National Club Golfer March 2013 Issue

NCG Cover March 13 17/01/2013 15:55 Page 3

INSIDE: TOM WATSON n OLD COURSE n IRONS FOR BETTER PLAYERS

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3 1 0 2 E D I U GEAR G year e th r fo n io n a p m o c g nt buyin Your essential equipme

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NCG pp 4 Ed Comm 18/01/2013 10:12 Page 4

INSIDE: TOM WATSON n OLD COURSE n IRONS FOR BETTER PLAYERS

EVEN BIGGER

‘CLUB GOLF’

SECTION

MARCH 2013 £4.00

Tackling the issues that matter the most to you

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GEAR GUIDE 2013 t buying companion for Your essential equipmen

the year

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Dan Murphy DEPUTY EDITOR Mark Townsend STAFF WRITERS Joe Whitley James Tompkinson CONTRIBUTORS Chris Bertram Robert Rock Colin Callander Chubby Chandler Joe Harrison PHOTOGRAPHY Getty Images, Thinkstock CHIEF DESIGNER Andrew Kenworthy DESIGNER & WEBMASTER Daniel Cooper PUBLISHER Tom Irwin DISPLAY SALES MANAGER Richard Holt SALES EXECUTIVES Neil Braddish Luke Kelly Tom Lenton Jamie Miles DIGITAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE Eve Burton FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Will Shucksmith (ACA) ACCOUNTS Emma Abbott CHAIRMAN Peter Burgess PRINT/REPRO Precision Colour Printing, Telford

Editor’s Comment AUL McGinley was, in my opinion, the right man for the job at Gleneagles, where he will lead Europe’s Ryder Cup team against Tom Watson’s Americans next autumn. Watson’s appointment clearly changes the dynamics of the match and as such is an astute and decisive move by the PGA of America.

Anyone else bringing that team over to Scotland after their dispiriting collapse at Medinah would have been submerged in negativity. Frankly, the Americans must still be wondering how they failed to win last September, given they were a) the home team b) by far the better side for two days c) had almost an entire team of in-form players and d) many of the Europeans were out of sorts.

But with Watson in charge it already feels as though they have moved on and there can be no doubt they will be motivated, well-organised and tough opponents. There was a school of thought that Europe should somehow try to counter the five-time Open champion with their own charismatic captain. That would have been futile.

We should accept Watson will charm fans and the media alike in the build-up while remembering McGinley is sharp, thoughtful and experienced himself. There is no need for him to compete with Watson in the build-up; instead I am sure he will concentrate on his own backroom team and making sure everything is in place for a successful defence.

Given he has the warm and genuine support of many key players – notably Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell – we can look forward with optimism to retaining the trophy for a further two years.

P

T

SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: 0113 289 3979 12 issues including P&P: UK £42; Europe £48; World £58 SPORTS PUBLICATIONS LTD Unit 2, Arena Park, Tarn Lane, Scarcroft, West Yorkshire LS17 9BF, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 113 289 3979 e-mail: editorial@sportspub.co.uk

ALKING of transatlantic team golf, before we get to the Ryder Cup there is the small matter of the Walker Cup to be settled.

TWO HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE...

P15: SEASON PREDICTIONS

P67: GEAR GUIDE 2013

It’s a mug’s game but see if you agree with us. And why not let us know your thoughts via Twitter @NCGmagazine. It’s also a great way of keeping in touch with all that is going on in the world of golf

I’ve never seen so much new equipment released as in the past few months and we’ve brought it together here in some style. I hope you enjoy our comprehensive coverage and find the club or clubs for you GEAR GUIDE 2013

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(AND WON’T) HAPPEN 2013 MAJORS: WHAT WILL year’s ‘Big Four’ ball and looks ahead to the Mark Townsend digs out

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.

It takes place at the National Golf Links, New York, in early September later NCG is a free, mo nthly magazine distri this year. buted to the go lf clubs of Grea Almost unnoticed t Britain.

Written specific has been the recent ally for you, the serious golfe r, we aim to announcement by provide an insigh tful the USGA that the and trustworthy guide to all American team will aspects of the game categorically include a minimum of two players of 25 or over.

“Mid-amateurs, who are seasoned players, are likely to bring a unique perspective to a team and demonstrate, as well as appreciate, the characteristics of leadership and generosity of spirit that are central to the Walker Cup,” said the USGA by way of explanation.

In recent years, both teams have been full of players in their late teens or early 20s, with many turning professional immediately after the conclusion of the Walker Cup. It is a curious policy, partly because you would think the idea is simply to identify the best amateurs at a given time, but also because the USGA and R&A can pick whoever they want anyway – no one qualifies for the teams by right.

It will be interesting to see if the R&A follow suit with our team. Certainly, the announcement may well have raised the hopes of a GB&I call-up for some more experienced amateurs who may have thought their chances of enjoying the Walker Cup experience had passed them by.

THE NCG VERDICT ON

THE OLD COURSE CHANGES

CHANGED? OLD COURSE OrBE SHOULDandTHE is it a national treasure?

GREAT DEBATE: modify greens at St Andrews? interests to add bunkers Is it in golf’s best

YES

it will become an If changes aren’t made, Prestwick obsolete Open venue like

NO

that should It is a historical monument of reference forever be left as a point

– it’s This isn’t just any old course been the countless new tees have official the Old Course in St Andrews, The Old Course has no recently on the other golf was token it added, most little town in Fife where beginning and by the same Ireland. side of the wall on the 14th. born in Great Britain & is will have no end. Constantly St What matters most, surely, much And you can tell that the Open shifting through the ages, public that it remains a relevant its Andrews Links Trust, the are like the English language, for the venue and that the changes down to body ultimately responsible by those enduring appeal is largely are doing overseen and directed the times.

Old Course, know they the an ability to move with the work who know best and have was something controversial; heart.

That’s why, while the Open by game’s best interests at and will which is being carried out the last at Prestwick in 1925 parties: three on the Step forward Martin Hawtree came about the R&A never return, the Old Course of St Andrews Links Trust, the pros quiet and with a minimum Hawtree. continues to be the venue and the architect Martin consultation. for the most look forward to visiting. they are One is a trust responsible are That is wrong, because the It is not as though changes public courses in the town, facility rather Andrews – custodians of a public for golf without precedent at St one. second is the rule-maker 22 holes than the owners of a private has after all, there used to be and it and the third is a man who was This is a museum piece, rather than 18 and the course rather made sympathetic modernisations direction for has been shaped by nature played in the opposite rota.

Open the on game – or than the to most than man ever since the better centuries, clockwise rather The Old Course will be of it – was we all know a recognisable version will face anti-clockwise rotation some for the changes – the pros recently first played on these shores it lose and love today. It was as a better test – and nor will was 600 years ago. as 1870 that the 1st green any of its charms or eccentricities. while designed by Old Tom Morris r.com 14 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfe

OUR MAJOR

PING

PREDICTIONS Dan Murphy Masters: T Woods US Open: R Fowler Open: S Garcia PGA: R McIlroy One to watch: Richard Sterne – As talented as

The new G25 range boasts adjustab driver and sleek, ility in the matt-black looks throughout

Oosthuizen and Schwartzel and has hopefully put injury problems behind him One to flop: Lee Westwood – I worry that he is becoming desperate and has changed too much ahead of this season

PING'S new G25 range is the most stylish and forgiving the company have ever produced.

Although the most striking aspect is the adjustable driver, the

first Ping have offered at this price point, perhaps more significant is the G25 iron, which combines legendary forgiveness levels with a look, finish and head profile that

STAR BILLING

THE NCG VERDIC

“G25 is T such a strong the driver, range fairway, – irons all look great hybrid and exceptionalland perform y.”

– Dan Murph y

will win the brand new admirers.

In the super-premiu m category, the Anser driver gives adjustability and after-market shafts Mitsubishi Diamana like the 'ahina.

G25 IRONS Like all the new G25 range, the most striking thing about these irons is the looks.

There's no doubt previous G irons, while effective, put off many due to their chunkiness. Not any more. In fact, stick a ferrule on the join of head and shaft and you could be looking at an i20. In short, Ping have kept almost all the performance benefits of previous G irons but added aesthetic appeal, with the new matt-black not least finish.

The sleeker design features thinner top lines and moderate offset for a look that will appeal to anyone seeking a high-launchi ng, extremely forgiving iron.

Mark Townsend Masters: B Snedeker US Open: R McIlroy Open: T Woods PGA: J Dufner One to watch: Padraig Harrington – still only 41, has more Majors than any current European and remains mustard keen for more One to flop: Hunter Mahan – has slowly slipped down the rankings and short game still insufficient

Concealed Much of the G25's bulk is cleverly hidden

Chris Bertram Masters: R McIlroy US Open: M Kaymer Open: L Oosthuizen PGA: R McIlroy One to watch: Gary Woodland – Disastrous 2012 but he has bags of talent, not least his ability

The great architects have its many learned from it, and used own features to improve their continue to designs. How can they

which do that if the original with they need to make comparisons no longer stands? blow True, if the wind doesn’t St Andrews then the scores during As long Opens are low. So what? then what as the best player wins difference does that make?

The R&A, whose headquarters 18th and tee 1st overlooks the to say green, are always at pains the Open that the winning score in is irrelevant to them.

Yet they have worked alongside and the Links Trust in this instance whose heavily influenced changes the only motivation is to make course more exacting.

his crystal

THE US PGA THE OPEN US OPEN Oak Hill, August 8 Muirfield, July 18 Merion, June 13 What you will see: What you will see: What What you will see: Shaun Micheel's is, for many, the best test Endless explanations of approach to a few inches one but two women on the Open why wicker baskets are at the 72nd hole which members of Augusta Championship rota. And, used instead of a flag at saw off Chad Campbell National, the first in the as such, we will hopefully Merion and Ben Hogan's in 2003. Micheel was club's history to slip into get another classy 1 iron at the 1950 US ranked 169th in the world a Green Jacket. Former winner to go alongside Open to make the playand it completed a very secretary of state the likes of Els, Faldo, off, a year after a headunderstated set of Major and Rice Trevino, Condoleezza Watson, on collision with a bus. winners that year – Weir, business executive Darla Nicklaus, Player and For all its history, Merion Furyk and Curtis won the Moore are the lucky Cotton. Is there a more four US hosted only has first three. in ones; just a shame it impressive winners' list Opens, the last of which What you won't see: took more than three any Open... or any Major was back in 1981. It did Any of our 1995 Ryder matter? quarters of a century. that for Walker stage the 2009 Cup heroes from Oak Hill What you won't see: A What you won't see: Cup though. in action, although Phil European victory – the Women members. There What you won't see: Mickelson was part of of talk of plenty odds are against one. be will Thick rough – those days that home defeat. In 10 Since Olazabal won in why female members are are thankfully gone. Or Major tournaments, 1999 we have had eight not part of the Muirfield winner like identikit an professional or amateur, two American wins, scene and Peter Dawson Hale Irwin or Lee Janzen, an American has South African and one will skilfully bat away because this is as open prevailed on nine Canadian, Argentinian plenty of questions... and Majors the of as any occasions. The and a Fijian. In that nothing will change. This now. Unless you are Rory European Ryder Cup period only Lee is, after all, the McIlroy at Congressional, team are the welcome of Company Westwood has Honourable the winning score will still exceptions. finished as Edinburgh Golfers. be around level par. runner-up.

THE MASTERS Augusta National, April 11 What you will see: Not

Dark beauty The G25s are certainly a step up in terms of style

G25 FAIRWAYS Lofts: 3 (15º), 4 (16.5º), 5 (18º), and 7 (21º) SRP: £199

G25 HYBRIDS

Matt finish The Anser is a stylish driver

Lofts: 17, 20, 23, 27 & 31º SRP: £170

Lofts: Standard Sole (SS) 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60˚; Thin sole (TS) 58 & 60˚; Wide Sole (WS) 54, 56, 58 & 60˚ SRP: £113 (steel)

ANSER DRIVER LOFTS: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 & 12˚ SRP: £355 Eyes down The top line is noticeably thinner

ANSER IRONS Clubs: 3-PW SRP: £160 per iron

G25 HYBRID

from tight lies

While performance is everything in TOUR WEDGE Ping's eyes, there is little doubt that the company The Tour Wedges, have started paying much more attention featuring Gorge Groove Technology, are to the looks as well. the result of a This is a great-lookin concerted effort Ping engineers g hybrid – and by to improve spin from the its G15 a rate and consistency. and G20 predecessors big step up On the basis that .

Ping admit that if you want something it is actually slightly you should do doing best it yourself, Ping than the G20 less forgiving in certain areas, have brought production of the notably on extreme wedges back in hits. But this slight toe house to their compromise is headquarters in global surely worth it the way the club Arizona. for looks behind the These wedges ball. launch lower and It's neutral, it's classy and it sounds therefore spin more as the grooves solid. make a better job of grabbing ball YOU MIGHT at impact rather the ALSO LIKE... than letting it slip up the face.

ANSER FAIRWAYS LOFTS: 14.5, 16.5 & 18.5˚ SRP: £220

ANSER HYBRIDS LOFTS: 17, 20, 23 & 27˚ SRP: £180

i20 DRIVER LOFTS: 8.5, 9.5 & 10.5˚ SRP: £299

i20 IRONS Clubs: 3-9, PW, UW, SW, LW SRP: £90 per club (steel), £110 (graphite)

* ‘One to watch’ had to be 50 currently outside world top * ‘One to flop’ had to be currently inside world top 50

r.com | MARCH 2013 www.nationalclubgolfe

G25 DRIVER Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 & 12˚ SRP: £299

G25 IRONS Clubs: 3-9, PW, UW, SW, LW SRP: £80 per club in steel; £100 per club in graphite

fade away quietly

Historic venue Merion will host the 2013 US Open

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES

Adjustable You can move the loft up or down by half a degree

TOUR WEDGES

Curving The leading edge makes the G25s easier to use

to hit it a mile – One to flop: Jim Furyk nearly year in 2012 will see haunt him and golf's most idiosyncratic swing

in association with

ANSER DRIVER The super-premium Anser driver is adjustable and comes complete with a choice of four premium shafts.

– and there is no upcharge for any of them.

As well as Ping's own 800D (created specifically TFC to work with the Anser driver), you can choose from the Aldila Phenom, which has the softest feel, the Fujikura Blur Red and the Diamana 'ahina, which has the harshest feel.

Ping have done a fantastic job of concealing the adjustable hosel, both in terms of bulk and weight.

You can move the loft up or down half a degree while simultaneously closing or opening the face.

i20 FAIRWAYS LOFTS: 14, 15 & 18˚ SRP: £200 15

70 MARCH 2013

| www.nationa lclubgolfer.com

G25 FAIRWAY Stylish looks and a very high launch

ANSER IRONS Stunning super-premium irons are very classy

G25 DRIVER See ‘This Will Change Your Game’ on p8 to read more

i20 HYBRIDS i20 FAIRWAY WOOD Ping's lower-launchin g fairway for the better player

LOFTS: 17, 20 & 23˚ SRP: £160

www.nationa lclubgolfer.com

4 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

| MARCH 2013

71

NCG pp 6-7 MOTM 17/01/2013 15:57 Page 6

ON THE TEE Your essential guide to the world of golf – including competitions, quick tips, interviews and new gear

6 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 6-7 MOTM 17/01/2013 15:57 Page 7

MOMENT OF THE MONTH

I

N recent years the thinking of Ryder Cup committees on both sides of the Atlantic has been to appoint a former Ryder Cup player who is ideally a Major champion and who still has a link with the current generation.

After five defeats in the last six matches, the PGA of America has, perhaps understandably, thrown that policy out of the window. The appointment of Tom Watson, who sees the men who will make up his side once or twice a year at the Majors, is a dramatic change of tack – but seems an astute one.

The most obvious benefit is the affection in which Watson is held in Britain and in Scotland in particular, given he won all but one of his Open titles there. Readers whose memories don’t stretch back to the ‘70s need only recall how eager the crowds were to see the American win at Turnberry in 2009.

But his effect needs to be more than just pre-event hype about his love-in with Scotland, because when the matches start, the crowd will assuredly be willing Europe to win. There is however no reason to expect the Kansas native to be anything other than an astute captain at Gleneagles. Firstly, it is often forgotten his first stint in the job ended in a rare recent American away victory, in 1993. He was in charge of a competent but hardly star-studded side.

Secondly, perhaps his distance from the players will be a good thing. Perhaps the ‘link with the current generation’ tactic was actually harmful. Certainly, it often felt as if friends were selected as wild cards and vice captains.

Finally, he will be afforded the total respect of the team as well as the goodwill of the media and a sense of positivity that did not accompany, say, Tom Lehman’s side to the K Club.

Such was the effect of his appointment that the European Tour committee thought long and hard before eventually appointing Paul McGinley as their captain after a messy procedure.

It is being described in some quarters as a case of David against Goliath – which might just suit both McGinley and the European cause as we all know what happened then.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 7

NCG pp 8-9 Change Your Game 17/01/2013 15:58 Page 8

ON THE TEE

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THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR GAME

PING G25 The legendary G line incorporates adjustability for the first time

ALL-N EW G

-SER

RANGIES E

Key facts and figures PROPRIETARY The TFC 189D shaft was made by Ping for Ping. This lightweight, highbalance-point shaft was developed specifically for the G25 driver to create increased clubhead momentum at impact

CROWNING GLORY The ultra-thin crown in the deeper profile, 460cc Ti 8-1-1 head distributes weight to the perimeter, positions the CG lower and farther back than any Ping driver to date, and increases the MOI

8 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

LOFT CONVERSION Move the loft up or down by half a degree using a Ping wrench (supplied) to fine-tune your ball flight and shape. The hosel retains a slim profile that does not catch your eye at address

SRP: £299 Available: Now Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 & 12˚ Shaft: Ping TFC 189D (Soft R, R, S, Tour Stiff, and Tour X-Stiff)

NCG pp 8-9 Change Your Game 17/01/2013 15:58 Page 9

PING GO STYLISH

Dan Murphy on the striking looks and performance of the latest G-series range

ALSO IN THE G25 RANGE G25 irons Super-forgiving, as you’d expect, but also much sleeker than we’ve become accustomed to in the G range, and with a smart new mattblack finish. Think Eye 2 – these are game-improvement irons that will attract a broad audience.

G25 hybrids Gone is the ugly – yet effective – shape we’ve previously seen from Ping hybrids. What’s not to like about these? The G25 hybrids are just the shape and size you’d want and launch the ball high and far.

G25 fairway woods If you are someone who struggles to get the ball up with a fairway wood from off the deck then you must try these. Fairway woods have never been easier to launch and few game-improvement models look as good as these.

Devotees of the legendary G range will not be surprised by how well these clubs perform – but even Ping’s staunchest fan would have to admit that the G25s are a big improvement on their predecessors in terms of looks.

Factor in an adjustable element, plus a price point that is comparable to most of its serious rivals, and it all adds up to a driver that is sure to be in high demand over the coming months as winter turns into spring.

The matt-black finish might seem dull to some compared to the brightly-coloured heads other manufacturers are offering but perhaps it just proves Ping remain, first and foremost, an engineering company focused on performance.

You can optimise launch by adjusting the loft plus or minus half a degree. Again, compared to some, this is unremarkable. Ping argue it means you can choose any loft between 8 and 12.5˚ in half-degree increments. They also believe there are implications that compromise performance when you adjust loft by more than this, not least in terms of a club’s centre of gravity moving.

Subtly, when you change the loft down the face opens, and when you increase it, the face closes. If only as a placebo effect, this can be effective in promoting a preferred shape.

Ping say this is the most forgiving driver they have ever made – with the ultra-thin-crown allowing weight to be moved further back and lower. The G25 feels fast off the face, lively and powerful. Expect a slightly higher launch, but not with the extra spin that often goes with it. Already in Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan’s bags, the G25 is powered by the TFC 189D, a lightweight, high-balance-point shaft developed specifically for this driver, creates more clubhead momentum and forgiveness.

NCG pp 10-11 WRBP Muirfield 17/01/2013 15:59 Page 10

ON THE TEE

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WE’D RATHER BE PLAYING...

MUIRFIELD Many people’s idea of Britain and Ireland’s finest course

Strategic No fuss, no frills – just an honest test

10 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

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NCG pp 10-11 WRBP Muirfield 17/01/2013 15:59 Page 11

W

E will be seeing a lot of this storied links in the third week of July. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers will host the 2013 Open Championship – and do not expect any complaints about Muirfield from the players.

This is the most fair and least quirky of the Open venues, which is just the way the world’s elite like it.

This aerial view of the par-4 14th hole – with the par-4 15th behind it – is a good illustration of Muirfield’s nature; a generally flat topography with no spectacular seaside holes and fairways lined by intimidating rough. Simple and brilliant.

WANT TO PLAY IT?

£195 for on e round an d £250 for the day.

Visitor days are Tuesdays an d Thursday s.

01620 842 123 muirfield.o rg.uk

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 11

NCG pp 12-13 Captured On Film 17/01/2013 16:00 Page 12

ON THE TEE

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CAPTURED ON FILM

GOLFING ROYALTY Edward VIII and George VI prepare to play at Coombe Hill

12 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

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NCG pp 12-13 Captured On Film 17/01/2013 16:01 Page 13

C

OOMBE HILL isn’t close to being the most famous course in Surrey, not that there is any shame in that, considering the vaunted names which dominate the county.

It hasn’t hosted a Ryder Cup match or a famous tour event, but it has a varied and illustrious history which is at least the equal of more prestigious clubs in the area.

Here is fascinating evidence. Pictured are their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales — later to become Edward VIII — and the Duke of York, who reigned as George VI. Both played at Coombe Hill and were treated as ordinary members despite their status. Edward became king when his father died in early 1936 but reigned for just 12 months – 326 days to be exact – before abdicating to propose marriage to the American socialite Wallis Simpson, who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second.

It was his golfing partner the Duke of York who succeeded him and who reigned until February 1952, when his daughter Elizabeth assumed the throne she retains to this day.

The hosting of royalty is merely one part of Coombe Hill’s impressive history, which began in suitably impressive style.

On January 1, 1910, the fabled JF Abercromby chaired a meeting to establish the club.

Having created nearby Worplesdon, ‘Aber’ was appointed course architect and for weeks walked the ground, measuring distances by eye, allowing his player’s intuition free rein as the course took shape in his mind. It is also said he hovered over the landscape for hours, in a hot air balloon.

Coombe Hill opened in 1911 with a game between Sir Arthur H Paget and the Rt Hon AJ Balfour MP. The parliamentary link was continued with the Rt Hon Winston Churchill being an early member and occasionally Herbert Henry Asquith – the prime minister from 1908 to 1916 who was known for turning up in meetings dressed for golf – and his successor David Lloyd George, another keen golfer.

As well as prominent writers, such as W. Somerset Maugham and Ian Fleming, the newspaper industry was represented at the club by Lords Northcliffe, Beaverbrook and Rothermere.

If it was future kings and princes who graced the club in the 1920s, after the 1950s it was showbusiness figures who were to be found on Coombe Hill’s fairways.

These included Jimmy Tarbuck – a past captain and still very active member – Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Harry Secombe, Stanley Baker and Sean Connery.

Finally, Coombe Hill boasts no fewer than four professionals who became Open champions: Arthur Havers, Sandy Herd, Henry Cotton and Dick Burton.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 13

NCG pp 14-15 TGD, Predictions 17/01/2013 16:02 Page 14

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THE N VERDICTCG ON T HE OLD CO UR CHANGES SE

GREAT DEBATE: SHOULD THE OLD COURSE BE CHANGED? Is it in golf’s best interests to add bunkers and modify greens at St Andrews? Or is it a national treasure?

YES

If changes aren’t made, it will become an obsolete Open venue like Prestwick

The Old Course has no official beginning and by the same token it will have no end. Constantly shifting through the ages, much like the English language, its enduring appeal is largely down to an ability to move with the times.

That’s why, while the Open was last at Prestwick in 1925 and will never return, the Old Course continues to be the venue the pros most look forward to visiting.

It is not as though changes are without precedent at St Andrews – after all, there used to be 22 holes rather than 18 and the course was played in the opposite direction for centuries, clockwise rather than the anti-clockwise rotation we all know and love today. It was as recently as 1870 that the 1st green was designed by Old Tom Morris while

countless new tees have been added, most recently on the other side of the wall on the 14th.

What matters most, surely, is that it remains a relevant Open venue and that the changes are overseen and directed by those who know best and have the game’s best interests at heart.

Step forward three parties: the St Andrews Links Trust, the R&A and the architect Martin Hawtree.

One is a trust responsible for the public courses in the town, the second is the rule-maker for golf and the third is a man who has made sympathetic modernisations to most on the Open rota.

The Old Course will be better for the changes – the pros will face a better test – and nor will it lose any of its charms or eccentricities.

14 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NO

It is a historical monument that should forever be left as a point of reference

This isn’t just any old course – it’s the Old Course in St Andrews, the little town in Fife where golf was born in Great Britain & Ireland.

And you can tell that the St Andrews Links Trust, the public body ultimately responsible for the Old Course, know they are doing something controversial; the work which is being carried out by Martin Hawtree came about on the quiet and with a minimum of consultation.

That is wrong, because they are custodians of a public facility rather than the owners of a private one.

This is a museum piece, and it has been shaped by nature rather than man ever since the game – or a recognisable version of it – was first played on these shores some 600 years ago.

The great architects have learned from it, and used its many features to improve their own designs. How can they continue to do that if the original with which they need to make comparisons no longer stands?

True, if the wind doesn’t blow then the scores during St Andrews Opens are low. So what? As long as the best player wins then what difference does that make?

The R&A, whose headquarters overlooks the 1st tee and 18th green, are always at pains to say that the winning score in the Open is irrelevant to them.

Yet they have worked alongside the Links Trust in this instance and heavily influenced changes whose only motivation is to make the course more exacting.

NCG pp 14-15 TGD, Predictions 17/01/2013 16:02 Page 15

2013 MAJORS: WHAT WILL (AND WON’T) HAPPEN Mark Townsend digs out his crystal ball and looks ahead to the year’s ‘Big Four’ THE MASTERS Augusta National, April 11 What you will see: Not one but two women members of Augusta National, the first in the club's history to slip into a Green Jacket. Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and business executive Darla Moore are the lucky ones; just a shame it took more than three quarters of a century.

What you won't see: A European victory – the odds are against one.

Since Olazabal won in 1999 we have had eight American wins, two South African and one Canadian, Argentinian and a Fijian. In that period only Lee Westwood has finished as runner-up.

US OPEN Merion, June 13 What you will see: Endless explanations of why wicker baskets are used instead of a flag at Merion and Ben Hogan's 1 iron at the 1950 US Open to make the playoff, a year after a headon collision with a bus.

For all its history, Merion has only hosted four US Opens, the last of which was back in 1981. It did stage the 2009 Walker Cup though.

What you won't see: Thick rough – those days are thankfully gone. Or an identikit winner like Hale Irwin or Lee Janzen, because this is as open as any of the Majors now. Unless you are Rory McIlroy at Congressional, the winning score will still be around level par.

THE OPEN Muirfield, July 18 What you will see: What is, for many, the best test on the Open Championship rota. And, as such, we will hopefully get another classy winner to go alongside the likes of Els, Faldo, Watson, Trevino, Nicklaus, Player and Cotton. Is there a more impressive winners' list in any Open... or any Major for that matter?

What you won't see: Women members. There will be plenty of talk of why female members are not part of the Muirfield scene and Peter Dawson will skilfully bat away plenty of questions... and nothing will change. This is, after all, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.

THE US PGA Oak Hill, August 8 What you will see: Shaun Micheel's approach to a few inches at the 72nd hole which saw off Chad Campbell in 2003. Micheel was ranked 169th in the world and it completed a very understated set of Major winners that year – Weir, Furyk and Curtis won the first three.

What you won't see: Any of our 1995 Ryder Cup heroes from Oak Hill in action, although Phil Mickelson was part of that home defeat. In 10 Major tournaments, professional or amateur, an American has prevailed on nine occasions. The European Ryder Cup team are the welcome exceptions.

OUR MAJOR

PREDICTIONS Dan Murphy Masters: T Woods US Open: R Fowler Open: S Garcia PGA: R McIlroy One to watch: Richard Sterne – As talented as Oosthuizen and Schwartzel and has hopefully put injury problems behind him One to flop: Lee Westwood – I worry that he is becoming desperate and has changed too much ahead of this season

Mark Townsend Masters: B Snedeker US Open: R McIlroy Open: T Woods PGA: J Dufner One to watch: Padraig Harrington – still only 41, has more Majors than any current European and remains mustard keen for more One to flop: Hunter Mahan – has slowly slipped down the rankings and short game still insufficient Chris Bertram Masters: R McIlroy US Open: M Kaymer Open: L Oosthuizen PGA: R McIlroy One to watch: Gary Woodland – Disastrous 2012 but he has bags of talent, not least his ability to hit it a mile One to flop: Jim Furyk – nearly year in 2012 will see haunt him and golf's most idiosyncratic swing fade away quietly

Historic venue Merion will host the 2013 US Open

* ‘One to watch’ had to be currently outside world top 50 * ‘One to flop’ had to be currently inside world top 50

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 15

NCG pp 16 OTT Rory's House 17/01/2013 16:03 Page 16

ON THE TEE

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SKY CAMERA IF you fancy a bird’s eye view of your house, just like Rory (see right), Universal Sky Pictures can oblige... without the sky-high costs.

The company makes use of a digital camera mounted atop a 22metre mast that allows you to take high-quality images without an aircraft. The images are available in print or digitally and are the perfect way for you to show off your golf course. Visit aerialphotograph.co.uk

Chez McIlroy This £6m pad is what Rory now calls home

ONE-PUTT GOLF WE are delighted to partner with Rishy Golf for the April 1 launch of their One-Putt Golf Competition. It is open to casual players and club members and is an 18-hole test of your putting skills. Register with your club pro for the chance to win top prizes.

WIRRAL CLASSIC THE 72-hole Wirral Golf Classic will this year welcome 300 club golfers to Hoylake, the venue for the 2014 Open. The open Stableford competition takes in three other beautiful Merseyside links courses and is open to club members on a first-come, firstserved basis for a very reasonable £229. Visit wirralgolfclassic.co.uk

RORY SNAPS UP £6M MANSION IN PALM BEACH McIlroy splashes out on waterside Florida residence... and pays for it with huge Nike gear deal Rory McIlroy eased himself into the new year with a new £6m house... quickly followed by a lucrative new equipment deal, writes Joe Harrison.

The PGA champion and Ryder Cup star is the latest European to relocate Stateside and joins Lee Westwood – who left his Worksop home behind late last year – in Florida.

Not that the deal will leave too much of a dent in the World No 1’s bank account: the £5.9m he spent is mere pocket money from his £8.7m season earnings and his new reported £62m sponsorship deal with Nike.

McIlroy visited Nike's club development facility in Forth Worth, Texas, last autumn to test his new equipment. "I was seriously impressed with

16 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

both the craftsmanship of the engineers and how much product innovation goes on," he said McIlroy.

"I've been blown away by the attention to detail."

McIlroy’s six-bedroom house sits within 15,286 square feet and has ample space to dock a yacht on the adjacent Intracoastal Waterway.

It also boasts an astonishing nine bathrooms.

A private putting green ensures Rory will be able to tinker away at home while the several nearby country clubs will give partner Caroline Wozniacki the chance to try to find some form on the tennis court.

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NCG pp 18-19 OTT Betting, TTS 17/01/2013 16:04 Page 18

ON THE TEE

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BETTING GUIDE: WGC MATCH PLAY Mark Townsend attempts to sniff out a winner at the year’s first WGC event, at the Ritz-Carlton in Arizona

THE BASICS RIGHT 1GET The bookies will pay out on the top four – the semi-finalists – and better so have a look at the player brackets before you have a bet.

Should you pick any more than one player from a certain bracket then, yes, you are doubling your chances but you are also guaranteeing one of your bets will be a loser. One bet from each bracket should suffice if betting at the start of the week.

Don’t get carried away by a first-round trouncing if you’re reinvesting after day one. This is matchplay and an early 6&5 win means very little with another four victories needed to reach the final. Last year’s winner Hunter Mahan needed extra holes to get past Zach Johnson but then cruised past his next opponents.

2 HEED THE STATS

There are very few rules to follow but it is worth knowing that since 2003 all the winners, other than Mahan last year, have secured at least one professional victory in the previous 12 months.

And Mahan had lost a play-off at the prestigious, quality-field Tour Championship.

Also, while it is matchplay there is plenty to be said for a look at those players who have shown some type of good form in early-season strokeplay events.

Again, since 2003, all the champions have recorded a top4 finish in at least one of their previous six starts.

So strongly consider those who have performed at the back end of 2012 and the beginning of this year. They often continue their hot streaks.

18 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

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WGC-ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY FEB 20-24 If there is a week that screams out ‘no bet’, this is it. But it also strangely has many of us scrambling for our Ladbrokes log-in details. Sixty four players going head to head, with no second chances, in a very welcome break from strokeplay. So if you are having your first flutter of the year we’ll try and give you some pointers.

WE BACK THE FAVOURITES? 3 SHOULD Last year the four bracket winners were ranked 1, 1, 6 and 10 (out of a possible 16).

Recent winners also include Luke Donald (beat Kaymer), Ian Poulter (Casey), Geoff Ogilvy (Casey), Tiger Woods (Cink) and Henrik Stenson (Ogilvy). So while there is a typical winner there, not many real outsiders make it to the final match.

Ogilvy won on his first visit in 2006 but this is the exception to the rule and those who have a poor record in this tournament do not suddenly tend to find the winning touch. Woods might have three wins but the last one came in 2008 and Ritz Carlton has been the venue since 2009. His finishes here are T17 (2012), T33 (11), DNP and T17 (09).

4 WHO TO BACK?

Given that we don’t know the brackets now let’s spread our bets a little and plump for three.

All are American. First up, Matt Kuchar – he tends to start the year strongly and has been T17, 3rd and T5 the last three years.

Forty-plus players don’t tend to go the distance but he should be able to last the pace if need be and clearly likes the course.

Next up is Nick Watney, who has fallen at the third hurdle the last three years, after beating Tiger in 2012, but will be mustardkeen to prove a matchplay point after being overlooked for Medinah and has the potential to be incredible. Lastly Jason Dufner, fired at the Ryder Cup with three wins and who, when on song, looks as unruffled and classy as anyone in the game.

NCG pp 18-19 OTT Betting, TTS 17/01/2013 16:04 Page 19

S

TATISTICALLY PEAKING

Follow NCG: @NCGmagazine

TOP TWEETS

428

So pumped to officially be a Nike athlete!!! Can’t wait to do many great things in the SWOOSH! @McIlroyRory Whoa dude, is that your real hair @McIlroyRory?

Welcome to #TeamNike @TigerWoods My opinion is that Rory will only improve his distance control with new ball/irons. But what do I know... @F_Molinari Congrats to Paul McGinley on your R/C Captaincy. Looking forward to our future competition. You’re a class act @TomWatsonPGAPro Ireland have contributed so much to the Ryder Cup. Bradshaw, Christie Snr, to Walton, Christie Jnr, The Darce to Rory and co, Congrats Paul @KenBrownGolf Enjoying a nice juice after a long day on the range - bunch of spinach, 5 carrots, 2 apples and some ginger #tastesbetterthanitsoun ds @LukeDonald Yes sir!!! Big win today!!

Got a little close at 13 but pulled it out in style!

Looking forward to next week! Aloha! @DJohnsonPGA

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO...

PAUL McGINLEY BEST MATE ON TOUR A lot of the Irish guys, too many to name FUNNIEST PERSON ON TOUR Simon Hurd

$8,750,000

SUPERSTITIONS None ONE COURSE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE Augusta WORST SHOT YOU’VE SEEN ON TOUR A lot of mine. There have been a few shanks...

FIRST CAR Subaru hatchback, I bought it for $1000 and sold it two years later for the same. The tyres were as bald as my head!

FIRST JOB Selling programmes at Irish soccer matches MOST NERVOUS YOU’VE BEEN Ryder Cup in Detroit, first day with Luke Donald FAVOURITE FOOD AND WHAT WON’T YOU EAT Sushi is my favourite, not a fan of oysters FAVOURITE TV AND WHAT WON’T YOU WATCH Entourage is my favourite, X Factor does my head in BEST PUTTING TIP Feel like you are hooking the putts in BEST SWING TIP Co-ordination – body turn and arms swinging in harmony BEST CAPTAIN PLAYED UNDER Sam Torrance, he knew me better than I knew myself. I learned a lot from all of them

ONE

Number of professional starts on the PGA Tour that it took Russell Henley to win. The rookie finished with five straight birdies in Hawaii

KAPALUA CRUNCH The longest drives on the PGA Tour often come at Kapalua and Kyle Stanley led the way with an effort of 428 yards. Ian Poulter also managed one of 426

The prize money up for grabs at both the first two WGC events of the year. At the Match Play in Arizona only 64 players are featured

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

Rory McIlroy Tiger Woods Luke Donald Louis Oosthuizen Justin Rose Adam Scott Lee Westwood Brandt Snedeker Bubba Watson Steve Stricker

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AV. PTS 12.83 8.28 8.28 6.71 6.23 6.14 5.81 5.39 5.35 5.12

11 NUMBER OF SOUTH AFRICANS WHO HAVE WON ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR SINCE JANUARY 2012

STRICKER CUTTING BACK Steve Stricker will play just 10 events on the PGA Tour so he can spend more time with his family. He has played 19 events in each of the last three years

February 14-17 Northern Trust Open, Riviera February 20-24 WGC-Accenture Match Play, Dove Mountain

FEB

COMING UP... www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 19

NCG pp 20 OTT Knitwear 17/01/2013 16:06 Page 20

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WINTER KNITWEAR Cope with the worst that February can muster GLENBRAE Lined Performance Knitwear £119.95

GALVIN GREEN Cayman knitted sweater £85

GOLFINO Argyle V-neck Pima Cotton Slipover £99.95

PUMA Cotton V Neck sweater £60

SUNICE Silver Clermont Showerproof sweater £59.99

PETER SCOTT Carnoustie jumper £125

IJP DESIGN Diamond in the Rough £64.95

TOMMY HILFIGER Greenwich sweater £85

PING Carlos zip-top £60

20 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

GLENMUIR Connery Sweater £83

NCG pp 21 Letters 17/01/2013 16:07 Page 21

ON THE TEE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO: Letters 1st Floor, 18-22 Market Street, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 5AJ or email: letters@sportspub.co.uk

THE PRIZE The star letter each month wins a custom-fit Ping G20 fairway wood, worth £175.

The G20 is available in the following models: 3 (15˚), 4 (16.5˚), 5 (18˚), and 7 (21˚). The club features a high MOI head and an external weight that launches the ball high, straight and long.

Please state when you send your letter your preferred loft, shaft (including flex) and whether you are right or left-handed.

For more details, visit w: pinggolf.com

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LETTERS LETTER OF THE MONTH: Putt long and prosper Dear Sir, WHAT is it with us golfers? When finding a course to play we always look for brutes – long carries from the tee, trees, bunkers and plenty of water.

And when we arrive to play we’ll always march back to the white tees when allowed. Masochistic and sadistic all at the same time.

Now, some players have found a better way to putt with belly and broomstick clubs. So what do we do? We ban it.

I can see that for those off scratch and better anchoring might feel like it’s levelling the playing field to the disadvantage of the most naturally talented.

Just like custom fitting, 460cc drivers, high lofted wedges and supersonic golf balls already have.

But, and I mean no disrespect, they represent an tiny amount of golfers and, so I do think on this issue, the needs of the many far outweigh the needs of the few. For most people golf rightly remains a game, a pastime. We’ve only got these three score years and 10, so if it’s going to be hard work out on the course then you should do something else. And if a method comes along that might knock a shot or two off a person’s round then don’t outlaw it. Be happy for them (and get out and try it for yourself!).

S Holden, Kent

AN RING B ANCHO

L

SPECIA

I’VE GOT NO PROBLEM WITH BIFURCATION

RIGHT TO REPLY A STEP FORWARD Dear Sir, WORKING within the public service I have had my fill of supposed ‘consultation’, where the government then totally ignores the concerns expressed by respondents. However, I would praise the R&A for having a three-month consultation on the proposed new rule banning anchoring. The fact contributors can email on whatever aspect they want is better than the government’s method of asking for comment only upon limiting – and sometimes leading – questions.

And while many will believe the outcome is already a fait accompli perhaps the fact they are inviting comments shows a level of unease over whether this proposal is valid and/or good for the game after all?

Either way, the R&A will receive fascinating responses, so I do hope they will publish a report for us to read.

Ryan Kevins, via email

Dear Sir, THERE always has been a set of rules for the pro and a rule for the amateur, going back to marking your ball and now the rule regarding face grooves. So why not more rule bifurcation?

I have to agree with Rory and Tiger and many others who have said that these putters should be banned – but let amateurs continue with them. After all, no-one complained when Jarmo Sandelin’s 54-inch driver shaft was banned, so why are long-shafted putters treated differently?

Whenever rule makers change equipment rules it is not the pro that suffers, it’s the amateur. I liked my Callaway ERC II but I had to spend another £300 to replace it, yet I got nowhere near the advantage of the pro, and he got a replacement free!

I would amend the rules to reduce the length the pro hits the ball by changing equipment, ball or club, but let the amateur continue with whatever they wanted to use. Then courses would remain static for length, we could play

the same course as the pro and clubs would stop extending them at great expense. There are more amateurs than there are pros, yet we get no help from the authorities.

We go to a tournament and we are told to shut up and stop moving, we are herded like cattle, we cannot use cameras, we are ripped off for food and drink. Yet without the amateur there would be no golf and no pro.

Barry R Crane, Hants

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 21

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NCG pp 24 Columnist RR 1/18/13 10:59 AM Page 24

ROBERT ROCK All change on the equipment front T won’t have escaped your attention that one or two players have switched their club manufacturers in recent weeks and, while I haven’t moved companies, I have now signed up with TaylorMade.

In the last few years I have done my own thing so it came a little bit by surprise but hopefully there are so many elements that make sense. To start with I finally had a company offer me a staff deal without the condition of wearing a hat. While 99 per cent of the players are comfortable wearing one, I’m not and they knew my stance on headwear so that was a big part of any deal.

The actual clubs were less tricky as I have had some of their products in the bag so it’s not something totally new to me. I will continue with the odd club from my old bag and they have given me some leeway for now but, with a lot of new products coming out soon, that could all change anyway. I am certainly looking forward to trying the RocketBladez Tour irons.

For me the most important club to get right is the driver and I have been a TaylorMade contracted driver player, I use the R11, for the last few years so that also helped make my mind up. I have tried the RocketBallz fairway woods and they should be a real asset, that is a club that I have struggled with in the past but I’m confident that they can find me something that goes a little bit higher with a bit less spin and that’s what the RocketBallz does.

As for the footwear it is a change to Adidas after being with FootJoy for a number of years, otherwise everything else is the same as before, I am still under contract to use the Pro V1x, so I think I have got a deal that suits me rather than trying to fit in with someone else.

I am also looking forward to being part of a team again. When you are not a staff player you are free to use whatever you want, which is great for choice, but also there is nobody to go to for some reliable support and I have always got on well with the guys from TaylorMade.

We have now got five players signed to our elite player academy and they all got in touch through the magazine so we’re up and running and really excited. We have got a nice mix so far, Daniel Pearce who is 13 and off five, Craig Normansell who has just turned pro and Sean Guilfoyle from Ireland who is a one handicap

Royal stamp Birkdale will play host to the matchplay finals of the English Tour

I

24 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

‘I finally had an offer without the condition of wearing a hat’ but they have all got the right dreams and work ethic. We have also signed up with two very promising girls in Wales’ Amy Boulden, who was part of the winning Curtis Cup team, and Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald.

We have recently got involved with the English Tour which should be a great place for young pros to develop. I was following them on Twitter one day and had a look at their schedule and couldn’t believe what a collecttion of courses, 18 in total with 36 holes at each, they have put together. It kicks off at The Belfry, then goes to courses like West Lancs, Moortown, Hillside, Ganton before the matchplay finals at Royal Birkdale.

It is something that I would have loved to

For more de tails on the E nglish T our visit their we b englishto site ur.co.uk

have done when I was coming through and we thought it would be a brilliant tour for our academy boys to play on and would be a good reflection of how they are playing. If somebody is shooting four or five under at somewhere like Burnham & Berrow you know they are pretty good.

It deserves to do really well, the prize money is good, there is a £10,000 prize for a hole-in-one at every event, plus TV coverage and it’s not too much to enter. We have offered an academy spot for the Order of Merit winner so can teach them for free the following year as they prepare for the Challenge Tour or Q School. England could do with some more professional events and this is a great start for our up-and-coming pros.

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

English Tour 17/01/2013 16:55 Page 1

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

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NCG pp 27 Columnist ACC 17/01/2013 16:08 Page 27

CHUBBY CHANDLER Why I’m so sure Louis and Charl can add to their Major collection HARL Schwartzel ended 2012 spectacularly with back-to-back wins and his close friend Louis Oosthuizen started 2013 with an early indication that ‘anything you can do...’

South Africans definitely know how to hug the headlines these days because close behind Charl and Louis are another pair of friendly rivals in Branden Grace and George Coetzee.

We have been lucky at ISM over the years in having players who have bounced off one another, with Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke the obvious examples. It has been good for them and also for the game because every sport needs superstars and the more players are spurred on by the exploits of contemporaries the quicker they get to that level.

I expect Charl and Louis to blossom even further this season and would not be the least bit surprised to see the pair of them pushing one another towards the game’s greatest prizes.

There really is no limit to what this pair can achieve because behind those silky swings is a desire of steel and substance.

Quite a few people wondered what had happened to Charl after his dramatic entry into the Major champions’ club when his fourbirdie finish brought triumph in the 2011 Masters. Although he wore his Green Jacket with immense pride, having a life-changing success does take time to adjust to. Injuries also took their toll. But I am a great believer in the adage that form is temporary while class is permanent and Charl fits comfortably into that category. His pre-Christmas double when he won by a combined and amazing 23 shots did not surprise me in any way other that they were both by such enormous distances.

Much of his drive and determination comes from his former pro father George, but Charl has an extra dimension which allows him to focus totally on the game when he is involved and switch off completely when he is not. It means he can empty his mind of the clutter which can drive golfers to the edge of madness.

Staying fresh and sharp is a key element to the success of the modern golfer.

Although both are products of different South African youth golfing projects, Charl and Louis are wonderful examples of what is being achieved in the country these days through encouraging play at grass-roots level.

C

Major Men Part of a booming South African generation

‘The day may arrive when there are more events outside Europe than in it’ Louis is already giving back through his own academy and we can expect more and more to follow from the production line in the future. I have always had a great affinity with South Africa and have been privileged to look after many of their prime golfing assets. So when I recently got the chance to give something back to the country that has given me so much both professionally and privately, I jumped at the chance. That’s why ISM is the proud sponsor of one of this season’s events on the rainbow nation’s Big Easy Tour.

Which brings me to sponsorship in general because these are worrying times for not just golf in Europe, but the game in general. We are lucky to have had wonderful long-term sponsors, but you only have to look at the

European Tour schedule to see where we are heading. In 2013 there will be more events in China (3) than there are in England (1).

Spain, for many years the early and lateseason backbone of European golf, is also facing its own fiscal cliff and the day may have arrived, with some dates and venues still to be determined, where there will be more European Tour events outside the continent than within it.

Even the PGA Tour, where cash cows grazed on every prairie on the continent at one time, is spreading its wings into Asia as the game becomes ever more global.

I remember the days when England alone could boast six or seven tournaments annually, but those times, along with the sponsors, have gone. As Bob Dylan once sang… the times they are a changin’.

• 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

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 27

NCG pp 28 Columnist CC 17/01/2013 16:09 Page 28

COLIN CALLANDER We have enjoyed a stellar age - but what lies ahead for British and Irish golf?

T was on January 3 1983 that my dream of becoming a full-time golf writer came to fruition.

That was the day I started work as an editorial assistant at Golf Monthly’s office in central Glasgow and one of the first people I met was the magazine’s former editor Percy Huggins, who I found reading a newspaper on his favourite three-legged chair.

Percy’s battered chair – its fourth leg consisted of a stack of Golfers Handbooks – was clearly not in pristine condition but looking back now it could be said to have symbolised the state of GB&I golf at the time.

Back in the early 1980s few people would have believed that we were about to enter into a golden age in which a small country like ours would produce a stream of eight Major champions and 18 Major victories over the next three decades.

Huggins certainly harboured no such expectations because at that point he had endured a drought of almost 13 years since Tony Jacklin had recorded GB&I’s last Major triumph and had waited one year more since our side (augmented by the Europeans from 1979 onwards) had earned as much as a half in the biennial Ryder Cup. I have been fortunate enough to work in a stellar age for GB&I professional golf and that success has been augmented by the achievements of our friends from the Continent of Europe.

That process had been started by Seve Ballesteros and the legendary Spaniard was to be the inspiration for Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia and future generations of continental golfers.

The sustained success of GB&I and European professional golf has been a constant theme throughout my time as a golf writer.

I have been doubly fortunate because I have also been able to witness at close hand the rise and fall of an immense talent such as Tiger Woods, as well as the enduring success of Tom Watson and Ernie Els plus equally entertaining cameos produced by the likes of John Daly, Nick Price, Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies and many more.

Mention of the ladies reminds me that the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup all reside on this side of the Atlantic

Inspired Europe’s Medinah Ryder Cup heroes were touched by Seve

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28 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

‘In 2012 golf ranked 10th in attendances at UK sports events’ for the first time in history.

It all looks very promising but as a Scot I understand you have to treat a bright outlook with a degree of caution and there does appear to be a few clouds on the horizon.

All Scots are only too well aware that everything can take a turn for the worse in a matter of minutes and as far as the professional game is concerned it does worry me that so many leading European players seem hell-bent on decamping to America where the prize money remains more plentiful and the travelling is less onerous.

I read recently in the Telegraph that in 2012 golf ranked 10th in attendances at UK professional sport events behind football, the Olympics and Paralympics, horseracing and equestrian, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, greyhound racing, motorsport and tennis.

That is in large part due to the shortage of such golf events in this country but it is hardly

going to help to attract new sponsors if the likes of Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and the other leading stars from Europe’s victory at Medinah are luxuriating in the States.

Back in 1983 when I started out as a golf writer the European Tour schedule contained 15 events in the British Isles, many of which could be viewed on terrestrial TV. This year it was down to seven and as most of them were on Sky, one does begin to wonder how golf can continue to attract new adherents from outside the confines of the game.

The Golf Foundation does a sterling job in that department but at club level the signs are far from promising, with England Golf reported to have lost one per cent of its club members over the past 12 months and both the Scots and the Welsh seeing that figure drop by as much as five per cent.

Entering 2013 it would be an exaggeration to suggest that golf is in as bad shape as Percy’s three-legged chair but faint cracks are appearing and they need to be repaired.

• Colin Callander is a former editor of Golf Monthly and this year celebrates his 30th anniversary working as a golf writer

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NCG pp 33 Instruction Lead 17/01/2013 17:24 Page 33

Instruction section in association with

The UK’s Largest Golf Retail Group

YOUR GAME Hit it further and straighter | Hole more putts | Sharpen your short game | Golf psychology | Fitness tips Simon Harrison is the head pro at Lilley Brook in Gloucestershire. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost pros from all over the UK. Visit simonharrison-pga.co.uk

FAREWELL TO FATS AND THINS Swinging with arms disconnected from the chest leads to an over-reliance on hand/eye timing through impact. This can easily break down under pressure. The swing of your arms and club must be synchronised with both ‘quiet’ hands and the turning of the chest to ensure your impact position is repeatable for consistent strikes.

Create this ‘connected’ feeling by placing a headcover under each armpit and swinging back and forth to chest height while keeping the covers in place. Keep the wrists soft but don’t hinge them – more wrist action means more work to return the club back onto the ball and, therefore, more to go wrong. All distance control must come through the amount of chest rotation.

The ‘wooden’ sensation you experience is the lack of wrist power but a confirmation the arms and torso are blending together. This drill should eradicate any flipping or chasing of the wrists through impact – the key causes of fats and thins.

THE UK’S LARGEST GOLF RETAIL GROUP WWW.FOREMOSTGOLF.COM

FULL CLEARANCE

FIND YOUR NEAREST FOREMOST PROFESSIONAL AT WWW.FOREMOSTGOLF.COM SWING SEQUENCE

x

GROUND FORCE

For more consistency, make sure you are clearing your left side

Graeme Bell is head professional at Linlithgow near Edinburgh. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost pros from all over the UK. For more visit www.foremostgolf.com and www.graemebellgolf.com

How to create power from the ground up

RORY McILROY

Why the World No 1 is the best driver of a ball in the game

If you are under six feet tall and want a set-up position to copy this is it. Rory is lining up to play his trademark draw shot, aiming at the bunker on the right. He is standing tall, bending slightly from his hips with knees just softened, he

T five feet and nine inches Rory McIlroy is one of the smaller players on tour yet when it comes to driving he is as long as any apart from the extraordinary likes of Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Nicolas Colsaerts.

His free-flowing action is a joy to behold and when he is really on his game he just seems to hit it further and straighter as the tournament goes on – just think of those two crushing Major wins, at the PGA last year and the US Open in 2011. On both occasions he reduced the competition to the role of bystanders.

“I have a lot of natural speed,” says Rory. “In the gym I work mostly on core stability and flexibility, which has helped make me longer. Plus, I like to swing with no fear. I'm a grip-it-and-ripit guy. I've always played that way, and I've quickly found that nearly everyone on tour does, too.

“Over the ball, I think about nothing other than the target. I don't focus on technique.”

will bend his knees more in order to sole the club, prior to takeaway. What I particularly like is being able to see just a touch of his left forearm above the crook in his right elbow.

Superbly orthodox to achieve his goal.

Observe how Rory has turned his upper body whilst being flexible enough to resist with his hips and legs which have turned very little. Just enough, in fact, to allow for sufficient weight transfer to his right side. The picture catches our man just after he begins his downswing and the clubface is square while the swing plane has lowered a tad to promote the marginally into-out path that McIlroy desires through impact.

Rory's weight is on the balls of his feet with his right foot providing leverage for a powerful attack, note how his right heel is lifting. His hips are parallel to his target line, while his back remains facing his taget as his arms move in towards his side.

Please note how the shaft points towards the players in the far distance who are in front of the right bunker.

This shows how Rory is trying to swing on the in-toout path. His right elbow is close to his hip, which helps him retain his spine angle and keep his sternum behind the ball, all things needed to produce a powerful draw shaped shot.

Almost finished and Rory maintains his body angle, but his knees are now softening again to allow a full rotation and not hamper the free swing of his arms so maximising the power delivered to the ball.

The end. Typical poise and balance from our Northern Irish champion, a very neat, compact and balanced finish. Rory's flexibility allows him to generate massive swing speed, but still remain in balance. He finishes where he began, in a very orthodox pose.

A

ON THE SLIDE This is a reasonable impact position, with my weight correctly transferred onto my left side. However, I have allowed my hips to slide towards the target rather that rotate. My left knee has collapsed slightly, knocking over the pole and moving too far outside my left foot.

x THE SOLUTION See how my weight has transferred onto my front foot through impact and my left hip and leg have brushed against the pole without knocking it over. My hips drive

towards the target at the start of the downswing before my left hip and knee move backwards.

This move gives me a firm left side and will help improve your iron approach shots.

KEEP THE HIPS MOVING

he iron approach is made to look simple by the world’s best players. However many amateurs don’t pepper the pin as often as they would like.

Correctly clearing your hips

T

34 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

through impact is vital to improving the consistency of your iron shots.

A great practice tip is to hit iron shots with an old shaft or alignment pole just outside your left heel.

We have all heard people say, use the ground to create power. But how do you do that?

Well people do try but they usually lever off the ground too early on the downswing and this will inhibit their ability to move their hips forward. When the hips stop moving forward

ON THE BACK FOOT My weight has not transferred correctly through this shot. This a common mistake I see especially with beginners and higher handicap players. My weight has stayed on my back foot and this time my front hip has moved behind the pole (reverse weight transfer). This position will generally lead to poor ball striking and inconsistent direction control.

This body position is very interesting and not one many top players get in to, because they are not as athletic as young Mr. McIlroy, nor are they looking to draw the shot.

Look how Rory's knees have straightened, while his spine remains inclined, his

head staying down and well behind where the ball was.

All very necessary to produce his required shape.

If he loses his timing or posture his bad shots can be either a push with a touch of added slice or too much draw turning into a hook or even pull hook.

RORY’S 2012

ON THE SLIDE the club's low point will move behind the ball and the driver will come in too steeply into the ball. This creates poor contact and loss of distance and golf balls.

To keep the hips moving forward the left knee needs to move towards the target and not

straighten too early. This allows you to build energy up into the ground. To do this try and keep your right foot on the ground.

When the right foot comes off the ground too early, the hips and and body spin out of the shot.

Approaching impact you should feel the legs straightening and your belt level rising and this is you using the ground to lever off.

If the legs don’t straighten, then the club will never come out of its descent and you will hit

well behind the ball.

Eventually players who don’t straighten the legs pre impact have to flex their arms to stop the club hitting into the ground and this is not efficient.

At the finishing position above you can see how much the legs have extended and how much forward the hips are off the shoulders. These are key indicators that you have used the ground efficiently.

John Murray is head professional at Moray in Scotland. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost pros from all over the UK to give tuition. For more www.johnmurraypgapro.co.uk

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 35

The clubface is square to where Rory set it at the address, but the club itself is swinging slightly to the right. What this combination of face and path produces is a ball setting off between the face position and swing direction, although it will start closer to the face aim and the slight mis-match of the two imparts a small amount of anti-clockwise, or draw spin.

n Swing analysis by Gary Alliss. Gary is the PGA Master Professional at Ladbrook Park

STATS Driving accuracy: 60.7% (100th) Driving distance: 301.89 yds (10th) Greens In Regulation: 79.2% (3rd) Stroke average: 69.68 (3rd) Putts per round: 30 (92nd)

36 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 37

38 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 39

ALSO INSIDE n FULL FINISH P34 Improve your weight transfer n GROUNDED P36 Create more power n RORY TIME P38 Gary Alliss on the World No 1’s swing keys

NCG pp 34-35 Murray Foremost 18/01/2013 09:35 Page 34

FULL CLEARANCE

For more consistency, make sure you are clearing your left side

he iron approach is made to look simple by the world’s best players. However many amateurs don’t pepper the pin as often as they would like.

Correctly clearing your hips

T

34 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

through impact is vital to improving the consistency of your iron shots.

A great practice tip is to hit iron shots with an old shaft or alignment pole just outside your left heel.

NCG pp 34-35 Murray Foremost 18/01/2013 09:35 Page 35

THE UK’S LARGEST GOLF RETAIL GROUP WWW.FOREMOSTGOLF.COM

x

ON THE SLIDE This is a reasonable impact position, with my weight correctly transferred onto my left side. However, I have allowed my hips to slide towards the target rather that rotate. My left knee has collapsed slightly, knocking over the pole and moving too far outside my left foot.

x THE SOLUTION See how my weight has transferred onto my front foot through impact and my left hip and leg have brushed against the pole without knocking it over. My hips drive

towards the target at the start of the downswing before my left hip and knee move backwards.

This move gives me a firm left side and will help improve your iron approach shots.

ON THE BACK FOOT My weight has not transferred correctly through this shot. This a common mistake I see especially with beginners and higher handicap players. My weight has stayed on my back foot and this time my front hip has moved behind the pole (reverse weight transfer). This position will generally lead to poor ball striking and inconsistent direction control.

Shot on location at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club

John Murray is head professional at Moray in Scotland. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost pros from all over the UK to give tuition. For more www.johnmurraypgapro.co.uk

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 35

NCG pp 36-37 Bell Foremost 18/01/2013 09:38 Page 36

GROUND FORCE How to create power from the ground up

KEEP THE HIPS MOVING We have all heard people say, use the ground to create power. But how do you do that?

Well people do try but they usually lever off the ground too early on the downswing and this will inhibit their ability to move their hips forward. When the hips stop moving forward

36 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

the club's low point will move behind the ball and the driver will come in too steeply into the ball. This creates poor contact and loss of distance and golf balls.

To keep the hips moving forward the left knee needs to move towards the target and not

straighten too early. This allows you to build energy up into the ground. To do this try and keep your right foot on the ground.

When the right foot comes off the ground too early, the hips and and body spin out of the shot.

NCG pp 36-37 Bell Foremost 18/01/2013 09:38 Page 37

FIND YOUR NEAREST FOREMOST PROFESSIONAL AT WWW.FOREMOSTGOLF.COM

Shot on location at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club

Graeme Bell is head professional at Linlithgow near Edinburgh. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost pros from all over the UK. For more visit www.foremostgolf.com and www.graemebellgolf.com

ON THE SLIDE Approaching impact you should feel the legs straightening and your belt level rising and this is you using the ground to lever off.

If the legs don’t straighten, then the club will never come out of its descent and you will hit

well behind the ball.

Eventually players who don’t straighten the legs pre impact have to flex their arms to stop the club hitting into the ground and this is not efficient.

At the finishing position above you can see how much the legs have extended and how much forward the hips are off the shoulders. These are key indicators that you have used the ground efficiently.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 37

NCG pp 38-39 Rory Swing Sequence 17/01/2013 16:13 Page 38

SWING SEQUENCE

RORY McILROY

Why the World No 1 is the best driver of a ball in the game

If you are under six feet tall and want a set-up position to copy this is it. Rory is lining up to play his trademark draw shot, aiming at the bunker on the right. He is standing tall, bending slightly from his hips with knees just softened, he

T five feet and nine inches Rory McIlroy is one of the smaller players on tour yet when it comes to driving he is as long as any apart from the extraordinary likes of Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Nicolas Colsaerts.

His free-flowing action is a joy to behold and when he is really on his game he just seems to hit it further and straighter as the tournament goes on – just think of those two crushing Major wins, at the PGA last year and the US Open in 2011. On both occasions he reduced the competition to the role of bystanders.

“I have a lot of natural speed,” says Rory. “In the gym I work mostly on core stability and flexibility, which has helped make me longer. Plus, I like to swing with no fear. I'm a grip-it-and-ripit guy. I've always played that way, and I've quickly found that nearly everyone on tour does, too.

“Over the ball, I think about nothing other than the target. I don't focus on technique.”

will bend his knees more in order to sole the club, prior to takeaway. What I particularly like is being able to see just a touch of his left forearm above the crook in his right elbow.

Superbly orthodox to achieve his goal.

Observe how Rory has turned his upper body whilst being flexible enough to resist with his hips and legs which have turned very little. Just enough, in fact, to allow for sufficient weight transfer to his right side. The picture catches our man just after he begins his downswing and the clubface is square while the swing plane has lowered a tad to promote the marginally into-out path that McIlroy desires through impact.

A

n Swing analysis by Gary Alliss. Gary is the PGA Master Professional at Ladbrook Park

RORY’S 2012

STATS Driving accuracy: 60.7% (100th) Driving distance: 301.89 yds (10th) Greens In Regulation: 79.2% (3rd) Stroke average: 69.68 (3rd) Putts per round: 30 (92nd)

38 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

The clubface is square to where Rory set it at the address, but the club itself is swinging slightly to the right. What this combination of face and path produces is a ball setting off between the face position and swing direction, although it will start closer to the face aim and the slight mis-match of the two imparts a small amount of anti-clockwise, or draw spin.

This body position is very interesting and not one many top players get in to, because they are not as athletic as young Mr. McIlroy, nor are they looking to draw the shot.

Look how Rory's knees have straightened, while his spine remains inclined, his

head staying down and well behind where the ball was.

All very necessary to produce his required shape.

If he loses his timing or posture his bad shots can be either a push with a touch of added slice or too much draw turning into a hook or even pull hook.

NCG pp 38-39 Rory Swing Sequence 17/01/2013 16:14 Page 39

Rory's weight is on the balls of his feet with his right foot providing leverage for a powerful attack, note how his right heel is lifting. His hips are parallel to his target line, while his back remains facing his taget as his arms move in towards his side.

Please note how the shaft points towards the players in the far distance who are in front of the right bunker.

This shows how Rory is trying to swing on the in-toout path. His right elbow is close to his hip, which helps him retain his spine angle and keep his sternum behind the ball, all things needed to produce a powerful draw shaped shot.

Almost finished and Rory maintains his body angle, but his knees are now softening again to allow a full rotation and not hamper the free swing of his arms so maximising the power delivered to the ball.

The end. Typical poise and balance from our Northern Irish champion, a very neat, compact and balanced finish. Rory's flexibility allows him to generate massive swing speed, but still remain in balance. He finishes where he began, in a very orthodox pose.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 39

NCG pp 40 Columnist KM 17/01/2013 16:17 Page 40

GOLF PSYCHOLOGY

KARL MORRIS To improve this season, think WIN: What’s Important Now? URING a recent trip to do some coaching in Florida I had the great honour to meet the legendary American Football coach Lou Holtz. Now in his late 70s Holtz had one of the most outstanding college football coaching careers in the history of the game.

Coach Holtz was working hard on his golf game when I met him but he quickly began to talk about some of his own coaching philosophies that can be applied to almost anything. He said he felt the most important concept he had used in his career was the concept of WIN. At first when he mentioned this the little voice inside my head was having its usual rant about the ‘bleeding obvious’ until Holtz went on to explain that WIN was an acronym for ‘What’s Important Now’?

He said that so many times teams will be focused on what happened last week or what may happen at the end of the season but all he kept drilling into his players was to focus on the task right in front of them.

The tackle that needed to be made, the pass, the play or the interception. The simplicity of the message was so profound but so vitally important.

How often do we get lost in factors that are either in the past, way off in the future or totally beyond our control? We put our precious attention in the wrong place and become distracted.

I have over the years seen so many players who set marvellously grandiose goals of winning Majors or becoming World No 1 yet when you ask these people what they are going to do this afternoon they are lost for words other than trotting out standard clichés like ‘work hard’.

Just imagine this year what could happen if you set your goals not so much on outcomes way off in the future like winning tournaments or lowering your handicap but you embraced on a daily basis the concept of WIN. Yes, you need to plan ahead and have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve but surely the only day that you have real control over is the day in front of you. Could you begin to get up in the morning and look at the day ahead and aim to get the very best out of it just for the sake of that achievement alone?

Coach Holtz The simple ideas are often the best

D

40 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

‘How often do we get lost in factors totally beyond our control?’

Set out to do something today and then at the end of the day you can tick it off as another day that has contributed to you growing your game. With that attitude do you think your game might move in the right direction?

On the course, what if you really took WIN to heart when you played the game? After a poor shot is it more important to beat yourself up, show everybody else how disappointed you are, moan about the weather or actually resolve to deal with what has just happened and get on with the next task at hand?

It might be that you decide that for today the most important thing is to actually go out and enjoy the course or the company that you are in and give yourself permission that for today the score on the card is not the be all and

end all of your life. As I heard many years ago the goal of golf is to score as low as possible but the purpose is for you alone to decide for yourself.

It was clear to me that Holtz understood and applied the concept of simplicity to his work and his results bear testimony to that. In a world where we are bombarded with ever more intensity with the latest gadget and gizmo we are in danger of losing the connection with many of these simple but profound truths that can make such a difference not just to our golf but our life in general.

Nobody is ever going to be 100 per cent at this and you will have bad rounds and bad days but if you can be a little bit more focused on ‘what’s important now’ and a little less distracted by an imperfect past or a far off perceived future then you might be nicely surprised as to what that mindset brings to you. n Come and experience an extraordinary three days. The Mind Factor Certification course for coaches and players with Karl will be held in Manchester in November Details at www.themindfactor.com

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NCG pp 43 Equipment Lead 1/18/13 9:26 AM Page 43

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

Going low An industry-first Laser Thin Duramax rubber compound acts as a low-profile and highly flexible conduit from ground to feet

Last not least A last allows for a generous forefoot shape so toes can easily spread and maintain grip

FOOTJOY’S LIGHT APPEAL Less is more in M:Projects

Wearing A ProTekt toe guard provides additional abrasion resistance

Golfer NATIONAL

SHORT-GAME KING

CLUB

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

WINNING ON TOUR

TITLEIST PRO V1 Iron power Pro V1 is the longest of any Titleist products in terms of mid irons

Bright white A new paint process makes the dimple definition look sharper

PRO V1 MYTH BUSTING Three misconceptions about the iconic ball

My swing speed isn’t high enough to play a Pro V1 Golf balls are not designed to perform at different swing/ball speeds as you will hit a variety of shots. If a ball only works with your driver it won’t work with your 8 iron.

NCG VERDICT ON

THE LATEST VERSIO N OF PRO V1 THE

Nothing has been sacrificed in the short-game performance so the Pro V1 remains great around the greens

Should I play a lower compression ball if I can’t compress it like a tour player?

The ball is compressed with all three shots, everyone compresses it. Also there is no single element of the ball that contributes to its performance.

A lower compression will spin less than a higher compression but if you take a Titleist Velocity and the Pro V1, the compression is identical at

Adam Scott was the first winner on tour with the new prototype down in Australia

THE X FACTOR

MORE WINS ON TOUR

The Pro V1x has a new dimple design with seven sizes in 328 dimples

Longer lasting Both 2013 balls are more durable so will last for more rounds

Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x SRPs: £51 per dozen Available: March 1

Simple dimples The Pro V1 has the same dimple pattern as 2011 with five different sizes

TITLEIST’S LATEST VERSION OF THE GAME’S NO 1 BALL THE tour validation for the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x began at Doral in March last year when players received three different options. The result of that validation and years of research and testing is the softest Pro V1 ever and a Pro V1x which is as long as any ball you will find.

Let’s start with the Pro V1.

This is now even softer and longer

than before. It is softer through lowering the compression from around 92 to about 87. This is meaningful in terms of feel but also spin. It is also longer – you might think softer can’t mean longer but in this case it does because the long-game spin has come down from the 2011 product. It also flies a bit lower so will have a more penetrating

44 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

around 90. It is more to do with launch characteristics and all different elements of the ball working together than a single element.

trajectory and therefore more run.

For golfers at the highest speeds the product is already right up against the legal limit line but it is now longer for people who buy golf balls – ie me and you.

With the Pro V1x the trajectory has come down just a bit and the iron spin brought up just a bit on the longer irons. Titleist have introduced a very soft centre

to help bring the spin down and also improve consistency. The process has created a different sound, the general feeling of the tour pros is that it is now less ‘clicky’ than before.

Another real benefit of both balls is that they now stay whiter for longer and are more durable so will last, and look better, for more rounds.

Luke Donald was the first Pro V1x prototype winner the same weekend as Scott

WHY THE PRO V1X ISN’T JUST FOR TOUR Given that the Pro V1x is more popular on tour than the Pro V1, is it not fair to conclude that it is more of a ball for the better player?

Titleist say: The perception is that the Pro V1x is more for the better player but we are working hard to change that way of thinking. We see a lot of high

handicap players who have too much spin. If you reduce that, then you can hit more fairways and have less dispersion.

You might think that ball and swing speed equals product.

This is not right. It is not done on just a driver swing speed and this is the least frequent of any speed. It would be much easier but it also wouldn’t be right.

ZG PROCESS

EXPLAINED

I don’t spin the ball enough to play a Pro V1 Everybody spins the ball but the difference how you spin it off the tee to how you spin it with your chipping and pitching is dramatic and this is the fundamental reason why players are fitted into a Pro V1/x. Off the tee from the difference in a low to high spinning shot is less than 500 RPMs. Around the green the lowest spinning to highest is as much as 1500 which is the difference between chipping back or putting.

One piece of advice, Titleist say, is to play same ball every single time.

This has now been introduced to the Pro V1x and relates to how the new cores are made. Before they would see variation in the cores depending on where they were in the press so would see compression variations. Now each core is exactly the same.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 45

44

It’s here – meet the new Pro V1 ball

FOOTJOY’S new shoe is based on the theory that minimum construction delivers maximum feel in the swing.

The lightweight M:Projects are designed to allow your feet to move freely and without restriction.

Precision constructed from a proprietary leather by Pittards for a thin yet strong specification, this cutting-edge shoe has been designed to deliver a full range of motion.

It opens up a genuine process of shoe fitting that should be conducted by your club pro. Those who get ‘stuck’ during the swing, generally on their right side, may well benefit from M:Projects, while others whose legs have a mind of their own ought to try a shoe like FootJoy’s XPS-1.

The M:Project is available in both cleated and spikeless versions.

SRP: Leather/Mesh spikeless £95; Leather Spiked £105; Boa £115

Get down The M:Projects get you as close to the ground as possible while maintaining stability

Simple info The Breeze automatically finds and loads a course, advances to the next hole and updates yardages every second as you move

It’s a Breeze Front, centre and back of green yardages are displayed in big, easyto-read numbers on a large 3-inch, sunlightreadable display.

At a flick With a turn of the wrist, view a jumbo screen with a huge number to the green or see their scorecard in landscape orientation

THE BREEZE IS EASY

GPS specialists SkyCaddie introduce a new user-friendly and more affordable model

FOR those who want accurate, reliable and highly detailed information from a GPS device, SkyCaddie have been the obvious choice for years, but until now there has been a premium to pay in terms of price.

Now they are bringing the Breeze to market, which offers all the precision of previous models but just with a little less detail at a significantly lower cost.

Better news still is that for the first year of ownership at least, there will be no annual fee to access SkyCaddie’s comprehensive library of over 30,000 courses around the world, including 98 per cent of those in the UK. After that, you will need to pay for an annual subscription.

At its most basic level, using the Breeze involves little more

whenever we need it. The Breeze, then, is off to a great start because SkyCaddie’s mapping is the best in the business.

So was it as straightforward to use as they claim? Once up and running – yes. Personally, I still struggle with the rollerball, and frequently end up pressing it when I want to navigate my way around a menu. Maybe that’s just me.

Apart from that, I couldn’t fault it. Only once during the round did it fail to update automatically on to the current hole and I was able to access the information I wanted instantly and easily. Flipping the Breeze on its side, as you would an iPad, to receive the yardage to the middle of the green is a very clever and useful feature.

It might not quite be foolproof – but it’s the next best thing.

than switching it on when you get your clubs out of the boot, and asking the device to find the nearest course. In theory you will then not need to touch it again until you have finished.

“The new Breeze addresses the needs of a large segment of golfers who are looking for simplicity and accuracy at a price which makes it easier for them to join the SkyCaddie family,” said SkyGolf CEO Richard Edmonson.

Until now, there have been two main reasons not to invest in a SkyCaddie GPS – one was simply the cost and the other that it offered so much information that it was just too complicated for some to use. Lots of us want nothing more from our GPS than a reliable front-middle-back measurement at a glance,

46 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

BREEZE BASICS SRP: £229.95 The Breeze comes pre-loaded with SkyCaddie’s global course map database.

The first time you use it, a 30-day countdown to registration starts.

Within a month you must log in to the SkyCaddie website to register and enable your FREE Eagle membership for 12 months.

After that you will be prompted to renew your membership and choose from some paid-for options.

46

Check out the new SkyCaddie Breeze

CLEVELAND 588 CB SRP: £599 (5-9)

ABOUT

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: These are good-looking clubs, all in all.

Being hyper-critical I’d say the toe is a little high on some of the mid-irons. I thought they gave a slightly harsh feel, but that might just have been the shafts as I’m used to something a little lighter.

DM: I really like the white circles on the ferrule – very old-school Cleveland. In fact, that was a theme of these irons in every respect, right down to the polished finish.

They really take you back a few years and look brilliant. I agree with James in that I felt these were quite hard work to use – they felt heavy to me.

We invited the major manufacturers to send in a set of irons aimed at the single-figure handicapper. We hit them all extensively off grass and indoors using a Trackman launch monitor which generates a virtual ball flight. We made sure to test a long, mid and short iron in each set, and also to look at the shape of each club in every set.

Key factors we took into consideration included: n Looks n Shelf appeal n Price n Sound and feel n Flow of the set n Consistency of performance n Ball flight n Playability

THE TEST

THE TESTERS MD GOLF SEVE ICON SRP: £249.99 (steel, 4-P)

PING ANSER

TAYLORMADE ROCKETBLADEZ TOUR

ADAMS IDEA CMB

SRP: £160 per iron Available: 3-P

SRP: £699 (steel, eight irons)

SRP: £899.99 (4-P) Available: 3-P & GW

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: I really like the finish to these – very distinguished. This is the best-looking Ping iron I have seen for a long time. But they are expensive and they did not perform exceptionally for me to justify that.

DM: These are certainly not hard to use – you tend to think of forged irons being for better players but I don’t think these are aimed exclusively at the single-figure player. I love the finish and they look great on the shelf. To me the set gets better the further up the bag you go, but I’m not convinced by the wedge shape. As an i20 user, I would find it hard to justify a swap given the extra cost.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: A nice-looking head. I was actually very consistent with these for distance – a pleasant surprise – but what I didn’t get was any distance gains compared to anything else on test.

DM: On the plus side, the results were very consistent in terms of distance and flight. I thought they might be the kind of irons where you get the odd flyer but that really wasn’t the case. On the down side, I personally didn’t experience any significant distance gains compared to other irons in the test. I was quite happy with the head shapes and feel but didn’t think they were exceptionally appealing.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: It’s a great-looking wedge head. In fact, great-looking heads full stop, albeit those on the longer irons are very small. The C-Taper KBS shaft gives these quite a harsh feel for me.

DM: The technology is well hidden – you can’t see it at address. The longer irons have got very small heads – the most blade-like on test. I liked this set down to 6 iron but was intimidated beyond that, so for me the flow through the set wasn’t quite right. I love the finish though, and with the cool shafts and grips they have huge shelf appeal.

In fact, of all the clubs on test, I would say these had the strongest initial appeal.

58 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: I like the finish and the way these sit in your bag and I got on very well with the long and mid irons. I wasn’t quite as keen on the shorter irons – the distance results were inconsistent. Some jumped off the face and others went very high. I would think these are ideally suited to those with high-single-figure handicaps through to mid teens.

JW: It’s quite a thick top line, and too offset in the wedge for my eyes. On the positive side, this does mean they are easier to hit than just about any other club on test. I got on very well with the long irons.

JOHN LETTERS MASTER MODEL SRP: £599.99 (3-P)

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: I like the wedge shape, and I think the set flows very nicely. I must say that John Letters have really raised their game over the last couple of years – these are proper clubs.

DM: These are hard to fault – the head shapes are very simple and very clean. I found the performance consistent from one shot to the next.

These are by no means budget clubs – they are much better that.

DAN MURPHY Handicap: 4 JAMES WHITAKER PGA Professional We conducted the test at Moor Allerton Golf Club in Leeds. Thanks to James and his team for the use of their outstanding facilities

THE CLUBS NO BLADES There are no blades in this test – because we could see few good reasons to include them.

Many of the clubs we tested look every bit as good while adding forgiveness and playability.

The only sensible reasons we can think of to buy a set of blades this year are a) if you are ultra-traditional or b) if you have an exceptionally high ball flight.

MUSCLEBACK CAVITIES Compact heads really designed for the experienced player, minimal offset and limited forgiveness. Head design will help promote a lower launch angle with maximum workability.

POCKET CAVITIES A slightly wider sole due to repositioned weight removed from the inside of the cavity. The offset tends to increase slightly. They promote a higher launch angle as the CoG is lower and deeper in the head.

Forgiveness is higher than with a muscleback but you may find it harder to control the ball flight.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 59

57

The test: irons for the better player

NCG pp 44-45 Ultimate Guide Pro V1 17/01/2013 16:20 Page 44

Golfer NATIONAL

CLUB

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

TITLEIST PRO V1 Iron power Pro V1 is the longest of any Titleist products in terms of mid irons

Bright white A new paint process makes the dimple definition look sharper

NC VERDI G CT THE LAT ON VERSIO EST N OF PRO V1 THE

Longer lasting Both 2013 balls are more durable so will last for more rounds

Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x SRPs: £51 per dozen Available: March 1

Simple dimples The Pro V1 has the same dimple pattern as 2011 with five different sizes

TITLEIST’S LATEST VERSION OF THE GAME’S NO 1 BALL THE tour validation for the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x began at Doral in March last year when players received three different options. The result of that validation and years of research and testing is the softest Pro V1 ever and a Pro V1x which is as long as any ball you will find.

Let’s start with the Pro V1.

This is now even softer and longer

than before. It is softer through lowering the compression from around 92 to about 87. This is meaningful in terms of feel but also spin. It is also longer – you might think softer can’t mean longer but in this case it does because the long-game spin has come down from the 2011 product. It also flies a bit lower so will have a more penetrating

44 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

trajectory and therefore more run.

For golfers at the highest speeds the product is already right up against the legal limit line but it is now longer for people who buy golf balls – ie me and you.

With the Pro V1x the trajectory has come down just a bit and the iron spin brought up just a bit on the longer irons. Titleist have introduced a very soft centre

to help bring the spin down and also improve consistency. The process has created a different sound, the general feeling of the tour pros is that it is now less ‘clicky’ than before.

Another real benefit of both balls is that they now stay whiter for longer and are more durable so will last, and look better, for more rounds.

NCG pp 44-45 Ultimate Guide Pro V1 17/01/2013 16:20 Page 45

SHORT-GAME KING

WINNING ON TOUR

PRO V1 MYTH BUSTING Three misconceptions about the iconic ball My swing speed isn’t high enough to play a Pro V1 Golf balls are not designed to perform at different swing/ball speeds as you will hit a variety of shots. If a ball only works with your driver it won’t work with your 8 iron.

Nothing has been sacrificed in the short-game performance so the Pro V1 remains great around the greens

Should I play a lower compression ball if I can’t compress it like a tour player?

The ball is compressed with all three shots, everyone compresses it. Also there is no single element of the ball that contributes to its performance.

A lower compression will spin less than a higher compression but if you take a Titleist Velocity and the Pro V1, the compression is identical at

Adam Scott was the first winner on tour with the new prototype down in Australia

THE X FACTOR

MORE WINS ON TOUR

The Pro V1x has a new dimple design with seven sizes in 328 dimples

around 90. It is more to do with launch characteristics and all different elements of the ball working together than a single element.

Luke Donald was the first Pro V1x prototype winner the same weekend as Scott

WHY THE PRO V1X ISN’T JUST FOR TOUR Given that the Pro V1x is more popular on tour than the Pro V1, is it not fair to conclude that it is more of a ball for the better player?

Titleist say: The perception is that the Pro V1x is more for the better player but we are working hard to change that way of thinking. We see a lot of high

handicap players who have too much spin. If you reduce that, then you can hit more fairways and have less dispersion.

You might think that ball and swing speed equals product.

This is not right. It is not done on just a driver swing speed and this is the least frequent of any speed. It would be much easier but it also wouldn’t be right.

ZG PROCESS

EXPLAINED

I don’t spin the ball enough to play a Pro V1 Everybody spins the ball but the difference how you spin it off the tee to how you spin it with your chipping and pitching is dramatic and this is the fundamental reason why players are fitted into a Pro V1/x. Off the tee from the difference in a low to high spinning shot is less than 500 RPMs. Around the green the lowest spinning to highest is as much as 1500 which is the difference between chipping back or putting.

One piece of advice, Titleist say, is to play same ball every single time.

This has now been introduced to the Pro V1x and relates to how the new cores are made. Before they would see variation in the cores depending on where they were in the press so would see compression variations. Now each core is exactly the same.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 45

NCG pp 46-47 Skycaddie, Nike 17/01/2013 16:22 Page 46

Simple info The Breeze automatically finds and loads a course, advances to the next hole and updates yardages every second as you move

It’s a Breeze Front, centre and back of green yardages are displayed in big, easyto-read numbers on a large 3-inch, sunlightreadable display.

At a flick With a turn of the wrist, view a jumbo screen with a huge number to the green or see their scorecard in landscape orientation

THE BREEZE IS EASY

GPS specialists SkyCaddie introduce a new user-friendly and more affordable model

FOR those who want accurate, reliable and highly detailed information from a GPS device, SkyCaddie have been the obvious choice for years, but until now there has been a premium to pay in terms of price.

Now they are bringing the Breeze to market, which offers all the precision of previous models but just with a little less detail at a significantly lower cost.

Better news still is that for the first year of ownership at least, there will be no annual fee to access SkyCaddie’s comprehensive library of over 30,000 courses around the world, including 98 per cent of those in the UK. After that, you will need to pay for an annual subscription.

At its most basic level, using the Breeze involves little more

whenever we need it. The Breeze, then, is off to a great start because SkyCaddie’s mapping is the best in the business.

So was it as straightforward to use as they claim? Once up and running – yes. Personally, I still struggle with the rollerball, and frequently end up pressing it when I want to navigate my way around a menu. Maybe that’s just me.

Apart from that, I couldn’t fault it. Only once during the round did it fail to update automatically on to the current hole and I was able to access the information I wanted instantly and easily. Flipping the Breeze on its side, as you would an iPad, to receive the yardage to the middle of the green is a very clever and useful feature.

It might not quite be foolproof – but it’s the next best thing.

than switching it on when you get your clubs out of the boot, and asking the device to find the nearest course. In theory you will then not need to touch it again until you have finished.

“The new Breeze addresses the needs of a large segment of golfers who are looking for simplicity and accuracy at a price which makes it easier for them to join the SkyCaddie family,” said SkyGolf CEO Richard Edmonson.

Until now, there have been two main reasons not to invest in a SkyCaddie GPS – one was simply the cost and the other that it offered so much information that it was just too complicated for some to use. Lots of us want nothing more from our GPS than a reliable front-middle-back measurement at a glance,

46 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

BREEZE BASICS SRP: £229.95 The Breeze comes pre-loaded with SkyCaddie’s global course map database.

The first time you use it, a 30-day countdown to registration starts.

Within a month you must log in to the SkyCaddie website to register and enable your FREE Eagle membership for 12 months.

After that you will be prompted to renew your membership and choose from some paid-for options.

NCG pp 46-47 Skycaddie, Nike 17/01/2013 16:23 Page 47

NIKE EXTEND RZN BALL FAMILY There’s an impressive new 20XI and a RZN ball for club golfers “Rubber was and resin is” goes the Nike mantra – referring to the new polymer they are using for the ball’s core.

This core is faster and lighter, therefore allowing it also to be bigger. That gives the following benefits: n More distance off the tee n A straighter ball flight thanks to the increased MOI n Increased control around the greens Nike used the RZN core for the first time in the tour 20XI ball two years ago. Now they have used the same technology to create a new and improved version as well as another ball designed with the amateur player in mind.

For the new 20XI, more RZN material has been added to the core and mantle. This larger, softer core improves feel off all shots while maintaining driver distance.

“It provides faster speed off irons and, therefore, more distance,” said Rock Ishii, Nike Golf’s product development director for golf balls. “We added softness for improved feel around the greens, creating a balanced tour model golf ball.”

The One RZN features the same larger, softer core, but with a slightly different formulation, for more yards. This larger, softer RZN core improves feel off all shots while maintaining distance. The mantle produces longer shots with the irons and a softer short-game feel.

“There’s not a product out there in this category of golf ball that has technology of this magnitude,” said Ishii.

The ball is available in two versions, One Rzn and One Rzn X. The latter is a little firmer for longer and more penetrating shots and is intended for a player with a faster head speed or steeper angle of attack.

SRPs: 20XI and 20XI X £39.99 per dozen; One Rzn and One Rzn X £29.99 per dozen RZN technology The large RZN core replaces traditional rubber. It is lighter, more stable and results in higher ball speeds

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 47

NCG pp 48-49 Ecco 17/01/2013 16:25 Page 48

Feel the breeze A removable Ecco Comfort Fibre System insole increases air circulation and creates a fresh, cool shoe climate

...OR TRY THESE

THREE ECCO

SHOES INSTEAD Here are three more great models from the Danish shoe specialists which will be worn on tour his year by star names such as Fred Couples, Graeme McDowell, Thomas Bjorn, Thongchai Jaidee and Stuart Appleby.

BIOM HYBRID The game’s first and only performance hybrid model is now available in a variety of new colours and an alternative upper pattern.

SRP: £160 BIOM Crafted using decades of Ecco research into the human foot, the first Natural Motion golf shoe has been crafted in Calderra leather.

This creates a unique matt finish that adds a rich, racing-inspired look to the game’s most advanced swing platform.

SRP: £185, Gore-Tex £205 GOLF STREET The shoe that started a revolution – especially when 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples raved about his while playing at August a couple of years ago – continues to evolve and is now available in Sport, Luxe, Textile, Camel and Hydromax versions.

SRP: £115

Softly softly The lining is made from Second Skin – the world’s softest leather – which wicks moisture and creates a rich interior feel

Suit yourself Three distinct upper patterns and several colour options to suit a variety of looks

Protected Choose from 100 percent waterproof Gore-Tex and supremely weatherresistant Hydromax leathers

ECCO’S FORMAL SPIKELESS SHOE Danish specialists launch traditional-look model to add to trainer collection TWO years ago Danish brand Ecco introduced the concept of a spikeless trainer to the world and now they are unveiling a shoe with the same technology – but this time with a more formal look.

The Tour Hybrid is the game’s first crossover model featuring a refined, traditional leather upper design – and as you can see above, it really does look smart.

Ideal for the player seeking shoes that you can wear with equal style on the the street, course and in the clubhouse, the Tour Hybrid is built on the award-winning EDTS (Ecco Dynamic Traction System) outsole that also features in the hugely successfully Biom Hybrid and Golf Street models.

This boasts a patented configuration of approximately 100 moulded traction bars and

48 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

800-plus traction angles.

Constructed from TPU – a highly durable, wear-resistant material – these elements provide superior grip in all conditions.

“Golf Street was followed by Biom Golf, then Biom Hybrid and now Tour Hybrid,” said Michael Waack, Ecco’s head of global golf.

“Each year, our innovations set the bar even higher and gain Ecco legions of new fans worldwide who appreciate the unique comfort, performance and style characteristics of our shoes.”

The Tour Hybrid is available in three distinct upper patterns and several colour options to suit a variety of looks. We especially love the classy look of the striking tan version.

SRP: Tour Hybrid £160; Tour Hybrid Gore-Tex £180

NCG pp 48-49 Ecco 17/01/2013 16:25 Page 49

NCG’S TOP

05 WATERPROOF

SHOES

We put them to the test last month 1. FOOTJOY DryJoys Tour SRP: £125

2. ECCO Biom Hybrid SRP: £160

MIZUNO OFFER WEDGE STAMPING PERSONALISE your new MP wedges with a custom stamp. Up to six characters in any one of 12 different colours can be added to all new orders. Each club is separately customised which means that stamp depth and alignment may vary slightly, making every club stamped completely unique. Choose from the following paint colours: Black, white, light blue, dark blue, gold, green, orange, pink, purple, red, silver and yellow.

SRP: £15 per wedge

3. FOOTJOY XPS-1 SRP: £195

BOOST YOUR CLUB’S INCOME 4 ADIDAS Adipure Motion SRP: £149.99

5. FOOTJOY Icon SRP: £200

THIS innovative new franchise allows you to generate revenue for your club.

Ad in the Hole manufacture addiscs that are made to fit a standard hole cup.

The discs can then be displayed out on the course or on the practice green and are a simple and effective way of reaching golfers.

A club agrees a deal to display the adverts and in return receives a percentage share of the advertising revenue, at no cost to the club.

It is a subtle way of boosting income.

Visit www.aithuk.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 49

NCG pp 50-51 TaylorMade, Adidas 1/18/13 9:30 AM Page 50

LONGER, STRAIGHTER

AND MORE CONTROL ...MEET THE IMPROVED PENTA Mark Townsend was one of the first to use a prototype of the five-layer Lethal

JUSTIN Rose put the Lethal ball into play after just one day of testing.

Under the prototype name ‘Project 5’ the Englishman played the ball for three FedEx Cup events, then at the Ryder Cup before winning the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final.

After creating Penta, the first five-layer Tour ball, TaylorMade have refined the construction to offer improved performance in all wind conditions with longer and straighter shots as well as better control.

Lethal features five separate layers that provide a ‘layer for every shot’, optimising spin and launch through the bag.

It also employs something called Progressive Velocity which means the fastest layers of the ball are on the outside, which maximises velocity regardless of swing speed.

Available: Now SRP: £44.99 per dozen

Core content The core makes the Lethal very fast off the driver

Inner mantle Your long irons will stay in the air longer

Middle mantle The Lethal will help you control your mid-irons

Outer mantle Expect plenty of grab on your wedge shots

Cover story The seamless LDP cover is your responsive point of contact

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LETHAL

Four key aspects to this exciting ball

THE FIVE LAYERS

THE AERODYNAMICS

MAXIMUM VELOCITY

WHAT THEY SAY

Lethal is optimised for all shots. It has a soft core to produce low driver spin, an inner mantle to reduce long-iron spin, a middle mantle for softer feel off the mid irons, an outer mantle to generate high spin off the short irons and a thin urethane cover to prodeuce excellent durability and shotstopping spin.

Once the construction and spin rates are developed, the aerodynamics are designed to fit that specific ball. The correct aerodynamic pattern can significantly increase distance.

TaylorMade’s Low Drag Performance (LDP) dimple pattern is designed to minimise distance loss on low spin shots.

Progressive Velocity technology provides maximum ball velocity for any swing speed. The fastest layers of the ball are near the outside of the ball so this allows even golfers with slower swing speeds to compress the outer layers to generate fast ball seed. So you don’t have to be Dustin Johnson to get the most out of it.

“Today’s clubs are designed to launch the ball higher, so our team worked to ensure that these conditions do not cause the shot to balloon or become more affected by the wind. We designed Lethal to further maximise distance, extend the second stage of flight and control spin and aerodynamics when playing into the wind.”

50 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 50-51 TaylorMade, Adidas 1/18/13 9:31 AM Page 51

MEET THE ADIDAS ADIZERO SHOE It weighs in an amazing 38 per cent lighter than the Tour360 ATV IT seems unthinkable that a golf shoe could weigh less than a can of Coke, or a stapler, but this is now the case. Adidas as a company has a mission to be radically light in every athletic category and this certainly lives up to that billing.

Meet the new adizero, where the Tour version is an incredible 38 per cent lighter than the Tour360 ATV and the lightest model weighs in at just 301 grams.

You might now think that this comes at the expense of performance and stability, not so. The adizero has been engineered from the ground up to include only what’s essential to perform and touts the thinnest outsole ever for the company at 1.2mm.

The key is a new anatomical last and revolutionary outsole that significantly reduces the weight while maintaining the comfort as well as producing energy for each step.

Inside the shoe there is plenty of support for lateral movement ie your swing and a leather skin provides a consistent fit with no water intake.

Here’s what Sergio Garcia had to say about them: “I’m always looking to add comfort and lightweight elements to my game, rounds on the course get long and it’s vital to have footwear that helps you perform. The adizero gives me the tools to stay light on my feet and feel closer to the ground through each step and swing.”

The adizero is available in three colours - white, black, yellow; black, white, black; white, black, silver.

Available: January 24 SRP: £129.99

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 51

NCG pp 52-54 Titleist History 17/01/2013 16:29 Page 52

INSIDE TITLEIST

s, the The origin e th icons and technology

THE TITLEIST

NCG pp 52-54 Titleist History 17/01/2013 16:29 Page 53

OUNDED over a century ago by Phil Young and two college friends, the Acushnet Company began life in 1910 as a rubber-processing business. Some time later, in the early 1930s, Young hit a putt where he was convinced that something was wrong with the ball. He went back home and X-rayed it and found the core of the ball wasn’t round.

Three years later, in 1935, Young and his team brought out a consistent, uniform ball.

The same year the company brought out the first mechanical golfer, Iron Byron, and at the 1949 US Open they won the first ever ball count. Come the 1960s Titleist were the first company to carry out wind tunnel testing and that enabled them to pioneer aerodynamics and dimple design patterns.

In 1973 they introduced an icosahedron pattern which divided the ball into 20 triangular regions which was a major breakthrough.

The Pro V1 made its debut on the PGA Tour at Las Vegas on October 11, 2000 and Billy Andrade won that week using it.

The Pro V1 soon became the most popular ball on tour and three years after Titleist's initial breakthrough with the Pro V1 came the Pro V1x, a ball with 160 fewer dimples.

From the very start the message was all about consistency and that remains the case today.

These days Titleist produce approximately 25,000,000 dozen boxes of balls per year with around 750,000 made each day at the company’s three manufacturing plants. The flagship product, the Pro V1 and Pro V1x, claimed a staggering 190 wins across the professional tours last year (compared to 25 for the nearest competitor) and since its introduction in 2000, in an era much dominated by Tiger Woods, has claimed 22 Majors and counting.

F

STORY

They produce the most famous and popular golf balls in the world. This is the story of their business

NCG pp 52-54 Titleist History 17/01/2013 16:29 Page 54

Previous page: A corona discharge helps ‘bring the ball to life’ courtesy of an electric current. Above left: A golf plant from the last century. Above right: Part of the three-coat painting process: two coats of white prime before printing name and lines and then a third clear coat. Below: An original Titleist ball – always No 1

THE PRO V1 PROCESS The manufacturing process starts in the laboratories with the R&D department. A highly skilled, dynamic team of physicians, biologists, chemists, electrical engineers and aerodynamic specialists are involved at this point.

It starts with a bespoke mixture of chemicals, which are measured by hand before being mixed.

From there the rubber is rolled and dried before being cut to size and pressed into a sphere. They are checked and buffed to make sure they are perfectly round, before going into a urethane mould.

Just before they are put into soft urethane, every core has an electric current passed through it.

This slightly changes its chemistry …and brings the ball to life.

After being covered with urethane and moulded with the dimple pattern, the balls are buffed before receiving multiple, very thin, layers of paint and polish and being finished with the legendary side-stamp and nameplate.

Finally, before leaving the production line, every ball is Xrayed to ensure its perfect construction. At every stage multiple checks are carried out and if it isn’t 100 per cent perfect it won’t go any further.

over 75 associates ranging from chemists to electrical engineers.

Furthermore there is human intervention during the manufacturing process to ensure they maintain the quality control of all their products.

That is why the process is not fully automated. The balls are then inspected by hand and X-rayed

the same for all Titleist golf balls, including the Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

It starts with golfer testing and research, which identifies performance and preference needs at every level of the game.

From there a R&D product design brief would be put together to ensure that they never compromise superior product quality during

before being deemed suitable to be packed and shipped.

Titleist do not have any ‘tour only’ ball models. The balls that leave to be sold to consumers are the exact same ones that are used by the best players in the world.

any part of the design or manufacturing process.

Once a prototype has been manufactured then these are rigorously tested and performance validated using real golfers, at all levels of the game, including the best in the world.

Machine or robot testing will also be used and it will only come to market if it has a discernible

THE PEOPLE The company are rightly proud of their manufacturing excellence.

The Titleist R&D team includes

THE TESTING The process of identifying new Titleist golf ball models is exactly

54 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

performance difference and is accepted by golfers.

WHY IT WORKS FOR YOU AND ME It is very important to note that all Titleist balls are produced at their own ball plants by their own staff.

No component or part of the manufacturing process is outsourced.

This gives them complete control over the process and quality of our products and ensures every ball is of the highest standard.

There are differences in material components between the Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls and the other models.

All Titleist balls are engineered and produced with performance in mind.

However, it is the ionomeric casing layer and urethane cover that gives the Pro V1 and Pro V1x ball its outstanding control into and around the green.

Titleist’s ball-fitting philosophy starts from the green and works its way back so they would always recommend the Pro V1 and Pro V1x as the No 1 choice to lowering your scores due to its ‘drop and stop’ technology.

It is the best performing ball for all golfers. They have never found the need to add a third model as the Pro V1 and Pro V1x cover 98 per cent of the golfing public.

They have come a long way since 1910.

Bridlington Golf Passport 17/01/2013 16:59 Page 1

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NCG pp 56 Display Ads 17/01/2013 17:02 Page 56

56 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 57-61 Player's Irons 17/01/2013 16:32 Page 57

TESTS...

BETTER-PLAYER

IRONS

Now is the time to invest to get your game in shape for the season

NCG pp 57-61 Player's Irons 17/01/2013 16:33 Page 58

PING ANSER

TAYLORMADE ROCKETBLADEZ TOUR

ADAMS IDEA CMB

SRP: £160 per iron Available: 3-P

SRP: £699 (steel, eight irons)

SRP: £899.99 (4-P) Available: 3-P & GW

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: I really like the finish to these – very distinguished. This is the best-looking Ping iron I have seen for a long time. But they are expensive and they did not perform exceptionally for me to justify that.

DM: These are certainly not hard to use – you tend to think of forged irons being for better players but I don’t think these are aimed exclusively at the single-figure player. I love the finish and they look great on the shelf. To me the set gets better the further up the bag you go, but I’m not convinced by the wedge shape. As an i20 user, I would find it hard to justify a swap given the extra cost.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: A nice-looking head. I was actually very consistent with these for distance – a pleasant surprise – but what I didn’t get was any distance gains compared to anything else on test.

DM: On the plus side, the results were very consistent in terms of distance and flight. I thought they might be the kind of irons where you get the odd flyer but that really wasn’t the case. On the down side, I personally didn’t experience any significant distance gains compared to other irons in the test. I was quite happy with the head shapes and feel but didn’t think they were exceptionally appealing.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: It’s a great-looking wedge head. In fact, great-looking heads full stop, albeit those on the longer irons are very small. The C-Taper KBS shaft gives these quite a harsh feel for me.

DM: The technology is well hidden – you can’t see it at address. The longer irons have got very small heads – the most blade-like on test. I liked this set down to 6 iron but was intimidated beyond that, so for me the flow through the set wasn’t quite right. I love the finish though, and with the cool shafts and grips they have huge shelf appeal.

In fact, of all the clubs on test, I would say these had the strongest initial appeal.

58 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 57-61 Player's Irons 17/01/2013 16:33 Page 59

CLEVELAND 588 CB SRP: £599 (5-9)

ABOUT

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: These are good-looking clubs, all in all.

Being hyper-critical I’d say the toe is a little high on some of the mid-irons. I thought they gave a slightly harsh feel, but that might just have been the shafts as I’m used to something a little lighter.

DM: I really like the white circles on the ferrule – very old-school Cleveland. In fact, that was a theme of these irons in every respect, right down to the polished finish.

They really take you back a few years and look brilliant. I agree with James in that I felt these were quite hard work to use – they felt heavy to me.

We invited the major manufacturers to send in a set of irons aimed at the single-figure handicapper. We hit them all extensively off grass and indoors using a Trackman launch monitor which generates a virtual ball flight. We made sure to test a long, mid and short iron in each set, and also to look at the shape of each club in every set.

Key factors we took into consideration included: n Looks n Shelf appeal n Price n Sound and feel n Flow of the set n Consistency of performance n Ball flight n Playability

THE TEST

THE TESTERS MD GOLF SEVE ICON SRP: £249.99 (steel, 4-P)

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: I like the finish and the way these sit in your bag and I got on very well with the long and mid irons. I wasn’t quite as keen on the shorter irons – the distance results were inconsistent. Some jumped off the face and others went very high. I would think these are ideally suited to those with high-single-figure handicaps through to mid teens.

JW: It’s quite a thick top line, and too offset in the wedge for my eyes. On the positive side, this does mean they are easier to hit than just about any other club on test. I got on very well with the long irons.

JOHN LETTERS MASTER MODEL SRP: £599.99 (3-P)

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: I like the wedge shape, and I think the set flows very nicely. I must say that John Letters have really raised their game over the last couple of years – these are proper clubs.

DM: These are hard to fault – the head shapes are very simple and very clean. I found the performance consistent from one shot to the next.

These are by no means budget clubs – they are much better that.

DAN MURPHY Handicap: 4 JAMES WHITAKER PGA Professional We conducted the test at Moor Allerton Golf Club in Leeds. Thanks to James and his team for the use of their outstanding facilities

THE CLUBS NO BLADES There are no blades in this test – because we could see few good reasons to include them.

Many of the clubs we tested look every bit as good while adding forgiveness and playability.

The only sensible reasons we can think of to buy a set of blades this year are a) if you are ultra-traditional or b) if you have an exceptionally high ball flight.

MUSCLEBACK CAVITIES Compact heads really designed for the experienced player, minimal offset and limited forgiveness. Head design will help promote a lower launch angle with maximum workability.

POCKET CAVITIES A slightly wider sole due to repositioned weight removed from the inside of the cavity. The offset tends to increase slightly. They promote a higher launch angle as the CoG is lower and deeper in the head.

Forgiveness is higher than with a muscleback but you may find it harder to control the ball flight.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 59

NCG pp 57-61 Player's Irons 17/01/2013 16:34 Page 60

WHAT WE LEARNED

BEST SOUND AND FEEL

MIZUNO MP-64 SRP: £100 per iron

DISTANCE CONSISTENCY It’s easy to be seduced by an iron that goes a long way – it goes without saying, we’d all like to hit the ball further. But what matters is consistency of distance. It really isn’t cool if your 7 iron suddenly goes 10 yards further when you’re hitting to a back pin – going long is generally much more damaging than coming up short. The best irons are the most consistent ones.

FORGED V CAST The eternal debate. We had a mix here, with more forged than cast but perhaps it was still not entirely coincidental that our top three are all forged. The forged clubs did sound different, and you might conclude you get a purer sensation. But cast clubs have come a long way and unless you are a skilled practitioner you’re not going to be able to tell the difference. And cast clubs keep looking new for considerably longer.

It’s worth saying here that you should get the lies and lofts checked on your forged irons regularly – at least once a season and more often if you hit lots of ball at the range.

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: I really like the shape of every club in this set with the exception of the wedge – where I think the toe is too high. Classic pocket cavity.

Very good performers.

DM: I love the sound and feel of these – so classy. They were better than anything else on test for me. Of all the irons we hit, I felt like I had the most control with these and it should be said that wasn’t at the expense of distance because they were right up there in that regard too. The only thing negative I can find to say is that I agree with James, the wedge doesn’t quite look right to me.

Mizuno’s forging process is legendary – and you can see, feel and hear their expertise with every shot you hit.

CONSISTENT AND STYLISH

SHORT IRON SHAPES VARY You need to look carefully at the 8, 9 and wedge. Some sets looked quite similar through the set until the short end. Given you will use your shorter irons most often it is essential to look carefully at how these clubs hit.

You might be surprised by how some of the wedges look – we were.

LONG IRONS ARE TOUGH Most sets we tested had modest cavities. Yet some of the long irons were really quite forgiving while others were almost blade-like. Most of us think more is more when it comes to long irons, not less, so make sure you are comfortable with the 4 and 5 irons in your new set.

THERE IS NO STANDARD

NIKE VR PRO COMBO SRP: £630 (steel, 4-P)

TESTERS’ COMMENTS JW: It looks like a classic iron to me. I thought they were easy to use. There are a lot of things going on here that will help someone who wants to use a blade and likes that kind of look but perhaps wants a little reassurance on offcentre hits.

DM: The sound and feel are very good. The groove pattern takes a little getting used to. I felt they were consistent for me in terms of my yardages. I thought the 4 iron was a little stingy in terms of head size. For me, I would choose the Mizuno and Titleist models ahead of these but that was it.

It goes without saying that custom fitting is vital if you are to get the most out of your new irons. Not least because there is no standard in lofts, lies and shafts. Some are heavy, some are forgiving, others hit the ball low, others have stronger lofts. If you buy a set off the shelf you either have too much money or you are a mug.

60 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 57-61 Player's Irons 17/01/2013 16:34 Page 61

BEST HEAD SHAPES

TITLEIST CB SRP: £110 per iron

TESTERS’ COMMENTS DM: These irons were my reference point in terms of looks – I kept putting others next to them to see if they matched up. None managed to do so throughout the set. The wedge is particularly attractive – easily the best on test. I love the feel as well.

But they don’t just look pretty. The CBs are a real triumph in that they are actually very forgiving for this type of iron. I don’t think you need to be a scratch player to get the most out of these, I would say that a decent striker off, say, eight would have no problems at all.

What you are getting in here is a blend between timeless looks, of the sort that tour players admire, and some contemporary performance benefits that make it an iron way more playable for the masses.

NCG pp 62-63 Fitting Centres 18/01/2013 16:49 Page 62

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

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J WHITAKER GOLF, WEST YORKSHIRE n Choice of both indoor and outdoor fitting centres. n Indoor centre fitted with TrackMan software, a large projector and putting green. n Stockists of TaylorMade, Ping, Nike, Callaway, Bridgestone, Titleist, Mizuno and Wilson Staff. n No particular loyalty to one brand ensures a customer driven fitting session. www.jwgolf.co.uk 0113 266 5209

TRUE FIT GOLF CENTRE, LANCASHIRE n Uses FlightScope launch monitors for an exact fitting. n Benefit from experienced custom fit specialists. n A guarantee of finding your optimum golf club using any of our custom fit partners – TaylorMade, Callaway, Ping , Mizuno, Titleist, Wilson Staff and Yonex. www.truefitgolfcentre.co.uk 01925 791 790

BEDFORD AND COUNTY PRO SHOP AND FITTING CENTRE, BEDFORDSHIRE n Authorised custom fit specialists in Ping, Callaway, Titleist, Mizuno, TaylorMade and Cleveland. n Features the FlightScope X2 Launch Monitor for exact fitting. n New state-of-the-art Indoor Swing Sudio from March 2013. www.svgolf.co.uk 01234 359 189

TIM JENKINS GOLF, NORTH YORKSHIRE n FlightScope fitting centre approved by all the leading manufacturers. n Fitting specialists in Nike, Titleist, Ping, Callaway, Mizuno and Cobra. n FREE Custom Fitting appointments during March (a saving of £25) – ring to make a booking. n Ideally located at Cleveland Golf Club, Redcar. www.timjenkinsgolf.co.uk 01642 498 772

CELTIC MANOR, SOUTH WALES n Home to the Titleist National Fitting Centre and TaylorMade Performance Centre. n Optimise your launch angle, swing speed and spin rate using our TrackMan Pro Launch Monitor. n Experience the SAM Putting Lab for the ultimate in putter fitting. n Free custom fitting by a trained and accredited PGA fitting team. www.celtic-manor.com 01633 410 312

WOBURN GC PERFORMANCE CENTRE, BEDFORDSHIRE n Features cutting-edge GC2 Launch Monitor and Simulator technology. n In-house repair facility available for re-grips, re-gluing, loft and lie adjustments and re-shafts. n Cleveland Scuba System allows for loft and lie adjustment of irons and wedges. n A highly experienced and skilled team of professional fitters. www.woburn.co.uk 01908 626 600

NCG pp 62-63 Fitting Centres 18/01/2013 16:50 Page 63

REDKITE GOLFSTORE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE n Custom fit specialists, working with Mizuno DNA, Callaway, TaylorMade, Yonex, Cobra, Titleist, MD Golf & Benross. n Fitting is conducted indoors using the latest golf simulation & 3D gesture recognition technology. n Custom fitting is also available for putting using TOMI software. www.redkitegolf.co.uk 01494 259 189

CARLISLE GOLF CENTRE, CUMBRIA

THE ALWOODLEY IMPROVEMENT ZONE, WEST YORKSHIRE n Works to the philosophy that even the smallest change to your current clubs can have a major impact on the course. n Uses outstanding practice facilities and a great launch monitor. n Provides excellent one-to-one customer care and demo clubs www.john-green.co.uk 0113 268 9603

DARREN ARBER @ HALIFAX WEST END, WEST YORKSHIRE n Specialist in Ping fitting, Callaway Opti-Fit and Titleist Sure-Fit. n Makes use of a FlightScope launch monitor which allows for a comprehensive fitting session. n A standard fitting session is priced at just £30. www.darrenarber.myprogolfer.co.uk 01422 341 8789

NORFOLK PREMIER GOLF, NORFOLK n Stocks TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist, Mizuno, Callaway and Cobra n Features an 8-metre-square fitting room using FlightScope and v1 swing analysis. n 16-bay automated range with short game area n Best UK prices fitting by qualified PGA pros www.chrispottergolf.co.uk 01603 716 611

STONE DRIVING RANGE AND FITTING CENTRE, STAFFORDSHIRE n Cleveland Centre of Excellence and an authorised custom fit centre for Ping, Callaway, Mizuno, TaylorMade and Cobra. n A vastly experienced PGA professional and custom fit team who use FlightScope Launch Monitor technology in all fittings. www.stonedrivingrange.co.uk 01785 760 868

n Fantastic value for money and an excellent range to choose from. n Mizuno regional fitting centre. n Titleist SureFit trained. n Callaway Optifit centre. n Stockists of Taylor Made, Callaway, Mizuno, Titleist, Cobra, Puma and Nike. n All of our fittings are done in a dedicated fitting area on the Vector Pro Launch monitor by fully trained staff with over 35 years experience. n Online shop stocking a full range of branded equipment n Free parking. n Custom fitting for drivers, irons, hybrids, wedges and putters with extremely competitive prices. n Free delivery on orders over £30. www.cgdiscount.co.uk 01228 511534

CLARKES’ GOLF CENTRE, MERSEYSIDE n Advanced custom fitting specialists using FlightScope launch monitor for Wilson, Cleveland, Srixon, TaylorMade, Callaway, Yonex, Ping, Mizuno & Titleist. n 27-bay floodlit driving range with top-quality range balls. n 5000sq ft golf superstore. www.clarkesgolfcentre.co.uk 01744 885 294

GO TO WWW.NATIONALCLUBGOLFER.COM NOW TO READ MORE ABOUT THESE CUSTOM-FITTING CENTRES

NCG pp 64-65 Equipment Directory 18/01/2013 12:20 Page 64

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For more Information or to order Visit www.northcroftgolf.com or Telephone 01488 685038 64 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 64-65 Equipment Directory 18/01/2013 12:20 Page 65

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NCG pp 67 Lead to Gear Guide 17/01/2013 16:35 Page 67

in association with

GEAR GUIDE

2013 Your essential 32-page buying companion

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NCG pp 68-69 Gear Guide TaylorMade 1/18/13 11:08 AM Page 68

GEAR GUIDE 2013

TAYLORMADE

The 2013 range promises plenty of yardage gains from both the tee and fairway TAYLORMADE have long been recognised as the driver of choice for a number of the world’s leading players and the RocketBallz Stage 2 and R1 will only add to the

stable’s impressive stats. Both have the look of clubs which are built for speed and improved technology delivers that.

As for the RocketBladez irons,

STAR BILLING

ROCKETBALLZ STAGE 2 DRIVER The new Stage 2 version has a centre of gravity lower and more forward than the first generation RBZ driver and therefore it offers even more distance courtesy of a faster ball speed and higher launch angle.

Allied to this the combination of a longer, lighter shaft and light grip enabled TaylorMade to keep this driver under 300g of total club weight. That, along with balancing it to a slightly higher swing weight, allows the Stage 2 to promote faster swing speeds for most of us. The shaft coupled with the driver’s mass properties work together to create a moderate draw bias.

This driver has been updated to offer 12 positions within the window of 1.5° loft adjustment so you won’t be short of options.

Ryder Cup star and long-time TaylorMade staff player Sergio Garcia has already them in play – and the Spaniard is already off the mark with a win in Asia.

THE NCG VERDICT “You sh

ouldn’t buy a driver this year w ithout first c hecking out the RB Z2 and R1.”

– Mark Tow nsend

Fast face New technology expands the portion of the face that delivers high ball speeds

Crown jewel Thick-Thin crown provides lower and more-forward CG location

68 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 68-69 Gear Guide TaylorMade 1/18/13 11:09 AM Page 69

in association with

ROCKETBLADEZ IRONS REVEALED

Speed Pocket This pocket flexes and rebounds at impact

These are the company’s most significant iron innovation to date.

The RocketBladez irons are high-launching, long and straight with quick-stopping performance for golfers of all abilities.

The key to the 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 iron through to the 7 iron.

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES ROCKETBALLZ STAGE2 DRIVER Lofts: Adjustable between 8 and 11˚ SRP: £249

ROCKETBLADEZ IRONS SRP: £549 steel; £649 graphite (set of eight irons)

ROCKETBALLZ STAGE 2 FAIRWAY Lofts: 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22˚ SRP: £189 On the mark This notch is to help with custom fitting

ROCKETBALLZ STAGE 2 RESCUE Lofts: 3-6 (19-28˚) SRP: £149

R1 DRIVER Lofts: Adjustable between 8 and 12˚ SRP: £349

ATV WEDGE Lofts: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 & 64˚ SRP: £89

ROCKETBALLZ MAX IRONS SRP: £1,299 (eight irons, graphite)

ROCKETBLADEZ WEDGE

ROCKETBALLZ STAGE 2 FAIRWAY

ROCKETBALLZ STAGE 2 RESCUE

If you thought the original RocketBallz fairways were impressive, these fairway woods will blow you away.

Better players (ie faster ball speeds) can expect to gain another 10 yards with the 2013 version, to go on top of the 17 yards that the original fairways provided.

This is all done courtesy of a thinner and faster face and both the fairways and rescues also incorporate an improved version of the company’s now-famous Speed Pocket design, which also promotes faster ball speeds.

Like the fairways, the Stage 2 rescues are faster and longer than the previous version – due to an improved Speed Pocket design which flexes to promote a faster ball speed and therefore more distance.

A thinner and faster face and lower CG also promote distance with a high launch and low spin.

Both the fairways and rescues are available in a tuneable Tour version and lofts can be adjusted to +/- 1.5˚ to help find the perfect launch. This was not part of the 2012 product.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

Lofts: 45, 50, 55 & 60˚ SRP: £69 steel, £81 graphite

VERDICT ON THE NEW GEAR

FROM THE TOUR Three world-class players give their views on the impressive R1 “It looks good. And I don't need a computer to tell me how far it's going.”

– Dustin Johnson “It's launching great, it's spinning well, it looks good, it feels good.

– Justin Rose

R1 DRIVER TaylorMade’s most adjustable driver yet

ROCKETBALLZ MAX Featuring all distanceenhancing technologies

ATV WEDGE All Terrain Versatility so you can deal with any lie

ROCKETBLADEZ WEDGE Need help getting out of trouble? Try one of these

“You can pretty much just buy a standard loft then move it to where you want. The guys got me 10 extra yards – and I didn’t think they’d be able to do that.”

– Jason Day

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 69

NCG pp 70-71 Gear Guide Ping 17/01/2013 16:36 Page 70

GEAR GUIDE 2013

PING

THE NCG VERDICT “G25 is s

uch a stron g range – the driver, fa irway, hybri d and irons all loo k great and perform exceptiona lly.”

– Dan Murp hy

The new G25 range boasts adjustability in the driver and sleek, matt-black looks throughout PING'S new G25 range is the most stylish and forgiving the company have ever produced.

Although the most striking aspect is the adjustable driver, the

first Ping have offered at this price point, perhaps more significant is the G25 iron, which combines legendary forgiveness levels with a look, finish and head profile that

will win the brand new admirers.

In the super-premium category, the Anser driver gives adjustability and after-market shafts like the Mitsubishi Diamana 'ahina.

STAR BILLING

G25 IRONS Like all the new G25 range, the most striking thing about these irons is the looks. There's no doubt previous G irons, while effective, put off many due to their chunkiness. Not any more. In fact, stick a ferrule on the join of head and shaft and you could be looking at an i20. In short, Ping have kept almost all the performance benefits of previous G irons but added aesthetic appeal, not least with the new matt-black finish.

The sleeker design features thinner top lines and moderate offset for a look that will appeal to anyone seeking a high-launching, extremely forgiving iron.

Concealed Much of the G25's bulk is cleverly hidden

Dark beauty The G25s are certainly a step up in terms of style

Eyes down The top line is noticeably thinner

Curving The leading edge makes the G25s easier to use from tight lies

70 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 70-71 Gear Guide Ping 17/01/2013 16:37 Page 71

in association with

ANSER DRIVER The super-premium Anser driver is adjustable and comes complete with a choice of four premium shafts.

– and there is no upcharge for any of them.

As well as Ping's own TFC 800D (created specifically to work with the Anser driver), you can choose from the Aldila Phenom, which has the softest feel, the Fujikura Blur Red and the Diamana 'ahina, which has the harshest feel.

Ping have done a fantastic job of concealing the adjustable hosel, both in terms of bulk and weight.

You can move the loft up or down half a degree while simultaneously closing or opening the face.

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES G25 DRIVER

Adjustable You can move the loft up or down by half a degree

Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 & 12˚ SRP: £299

G25 IRONS Clubs: 3-9, PW, UW, SW, LW SRP: £80 per club in steel; £100 per club in graphite

G25 FAIRWAYS Lofts: 3 (15º), 4 (16.5º), 5 (18º), and 7 (21º) SRP: £199

G25 HYBRIDS Lofts: 17, 20, 23, 27 & 31º SRP: £170

Matt finish The Anser is a stylish driver

TOUR WEDGES Lofts: Standard Sole (SS) 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60˚; Thin sole (TS) 58 & 60˚; Wide Sole (WS) 54, 56, 58 & 60˚ SRP: £113 (steel)

ANSER DRIVER LOFTS: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 & 12˚ SRP: £355

ANSER IRONS Clubs: 3-PW SRP: £160 per iron

ANSER FAIRWAYS

G25 HYBRID

TOUR WEDGE

While performance is everything in Ping's eyes, there is little doubt that the company have started paying much more attention to the looks as well.

This is a great-looking hybrid – and a big step up from the its G15 and G20 predecessors.

Ping admit that it is actually slightly less forgiving than the G20 in certain areas, notably on extreme toe hits. But this slight compromise is surely worth it for the way the club looks behind the ball.

It's neutral, it's classy and it sounds solid.

The Tour Wedges, featuring Gorge Groove Technology, are the result of a concerted effort by Ping engineers to improve spin rate and consistency.

On the basis that if you want something doing best you should do it yourself, Ping have brought the production of wedges back in house to their global headquarters in Arizona.

These wedges launch lower and therefore spin more as the grooves make a better job of grabbing the ball at impact rather than letting it slip up the face.

LOFTS: 14.5, 16.5 & 18.5˚ SRP: £220

ANSER HYBRIDS LOFTS: 17, 20, 23 & 27˚ SRP: £180

i20 DRIVER LOFTS: 8.5, 9.5 & 10.5˚ SRP: £299

i20 IRONS Clubs: 3-9, PW, UW, SW, LW SRP: £90 per club (steel), £110 (graphite)

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

i20 FAIRWAYS LOFTS: 14, 15 & 18˚ SRP: £200

i20 HYBRIDS G25 FAIRWAY Stylish looks and a very high launch

ANSER IRONS Stunning super-premium irons are very classy

G25 DRIVER See ‘This Will Change Your Game’ on p8 to read more

i20 FAIRWAY WOOD Ping's lower-launching fairway for the better player

LOFTS: 17, 20 & 23˚ SRP: £160

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 71

NCG pp 72-73 Gear Guide Callaway 1/17/13 5:22 PM Page 72

GEAR GUIDE 2013

CALLAWAY

The new X Hot range is, as you might expect from the name, built for speed... 2013 promises to be special for Callaway

THE NCG VERDICT “You migh

t well be am azed how far the X H ot woods tr avel compared to what yo u are currently u sing.”

– Mark Tow nsend

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES X HOT DRIVER Lofts: 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 and 13.5˚ SRP: £249

X HOT PRO DRIVER Lofts: 8.5, 9.5 & 10.5˚ SRP: £279

X HOT IRONS SRP: £599 steel, £729 graphite

X HOT PRO IRONS SRP: £699 steel

X FORGED IRONS SRP: £799 (eight irons)

X HOT FAIRWAY Lofts: 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25˚ SRP: £179

X HOT PRO FAIRWAY Lofts: 13.5, 15, 17 & 19 SRP: £189

X HOT IRONS These new irons are longer than anything Callaway have ever produced before.

This is done in two ways, firstly by incorporating a deep undercut cavity design to move the centre of

gravity and the hottest part of the clubface lower where most of us make contact with the ball.

Secondly, Callaway have also included the face technology used in their drivers for more efficient

energy transfer and more ball speeds, even when you don’t quite get it.

You should also notice a crisper, more dynamic feel and a powerful flight.

X HOT HYBRID Lofts: 3-6 SRP: £149

RAZR FIT XTREME DRIVER

Speed Frame VFT and Hyperbolic Face Technology increase ball speeds across the face

Lofts: 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5˚ SRP: £329

RAZR FIT XTREME FAIRWAY Lofts: 15, 16.5, 18 and 21˚ SRP: £199

FORGED WEDGE Lofts: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 & 64˚ SRP: £99

72 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Great sound Dual-material medallion fine-tunes sound and promotes a crisp feel

NCG pp 72-73 Gear Guide Callaway 1/17/13 5:23 PM Page 73

in association with

CALLAWAY are set to dominate the 2013 driving distance stats on tour, with new signings Gary Woodland and Nicolas Colsaerts joining Alvaro Quiros and JB Holmes in the stable. And if this quartet needed any help, the new X Hot range is configured for blistering ball speeds and distance gains. The driver is faster, hotter and lighter than its predecessors and more forgiving on off-centre hits. Better players will also prefer the look at address.

STAR BILLING

X HOT DRIVER The X Hot driver takes its look from the company’s legendary Big Bertha but, performance wise, things have moved on somewhat. This driver will deliver hotter ball speeds and powerful trajectories for a variety of swings.

A Speed Frame Face creates increased ball speeds across the titanium face – Callaway’s own tests have proved the new X Hot driver delivers the fastest ball speed in golf. While Callaway’s thinnest casting technology ever also creates a lighter overall configuration to promote more distance and allows for the use of an OptiFit hosel, meaning you can simply adjust the face angle to suit your eye and swing.

Get fitted An adjustable OptiFit Hosel easily adjusts the face angle

Free upgrade A 55g Project X Velocity shaft comes as standard

Thin is fast Explosive distance is ensured via a thinner face

X HOT FAIRWAY

X HOT HYBRID

Alvaro Quiros found 18 extra yards when testing the new fairways. A shallower face makes it easier to launch and the ball comes off the face at a ‘Characteristic Time’ rating of 240 – just five points less than the driver. This is done via a forged Speed Frame Face – the face is thinner, hotter and lighter.

The X Hot also sees the return of the legendary Warbird sole.

The hybrids feature a modern Warbird sole plate for versatility and offer plenty of yards, courtesy of the same technology applied in the driver and fairway wood.

Another real benefit is the Project X Velocity shaft, which comes as standard in all the X Hot woods.

No other manufacturer has incorporated a shaft of this quality at this price point.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

RAZR FIT XTREME DRIVER Extreme distance with extreme adjustability

RAZR FIT XTREME FAIRWAY Extreme distance with extreme versatility

X HOT PRO IRONS Get professional levels of distance and playability with these new sticks

FORGED WEDGE The newest forged creations from chief designer Roger Cleveland

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 73

NCG pp 74-75 Gear Guide Titleist 1/17/13 5:28 PM Page 74

GEAR GUIDE 2013

TITLEIST

THE NCG VERDICT “You can

913 woods blend Titleist style with genuine playability WE all know Titleist clubs are things of beauty, and have a dedicated following both on the professionals tours and among elite amateurs. But in recent years there has been a definite trend towards greater accessibility, so playing Titleist is no longer a

compromise on forgiveness. New for this season are the 913 drivers, fairways and hybrids – the irons and wedges remain unchanged.

There are two drivers, the D2 and the D3, and although the former is expected to be marginally more popular the latter

STAR BILLING

913D2 The 913 uses the same SureFit Tour (SFT) adjustable hosel as the 910 but, Titleist say, offers more speed, more distance and better performance.

The extra ball speed is achieved via a new insert and therefore a faster face. The challenge was to make as much of the face at the legal limit – so that has actually been thickened up to slow it down; if you make the rest of it at the maximum limit then the centre is too fast.

Now the 913 has a thicker centre piece and then thins it back down away from the centre.

More distance and performance is achieved through better launch conditions and this is all down to something called the neutral axis and this is the key variable when designing a driver.

Compared to the D3 (see opposite page) the D2 is more stable, has a little draw bias and retains its 460cc full pear shape.

will have many admirers. There are also two fairway woods, the F and F.d. The F is as compact and pretty a head as money can buy while the F.d – with the ‘d’ standing for driving – has a larger head and may offers greater forgiveness from the tee.

Back loaded Rear weight and improved CG location provide optimum launch with reduced spin

Hot property High-speed forged face insert provides more speed across face

Sleek Enjoy the legendary understated Titleist style

Perfect fit SureFit Tour hosel technology delivers independent loft and lie adjustment

74 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

see how go od these clubs look – but you m a y well be surprised b y how forg iving they are as well. ” – Dan Murp hy

NCG pp 74-75 Gear Guide Titleist 1/17/13 5:28 PM Page 75

in association with

913F & 913F.d FAIRWAY WOODS

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES

Sleek This is the prettiest fairway wood in golf

The 913 F.d, the deeper-faced model, now has much broader appeal than its predecessor.

Previously, only the strongest players could get a flight from it. “The three wood has evolved,” says Steve Pelisek, Titleist’s general manager. “It’s now more of a second driver. 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.”

As for the F, the head shape and the way it sits are exquisite – perfect 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.

913D2 & D3 DRIVERS D2 lofts: 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 & 12˚ SRP: £344 D3 lofts: 7.5, 8.5, 9.5 & 10.5˚

913F & F.D FAIRWAY WOODS 913F lofts: 13.5, 15, 17, 19 & 21˚ 913F.d lofts: 13.5 & 15˚ SRP: £215

913H HYBRIDS Lofts: 17, 19, 21, 24 & 27˚ SRP: £197

VOKEY SM4 WEDGES Lofts: 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 & 64˚ (many bounce options) SRP: £102

Launcher The CG is moved forward on the F.d to reduce spin

AP2 IRONS SRP: £114 per iron steel, £130 graphite

MB IRONS SRP: £110 per iron steel, £125 graphite

AP1 IRONS SRP: £93 per iron steel, £107 graphite

913H HYBRID

VOKEY SM4 WEDGES

This high-performance hybrid delivers long distance with outstanding ground contact and ball flight.

SureFit Tour hosel technology allows loft and lie to be independently adjusted to precisely fit your game.

“It’s a progressive design,” says Steve Pelisek. “We are 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˚.”

For better players, Vokeys are the definitive choice. The SM4s are the first full new line since the groove rule changes. There are 10 lofts – every 2˚ from 46 to 64˚.

The 48, 50 and 52˚ models come in two bounce options and the 54, 56, 58 and 60˚ in three – effectively low, medium and high. All 63 loft and bounce combinations are available in a choice of three finishes – Oil Can, Tour Chrome and Black Nickel.

Bob Vokey insists the finishes make no difference to how the wedges perform and spin.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

913D3 DRIVER AP2 IRONS Lovely head shape, amazing Titleist’s most advanced performance iron – playable and stylish

MB IRONS The ultimate in sleek workability

AP1 IRONS Titleist’s most forgiving iron still looks fantastic

VERDICT ON THE NEW GEAR

FROM THE TOUR Classy players on both sides of the Atlantic give their opinions "The driver is clearly the most important club for me to get right.

“I needed to gain a little bit of yardage and I changed the club and it gave me a little bit less spin. That helped give me a few more yards.”

– Matteo Manassero "The new technology is great. The 913 goes straighter, is more forgiving, has a bigger sweet spot and when I do mishit it it still goes the distance."

– Steve Stricker

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 75

NCG pp 76 Gear Guide Adams 1/17/13 5:31 PM Page 76

GEAR GUIDE 2013

ADAMS

Rightly renowned for hybrids, this is a stylish line-up from driver to wedge

White world A matt-white crown with Contrasting PVD Face increases the apparent club size and ease of alignment

Market leader The Super S is Adams’ flagship hybrid for 2013

In the slot The refined Crown Slot creates a higher launch angle without increasing spin

SPEC & PRICE: Super S hybrid Lofts: 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 28 SRP: £119 www.adamsgolf.com

In the groove The Cut-Thru VST in the sole creates an ultrahot hybrid

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

BRAND INSIGHT

SUPER STYLISH This might just be the most stylish range, from top to bottom, of any available in Britain this year.

The Super S clubs offer maximum assistance and the Super LS add a little more finesse.

Central to the performance of the Super S woods is the groove cut into the sole just behind the face. This allows the face to be squeezed a little more at impact creating a trampoline effect.

The function of the slot on the crown is to create a higher launch angle without increasing the spin.

The Super LS Hybrid has a more traditional hybrid head shape and offers more shot-making options to the better player.

SUPER S FAIRWAY Adams think the Super S fairway 3 wood is almost as long as a driver.

It promises exceptionally high ball speeds, largely thanks to the CutThru VST groove in the sole.

The white head frames the ball to make the hitting area look bigger.

Also available in the LS, with a smaller head and titanium crown/face.

Lofts: 13.5, 15 & 18˚ SRP: £149

76 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

SUPER S HYBRID IRONS In this set, two hybrids replace the 3and 4-irons then there are traditional irons from 5 downwards.

Adams say that the genius of the Super S Hybrid Irons lies in gapping technology which ensures the hybrids blend seamlessly into irons without leaving a hole in your bag. It makes for a highly playable set.

SRP: £499 steel, £599 graphite (3-P)

SUPER S DRIVER This new driver is described by Adams as a big bomber. You can adjust the loft to fine-tune the flight to maximise distance and accuracy.

Fast Fit Adjustability allows for a 2˚ loft range and makes it easy to custom fit. It’s the most aerodynamic driver Adams have ever made. The LS version is very low-spinning.

Lofts: 9.5, 10.5 & 11.5˚ SRP: £199

NCG pp 77 Gear Guide Signings 18/01/2013 10:53 Page 77

in association with

NIKE

CALLAWAY STAR SIGNING: Nicolas Colsaerts – the Belgian Bomber joins a very impressive list of big hitters in the Callaway stable and will now focus his attentions on the PGA Tour in 2013.

Last year he led the European Tour stats with an average drive of over 318 yards.

ALSO JOINING: Gary Woodland, Ryo Ishikawa, Chris Kirk and Kristoffer Broberg.

STAR SIGNING: Rory McIlroy – the worst-kept secret in golf yet still strangely exciting when it finally happened. If the figures are to be believed it could see the two-time Major winner pocket £150m over the next 10 years. An advert has already been filmed alongside his World No 2 stablemate Tiger Woods.

ALSO JOINING: Nick Watney, Kyle Stanley, Seung-Yul Noh and Thorbjorn Olesen.

ADAMS STAR SIGNING: Jeff Overton – It was just over two years ago that Overton shook the golfing world with his 'boom baby' celebrations at Celtic Manor. The American will employ the company's industry leading Super LS hybrids which will be out in Europe in the coming months.

TOUR STARS

ON THE MOVE

It’s been a winter of change for tour pros and their gear. This is who’s gone where...

PING

COBRA PUMA STAR SIGNING: Jesper Parnevik – The colourful Swede is back from injury and has now teamed up with this stylish manufacturer.

Look out for the former Ryder Cup star's take on some new Puma designs including a new cycling inspired cap complete with signature flipped brim.

TAYLORMADE

STAR (RE-)SIGNING: Lee Westwood Westwood has played Ping clubs for almost 30 years and one of the longest relationships in the game was extended last year. He's contracted to play at least 11 Ping clubs, including driver and putter.

ALSO (RE-)JOINING: Louis Oosthuizen and Bubba Watson

STAR SIGNING: Lucas Glover – In November last year a playing partner tweeted a pic of him and Glover, the latter with some Adidas 360s and a TaylorMade driver. Sure enough the 2009 US Open champion made the switch from Nike shortly after. Still only 33 and classy enough to contend regularly.

ALSO JOINING: Stewart Cink, Ryan Moore, Robert Rock, Chad Campbell and Brian Davis.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 77

NCG pp 78-79 Gear Guide Mizuno 18/01/2013 10:26 Page 78

GEAR GUIDE 2013

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES JPX825 DRIVER Lofts: 9.5, 10.5, 12 & 13.5˚ SRP: £249

JPX825 PRO IRONS SRP: £90 per iron steel, £120 per iron graphite

JPX825 FAIRWAYS Lofts: 15, 18 & 21˚ SRP: £159

JPX825 HYBRIDS Lofts: 16, 19, 22 & 25˚ SRP: £129

MP-64 IRONS SRP: £100 per iron (steel)

MP-T4 WEDGES

MIZUNO

Best known for forged irons, look out for the stylish and forgiving JPX woods IN the new MP-64 irons and MP T-4 wedges, Mizuno offer some of the best-looking clubs for the better player.

But you may not know as much about their latest JPX range. With an eye on helping out the club player, these woods and irons offer Mizuno aesthetics with genuine gameimprovement credentials. It is also the hottest driver Mizuno have ever made.

The JPX825 Pro irons are also stylish yet forgiving.

Lofts: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60˚ SRP: £100

MP H4 Lofts: 18, 21, 24 & 27˚ SRP: £120 All rounder The JPX825 maximises, distance and forgiveness without compromising looks, sound or feel

JPX WEDGES Lofts: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60˚ SRP: £80 steel, £110 graphite www.golf.mizunoeurope.com

MP-64 IRONS When Mizuno designed these irons, in conjunction with Luke Donald, who promptly put a set in his bag last year, the brief was simple and specific: ultimate feel.

And that's exactly what you get.

Pure feel Grain Flow Forged from a single mild carbon steel billet

78 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Compared to an out-and-out blade there is a touch more forgiveness thanks to the shallowest of cavities that are slightly bigger on the long irons.

“With the MP-64s we were

free to really chase impact sensations,” said Chris Voshall of Mizuno R&D. “Everything about the MP-64 iron is soft, from the muscle definition, the sole contours and ultimately the feel."

Diamond formation A bulging cavity pad gives the softest possible feel

NCG pp 78-79 Gear Guide Mizuno 18/01/2013 10:27 Page 79

in association with

THE NCG VERDICT

STAR BILLING

JPX825 DRIVER

Wide body The five-piece Ti construction promotes a high launch, low spin and a straight flight

oks ew gear lo “All of the n ppers to -s ut the show fantastic b ges – d e w the MP-T4 for me are stunning.” hy – Dan Murp

With its black face and glossy crown there is no doubt that this is a driver that means business – and it plays as mean as it looks.

"The JPX825 driver just wants to go and high and straight,” says Tetsu Kanayama, from Mizuno's R&D department. “We’ve taken every gramme stripped from various parts of the head, and fixed a weight really deep and low. You would have a hard job shaping the ball with this driver. But if you’re happy to hit it long on a straight line – the JPX825 would be the driver for you."

That will be most of us then.

A five-piece titanium construction is the engine of the JPX825 – and the forged Ti face with two-layer thickness design is Mizuno’s hottest yet.

Black beauty The face frames the ball for maximum confidence

MP-T4 WEDGES

JPX825 PRO IRONS

Wedges simply don't come much better than this – the T stands for teardrop and it is beautiful.

Feedback from the tour led Mizuno to create a sole grind with softer edges. The teardrop profile was modified to be more rounded and less punishing on turf interaction. The lack of defined edges allows the MP-T4 to pass through turf more consistently.

This is a forged iron offering very high levels of forgiveness.

With more offset, thicker topline and larger face profile than its MP counterparts, it’s ideal for solid ball strikers looking for a little more help from off-centre strikes.

With a thinner face than the MP irons, they also generate a higher level of ball speed and yardage club for club.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

JPX825 FAIRWAYS Designed to offer ease of use and long carries with a square set-up

JPX825 HYBRIDS The large head is disguised by the jetblack finish but offers great versatility

MP H4 Looks like a long iron but performs just like a hybrid

JPX WEDGES A solid, thicker looking wedge, design to flow from a full cavity iron set.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 79

NCG pp 80-81 Gear Guide Wilson Staff 1/17/13 5:33 PM Page 80

GEAR GUIDE 2013

WILSON STAFF

New-generation super-light clubs will offer ‘seriously long’ distance WILSON irons have been used to win an unrivalled 61 Major titles and that expertise has been put to good use in the D-100 range.

It is the first time in several years that a new set of Wilson Staff irons has been matched with a driver and fairway woods from the outset and coincides with a resurgence in market share.

“You can make clubs that are too lightweight,” said Michael Vrska, global director of R&D. “But extensive research has shown that our Right Light technology can help game-improvers expend the same effort and get faster clubhead speeds for more yards.”

THE NCG VERDICT00s come

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES

at the D-1 “The fact th akes total te range m le p m o c a as very d they look sense – an sharp.” hy D – an Murp

D-100 IRONS SRP: £349 steel, £499 graphite (5-SW)

D-100 DRIVER Lofts: 9, 10.5 & 12° SRP: £199

STAR BILLING

D-100 IRONS

D-100 FAIRWAY WOODS

Wilson believe you could gain between five and 10 yards on your iron shots by using a set of these.

They incorporate Right Light technology, which balances the correct weight distribution across the clubhead, shaft and grip to deliver more distance efficiently.

These are ideal for players who want lightweight, easy-to-swing distance and forgiveness.

Lofts: 17, 19, 22 & 25° SRP: £129

D-100 HYBRIDS Models: 3, 5 & 7 SRP: £119

FG TOUR TC WEDGES Lofts: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 & 64˚ SRP: £79

CI11 IRONS SRP: £389 steel, £489 graphite (4-P)

Weightless The crown is incredibly light, so the weight can be moved elsewhere

D-100 DRIVER

FG V2 IRONS SRP: £549 (4-P)

FG 62 IRONS SRP: £599 (3-P) www.wilson-staff.com

80 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Hot face The D-100 generates faster ball speeds

Described by Wilson as the lightest, easiest-to-swing driver on the market, Right Light technology delivers extraordinary head speeds for greater distance.

SuperLight Technology reduces the overall weight of the club to 269g, while an enhanced Cup Face design and Variable Face Thickness Technology fire the ball with greater speed and distance.

NCG pp 80-81 Gear Guide Wilson Staff 1/17/13 5:33 PM Page 81

in association with

Flowing Ideal head proportions throughout the iron set

All in proportion Head shape creates launch angles, ball speeds and spin rates

Thin face Face is 7% thinner for more ball speed and more yards

Mass move Exoskeleton form and undercut cavity for more mass in sole, heel and toe

D-100 FAIRWAY WOOD

D-100 HYBRID

Designed to be among the lightest and easiest-to-swing around. The Right Light club technology delivers optimally-designed club mass properties for greater head speeds with the same swing effort.

The low-profile design combines with a sleek black PVD finish and sits sits square to deliver ultimate confidence at address. Relocated centre of gravity makes it easier to square the club face at impact.

Intended to complement the D100 irons and serve as a long-iron replacement. Offer more distance thanks to a lightweight design and correct mass properties for ideal launch angles and spin rates.

Toe and heel relief provide shot control and confidence from all course lies while head size and face bulge and roll are optimised across each loft for improved distance and accuracy.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

FG V2 IRONS The latest in tour-proven, cavity-back forgings – as used by Harrington

CI11 IRONS Maximum playability is combined with great looks in these irons

FG TOUR TC WEDGES Traction Control technology ensures maximum spin on all shots

FG 62 IRONS Classic Wilson muscleback – modern version of this legendary blade

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 81

NCG pp 82-83 Gear Guide Nike 1/17/13 5:36 PM Page 82

GEAR GUIDE 2013

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES VR_S COVERT DRIVER SRP: £249.99

VR_S COVERT TOUR DRIVER SRP: £349.99

VR_S COVERT IRONS SRPs: £449.99 (4-PW, steel); £519.99 (4-PW, graphite)

VR_S COVERT PERFORMANCE FAIRWAYS Models: 3W 15˚, 5W 19˚ SRP: £159.99

VR_S COVERT TOUR FAIRWAYS Models: 3W (13-17˚), 5W (17-21˚) SRP: £189.99

VR_S COVERT PERFORMANCE HYBRIDS Models: 2H 17˚, 3H 20˚, 4H 23˚, 5H 26˚ SRP: £129.99

NIKE

The Covert driver is the centre of attention and heads up a range that covers all bases IT might seem hard to imagine that a driver that is bright red with a swoosh on the crown could be called 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 done before – including the concept of a cavity-back driver. But arguably more significant is that it’s the first club to allow independent adjustability of loft and lie. According to Nike it offers 42 yards of dispersion, based on a 250-yard drive.

Red warning The Covert is a highly visible driver with the boldest of aesthetics

VR_S COVERT TOUR HYBRIDS Models: 3H (17-21˚), 5H (21-25˚) SRP: £159.99

VR PRO FORGED WEDGE Lofts: 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60˚ SRP: £99.99

VERDICT ON THE NEW GEAR

FROM THE TOUR

VR_S COVERT IRONS Nike Golf engineers are among the best around and it is time their clubs were given due respect.

The proprietary technology behind these irons includes a High Speed Cavity Back (also featured

in the Covert driver) and a NexCOR face. The former allows more distance and control, moving the weight to the corners and raising the Moment of Inertia.

The latter creates more speed

at impact by employing variable face thickness that focuses on increasing the sweet spot in the face’s centre as well as to the lower portion and towards the toe where lots of golfers often make impact.

Nike’s new high-profile signing on the new VR_S Covert driver – as well as the range a whole "I visited The Oven and I was seriously impressed with both the craftsmanship of the Nike club engineers and how much R&D and product innovation goes on there. I've been blown away by the attention to detail when it comes to product.

I'm really comfortable with all of the clubs. I'm getting more distance out of the driver and the ball. I'm comfortable with the irons.” – Rory McIlroy

Maximum distance The incredibly thin 1.6mm sole thickness is designed to heat up the face

Hidden charms Cavity-back technology is hidden ‘covertly’, giving what is a sizeable iron an unexpectedly sleek look at address

82 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 82-83 Gear Guide Nike 1/17/13 5:37 PM Page 83

in association with

STAR BILLING

VR_S COVERT DRIVER This visually stunning red driver is the most innovative club Nike have ever produced. It has three key technological features: • A high-speed cavity back – only previously seen in irons, this leads to more forgiveness and higher ballspeeds on off-centre shots • FlexLoft adjustability – a simple pull, turn, and push/tighten mechanism that allows for an intuitive adjustment system • A NexCOR face – creating higher ball speeds from a larger area of the face These technologies combine to create unprecedented distance, control and forgiveness. Just as importantly, and despite the huge cavity back, this driver sounds exceptionally good at impact.

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

THE NCG VERDICeTand hear a

ing to se “You’re go r this year overt drive lot of the C hype.” rthy of the and it is wo hy – Dan Murp

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

VR_S COVERT PRO DRIVER A slightly smaller head helps fine-tune your trajectory

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

VR_S COVERT FAIRWAYS

VR_S COVERT HYBRIDS

The world’s first high-speed cavity-back fairway woods. The cavity back is visible from the sole view, but is covered by the crown to be more pleasing at address – hence the name Covert. By incorporating this geometry, weight has been moved to the corners, raising Moment of Inertia (MOI) to increase forgiveness and add distance to off-centre shots.

The world’s first high-speed cavity-back hybrids boast the same technology as the fairway woods.

“With the combination of High Speed Cavity Back, FlexLoft, and NexCOR technology, we are able to maximise distance, control, and consistency for all clubs. Athletes now have the performance, as well as adaptability for any condition,” says designer Tom Stites.

VR_S COVERT TOUR FAIRWAY Adjust the loft to fine-tune your ball flight on any given day

VR_S COVERT TOUR HYBRID The view at address is just what a better player wants to see

VR PRO FORGED WEDGE New X3X high-frequency grooves offer a consistent ball flight

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 83

NCG pp 84-85 Gear Guide Cleveland 18/01/2013 10:38 Page 84

GEAR GUIDE 2013

CLEVELAND

New 588 wedges and irons are the stars of an impressive new range CLEVELAND have a pedigree unmatched by any other brand when it comes to wedges and the 588 name has always decorated their most successful models.

Now they have introduced the RTX – a range that combines the

timeless 588 head shape with a new Rotex face that promises to deliver more friction at impact for greater spin and comes in a huge range of loft and bounce options.

Cleveland have also developed their 588 iron range, which now

Spinners The 588 RTXs are built for backspin

STAR BILLING

588 RTX WEDGES Cleveland say that Rotex is the new face of spin. It is a directionally milled face pattern that adds roughness and imparts maximum spin on open-face wedge shots where the impact tends to be closer to the toe.

This will help to generate even more spin on chips and pitches from all lies. The wedges also feature 16 per cent larger UGrooves to maximise spin on critical scoring shots.

A reverse C Sole design, inspired by the popular CG14 and CG16s, is a wide, constant-width sole combined with heel and toe grinds to improve performance from bunkers and deep rough.

The undercut cavity promotes perimeter weighting for more forgiveness on off-centre hits.

Bounce back Choose the bounce to suit your game

THE NCG VERDICT

dges are 88 RTX we “The new 5 lar – you really popu going to be mber of with the nu can’t argue e and finish loft, bounc options.” hy – Dan Murp

84 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Your call Go for a satin finish or opt for gunmetal

includes three interchangeable models – the TT, MT and Altitude – so you can build your perfect set. Also new is the Classic XL Custom driver – which brings adjustability to the range for the first time.

NCG pp 84-85 Gear Guide Cleveland 18/01/2013 10:40 Page 85

in association with

588 ALTITUDE, MT & TT IRONS This is a clever idea – not only can you choose which of the three sets in this family best suits your game, you can also interchange between the models to create a set with the perfect combination of ball flight, feel and forgiveness.

The three models are Altitude, Mid Trajectory (MT) and Tour Trajectory (TT).

• With the Altitudes, a hybrid-iron set, hitting the ball longer and higher has never been easier.

Every club is incredibly easy to hit.

• The 588 MTs feature a blade height that progressively increases in higher-lofted clubs.

• The TTs have a modest cavity back, while every iron has a forged club face to enhance ball speed and feel.

Pure feel The 588 MTs are forged, as are the TTs

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES 588.RTX WEDGES Lofts: 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60˚ SRP: £109

588.TT, 588.MT & 588.ALTITUDE IRONS SRP: £449 steel, £499 graphite (5-P)

CLASSIC XL CUSTOM DRIVER Lofts: 9 & 10.5˚ SRP: £269

CLASSIC XL DRIVER Lofts: 9, 10.5 & 12˚ SRP: £239

Good balance Mix and match the 588s

CLASSIC XL FAIRWAY WOODS Lofts: 14, 15.5, 18 & 20.5˚ SRP: £159

CLASSIC XL HYBRIDS Lofts: 15.5, 18, 20.5, 23 & 26˚ SRP: £129

588.CB FORGED IRONS SRP: £599 (5-P)

588.FORGED RTG WEDGES

CLASSIC XL CUSTOM DRIVER

CLASSIC XL FAIRWAY WOOD

The Classic XL has the largest and deepest club face of any driver in golf while an adjustable hosel and interchangeable weight port allow it to be tuned in for precise performance.

The adjustable hosel can be moved to one of 12 different settings for optimal face angle and flight, while an interchangeable weight port allows swingweight to be optimised. An enhanced variable face thickness technology creates incredibly fast ball speed on off-centre hits for immense forgiveness.

The Classic XL offers incredible distance even when you miss the sweet spot. It features one of the largest fairway wood faces in golf, meaning a large effective hitting area for incredible confidence over every shot.

The enhanced variable face thickness technology of the Classic XL Fairway creates incredibly fast ball speed on off-centre hits for impresive forgiveness.

The centre of gravity has been moved deeper in the clubhead to promote mid-high launch and more penetrating flight.

Lofts: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 & 64˚ SRP: £119

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588.CB FORGED IRONS Old-school looks and a beautiful polished finish

CLASSIC XL HYBRIDS Great looks and powerpacked forgiveness

588.FORGED RTG WEDGES The ultimate forged wedge – with all the RTX benefits

CLASSIC XL DRIVER A powerful club that is built for distance

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 85

NCG pp 86-87 Gear Guide Cobra 18/01/2013 10:50 Page 86

GEAR GUIDE 2013

COBRA

THE NCG VERDICT “Lots have

people are going to have fun u sing these clubs – an the perform d ance is gre at too.”

– Dan Murp hy

It’s full of colour – choose from blue, red, silver and orange – and also packed with innovation WHEN it comes to adjustability and customisation, Cobra’s new Amp Cell drivers have just raised the bar. Not only can you adjust the loft up to 3˚, you can choose from four different head colours.

It is available in blue, red, silver and, of course, Rickie Fowler’s trademark orange. And a new adjustable hosel design allows you to choose from lofts ranging from 8.5 to 11.5˚. The irons are

similarly colourful and advanced, with a face design based on that used in the drivers.

Better players will certainly be drawn to the Pro versions of both these models.

STAR BILLING

AMP CELL DRIVER It is impossible to look at the Amp Cell and not be drawn to the looks – but underneath the bonnet is one of the most technologically advanced drivers of the year.

Thank to the adjustable hosel design, the driver can play anywhere between 8.5 and 11.5˚.

The means there is only one driver in each model in terms of loft – you then customise it to suit – and, according to Cobra, no matter how you set the hosel, the shape of the sole ensures it will sit squarely at address.

“The Amp Cell driver offers the adjustability, innovation, customization and choice they want but have not been able to get – until now,” said Bob Philion, Cobra’s president. “We are taking adjustability to another level with our MyFly technology, offering six different loft/trajectory settings golfers can change to adapt to their swing or playing conditions.”

Got sole SmartPad technology always delivers a square face at address

Elliptical E9 Face Technology improves distance and accuracy on mis-hits Powered up Meet the Fujikura Fuel shaft

86 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 86-87 Gear Guide Cobra 18/01/2013 10:51 Page 87

in association with

AMP CELL PRO IRONS Tour pro quality – for strong players. These stunning irons have been designed in collaboration with the likes of Rickie Fowler and Ian Poulter to provide exceptional feel, precision, workability and looks in one package.

The Amp Cell Pros see a transition from cavity-back long irons to muscle-back short irons. An all muscle-back set is also available.

“They are designed for low handicappers who want a tour player set of irons in their bag,” said Cobra’s Tom Preece.

Classic lines Tour inspired for workability and control

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES AMP CELL DRIVER SRP: £249

AMP CELL PRO DRIVER SRP: £319

AMP CELL OFFSET DRIVER SRP: £219

AMP CELL IRONS SRP: £549 (Steel, 4-P)

AMP CELL PRO IRONS SRP: £749 (3-P) Soft strike Forged carbon steel for tourlevel precision and feel

BAFFLER COMBO SET SRP: £449 steel, £549 graphite (5-SW)

AMP CELL FAIRWAY Lofts: 13-16 & 17-20˚ SRP: £189

AMP CELL HYBRID Lofts: 16-19, 19-22 & 22-25˚ SRP: £159

AMP CELL IRONS

BAFFLER HYBRID IRON COMBO SET

With a metalwood face-weld construction, E9 Face Technology, Amp Cell technology, a V-Skid sole, vibration management system and speed channel, they deliver distance, forgiveness and accuracy.

The longer Amp Cell irons feature a metalwood construction with a thin, high-strength steel face for faster ball speeds.

Silver is the stock option, but Vibrant Orange, Directoire Blue and Barbados Red details will also be available through custom orders.

These take key technology from Cobra’s iconic Baffler hybrids to create an easy-to-hit iron delivering forgiveness, higher launch and improved distance.

The progressive, oversized face profile provides high MOI for superior forgiveness as well as a low centre of gravity.

The long irons are replaced with easy-to-hit Baffler Hybrids, which have a wide, railed sole and shallow face for high and easy launch as well as a top-line alignment system for added confidence.

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AMP CELL PRO DRIVER This player’s model comes with a Kurokage shaft

AMP CELL OFFSET DRIVER Bringing high levels of forgiveness to the masses

AMP CELL FAIRWAY AMP CELL HYBRID Adjustability means you can Like the fairways, you can choose the loft to suit you dial in the loft

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 87

NCG pp 88 Gear Guide MD Golf 1/17/13 5:40 PM Page 88

GEAR GUIDE 2013

THE NCG VERDICT “You need

MD GOLF

Northern Irish brand maintain their long-established reputation for tremdnous quality and impressive value 1

Weighty matter This tungsten screw helps improve the ST3’s launch angle and spin rates

to make su re you see and hit the latest Supe rs trong ST3 driver and the NV Dre w wedges this year.”

– Dan Murp hy

2

Grab this The NN Drew’s Vico Spin grooves really deliver around the greens

3

4

All white The Icon hybrid is finished in a pure white Undercut This special cavity really delivers on forgiveness

BRAND INSIGHT

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES

THE MD STORY MD Golf continue to go from strength to strength, offering equipment that really performs at a sensible price point.

MD’s strongest suits in our eyes have been their drivers and Norman Drew-designed wedges and the latest versions of both look likely to be their best yet.

Indeed, the 2011 version of their Superstrong driver won our annual driver test in a result that surprised many people inside the industry, as well as some readers... but not us. As well as being available at good pro shops across the British Isles, you can also buy online, direct from their website.

SUPERSTRONG ST3 TI DRIVER SRP: £99.99

ICON HYBRID

1. SUPERSTRONG ST3 Ti DRIVER Superstrong ST3 Ti Driver The latest Superstrong driver is the ST3 Ti – it features a classic head shape with improved aerodynamics. A tungsten weight screw helps create an optimum launch angle and lowers spin resulting in a driver that MD Golf believe is their best-performing model to date.

2. NV DREW WEDGES SRP: £249.99 (4-P, steel)

NV DREW WEDGES SRP: £54.99 Buy direct at www.mdgolf.co.uk

88 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

The Icon range is an all-white affair in the woods and the most stylish model may be this hybrid.

It is designed to offer forgiveness and playability not found in a long iron and the 2013 offering will give you the confidence to approach even difficult shots in the knowledge you have the best possible club in your hands.

4. SUPERSTRONG ST3 IRONS

SRP: £69.99

SUPERSTRONG ST3 IRONS

3. ICON HYBRID

Norman Drew has re-engineered the head design and grooves for a squarer address look with lots of spin via the Vico Spin grooves.

The standard bounce wedge is ideal for soft or wet ground. If you play from tight lies, the lowbounce version is immense.

This new iron set is made from the finest 403 stainless steel. It is manufactured with an undercut cavity, which provides a thick sole and top line ensuring the ultimate in playability. Finished in a lovely black PVD the new iron can be custom fit, offering unparalleled value and performance.

NCG pp 89 Gear Guide Crowning 1/17/13 5:41 PM Page 89

in association with

FROM BORING BLACK TO

RED, BLUE AND ORANGE – HOW CROWNS HAVE CHANGED First they were brown, then black. TaylorMade invented white and now it seems anything goes

IT is amazing to think that it was only two years ago that the first white-headed driver was introduced by TaylorMade (when they launched the R11).

The initial shock was replaced by a sense of curiosity and, within a matter of months, it was scarcely worth remarking on anymore.

Now a white-headed driver is more common a sight than a long iron on the course.

How quickly things change, but the equipment manufacturers are never content to stand still and so the logical next step is different

colours – and even patterns and logos – on the crown.

Most striking is surely the Nike VR_S Covert, with its rich red hue and accompanying swoosh. Or how about the Cobra Amp Cell, available in your choice of Rickie Fowler orange, electric blue, silver or red?

You might even go for the retro pattern of the TaylorMade R1.

Then again, for the traditionalists, you could just stick with the matt-black Ping G25 or the timeless dark finish on the Titleist 913 D2.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 89

NCG pp 90 Gear Guide MacGregor 1/18/13 9:14 AM Page 90

GEAR GUIDE 2013

MACGREGOR One of golf’s most respected and loved names now boast sizzling technology

THE NCG VERDICT “It’s gre

at to see M acGregor back on th e scene – it really is a classic bra nd.”

– Dan Murp hy

Wing backs The M59s feature a deep undercut cavity highlighted by MacGregor’s classic wing back design

PRICES AND SPEC: MacGregor M59 irons SRP: £249 steel, £349 graphite (5-SW) www.macgregor-golf.co.uk

Consistent The UST Steel Shaft gives maximum energy transfer and a consistent, long, parabolic flight

No friction The black PVD coating provides maximum drag coefficient reduction

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BRAND INSIGHT

OOZING PEDIGREE MacGregor can trace their golfing heritage back to 1897 and their clubs have been used by the very best in Majors, with Jack Nicklaus a staff player for many years.

Their new range, though, is very much of the moment with the M59 driver, fairway, hybrid and irons sharing a distinctive white, black and red colour scheme.

MacGregor are historically renowned for making greatlooking irons and their latest model – the M59 – boasts cuttingedge technology. A combination of an ultra-thin face and low centre of gravity provides a high, fast flight and an undercut cavity that offers massive forgiveness.

M59 DRIVER

M59 FAIRWAY

M59 HYBRID

The flagship driver has a 460cc titanium head with a low centre of gravity and a curved face which combine to produce a high ball flight with serious forgiveness and speed.

Other features include a contoured sole, which reduces drag for more speed, and a UST Mamiya graphite shaft and Lamkin grip as standard.

Lofts: 10.5, 12 & 14˚ SRP: £99.99

Crafted from stainless steel, these woods are classy from a variety of lies. They have shallow heads with curved faces, which should boost confidence and improve distance, height and forgiveness. The sole reduces drag and improve contact with turf for more consistency. UST shaft and Lamkin grip as standard.

Lofts: 15, 18 & 21˚ SRP: £59

Engineered to offer more speed through the air, these steel hybrids offer distance and forgiveness from all lies. A specially contoured sole reduces drag and improves turf contact, helping the club glide through grass. A curved face design and shallow head improves both ball speed and forgiveness.

LOFTS: 21, 24, 27 & 30˚ SRP: £59

90 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 91 Gear Guide Yonex 1/17/13 5:42 PM Page 91

in association with

THE NCG VERDICT “You get

YONEX

Few brands offer as much technological detail or style – and the EZone driver and VXF irons really look the part 1

a lot for yo ur money with Yonex and the EZ one driver is ext remely stylish.”

– Dan Murp hy

2

Always fast The Titanium Muscle Power Face varies in thickness to ensure maximum ball speed from any point

Easy launch All the weight on the VXFs is underneath the ball

3

4

Smooth The carbon steel head offers a silky feel

Crown jewel The crown is made from high-intensity carbon

BRAND INSIGHT

EASTERN PROMISE With a heritage in the Far East based on their expertise in graphite and technical know-how, Yonex clubs are undoubtedly some of the most advanced money can buy.

As the company themselves say: “Renowned development and manufacturing processes mean that every cast, joint, shaft and finish is to impeccable standard.”

But while they are best known in Britain as a super-premium brand – and with some justification – their 2013 range is packed with clubs that offer exceptionally good value for money.

The VXF irons lead the way – and the EZone SD is a driver that really does look the part.

1. VXF IRONS

3. EZONE SD HYBRID

LOFTS: 9, 10.5 & 12º SRP: £199

These are intended to help the game-improver hit soaring shots and have been engineered with a Double Undercut Cavity that helps expand the sweetspot on the thin face. Yonex’s own lightweight and high-stability HS750 graphite shaft transfers maximum and effortless energy to the clubhead, while steel shafts are also available.

The EZone hybrids are easy to use and will add versatility to your game. With looks that are every bit as stylish as the driver, the titanium Muscle Power Face ensures fast ball speeds from all parts of the face. The Nanospeed 200 shaft will help you generate maximum clubhead speed.

EZONE SD HYBRID

2. EZONE SD DRIVER

Lofts: 19, 22, 25 & 28˚ SRP: £129

Awesome, confidence-inspiring looks combined with tour-proven technologies. The carbon composite head permits weight to be maintained lower within the club shifting the sweet spot to the centre of the face while the highspec Nanospeed 200 shaft completes the package.

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES VXF IRONS SRP: £399 steel, £559 graphite (4-SW)

EZONE SD DRIVER

4. WS-1 WEDGE

WS-1 WEDGE Lofts: 52, 56 & 60˚ SRP: £69 steel, £79 graphite www.yonex.co.uk

Manufactured with the characteristics required by Yonex’s tour staff, the WS-1 wedges feature an 8620 mild carbon steel head for maximum spin and distance control. These wedges are also available with graphite shafts so the swing weights will match up with your graphite-shafted irons.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 91

NCG pp 92 Gear Guide Lynx 1/17/13 5:44 PM Page 92

GEAR GUIDE 2013

LYNX

THE NCG VERDICT “The B

The Boom Boom 2 driver is the showstopper in the line of this revitalised brand

oom Boom 2 is a really exciti ng launch and should help put Lynx back on th e map.”

– Dan Murp hy

PRICE AND SPECS:

Top head 460cc BiTi head designed to elicit maximum performance as well as maximum consistency in varying conditions

Lynx Boom Boom 2 driver SRP: £349 Lofts: 7.5, 9, 10.5 & 12º www.lynxgolf.co.uk

Ripped The Boom Boom 2 is powered by a high-quality Aldila RIP’d NV shaft

Hot cover A special headcover heats the club to an optimal temperature to give the best performance

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BRAND INSIGHT

BACK WITH A BANG ...or perhaps that should be a BOOM. The Boom Boom 2 is an explosive new driver that uses heat technology to give you extra yards.

It is the first modern driver ever to use heat in its technology; the science supporting it being that gas expands and increases internal clubhead pressure. That makes the face quite literally hotter – increasing ball speeds for additional distance.

Lynx is a brand fondly remembered. It was one of the first to bring metal-headed woods to market and was behind the Majorwinning successes of Fred Couples at the 1992 Masters and Ernie Els at the 1994 US Open.

BLACK CAT DRIVER

BLACK CAT FAIRWAY

BLACK CAT IRONS

It may carry a legendary name but this is a thoroughly modern piece of kit with the latest technology and classy looks. Most eye catching is the distinctive black PVD coating for durability and reduced glare. The 460cc head has a high MOI and a hot face. It comes with an Aldila RIP’d NV shaft as standard.

Lofts: 9º, 10.5º and 12.5º SRP: £149

This fairway wood very much looks the part. The Black Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) coating increases durability and reduces glare, as well as looking great. Forged BiTi Technology is responsible for the powerful and responsive feel, and an Aldila RIP’d NV shaft comes as standard, as does a Golf Pride grip.

Lofts: 15º & 19º SRP: £99

Cast from 17-4 stainless steel, these irons are finished in the same black PVD coating as the matching woods.

It’s a highly distinguished look, and they are just as appealing at address, with less offset for a more penetrating flight. An array of steel and graphite shafts are available if you want to be custom fitted.

SRP: £329 steel, £359 graphite (5-SW)

92 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 93 Gear Guide Dunlop 1/17/13 5:46 PM Page 93

in association with

THE NCG VERDICT “You don’t

DUNLOP

You might be pleasantly surprised by the quality and breadth of this range, from one of golf’s iconic names 1

always nee d to spend hundreds o f pounds to get yourself kitt ed out – as this Dunlop line -up shows .”

– Dan Murp hy

2

Great feel The NZ9 irons are made from a super-soft and high-calibre steel

No drag The DP1 driver benefits from an aerodynamic clubhead shape

3

4

High spec The DP1 hybrid is fitted with a Grafalloy shaft

BRAND INSIGHT

A RICH HERITAGE The name of Dunlop in sport has the richest of heritages and these days can be found adorning the clothing of the likes of Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.

In fact, sponsoring Clarke proved to be an expensive decision – the deal was all or nothing and when the Northern Irishman won the 2011 Open it cost Dunlop a cool £2m. On the other hand, they have yet to pay Westwood a penny for the long-standing exposure he has given the brand.

In recent years, the Dunlop range has both grown and improved and the 2013 line-up is headlined by the DP1 driver and NZ9 irons.

White world The NZ9 driver has an anti-glare white head

1. DP1 DRIVER

3. DP1 HYBRID

SRP: £84.99

The head is made from titanium and benefits from Aeroskin technology to create faster clubhead speeds via reduced drag and therefore extra distance. It comes with a Grafalloy shaft and a Lamkin Crossline grip as standard.

For well under £100, you get an awful lot of driver for your money.

Just like the matching driver, this 21˚ hybrid (the equivalent loft to a 3 iron but much easier to use) features Aeroskin technology on both the crown and sole of club.

This helps to generate faster clubhead speeds and therefore increased distance. The package is completed with a Grafalloy shaft and a Lamkin Crossline grip.

NZ9 IRONS

2. NZ9 IRONS

SRP: £279.99 (4-PW)

The new NZ9 iron is made from a super-soft 8620 steel of the sort that is used week in and week out by the world’s leading tour players.

Nor can there be any argument with the components: the NZ9s come with True Temper’s legendary Dynamic Gold shafts and are fitted with Lamkin Crossline grips. Impressive.

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES

DP1 DRIVER

DP1 HYBRID SRP: £44.99

NZ9 DRIVER SRP: £79.99 www.sportsdirect.com

4. NZ9 DRIVER Also in the Dunlop product line for 2013 is another premium driver – the NZ9. This features a full titanium head with a white anti-glare finish, while Aeroskin technology is again employed to generate faster clubhead speeds.

Fitted with a Grafalloy shaft and Lamkin Crossline golf grip.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 93

NCG pp 94 Gear Guide Benross 1/17/13 5:48 PM Page 94

GEAR GUIDE 2013

THE NCG VERDICT “I really

BENROSS

A brand that certainly seem to be going places unveil their new family of drivers to suit all swing speeds

like the Rip /Hot/Max concept an d some of the Rip heads, in p articular, lo ok fantastic.”

– Dan Murp hy

PRICE AND SPECS: SRP: £149.99 Rip Speed: Rip Phenom shaft, 10˚ Hot Speed: Rip Beta shaft, 12˚ Max Speed: Rip Sigma shaft, 14˚

Rich The matt finish is classy

High spec The Hot Speed comes with an Aldila Rip Beta shaft

Skirt A lower centre of gravity increases forgiveness

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STAR BILLING

RIP, HOT AND MAX SPEED DRIVERS The new range from Benross is headlined by the Rip, Hot and Speed drivers.

Each has a different head and Aldila shaft and one is guaranteed to match your game. The Rip Speed is designed for powerful players with 10˚ of loft, a deep face, traditional pear-shaped profile and will give a low to mid launch for power and control.

The Hot Speed has 12˚ of loft, a more modern head design, dual crown technology and a high-MOI head while the Max Speed has 14˚, a wider, shallower head shape and offers maximum forgiveness.

HOT SPEED IRONS

BLACK PEARL WEDGES

RIP SPEED HYBRID

Benross’ flagship iron offers a winning combination of playability and forgiveness and will appeal to a wide range of players. The head is made from Soft 431 Carbon Steel and finished in Black Pearl.

Throughout, the emphasis is on distance and control. A standard set is 5-SW but there are 3 and 4 irons.

SRP: £329.99 steel 5-SW; £379.99 graphite)

The Zip-It Black Pearl wedges are a real triumph. The skill is in the shape of the head, which is an incredibly subtle thing on a wedge, but Benross look to have got it just right here.

Made from a soft carbon steel, you will not lack for feel while the grooves have been engineered to provide maximum levels of friction and therefore spin at impact.

SRP: £59.99

The Rip/Hot/Max choice continues right the way through the set so you can match your driver to your fairway woods, hybrids and irons.

The Rip Speed fairways and hybrids might be the most stylish clubs Benross have designed to date and proves they are now appealing to the better player too. This hybrid comes with an Aldila Rip shaft.

SRP: £89.99

94 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp 95 Gear Guide Five Trends 1/17/13 5:50 PM Page 95

in association with

5

EQUIPMENT TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2013

1 THERE’S NEVER BEEN MORE CHOICE As you can see from our Gear Guide, there is more new equipment being released for the season ahead than we can ever remember. So let’s hope, here in Britain, for a decent run of weather so that we can all get out on the course and have some fun.

2 ADJUSTABLE LOVE There is now barely a driver on the market worthy of the name that is not adjustable for loft, if not also lie. This has all happened so quickly, in just a couple of years.

What varies from one manufacturer to another is exactly what the funtion of the adjustability is. For example, at one extreme Ping say it is more of a fitting tool for them – the half a degree of adjustability in either direction allows them to offer the G25 (that comes in 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 & 12˚) in any loft between 8˚ and 12.5˚ in half-degree increments.

At the other, Nike’s VR_S Covert, in one head, can take you down to 8.5˚, up to 12.5˚ and any point in between.

Many of us simply want a driver dialled in to get us the best results. Others love the idea of being able to fiddle constantly.

3 HEAD OVER SHAFT A couple of years ago, all the talk with drivers was about the shaft – the head was secondary. That’s not the case now. Adjustability, colour and new ways to redistribute weight have seen to that.

Frankly, with many drivers there are limited shaft options available without an upcharge. But according to the manufacturers, where previously you needed a different shaft to bring the spin rate down or increase the launch angle a touch, you can now do so thanks to the design of the heads, or with the help of a wrench.

Also, premium shafts are very costly – even for the manufacturers buying in bulk. They are keen to make clear all they are doing is passing on the cost, and the other option would be to sell all drivers at a higher cost to absorb this, even to those OK with standard shafts.

4 FAIRWAYS OUT?

5 IRONS SHRINK

Not so long ago, two or even three fairway woods in the bag were a common sight. Now most of us are down to one and some have done away with them all together.

The reason? They are being attacked from both sides. Drivers have never been easier to use, so there is less appeal in, say, a strong 3 wood to use off the tee. And they have more loft now than ever before, often 12 or 13˚, which is almost 3 wood loft.

Then there is the hybrid phenomenon. We are constantly told they are easier to hit than long irons and if you carry one with, say, 20˚ then there is little point also having a 5 wood in the bag.

We think there is still a place in the bag for the fairway wood, especially for shallow swingers and those with less clubhead speed, but it remains to be seen.

We used to buy our irons in 3-SW as standard, making a set comprise nine irons. The norm these days is 4-P, which is seven clubs, and even that is by no means universal.

Truth told, not that many of us should bother with the 4-iron at all, and plenty more get little more distance with their 5 iron than a 6.

So you could argue that a ‘set’ could be as few as five clubs.

Here’s why: you need a certain amount of clubhead speed and a certain amount of spin to launch the ball high enough and keep it in the air long enough to get the maximum distance out of a club.

Frequently, the tipping point is around the 5 iron. After that the ball does not carry any further because it does not stay in the air.

Which explains why we club players always come up short with our long irons.

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 95

NCG pp 96 Gear Guide Snake Eyes 1/17/13 5:51 PM Page 96

GEAR GUIDE 2013

SNAKE EYES Known for their gorgeous wedges, they’ve produced a 2013 range which impresses across the board 1

THE NCG VERDICT “I alwa

ys associa te Snake Eyes prima rily with the ir forged iron s and wedg es and the 695 LZ s look gorge ous.”

– Dan Murp hy

2

Sole story The ground heel area of the sole allows for extra loft on cut-up shots without unwanted bounce on the 695 LZ wedge

Weight on The adjustable rear weight allows trajectory to be fine-tuned in the 695 Ti driver

3

4

No friction The unique sole design of the Q5 maximises the launch angle of the ball at impact while reducing friction

High compression The soft 1035 carbon steel billet heads of the 685X Forged are compressed five times by an 800 tonne press

BRAND INSIGHT

NUMBERS GAME: SPECS & PRICES

WEDGE MASTERS Those in the know rightly regard Snake Eyes wedges as among the very best in the business – and that has been the case for many years.

The forging process has been a step ahead of the rest and the head shapes are distinctive and stylish.

That’s immediately apparent in the new 695 LZs. Unsurprisingly the same virtues make their forged irons pretty special, and the latest model, the 685X Forged, very much follow their predecessors in terms of looks and performance.

Beyond this, Snake Eyes offer a full range, with the 695 Ti driver offering top performance at a great price, while the Quick Strike hybrid is always excellent.

695TI DRIVER Lofts: 9.5, 10.5 & 11.5° SRP: £189

695 LZ WEDGE Lofts: 52, 54, 56, 58 & 60˚ SRP: £99

685X FORGED IRONS SRP: £599

QUICK STRIKE Q5 HYBRID Lofts: 15, 19, 23, 27 & 31˚ SRP: £79 www.snakeeyescustom.com

96 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

1. 695TI DRIVER

3. 685X FORGED IRONS

Offers a winning combination of distinctive looks and the latest technology to ensure maximum distance and accuracy. The 695Ti is fitted with a premium Snake Eyes Tour grip and a premium Grafalloy graphite shaft for optimal launch and spin through special multi-directional fibres.

Using the latest technology, the 685X are the highest-quality Snake Eyes forged irons to date.

Manufactured through amazingly tight tolererances, the soft 1035 carbon steel billet head is compressed five times to create an extremely tight grain structure for superior feel and controllability.

The heads, face grooves and cavities are then CNC milled for exacting weight distribution and optimised face thickness for superior forgiveness and trajectory.

2. 695 LZ WEDGE In keeping with Snake Eyes’ wedge tradition, the all-new 695 LZ conforming wedge range features a tour-influenced heel area of the sole which allows for extra loft on open-faced cut-up shots without unwanted bounce.

The laser-engraved face features lines milled across the face enhancing the grooves for full spin.

4. QUICK STRIKE Q5 HYBRID Packed with technical features that make them the best performing and easiest-playing hybrids to date. The deep-sole back-weight skirts give amazing performance.

NCG pp 97 Gear Guide John Letters 1/17/13 5:52 PM Page 97

in association with

JOHN LETTERS The vintage manufacturer now offers some seriously contemporary gear

Out of sight The cavity is invisible at address for a classic appearance

THE NCG VERDICT “You c

an see for yourself that the Jo hn Letters product has improve d immeasu rably in recent y ears.

It looks gre at.”

– Dan Murp hy

Tour lofts Stronger lofts built in as standard to retain low offset design while providing strong trajectory

Slim style The slim muscle cavity offers forgiveness without sacrificing a traditional appearance

PRICE AND SPEC: Master Model Irons Available in: Satin and black SRP: From £599 (3-P) www.johnletters.com

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

BRAND INSIGHT

WELCOME RETURN It is an uplifting sight to see the great name of John Letters again adorning stylish, top-quality clubs.

The Master Model line has been used by some of the greatest golfers ever including Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Fred Daly, and Bernard Gallacher.

Every new set is now being assembled in their all-new St Andrews Custom workshop in the home of golf. The Master Model signature iron model has been updated with modern technology.

It is forged from the finest 8620 carbon steel for an exquisite ultra soft feel. Also in the range and catching the eye are the matching woods’ stunning dark finish.

MASTER MODEL DRIVER The black Tour driver is designed for ultimate power, performance and looks. The plasma-welded, Beta Ti face and Feel Cell sole bar ensure explosive distance without losing feel. The club is minimalistic, so no distractions at address, other than looking stunning. It features Aldila’s RIP Beta shaft as standard.

Lofts: 8, 9, 10 & 11˚ SRP: £249

MASTER MODEL FAIRWAY Designed for the better player, the high-performance steel face and rubberised sole band provides explosive distance, control and feel.

The uninterrupted black appearance offers a stealth-like appearance on a wood engineered for a low powerful launch. The full-face groove pattern optimises spin conditions.

Lofts: 13.5, 15 & 17˚ SRP: £199

MASTER MODEL BLADE Forged from premium 1020 carbon steel and offering stunning looks, precise control and amazing feel.

Concave micro-cavity technology offers forgiveness where it is needed the most – absorbing poorer strikes.

Neutral bias and precise weighting increases confidence to shape shots.

Standard shafts are Dynamic Gold, Nippon NS950 and Precision Rifle.

SRP: £599

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 97

NCG pp 98 Gear Guide Buying Guide 1/18/13 9:12 AM Page 98

GEAR GUIDE 2013

in association with

BUYING

GUIDE You’ve read about all this exciting gear – now Dan Murphy has 10 tips to ensure you invest well

1

PLAY THE FIELD

I’ve been writing about golf equipment for over a decade and I’ve never seen more new kit than is hitting the shops right now.

That puts you in a strong position – because you can afford to be selective. Hopefully our Gear Guide has given you lots of ideas.

2

THINK OF YOUR BAG AS A WHOLE

I realise that few of us can replace every club in one go but even if, say, one new hybrid is the limit of your investment plans for the year think carefully about how your set will fit together. If I looked in your bag, would I find huge gaps in some areas and overlaps in another? More often than not, I think I would.

3

HOW MANY CLUBS ARE ACTUALLY WORKING FOR YOU? I reckon that almost all club golfers have long irons they don’t hit, lob wedges that may as well still have the wrapper on and three

woods that hinder more than help.

Clear them out. And replace them with gap wedges, lofted fairway woods and hybrids.

4

YOU DO HAVE A GAP WEDGE, DON’T YOU?

Pitching wedges have turned into 9 irons and sand wedges have become lob wedges. Which means that, if you’ve not being paying attention, you might have a gap of anything up to 14˚. The gap between one iron and the next throughout the set is around 4˚.

Why should it be any greater than that between wedges?

Answer: It shouldn’t.

5

EXACTLY HOW IMPORTANT IS ADJUSTABILITY TO YOU? Are you the sort who spends hours tinkering away to perfect your ball flight? Or would you rather have a driver set up by an expert and then leave it well alone? If the former, drivers like TaylorMade’s R1, Nike’s VR_S Covert and the Cobra Amp Cell should be top of

98 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

your list. If the latter, start with a Ping or a Titleist.

6

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR TINKERING

Moving loft up and down affects performance in more ways than you might imagine – beware of the law of unintended consequences.

Make sure you know what you’re doing otherwise, rather than improving your driver’s performance, you might be doing the exact opposite.

7

ADJUSTABILITY MAKES FITTING MORE IMPORTANT, NOT LESS You might think the opposite, but with all these extra variables in play, it’s just not the case – trust me on this. There are so many things a fitter can do to help you so trust their expertise.

8

ADJUSTABILITY IN FAIRWAYS AND HYBRIDS IS ALSO APPEALING I think it could be even more useful to change the loft on my

fairways and hybrids than driver.

So if I’m doing a lot of driving with my 3 wood then knocking the loft down is really useful. Or I can aim to tweak my hybrid to bisect the gap between my fairway wood and longest iron. Very useful.

9

TRY ADDING LOFT TO YOUR FAIRWAY WOOD

I see this time and again when being fitted and watching others being fitted on a launch monitor – a club with what used to be called 4-wood loft (17 or 18˚) carries further than a 3 wood. Especially if you mainly use your fairway wood off the deck, I’ll bet that you’d hit it further, more often, by adding some loft.

10

GET FITTED

I’ll spare you the lecture as I know you’ve heard it all before.

But whichever new driver you want, the quickest way to gain distance is to spend half an hour with it on a launch monitor with an expert, preferably a PGA pro.

It’s as simple as that.

Puredrive 17/01/2013 17:02 Page 1

GO TO MACH DUNES — GO HOME WITH A TROPHY What’s even better than playing golf at Machrihanish Dunes?

Playing golf at Machrihanish Dunes and bringing home a trophy!

Check out the fun and exciting competitions planned for 2013 and sign up soon – places are going fast!

April 14 – Ladies’ Champion of Champions event* April 21 – Men’s Champion of Champions event* June 15 – Golf in Scotland Tournament July 28 – Shepherd’s Cross Tournament† June 29 – Summer Open Sept 27 & 28 – Hickory Golf event‡ October 7-10 – International Pairs Competition October 12 – Autumn Open

ave A Do We H Your ith Trophy W It? Name On

To reserve your spot in any event, or make a booking for a golf break, please phone us at +44 (0)1586 810000.

www.MachDunes.com

*Open to all Scottish Club Champions plus one (1) guest †9 holes on Mach Dunes and 9 holes on Machrihanish GC ‡Hickory club rentals available

NCG pp101 Lead to Travel 1/18/13 9:11 AM Page 101

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

NEXT STOP

Nicaragua HE list of countries offering tempting golf holidays has just had another name added to it: Nicaragua. Guacalito de la Isla’s course has opened for play and is part of the luxury Mukul Beach, Golf and Spa resort located on Nicaragua’s stunning Emerald Coast in the south west of the country.

It was designed by celebrated Scottish architect David McLay Kidd, who fell in love with the spot so much while working on the project he is building a beach house there.

The eco-friendly resort is 90 minutes from Managua airport, which is a two-hour flight from Miami. So it’s very accessible – and the weather is absolutely glorious (33C and not a cloud in the sky) throughout our winter. n Visit guacalitodelaisla.com for further details.

T

NCG pp102-103 Connoisseur Clive Las Colinas 1/18/13 9:10 AM Page 102

Connoisseur

Clive

SHORT HAUL | Spain

CALLING IN ON COLINAS Clive is our undercover roving reporter, who tells it like it is. NCG’s bon viveur plays off 13, always finds the best places to go and is an expert in enjoying himself, on and off the course

Our man jets off to Spain in search of sunshine, some exercise and a much-needed boost in confience

“In order to get the very most from my game I need to unwind away from the course and the three-bedroom apartments deserve special mention.

“Just a couple of minutes from the 18th green was our quite brilliant villa with a garden big enough to hit a variety of lob wedges. I didn’t.

“Had time been on our side there is also entry to the exclusive Beach Club on the seafront at La Glea as well as the International School of Falconry. Many of my golfing walks are often spoiled by my random efforts though that is unlikely to be the case with a guided tour of the Mediterranean woodland with a Harris hawk for company.

“All of which seems a very long way from the winter gloom.”

Clive’s Cigarometer Las Colinas scores...

102 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp102-103 Connoisseur Clive Las Colinas 1/18/13 9:10 AM Page 103

WAS reading recently in the local rag that, according to a study by the University of Bristol, 88 per cent of us fail in our new year resolutions. The majority have already given up by the middle of January.

I'm sorry to admit that I failed/fell off the wagon by the 3rd of the month.

It is around this time of year that I begin to get a little less taken with my appearance. The belt has already had to be extended by one notch and we’re now not too far away from a second.

This is down to a multitude of reasons with the main one that I eat too much while my current gym membership is currently setting me back £30 a pop for a read of the Sunday papers. I was also looking a bit pasty and, as much as I’d like to book myself into a session at the local Tantastic, it just doesn’t feel right.

As such I booked myself a few days on the Costa Blanca and make my way to, to give it its right and proper name, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club. Along with my foursomes partner Brian.

Unlike many of the members at Royal Cotswold I have never settled on a shorter version of his name so I call him by his full and proper one, Brian. In turn he refers to me as Clive. It works, unlike our foursomes play.

Four hours later and we are in the hire car and on our way from Alicante to the resort, Brian at the controls, me with the map.

After 45 minutes of clear and concise directions we arrive and, before too long are discussing the merits of the Ensalada Cesar and Ensalada Colinas.

Before too long Brian launches into a Trio De Mini Hamburguesas while I, after catching sight of a nearby table’s order, pathetically commence my assault on stage one of four on the Club UNiK. I’d like to say this translates as a light bite but I’d be lying. Lunch is punctuated, as ever, by sparkling conversation, a drop of Rioja and small periods of silence as we watch the 18th being tackled. Water on a golf course features very highly on my warning radar and there appears to be a vast expanse of it here.

At Royal Cotswold we have a small ditch on the 8th.

I

Lucky 13 Scene of two stunning pars for Brian and me

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 103

Menara Travel Morocco 17/01/2013 17:03 Page 1

MOROCCO GOLF

The Magic Awaits You...

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MARRAKECH £389 pp on B&B in PALMERAIE VILLAGE Apartments 4**** £649 pp on B&B in PALMERAIE GOLF PALACE HOTEL 5***** Including: 7 Nights on Bed & Buffet Breakfast + 4 Rounds of Golf with your preferred pre-booked Tee Times playing on the PALMERAIE GOLF COURSE + Airport Transfers (Valid from 03 January – 28 March 2013)

MAZAGAN BEACH & GOLF RESORT 5***** £339 per Golfer on B&B & UNLIMITED GOLF Including: 4 Nights on Bed & Buffet Breakfast + UNLIMITED GOLF at the MAZAGAN GOLF CLUB ‘Links Course – Gary Player Design’ + Free Shared Buggy + Complimentary driving Range access + 1 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 (Valid from 01 January – 28 March 2013)

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NCG pp105 Connoisseur Clive Las Colinas 1/18/13 9:09 AM Page 105

SHORT HAUL | Spain

Brian is now off 17 and is only going in one direction which is good news for the winter knockout. He’s also been struggling with his knees but, with no room for sentiment, four shots are agreed. Brian knows the rules and I’ve come here to feel a bit better about myself.

And I am all ready; it is early January, there is frost on the ground at home and I have the slimmest of V necks on.

We fail miserably to come to terms with a lightning putting green. Being a numbers man I have already quizzed the head greenkeeper as to the pace of them and he proudly announces that they are running at ‘once’.

Which to you and me is 11.

Another number I can't get out of my head is 16, the number of shots that a Dutch chap, Tim Sluiter, was under par at the Second Qualifying Stage of European Tour Q School. I know

it serves no purpose but I like to measure myself against the best and is a big part of the reason that I played to single figures for a number of years.

I enjoy the first two holes immensely, they let us know we are in for a treat, though more for the fact that Brian can’t reach them and I go two up.

I reprimand Brian for getting the camera out on the elevated 3rd tee, it might well be ‘stunning’ but we are in the middle of a match.

Minutes later I have to have a word with myself too after taking on the carry and coming up wet.

I can’t help but wonder that a young Clive would have made it.

Anyway, we’re rather enjoying ourselves and there is a little bit of everything to be savoured on the front nine. Not overly long par 4s, a very cute short hole in the pines and more spectacular tee shots come the 8th, if only in appearance.

QUICK GUIDE n Time difference: GMT +1 n Climate: Over 300 days of sunshine, its wettest month having four days of rainfall n Currency: Euro n Transfers: It’s under an hour from Alicante airport n Nearby attractions There are over 20 other courses less than half an hour away n Green fees: Summer €90; winter €64

The design of the course is an interesting one given that it runs in a circular motion around property and shrubland. The beauty is that the property plays no part on the eyeline or the senses of the golfer and only at the 9th tee would you only realise that

it exists. We are away from it all, the temperature is in the 20s, Brian’s knees are holding up and we are all square.

I enjoy little more than a course that builds and we, and Brian’s game, are hitting the heights. The closing five holes really are something else and offer variety aplenty with pars of 3, 5, 4, 5 and 3. Of these only the 17th has no water but, in many ways, this is the most dramatic and would grace any course in any part of the world. It is here that I make the most satisfying par of the day and it is here that I shake hands, in defeat, thanks to Brian’s four.

We repeat this routine for three days, twice bringing the curtain down on the early evening with some clay-court tennis, and three times eating too much (and getting a little over-refreshed) at night.

Other than being another statistic for the new-year dropouts why wouldn’t you.

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NCG pp106-108 Mauritius Comp 17/01/2013 16:50 Page 106

LONG HAUL | Mauritius

A

N the last 10 years, tour players have become disconcertingly similar to pop stars, footballers and actors. We might see even more of them on our screens but you have to try really hard to catch a glimpse in the flesh (and it means straining your neck and your eyes).

It’s not a development in the game of golf in which many positives can be found.

So to be waiting for an omelette alongside the Irish Open champion at breakfast, or hitting balls alongside GB&I’s record

I

points scorer in the Walker Cup is a bit odd. To be running on a treadmill next to one of the European Tour’s longest hitters is verging on the bizarre.

This isn’t some weird dream (as it happens, that involves Per-Ulrik Johansson and the 17th at Sawgrass) – it is the reality of participating in the Standard Bank Mauritius Open.

Held over the breathtaking Le Touessrok course, this is the alternative to the kind of winter golf which proper golfers like NCG’s editor and deputy editor get up to December.

106 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

They like nothing more than throwing on their various Galvin Green layers and setting out onto the frozen tundra of a heathland course. Each to their own.

Some of us prefer to play in polo shirts and shorts, and gaze out over azure blue sea as we tickle a putt towards the hole on greens so slick and smooth they add significantly to the perspiration already on one’s brow as a result of the 26˚C heat.

It’s true that significant effort has to be made to be lolling about on sun-kissed Le Touessrok in December – an 11-hour flight to

be exact. And it’s not especially cheap, with it being a five-star resort (they all are on Mauritius).

But if you break it down, it actually makes some vague financial sense, given that all your food and golf is paid for in advance, so merely a few drinks must be purchased on the island.

And for that price, you end up rubbing shoulders with Jamie Donaldson at the omelette counter, warming up alongside Gary Wolstenholme and running off the immense amount of calories you consumed at breakfast next to Victor Dubuisson.

NCG pp106-108 Mauritius Comp 17/01/2013 16:50 Page 107

A Winter Comp WITH A DIFFERENCE

If the idea of temporary greens and astro turf tees doesn’t appeal to you in frosty December, there is an extremely attractive alternative, as Chris Bertram discovered

Best of all, there is no sense of a ‘them and us’ mentality from the pros. Most have come with their families, as most of the amateurs also do, and are enjoying a lateyear holiday to escape the British chill (and possibly the stresses of Christmas?). In fact, it is all remarkably free of pretension and awkwardness. The players have a few beers after the Pro-Am and are perfectly happy to chat round the pool as everyone’s kids make varying attempts at swimming. It’s all very impressive, just as the fact they were at least as amused by/in awe of the presence in the hotel of

arguably the world’s best-known musician in the 1990s.

So it’s a very laid-back scene at both Le Touessrok and its brandnew sister hotel Long Beach, where most of the golfers stay. And yet as soon as everyone – pro and amateur alike – steps on the 1st tee, the laughter stops and everyone gets a bit more serious.

No amateur wants to embarrass themself in front of their pro and no pro wants to shoot 82 (and at Le Touessrok, that is not just a possibility but a reality).

Pros and amateurs travel from all over the world to play in the

event; there are lots of South Africans (it is just a four-hour flight away) and a sizable contingent of French golfers as the island was once one of their colonies and still uses the language alongside English. But you will also find golfers from Surrey and Grimsby, and you’ll discover they are all very happy to be away from sub-zero Britain.

The organisation of the event, led by exiled Scotsman Russell Hannah, is superb. It needs to be, because there is actually a heck of a lot of golf to be played. You can start with a practice round to

familiarise yourself with the layout (very wise), and then it’s two days of Pro-Am action with 20 teams taking it very seriously.

The pros and amateurs then split up and have their own threeround championships before it all climaxes with a gala dinner at Long Beach.

Long-time NCG columnist Wolstenholme won the main event, and thus the Standard Bank Mauritius Open title, in December when he edged out Mark Haastrup by a stroke. The exceptionally tight Le Touessrok course – it was designed by Bernhard Langer and

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 107

NCG pp106-108 Mauritius Comp 17/01/2013 16:51 Page 108

LONG HAUL | Mauritius

let’s just say he laid it out in his own stringent, efficient image – is ideally suited to his metronomic accuracy off the tee and as NCG played a practice round with the GB&I legend it was clear he fancied his chances. He may even have won by more if he hadn’t left his Strokesaver – complete with notes on every hole – in our buggy as we dashed to get our boat ...

Le Touessrok is laid out on an island, you see, and the boats back to the mainland stop running as dusk falls. Indeed, it looked like NCG might be camping down for the night with the man who famously beat Tiger Woods in the 1995 Walker Cup when we mistakenly (NCG’s fault – and didn’t Gary let us know all about it) headed for the wrong jetty.

Thankfully, a boat which was taking wedding guests to and from the island came to our rescue and returned these two reluctant boy scouts back to the hotel.

Donaldson, who enjoyed his best-ever season on the European

108 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

FANCY PLAYING IN 2013’S EVENT? If you are an amateur and the prospect of playing in the Standard Bank Mauritius Open appeals to you, you can get more details on the event by calling 00 230 402 7400 or by visiting the website standardbankmauritiusopen.com Getting to Mauritius takes 11 hours but you can at least flight direct with Air Mauritius (airmauritius.com).

They fly from Heathrow several times a week with the night flight leaving at 4pm and arriving the next morning at 8am a very efficient way of covering the 9,000 miles.

Fares start as low as £600 if you get in early.

If you want to know more about where you would stay, visit letouessrokresort.com or longbeachmauritius.com.

The former is one of the ‘Leading Hotels of the World’, and the latter a chic hotel which, as its name suggests, sits on golden sand.

Tour with victory in the Irish Open and a string of impressive finishes, has been coming to this event in Mauritius for nearly a decade (it has moved around the various golf resorts on the island).

“It’s absolutely fantastic here,” said the Welshman, who last year took baby son Max as well as wife Kathryn to the Indian Ocean island. “We love it – in fact there’s barely been a year when we haven’t extended our stay because we didn’t want to go home.

“No-one takes it too seriously and there’s a great atmosphere but of course when we get down to it we all want to win,” he added, perhaps reflecting on his McIlroy moment in the second round when he made his tee time by 30 seconds and, with no warm-up (or breakfast), promptly topped his drive into a load of bushes.

Donaldson was typically sanguine about his modest start to round two but it was noticeable he then strung together his best round of the week, no doubt stung

by such a shock to the system.

The Macclesfield-based player was playing alongside two of the three Ladies European Tour players, Joanna Klatten and Julie Greciet, with Jade Schaeffer also in the field. Other pros competing included one-time boy wonder Sam Osborne, Seniors players Gary Emerson and Stephen Bennett, as well as European Tour veteran Carl Suneson.

Reflective of the laid-back holiday atmosphere, almost all of them played in shorts and it was also noticeable all of them attended the event’s functions, which as we all know is not always the case at Pro-Ams and charity events. That is testament to the friendliness of the event and how happy they are to be invited to play in the Standard Bank Mauritius Open.

Then again, let’s not be too effusive in our praise of the pros; sun, sea, sand, five-star hotels and a bit of friendly competition... what’s not to like?

L OFFE

A DI E S S P

Guests are granted exclusive access to the renowned San Lorenzo Golf Course, designed by leading golf architects Joseph Lee and Rocky Roquemore. The course is a combination of natural beauty, pristine presentation and hole after hole of challenging golf. Having received numerous awards and acreditations, San Lorenzo is considered one of the best golf courses in Europe and the world.

Dona Filipa Hotel & San Lorenzo Golf Course are currently offering a great range of 3 & 7 night packages.

•L

Located a short drive from Faro International Airport in the heart of the Algarve, the 5-star Dona Filipa Hotel is famed for its breath taking views, gourmet cuisine and outstanding customer service. Surrounded by lush golf courses, pinewoods, and nestled into the golden sands of Vale do Lobo, the hotel is frequently nominated as one of the top golfing destinations in the world.

R

Golf breaks in the Algarve

IAL OFFE

IA EC

EC

A DI E S S P •L R FREE DE A UPGR ELUXE TO A D & VIP ROOMTMENT TREA

7 night stays from

€158 per night

Package includes: • Daily buffet breakfast • Four dinners per person • For Golfers: five rounds of golf, including token & trolley at San Lorenzo Golf Course • For non-golfers: three days access to the Vale do Lobo Royal Spa • Dona Filipa surprise gift • Taxes & service charge

3 night stays from

€152 per night

Package includes: • Daily buffet breakfast • Two dinners per person • For Golfers: two rounds of golf, including token & trolley at San Lorenzo Golf Course • For non-golfers: one day access to the Vale do Lobo Royal Spa • Taxes & service charge

Reservations

Telephone: +351 289 357 223 Fax: +351 289 357 201 Email: donafilipahotel@jjwhotels.com donafilipahotel.com

Terms & Conditions: Minimum of 3-night stays are required. All taxes and service charges included. Golf rounds are not transferable or refundable, always subject to course availability. Handicap Certificate (28/Men – 36/Ladies) is required to play. Child policy and inclusions are only valid and applicable to children from 0 to 12 years of age, unless specified otherwise. Free accommodation for children is only valid when sharing room with parents (according to maximum room capacity). Free meals for children are only valid when chosen from the children’s menu and when joining parents during their meals (maximum of 2 children per booking), at the Hotel´s restaurants. Free meals for children are not valid for meals taken at the Kangaroo Club and /or room service. Free entrance for Kangaroo Club (open during Christmas, Easter and summer) is only valid for children from 3 to 12 years of age. Children under the age of 3, the fee of 65€ per day/child will apply. Free use of Dona Filipa Beach Club (until 30 September 2012). Car rental in package includes: (limited mileage, collision damage waiver, theft protection, tax). Airport Service charge and other extras not included.

NCG pp110-111 CC King's Lynn 1/18/13 12:24 PM Page 110

GB&I | Norfolk CLASSIC COURSE: No. 108

KING’S

LYNN

Dan Murphy describes the secret hidden gem of Norfolk

110 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp110-111 CC King's Lynn 1/18/13 12:24 PM Page 111

HE east of England is a region that too many of us drive through without pausing to stop. Perhaps we are heading north on the A1 to Scotland, or more likely south towards London.

Those who do take a diversion invariably head for the North Norfolk coast and the delights of Hunstanton and Brancaster – and all power to them.

But if you do not quite have the time to get that far off the beaten track, or you just want to discover somewhere new, then you will be interested to learn that you could be playing a course as delightful as King’s Lynn within 25 miles or so of leaving the A1 at Peterborough.

To judge by the pictures you could be tackling one of the Surrey heathlands, or a century-old club somewhere in the Home Counties.

In fact, this is a course less than 40 years old, though the history of the club goes back rather longer.

The club dates back to the 1920s but only moved to the present site in 1975, with Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss the designers.

The course is now found a couple of miles to the north of King’s Lynn itself on the road that heads towards Hunstanton and then follows the coast round to Brancaster and Sheringham.

King’s Lynn is one of those clubs where you know as soon you arrive that you are going to enjoy

T

Protected The 5th green is an awkward target to find

Factfile King’s Lynn GC Castle Rising King’s Lynn Norfolk PE31 6BD w: sandagolfclub.co.uk Tel: 01553 631 654

Green fees Weekdays £50 per round, £55 per day; Weekends £60 & £65

yourself.

You might reasonably expect to find a parkland course in a place like this but in fact this is a fastrunning woodland layout with patches of heather and no shortage of doglegs.

As you wander around the clubhouse to survey the scene a look down the 18th fairway will tell you exactly what to expect.

The key to success – and it is easier said than done – is to hit your tee shots not only straight but also the right length, otherwise you will spend much of the day attempting ambitious recovery shots before eventually accepting the necessity of a chip back out to the fairways.

Frequently, and obviously depending on the tees of the day, the driver (and sometimes also the 3 wood) is best left in the bag because this is not an especially

long course and it is much more important to be able to have a clear shot to the greens.

Most of the par 4s measure between 350 and 400 yards, and with the fairways firm at the time of our visit we had more trouble running through fairways than we did reaching the angle of the doglegs.

From the very beginning, you can see that positioning your tee shots is all-important.

Take the 2nd, which looks promising on the scorecard at little over 300 yards, but where you must hit the fairway, while the 3rd and 4th dogleg in opposite directions and must be treated with respect. The front nine concludes with a par 5 that is so straight it looks narrower than it is, seemingly no more than a corridor if your driver is not behaving itself.

Then come two fantastic holes, one a five and the other the longest four on the course.

Get through these, and a short hole that can call for as much as a wood, and you can pick up a couple of shots on the way in.

In certain places, there are shades of Woburn and West Hill about King’s Lynn, though elsewhere it is rather more homely than that.

You are unlikely to score well here on your first visit, but then again it will give you the perfect excuse to come back and have another go.

Secluded King’s Lynn is a pretty place to play

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 111

NCG pp112-113 ATOC Sherwood Forest 17/01/2013 16:48 Page 112

ABOUT The club has just celebrated its centenary having moved to its current site roughly halfway between Nottingham and Mansfield in 1912. Its full history dates another 17 years back from then. It was designed by Harry Colt, the man responsible for, among others, Sunningdale’s New Course and both the East and West at Wentworth.

In 1925 James Braid was invited to make improvements and extend it. It now stands at 6,835 yards off the back tees and plays to a par of 70 but, remarkably, a SSS of 74.

You will find it in any worthwhile Top 100 – but for plenty of us it is rarely anywhere near high enough.

GB&I | Nottinghamshire A TOUCH OF CLASS

SHERWOOD FOREST A classy heathland now well and truly out of Hollinwell’s shadow

THE COURSE As you might expect from the name it is a heavily wooded, fastrunning, heathland layout.

There are seven par 4s between the 6th and the 17th, each exceeding 400 yards, and most of them are set in glorious seclusion, with flanks of firs and banks of gorse divorcing the current challenge from the rest.

The tight, springy turf is indicative of an inland course of the very highest quality and it has that indefinable touch of class that most courses, no matter how hard they strive or how many new back tees they build, will never achieve.

The smooth and deceptively fast greens also deserve special mention; they can stimp as quickly as 12 in the summer. Sherwood can also boast a fine collection of par 3s, the pick of which is arguably the shortest, the cute 7th.

CARD WRECKER The 444-yard 14th is the last of a quartet of holes that form the club's own Amen Corner. This is where your score needs to be preserved. Like many holes here, it runs slightly from right to left. A fairway bunker will catch out plenty who try to cut off the corner while four bunkers eagerly await your uphill approach. Go too far and you can leave yourself a particularly smelly little chip.

BIRDIE CHANCE The 1st, at 336 yards, is easily the least demanding par 4 and, were it not the opener, you might fancy the challenge. A generous fairway and a flat green mean there is a decent chance of a three.

112 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp112-113 ATOC Sherwood Forest 17/01/2013 16:48 Page 113

PLAY FOR YO IT URSELF Whe

re: Leave M1 at jun ction 27 and take si gns for M ansfield.

Sat Nav N G18 3EW Green fe es: Novem ber to Ap ril ÂŁ35 Contact: 01623 62 7403 sherwood forestgolf club.co.u k

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 113

Highland Golf Escapes 1/18/13 4:45 PM Page 1

HIGHLAND GOLF ESCAPES “Having played Tain and Brora, I cannot wait to visit Nairn Dunbar, Golspie and Boat of Garten, all of which are high on my list of MUST play courses. Now my days of competitive golf are behind me, I really look forward to annual visits to the Highlands and enjoy that which Scotland has to offer on and off the golf course.

Anyone with golf in their veins must visit this special region, but I hope to get there “before ye on the high road” - Sir Bob Charles

5 of Scotland’s best courses have joined together with 3 great hotels to offer a golfing experience that can only make every golfer anticipate the new season with a spring in their step.

BOAT OF GARTEN

GOLSPIE

NAIRN DUNBAR

TAIN

James Braids wonderful Brora, Golspie and Boat of Garten courses, along with the delightful Tom Morris designed Tain course and the excellent Nairn Dunbar are in partnership with the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora and the Morangie House and Mansfield Castle Hotels in Tain to offer superb value golfing holidays through their “Highland Golf Escapes”

PRICING April and October £195 | May - September £240 Includes 3 rounds of golf 2 nights B&B and 1 dinner.

Please contact Royal Marine Hotel 01408 621252, Morangie House Hotel 01862 892281 or Mansfield Castle Hotel 01862 892052 to book who will also arrange tee times.

NCG pp115 Lead to Club Golf 1/18/13 9:20 AM Page 115

CLUB GOLF section in association with

The Finest British performance knitwear

CLUB GOLF Tackling the issues that matter to you

CLUB GOL F

in associa

tion with

The finest Britis www.glenb h knitwear raegolf.co m

THE MONTH’S TOP STORY £13m funding reward for English Golf English golf has received a £13m boost from Sport England to develop the game over the next four years, writes James Tompkinson.

The grant to the England Golf Partnership (EGP) is part of a £500m investment in grassroots sport, and forms part of the London 2012 legacy programme. The EGP have established County Golf Partnerships to help to boost participation levels. Since 2009, 4,200 new memberships have been created and now more emphasis will be placed on disabled golfers and beginners over the age of 26.

“We look forward to maximising the investment,” said EGP chief operating officer Roger Moreland.

Bright future English Golf has been rewarded

News | Personalities | Club focus |Greenkeeping | Secret Secretary | Must Plays | Area guides CLUB GOLF Future of munis

in association with glenbraegolf.com

KEEPING PAYAND-PLAY GOLF ALIVE Tapton Park head pro Craig Pollard talks to NCG’s James Tompkinson

SHEFFIELD SCHEME Sheffield International Venues is now one of the largest leisure companies in Europe and manages most public sports facilities in Sheffield.

The company manages four pay-and-play golf courses under joint stewardship with Sheffield City Council. A unique membership package called Golfit has seen a sharp increase in members: £529 per year provides unlimited access to all four courses plus unlimited use of gyms and swimming pools across the city.

IS THERE A STIGMA ABOUT PAY-AND-PLAY COURSES?

HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE JUNIORS AT YOUR CLUB?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR PAY-AND-PLAYS?

“I used to work at a private members’ club and when I see former friends and colleagues I am frequently asked things like ‘are you OK down at the pay-and-play place?’ To that extent I guess there is a stigma attached to pay-andplay facilities, but personally I think there are huge advantages that are perhaps missed.

“You don’t get the same old faces every day, which creates a more lively and vibrant atmosphere. People are also generally more tolerant on the course which also makes for a better place to play, particularly for juniors.

“I think it is really important to emphasise that for pay-and-play clubs to be successful, they have to act, look and feel like proper golf clubs. We don’t allow people to play in jeans and trainers for example, and it helps to make the experience better for all levels of player.”

“In the last year, Tapton Park has worked with over 20 primary schools and eight secondary schools, offering both introductory golf taster sessions and more dedicated coaching programmes.

“The result is that we have a thriving junior section with over 100 members aged six to 18, and that is a huge benefit to the club and an even bigger testament to the way in which it operates.

“Some of our youngest members just come to have fun, but we also have teenagers pushing for county selection and a dedicated programme in place to help them achieve success on the course.

Over half of the last Derbyshire U-14 squad came from Tapton Park’s junior section, which is staggering for a pay-and-play facility.

“It shows that you don’t have to be a private members’ club to achieve such success – but you do have to act with a ‘proper club’ mentality.”

“You hear of facilities being threatened with closure regularly, and I do think that the image of public courses has to change over the next few years to ensure survival. When times are tough, pay-and-play facilities should be thriving but it isn’t really the case at the moment.

“Schemes like ‘Golfit’ have really helped us attract a new kind of member and that is really important. I can see more clubs linking up in the future and offering joint membership packages because it is extremely attractive to the public.

“When you can pay just over £500 for a year’s membership at four courses plus unlimited access to the gym and swimming pools, it is unrivalled value for money considering many private clubs charge over £1,000 for their membership fees.

“It has taken off in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire and I see no reason why a similar set up wouldn’t work elsewhere.”

SIV manage three courses in Sheffield – Beauchief, Birley Wood and Tinsley Park – and Tapton Park in Chesterfield. www.sivltd.com/golf

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 117

117

Can payand-plays survive the recession?

CLUB GOLF Secret Secretary

in association with glenbraegolf.com

D

oes a joining fee have any place in a tough economy?

Some clubs will always be able to charge a joining fee, the size of which is proportionate to their prestige value. Sadly there are many clubs that have a false idea of their prestige value. In Sweden some clubs charge a very large family a joining fee (say £4,000) then very low annual family membership (say £400). The joining fee is repaid if the family leaves. There is always a place to charge a modest administrative fee for any club to pay for the membership setting up costs and to make sure those applying are not time wasters.

is, flexible memberships need policing and most clubs aren’t set up to check what category of membership each player falls into as they step onto the 1st tee.

H

ow much free coaching do you offer?

We offer at least two free group lessons every week and free lessons to any group that ask for them.

How can any membership possibly stay buoyant without this? Only really by pinching members from other clubs I suspect!

W

hat is the strangest request you have had from a member?

‘Why was my son, (whose subscription is three months overdue), disqualified from the monthly medal? He was so upset!’

W

hen did your club last have a waiting list?

Clubs like ours that give golfers what they want have, and always will have, a big waiting list. I only wish some of our neighbours would take some off my hands!

Endlessly resisting underhand efforts by people to jump the queue is almost as tricky as building up a waiting list.

W

hat is your most effective way of marketing new members?

Word of mouth is the best marketing tool, as well as regular free lessons. You must of course have something of value to offer.

Our marketing budget is almost nil. Many clubs waste a lot of money on marketing a product no-one wants.

S

hould a golf club be heavily involved with local schools?

A golf club should be part of the community, schools should see their local club as a second home.

We have links with 13 schools and those nearest use us as a resource. n WOULD you like to be our Secret Secretary for a month?

Total anonymity guaranteed – simply send an email to editorial@sportspub.co.uk and we will send you some questions to answer...

SECRET

SECRETARY Our sec’s anonymity gives him (or her) the licence to say what they really think

D

oes golf take too long?

Properly managed, golf can be a quick sport. If there are hold ups, someone in authority needs to get out there and talk to the slow coaches. Then you get a speedy course. Having said that, 9-hole qualifiers are a great and a popular idea with us.

I

s golf, either green fee or membership, overpriced?

Golf is not well priced. Very overpriced at most private members’ clubs where you pay for extensive staff and clubhouse facilities you don’t necessarily want (they already have the advantage of lower VAT).

Underpriced in real terms at proprietary courses where they have to give the government 20 per cent VAT yet try and compete with the private members’ club prices next door. Guess who sets this rule? MPs and Treasury officials who are members of private clubs! Get VAT even on all courses and you will see a healthy price war that will get prices down for the consumer.

H

ow healthy is the future of club golf?

Today’s golfers are obviously driven to society and pay and play where it is so much more fun. The current CONGU system is the single most destructive element club membership has ever seen. It doesn’t serve the golfers who pay for it and only keeps unions and software manufacturers in affiliation fees for something golfers really don’t want. Golfers like a simple, do-it-in-your-head, system where you can manage your own handicap. Handicaps drawn from ‘best score above SSS’ for categories 2, 3, 4 and 5 would bring golfers flocking back. I’m afraid many clubs’ committees will still be sitting in the men’s members lounge, in collar and tie, demanding to see the bailiffs’ handicap certificate as they enter to confiscate the furniture!

I

s a flexible membership, such as credits only for when you play, the way forward?

Any club that doesn’t offer flexible membership is likely to be be in financial difficulty already. Trouble

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 119

119

Secret secretary: Late subs and credits

CLUB GOLF

SEND US YOUR QUESTI ONS...

Greenkeeping

in association with glenbraegolf.com

This is a regular feature – so please email the points you’d like answered to: editorial@ sportspub.c o.uk

GREENKEEPERS’

UESTION TIME Our panel respond to queries about rough length, gorse v heather and hand mowing

Hand cutting greens – does the use of a hand mower and the time it takes to cut the greens outweigh the use of ride-on mowers and the resulting compaction?

Will, Leeds Kim: This is a good question that we have looked at in the last four years. At Fulford Heath we have gone back to hand-mowing greens and tees. We purchased four Baroness greens mowers and two trailers and three Baroness Tee mowers. We decided to go back to hand mowing for better appearance and to produce a healthier sward on the greens.

Both the greens and tees have improved with hand mowing. The downside that it takes more man hours to do the greens and tees is false; there is not much difference.

The extra cost in man hours is off set by the running costs of hand mowers and depreciation of the two systems. We have found that we can produce good greens and tees and have an extra member of staff because of going back to hand mowers.

Why do different courses have varying grades of rough length, how many grades of rough should there be and how wide should these cuts ideally be?

Gordon, Perth Tina: It varies from course to

course, but usually there are three cuts. First cut of semi rough about 10 feet wide cut at one inch, a second cut of varying width at 2.5 inches and then tiger rough/uncut, normally an ecology area left to grow wild. However as we are a short course, and space is limited, we have a first cut and then straight to uncut rough.

When greenkeepers top dress the greens why don’t they also treat the fringes and aprons to stop the bulging and uneven transition from putting surface to fringe?

Vince, Swanage Tina: It’s solely down to money.

Why do greenkeepers on classic courses insist on doing rounded corners on tees?

Graeme, St Ives Bear: To be honest it is all down to personal preference. Both methods look good if done properly. In my opinion golf courses should appear as natural as

possible and perfectly square tees certainly do not appear too natural although do indeed give a far crisper, neater look. Some of my tees are squared and some are rounded. Horses for courses.

Are there benefits to using a rotary mover over a cylinder mower when cutting fairways?

Would using a rotary mower stop the rippling effect often caused by cutting in the same direction year on year?

Geoff, Didsbury Kim: In my opinion there is only one advantage in using rotary mower on fairways or any other area and that is a rotary mower is cheaper to run and will stand my abuse when using it.

To get a good sward on a fairway you need to cut the grass leaf cleanly which requires a cylinder mower. Cylinder mowers will follow contours better and will cut lower then any rotary mowers that I know that are on the market.

The rippling effect can be caused by several things but the way we avoid any of these problems is by mowing the fairways in different directions. We sometimes block cut half and half, strip up and down and cut at left to right, right to left. The way we cut the fairways depends on what competitions we have coming up.

Cylinder mowers will do a better job if maintained and used

correctly which all depends on conditions of the grass on the day of mowing.

Is it true that gorse releases nutrients into the soil which changes the ph level and results in more difficult growing conditions for heather?

Colin, Cirencester Rob: Gorse is a legume (a member of the pea family) and so is able to ‘fix’ nitrogen from the air, converting it into nitrates in its roots. Some of these nitrates may be leached into the soil. Heather belongs to the Ericaceae family, plants that, like gorse, can tolerate acidic, low nutrient soils. Although there is some evidence that certain Ericaceae species may be adversely affected by nitrate levels in the soil, gorse and heather live happily side by side in many areas of the United Kingdom.

ABOUT OUR EXPERTS Rob Davy Club: Walmersley Bury, Lancashire Tina Young Club: The Palace H&GC Torquay, Devon Richard ‘The Bear’ Garrard Club: Merlin, Cornwall Kim Blake Club: Fulford Heath Birmingham, Worcs

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 121

121 Greenkeeping: Ask the experts

CLUB GOLF County Champions in association with glenbraegolf.com

SOUTH EAST Beds | Berks | Bucks | Essex | Hants | Herts | Kent | Middx | Surrey | Sussex

Prince’s, Kent This former Open Championship venue is a must-play About feel and definition of a highSituated in an area which boasts quality links. Bunkers, tees and some of the best courses in the greens have all been improved to country, 27 holes of classy, give the course a rejuvenated feel. challenging and charming links golf await at Prince’s.

Top Hole With Royal St George’s and The 5th hole on the dunes is a Royal Cinque Ports extremely beauty – doglegging right to left close by, Prince’s can often be before you are faced with an somewhat naively intimidating approach to overlooked when a green that falls off on compared to its both sides.

CONTACT t: 01304 611 neighbours. w: princesgolfc 118 The newly Card wrecker lub.co.uk p: CT13 9QB renovated lodge is on The Dunes loop site, so you can also begins with what is stay in style. surely the toughest hole on the property.

The Course It is 439 yards off the regular The Shore and Dunes tees, let alone the backs, and into combination is widely considered the prevailing wind. It doglegs left to be Prince’s best composite 18 and the narrow, raised green and stretches to well over 7,000 throws off anything that is not yards. struck into its heart to leave a Much work has been done in tricky chip-and-run. Very few will recent years to restore the look, be unhappy with a five here.

Avington Park, Hampshire A parkland 9-holer on the outskirts of Winchester About a good variety of par 3s and 4s.

It may seem surprising to name a 9-hole parkland course as a Top hole County Champion, but Avington The short par-4 7th offers the is a real gem. Located near opportunity for long and accurate Winchester, it has a reputation for drivers to reach the green and being one of the best-kept courses maybe even have a putt for an in the area. eagle. Large chestnut and oak The course was built 18 years trees line the fairway and ago within a lovely protect the greens, but if parkland setting your tee shot is solid originally laid out in then a birdie is Contact945 the 18th century and extremely achievable.

779 t: 01962 .co.uk frequented by w: avingtongolf Charles II and his Card Wrecker p: SO21 1BZ Mistress Nell Gwynne.

It may sound illogical, but the shortest hole on The Course the course at just 70 yards The small well-protected USGA will catch out many players. specification greens provide a real Length is taken out of the challenge. Narrow fairways with equation but large bunkers protect punitive rough in the summer the small green and any shot that reward straight and accurate is wayward will find trouble. It is hitting. At just under 2,000 yards extremely easy to make a five – or for 9 holes, the course is not worse – here if your wedge play is demanding in length but it offers not up to scratch.

138 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

138

Two terrific venues in the South of England

NCG pp116 Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 16:26 Page 116

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FOR INSIGHT AND OPINION ON THE GAME OF GOLF, THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE TO LOOK...

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116 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

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NCG pp117 Pay-and-play 1/18/13 9:05 AM Page 117

CLUB GOLF Future of munis

in association with glenbraegolf.com

KEEPING PAYAND-PLAY GOLF ALIVE Tapton Park head pro Craig Pollard talks to NCG’s James Tompkinson

SHEFFIELD SCHEME

Sheffield International Ven ues is now one of the largest leisure com panies in Europe and manages most public spo rts facilities in Sheffield.

The company manages fou r pay-and-play golf courses under joint stewar dship with Sheffield City Council. A unique members hip package called Golfit has seen a sharp inc rease in members: £529 per year provides unl imited access to all four courses plus unlimited use of gyms and swimming pools across the city.

IS THERE A STIGMA ABOUT PAY-AND-PLAY COURSES?

HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE JUNIORS AT YOUR CLUB?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR PAY-AND-PLAYS?

“I used to work at a private members’ club and when I see former friends and colleagues I am frequently asked things like ‘are you OK down at the pay-and-play place?’ To that extent I guess there is a stigma attached to pay-andplay facilities, but personally I think there are huge advantages that are perhaps missed.

“You don’t get the same old faces every day, which creates a more lively and vibrant atmosphere. People are also generally more tolerant on the course which also makes for a better place to play, particularly for juniors.

“I think it is really important to emphasise that for pay-and-play clubs to be successful, they have to act, look and feel like proper golf clubs. We don’t allow people to play in jeans and trainers for example, and it helps to make the experience better for all levels of player.”

“In the last year, Tapton Park has worked with over 20 primary schools and eight secondary schools, offering both introductory golf taster sessions and more dedicated coaching programmes.

“The result is that we have a thriving junior section with over 100 members aged six to 18, and that is a huge benefit to the club and an even bigger testament to the way in which it operates.

“Some of our youngest members just come to have fun, but we also have teenagers pushing for county selection and a dedicated programme in place to help them achieve success on the course.

Over half of the last Derbyshire U-14 squad came from Tapton Park’s junior section, which is staggering for a pay-and-play facility.

“It shows that you don’t have to be a private members’ club to achieve such success – but you do have to act with a ‘proper club’ mentality.”

“You hear of facilities being threatened with closure regularly, and I do think that the image of public courses has to change over the next few years to ensure survival. When times are tough, pay-and-play facilities should be thriving but it isn’t really the case at the moment.

“Schemes like ‘Golfit’ have really helped us attract a new kind of member and that is really important. I can see more clubs linking up in the future and offering joint membership packages because it is extremely attractive to the public.

“When you can pay just over £500 for a year’s membership at four courses plus unlimited access to the gym and swimming pools, it is unrivalled value for money considering many private clubs charge over £1,000 for their membership fees.

“It has taken off in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire and I see no reason why a similar set up wouldn’t work elsewhere.”

SIV manage three courses in Sheffield – Beauchief, Birley Wood and Tinsley Park – and Tapton Park in Chesterfield. www.sivltd.com/golf

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 117

NCG pp118 Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 14:27 Page 118

CLUB GOLF

118 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp119 Secret Secretary 17/01/2013 16:46 Page 119

CLUB GOLF Secret Secretary

in association with glenbraegolf.com

D

oes a joining fee have any place in a tough economy?

Some clubs will always be able to charge a joining fee, the size of which is proportionate to their prestige value. Sadly there are many clubs that have a false idea of their prestige value. In Sweden some clubs charge a very large family a joining fee (say £4,000) then very low annual family membership (say £400). The joining fee is repaid if the family leaves. There is always a place to charge a modest administrative fee for any club to pay for the membership setting up costs and to make sure those applying are not time wasters.

is, flexible memberships need policing and most clubs aren’t set up to check what category of membership each player falls into as they step onto the 1st tee.

H

ow much free coaching do you offer?

We offer at least two free group lessons every week and free lessons to any group that ask for them.

How can any membership possibly stay buoyant without this? Only really by pinching members from other clubs I suspect!

W

hat is the strangest request you have had from a member?

‘Why was my son, (whose subscription is three months overdue), disqualified from the monthly medal? He was so upset!’

W

hen did your club last have a waiting list?

Clubs like ours that give golfers what they want have, and always will have, a big waiting list. I only wish some of our neighbours would take some off my hands!

Endlessly resisting underhand efforts by people to jump the queue is almost as tricky as building up a waiting list.

W

hat is your most effective way of marketing new members?

Word of mouth is the best marketing tool, as well as regular free lessons. You must of course have something of value to offer.

Our marketing budget is almost nil. Many clubs waste a lot of money on marketing a product no-one wants.

S

hould a golf club be heavily involved with local schools?

A golf club should be part of the community, schools should see their local club as a second home.

We have links with 13 schools and those nearest use us as a resource. n WOULD you like to be our Secret Secretary for a month?

Total anonymity guaranteed – simply send an email to editorial@sportspub.co.uk and we will send you some questions to answer...

SECRET SECRETA RY

Our sec’s anonymity gi ves him (or her) the licence to say what they really think

D

oes golf take too long?

Properly managed, golf can be a quick sport. If there are hold ups, someone in authority needs to get out there and talk to the slow coaches. Then you get a speedy course. Having said that, 9-hole qualifiers are a great and a popular idea with us.

I

s golf, either green fee or membership, overpriced?

Golf is not well priced. Very overpriced at most private members’ clubs where you pay for extensive staff and clubhouse facilities you don’t necessarily want (they already have the advantage of lower VAT).

Underpriced in real terms at proprietary courses where they have to give the government 20 per cent VAT yet try and compete with the private members’ club prices next door. Guess who sets this rule? MPs and Treasury officials who are members of private clubs! Get VAT even on all courses and you will see a healthy price war that will get prices down for the consumer.

H

ow healthy is the future of club golf?

Today’s golfers are obviously driven to society and pay and play where it is so much more fun. The current CONGU system is the single most destructive element club membership has ever seen. It doesn’t serve the golfers who pay for it and only keeps unions and software manufacturers in affiliation fees for something golfers really don’t want. Golfers like a simple, do-it-in-your-head, system where you can manage your own handicap. Handicaps drawn from ‘best score above SSS’ for categories 2, 3, 4 and 5 would bring golfers flocking back. I’m afraid many clubs’ committees will still be sitting in the men’s members lounge, in collar and tie, demanding to see the bailiffs’ handicap certificate as they enter to confiscate the furniture!

I

s a flexible membership, such as credits only for when you play, the way forward?

Any club that doesn’t offer flexible membership is likely to be be in financial difficulty already. Trouble

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 119

NCG pp120 Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 16:22 Page 120

CLUB GOLF

SCARCROFT

Beeston Fields Golf Club Old Drive, Wollaton Road, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 3DD

GOLF CLUB

Visitor Greenfee Offers

Midweek £40 per round • £55 per day Weekends £50 per round • £63 per day (Not in conjunction with other offers)

Discounts available on golf party packages.

Contact secretary Kevin Fretwell on 0113 2892311 or professional David Hughes on 0113 2892780

email: secretary@scarcroftgolfclub.co.uk

www.scarcroftgolfclub.co.uk

WINTER WARMER OFFER 29th October 2012 – 29th March 2013

18 holes of golf followed by pie, chips, peas & gravy for only £23.00 per person On request prior to play, bacon roll & coffee for an additional £4.00 per person

TRIAL MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE £250 for 3 months For any further details please contact Emma Beresford Tel: 0115 925 7062 | Email: info@beestonfields.co.uk

www.beestonfields.co.uk

Lytham Green Drive Golf Club

Proud to be celebrating our Centenary in 2013

Group/Society packages starting from £38.00 Large group bookings are our speciality, let us do the organising and you do the golf.

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 120 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp121 Greenkeeper QT Pt III 17/01/2013 16:45 Page 121

CLUB GOLF

SEND US YOUR QUESTIO NS...

Greenkeeping

in association with glenbraegolf.com

This is a re gular feature – so please em ail the points you’d like answered to: editoria l@ sportspub .co.uk

GREENKEEPERS’

UESTION TIME Our panel respond to queries about rough length, gorse v heather and hand mowing

Hand cutting greens – does the use of a hand mower and the time it takes to cut the greens outweigh the use of ride-on mowers and the resulting compaction?

Will, Leeds Kim: This is a good question that we have looked at in the last four years. At Fulford Heath we have gone back to hand-mowing greens and tees. We purchased four Baroness greens mowers and two trailers and three Baroness Tee mowers. We decided to go back to hand mowing for better appearance and to produce a healthier sward on the greens.

Both the greens and tees have improved with hand mowing. The downside that it takes more man hours to do the greens and tees is false; there is not much difference.

The extra cost in man hours is off set by the running costs of hand mowers and depreciation of the two systems. We have found that we can produce good greens and tees and have an extra member of staff because of going back to hand mowers.

Why do different courses have varying grades of rough length, how many grades of rough should there be and how wide should these cuts ideally be?

Gordon, Perth Tina: It varies from course to

course, but usually there are three cuts. First cut of semi rough about 10 feet wide cut at one inch, a second cut of varying width at 2.5 inches and then tiger rough/uncut, normally an ecology area left to grow wild. However as we are a short course, and space is limited, we have a first cut and then straight to uncut rough.

When greenkeepers top dress the greens why don’t they also treat the fringes and aprons to stop the bulging and uneven transition from putting surface to fringe?

Vince, Swanage Tina: It’s solely down to money.

Why do greenkeepers on classic courses insist on doing rounded corners on tees?

Graeme, St Ives Bear: To be honest it is all down to personal preference. Both methods look good if done properly. In my opinion golf courses should appear as natural as

possible and perfectly square tees certainly do not appear too natural although do indeed give a far crisper, neater look. Some of my tees are squared and some are rounded. Horses for courses.

Are there benefits to using a rotary mover over a cylinder mower when cutting fairways?

Would using a rotary mower stop the rippling effect often caused by cutting in the same direction year on year?

Geoff, Didsbury Kim: In my opinion there is only one advantage in using rotary mower on fairways or any other area and that is a rotary mower is cheaper to run and will stand my abuse when using it.

To get a good sward on a fairway you need to cut the grass leaf cleanly which requires a cylinder mower. Cylinder mowers will follow contours better and will cut lower then any rotary mowers that I know that are on the market.

The rippling effect can be caused by several things but the way we avoid any of these problems is by mowing the fairways in different directions. We sometimes block cut half and half, strip up and down and cut at left to right, right to left. The way we cut the fairways depends on what competitions we have coming up.

Cylinder mowers will do a better job if maintained and used

correctly which all depends on conditions of the grass on the day of mowing.

Is it true that gorse releases nutrients into the soil which changes the ph level and results in more difficult growing conditions for heather?

Colin, Cirencester Rob: Gorse is a legume (a member of the pea family) and so is able to ‘fix’ nitrogen from the air, converting it into nitrates in its roots. Some of these nitrates may be leached into the soil. Heather belongs to the Ericaceae family, plants that, like gorse, can tolerate acidic, low nutrient soils. Although there is some evidence that certain Ericaceae species may be adversely affected by nitrate levels in the soil, gorse and heather live happily side by side in many areas of the United Kingdom.

ABOUT OUR EXPERTS Rob Davy Club: Walmersley Bury, Lancashire Tina Young Club: The Palace H&GC Torquay, Devon Richard ‘The Bear’ Garrard Club: Merlin, Cornwall Kim Blake Club: Fulford Heath Birmingham, Worcs

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NCG pp122-124 Club Golf Scot Area Guide 18/01/2013 14:33 Page 122

CLUB GOLF Area Guide

in association with glenbraegolf.com

SCOTLAND Where to play this spring in the Home of Golf

BOAT OF GARTEN

CRAIGIELAW This magnificent championship course lies on the south east coast of Scotland, just 30 minutes from Edinburgh.

The Donald Steel design is characterised by tricky greens and cavernous bunkers and has enjoyed a burgeoning reputation since it opened in 2001. It played host to the 2006 Scottish Amateur Stroke Play and qualifying for the 2007 British Seniors Open at Muirfield.

The adjacent Lodge Hotel offers 25 luxury rooms for an extended stay.

Nearest town: Edinburgh

ROYAL MUSSELBURGH Home of the Old Club Cup, a competition that dates back to 1774, Royal Musselburgh is the

fifth-oldest club in the world.

James Braid designed the parkland course back in 1926, creating a layout that gets more challenging as it goes along.

The jewel in the crown is the par-3 14th “gully hole” which sees a 30-foot ravine block a miniscule green surrounded by bunkers.

Nearest town: Edinburgh

TORWOODLEE Situated just outside Galashiels near the Scottish Borders, this 6,021-yard championship layout makes the most of its picturesque location.

The challenging par 69 is set amongst beautiful park and woodland and lies less than an hour from the capital.

The club is near the four-star Clovenfords Country Hotel and

122 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Braidwood Guest House.

A range of competitive packages make this the perfect resort for a play-and-stay retreat.

Nearest town: Edinburgh

IRVINE This Braid design is one of Scotland's hidden gems.

Established in 1887, the championship course at Irvine offers a traditional links challenge that shows off the natural assets of the region. Accurate shot-making is a must to succeed on these fast, slippery greens, which are often flanked by bunkers.

The peaks of Arran offer stunning views, while the adjacent gulf stream provides the warmth necessary for year-round golf.

The club is easily accessible from both Glasgow and Glasgow

Prestwick airports.

Nearest town: Kilmarnock

BOAT OF GARTEN Known as the “Gleneagles of the North”, The Boat is a must-see course up in the Highlands.

The Braid design makes for a challenging round amid beautiful surroundings, as the course's birch-lined fairways meander alongside the River Spey.

The signature 6th hole sums up the course. A narrow dogleg fairway leads to a green flanked by bunkers left and right that will make you pay for a bad tee shot.

Nearest town: Aviemore

PITREAVIE This offers a range of parkland and links-like holes that give you a taste of all that is good about

NCG pp122-124 Club Golf Scot Area Guide 18/01/2013 14:33 Page 123

CRAIGIELAW

ELGIN

IRVINE BOGSIDE

TORWOODLEE

PITREAVIE

Scottish golf.

Sloping greens and diverse terrain ensures that it is no pushover. A decent score can be recorded but it requires expert precision from the fairways.

Nearest town: Dunfermline

ELGIN Established in 1906, Elgin is home to one of the finest courses in northern Scotland.

The layout is one of the trickiest heathland courses in the country, and a par of 69 means that even the most experienced campaigners will be tested.

The staff keep the greens and fairways perfectly manicured, while the spectacular views of the Cairngorm Mountains make for an unforgettable round.

Nearest town: Inverness

MURRAYSHALL HOUSE HOTEL & GOLF CLUB This is home to two contrasting but equally stunning courses.

The Murrayshall layout is built into the undulating parkland and is characterised by burns that protect the greens.

Lynedoch is crafted into the surrounding woodland, and while it plays shorter, it is no less challenging. It has tighter fairways and clusters of bracken and pines.

Nearest town: Perth

BRORA Home to the James Braid Golfing Society, this magnificent championship course is a classic Highlands layout.

The course is crafted into 194 acres of Scottish links land and

makes full use of the bentgrass, beach sand and burn water that dot the landscape.

The outward nine hugs the contours of Kintradwell Bay, while the homeward nine wind back towards the fabulous clubhouse.

Nearest town: Dornoch

GOLSPIE Boasting stunning views over the Dornoch Firth, Golspie is a true Highland gem.

Thanks to the work of Alex Macdonald, the presentation now also matches Braid's impeccable course design. The layout passes from meadowland to links, to woodland to pasture and is an unparalleled test of your versatility.

Away from the course everything is also top notch.

Nearest town: Dornoch

NAIRN DUNBAR At points a traditional Highland links course, this championship layout also offers a range of fantastic woodland holes.

The par-72 course requires length off the tee to negotiate the stiff coastal breeze and abundant fairway bunkers.

The club is renowned for its friendly welcome and is open to all visitors.

Nearest town: Nairn

TAIN This Old Tom Morris design offers favourable playing conditions all-year round and the course enjoys spectacular mountain views and boasts an array of award-winning holes.

The 3rd has been ranked as one

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CLUB GOLF

MURRAYSHALL

Area Guide

in association with glenbraegolf.com

News Johnnie Walker championship postponed The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will not feature on the European Tour’s 2014 schedule due to the venue’s staging of the Ryder Cup that year, but will return in 2015.

New links tournament unveiled A major new amateur competition will take place in East Lothian this month.

The Links Golf Cup will mark its inaugural event this year, allowing club golfers to compete in a championshipformat event over some of Scotland’s finest links.

Lawrie helps youngster realise dream Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie recently made dreams come true for a talented young golfer from the Lothians who lost a leg due to illness.

The latest ‘My Special Day’ feature from Sky Sports sees Liberton teenager Thomas Brock get a surprise golf lesson from the 1999 Open champion.

of the top 18 Scottish links holes, while the 17th is widely acknowledged as one of the top 18 holes ever designed by Old Tom. Nearest town: Dornoch

by trademark Braid bunkers.

The resort will host three national tournaments this season.

Nearest town: Inverness

LUFFNESS NEW MORAY Offering two of the finest links courses in the region, Moray is a must-visit resort.

The Old Course is a classic Old Tom Morris design, complete with deep bunkers, undulating fairways and lightning-fast greens.

Renowned architect Henry Cotton is responsible for the New Course, a shorter but equally challenging layout. The smaller greens favour precision golf.

Nearest town: Lossiemouth

Located on the sublime East Lothian coastline, this par-70 course is as astonishing as it is rewarding.

The springy turf and relatively flat terrain make this one of the easiest-walking links courses in the region. However, the Old Tom Morris design still packs a punch.

An abundance of lakes and thick patches of rough keep you on your toes, while the seaside wind can scupper even a conservative drive.

Nearest town: Gullane

THE ROXBURGHE MELDRUM HOUSE Exceeding 7,000 yards, the course at Meldrum House is a truly unforgettable experience.

In addition to the long yardage, the course is laden with water features, doglegs and bunkers that make precision the name of the game. The green at the long 11th is guarded by no less than 18 bunkers.

A wide range of tee positions allow the less experienced player to also enjoy the layout.

Nearest town: Aberdeen

FORTROSE & ROSEMARKIE Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, the links course at Fortrose is a beacon of quality on the “Black Isle”.

The course was reshaped by James Braid in 1932 to include lightning-fast, deceptive greens to go with a series of tight fairways flanked

124 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

At 7,111 yards this Dave Thomas championship course is a stern test for all who take it on.

Sergio Garcia still boasts the best score with a round of 66, and the astonishing contours of the landscape ensure that this will be tough to match. The signature 14th hole, known as the Viaduct features an elevated tee that offers fantastic views over the River Teviot.

Nearest town: Kelso

HIGHLAND ESCAPES Four top courses in the Highalnds have linked up to provide pay-and-stay packages at excellent prices.

Thanks to the new Highland Golf Package, guests can enjoy three rounds at Brora, Nairn Dunbar, Boat of Garten, Tain or Golspie along with two nights B&B and one dinner from just £195pp.

LINKS GOLF CUP The TaylorMade Links Golf Cup Tournament is a five-day, 72hole event that showcases four of the finest courses on Scotland's Golf Coast in East Lothian.

Early Bird packages are available at a discounted rate, but book now as entries are accepted on a first-come, firstserved basis.

WHERE TO STAY

ASKERNISH

MCMILLAN HOTELS Situated close to a range of the region's finest courses, McMillan Hotels provide the ideal base for any golf break in southern Scotland.

The jewel in the crown is most definitely the Cally Palace resort, a picturesque venue that boasts an 18-hole championship layout designed by renowned course architect Tom Macaulay.

Nearest town: Dumfries

Situated on the sublime island of South Uist, this links is a must for anyone passionate about the game.

The course was originally designed by Old Tom Morris back in 1891 and has recently been restored to its original condition.

No artificial chemicals are used in the maintenance process while cattle and sheep graze during the winter.

Nearest town: Stornoway

AIKENSHILL HOTEL This is the ideal base for a golf break to Aberdeen, located less than half a mile from the world famous Trump course and within 15 miles of several other top courses.

In 2011, it was awarded a five-star rating by Visit Scotland and offers stunning views over rolling sand dunes.

Nearest town: Aberdeen

Links Golf Cup 1/18/13 12:52 PM Page 1

The Links Golf Cup is an exciting new event giving amateur golfers the chance to compete over four inspiring links along Scotland’s Golf Coast for a fantastic TaylorMade Prize table worth over £3,000.

18-22 March 2013 | Gullane 1 | Gullane 2 | Longniddry | North Berwick

‘Scotland’s Golf Coast in East Lothian is fortunate to be blessed with so many great golf links, and the Links Golf Cup sponsored by TaylorMade provides a unique value for money opportunity for golfers to test themselves over four of them. It promises to be a fantastic week, and I am really looking forward to being part of it’ ANDREW COLTART - Former Ryder Cup golfer, Sky Sports golf pundit and TPEGS Director

WITH THANKS TO...

For more information & to enter visit www.linksgolfcup.com Alternatively email admin@linksgolfcup.com or call 07598 596 259

NCG pp126-129 Scotland Ads 1/18/13 4:08 PM Page 126

CLUB GOLF

Nairn Dunbar Golf Club Championship Links Course APRIL SPECIAL 1 nights DBB at the Newton Hotel 2 rounds of golf at Nairn Dunbar £120 (can be seperate days, excludes Saturdays)

www.nairndunbar.com

fortrose&rosemarkiegolfclub 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 and wide who make a visit to Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club a must on their golfing calendar.

Office: +44 (0)1381 620529 / 620733 Twitter: @FortroseGC1888 Facebook: Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club Links

Celebrating 125 Years Host club of the Scottish Boys & Girls U-14 Open Championship - 11-12 Aug 2013 Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club Ness Road East, Fortrose, Scotland IV10 8SE

secretary@fortrosegolfclub.co.uk • www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk

126 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp126-129 Scotland Ads 1/18/13 4:08 PM Page 127

Craigielaw Golf Club AB E R L ADY | E A S T LOT H IA N | S COT L A N D | EH32 0P Y

…truly a golfer’s paradise

Opening soon our 25 bedroom golf lodge…

Great play and stay packages available More details from our site www.craigielawlodge.com

Tel: 01875 870 800 Email: info@craigielawgolfclub.com www.craigielawgolfclub.com

PITREAVIE (DUNFERMLINE) GOLF CLUB

Course designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie creator of the US Masters course at Augusta and famous for his double and triple tiered greens This 18 hole course has a par 71 for Gents over 6,032 yards and a Par 72 over 5,243 yards for Ladies.

VISITING PARTIES/SOCIETIES MOST WELCOME A number of packages are available from only £20pp Enquiries to Paul Brookes, the Club Professional 01383 723151

JUST A VISITOR TO THE AREA

-

then bring this Ad and play half-price golf (max of 4 people) for £16 (Midweek) / £18 (Weekend)

View detailed information at

www.pitreaviegolfclub.co.uk or contact Malcolm Brown on 01383 722591 or email: secpdgc@btconnect.com

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 127

NCG pp126-129 Scotland Ads 1/18/13 4:09 PM Page 128

CLUB GOLF

Boat of Garten Golf Club James Braid’s masterpiece in the magnificent setting of the Cairngorms National Park

‘Rated 4th in Britain’s Top 100 courses under £50’ – NCG Visitors Welcome Tel 01479 831 282 www.boatgolf.com office@boatgolf.com

128 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp126-129 Scotland Ads 1/18/13 4:09 PM Page 129

Two Classic Links.

One Perfect Venue.

Visit Scotlands Sweet Spot

GOLF BREAK From £99.00 per person Dinner, bed, breakfast and 18 holes One of the driest climates in the UK. Two classic 18 hole Scottish links courses at one venue. Old Moray Championship links designed by Old Tom Morris in 1889.

New Moray (over 30 years old) enhanced by Henry Cotton. Heart of the north circuit of world-class links, including Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Nairn, Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and Trump. Best value in golf. Coastal capital to the Malt Whisky Trail.

Moray Golf Club LOSSIEMOUTH – SCOTLAND

www.moraygolf.co.uk | 01343 812018

2 NIGHT GOLF BREAK From £160 per person 2 nights bed, breakfast and 36 holes (quote NCG when making your reservations) Situated in its own 360 acres of Perthshire countryside, Murrayshall is a four star country house hotel. With two fabulous golf courses, set in mature woodland you wont need to stray far to enjoy great golf, and a choice of dining in the Clubhouse or Old Masters Restaurant. With 50 golf courses within an hours drive including Carnoustie, St Andrews and Gleneagles, Murrayshall is the perfect base for your Scottish Golf Break.

Visit www.murrayshall.co.uk or Tel: 01738551171 Email: sales@murrayshall.co.uk Murrayshall House Hotel & Golf Courses | Scone | Perthshire | PH2 7PH

“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 £120 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 2013

www.roxburghegolfclub.co.uk

Follow us on...

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 129

NCG pp130 Club Golf WM 17/01/2013 16:45 Page 130

CLUB GOLF News & Reviews

in association with glenbraegolf.com

WEST MIDLANDS Staffs | Shrops | Herefords | Worcs | West Mids | Warks | Oxon

Fundraiser at Branston Golfers at Branston G&CC have organised a unique event in an effort to raise money for two charities.

Members of the Staffordshire club will play a round of the 18hole course blindfolded in aid of the British Heart Foundation and Prostate Cancer.

CONTACT

t: 01902 7 510 southstaffor 65 dshire golfclub.co. uk p: WV6 9B Q

County Champion: South Staffordshire, Staffs Draycote’s top deal Draycote Hotel are offering B&B plus two rounds of golf on their fine Whitefields course for the terrific price of ￡59. The deal ends on March 30.

Pype Hayes plan ahead A Birmingham club expects to have planning permission for a new clubhouse approved.

Pype Hayes GC have spent four years without a clubhouse after their previous facilities were destroyed in an arson attack.

Oxfordshire’s warmer The Oxfordshire has a fantastic new offer to take advantage of.

The Winter Warmer package runs until the end of March and includes 18 holes, refreshments and a onecourse lunch for as little as £49.

About Originally founded in 1892, South Staffordshire, the current layout was designed by renowned architect Harry Vardon in 1908. It has since been subtly reshaped by the celebrated likes of Harry Colt, James Braid and Donald Steel.

Over the years it has played host to a Ryder Cup skins game between Ian Woosnam, Peter Baker, Paul Broadhurst and David Gilford.

Excellent clubhouse facilities cater for all your post-round needs.

The Course The par-71 layout takes in 160 acres of rolling parkland and can play as long as 6,587 yards off of the black tees. Six par fours in the middle all measure over 400 yards.

Top Hole The par-five 5th hole is probably

your best chance of picking up a shot. With a good drive, you won’t be far away from the green.

Card wrecker The 9th hole is a magnificent test.

A par 4 measuring over 450 yards, the hole features tree-lined fairways and out of bounds down the right to catch wayward tee shots. Watch out for the bunkers lurking just before the putting surface too.

Champions stable net Baker

Feldon Valley fined

Former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker has joined the team at Champions of Golf.

The Shropshire man will be responsible for supporting and advising the management agency's players on tour.

“This is a player who has been there and seen it all,” said Matthew Hayes, MD of Champions UK. “Having Peter on the ground at tournaments to provide advice and guidance will be invaluable.”

Greats honoured at Hill Valley’s bar

Butchers buy Aston Wood

The hotel bar at Macdonald Hill Valley Spa, Hotel and Golf has been refurbished.

The ambitious Shropshire club have fitted the bar with photos honouring the legends of the game and have installed a large-screen TV and a pool table.

“Hill Valley is such a

A popular West Midlands golf club has been sold to a large firm of butchers.

GVA sold the Aston Wood Golf Club for a fee believed to be over £2m on behalf of Struan Investments Limited.

The Peter Allissdesigned course is located just outside of Birmingham.

130 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

well-respected and wellestablished golf venue it felt right to recognise that with our new-look sports bar,” said Terence Southward, general manager of the hotel.

The refurbishment comes only eight months after the hotel's spa facilities were given a￡400,000 refresh.

A club in Oxfordshire has been fined over ￡9,000 following an accident that occurred in June 2011.

A golfer at Feldon Valley suffered a cut and soft tissue damage after being hit by a greenkeeper who had lost control of his lawnmower.

The collision occurred due to faulty brakes on the mower, a problem that the club had noticed but neglected to repair.

“The fact that the company had identified a defect with the brake and failed to repair it is particularly disturbing.” said Solihull councillor Chris Williams.

NCG pp131 WM Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 13:13 Page 131

CLUB GOLF

Societies welcome throughout 2012 Golf Packages from ÂŁ22.50pp (including food)

New 28 bay Driving Range

For bookings contact the Society Co-ordinator

Tel: 01562 883701 www.hagleygolfandcountryclub.co.uk

Wassell Grove Lane, Hagley, West Midlands DY9 9JW

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 131

NCG pp132 Club Golf WM County Champs 17/01/2013 16:43 Page 132

CLUB GOLF County Champions in association with glenbraegolf.com

WEST MIDLANDS Staffs | Shrops | Herefords | Worcs | West Mids | Warks | Oxon

Walsall, West Midlands A MacKenzie design with a touch of distinction About but also poses challenges other Situated a short distance from the than length.

Midlands motorway network, this The tree-lined fairways reward club is the perfect base for any accuracy off the tee, while even business or recreational visit to the after a good drive the greens are area. The club was founded in well guarded, so a good score will October 1907 and has retained be founded mainly on solid iron much of Dr MacKenzie's original play. design. A steady programme of tree planting over the Top Hole past 50 years has seen While beautiful views the course become can be had across the CONTACT t: 01922 6 more challenging and course, the 536-yard 13 512 w: walsallg attractive 18th sums up olfclub.co.u k P: WS1 3E The venue boasts everything that is Y a fantastic clubhouse good about Walsall. A offering first-class decent tee shot to the catering and an extensive slightly angled fairway and a wine list. good lay-up sets up an approach to a green flanked by a small stream The Course and several bunkers.

The easy-walking 18-hole parkland provides a thorough test.

Card wrecker Crafted into the surrounding The 14th is not Stroke Index 1 for parkland, the par-70 course nothing – you’ll need to hit two measures a substantial 6,250 yards good shots to threaten the green.

Hawkstone Park, Shropshire Play where a young Sandy Lyle learned the game About even more in the way of thrills.

Boasting 42 holes and an on-site Designed by former Ryder Cup hotel, this Shropshire gem is captain Brian Huggett, the course perfect for a stay-and-play break. formally known as the Windmill Originally established in 1920, incorporates oval-shaped tees, the championship course is built rolling fairways and several into the parkland surrounding the intimidating water hazards to ruins of a medieval castle. provide one of the sternest tests in The famous cliffs and the region. The six-hole Shropshire follies look academy course is perfect down on you as you for youngsters. navigate the holes, T CONTAC which are lined with Top Hole 41 700 t: 01948 8 .com ey towering oak and With two full courses yl ha lpa w: princi Y birch trees. to choose from, this is P: SY4 5U Away from the golf, no easy decision. the hotel has 66 However, the 145-yard bedrooms, all recently par 3 called The Moat on the refurbished to include a flat-screen Hawkstone is a rare treat and the satellite television. best of a collection of terrific holes, cleverly incorporating the The Course moat of the castle.

The 6,497-yard course is where two-time Major champion Sandy Card wrecker Lyle learnt to play the game, while The 18th on the Hawkstone will the championship course offers certainly keep you honest.

132 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp133 WM County Champions Ads 18/01/2013 12:53 Page 133

COUNTY CHAMPIONS

Walsall Golf Club B R O A D WAY | WA L S A L L | W S 1 3 E Y

A hidden gem in the heart of the West Midlands.

With over 100 years history we are proud to be the English Champion Club for 2012/13.

Our course was designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie who also designed Augusta, home of the Masters - its much easier to get a game at Walsall than Augusta!

Packages are available for Societies and Captain's Away Days - see our website for details or call our Office to discuss your requirements for a bespoke day.

Membership opportunities are available.

For any further details please do not hesitate to contact the club on 01922 613512

www.walsallgolfclub.co.uk

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 133

NCG pp134 Club Golf EM 1/18/13 12:15 PM Page 134

CLUB GOLF News & Reviews

in association with glenbraegolf.com

EAST & MIDLANDS Derb | N’ants | Notts | Leics | Lincs | Cambs | N’folk | Suffolk

Peters heading for South America Nottinghamshire ladies’ Alex Peters will represent England in the South American Amateur Championship.

The 19-year-old won the 2012 English Women's Stroke Play and was on the winning team at the Home Internationals.

CONTACT

t: 0115 92 5 7062 w: beestonf ields.co.uk P: NG9 3D D

County Champion: Beeston Fields, Notts Ullesthorpe Court Originally a 17thcentury manor house, this beautiful Leicestershire hotel also boasts an 18-hole championship layout with challenging contours and an array of water features.

New bridge at Haverhill A new bridge has been opened at the 18th at Haverhill in Cambridgeshire following three years of fundraising in the club’s annual Linton Enterprise Classic.

Stay-and-play: Wensum Valley Situated in the Norfolk countryside, Wensum Valley Hotel has two of the county's best tracks.

There is the par-72 Valley course and the Wensum championship which features several water hazards.

About When taking in the surroundings at Beeston Fields it is easy to forget it is so conveniently close to the centre of Nottingham and the M1.

The club has been in the hands of the Mitchell family for over 85 years and it has become one of the most friendly in the county.

The Course The attractive tree-lined parkland

course boasts plenty of picturesque holes. The 6,430-yard layout was designed by Tom Williamson in 1923 and features severely sloping greens that become devilishly quick in the summer.

Think twice before reaching for your driver here.

Top Hole The jewel in the crown at Beeston Fields is the 413-yard 9th, where an

elevated tee overlooks the pretty village of Bramcote. The drive is quite tight, and to set up a decent approach shot you must place your ball carefully between the two banks of trees that line the fairway.

Card wrecker You can easily come unstuck at the short 13th where a small valley lies between the tee and a heavily guarded green.

Market fund-Rasen success

Kelly gets call-up

Members at Market Rasen have raised over ¡Œ400 for a local care home.

A Call My Bluff evening was held at the club for St. Andrew's Children's Hospice in North East Lincolnshire and proved to be a booming success.

“It was a fun evening but more importantly we raised a fantastic amount for St. Andrew's Children's Hospice,” said club spokesman Peter Bray.

Royal Cromer’s youth Olympian

Trainor turns trainer

A golfer based at Royal Cromer in Norwich has been included in the Team GB squad competing at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

Teenager Amber Ratcliffe joined six other English youngsters in the British team.

She has stamped her mark as the county's

Golfers at Old Joe's GC in Cornard Tye will have the chance to learn from Rory McIlroy conqueror Barrie Trainor.

Trainor, the new club professional, beat McIlroy in a scratch matchplay event in 2006 and will play in this year's PGA Championship at Wentworth in May.

134 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

leading amateur and has also made a name for herself nationwide. She scored the winning point on her full debut for England Girls at the Women's Home Internationals in Cork and finished an impressive seventh in the British Open Amateur Strokeplay last year.

Lincolnshire lad Patrick Kelly has been selected to represent England Golf in the annual Costa Ballena Quadrangular Tournament in Spain.

The 18-year-old became the English Boys Champion at Royal Cinque Ports last year and carried that good form into a successful trip Stateside.

Kelly won the Junior Orange Bowl International in Florida by a staggering 13 shots despite suffering conjunctivitis and nosebleeds throughout.

He was also the runner-up in the 2011 British Boys and has represented England for the past two years.

NCG pp135 EM Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 12:59 Page 135

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www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 135

NCG pp136 Club Golf SE 17/01/2013 16:42 Page 136

CLUB GOLF News & Reviews

in association with glenbraegolf.com

SOUTH EAST Beds | Berks | Bucks | Essex | Hants | Herts | Kent | Middx | Surrey | Sussex

Head for Old Thorns Located in the rolling hills of Hampshire, Old Thorns is home to a fantastic course and a superb hotel.

Designed by Peter Alliss, the par-72 track features some tight, tree-lined tee shots and lots of water. The devilishly sloping greens are fast and hard to read.

CONTACT

t: 01825 8 80 256 w: eastsuss ex national.co. uk P: TN22 5E S

County Champion: East Sussex National, Sussex Weald an all-rounder The Weald of Kent Hotel is perfect for all occasions. Attached is an 18 hole, public pay-andplay – set in rolling countryside with many water features.

Seve’s Shire inspiration As the only UK course designed by Seve Ballesteros, The Shire London offers something very special.

With six par 5s, six par 4s and six par 3s, this is a golf course like no other with no two holes the same.

Quality golf at Alresford Created in 1890, but extended to its current layout in 1993, Alresford is establishing a reputation as one of the ‘must play’ courses in the south of England.

This challenging layout has tree-lined fairways and small fast greens.

About Boasting two outstanding courses and leisure facilities, this is one of the best complexes in the south. It has played host to the European Tour and the likes of Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Ernie Els. In addition to golf, the venue has a 104-room hotel, a nine-room spa, a 20m pool and a 50-station gym. Membership packages are currently available for all ages.

The Course The showcase course is the East, where the greens are narrow and sloping. Approach shots must be precise here.

The emphasis on scoring is placed on the first nine, with consolidation more than acceptable on a tricky closing stretch.

Top Hole Similar in design to the 12th at

Augusta National, the 16th on the East Course is a classic risk-reward hole. Measuring 178 yards from the back tees, a shot to the green must clear both water and sand.

Card wrecker Coming immediately before, the 15th on the East is an almighty par 4 that involves a drive over water and then a long second to a mercifully large green.

Whitehill celebrate 25 years

West London Golf Centre’s new range

Whitehill is known as one of the finest rural courses in Hertfordshire. Founded in 1988, the course was built on natural farmland and has a wonderful natural charm. As the club celebrates its 25th birthday, they are inviting new members to make the most of the occasion.

Prices for new members have been cut from £800 to £500 for 2013 – an unbeatable offer.

Get weekday value at Tudor Park

Wallis wins in Turkey

Marriott Tudor Park will be 25 years old in April, and to mark the occasion the club are offering one tee time per day for £25.

The promotion, which enables a fourball to play for just £6.25 a man, is available on weekdays at 11am throughout January and February.

Tee slots must be

Richard Wallis defended his Titleist PGA Play-Offs crown in Turkey to realise his goal of qualifying for the Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team.

The Walmer & Kingsdown ace triumphed by four strokes after an exciting battle with Ireland’s David Higgins at Antalya.

136 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

reserved online at MarriottGolf.co.uk and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Tudor Park sits on the outskirts of Maidstone and features a 6,189-yard championship course plus a wide range of other state-of-the-art leisure facilities that you would expect from a Marriott.

Golfers in London have welcomed the opening of a new state-of-the-art driving range which forms the first part of an expansion project in the area. The West London Golf Centre welcomed ex-England forward Les Ferdinand to open the new floodlit range.

This autumn the centre will complete a 3,500-yard 9-hole course, with a fulllength inland links course set to open in 2016.

The West London Golf Centre can be found on the A4180, a short distance from South Ruislip and RAF Northolt.

NCG pp137 SE Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 12:52 Page 137

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NCG pp138 Club Golf SE County Champs 17/01/2013 16:41 Page 138

CLUB GOLF County Champions in association with glenbraegolf.com

SOUTH EAST Beds | Berks | Bucks | Essex | Hants | Herts | Kent | Middx | Surrey | Sussex

Prince’s, Kent This former Open Championship venue is a must-play About feel and definition of a highSituated in an area which boasts quality links. Bunkers, tees and some of the best courses in the greens have all been improved to country, 27 holes of classy, give the course a rejuvenated feel. challenging and charming links golf await at Prince’s.

Top Hole With Royal St George’s and The 5th hole on the dunes is a Royal Cinque Ports extremely beauty – doglegging right to left close by, Prince’s can often be before you are faced with an somewhat naively intimidating approach to overlooked when a green that falls off on compared to its both sides.

CONTACT t: 01304 6 neighbours.

1 w: princesg 1 118 The newly Card wrecker olfclub.co.u k p: CT13 9Q renovated lodge is on The Dunes loop B site, so you can also begins with what is stay in style. surely the toughest hole on the property.

The Course It is 439 yards off the regular The Shore and Dunes tees, let alone the backs, and into combination is widely considered the prevailing wind. It doglegs left to be Prince’s best composite 18 and the narrow, raised green and stretches to well over 7,000 throws off anything that is not yards. struck into its heart to leave a Much work has been done in tricky chip-and-run. Very few will recent years to restore the look, be unhappy with a five here.

Avington Park, Hampshire A parkland 9-holer on the outskirts of Winchester About a good variety of par 3s and 4s.

It may seem surprising to name a 9-hole parkland course as a Top hole County Champion, but Avington The short par-4 7th offers the is a real gem. Located near opportunity for long and accurate Winchester, it has a reputation for drivers to reach the green and being one of the best-kept courses maybe even have a putt for an in the area. eagle. Large chestnut and oak The course was built 18 years trees line the fairway and ago within a lovely protect the greens, but if parkland setting your tee shot is solid originally laid out in then a birdie is Contact945 the 18th century and extremely achievable.

9 7 t: 01962 7 co.uk frequented by lf. go on gt w: avin Z Charles II and his Card Wrecker p: SO21 1B Mistress Nell Gwynne.

It may sound illogical, but the shortest hole on The Course the course at just 70 yards The small well-protected USGA will catch out many players. specification greens provide a real Length is taken out of the challenge. Narrow fairways with equation but large bunkers protect punitive rough in the summer the small green and any shot that reward straight and accurate is wayward will find trouble. It is hitting. At just under 2,000 yards extremely easy to make a five – or for 9 holes, the course is not worse – here if your wedge play is demanding in length but it offers not up to scratch.

138 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

NCG pp139 SE Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 12:48 Page 139

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NCG pp140 Club Golf SW 17/01/2013 16:41 Page 140

CLUB GOLF News & Reviews

in association with glenbraegolf.com

SOUTH WEST Channel Is | Cornwall | Devon | Dorset | Glos | Somerset | Wilts

Value at Trethorne Offering a beautifully maintained course along with a vibrant clubhouse atmosphere, Trethorne is the perfect place to escape to for a golf break.

The club is set in the picturesque Cornish countryside on the border between Devon and Cornwall.

CONTACT

t: 01249 8 23 881 w: bowoodgolf.co.uk p: SN11 9P Q

County Champion: Bowood Hotel, Wiltshire Bowood hosts qualifiers Bowood has been named as a regional qualifying venue for this year's Glenmuir Professional PGA Championship.

The Wiltshire club will host the qualifying round for the West of England on May 28.

About Set in the heart of Wiltshire, this superb complex is home to an exciting course as well as a modern and impressive hotel and spa.

The venue is also blessed with superb practice facilities, including a fantastic academy course complete with three short holes – ideal for honing your short game.

Bowood Park’s beauty

The Course

Bowood Park, in North Cornwall, is a great winter venue. It has excellent drainage systems, meaning the course is rarely spoiled by even the most extreme rain.

The Championship course at Bowood is recognised as one of the area’s toughest and best kept.

Designed by Dave Thomas, it sits in 2,000 acres of listed parkland.

Off the back tees it measures a whopping 7,309 yards, but you can play it at a more manageable 6,566 yards.

Bowood hosted the prestigious Challenge Tour Championship for four consecutive years.

Boasting a staggering seven courses and a range of other sporting and spa activities, Manor House and Ashbury are currently offering free golf, free buggies and free tennis with all stays.

Book soon to avoid disappointment.

Card Wrecker The long par-4 8th is Stroke Index one for a reason. Measuring 463 yards, it has a severe dogleg – take too much off and you bring a big number into play.

Head to Launceston

Stunning views at Staddon Heights

A well-established course which offers stunning views over both Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, Launceston provides an excellent venue for both members and visitors alike. The course is a 6,385-yard par-70 parkland, offering a challenging round for players of all standards.

The club's enviable location in the heart of the South West makes it a great place to visit.

Region’s youngsters head abroad Manor House’s free golf

Top Hole The par-3 2nd offers an early opportunity to make a red number.

It is played uphill and guarded by a stream.

Youngsters from Cornwall and Wiltshire have been selected to represent England in the South American amateur championship.

Sarah-Jane Boyd, 21, (Truro) and Jordan Smith, 20, (Bowood) are in a four-person team competing in the 72-hole event in Colombia.

140 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Boyd is the current British women’s strokeplay champion while Smith made his full England debut in last September’s Home Internationals in Scotland and has twice been a member of the winning Wiltshire team at the English County Championships.

Dartmouth record for local fisherman A local fisherman shot a three-under-par 69 to become the new course record holder on Dartmouth's formidable Championship Course.

Playing from the gold tees, Lee Marels, 31, made light of the 7,156-yard layout to card six birdies and beat the previous best.

Staddon Heights is an 18-hole cliff-top course situated on the outskirts of Plymouth which offers outstanding views of the Devon and Cornwall coastline.

Established in 1904, the course offers players of all standards a challenging, enjoyable and memorable experience. With a restaurant, bar and function rooms the club is well-placed to cater for groups.

Green fees are very reasonably priced and the club also offer many competitions for seniors and ladies. Open to all, if you visit you won't be disappointed.

NCG pp141 SW Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 12:44 Page 141

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NCG pp142 Club Golf NW 17/01/2013 16:40 Page 142

CLUB GOLF News & Reviews

in association with glenbraegolf.com

NORTH WEST Cheshire | Cumbria | Lancashire | Merseyside

Merseyside young gun Liverpool-born Eloise Healey finished third in the 15-18 age group category at the Pars Florida International Junior Championship.

Healey carded an impressive 69 in her first round before eventually finishing 10 shots behind winner Samantha Fuller.

CONTACT

t: 01704 5 78 000 w: sandag olfclub.co.u k p: PR8 3LG

County Champion: Southport & Ainsdale Murray takes Challenge Tom Murray, son of former European Tour player Andrew Murray, will play on the Challenge Tour this season.

Murray completed a three-year PGA degree at Didsbury GC.

Cheshire recruitment Clubs across Cheshire are participating in a scheme to encourage more people to take up golf. The campaign offers free taster sessions and discounted coaching for men and women.

About BOASTING a magnificent 18-hole championship links course and first-class facilities, S&A is one of the region's finest golfing treats.

Originally founded in 1906, it played host to the Ryder Cup in 1933 and 1937.

The clubhouse facilities were recently refurbished so you can soak up the stunning views of the course as you relax after a round.

The Course This James Braid design is always surprising you, beginning with a 204-yard par-3 opening hole protected by no fewer than nine bunkers.

Top Hole The jewel in the crown is the infamous 16th. Known as “Gumbleys”, this 528-yard par five is as rewarding a challenge as you

This resort is home to some of the county's best inland greens and excellent drainage that makes it playable all year round. The course was designed by PGA captain and master professional Richard Bradbeer in 1992.

Card wrecker That would have to be the 17th, immediately afterwards. Take a deep breath when you arrive on the tee because you can see all the trouble – and there’s plenty of it.

Lytham Green Drive century

Cumbria’s Got Talent

Lytham Green Drive will celebrate its centenary in May. The easy-walking James Steer-designed course was founded in 1913 and has an intriguing history.

Alister MacKenzie was responsible for the original design work at the resort before Steer reshaped the course in the 1940s. Since then the club has gone from strength to strength, adding practice facilities and a new 3rd hole back in 2004.

PGA accolade for Mancunian Garner Stay-and-play: Garstang

could find. A good drive sets up a blind second shot to a long, narrow green over a huge dune with a bunker of monstrous proportions set into its face.

Manchester-born John Garner has been awarded PGA Master Professional status.

The PGA's highest accolade is given to those who have made a significant contribution to the development of golf.

“I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to get the honour,” said

142 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Garner.

“I hope that in some small way I have made a difference to many lives, particularly youngsters, in playing just one shot better.”

Garner played in two Ryder Cups and has also worked as an international coach, course designer, administrator and speaker.

Lancashire benefits from Open payout A STUDY has shown that Lancashire made £65m from last year's Open.

The Royal Lytham event brought in tourism and global television exposure.

“We are delighted it delivered a significant benefit,” said Robin Bell, the R&A's director of marketing.

THE Cumbria County Golf Partnership has boosted the support it gives the region's best young players.

The County Academy Programme already caters for older teenagers but this year will see the launch of a new scheme for those in the 10-13 age bracket.

“There is a big difference between a 10year-old starting out in golf and a 16-year-old who has been playing for a number of years,” says Nicola Martindale, development officer for the CCGP. “With the new, two-tier approach we can provide the right coaching at the right age to help young players.”

NCG pp143 NW Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 12:39 Page 143

CLUB GOLF

Call, email or visit our website for details of our 2013 Summer Visitor & Society Rates

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www.nationalclubgolfer.com | MARCH 2013 143

NCG pp144 Club Golf NE 1/18/13 9:03 AM Page 144

CLUB GOLF News & Reviews

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NORTH EAST Cleveland | Durham | North’land | Tyne & Wear | Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s hidden gem Malton and Norton offers 27 holes divided into three contrasting loops and was described

by Peter Alliss as “North Yorkshire's hidden gem.” With stunning views of the North Yorkshire moors, the course provides and a challenging and enjoyable test.

CONTACT

t: 0870 86 36455 w: rotheram golfclub.co m p: S65 4NU

County Champion: Rotherham Historic test at Rudding The championship course at Rudding Park runs through the mature parkland originally laid out by Humphrey Repton. The lakes and bunkers are designed to USGA spec provide a test for even the most discerning player.

Yorkshire’s young treat Established in 1993, Mid Yorkshire is already a parkland gem. The course includes features such as snaking streams, long rough and several sharp doglegs.

About Founded in 1903, this picturesque resort is renowned for its stunning gothic clubhouse and truly testing course design.

Surrounded by beautiful timbered parkland, the course is easily accessible from either the M1 or A1. The club has played host to the Lee Westwood Trophy since 2005 and boasts a stellar amateur pedigree.

The Course Originally a nine-hole layout, the club enlisted the help of James Braid who extended it to its current 18-hole state in 1906.

The course is always perfectly manicured and offers an array of stunning holes, particularly around the turn.

Top Hole While there are many delights to

Moortown has been on the 'must play' list of every serious golfer since it was crafted by Dr Alister MacKenzie and hosted the 1929 Ryder Cup. Recently many trees have been removed making things 'slightly' easier.

Card wrecker Watch out for the short 14th where your view is partially obscured by trees.

Share Fulford’s history

Wheatfields Open

Should you be the sort of person who cares to take a stroll down the fairways of modern history along with great holes, Fulford is a place where you will find both.

The course made famous by Bernhard Langer's tree-climbing heroics offers resplendent golf which allows players to walk in the footsteps of champions.

Holes 10 to 13 form Fulford's very own Amen Corner and offer a stunning test.

Yorkshire pair get England call-up ‘Must play’ Moortown

choose from special mention must go to the 3rd hole.

At 172 yards this is deceptively tricky and includes an uphill tee shot to a heavily-protected green.

The bunker at the front will make you think twice.

YORKSHIRE lads Nick Marsh and Daniel Wasteney have been selected to represent England in the annual Costa Ballena event in Spain.

Huddersfield teenager Marsh won back-to-back tournaments on the Gecko Tour before Christmas while Wasteney

144 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

played in the Costa Ballena event two years ago.

The 21-year-old is looking to build on the form that saw him reach the last 16 of the English Amateur Championships.

Both are looking to help England regain the trophy for the first time since 2006.

Allerthorpe Park goes into liquidation A club in East Yorkshire has gone into liquidation following a period of financial uncertainty.

The Drinkall family, owners and operator of Allerthorpe Park, near Pocklington, personally invested £500,000 in an attempt to keep the club afloat.

THE LEEDS Golf Centre, just north of the city, will host the inaugural Wheatfields Open to raise money for the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley.

It takes place on June 14 and is open to men, ladies and mixed pairs.

The handicap limit is 24 for men and 30 for ladies.

Bridlington GC and the Revelstoke Hotel have combined to donate a two-night golf break, while other local clubs have donated green fees for prizes.

It costs £65 to enter all the competitions taking place throughout the day.

NCG pp145 NE Club Golf Ads 18/01/2013 12:35 Page 145

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NCG pp146 Columnist MT 17/01/2013 16:38 Page 146

MARK TOWNSEND Forced to consult my pro, I am now the proud owner of The Secret EING male, and of a resolute constitution, I very rarely venture to my local GP to air any unwelcome aches and pains. But, on a recent visit (I know you're wondering, it was for a small sedative to help with a chronic fear of flying) I was, for want of a better word, ticked off by the good doctor.

I had merely mentioned my own findings, via Google, of a particular pill that might serve me well for at least six hours at 36,000 feet. It was then pointed out to me that 'internet cretins' should be kept at a fingertip’s length away while at a keyboard and should not be trusted, whereas she had 20 years of experience and probably could and should.

Which seemed to be a valid point.

For internet cretins read my golfing partners, past and present. With the best will in the world I have been subjected to a barrage of nonsensical top tips, which are all readily dished out despite the fact that the clubhead is moving at over 100mph as are, quite often, various parts of my body. From 'you're lifting your head' to 'I'm not sure your core postural muscles are switched on?'

How do I know these are all rubbish?

Because I am as bad as anyone at passing on my/their little pearls to someone new, adding yet another layer of confusion to their process.

For some unknown reason it takes a major crisis of confidence to make contact with my friendly professional, Moor Allerton's James Whitaker. In the past he has got my chipping as close to mediocre as it has ever been but has then been cast aside in a mixture of laziness and, well, a bit more laziness.

Other than one lesson elsewhere in the mid 90s, which was liable for legal action under its trade description, I have never left a one-to-one in a worse state, or frame of mind, in which I began it.

And so I texted: Got the shanks, please help.

We begin the session with a laid-bare physical and mental assessment of my game which, to sum up four minutes of my innermost thoughts, consisted of still trying to mimic any player from the early 80s who brought their hands to the party at the very last moment and that I 'might have a few issues upstairs'.

Then, in a moment of beautiful clarity, he explained why the hosel was being found with

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146 MARCH 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com

Magic move I’m afraid I won’t be sharing it with you

‘I texted my pro: Got the shanks, please help.’ radar-like consistency and how we, I liked this new team aspect, could put it right.

We get to work with nice and simple instruction allied with some TrackMan objectives. In truth I understand very little of what TrackMan does, casting my eyes only at distance and swing speed (or Smash Factor if I get one), but now I am quietly obsessing about my new path parameters.

And then, cue drum roll, James explains how to add an element to my game that has been missing since 1988 – consistency. My own special magic move. Not yours so no need to pass it on, see, I'm learning, but something very straightforward which would help me.

Then I leave and, within four hours, I am at a desolate driving range practising ‘the move’.

It works, again, and again it works. Within

another 12 hours I am on the 1st tee of the much-awaited 12-hole Christmas Scramble.

Save for a chip which barely completed two revolutions, things are again in place. It feels like the film Awakenings where I have finally been stirred from decades of catatonia. I walk around the course upbeat and happy and make normal conversation with my playing partners.

My three drives are taken by the 9th and I relax a little further, I take on a silly carry and make it and then knock in the birdie putt. We finish with three birdies to reach the heady heights of seven under.

Come the evening I am part of a winning team and register my first official club success since 1996, again a Texas Scramble. There will be no need for any speeches or debts of gratitude to the greenkeepers as this is merely a bit of fun. Finally a bit of fun on the golf course and all down to some expert advice.

And no mention of any postural muscles.

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

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