SURREY GOLF AUTUMN 2018

ISSUE 16

AUTUMN 2018

SURREY GOLF T H E

M A G A Z I N E

F O R

S U R R E Y

COUNTY NEWS

C O U N T Y

G O L F E R S

PRO TALK

News and events from around the county

David Boote’s challenges of being on the European Tour

GOLF BREAKS The West Midlands – home to some of the finest courses in the UK Hop over the channel for a golf break in France Explore some of Prague’s beautiful golf courses

WIN!ies

Oakley good or a new Vision electric trolley from Golfstream

PLUS...

REIGATE HEATH WINS NATIONAL ACCLAIM

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Welcome...

PUBLISHED BY Abstract Media Services Ltd Tel: 01883 370308

Following a very busy summer on the courses, we are now focusing on the start of the winter leagues.

Olympic Champion Justin Rose brings the British Masters to Walton Heath, from October 11-14.

Have you got your ticket?

Editorial: Jo Habgood E: jo.habgood@abstractmediaservices.com Advertising: Justin King E: justin.king@abstractmediaservices.com Design: Mandy Boosey E: mandy.boosey@btinternet.com SURREY COUNTY GOLF CONTACTS

We would like to congratulate all our winners this summer, with a special mention to Kevin O’Connell (pictured) of Purley Downs Golf Club who completed an impressive Surrey double with wins at the Sun Mountain Surrey Masters and PGA Surrey Assistants Championships..

Tel: 01483 755 788 Fax: 01483 751 771 www.surreygolf.org

We have teamed up with Advanced PGA Professional, Matt Antell, to help you lower your score in just 15 minutes. Lauren Blease takes a look at away courses and how to play them well and David Boote tells us what it’s like dealing with the challenges of being on the European Tour.

Junior U18 Manager: Alan Page

Travel this edition takes us to the West Midlands – home to some of the finest courses in the UK. We then take a short hop over the channel to France for an unforgettable golf break. Lastly, we take a visit to Prague in the Czech Republic which has a surprisingly rich golfing history with many beautiful golf courses.

We look at innovative fashion and Mizuno’s new clubs as well as two great competitions – turn to page 61 for your chance to win some Oakley goodies or a new Vision electric trolley from Golfstream.

Office Manager and all Knockout results: Jane Duhart

Junior U16 Manager: Gary Barthram RookieTour Manager: Bob Lacey Head County Coach: John Noble COUNTY OFFICERS County Secretary: Steve McNeill Treasurer: Stewart Simpson President: Jack Buchanan

p6 Jo Habgood Editor

Chairman: Roger Vincent EG voting member: John Davies TEAM CAPTAINS/MANAGERS County Captain: David Corben

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Seniors Manager: Billy Mitchell SURREY LADIES COUNTY GOLF ASSOCIATION Tel: 01483 751622

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President: Rosemary Wallis Ladies Secretary: Amanda Harris Ladies Captain: Sally Parrish

We want to hear from you!

Send us your news big or small, individual or clubs.

Email editor@surreygolfmag.com NEXT ISSUE – January 1st 2019

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

ABSTRACT MEDIA SERVICES LIMITED

Surrey Golf 3

CONTENTS

CONTENTS NEWS

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6 Reigate Heath wins national acclaim and Ali Gibb makes three aces in one day

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8 West Surrey Golf Club hosts the Mid-Age Championship, Tom Thurloway wins The Walton Trophy, Ian Attoe wins English Seniors and Surrey Chambers Golf Society 13 Picturesque Hurtmore GC – near Godalming, Surrey

JUNIOR NEWS 10 Surrey are England Golf Junior Team runners up for second year and 55 players competed for the Under 14/ Under 13 Championship

16 Under 15/Under 16 Championship was held at Clandon Regis and Surrey’s Under 13’s retain the shield 18 One to Watch – Barnes Wallis

SURREY LADIES

22 20 Surrey are the champions and Surrey girls make it a grand double!

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PRO TALK 24 Advanced PGA Professional Matt Antell takes us through a series of practices to lower your scores on the course.

26 David Boote tells us what it’s like dealing with the challenges of being on the European Tour

12 Purley Downs hosted the Under 18 Championship and Sunningdale holds the Boys Handicap Knockout Finals 14 SE Group Junior Foursomes won by Surrey U18 Boys

22 Foxhills bring the Pearson Trophy back to Surrey, Summer Foursomes at Tandridge, the annual Druce Trophy, Junior & Senior Championships, the Surrey schools event and the Bronze Fun Day

GET INTO GOLF 52

30 Lauren Blease takes a look at away courses and how to play them well

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

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54

WIN! FASHION

56

GOLF BREAKS 32 Discover the West Midlands – home to some of the finest courses in the UK 40 Hop over the channel for an unforgettable golf break in France

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

44 Check out some of Prague’s beautiful golf courses

PRODUCTS 50 Pain free golf 52 Mizuno showcases their latest clubs

54 Megmeister’s functional base layer for professionals and amateurs and innovative golfwear from KJUS

COMPETITIONS 56 Your chance to win some Oakley goodies or a new Vision electric trolley from Golfstream

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SURREY NEWS

REIGATE HEATH: ALLISS’S ‘LITTLE GEM’ HITS THE HEADLINES AGAIN Reigate Heath Golf Club has won national acclaim from two different authorities: the new GB&I Top 100 Fun Courses guide, and from connoisseur golfing authority Fine Golf.

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ine hole Reigate Heath Golf Club has not only been ranked 40 in the new Top 100 Fun Courses guide

by Sports Publications Ltd, but has also been commended by Fine Golf for more than meeting every one of its ‘joy to be alive’ criteria.

When Peter Alliss described Reigate Heath as ‘A little gem’ while playing with celebrities like Kiri Te Kanawa for three holes in his 1983 hit TV series ‘A Round With Alliss’, he couldn’t have guessed it would be 35 years until two

of the UK&I’s foremost authorities gave their formal support to his opinion.

While both commend the heathland course and its architecture, Fine Golf’s review focuses in detail the type and condition of its fairway grasses and greens along with the clubhouse experience. Only 200 of the UK&I’s 3,000+ golf courses have received these accolades over the past 10 years.

In the guide at no. 40, Chris Bertram’s panel wrote of Reigate

Heath: ‘A nine-hole course of great scenic and architectural appeal. You will do well to find a prettier nine holer.

Doesn’t need length to protect itself.

Use of a common for shared activities has hugely influenced how I view golf.

A sumptuous heathland (course) with terrific shorter par 4s and 3s.’

ALI GIBB MAKES THREE ACES IN ONE DAY

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aking an ace is something most golfers dream about but few succeed – one Surrey lady beat all the odds to not only score an ace but to make three in one day!

Ali, a member at Croham Hurst Golf Club was defending her club championship when she achieved this feat.

During the 36 hole competition, her first ace was achieved on the 5th hole (par 3). The afternoon was a repeat of

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the morning, getting her second ace on the same hole. Her third followed not far behind on the 11th.

Getting that sought after hole in one runs in Alli’s family, her Grandmother had a hole in one in her club championships for St Regulus Ladies Golf Club in St Andrews on the 11th of the Old Course in 1965. Her mother has also had a hole in one at The Army Golf Club.

Needless to say with three aces in the bag, Ali successfully defended her title.

Well done Ali!

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

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SURREY NEWS

MID-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP

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he beautiful West Surrey Golf Club was the venue hosting this year’s Mid-Age Championships which comprise of an individual and a team competition. The format is 36 holes medal for the individual championship and for the team event two nominated players from the same club have both their rounds to count towards the team score.

To ensure players of all ages have a county championship to play in, the age range for this championship was changed to 26 from 54. This change has proved to be a great success with a field of 45 players taking part, the most for several years and, as word gets around, the numbers will most certainly grow for 2019.

During the morning Duncan Hodgson led the way with a level par 71, closely followed by Ben Palmer on 72 and a

host of players on 73, 74 & 75’s, the Championship was wide open.

In the end just three shots separated the top four players. Craig Hodgson (Guildford GC) took third spot with a 145 total, but only on count back from Ben Palmer (Reigate Hill), Duncan Hodgson had to settle for runner-up with a 144 and coming in with a superb lowest round of the competition, a three under par 68 giving a total of 142, level for the day was the Surrey Amateur Champion Jacob Aaholm (Reigate Hill). A double county champion, a feat achieved by very few people.

The team event was won by Reigate Hill’s Jacob Aaholm and Ben Palmer with a combined score of 287, making Jacob a triple county champion for 2018! In second was Craig Hodgson and Mark Davis of Guildford with 293 and in third was Dominic Griffiths and Neil Williams with 303.

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ongratulations to Tom Thurloway from Chartham Park GC who won by two from Alasdair Plumb with 69 (New) 68 (Old) 69 (New) and 73 (Old) – total 279.

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IAN ATTOE WINS ENGLISH SENIORS Surrey’s Ian Attoe has won the English Seniors at the first extra hole against Richard Jones from Rotherham GC. This is a terrific achievement and he is one of few people to have lifted the title twice after his win in 2015.

Other golfers from Surrey who

THE WALTON TROPHY

made the cut and therefore deserve a mention are Rupert Kellock (4th), John Clayton (16th), Tom Hawkings (21st), Les Bruckner (3th), Ian Barker (34th), Ron Christie (70th).

Congratulations to all the Surrey players, but especially to Ian, simply fantastic!

pen to all business people to join, the Surrey Chambers Golf Society was started 22 years ago offering businesses the opportunity to entertain their clients in a relaxed and informal manner or alternatively for business owners, directors and partners, the opportunity to meet with like-minded people.

Playing some of the best courses in Surrey, the Society averages around 30 players for each golf day, held every month of the year.

The remaining 2018 fixtures can befound on their website, and they would love to see you.

For more information please contact Tara.Wavre@Surrey-Chambers.co.uk

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

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JUNIOR NEWS

SURREY ARE ENGLAND GOLF JUNIOR TEAM RUNNERS UP FOR SECOND YEAR

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unbury boys Tom Corrigan, Harry Dean and Owen Fox travelled down to Frilford Heath GC to compete in the annual Junior Champion Club tournament. With Addington Palace having taken second place last

year for Surrey, expectations were high for Sunbury to go one step further!

The first day the boys had a morning tee off where they battled in some wet and difficult conditions to post a creditable 74 points. This left Sunbury in a tie for sixth place after day one, just six points behind overnight leaders St Mellion of Cornwall.

The second day was thankfully a little drier and the boys took full advantage of the better scoring conditions with both Tom and Harry posting 39 points and Owen shooting a terrific 40 points. The combined 79 points was enough to jump ahead of St Mellion to top spot as the Sunbury third card score was better.

Some fantastic scoring from Horeshay Village meant they would overtake Sunbury for the title.

It was a strong determined finish from the Sunbury boys representing Surrey to finish in second place overall.

UNDER 14/UNDER 13 CHAMPIONSHIP

L-R: Steve McNeill, County Secretary, David Razinskas, Kris Kim and Rocky Chapman

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ifty-five players made their way from various parts of the county to Leatherhead Golf Club to compete for the U13 (Usmar Salver) & U14 (Olga Mills Cup) County Championships.

Although in good condition, due to the hot weather we’ve had recently, the course was playing tougher than normal and the players needed to adapt their game to the conditions, those that didn’t, suffered on their score cards!

The format for both the championships was 18 holes stroke play off the white

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tees with an U13 being eligible to win both age groups. In addition to these main competitions, there was a handicap competition. This competition was so close that count back had to be used to separate the top three, as all had scored a nett 67. After the calculation the handicap prize was won by Thierry Boucher (Horton Park) with Harvey Skelly (Betchworth Park) in second and Max Saunders (Walton Heath) in third.

Onto the main competitions, first the U13’s Championship, and what a close competition we had, with two shots separating the top three players.

Leo Vorobyev (Windlesham), who had won the County U12 Championship last month, finished with a gross 80 to take third place with a 79 and David Razinskas (Windlesham) took second.

The winner was 10-year-old Kris Kim from Cuddington GC with a fine 78. Kris had finished runner-up in the U12’s, so had gone one better and gained some revenge on his county team mate Leo.

Steve McNeill with Kris Kim

Incredibly with his 78 Kris also won the U14 title beating Rocky Chapman (Windlesham) into second with a 79 and David Razinskas in third also with a 79 but losing out on countback.

At 10-years-old Kris is the youngest ever winner of the U13 & U14 titles, an amazing achievement for such a young player and one that will take some beating that’s for sure!

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

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JUNIOR NEWS

UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIP

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urley Downs hosted the 2018 Surrey Golf U18 Championship.

Despite the excessive hot dry weather the course was in excellent condition, such was the feedback from the players. With the greens receiving a special mention being very receptive and true.

The morning round showed some excellent scoring with no less than nine players within two shots of the lead. The recent U16 Champion Harry Crockett of Addington Palace led the way with an excellent 69 (-1). This was without doubt a tighter grouping after the first 18 holes than for many years.

After an excellent rolling lunch, the boys headed out in what was now beautiful sunshine for the second round which produced more great scoring again with Harry Crockett coming in

Paul McGinley with Royal Norwich Captain

with the best and only sub-par round.

He improved his morning score by one shot with a 2 under 68 to give him a 3 under par (137 total) and his second county championship of the year. He won’t forget August 2018! Absolutely brilliant.

Runner-up was Farnham’s Thomas

Harry Crockett

Spreadborough who just pipped John Richardson of Royal Mid surrey into third spot on count back, both boys had shot 70 in the morning and 70 in the afternoon for a level par 140 total, excellent and consistent golf.

BOYS HANDICAP KNOCKOUT FINALS

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he Finals of the Boys’ Handicap Knockouts were held at Sunningdale Golf Club on Tuesday 28th August. The New Course was in splendid condition and the play in both finals matched the excellent surroundings and weather.

In the Blue Final, Daniel Prince (Wentworth) reached the turn 4 up on Mackenzie Thorpe. Daniel’s straight play paid dividends over Mackenzie’s longer but more wayward shots. On the back 9 both players came alight with Mackenzie getting two birdies in a row on 10 and 11. 11-year-old Daniel would not buckle and came to the 17th 1 up.

On the par 3 17th, Mackenzie had the honour and hit a great shot to 12 feet, only to watch Daniel hit his tee shot to a foot. Mackenzie just missed his birdie putt and Daniel tapped in for his 2nd birdie of the 9, to win the match 2 and 1 and thus the title.

The Green Final was very close at the turn with both Tom Corrigan (Sunbury) and Jamie Pritchard (Burhill) playing very steady golf to reach the turn all square.

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Daniel Prince and Mackenzie Thorpe

Jamie Pritchard and Tom Corrigan

The back 9 proved to be a birdie blitz with Tom playing it in 4 under whilst Jamie scored 2 under. After 18 holes, however, they were still all square and so went down the 19th. Another half on 19 took them to the Par 3 20th where

both players missed the green. Jamie chipped long but Tom, with the easier shot, was able to roll his ball up to the hole and the putt was conceded. When Jamie could not hole his putt. Tom won the hole and thus the title.

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

SURREY NEWS

HURTMORE GC When the legendary Peter Alliss and Clive Clark put their heads together and formed a partnership to design golf courses, one of the first examples of their craftsmanship was a little glory of Surrey golf – the picturesque Hurtmore Golf Club, near Godalming.

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ne of three courses owned by Hoburne Golf (Bulbury Woods and Crane Valley in Dorset are the others) there are many elements of the course that mark it out as special – the excellent drainage, meaning that Hurtmore is open all year round with never a need for temporary tees or greens, the gentle undulations catering for golfers of all ages and fitness levels, though whatever your handicap, you will be tested.

The location is perfect as well, less than 100 yards off the southbound A3.

In the past few years, the course and the clubhouse have undergone significant improvements – there are new tees,

bunkers and enhanced pathways, visit the refurbished pro shop stocking the finest golfing equipment and apparel and relax in a brighter restaurant with a whole range of food and beverages to enjoy.

You can prepare for your round with a 20-minute warm-up in the state-ofthe-art indoor simulator or test yourself over 18 holes on one of the 150 Championship courses on offer. Fully air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter, it’s a great alternative whatever the weather.

Hurtmore is open to both members and visitors. Membership packages are available for the avid golfer who plays regularly as well as flexi members who play less. It is one of the most popular venues for societies and away days in the south-east offering a range of packages to suit every taste.

As for the course itself, the last four holes provide much food for thought, with the signature 156-yard par 3 16th over water to a well-protected, large green and the 352-yard par 4 18th with its narrow approach over water perhaps the trickiest of them all. You’ll

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be delighted to come away with a par.

So why not sample a fine golfing challenge, relax afterwards on the extensive patio and reward yourself with a future date in the diary to come and play it again. After all, Alliss and Clark designed 22 courses together but Hurtmore, as Alliss often tells it, holds a special place because it came at the very start of their collaboration.

For information, to make a booking and for a day you won’t forget contact: Hurtmore Golf Club, Hurtmore Road, Hurtmore, Surrey GU7 2RN 01483 426492 | www.hurtmore-golf.co.uk Twitter: @HurtmoreGolf

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JUNIOR NEWS

SE GROUP JUNIOR FOURSOMES WON BY SURREY

U18 SEG Junior Foursomes Winners 2018

Surrey U18 Boys travelled to the Royal Norwich Golf Club in Norfolk to contest the South East Group Junior Foursomes playing against the other Counties in the SE Group. Best three scores from four in both rounds would decide the winner.

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here was constant rain through most of the morning rounds but this didn’t seem to deter our boys with our lead off pair, U16s Barnes Wallis of The Addington and Ben Kelly of Addington Palace heading the early groups to finish on 72 (+2).

Debutants at U18 level, Bailey Osborne of Walton Heath and Tommy Noel of Camberley Heath, also U16s, battled hard for 76, whilst the experienced David Gurr of Burhill and Killian McGinley of Sunningdale birdied the 16th & 17th to finish alongside the lead pair on 72.

Early news of the anchor pair U16 Champion Harry Crockett of Addington Palace & Epsom’s Ben Partridge was good. Three birdies in the early holes

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were then given back with a wobble around the turn. However a birdie on the 15th saw them return a score of 70 which was the best of the morning rounds. Surrey led Kent by five and Essex by 11 at the break.

After lunch, conditions were still difficult and scoring appeared higher, until the early scores showed Essex making a comeback with their first two pairs returning 70 and 71.

Like the morning round, our boys battled bravely, Ben and Barnes returning a creditable 74 including Barnes driving the 325yd 13th hole for an easy birdie.

In behind, Bailey and Tommy struck back with a birdie on 15 to help soften the blow of a triple bogey 7

on the previous hole and carded an important 75.

Killian & David were knocking the door all the way round and when Killian holed from 50ft for an eagle 3 on the 17th following an excellent shot from David, we felt we had just nudged in front of Essex.

A few tense moments were still to come when Ben uncharacteristically hooked his tee shot on 18 in bushes unplayable. A double bogey 6 ensued for 76 but news from up front was that Essex, although their last past birdied the 18th, had finished on +16 for the day and Surrey were +15 regardless of what the final pair did, so Surrey won the trophy for the first time since 2009.

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

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JUNIOR NEWS

UNDER 15/UNDER 16 CHAMPIONSHIP The 2018 Surrey Golf U15/U16 Championship was held at Clandon Regis Golf Club over 36 holes.

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he course was presented in great condition, with the greens proving receptive and true.

The rain started to fall just before the first start time of the morning round and didn’t stop until the afternoon round was about to commence. The tricky conditions in the morning round made it difficult for all the golfers and this was apparent as CSS rose by one to 73 for the morning round, against a drop of one shot to 71 for the afternoon round, for which the conditions were much improved.

Barnes Wallis (The Addington) held the clubhouse lead following the first 18 holes, with a three under par round of 69. Harry Crockett (Addington Palace) shot level par to lie in second place at lunch, with Jack Osborne (West Surrey) on 73, John Keane (West Byfleet) on 75,

Nathan Woodham, Benjamin Brew and Cameron Cridge

and Bailey Osborne (Walton Heath) and Sam Woodham (Windlesham) on 76.

Barnes Wallis fired a 72 in the afternoon to set the Clubhouse target at a combined 141. Harry Crockett was up for the fight though and shot level for the first 9 holes, birdied the 10th and then birdied 16 and 17 to add a 69 to his morning 72, hence tying with Barnes on 141. Bailey Osborne shot 71 to secure 3rd place on his own with a total of 147.

So, a sudden death play-off ensued

between Barnes and Harry. It was Barnes who sent the first drive straight down the middle of the 16th hole.

Harry took his drive and ended up on the right-hand side, in the light rough underneath a tree. Harry was first to play his approach and played a great shot that just ran over the green and onto the fringe at the back. Barnes played and landed on the green about 20 feet short of the hole. It was Barnes to play first and he rolled the putt six foot past the hole. Harry putted from the fringe and left the ball inches from the hole for a tap in par. Sadly, Barnes just missed his putt for par meaning that Harry took the trophy and is the 2018 U16 champion.

The U15 Championship saw Benjamin Brew (Surbiton) take the victory with rounds of 81 and 71 for a total of 152. Three shots further back was Cameron Cridge (Addington Palace) with rounds of 77 and 78 giving a 155 total.

Countback was used to decide the final place with two players tied on 156 strokes, Nathan Woodham (Windlesham) taking the place from Jack Osborne (West Surrey).

UNDER 13’S RETAIN THE SHIELD

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he first major silverware for the U13’s and an away venue at Slinfold Golf Club. A triple matchplay against 12 players from Sussex and 12 players from Kent with points simply awarded for the overall match.

Once again, holiday season presented us with some selection headaches and some normal regular reliable point winners absent from the line up. However, every cloud has a silver lining and this presented opportunities for others to write their own history and legend.

Three birdies in three holes for the front group set the tone of the opening

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U13 Triple Shield Kent Sussex

match and the high standard continued until the 18th.

After nine holes and a catch up on scores, some matches were in the balance, some we were slightly down in and there were some in which we had

some seriously commanding leads.

Leads that were let slip in some instances and matches were seen coming up the 18th, much to everyone’s surprise.

In the end with everyone finished Surrey retained the shield.

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

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JUNIOR NEWS

ONE TO WATCH...

BARNES WALLIS

PLAYER PROFILE

2018 has been a great year for you, what are your plans for 2019 and beyond?

In 2019 I will carry on playing in competitions and trying to get my handicap as low as possible.

Long term goals are to be a very successful professional golfer and try for 2020 Olympic Games.

When did you start playing golf and who was your inspiration?

I began playing at age two. My inspiration was Tiger Woods.

Do you have a favourite player?

My favourite player is Rory McIlroy Who would be in your dream fourball?

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jhonattan Vegas

Are there specific areas of your game that you work and how do you monitor your results to try and identify any concerns you have?

I don’t monitor my results and just try to consistently work on every aspect of my game.

What advice would you give to young players just starting on their journey in golf?

Try hard and enjoy yourself

Barnes started playing golf in his garden at an early age. After progressing to the range and finally the course, he joined his first club, Godstone, at the age of ten.

He began competitive golf in 2012, joining the Surrey Rookie Tour and quickly gaining a number of top 10 finishes.

Currently Barnes is a member at The Addington and plays with a handicap of 0.4 2013 • Winner of Rookie Tour • Member of Surrey County Team • First hole-in-one at Malden Golf Club 2014 • Winner Surrey under 18’s • 2nd Paul Casey under 12’s 2015 • Captain under 13’s Surrey team • Qualified for Under 18’s European championships 2018 • Winner Paul Casey under 18’s • Winner Wilderness Junior Open

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SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

Play at a friendly club, on one of Surrey’s DRIEST winter courses with stunning panoramic views, a great winter destination

EPSOM GOLF CLUB Experience Golf ’s Heritage, founded 1889

SOCIETY PACKAGES Excellent value with full use of the club’s private facilities, available 7 days a week.

Book now for Christmas.

FLEXIBLE MEMBERSHIP A new membership in 2018, designed for golfers with a modern lifestyle, only £390.

THE ACADEMY 12 month membership for beginners & improvers, includes PGA coaching programme and off-peak use of the course, only £499.

FLEXIBLE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS The new Flexible package is excellent value for golfers with a modern lifestyle who cannot justify an unrestricted full membership.

They are eligible to enjoy all the benefits and privileges of a private members club, including: c Access to the 18 hole course c Gain an official CONGU handicap

c Play in club competitions c Bar card discount of up to 15% The FLEXI club card includes 365 credits redeemable against peak and off-peak rounds of social or competitive golf, from just 10 credits per round. Top-ups available.

Only £390 for 12 month membership.

For details of the latest membership opportunities including Flexible, green fees and society packages, please contact the Director of Golf, Stuart Walker.

T: 01372 741867 E: stuartwalker@epsomgolfclub.co.uk www.epsomgolfclub.co.uk

EPSOM GOLF CLUB, Longdown Lane South, Epsom Downs, Surrey KT17 4JR

C O N O R J WA L S H G O L F SHAPING THE FUTURE

S P E C I A L I S T I N G O L F C O U R S E R E N O VAT I O N A N D N E W B U I L D

E: cjw@conorjwalshgolf.com | www.conorjwalshgolf.com

SURREY LADIES

Surrey’s County Ladies’ team won a sunshine filled County Week at Hockley Golf Club, Hampshire to become the 2018 South Region Champions.

SURREY ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

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he team of 12 players consisted of Tana Churchill, Katie Laud, Kim Munro, Debbie Richards, Alice SpaniMolella, Nicola Taylor, together with six under 18’s – Jess Adams, Rafiah Banday, Lauren Gooding, Ellie Lace, Martha Lewis and Canice Screene.

They all played their part showing determination and strength particularly in the singles in all the matches. They had beaten Middlesex 5½ – 3½, Sussex 6-3 and Hampshire 6-3 by the Thursday evening, to win the Championship whatever happened on the Friday against Kent. Determined to end the week on a high, the girls went on to beat Kent 5-4.

Congratulations to all the team,

and in particular to Katie Laud, Jess Adams and Lauren Gooding who were unbeaten during the week.

Sally Parrish, SLCGA Captain, says: “This was an exciting and highly competitive week where we witnessed

some very strong performances. The strength and depth we now have in Surrey, particularly amongst the younger players, is promising for the future. Thank you and congratulations to all the players.”

SURREY GIRLS MAKE IT A GRAND DOUBLE! S

urrey’s Junior Girls golf team romped home to win Junior County Week at Bush Hill Park Golf Club in Middlesex. This makes a grand double for Surrey Women’s golf as it follows on from them winning County Week back in June. Surrey ladies golf really does rock!

The team was made up of nine players drawn from seven different clubs in Surrey.

The team Captain, Canine Screene from Croham Hurst led out her players Jess Adams (Burhill), Rafiah Banday (Royal Mid-Surrey), Ella Hammond-Baveystock (Wentworth), Olivia Horsford (Wimbledon Park), Ellie Lace (Royal Mid-Surrey), Sarah Mardani (Windlesham), Gabrielle Shacklady (Reigate Hill) and Ellen Yates (Windlesham).

They beat Middlesex and Hampshire

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on the first two days. They then lost 3-4 to Sussex on day two, but needed a strong finish in the last match against Kent as Sussex were similarly placed having lost to Hampshire. The Surrey girls didn’t disappoint and rose to the challenge in style on the final day beating Kent 7-0 to win the trophy. To top the day Gabby Shacklady had a hole in one and Rafiah continued her recent successes by winning all four of her games.

Sally Parrish, SLCGA Captain is absolutely thrilled with her team and said: “I am very proud of what the girls’ achieved and it’s so exciting to have both our teams win their respective County Weeks. I can’t congratulate them enough. The girls have shown great ability and staying power which can only lead to greater successes in the future”.

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

PURLEY DOWNS GOLF CLUB

Offering possibly the best year-round greens in Surrey on an excellent, challenging course with a sociable club SOCIETY DAYS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER c Probably the best winter society course in the area c Free draining chalk based course providing great playing surfaces all year long c 18 full greens in operation* c Golf buggies and electric trollies for hire throughout the year* c Easy to reach from London or the M25 c Limited availability so book early c Prices from only ÂŁ45 *Only in exceptionally bad weather will these conditions not be available.

For more information please email info@purlyedowns.co.uk or speak to the club professional on 0208 657 8347 www.purlyedowns.co.uk

Call us or visit the website for our latest offers

SURREY LADIES

FOXHILLS BRING THE PEARSON TROPHY BACK TO SURREY H aving won the Surrey Cup at Burhill GC last month Foxhills went to Crews Hill in Middlesex to represent Surrey in the Pearson Trophy.

They had a nail-biting finish to their morning round against Middlesex, winning one match on the 19th hole to get to the afternoon finals.

Playing against Mid-Kent Golf Club in the finals, the first four matches went to Foxhills, so the last matches could be called in, Foxhills having won the Trophy.

Well done to Foxhills, and to all the hundreds of ladies who played in this year’s competition.

SUMMER FOURSOMES AT TANDRIDGE

THE ANNUAL DRUCE TROPHY

The annual Druce Tophy was held at Tyrrells Wood this year. 60 teams competed in this event. Sunningdale eventually pipping the RAC to win by 0.75 of a point with 59.00. Merrist Wood were third.

THE SURREY SCHOOLS EVENT

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he Molly Gourlay and Pam Barton Trophies were played over 27 holes at Tandridge Golf Club. Lesley Nickolds and Claire Charlier won the Molly Gourlay with 54 points and sisters Sally Everest and Judy Keenan won the Pam Barton with 59 points.

JUNIOR & SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

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he Junior and Senior Championships could not have been more different.

At the Drift in half term the Juniors were absolutely soaked all day, with the threat of thunder rumbling around. At St George’s Hill three weeks later the seniors were baking in the high 20’s!

Both events drew a good field.

In the Juniors, Jess Adams proved to be a worthy County Champion, adding the Junior title to her collection, although

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Lottie Woad (Farnham) was a close second.

Lottie was also the U15 Champion, and Ava Bates (Camberley Heath) won the U13.

In the Seniors event Heather Kitson won on countback from Delyth Roberts( Coombe Hill ) and Fanny King (Wimbledon Park).

Caroline Botsford (The Wisley) was the Handicap Champion.

In the Surrey schools event, Lottie Woad (Farnham), won by two shots from Sarah Mardani (Windlesham).

THE BRONZE FUN DAY Teams of three Bronze players enjoyed their round at Leatherhead playing two best scores out of three on each hole and jokers to play on some holes!

The event was won by Yolande Chandler, Madeleine Cannon and Karen Cole from Wimbledon Park.

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

P FO RIC R EF 3 IX YE E AR D S*

Celebrating 125 years of Puttenham Golf Clu b

FULL MEMBERSHIP NOW ONLY £1250

• Unlimited golf • County Card • Free reciprocal golf at 11 other courses in England • Free under 16 junior membership for children or grandchildren • Free hire of the clubhouse for celebrations/parties • Discounts on bar, food and golf shop purchases.

To enquire about membership email enquiries@puttenhamgolfclub.co.uk or call us on 01483 810498

GREEN FEE VOUCHER • Green fee to be special offer of £25 per person and voucher to cover up to 4 players.

• Mon-Fri after 11am and weekends after 2pm subject to availability. Must bring in the voucher on the day of play.

• Can book up to 7 days in advance by phoning the golf shop on 01483 810277.

Puttenham Golf Club, Heath Road, Puttenham, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1AL www.puttenhamgolfclub.co.uk *please see website for full terms and conditions

PRO TALK

Lower your scores in just 15 minutes!

Advanced PGA Professional Matt Antell takes us through a series of simple practices to lower your scores on the course.

PART 1 – MASTER THE BASICS OF HOLING OUT

W

hether your goal is to win an event, get your handicap down or simply have more fun when playing with your mates; holing out is a key skill that goes a long way to determining your score.

For many players however, putting practice can become boring pretty quickly and consequently doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

Therefore I have come up with three simple games that will help you FINDING A STRAIGHT PUTT

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improve the accuracy of your short putts – without the boredom! Play these games for about 15 minutes at the start of each practice session before you progress to playing shots from off the green...

THE SWEET SPOT Striking the ball out of the centre of the clubface is a key component to any golf shot. If you miss the ‘sweet spot’ the clubface will deflect off line causing issues with both direction and distance. So start your practice routine off with this simple game: c Find yourself a straight 6 foot putt on the green. Once identified I like THE SWEET SPOT

to mark this using a chalk line. This isn’t a necessity but I really like the way it allows me to visualise the line to the hole, which in turn makes it easier to practice setting my putter up appropriately to the target. c Measure the width of your putter and place a tee peg in to the ground either side of the face. Allow yourself just enough room for the putter to pass ‘through the gate’ freely. c Play 10 putts towards the hole, scoring a half point if you successfully ‘middle’ the putt on the clubface (avoiding contact with the tee pegs) and a full point if the ball goes in the hole.

THE GATE

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

PRO TALK

THE CLOCK

THE GATE Our next objective is to point the clubface where we want the ball to go. Due to minimal loft on a putter, it is the angle of the face at impact which determines the direction the ball rebounds off in, so the ability to squarely present the middle of the clubface to the ball at impact is critical to consistent holing out. Here’s the game we play to improve our accuracy: c Using the same straight putt as for the Sweet Spot game, place a ‘putting gate’ or two tees halfway down the length of the putt that are just wide enough to fit a golf ball through. c Play 10 putts towards the hole, scoring a half point if you successfully putt the ball ‘through the gate’ and a full point if the ball goes in the hole.

THE CLOCK Now that we have improved the effectiveness of our stroke we will finish our 15 minute practice session off by adding in some variety to the

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

putts we are faced with to simulate holing out on the course. c Set 12 tee pegs around the hole at 6 feet spaced out like the hour marks on a clock. c Play one putt from each tee location, moving around the clock each time but always skipping the next tee to ensure each putt has a significantly different amount of break, therefore requiring you to read each turn attentively. c If you hole the putt, remove the tee peg from the ground so that you know which putts remain. Your score is how many putts it takes you to complete the clock.

Each of these games can be played either individually or with a friend. To help crank up the effectiveness of your practice session, keep your scores written down somewhere so that you have a personal best to try and beat alongside a record of your progress.

This simple habit will help build confidence, resilience and increase your motivation to better yourself the next time.

Matt Antell is an Advanced PGA Professional whose roles include: U18 Boys Regional Coach for England Golf; U14 County Coach for Surrey Golf and Elite Academy Coach for Whitgift School.

Regarded as one of the regions leading development coaches, Matt is passionate about providing outstanding experiences and expertise to his players, who typically include aspiring juniors and serious golfers seeking the best guidance to reach their potential.

Matt is based at Reigate Hill Golf Club’s fantastic Golf Academy facility, which features two large greens for putting and short game; a 100 yard pitching range with target greens; a full length grass driving range; premium golf balls for practice; 3D motion capture and TrackMan club and ball tracking.

For more information follow Matt on @MattAntell @MattAntellGolf or email Matt – mattantell@me.com

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PRO TALK

DAVID BOOTE’S EUROPEAN TOUR It has been an interesting year coming to terms with the ups and downs of life on the middle and lower levels of the European Tour.

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he travelling, preparation and playing of events has been really enjoyable, despite some average results for me so far, and it has been the tough transition I expected from the elite amateur game.

The standard of play on both EuroPro and Challenge Tour is incredibly high and the ability of the players to

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score very low numbers week after week has been impressive. The guys contending to win on these tours every week are certainly good enough to perform well on the main tour when they get the chance. No better example of this would be Richard McEvoy who won on Challenge Tour at Le Vaudreuil France in mid-July before winning again

the following week on the full tour at the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.

I played in the final round with Richard in the Challenge D’Espana in May and we finished on the same score of -3 for a T34 finish.

He was carrying his own bag on a mountainous course and we swapped Walker Cup stories as we played.

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

PRO TALK

Two months later and he had a two year exemption on the full tour. One of the nicest guys I have played with this year and a big inspiration to see how quickly things can turn around.

Although I have missed a number of cuts this year I am generally pleased with the way I have been playing tee to green.

Some weeks the putts just refuse to drop and it can make a big difference! Since turning pro I have missed six cuts by a single stroke and hopefully this trend will soon change for the better. The important thing is to take a long term view and ensure that all areas of my game are continually improving.

My stroke average this season is currently 71.17 for a total of 41 under par through 72 rounds. This compares favourably with my 2016/17 postgraduation amateur stroke average of 71.76 through 85 rounds so I know I am heading in the right direction.

I did recently get my first professional win at Langley Park, near Bromley, on the TP Tour which was a good confidence builder. It was just a

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

single round tournament but I needed a battling par on 17 and a birdie on 18 to shoot -5 and win by one! It was great to get a win as they are very hard to come by in this game and it was a nice milestone to achieve in a high quality field.

I have really enjoyed representing Walton Heath Golf Club this year as their touring professional and cannot thank the Board and the members enough for their support.

We have the British Masters in October, hosted by Justin Rose, and everyone at the club is excited about the event. It will be a step up from the US Open Sectional Qualifier which we have hosted for over 10 years now and promises to be an eye catching four days. The composite Old/New course will be a tough test even for the top tour players and I am sure will attract large crowds to the Walton Heath this autumn!

@davidboote123

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Hotel Jardín Tecina & Tecina Golf La Gomera – Canary Islands

Located in Playa de Santiago in the South of La Gomera, Tecina Resort is situated on the Lomada de Tecina, an area with spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean, coast of Tenerife and Mount Teide.

Hotel Jardin Tecina is built on a hillside, designed in true Canarian style and surrounded by paths bordered with beautiful gardens with colourful flora and fauna. The rooms and suites are made up of traditional bungalows which are situated on two levels in small clusters around the resort.

Peace, serenity and harmony are some of the sensations that you will experience in this safe unknown area of the Canary Islands. At Tecina Golf they have taken special care to preserve the natural beauty of the island. Golfers can see the ocean from every spot on the golf course, which blends into a fantastic landscape that is a pleasure to the eye.

Tecina Golf, designed by Donald Steel, is an 18 holes par 71 course, which measures 6,250 meters from the white tees, it is a perfect combination of factors – superb design, scenic landscape and a championship course. There are no buildings of any kind on the course which ensures that the golfers have uninterrupted views of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean from any point. Tecina Golf hosted the European Challenge Tour Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana from 2009-2016, which was won in 2013 by Brooks Koepka (USA) US Open 2017 winner.

Use promo code; SURREYMAGAZINE to receive a 10% discount on Tecina’s golf packages. Valid for travel until September 2019.

For bookings contact us at Tecinagolfcc@fredolsen.es www.jardin-tecina.com

Surrey Golf Mag Sept 2018.indd 1

21/09/2018 11:54

GET INTO GOLF

HOW TO PLAY AN

away course If you’re playing a course you’ve never played before, you need a slightly different mindset...

by Lauren Blease

B

eing a professional golfer requires playing many courses and adapting to those courses very quickly. A professional will more than likely be able to play a practise round at the course they are due to play a tournament on and get used to the greens and the conditions.

As an amateur golfer you don’t often get this luxury, but there are still steps you can take to ensure you play your best golf at an away course.

Often amateur golfers will play away matches or competitions at a course other than their home course so will

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need to get accustomed to it in a very short time.

Here are some very simple things that you can do to help increase the chance of playing well when playing an away course. c Buy a yardage book – this will help to familiarise yourself with where you are playing and the hazards or obstructions that you might need to look out for.

It is good to have a quick scan through before you play but is also vital for when you are in the competition. A yardage book can

give you vital information on blind tee shots, distances that you have to bunkers or lay-up distances. Many courses now have their yardage book online, so if you don’t want to buy a book you can always download it and take it with you. c Putting – it is imperative that you do some putting practise before you tee off. This will help to give you a good feel for the greens. You don’t need to spend much time on the greens, just roll a few long putts to the edge of the green to give you an idea of pace. There’s no need to aim for a

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

GET INTO GOLF

particular hole as you are trying to develop feel and confidence. c Practise – before you play it is good to have a warm up. Not only will it give you the chance to get ready for the game but it will also give you time to practise a few shots that you think you may need on the course.

For example, if you are playing a links course you could hit a few low shots on the range with your irons or spend a bit of time chipping with a 7 iron to keep the ball low.

If you notice in the yardage book that there are a high number of

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

bunkers on the course you may want to spend a little extra time in the bunker before you play. c Observe your playing partners – if you are teeing off last, have a look at the line that your partners take and what the ball does when it lands. This can provide invaluable especially if the fairway is sloping or there is some local knowledge to be learnt.

This can also be done on the greens by observing the line of your playing partners putt.

Playing an away course is always difficult but if you go through these simple steps, it will increase the likelihood of playing well on a course that you have never played before. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy yourself and think very clearly of the shot you want to play before you hit it.

Happy golfing!

Lauren is a Assistant PGA Professional at Foxhills Club and Resort and is available for lessons. You can contact her via email or follow her on social media: Email: lblease@foxhills.co.uk @laurenblease89 @laurenblease

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GOLF BREAKS

DISCOVER THE WEST MIDLANDS

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SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

Summer is the peak season for golf in England, when the warmer weather gets golfers of all abilities to hit the fairways. But with summer comes higher green fees – the autumn and spring seasons give much better value – an ideal time for a golfing break in the West Midlands.

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way from the coast, the West Midlands is home to some of the finest courses in the UK and with the likes of the Ryder Cup, British Masters and English Open all being held in the region, it already has a solid reputation for some top quality golf.

LITTLE ASTON Golfers will find a top-quality championship course which has hosted many prestigious national and international tournaments for both amateur and professional players.

Little Aston is ranked no 33 in Golf World 2017 England’s Top 100 Courses. ​Little Aston is predominantly a parkland course set in the mature former estate of Little Aston Hall and has a beauty all of its own. In recent years the course has been lengthened and certain holes have been modified partly to offset the march of modern technology. An array of new tees has boosted the yardage and in a number of cases the angles into the greens have altered too, adding more strategy to an already strategic test. From the men’s back tees the continued on page 34

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

Little Aston

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Enville Golf Club

course now measures 6,813 yards with a challenging par of 72 and Standard Scratch of 74. www.littleastongolf.co.uk BEAU DESERT Beau is a traditional members club with a long history and one where the members have always been proud to welcome visitors from all corners of the world. It’s ideally situated in the heartland of England with great motorway access from all parts of the country as well as three international airports within 60 miles.

Currently ranked well within the top 100 courses of England, Beau Desert will provide a great challenge to all visitors whilst the facilities in the clubhouse are designed to ensure you are well looked after both before and after your game of golf.

Beau Desert, or Beautiful Wilderness is an unusual name for a golf course, especially for a course located in such a picturesque landscape. The land once formed part of the Marquess’s Beaudesert Estate. This is a stunning heathland course. Heather and gorselined fairways, framed by acres of firs and spruces.

It’s certainly not a long course, measuring 6,458 yards from the tips, but it’s narrow. You need accuracy

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from the tee. The greens are quite large, especially the 18th, and they are full of wicked borrows, so expect a few three putts. Beau Desert is no pushover; on numerous occasions it has hosted Open Championship qualifying rounds and more recently (2012), England Golf’s County Championships which was won by the Wiltshire Golf Union.

Invariably, the course is maintained in excellent condition. www.bdgc.co.uk WHITTINGTON HEATH The club originated in 1886 with a nine hole course set out on Whittington Heath, a high piece of land adjacent to Whittington Barracks, two and half miles from the cathedral city of Lichfield.

There is heather and gorse to contend with for those who stray from the straight and narrow and one does occasionally wander among the oaks which have grown during the past 50 years.

There is no doubt that Whittington Heath is a club with character, the more you play the course the more you wish to. www.whittingtonheathgc.co.uk ENVILLE GOLF CLUB Enville Golf Club meets all the

Enville Golf Club

traditions of a private members club and offers the opportunity to play two of the finest Heathland/Woodland courses in the country which are presented to the highest standard.

Highgate has a par of 72 and Lodge has a par of 71. Both courses are a test for any golfer.

Enville Golf Club has recently played host to The Open Regional Qualifiers R & A, English Seniors and Reid Trophy EG and in 2017 The Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship R & A. Visitors are welcome Monday to Friday. www.envillegolfclub.co.uk TRENTHAM GOLF CLUB Trentham Golf Club was founded over 100 years ago. The Open continued on page 36

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

2017 12 Surrey Golfer HP Golf Breaks.qxp_135mm h x 210mm w 29/11/2017 13:49 Page 1

Wish you were here Ufford Park Woodbridge

1 night Golf Breaks from only ÂŁ98* per person

includes complimentary use of the Health Club with it’s gym and pool.

Looking for the perfect all year round venue for your golf break? Set in the heart of Suffolk and located just off the A12, our 18 hole, par 71 course is ideal for the beginner or the experienced player.

Book your tee time online, visit the on-site AmericanGolf superstore and practice your swing on our 2 tier floodlit driving range, all before you even set foot on the lovingly cared for, award-winning, top winter course. *Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability.

t 0844 847 9489 (local rate) w www.uffordpark.co.uk Yarmouth Road | Woodbridge | Suffolk | IP12 1QW

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

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GOLF BREAKS

OFF THE COURSE...

CADBURY WORLD

Uncover a world of chocolate delights and enjoy a fascinating, fun-packed family day out at Cadbury World in Bournville, Birmingham! www.cadburyworld.co.uk THE BULLRING The Bullring is a major commercial area of central Birmingham. It has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages, when its market was first held. Two shopping centres have been built in the area; in the 1960s, and then in 2003. www.bullring.co.uk THE BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM

An open-air museum of rebuilt historic buildings in Dudley in the West Midlands of England. It is located in the centre of the Black Country, 10 miles west of Birmingham. www.bclm.co.uk DUDLEY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS

Dudley Zoological Gardens is a 40-acre zoo located within the grounds of Dudley Castle in the town of Dudley, in the Black Country region of the West Midlands, England. The Zoo opened to the public on 18 May 1937 www.dudleyzoo.org.uk www.visitengland.com www.yourgolftravel.com

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Trentham Golf Club

Championship Qualifying course is one of the finest in the Midlands and the North West.

Members and visitors are able to enjoy a golfing experience both on and off the course, with facilities that few other clubs can match.

The club has hosted Open Championship Qualifying, England Golf and Staffordshire County events for both men and ladies, most recently the English Champion Club in 2014 and the the English Women’s Open Amateur Match Play Championship in July 2015. Further R&A and England Golf Championships are planned for the future.

Trentham Golf Club is set on part of the former Duke of Sutherland’s Estate, with beautifully wooded areas and lakes. Driving is a real challenge on any hole and at over 6,600 yards the course is a true test for any golfer, as the list of County and EGU events will testify. www.trenthamgolf.org THE HEREFORDSHIRE GOLF CLUB The Herefordshire Golf Club, Herefordshire is an 18 hole, par 70,

Trentham Golf Club

private, parkland golf course designed

by James Braid in 1932.

First established in 1896 and the oldest club in the County, The Herefordshire Golf Club moved to its present location on the Raven’s Causeway some 36 years later in 1932.

A special location founded by the legendary James Braid, offering far reaching and stunning outlooks of the Shropshire Hills, the Brecon Beacons and the Malverns.

The club provides comfortable changing, accommodation and an excellent Clubhouse in which to wine and dine. Visitors are welcome and are assured of a friendly reception.

Described as the ‘Gleneagles of the Midlands’ the course is a great test for golfers of all abilities and is a challenge right from the 1st tee to the 18th green. www.herefordshiregolfclub.co.uk

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

#1 in Scotland

ROYAL DORNOCH GOLF CLUB

#5 in the world

DORNOCH TOWN & COUNTRY LETTINGS Have an excellent reputation for the quality of self catering accommodation in their portfolio and for the high standard of service we provide for our guests, many of whom return year after year.

RDGC is easily accessed from all of our houses in the heart of the town, making walking to the course or strolling to a restaurant in the evening a pleasure.

Let us help you plan your visit to Dornoch: We are able to assist you with airport transfers, taxi sight seeing trips, organise a breakfast cook (or something a little fancier if you wish to eat at home one night) and many other factions that make your trip happy and hassle free.

It’s our job to make your stay here a memorable and happy experience.

Please contact Maggie at Dornoch Town & Country Lettings, High Street, Dornoch, Scotland IV25 3SH

+44 (0)1862 810851 | www.dornochtownandcountrylettings.co.uk

Petersfield GOLF CLUB

We extend a very warm welcome to members, societies and visitors alike.

Petersfield Golf Club is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is easy to reach from most areas.

The 6,437 yard gently undulating course is a jewel in the South Downs National Park.

It meanders its way through delightful countryside with some outstanding views. With USGA designed greens and free draining fairways, it offers all-year-round play and a true test of golf for all levels of golfer.

Our modern and spacious clubhouse affords superb views from every window, with our extensive balcony overlooking the 18th green.

These fine facilities with excellent cuisine enable the club to offer exceptional value for society and corporate golf days.

T: +44 1730 895165 • E: admin@petersfieldgolfclub.co.uk • www.petersfieldgolfclub.co.uk Tankerdale Lane, Hants, Petersfield GU33 7QY

COTTAGES

Rent a property for The Open within 15 miles of The Royal St George’s golf club.

We have local knowledge like no other...

Where to have dinner? Best route to the course?

How many yards the par 3 6th is? We’ve got all the answers.

With over 240,000 visitors expected, contact us now to secure your accommodation.

T: 01304 382044 E: enquiries@keeperscottages.co.uk www.keeperscottages.co.uk

ENVILLE GOLF CLUB

THE LITHIUM SPECIALISTS

Enville Golf Club offers two 18hole courses set amongst majestic woodland and picturesque heathland and one of the finest practice facilities in the Midlands.

Members are delighted to share the outstanding facilities with visitors and a truly warm and friendly welcome awaits in our clubhouse.

Please contact our General Manager, Heather Mulley on 01384 872074, email manager@envillegolfclub co.uk or visit our website www.envillegolfclub.co.uk

topcaddy@btconnect.com | topcaddy.co.uk | 01236879815

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Enville Golf Club Ltd, Highgate Common, Enville, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY7 5BN

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GOLF BREAKS

DISCOVER GOLFING IN

FRANCE

By Clive Agran

France is just a short hop over the channel, where you can play, stay, and enjoy an unforgettable golf break at the refurbished resorts of Golf d’Hardelot – a beautiful setting with two courses and Le Touquet Golf Resort an awardwinning 45-hole golf destination – home to three sensational courses including La Mer (The Sea), France’s #1 links.

A

lthough I don’t care for the expression, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” it does seem eminently sensible. And so having been to both Hardelot and Le Touquet about ten years ago and greatly admired the courses, I was somewhat surprised to be invited back to look at some recent alterations.

We’re not talking here of shifting the 12th tee back ten feet. No, this is radical, comprehensive and expensive stuff.

So why do it? Well, thankfully, there are people who are not only interested in the bottom line but have a genuine affection for the game’s glorious history. Unashamedly nostalgic, they display a fondness for sepia prints of moustachioed men in plus fours flailing away with hickory shafts.

They invariably have a real passion for links’ courses, the overwhelming bulk of which are right here in the British Isles. There are comparatively few on the continent but the delightful seaside towns of Le Touquet and Hardelot just south of Calais lie in an area blessed with dunes and sandy soil so beloved of golf course architects.

Golf began here around the turn of the 20th century with the Brits in the vanguard with legendary designers

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Harry Colt and Tom Simpson keen to be involved. The former teamed up with Charles Alison in 1931 to create the magnificent La Mer course at Le Touquet.

Rapturously received, it usurped its immediate neighbour, La Forêt, as the preferred venue for the French Open and confirmed the town’s status as an immensely fashionable resort popular with royalty, aristocrats and movie stars.

The fun tragically ended with the outbreak of WW2. The courses suffered the indignity of being bombed, neglected and buried beneath brambles, pill-boxes and worse. Eventually they were thankfully knocked back into shape.

Everything jogged along merrily for several decades and doubtless would have continued to do so had not Patrice Boissonnas, the delightful son of the owner of the courses not suggested that they be restored them to their former glory.

Old photos were discovered, precious drawings were traced, aerial photos were scrutinised and a clearer picture gradually emerged of what they were like in their heyday. Renowned Dutch architect Frank Pont was engaged to work with Patrice on the restoration

Le Touquet

Hardelot

of La Mer at Le Touquet and Les Pins at Hardelot while Jean-Claude Cornillot was invited to tweak Les Dunes at Hardelot. And I shall start with Les Dunes because it was the first I played.

Not a big hitter, I feel far more at home on the yellow tees and was therefore a little unsettled at being ushered to the whites. But Les Dunes is not excessively long and so the enhanced self-respect derived from playing from the back tees was something of a bonus.

Opened in 1991, it’s gloriously scenic with well-defined, inviting fairways. The trees are now far enough back so as not to intimidate as this is a course clearly designed to be enjoyed. Built on sand with plenty of bumps and hollows, it is also blessed with attractive bunkers and loads of elevation.

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

GOLF BREAKS

Le Touquet

Hardelot

Le Touquet

The recent re-design has routed the course around an area frequented by wild bores. Three holes have been surrendered to the beasts who now frolic on the abandoned fairways. The consensus is that the revised layout has massively improved what was already a very popular course.

About a mile from Les Dunes is Les Pins, a stunning course that was carved through a pine forest in 1931 by the great Tom Simpson. And it’s his design that Pont and Boissonnas have lovingly revived.

Because the fairways were being squeezed by creeping afforestation, 3000 trees were felled. Don’t be shocked. Removing scrubby trees to allow more light and reveal splendid specimen trees is environmentally sound. And for every tree that was

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

Hardelot

removed, several were planted elsewhere on the estate.

Begun in 2011, the project took several years and the result is a lighter, open and spacious course with wider fairways, larger greens and more attractive bunkers. A regular European Tour School qualifying venue for the last eight years, Les Pins has shot up the rankings and now lies inside the Continent’s top 25 and France’s top ten.

Somewhat surprisingly, La Mer lies just behind Les Pins in the current ranking. Although stress is never a good thing, play both and agonise over which is better. Privileged to play alongside the man principally responsible for the improvements, I summoned up the courage after a pint of Belgian beer in the clubhouse afterwards to ask which he thought

was better. Like the father of two wonderful children, he declined to choose between them.

La Mer has my vote simply because playing it is probably as close to a religious experience as this atheist will ever get. Just gazing wistfully from one gloriously elevated tee after another brought tears to my eyes... on second thoughts, it may have been the wind.

Seriously, La Mer is truly spectacular; the views, bunkering, panoramas and sensual contouring all contribute to an unforgettable round.

And the raised greens with their ball-gobbling run-off areas and tricky borrows will achieve the impossible and bring a smile to your face even as you three-putt. The par threes, which progressively grow longer as the round unfolds, are pure joy. I can’t recall walking off the 18th more disappointed... that it was all over.

The other full-sized course at Le Touquet is La Forêt, which is excellent but obviously suffers by comparison with its neighbour. But if you’re staying in the excellent La Manoir hotel bang next to the courses, you should certainly find time to play what is a very decent track.

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CHECKING OUT THE CZECH REPUBLIC It’s not just atmosphere, unique charm and amazing architecture that Prague has to offer! You may be pleasantly surprised to know that the Czech Republic has a rich golfing history with many beautiful golf courses offering top quality facilities for a perfect day on the greens!

By Clive Agran

F

or those grizzled veterans amongst us who lived through the Cold War when there was interminable talk of the communist threat, nuclear destruction and how you could obtain whatever you wanted in the Eastern Bloc in exchange for either chewing gum or jeans, the idea of travelling to the Czech Republic to play golf is a weird one. Even remembering to say ‘Czech Republic’ rather than ‘Czechoslovakia’ requires a significant effort from those of us unable to name even one song in the top 20 and who struggle to stay awake much after halfpast nine in the evening.

Thankfully, there is a whole generation growing up who won’t

44

even know what is meant by ‘Eastern Bloc’ and will be equally unfamiliar with that other Cold War cliché, the Iron Curtain. It was that dogged old warrior, Sir Winston Churchill who first coined the phrase to describe the grim impenetrable barrier that descended across Europe shortly after the Second World War as the Soviet Union shielded all those within its sphere of influence from such unwelcome external influences as capitalism, democracy, freedom and, most subversive of all, rock music.

More worrying in those days even than the poor performance of the Great Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup team was the imminent danger of

nuclear war. This was not a happy time for either golfers or non-golfers.

Particularly cruel was the way in which the occasional flickering flame of freedom was ruthlessly extinguished in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968. These manifestations of Soviet brutality and intolerance confirmed our western suspicions that the people in Eastern Europe were being horribly oppressed.

Just to complete the inadequate history lesson for those who have been out on the links for the past 30 years, communism finally crumbled in 1989 and the Czech Republic came into being in 1993. But what more convincing evidence could

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

GOLF BREAKS

Albatross

Loreta

there possibly be that the country has thrown off the shackles of its recent bleak past than the fact that it has embraced the most bourgeois of sports, golf? Stalin must be spinning in his grave even faster now that the Czechs are building more and better courses all the time.

Anyone who goes on a golf holiday is obviously keen on the game, but even the most enthusiastic should occasionally hesitate before dashing to the first tee and, instead, appreciate some of the other attractions that a country has to offer. The Czech Republic has many such things.

Foremost amongst them is the stunningly beautiful capital city,

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

Panorama

Prague. With broad boulevards, magnificent old buildings, a wide sweeping river, trundling trams and a marvellous mix of architectural styles, it’s truly breath-taking.

Miraculously undamaged in the Second World War, this fabulous capital is bursting with churches, museums, galleries, concert halls, historic bridges, theatres, castles, cafes, palaces and shops. The best way to enjoy it all is simply to walk around the winding streets and soak up the atmosphere that oozes through the cobblestones.

Landlocked, the Czech Republic doesn’t enjoy the moderating maritime influences that keep icebergs away from our shores, snowplough salesmen impoverished and our fairways open throughout the year. Czech golfers emerge from hibernation around March and keep going until the big freeze returns in November.

There are just over 100 golf courses and, unlike the UK where the sport is shrinking, in the Czech Republic it’s very much on the up. Because there’s more than enough top quality tracks clustered around the capital, if you

Greensgate

take my advice, you’ll base yourself in Prague and venture out from there.

Although you would miss out on some truly outstanding challenges as well as some glorious scenery, you don’t even have to leave the city limits as there are a couple of real crackers more or less on your hotel doorstep.

Let’s begin with them and then explore a little further afield.

Opened ten years ago and no more than 15 minutes from downtown is Prague City Golf. Not normally a fan of artificial links, I confess to loving this ‘links-like’ layout. Instead of the usual unnatural mounds on either side of the fairway, this genuinely looks like the real thing. The combined talents of British architect, Jeremy Ford, Czech-born tour pro, Alex Čejka, and a shaper, Mick McShane, described as ‘Leonardo da Vinci with a digger’, have produced a masterpiece. And because it’s carved out of a flood plain, it’s eminently walkable.

In July it hosted the Prague Golf Challenge when Englishman Ben Stow celebrated his first Challenge Tour continued on page 46

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GOLF BREAKS

Black Bridge

Loreta

victory. While you’re there be sure to warm up on the excellent driving range and have a putt round the ‘Himalayas’, a fun practice green modelled on its namesake at St Andrews.

The other ‘urban’ course I played that impressed me enormously was ‘Black Bridge’. The eponymous black bridge takes you from the clubhouse over the road to the excellent driving range, first-class practice facilities and opening tee. After three holes, you cross back over for the rest of your round on this attractive parkland layout.

Although there’s plenty of elevation, once again I would urge you to eschew a buggy. While walking round, you should look out for the Czech Republic’s number one female golfer, Klára Spilková, who is invariably playing or practising here when not away on the Ladies European Tour.

Last year she lifted the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco to become the first Czech woman to win on the tour. And with its quality greens and first-class fairways of the type she encounters on the road, it’s not surprising Klára lists Black Bridge as her favourite course.

The only fair criticism that could be levelled at the two courses above is that they are rather ‘urban’ in character with buildings rather than hills providing the backdrop. For those who prefer a more rural setting there are plenty to choose from within an hour’s drive of Prague.

There are three nines at Panorama which, in order of elevation, are River, Meadows and Forest. If you don’t mind water, then River is for you. If you don’t mind heights, go for Forest.

And if you mind either then head for

46

Meadows. You can mix and match and play three different 18s. Although the three nines are rather dissimilar, the general condition and the greens are of the same very high standard.

The lovely undulating scenery is also a common characteristic but, because of its elevation, Forest enjoys the most spectacular views. However, if you want to admire them, you are well advised to take a buggy as the climbs are pretty demanding as they are, to a rather lesser extent, on the Meadows. With an attractive river running alongside and the occasional stream to be crossed, Rivers lacks height but oozes aquatic charm.

Panorama opened about a year ago and is already establishing an enviable reputation as a ‘must-play’ course.

About the same distance from Prague and also set in some gorgeous countryside is lovely Loreta. Designed by an Englishman, Keith Preston, it occupies a hillside but, although there are a few available, a buggy isn’t really required to negotiate the mostly gentle slopes. There’s the odd splash of water but nothing too intimidating on what is an open, friendly and hugely enjoyable course. The wispy rough helps provide clear definition and the first-class practice facilities curiously come complete with cut-out cows to aim at on the range.

Formerly Golf Park Plzen, Greensgate Golf and Leisure Resort was comprehensively updated and improved last year. Before tackling this formidable and exhilarating challenge that has thrice-hosted the Ladies European Tour, you might care to steady your nerves by draining a

Prague City

couple of samples from the nearby brewery. But whether you’re Plzened or sober, leave your driver behind because, no matter how much you’ve drunk, the course will be almost certainly be tighter than you.

Arguably the best new course to be built around Prague in recent times is Albatross. Another Keith Preston creation, it’s pure class and has hosted the Czech Masters on the European Tour as well as the Prague Masters on the Ladies European Tour. With something of a stadium feel to it, it’s not hard to imagine banks of spectators enjoying the action from the raised ground either side of the fairways.

In fabulous condition and beautifully presented, there are three discernible cuts of rough with the thick, wispy stuff well away from where you should be. Although they are attractive, you should also steer clear of the numerous water features including a delightful waterfall.

Although it’s not hard to see why many regard it as number one in the Czech Republic, the competition is stiff in this rapidly rising destination.

USEFUL LINKS www.grcm.cz www.panorama.cz www.greensgate.cz www.albatross.cz www.loretagolf.cz www.praguecitygolf.cz www.cgta.cz www.czechtourism.com www.czech-republic-golf.com

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CLK / WAVE TECHNOLOGY HYBRID THE ADJUSTABLE HYBRID

ST180 FAIRWAY WOODS FLAT OUT FURTHER The hugely amplified Wave sole commits every available gram of weight low, towards the face, dropping spin rates for even the fastest, downward ball strikers. The Wave sole also allows the ST180 to contract and expand on impact, increasing energy imparted to the ball. The flatter, more efficient flight keeps the faster, high energy 1770 Maraging Steel face under full control.

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With an eight-way adjustable hosel, the CLK hybrid can be precisely set to fill the distance gap between your longest iron and shortest fairway wood. Mid and slow swing speed players have the option of putting up to four CLK’s in play, creating a wider distance span at the longer end of the bag.

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PRODUCTS

MIZUNO PERFORMANCE CENTRE AT ROYAL MID SURREY Mizuno, the renowned Japanese equipment manufacturer, has invested heavily in its state-of-the-art Performance Fitting Centres across the UK and Ireland, including Royal Mid Surrey.

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A highly stable, forgiving multimetal construction iron, which satisfys the aesthetic demands at address. Even with both lightweight Titanium and heavier tungsten parts sealed within its 1025E mild carbon steel head, the MP-18 MMC maintains a similar ‘tour ready’ profile and size to the MP-18 SC. RRP £150

MP-18 SC THE PLAYER’S CAVITY BACK A compact cavity back, slightly wider, cambered sole makes this more playable than the muscle back. Though the thin, tapered top line, short head length and smaller wedges mean this is very much a tour-ready iron. Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima for the most colourful feedback through impact.

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MP18 MMC FLI-HI THE PLAYERS LONG IRON The finishing touch to an MP-18 set, the long iron replacement now used by every Mizuno tour player.

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Mizuno, founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1906, has long held an enviable reputation for crafting the finest and most versatile forged golf clubs on the market, and has long placed a strong emphasis on custom-fitting to ensure that every golfer is able to reap the maximum performance benefits from its premium golf clubs.

The latest drive towards an ever-more comprehensive fitting programme has been to develop and expand the number of Mizuno Performance Centres located at prestigious venues throughout the UK and Ireland.

The venue at Royal Mid Surrey is one of 14 Mizuno Performance Centres across the UK and Ireland.

All 14 Mizuno Performance Centres represent the brand’s Premium Swing DNA facilities, offering a truly five-star fitting service from qualified Mizuno Custom Fitting Specialists. Each feature a premium branded indoor/outdoor fitting suite and launch monitor technology, at least 2 PGA Pro Qualified Fitters with Mizuno Fitting Accreditation who will identify your optimum clubs using Mizuno’s market leading Swing DNA Fitting Software.

There is no obligation to purchase and golfers will leave with a full set of prescribed club specifications. All equipment will be assembled at our facility in Cumbernauld, Scotland and delivered within 7 working days.

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For more on the Mizuno Performance Fitting Centres and the brand’s latest range of golf equipment, apparel and accessories visit: golf.mizunoeurope.com To get in contact with the Performance Centre at Royal Mid Surrey; email proshop@matthewpaget.co.uk or call +44 (0)208 939 0148

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designed to keep you warm during cooler days on the golf course. Ergonomic seams allow for unrestricted movement, and ribbed cuffs and a ribbed hem make sure the polo sits tight against your body for a masculine silhouette.

The front button placket is a classic style touch.

RRP: 89 GBP MEN’S IKE WARM PANTS Available in: atlanta blue, steel grey, blue stone, black and desert.

The perfect winter golf pants in regular fit. As stretchable and comfortable as the iconic Ike Pants. Designed in a regular fit and replete with handy pockets for your score card, coins and golf pens, these understated golf pants have a fleece lining to keep your legs warm when you’re lining up your next shot. The ultra-stretch material aids your swing, while the waistband with silicone tape insert holds the pants comfortably in place.

RRP: 159 GBP www.kjus.com

SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

COMPETITIONS

WIN A PAIR OF CROSSRANGE SUNGLASSES AND BACK PACK We have teamed up with Oakley to give one lucky reader the chance to win a pair of Crossrange sunglasses and back pack.

CROSSRANGE PRIZM GOLF Made with interchangeable temples and nose pads that let you adapt style and performance for a life that never slows down, Crossrange™ bridges the gap between your lifestyle look and your active interests by giving you the ultimate in versatility.

in colours precisely tuned to maximise contrast and enhance visibility.

RRP £160 BIB BACK PACK The B1B Backpack is the consummate accessory for the modern athlete seeking high-volume capacity with fewer bells and whistles. A padded laptop sleeve lets you take your computer along for the trip, and multiple zip pockets offer the secure,

PRIZM™ LENSES Prizm™ is a revolution in lens optics built on decades of colour science research.

Prizm™ lenses provide unprecedented control of light transmission resulting

specialised storage a busy day demands.

Made with a 600D polyester exterior and 200D polyester lining plus padded adjustable straps, this Oakley pack maintains durability and carrying comfort anywhere it goes.

RRP £40 TO ENTER email your name and contact details to oakley@surreygolfmag.com

WIN THE NEW VISION ELECTRIC TROLLEY FROM GOLFSTREAM Here’s a fantastic opportunity to snap up a NEW Vision golf trolley from Golfstream Ltd with an RRP of £449.

• 2 00watt whisper-quiet motor that will carry clubs with ease across all terrains.

Packed with premium performance features the aptly named Vision golf trolley comes with a revolutionary new Caddy White display screen that can be read in even the brightest, most direct sunlight. If this isn’t enough, their simple, one-click open and close mechanism makes the Golfstream Vision the easiest and simplest electric trolley to use in the world of golf.

•B atterycharge indicator

Other features include: • Small fold down size – it’s one of the most compact trolleys in the market.

• High-grip slick PU tyres are five times more durable than normal tyres.

• F ull colour customisation – choose from five vibrant colours • An 18-hole lithium CaddyCell LifePO4 battery As standard, and as with all Golfstream trolleys, the Vision holds your golf bag firmly in place using the side arms, rather than balancing it on the central spine. A non-clogging front wheel housing and easily detachable main wheels ensure that cleaning and servicing is as easy as can be. The Vision can be programmed for left and right-handed use, comes with a distance control function, with speed

increments of 0.5 and has a magnetic latch that holds the trolley together in the folded position – for easy carrying. www.golfstream.co.uk TO ENTER email your name and contact details to vision@surreygolfmag.com

Visit www.surreygolfmag.com for full competition terms and conditions

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SURREY GOLF MAGAZINE

Looking for a fantastic experience on your next society or away day?

Why not come and play Waterlooville Golf Club, home of the 2016 English Women’s County Finals?

We welcome groups from 12 to 100+ players.

Waterlooville Golf Club is one of Hampshire’s friendliest clubs and you are sure to have a great experience, from the warm welcome, to the fantastic championship course right through to the great food after your game.

If you haven’t played it, put it on your bucket list!

The friendliness of the welcome, the presentation of the course and the quality of the greens were all outstanding.

Andra, Gloucestershire Team Captain

GOLF DA YS FROM A S LITTLE AS £31.5 0

To book your day at Waterlooville Golf Club please call 023 9226 3388 or email admin@waterloovillegolfclub.co.uk

PURE. DISTANCE .

TRUE INNOVATION. The new i500 iron. Its exceptional distance and towering ball flight come from a forged face and metal-wood like construction. Its look appeals to players who put a premium on performance. Get fit today or visit ping.com.

©2018 PING

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