lee Grant and son James, who was diagnosed with low grade glioma at just seven months old but has now recovered thanks to funds from CLIC Sargent. Director Stephen Carruthers said: “The amount of support the event received is a testament to the generosity and goodwill of our members, guests and visitors, the local people of Pitlochry and the surrounding area.”

CHALLENGE AHEAD FOR KELLETT FORMER Scotland international Ross Kellett has added to Scotland’s golfing success in 2012 by graduating to the Challenge Tour. The Motherwell man is one of five players who have gained promotion from the Alps Tour to the second-tier European circuit for 2013. The 22-year-old from Colville Park earned

Open was crucial to his rankings position. “To be competing against the best players is a very exciting thing for me." Commenting on a return to the European Tour, Doak said: “It’s taken me a few years to get my card back, but I’m definitely a better player now and I feel like I can compete.”

£17,741 from 17 Alps Tour events, one of which he won – his maiden Alps Tour triumph at the Montecchia Open – as well as five other top 10s.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR LYLE TWO-TIME Major champion Sandy Lyle will collect a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Scottish Golf Awards – 25 years after he won the Masters. The former Green Jacket and 1985 Open champion can expect a likely sell-out crowd in Glasgow.

EXTRA SUPPORT FOR LOCAL YOUNGSTERS YOUNG Scottish golfers have been bolstered in their bid for future Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth success thanks to national sports scholarships. Golfers who combine training with study at colleges and universities across Scotland will receive tailored support in 2013. Jack McDonald (Barassie), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) and Craig Howie (Peebles) will all benefit from the scheme. The 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 111

SCOTLAND DIRECTORY

Torwoodlee Golf Course Edinburgh Road, Galashiels, Scottish Borders TD1 2NE

Hirsel Golf Club ''The Augusta of the North''

The Hirsel Golf Club is one of the UK’s Hidden Gems and indeed was recently featured in Golf Monthly’s Top 100 Hidden Gems of UK & Ireland list

A challenging 18 hole, 6021 yds SSS 69/70 parkland course set adjacent to the River Gala, 2 miles North of Galashiels on the A7 & 30 miles South of Edinburgh.

GREEN FEES £32 round, £42 day - Weekdays & Weekends New GPS Buggies & online booking available Special offer - 4x ball - £80 (£100 inc. buggies) Phone: 01896 752260 (Option 3)

www.torwoodleegolfclub.co.uk

The Club enjoys sharing our great course with Visitors and Societies alike and you are assured of a warm welcome 7 days a week. Group packages are competitively priced and can be tailored to suit your needs. 2013 bookings now being taken at 2011 prices. Can you afford to miss out on experiencing the Hirsel?

Email: torwoodleegolfclub@btconnect.com

BORDERS GOLF BREAKS

Woll Golf Course BOOK NOW - 01750 32711

It couldn't be easier to arrange your visit to The Hirsel

Bacon Roll and Coﬀee, 18 holes, 2 course meal £37 per person 7 days a week ‘OR you can stay with us and play golf for FREE’ For fantastic golf breaks with properties overlooking the course and FREE golf!

For further details and to take advantage of all out best green fee offers contact the club by email at secretary@hirselgc.co.uk, by phone on 01890 882 678 or visit our website at www.hirselgc.co.uk

CALL 01750 32799

www.wollgolf.co.uk New Woll Estate, Ashkirk, Selkirk, Scottish Borders TD7 4PE 01750 32711

Kelso Road, Coldstream, Scottish Borders TD12 4NJ

“Roxburghe’s signature hole, The Viaduct, is my favourite 14th tee in Scotland! It’s such a beautiful hole in such a glorious setting” Sam Torrance

Society Packages now available from £49 per person

Winter 4 Ball £140 including Soup & Sandwiches (from 1st November 2012 until end of March 2013) Book online and receive exclusive discounts For further details please call Craig or Steve at The Professional Shop on 01573 450 333

Qualifying School Venue - 1st Stage 2012

www.roxburghegolfclub.co.uk

112 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort With spectacular views of the River Clyde and the Kilpatrick Hills, The Earl of Mar championship golf course at Mar Hall Golf & Spa resort offers a five star golf experience for all.

Golfer NATIONAL

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COURSEDIRECTORY

Are you a Scottish club? Want to appear in our new regional directory? • Attract new members • Attract societies from nearby clubs • Attract visiting parties fromfurther afield

Call 0113 289 3979 or email info@sportspub.co.uk

Dundream

Winter Green Fees

- until March 2013

£35pp or £120 fourball 10 round Winter Ticket for £250 valid until March 31st 2013 Full course is played during Winter months No Winter greens, tees and no mats

Dundream is an award-winning, luxury 5*, self-catering house in SW Scotland with panoramic sea views to Mull of Kintyre, Arran and Ireland. Sleeps 8 with ensuite facilities complete with Sonos audio, Wi-Fi, 3D TV, Blu-ray player, wine cooler and wood burning stove. In-house catering available. Unique lighthouse restaurant nearby plus two Michelin star restaurants. Prices from £520 Local Courses: Stranraer, Portpatrick, and Turnberry

Dundream | Kirkcolm | Stranraer Dumfries & Galloway | DG9 0QQ T: 07517 373470 | E: info@dundream.com

golf@marhall.com 01418129990 Earl of Mar Estate, Bishopton Nr Glasgow, PA7 5NW www.marhall.com www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 113

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COURSEDIRECTORY

WALES

Email your club’s news to editorial@sportspub.co.uk

GOLF LIVE HEADS TO CELTIC MANOR

MANLEY MISSES OUT ON TOUR CARD STUART Manley will not play on the 2013 European Tour after failing to qualify for the Qualifying School finals in Portugal.

114 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

shop and top-class coaching facilities, it is ideal for anyone looking to take a golf break. What’s more, dinner, bed, breakfast and golf packages start from just £99.

IX GET S S BALL H WORT – 0 £12.5 ! FREE

ENJOYED OUR TOP 100 LINKS FEATURE? WANT TO READ AUTHORITATIVE WRITING ON COURSES EVERY MONTH? SUBSCRIBE TO NCG SO YOU NEVER MISS AN ISSUE – AND YOU’LL RECEIVE SIX FREE SRIXON BALLS RITAIN’S best-selling two-piece model, the AD333 is the ultimate ball of its type. Now in its fifth generation, the AD333 offers more spin, feel and distance than ever before thanks to an incredibly thin cover

n Great value and FREE postage and packaging n And you get £12.50 worth of balls! A YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION IS JUST £42.

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01132 893 979 TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT OFFER!

YOUR GAME Hit it further and straighter | Hole more putts | Sharpen your short game | Golf psychology | Fitness tips

FULL CONTACT Consistent striking with the irons is key to hitting more greens. The problem for many amateurs is a poor strike caused by taking the divot before the ball. To achieve the best iron shots you actually want to hit the ground just after you make contact with the ball. This slightly descending blow will give you a crisp strike that will send the ball a consistent distance every time. Set up another ball just outside the one you are going to hit and take note of where the divot starts. It should begin level with or even slightly beyond the ball that remains. Practise trying to make the divot look like the one here.

BUY 5 GET FREE â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1 LESSO OFFERN !

Peter Myers is head professional at Hainsworth Park in East Yorkshire. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost professionals from all over the UK to give tuition. Contact Peter on 01964 542 362 or visit www.petermyersgolf.co.uk

FIND YOUR NEAREST FOREMOST PROFESSIONAL AT WWW.FOREMOSTGOLF.COM The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Largest Golf Retail Group

Shot on location at Hacienda Del Alamo in Murcia. Visit www.clubdegolfhda.com

WEIGHT WATCHER

Why getting your posture right is essential to a sound swing

So many golfers overlook their posture as they are too focused on fixing swing faults which have probably been caused by the posture they have just overlooked. Great advice is not to mishit the shot before you've even swung it, which infers that if you get things wrong at address you are probably always going to be in a state of recovery. Remember that the posture is a vital component in golf, as it should put you in a position for balanced, powerful and consistent ball striking.

Stuart Dowsett is head professional at Sundridge Park in Kent. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost professionals from all over the UK to give tuition. Contact Stuart on 02084 605 540 or visit www.stuartdowsett.co.uk

FIND YOUR NEAREST FOREMOST PROFESSIONAL AT WWW.FOREMOSTGOLF.COM

BUY 5 GET FREE –1 LESSO OFFERN ! You can set your address position by bending forward from your hip sockets some 25-35 degrees, depending on the size of your chest (if you have a large chest, you should bend forward more than someone with a thin chest) and your weight should feel more towards the toes rather than the heels. Your arms should hang in a natural, vertical position.

The UK’s Largest Golf Retail Group

The other bend that most amateurs ignore is the side bend to the right. You should tilt your spine 6-10 degrees to the right for the driver but less than this for the irons.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 119

THE ENEMY

BELOW

How to tackle the most awkward of all the awkward lies

OU can clearly see how I am trying really hard to keep my knees bent and to remain ‘down’ on the shot even though the ball is en route. To make any sort of acceptable contact on this lie posture has to be retained. It is important to realise that when being forced to adopt such an exaggeratedly wide stance/bent kneed setup it will be extremely difficult to turn your hips or transfer your weight and this may result in topping and slicing if you don't stay down, but for those more flexible and, dare I say, more capable players it is possible for the upper body, arms and hands to become very dominant resulting in an over release/rotation of the forearms producing a closed clubface. This is a bit of a shock when nearly every instruction article tells you the ball will always slice from this type of lie.

Analysis by Gary Alliss, pro at Ladbrook Park. The ‘King of the Swing’ has twice captained the PGA Cup side. w: ladbrookparkgolf.co.uk

120 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

THE PROBLEM TThe slope is not too severe but is still steep enough for me to find it very tricky to sole the club and adopt any sort of correct posture and balance. Without being able to create a reasonable set-up to match the slope I'm in big trouble and ball below feet is the hardest to adapt to for many golfers.

THE SOLUTION This is how I adapt my set-up to maintain balance on this modest slope. I have gripped down the club and stood a couple of inches nearer. Now I can keep balance and retain a correct tilt from my

A STEEPER PROBLEM I am shown here on quite a severe slope, I can't do what I did previously on the slight hill as I will lose balance and not have sufficient space to make a swing so I have to change my approach. In this instance I grip the club at full length, as I am not able to bend over sufficiently without toppling forwards I must widen

hips to ensure the club will swing on plane, creating an in-to-in path and an appropriate angle of approach for a good contact. The downside results in a narrower arc and reduced swing length, ensuring less clubhead speed and shorter distance so I may have to choose a longer club. I will now swing quite normally, but the slope will mean that it is a more upright swing and it will be hard to release freely. Because of this I expect the ball to fly with some left-to-right curvature and I will allow for this by aiming and aligning a few yards left.

my stance and bend my knees more in order to reach the ball. You can just see that the club is now sitting very much toe up off the slope and you players must be mindful that when you strike the ball with the club at such an angle the heel will dig a deeper divot and the clubface will close just at the moment of impact, potentially imparting some hook spin.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 121

n s io ee No ript d F c a bs nlo Su ow D or

tour pro s320

It’s not a guessing game! Shotsaver Flyover Technology Know every detail before you play Calculate distances to anywhere on the golf course World 1st! 2D and 3D hole view Shotsaver Tour Pro Green View Zoom in to every green Professionally mapped course data Maximum detail. Maximum accuracy Pre-loaded with over 5500 golf courses across Europe Auto zoom, Auto rotation with Shotsaver ‘Lay-up’ technology’

FREE*

I-ONICS

Electronic scorecard Fast and eﬃcient score keeping 2.8” high def super bright display

BRACELET

Ernie has found the following beneﬁts since using I-onics. More strength Increased Flexibility Better Recovery RRP £29.99

All golfers know that accuracy is key to a good score and a lower handicap. Take the guesswork out of your game with the Shotsaver Tour Pro S320, providing precise distances to all key points on the golf course, including the front, centre and back of the green. Couple this with the Shotsaver Club Distance Recorder and you will never have to guess which club to use again. RRP £229.99 Includes free golf trolley mount. To purchase or for more information call 0333 240 1000, visit www.snooper.co.uk or available at all good pro club shops.

Like us at shotsaver

* To qualify for a Free I-Onics bracelet, all customers will need to register their purchase at www.snooperneo.co.uk. During the registration process you can specify the size and colour of the band you require.

EQUIPMENT Comprehensive and objective gear tests | The latest releases | Competitions | Fashion | Accessories

COMING SOON:

RAZR FIT

XTREME

Compact In 8.5 and 9.5˚ the head is 440cc, in the rest 460cc

Aerodynamic The head shape is designed to help increase swing speed

INTRODUCING Callaway’ s Razr Fit Xtreme driver. You will not see this in the shops until late January, but we can bring you this sneak preview. The Xtreme utilises a lighter, forgedcomposite crown to reposition redundant mass into an extremely low and forward position for a more penetrating trajectory. The aerodynamic head shape and hotter speedframe face offer faster swing speeds and increased ball velocity. To fine-tune the performance, the Xtreme can be adjusted for face angle and weight bias to ensure distance gains are accompanied with unerring accuracy.

Holy Trinity The Aldila Trinity shaft features proprietary technology for better feel and stability through impact

Golfer NATIONAL

EQUIPMENT INSIGHT

HIGH-SPEED CAVITY BACK

CLUB

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

HIGH VISIBILITY

ALSO IN THE

VR_S

NIKE VR_S COVERT DRIVER

COVERT RANGE

Red warning The Covert has a highly visible crown with the boldest of aesthetics

NCG ON VERDICT R THAT A DRIVE ES CHANG THE RULES

SIX REASONS TO BE

TESTS...

CUSTOM FITTED Dan Murphy explains why now is the right time to visit one of Titleist’s three national fitting centres in preparation for next season

Cavity back The Covert has a deep hollow the like of which you will not have seen before

Previously only seen in irons, this leads to more forgiveness and higher ball speeds on off-centre shots

BENROSS XTEX

SUNDERLAND RESORT

SRP: Jacket £120, trousers £100

SRP: Jacket £79.99, trousers £59.99

SRP: Jacket £135, Trousers £65

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: I really like the look of the jacket and I quite like the collar as well. You’d get plenty of wear off the course from this. JW: This is a decent outfit. It feels warm. There are no velcro tabs to cover the bottom of the trouser zips. The fabric is quite noisy but the fleece collar is a nice touch. Good for the money.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: The waterproof pocket seal is good and I like the detachable sleeves.I just don’t think it feels quite as contemporary as other brands. The looks do let it down a little because it’s clearly a high-quality suit. JW: Very generous sizing. The trousers were basic but the jacket was better. Not noisy to swing in. The back is longer to help the shape.

Fairways SRP: £159.99

There is a huge visual impact – but Nike say you don’t notice the swoosh once you are standing over the ball

HIGH SPEEDS

PING COLLECTION RESPONSE

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: This is a big step up in terms of quality from previous Ping Collection waterproofs I have tried. Suddenly, they are serious contenders in this category. It looks sharp and it’s good to move in. JW: I agree – the issue for me is educating my customers. You certainly can’t fault the styling, which is modern and nicely finished.

HIGH-SPEC TOUR MODEL

Tour fairways SRP: £189.99

AP1

The most forgiving model. Multi-material irons with improved looks. SRP: £93 per iron

Double adjustability Change loft and how the driver sits independently of each other

Hot face Nike say this driver gives high ball speeds off a greater portion of the face

UNDER ARMOUR STORM 2.0

AP2

Advanced-performance multi-material irons offering playability and feel. SRP: £114 per iron

Hybrids SRP: £129.99 The NexCOR face creates higher ball speeds from a larger area of the face, meaning you can miss the middle of the club and still generate distance close to your maximum

Nike VR_S Covert and VR_S Covert Tour Lofts: Adjustable between 8.5 & 12.5˚ Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage SRPs: £249.99; Tour £349.99 Available: February

The Tour version has a slightly smaller head, a deeper face and a shaft that is 10g heavier

NIKE INTRODUCE THEIR STRONGEST DRIVER TO DATE

WHY THE COVERT IS SPECIAL

IT might seem hard to imagine that a driver that is bright red with a swoosh on the crown could be accurately described as Covert but the real story with this driver is not to be seen at address. Nike have brought multiple new technologies to the game that have never been seen before – and top of the list is the concept of a cavity-back driver.

Nike Golf’s global golf club business director, Rob Arluna, on what sets this driver apart

But arguably more significant and innovative is that the VR_S Covert is the first club to allow the independent adjustability of loft and lie. This is done courtesy of a patented Dual Axis. To explain, with a single-axis adjustment, whenever you alter the loft you also change the way a club sits – add loft and the face also closes;

124 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

take off loft and the face opens. That’s fine as long as you hit it either low and right or high and left. If it’s the other way round, you are struggling. With this driver, you choose the loft (at 1˚ gaps starting at 8.5 and going up to 12.5˚). Then whether you would like it to sit open, neutral or closed. That gives you 15 choices and, according to

“We have created a gamechanging piece of technology that has already begun a growing industry buzz. “It is visually exciting, it feels and sounds amazing and, most importantly, it creates powerful

The forged CBs have a shallow cavity yet look like traditional blades. SRP: £110 per iron Irons SRP: 4-P, steel £449.99; 4-P graphite £519.99

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 125

Titleist’s most workable iron, the MBs are an outand-out blade. SRP: £110 per iron

SRP: Jacket £199, trousers £130

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: I didn’t like the black and white colour scheme we tested – I felt a bit like a skeleton! It was a large fit so there was too much excess material at address. The sealed pockets are a nice touch. DM: The sizing is definitely generous. It looks more like a jacket to walk in rather than play in. It’s well made, no doubt about that, but it didn’t convince me at this price point.

WATERPROOF Which are the best to keep you dry and swinging freely?

PROQUIP TROPHY

SRP: Jacket £160, trousers £130

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: The jacket seemed very heavy and it was a big suit for a medium – there was a lot of excess material under the arms. On the noisy side. Nice big pockets. DM: I like the half zip, and for that matter the looks generally. It’s a really smart suit. I agree with James that it is quite a heavy top and so perhaps not the most comfortable to swing in.

Tour hybrids SRP: £159.99

NEXCOR

EXPLAINED NexCOR face technology is designed to deliver faster ball speed and longer shots from a wider area of the face. It creates more speed thanks to a variable face thickness that moves the sweet spot higher from the heel to the centre, where most golfers make impact.

FOOTJOY DRYJOYS TOUR COLLECTION

SRP: Jacket £120, trousers £80

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: The colour scheme is sharp, as you’d expect from UA, but I struggled with the fit. The arms were short and it was tight under my armpits, yet the suit billowed at the front, even having adjusted the tabs on the side. I’m a big fan of the brand but not this particular suit. JW: I don’t like the cuff, because I feel like it would get wet. I was a bit underwhelmed – I expected more from Under Armour as I like the brand.

SUITS 134 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

ALSO FEATURED n NIKE GO RED P124 New VR_S Covert driver n TITLEIST P126 We go to national fitting centre n RAIN GAME P133 This month’s test is on waterprtoof suits

Golfer NATIONAL

CLUB

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

NIKE VR_S COVERT DRIVER Red warning The Covert has a highly visible crown with the boldest of aesthetics

NCG ON CT VERDI AT R TH A DRIVE GES CHAN ES L THE RU

Cavity back The Covert has a deep hollow the like of which you will not have seen before

Double adjustability Change loft and how the driver sits independently of each other

Hot face Nike say this driver gives high ball speeds off a greater portion of the face

Nike VR_S Covert and VR_S Covert Tour Lofts: Adjustable between 8.5 & 12.5˚ Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage SRPs: £249.99; Tour £349.99 Available: February

NIKE INTRODUCE THEIR STRONGEST DRIVER TO DATE IT might seem hard to imagine that a driver that is bright red with a swoosh on the crown could be accurately described as Covert but the real story with this driver is not to be seen at address. Nike have brought multiple new technologies to the game that have never been seen before – and top of the list is the concept of a cavity-back driver.

124 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

HIGH-SPEED CAVITY BACK

HIGH VISIBILITY

ALSO IN THE

VR_S COVERT RANGE

Previously only seen in irons, this leads to more forgiveness and higher ball speeds on off-centre shots

Fairways SRP: £159.99

There is a huge visual impact – but Nike say you don’t notice the swoosh once you are standing over the ball

HIGH SPEEDS

HIGH-SPEC TOUR MODEL

Tour fairways SRP: £189.99

Hybrids SRP: £129.99 The NexCOR face creates higher ball speeds from a larger area of the face, meaning you can miss the middle of the club and still generate distance close to your maximum

The Tour version has a slightly smaller head, a deeper face and a shaft that is 10g heavier

Tour hybrids SRP: £159.99

WHY THE COVERT IS SPECIAL Nike Golf’s global golf club business director, Rob Arluna, on what sets this driver apart “We have created a gamechanging piece of technology that has already begun a growing industry buzz. “It is visually exciting, it feels and sounds amazing and, most importantly, it creates powerful

NEXCOR

Irons SRP: 4-P, steel £449.99; 4-P graphite £519.99

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 125

EQUIPMENT INSIGHT

SIX REASONS TO BE

CUSTOM FITTED Dan Murphy explains why now is the right time to visit one of Titleist’s three national fitting centres in preparation for next season

AP1 The most forgiving model. Multi-material irons with improved looks. SRP: £93 per iron

CB The forged CBs have a shallow cavity yet look like traditional blades. SRP: £110 per iron

AP2 Advanced-performance multi-material irons offering playability and feel. SRP: £114 per iron

MB Titleist’s most workable iron, the MBs are an outand-out blade. SRP: £110 per iron

EXPERIENCE 1THE IS BRILLIANT

Going to a Titleist fitting centre is an experience you won’t forget. The service is professional, the fitters are exceptionally knowledgable and they have thousands of permutations of heads and shafts. If you’ve never been fitted then you’re in for a treat. This is your chance to make sure that your next set will work as well as possible. You get one-on-one attention and will feel like a tour professional. The fitters are there to help – if you tell them what you want then they will work with you to provide it. Alternatively, if you want to leave everything to their expertise they will lead you through the whole process and can suggest which head and shaft combinations will work best for you. In other words, their input will extend as far as you want it to.

4 TRACKMAN FEEDBACK

The Trackman launch monitor is a phenomenally powerful tool that can analyse the shots you hit in minute detail within seconds of impact. It follows the flight of the ball in the air and can tell you everything from carry distance to launch angle and much, much more. Also useful is the ability to compare results and therefore rate your consistency and overall performance from one set-up to the next. For example, you could compare the average results from five shots with an MB and a CB; or how the same head performs for you with a Dynamic Gold S300 and a Project X 6.0 in it.

AND 2COMPARE CONTRAST

Some golfers know exactly which clubs they want. Others try more than one model and then see how the results compare. So maybe you love the looks of the CBs but are worried you might lose distance? You can look at your average shot data, including total distance and accuracy, then the same with, say, an AP2. Then it’s up to you to make an informed decision. Of the current range, the AP2 has proved the most popular, then come AP1 and CB about the same, and finally, as you would expect, the out-and-out blades, the MBs. You will find these different heads launch the ball at different heights and with different spin rates. Your fitter will be able to show you which works best in your hands – and of course you will be able to see for yourself from the feel and flight of the shots.

THAT 5 SCRATCH GAPPING ITCH

Be honest – do you really know how far your gap wedge goes compared to your pitching wedge? Or your 4 iron compared to your hybrid? Using Trackman, your fitter can advise you how to blend hybrids and wedges into your irons to ensure that the gaps or even. In a precise, scientific fashion. It only takes a few minutes to determine whether your longest iron should be a 3, 4, 5 or even 6, and how many wedges you need to balance your set off. Getting your gapping right has to be one of the most important reasons to get fitted properly.

SHAFT AND 3 TRY LENGTH OPTIONS

It’s all very well seeing or reading about a tour pro using Dynamic Golds or Project Xs or KBS Tours and thinking you fancy trying them yourself, but it’s impossible to know how they are going to perform for your swing without trying them. At your fitting, you can try the same head with all of these shafts and many more, and compare the results both in terms of feel and on a computer. You can also see what difference it makes to use heavier or lighter shafts, longer or shorter ones and with stiffer and softer flexes. The trained eye of your fitter will ensure you choose an option that works for your game. You’ll be amazed at how different the same head can feel with a different shaft in it.

AWAY 6 COME WITH TRUST

At a Titleist fitting centre, you are dealing with experts, and better still experts who have everything there is to know about Titleist equipment at their fingertips. The result is clarity – and with that trust. The level of service and attention to detail is almost certainly beyond anything you have seen or witnessed before. A new set of irons is far from cheap but the knowledge they have been tailored to suit your game will mean this is an investment you will value for years. So with a bit of time and a bit of money, you leave safe in the knowledge you really are getting the correct kit for you.

TITLEIST NATIONAL FITTING CENTRES There are three Titleist National Fitting Centres in Britain, nicely spread across the country: St Ives (Hunts) Golf Club, St Ives, Cambridgeshire; Kings Acre Golf Club, near Edinburgh, Scotland; Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, South Wales. Each is run by highly trained fitting technicians who utilise their expertise, in conjunction with stateof-the-art club fitting tools, to deliver a truly comprehensive fitting experience. Fitting sessions are available via appointment only from Monday to Friday (Monday and Thursday only at Celtic Manor. Bookings should be made via your PGA professional. To find your nearest stockist go to www.titleist.co.uk/clubfitting

WHAT NCG LEARNT FROM OUR FITTING... “I had always admired the sleek looks of the CBs without quite being convinced I would be as consistent with them as the AP2s. “Working with experienced fitter Dan Friend, we tested both heads in a range of shafts and he quickly demonstrated to me that I was not losing anything by going with the CBs – in fact the results were better in terms of the launch angle, spin rate and consistency. “I was surprised when comparing the two heads with a 6 iron at address as there really isn’t that much difference in terms of profile. “Dan suggested I look to go an inch longer than standard to help my posture (being tall, I tend to slump) and try a lighter shaft that would help me swing with better rhythm. “I like to let the fitter make the decisions and Dan was brilliant at explaining the results we were seeing and suggesting logical ways to improve them. “To me, the best fittings are a combination of science and feel and Dan struck just the right balance. “I feel like I’ve been fitted for a set that both look fantastic and will help my game.” – Dan Murphy

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 127

LEGENDARY LYNX RETURN WITH THE

BOOM BOOM 2 MEET THE BOOM BOOM 2

LYNX GOLF have returned with a bang – or should that be a Boom – in the shape of an explosive new driver that uses heat technology to give you extra distance. The Boom Boom 2 is the first modern driver ever to use heat in its technology. The theory behind it is that gas expands and increases internal clubhead pressure. That makes the face quite literally hotter – increasing ball speeds for additional distance. The Boom Boom 2 has been constructed using a mixture of mystery gasses inside the BiTitanium head which react when heated by the specially designed headcover. As well as achieving maximum distance and straightness, the heated cover ensures that every shot you hit remains as consistent as the one before, whether you’re playing in the depths of winter or the height of summer. And it’s not Lynx Golf making these claims: independent tests at Robogolf have demonstrated that the Boom Boom 2 outperforms all other clubs tested, in some cases by as much as 25 yards. Now all golfers – amateurs and professionals alike – can achieve distance and performance that they never dreamed possible. Lynx is a brand that is fondly remembered by all experienced golfers. Famed for innovation and technology, it was one of the first manufacturers to bring metalheaded woods to market and was famously behind the Major-winning successes of Fred Couples at the 1992 Masters and Ernie Els at the 1994 US Open. After a period in the shadows, Lynx has returned to the UK and has bounced back stronger than ever with a new and eye-catching ranges of clubs beautifully designed for both men and ladies that is headlined by the Boom Boom 2.

Sleek lines The eye-catching, red-black-andwhite design has the lines of a sports car

128 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

LYNX Boom Boom 2 SRP: £349.99 Available: Now www.lynxgolf.co.uk

Proven length Independent tests at Robogolf suggest the Boom Boom 2 is the longest on the market – the head is infused with gasses that expand when heated

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Speed Pocket This pocket, a 2mmwide slot in the sole of the iron that flexes and rebounds at impact, increases the ball speed

Powerful Dustin Johnson hit the 4 iron 253 yards and the initial reaction is that all players, even those using the muscle back, will switch to RocketBladez

Guaranteed results TaylorMade will be running a one-bucket challenge – they believe you will change irons after one session of testing the Rocketbladez

On the mark This notch is to help with custom fitting

TAYLORMADE LAUNCH

ROCKETBLADEZ The company’s latest set of irons are designed to be high launching, long and straight OLLOWING the huge success of the RocketBallz drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, TaylorMade have unveiled their most significant iron innovation to date. The RocketBladez irons are high launching, long and straight with quick-stopping performance for golfers of all abilities. Having tested the clubs they are also particularly soft and forgiving and it is not very often that you relish hitting a 4 iron over and over again.

PAUL MCGINLEY ON ROCKETBLADEZ We were at Paul’s academy at Quinta do Lago in Portugal to watch him hit the new irons for the first time “I typically hit my 6 iron around 185 yards. My first shot went 192 yards and it felt very solid and certainly went a lot higher than I am used to. Seven yards is nearly a full club. The next went 203 yards which was incredible and was more like my 4 iron so that is two clubs difference.

130 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

“I love the feel off the clubface, I have to say. It feels very soft and is very sweet. What I also loved was that I was able to work the ball as well and I could keep it down when I wanted. I was using a range ball but the thing that really came through was how soft it felt. “The feedback I have had from Sean O’Hair was that he was using at least one less club with the new irons and he predicts that the 4 iron will take the place of the 3 iron so we will have room for another wedge.”

TECHNOLOGY EXPLAINED: THE SPEED POCKET The key to the RocketBladez performance is a Speed Pocket, inspired by the technology used in RocketBallz woods and rescues. This pocket, a 2mm-wide slot in the sole of the iron that flexes and rebounds at impact, increases the ball speed and is incorporated into the 3 through 7 irons. This is filled to avoid picking up any dirt and debris but also to allow improvements to vibration and sound off the clubface.

TOUR PROVEN The Tour version has already been tested with Sean O’Hair using a camouflaged version on the PGA Tour. Using the American’s statistics it was calculated that, given his new distances and less club, he would gain 1.2 strokes per tournament. That might not sound much but that equates to $500,000 better off.

SRPs ROCKETBLADEZ £549 (steel, set of eight irons) £649 (graphite, set of eight irons) Available now ROCKETBLADEZ TOUR £699 (steel, set of eight irons) Available from February 1

Studies indicate that 68 per cent of iron shots by amateur golfers are mishits below the centre of the face. The Speed Pocket helps to significantly increase ball speed and distance on those low-face mishits and there is a larger sweet spot than before – wider and lower where plenty of amateurs deliver the club. “If your iron doesn’t have a Speed Pocket, your iron is outdated,” says TaylorMade’s president and CEO Mark King.

FIND YOUR SWING DNA

MOST would agree that Mizuno lead the way when it comes to irons but it is not as widely known that they have also perfected a technique for custom fitting that identifies the best shaft for your swing within minutes. The perfect place to learn more is at Burhill, in Surrey, home to the company’s national fitting centre. In these leafy and highly pleasant surroundings you can enjoy an unhurried custom fitting of the highest order, hitting out to a large, flat driving range so you can use both sophisticated computer software and also see the ball fly for yourself. The Shaft Optimiser slots neatly on to the shaft of an iron and the results it produces are remarkable. It generates your Swing DNA by measuring five key swing elements: Clubhead speed How fast the clubhead is travelling at impact Tempo How quickly and smoothly the player makes the transition from backswing to downswing Shaft Toe Down How much the shaft bows downwards during the downswing Shaft Kick Angle How much the shaft kicks forward during the downswing Release Factor To what extent the the clubhead and shaft are released earlier or later during the downswing Just three swings give you an average reading for each of these areas, and the system is instantly in a position to recommend three

Dan Murphy visited Mizuno’s National Fitting Centre at Burhill

shafts that it thinks will suit you. My first thought was that I could change the numbers by swinging differently – you can’t. Or at least I couldn’t. If it works even half as well as Mizuno believe it does then this makes the process of custom fitting for irons so much more efficient. It can take a good hour to experiment with shafts otherwise – and that’s before you start on choosing a head. This way, within five minutes, you have narrowed it down to three shafts. Speaking from personal experience, everything that the system said made sense to me and was both consistent and logical. All the information appears in an easy-to-understand form on a flat screen and that, along with the expert analysis of Mizuno’s custom fit specialist Nick Johnson, helps you through the process. Now is a great time to book into Burhill. The lead time for appointments is only a couple of days (though weekends are busier) and any good player will tell you that the close season is the time to get used to an equipment change, especially one involving a new set of irons. And with models to choose from as stylish as the new MP-64s, as used by Luke Donald, the results can only be positive. Mizuno National Fitting Centre Appointments cost £50. You will also receive a goody bag worth well over £100, including: Your custom fitting specifications emailed to you within 24 hours Mizuno Golf Shirt or Jumper Mizuno Heritage Box Set (towel, hat, magnetic ball marker) 50 per cent off a Burhill green fee Book at golf.mizunoeurope.com

FIRST HIT:

COBRA AMP CELL WOODS IT is impossible not to be struck by the colour of the Amp Cell woods at first glance (choose from orange, blue, silver and red) but there is much more to them than that. Taking adjustability to new levels, you can adjust the loft of the driver by up to three degrees – between 8.5 and 11.5˚. You can also set the club to have a draw-biased face angle in the 9.5 and 10.5˚ settings. The really clever bit is that no matter how you set the hosel, the shape of the sole minimises the effect on the lie of the club. So, even in the highest loft, the clubface does not appear shut. These clubs do sit really well at address and it is amazing how quickly you get used to the bright head colours. The same is true in the fairway woods and hybrids, where you can choose from eight and 10 loft settings respectively. This is incredibly useful – your 3 wood is now simultaneously a powerful driving alternative and a high-flying 5 wood depending on how you set it up. In the hybrid, you can tune it in for your home course. You can change it within seconds with a simple twist of a wrench. All models will be available in February.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 131

Greg Owen European & US PGA Tour Professional

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TESTS...

WATERPROOF Which are the best to keep you dry and swinging freely?

SUITS

PING COLLECTION RESPONSE

BENROSS XTEX

SUNDERLAND RESORT

SRP: Jacket £120, trousers £100

SRP: Jacket £79.99, trousers £59.99

SRP: Jacket £135, Trousers £65

UNDER ARMOUR STORM 2.0

FOOTJOY DRYJOYS TOUR COLLECTION

PROQUIP TROPHY

SRP: Jacket £120, trousers £80

SRP: Jacket £160, trousers £130

SRP: Jacket £199, trousers £130

134 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

SUNICE HURRICANE GORE-TEX

NIKE STORM-FIT

SRP: Wellsford jacket £330, Narooma trousers £220

SRP: Jacket £120, trousers £90

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: The fit is good, and I like the detachable sleeves. It’s quiet and you can adjust the waist. That’s a plus as I don’t like suits that hang. DM: I trust Gore-Tex so that’s a huge plus. I would love to wear this off the course but I thought there were too many pockets and it was just a touch bulky to play in. I think the shammy in the pocket is a bit of a gimmick.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: There’s a nice soft feel to the jacket and the suit generally has some nice touches. For example, I like the zip that lets you get into a waterproof pocket on the trousers. JW: It’s a nice fit and feels very warm. There are a couple of extra features compared to the basic model. It’s quiet to move in.

ABOUT THE TEST

We invited all the major manufacturers to send in their latest suits. While wearing the suits, our testers were drenched with a hosepipe then hit a drive. The suits were rated on how they dealt with the water, how they fitted, how easy they were to swing in, how loud they were and the effectiveness of any additional features. We also took into consideration looks, price, bulkiness, weight and how easy the suits were to put on and take off.

THE TESTERS DAN MURPHY Handicap: 4 JAMES WHITAKER PGA Professional

PING COLLECTION HYDRO

STUBURT SPORT

SRP: jacket £80, trousers £60

SRP: jacket £69.99 (both colour options), trousers £39.99

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: At the price point, it’s well worth considering and has some nice details. It’s a very light jacket, though I didn’t really like the green colourway in our sample. The warm pockets are a nice touch. DM: The zips on the trouser bottoms are good. It’s a bit noisy to move in and I personally don’t like the outside pocket on the trousers.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: I found the arms are restrictive to swing in, both around the armpits and the wrist. DM: It feels like a heavier jacket than some but I found I could swing freely in this. Again, it’s a smart jacket that you could get plenty of use from off the course as well as on it.

THE TEST IN

NUMBERS Wet jumpers after the hosing

0 11

Helpful comments from the Moor Allerton ladies’ section during the test – thanks for your input, ladies

Suit that sent the above into a fit of giggles – our pro was drowned by a sample in the wrong size

Testers or observers who didn’t think the Galvin Green suits were the best on test

Occasions a tester fell over while trying to pull on a pair of trousers

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 135

WHAT WE LEARNED

SENSATIONAL VALUE

QUIET AND COMFORTABLE

NIKE STORM-FIT RAINSUIT

SUNICE TORNADO

SRP: Suit £100

SRP: Havelock jacket £220, Grove trousers £140

BAGGY SUITS ARE BAD We’ve worked on the basis that these suits are to be played in. That sounds obvious, but in reality you might wear yours as much for general use as actually playing golf in. We don’t like loose materials that gather when you stand over a putt so it’s no coincidence our top three choices are all well fitted.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: I would wear this jacket off the course as well. It’s a really good basic jacket. Very generous fit. I like the zipped pockets on the trousers. DM: Doesn’t look like a £100 suit at all. You do wonder if you need to pay anymore for a waterproof suit when you try this on.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: It’s a really stretchy and soft proprietary fabric – called FlexVent – that’s very comfortable and very quiet. This is a cool jacket, great for off-course wear. JW: I like the feel of the material and the fit is reasonably close, which is a plus. I’m not quite convinced this is a £360 suit but I do like it.

NOISE IS DISTRACTING This is a perception thing, but the suits that made the most noise were distracting and often felt that bit bulkier. Make sure you try a suit on to see if bothers you – but do bear in mind you will hear less when out on the course.

IS WARMTH A FACTOR? We take the view that these jackets are designed to keep you dry rather than warm. We think that layering underneath your jacket is the key to success in terms of staying warm. Warmer does tend to be bulkier so there is a trade-off here.

STYLISH AND FUNCTIONAL

RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE

MIZUNO IMPERMALITE FLEX

PROQUIP ULTRALITE EUROPA

SRP: Jacket £119, trousers £99

SRP: Jacket £90, trousers £59.99

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: This ia a fleecy type of material, I like it. It’s figure hugging which is good when you’re swinging. I like the trouser zip on the inside – it’s nicely concealed. DM: This suit is soft and quiet. I like the warm collar. It looks like a serious suit and it is nicely understated, which is what I like about and expect from Mizuno.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: I really like the simplicity of this suit at the price point. It does the important things very well. I trust ProQuip in terms of function and reliability and this strikes me as very good value at around the £150 mark for the suit. JW: The fit is very generous so you might want to move down a size. It’s quite a basic jacket but it’s all the better for that as it clearly works. The lining is good on the jacket.

LOOSE DOES NOT EQUAL FREE It’s easy to think that a loose-fitting jacket will be easier to swing in. Not so. A fitted jacket that is well designed (like a Galvin one) will allow you the maximum freedom of movement. Trust us on this – or better still try one on and see for yourself.

ZIPS ON TROUSERS ARE ESSENTIAL Ideally, you get your waterproofs on in the clubhouse before you play. In reality, you pull them out of your bag when it’s tipping it down. So you need to be able to get them on quickly and without tripping over twice. That makes zips on trouser bottoms essential.

DO YOU NEED POCKETS? While you are playing, we think not. They just get in the way. But again, if you want to wear your jacket away from the course and for general use then you might have a different opinion on this.

136 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

FANTASTIC FIT AND PERFORMANCE

THE ULTIMATE ALL-PURPOSE SUIT

ADIDAS CLIMAPROOF STORM SUPERFAST

GALVIN GREEN ADAM/ALF PERFORMANCE SHELL

SRP: Jacket £139.99, trousers £109.99

SRP: Adam jacket £339, Alf trousers £229

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: This is a really nice suit to wear. It makes you feel like a golfer. It’s quite a snug fit and it’s very, very quiet. Along with the Sunice Tornado it was the quietest suit we tested for me. Swinging in this suit is certainly not an issue. The blue is very sharp. I think it’s pretty decent value as well at under £250 for the suit. JW: This is a young man’s suit. I really like the fit and the lack of noise. One minor issue: I don’t like the elasticated cuff, I feel like I would end up with a wet wrist and arm. I expected the price to be higher.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: An interesting comparison here between this suit and the PacLite (below). It has a full zip and long sleeves. There’s no doubt that you would get a lot more use off the course with this – it’s a more comfortable jacket. The fit is great and you can trust Gore-Tex and Galvin that the performance is the best. JW: I love the way the cuffs fold back, it keeps water off your hands. I personally prefer the half-zip as it doesn’t bunch when you are over the ball. It’s less noisy than the PacLite and more breathable.

GolfeZrE L NATIONA

CLUB

lfEeRr Go ILV L NATIONA

BRON

CLUB

THE ULTIMATE SUIT TO PLAY IN

GALVIN GREEN ALVIS/AQUILA PACLITE SRP: Alvis jacket £179, Aquila trousers £299

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: You can barely feel that you’re wearing this jacket – it’s absolutely amazing. There’s no storage space at all but then I don’t think you need any when playing in the rain. This is the ultimate jacket to play golf in. There is nothing to get in your way and the combination of the half zip and the half sleeves really strips it down to the essentials. I didn’t used to be a fan of half sleeves but I am coming round to the benefit of freer movement. The downside is it does mean your layer underneath needs to be able to handle the rain too. As for the trousers, they are special. But then again they should be at this price. If I was buying this as a suit then I would accept the combined price. But treating them separately, I would NATIONAL find it hard to justify spending £300 on a pair of CLUB trousers, even ones as good as these are. The jacket GOLD is fantastically good value. JW: This is a playing jacket – no doubt about that. There are no pockets, and there’s nothing here that you don’t need. The fit is fantastic and it looks so sharp. The only possible criticism I can make is that it’s on the noisy side.

Golfer

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 137

COMPETITIONS

WIN A A GOLFINO OUTFIT... AND A Two Golfino outfits and three GolfBuddy Platinum GPS devices up for grabs

OLFINO are giving two readers the chance to win a complete outfit of their choice from their latest collection – each prize is worth a cool £625. Based in Germany and founded in 1986 by Dr Bernd Kirsten and his wife, Christel, Golfino is one of Europe’s leading golf and leisure wear providers. The brand has stores in exclusive locations and prestigious golf clubs across the UK and Ireland, including flagship stores on London’s South Molton Street and Edinburgh’s Multrees Walk. In addition, there are 500 shops-in-shop partners across 18 European countries, including within Harrods. Golfino’s collections are divided into three labels: Green, Black and White. Green Label is an exclusive golf-wear range comprising highquality, comfortable resort wear; Black Label comprises premium casual wear, combining highquality fabrics with excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail; White Label is focused on performance wear. Key pieces include polo shirts, microfibre trousers and belts, weather tops and thermal trousers. White Label includes 100 per cent water and wind proof, breathable weatherwear. To view the complete range visit: www.golfino.com

138 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

L TOTA E PRIZ E: VALU 0 £2,25

TOP-QUALITY GOLFBUDDY GPS

OLFBUDDY are giving three readers the chance to own their top-of-therange Platinum GPS unit – worth £329 each. The GolfBuddy Platinum features a course storage capability of 40,000, target customisation technology, a statistics analysis module and a digital scorecard – all packed in a water and shockresistant case. That makes it the most powerful GPS device on the market today. Courses from around the world are pre-loaded and there are no annual or download fees. With a full-function touch screen, improved high-contrast and sensitive touch screen for easier navigation as well as a highperformance battery that lasts up to 18 hours, this is a GPS that does everything you could wish for. The real strength of a GolfBuddy Platinum, though, is in its ease of use. Within a few minutes you will be familiar with basic functionality and then can go on to learn about features like the statistics analysis module, shot distance measurement and the pin placement/movement functionality. For more information about GolfBuddy, visit www.gpsgolfbuddy.eu

ENTERING THESE AND OTHER COMPETITIONS IS FREE. GO TO WWW.NATIONALCLUBGOLFER.COM AND CLICK www.nationalclubgolfer.com ON COMPETITIONS | JANUARY 2013

139

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from – life lers r u yo ng fil n i ers stocki f l o he g ents to t r s fo e pres a e d I at ultim SWINGBYTE MOBILE SWING ANALYSIS

BALL LIFTER PLUS

The Swingbyte is your very own miniature launch monitor. You can attach it to any club in your bag and it will capture valuable swing data and 3D imagery. You can then analyse the results in real time on your smartphone, which you can pair it with via Bluetooth. Key data it can capture includes: clubhead speed and acceleration throughout the swing, your club’s true plane from address to impact, clubface angle relative to swing path, static and dynamic loft and lie at address and impact, angle of attack, club path and tempo. You can then review and share your data online with your pro and on Facebook. SRP: £129 www.swingbyte.com 07774 783 835

The best ball retriever around – it allows you to mark your ball and lift your marker too without bending down. SRP: £10.95 www.northcroftgolf.com

GROOVEFIX GIFT PACK

GARMIN APPROACH S3

CADDY CHARGER

The British-made tool will clean and restore grooves to their original sharpness. The GreenFix pitch repairer includes a magnetic ball marker and you can use the handy club rest to keep your grips dry. SRP: £24.99 www.groovefix.com

Rugged and waterproof, the Approach S3 golf watch is another benchmark for GPS innovation. Packed with over 27,000 worldwide courses without subscriptions or fees, the S3 displays yardages to the front, back and middle of greens. It also introduces a high-resolution, glove-friendly touchscreen display, Green View with manual pin positioning, distances to dog-legs and lay-ups, customisable yardage points and printable digital scorecards for strokeplay. SRP: £279.99 www.garmin.com

Fully charged in under an hour and taking up little more room than a smartphone, the Caddy Charger is the unique, UK-developed perfect solution for all motor caddy users. Drive home from the course – however short the distance – and return the following day with a fully-charged trolley battery. There’s no need to remove it from the car and the Caddy Charger will not drain your car's battery. It has a super-lightweight design, is quick to charge and is a handy size. Perfect! SRP: £120 www.caddycharger.com

INFINITY PRO SPORT WRISTBANDS With an output of over 4,000 negative ions, these wristbands kick out more ions than any other brand. Negative ions and Magnetic Therapy can promote good health. Use code ClubGolfer20 to get 20 per cent off online. SRP: From £19.99 www.infinitypro.com

140 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

PRESHOT GOLF TRAINING APP Learn how to produce your best shots when it really counts thanks to the help of this cool app. The app will help you create a pre-shot routine for each shot you face on the course and will remind you of what you need to do to stick with it when the pressure is on. There are two versions of the the Pre Shot – Club Golfer and Pro. Start on the Pre Shot Club Golfer then graduate on to the more advanced version. You will be guided throughout by Jon Finn, a golf psychologist and a visiting research fellow in the Carnegie faculty of sport and education at Leeds Met University. He has worked with European Tour players and coaches and Premiership football managers as well as international footballers, cricketers and rugby players. SRP: £4.99 at the App store www.pre-shot.co.uk

HOLE IN ONE PLAQUES Capture the moment of glory forever and salute a special hole-inone. Presented on a handcrafted plaque, the front plate includes details of your shot and graphics of the actual hole. SRP: £49.99 www.holeinoneplaques.co.uk

SHORTGRASS BALL BUDDY

This innovative belt/bag clip holds two balls and two tees (included). Lightweight and durable, the slim design is comfortable to wear on your belt or can easily attach to your bag. Choice of Ball marker included. SRP: £12.45 www.shortgrass.co.uk

SCOTTY DOG GOODY BAG Includes club-face cleaner, retractable pitchfork, pencil and pencil sharpener, permanent marker pen, ball marker liner and tees. Comes with a personalised card. SRP: £10 www. scottydoggolf.com

SABONA ATHLETIC BRACELETS

GREENFREE 2FOR1 GIFT PACKS

Sabona’s colourful Athletic Bracelets have a combination of 1,200 gauss magnets and minus ion producing materials. Inside the colourful stretch fabric are Samarium Cobalt magnets, each positioned bio north against the skin and which will not rust, along with a Titanium material producing minus or negative ions. Available in six different colours and three different sizes. SRP: £10.16 www.sabona.co.uk

These two gift packs make an ideal present and are available in five-voucher or 10-voucher versions (the latter includes a free GreenFree directory). They allow you and a friend to play at hundreds of top-class courses around the country for the price of one green fee. Easy to purchase and use, any golfer would love to receive them. SRP: Five-voucher pack £14.95, 10-voucher pack £24.95 www.greenfree.co.uk

TEE UP Back-saving device for teeing up your ball without bending down. An effective and practical solution for those who find bending difficult. SRP: £49.70 www.northcroftgolf.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 141

EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY

T: 01233 666000 F: 01233 666300 E: sales@electrokart.com W: www.electrokart.com

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NEW LITHIUM PACK AVAILABLE £675.00 Pack includes 24volt 30ah Lithium battery & Charger. Weight 8kg, taking 40kg from your buggy for improved performance & distance. 2 year warranty on pack. Constant power flow which means no voltage drop over 18 holes of golf. Upto 10 times longer life. Faster charging. Also available Lithium Packs for golf trolleys from £199.00 Made in England

142 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NORTHCROFT BALL LIFTER PLUS EFFORTLESS BALL & MARKER LIFTING

Accurate marker placement without bending. Will fit ALL putters regardless of grip size (including ‘Two Thumb’) Allows putter to be stored in dedicated sleeve on your golf bag

PLACING MARKER

LIFTING THE MARKER

CLIP ON CLIP OFF

£10.95 including VAT & delivery For more Information or to order visit www.northcroftgolf.com or Telephone 01488 685038

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a new career! Get great rewards from working with our franchise in the golfing world. Ad in The Hole is a marketing phenomenon. It’s great for advertisers. It’s great for golf clubs. It could be great for you! Contact us now 0121 713 2288 info@aithuk.com www.aithuk.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 143

EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY Have you ever played the ultimate golf shot & had a

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NORTHCROFT TEE-UP

CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE GAME YOU LOVE • Places your Ball and Tee-peg on the Tee without Bending • Retrieves your Tee-peg • The Stabilizer assists with loading the Ball and Tee-peg • The Stabilizer creates greater stability, accuracy and ease of use • Comes with Retrieval Loop • Other product combinations available. Visit our website for a full video presentation • £49.70 including VAT & delivery

For more Information or to order Visit www.northcroftgolf.com or Telephone 01488 685038 144 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

'The Dean Davis Golf Show' is an experience not to be missed! The show is an impressive demonstration of what you can do with a little white ball and anything that vaguely looks like a golf club. Dean performs some of his most astonishing acts of golfing genius ever to be seen using clubs made from Hoses, Piping, Hammers, Fishing Rods to everyday household items. Visiting a number of countries around the world, Dean's show has proved a great success and guests have been left in amazement as he performs some of the most astonishing tricks. For further information please visit the website. Hinksey Heights Golf Club, South Hinksey, Oxford, OX1 5AB

Telephone: 01865 327775 Website: www.golftrickshotshow.com Email: info@golftrickshotshow.com

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www.nationalclubgolfer.com | JANUARY 2013 145

MARK TOWNSEND Why I never did become the 2001 Open champion

OME time ago, in the mid 1980s, I wrote a short note and pinned it to a small piece of plywood which was perfect for this sort of

occasion. It was also ideal for ‘reminders’ which, given it was hidden behind my bedroom door, rendered it completely useless. On the note were just four words and a number: Mark Townsend, Open Champion 2001. This was a strange thing to do for a number of reasons; why did I think it would take so long to reach the top of the game and was I concerned, even at the cocksure age of 14, that the pressure of the Millennium Open would be too much? I had already calculated that the Old Course would be the stage for that particular assault and I had already found that particular opening drive a bit too much for me. Mainly, though, what had made me write this in the first place? Given I was off 15 and approximately the ninth best junior at my club. All of which brings me very neatly to the news that Guan Tianlang, just turned 14, has qualified for the Masters next year. Very few things in life stir me, a man skydiving 24 miles and faster than the speed of sound raises but a false smile and a lift of the eyebrows. But a young man barely a teenager, and not even nine stone wet through, teeing it up at Augusta has excited and saddened me in equal measure. For equal measure read 25:75. How is it possible that someone 27 years my junior is able to achieve such a feat. Golf has always been comforting for the fact that players aren’t generally heard of until they are into their 20s, now we have the likes of Lydia Ko winning on the LPGA Tour at 15 and Guan now bouncing his merry way up Magnolia Lane. Now I am old enough to be their proverbial father, now I am old. What was I thinking of? Why was I not pistol-whipped as a two-year-old to start swinging a club, why was I not banished to the garden to do a thousand reps of a Hogan-like swing, why was I not pressed to at least try and hit something more than a 4 iron off the tee? Young Guan won’t have wasted his early years preparing an annual draw for the World Snooker Championship and listening to too

146 JANUARY 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Broken dreams Tianlang – the golfer I was never meant to be

‘I was 15 and the ninth-best junior at my club’ much Spandau Ballet. Little did I know when I wrote that note but I never stood a chance. Between the summer of 1984 and the spring of 85 I was the victim of a rapid growth spell that saw me lurch from being an awkward 14-year-old to now resembling a young Rodney Trotter. Acne emerged, body parts headed south and my military medium away swingers became ravaged with no balls. I was out of kilter and ungainly. My swing, which should have been a free-wheeling thing of youthful grace and beauty, now had the look of someone using a French hole in the ground. I might have got a point in the annual match against the Vets, a bogey at the 17th plenty good enough to close things out, but otherwise I had very little to show for my efforts. Clothes no longer fitted properly, an attempt to grow my hair into an unfashionable wedge made me look even more ridiculous and

my only interaction with anyone of the opposite sex was far from a triumph. One slow dance later a young maiden ignored the mumbles and took her place on my knee. What ‘Susie’ didn’t know was that, under extreme periods of stress and anxiety, my right knee was prone to a fairly substantial nervous tic, all of which left my new friend bouncing around a youth club in South London like a bucking bronco. And yet here we have an eighth grader from China getting ready to play in his first Major. He has already featured on the European Tour, in his national Open earlier this year, and won the world junior title in the States by a mere 11 shots last year. When not in his homeland he spends three months of the year training in America and, when practising, he hits 500 balls at the range and then 500 putts. I was at Lytham in 2001, collecting regional quotes for Ceefax Sport and sleeping on a friend’s floor in Blackpool. The dream, finally, was over.

• Mark Townsend is NCG’s deputy editor. He plays off 7 and has a quite appalling short game

Bring the heat. Introducing the all-new Boom Boom 2 from Lynx. The blend of hot gases inside the bi-titanium head reacts to create the ultimate in striking power, proved to consistently hit further and straighter than any other driver.* Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let them use it for anything else. Find out more at Lynxgolf.co.uk/Boom or join us on Facebook

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*Boom Boom 2 tested as 9 degree stiff by RoboGolf 11/09/2012 hitting 288.6 metres; on average 6.6 metres further than nearest competitor club. Dispersion rates equalled the lowest of other brands at 3.3.

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