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2 TEE TIMES | March 2018
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
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INSIDE Paul pips Tiger to Mixing in Sixes AND THEsexes WINNER IS. . . the post Team EventReflecting Debut Women As Rose, Popular Quick-Fire Golf on a For marvellous Masters: Justin Hampshire’s favourite golfing son, madeReturns us so proud as he played his role in one of the tightest but most gentlemanly showdowns in the history of the event
Rory: My Green Jacket wedding wish – Page 4
Another big step forward in the drive to widen the interest and appeal of modern golf has come with NORTH Hants Golf Club in Fleet will have the inclusion of women to find some more space in its Justinin Room to recordevent. the continuing All in the mix: Thomas Bjorn, Catriona Matthew, Melissa Reid and Charley Hull aRose major team
GOLF SPORTSMANSHIP
exploits of the county’s favourite Ryder Cupson. captain Thomas Bjorn will partner golfing his Solheim Cup counterpart Catriona Matthew the European Tour includes Room willwhen be found for mementoes of the women in a teamtogolf event for the first those time. 2017 Masters be placed alongside of Rose’s U.S.inOpen triumphTeam’ in 2013 and his They will play a ‘Captain’s in the Olympicrunning Golf Gold. second of the GolfSixes tournament to be held at the Centurion Club near St Albans But month. while Rose was pipped at Augusta by next Sergio inevitable disappointment The fieldGarcia, will alsotheinclude an England women’s for his fans was counterbalanced by aCharley side, with Georgia Hall combining with display of Melissa skill andReid sportsmanship which was Hull, while of England will partner a credit to both men, and to a sport which Norway’s Suzann Pettersen in a European still pridesteam. itself on honesty and fairness. Women’s
million euro (£880,000) tournament, which aims to be golf’s equivalent to cricket’s Twenty20 format. Bjorn said: ‘When the opportunity arose to play as Ryder Cup captain, I thought if we are going to move forward then it was only right to speak to Catriona as the Solheim Cup captain. We’re both really looking forward to it.’ The move has the full backing of the Tour’s all-male Tournament Committee. ‘They came back to us and said ‘make it as creative as you possibly can,’ Mr Pelley added. ‘We still want it credible, we still want a number of men’s teams but if you want to extend it beyond that then you have our full blessing. And that’s all we needed.’
Keith Pelley, the European Tour’s chief Yes, the final round the between two Ryder executive, described ide of these a Captain’s Cup titans was bound to be emotional. Team as ‘a stroke of brilliance’ for the oneRose was edging his way towards a second Major, and Garcia was trying to secure his first on the very day which would have been the 60th birthday of his hero, Seve Ballesteros. Rory McIlroy gave himself a huge boost in his preparations for this month’s as he emotion securedforhis picked up ButMasters the overriding spectators of his first victory since September 2016. theThe final round wasNorthern the way these twocarded an eight-under-par 64 to finish on 18 under, 28-year-old Irishman three ahead of Bryson DeChambeau in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Europeans fought the fight. ‘I played a perfect round of golf,’McIlroy told Sky Sports. In ‘ the round, I’vefinal missed it, I they reallywere havetoe-to-toe missed it,rivals and to play the sort of golf that I played today butunder not opponents, supremely competitive that pressure, I’m really proud of myself. yet gentlemanly, acknowledging each other’s ‘ I’mwith just asoknuckle-touch happy to be back the winner’s circle again and win a tournament that has skills or a in nod. Arnold Palmer’s name on it, someone that means so much to us in the game of golf.’ Hampshire’s Justin Rose finished in third place on 14 under, while Tiger Woods was tied for fifth 10 under. • Turn to on Page 4
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The idea to create a Captain’s Team originally came from Bjorn’s caddie Ken Herring. ‘It is a stroke of brilliance, I think it is fantastic,’ said Mr Pelley. ‘Then we added four of Europe’s leading women to make up two more teams and when you combine it all together men and women playing together for the exact same prize purse at the Centurion Club, it is a natural progression for GolfSixes. ‘If you have Thomas Bjorn and Catriona Matthew playing, first of all it helps the Solheim Cup which is fantastic, it also helps the Ryder Cup brand and the combination of men and women playing together gives us an opportunity to widen our fan base.’ Mr Pelley hopes the event will help to melt the image of golf as an unchanging bastion of tradition and history, and is in tune with the views of modern society: ‘The modern world is saying: Let’s have men and women competing.’ ‘We need to be credible yet entertaining and those are the two descriptions that we use in Well played, Masters mate: At the end and everything that we are trying to do. This will be on the course, Rose and Garcia were a very credible event, it’ll be very competitive, sporting gentlemen it’ll be very entertaining and that’s the formula for success.’ The female players will play off forward tees and the field will also include 11 men’s teams, featuring defending champions Denmark, who will again be represented by Lucas Bjerregaard and Thorbjorn Olesen.
We meet the 10th tee hell hound England’s Bus PassPaul Casey pipped Tiger Woods by one shot to win Golfer – Page 16 title, and his second PGA Tour
then indulged in a little bit of hero worship the manspell he just beat. Philip’sforsecond The 40-year-old, whose only previous PGA as Hants skipper Tour title camePGA in 2009, carded the joint – Page 16of the day with a six-underlowest score par 65 to finish on 10 under at the Valspar Championship.
Hampshire Jenny’s lifetime accolade – Page 16
Was this golf’s worst injustice The guy made it look easy ever? for a long time – Page 24
Casey, himself 13 times a winner on the European Tour, said afterwards of Woods: PLUS ‘The guy’s got more victories than all of us put together. Reviews this month! 2 Course ‘He made it look easyCentre for such a long time Bird Hills Golf and it’s not. I won a few times in Europe - page 14-15 but to get my second victory on the PGA Tour, it’s emotional. I’ve worked hard for it.’ Romsey Golf Clubback after longWoods himself, coming running back problems and preparing - page 19-22 for this month’s Masters, said his game ‘wasn’t quite as sharp’ on Sunday as it had been in round three. But he added: ‘I keep getting just a little bit better. I had a good chance at winning this tournament. A couple of putts here and there and it could have been a different story.’
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2018on| pages TEE TIMES ROMSEY GOLF CLUB - Book an afternoon Golf Society for £25pp - Read our 4 page CourseMarch Review 19-223
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Open play-off If this year’s U.S. Open goes down to a ply-off, it will be decided by a twohole aggregate format. The championship has previously been extended by a day and tied players competed over 18 extra holes. Critics complained that the extra day, a work day for most of the population, was a let-down.
OK, BILLIE, WHAT’S THE YARDAGE ON THIS HOLE? A retreat in Seneca, Oregon, will use goats as caddies on a seven-hole course called McVeigh’s Gauntlet, the New York Post reported.
The US Golf Association confirmed that the US Women’s Open, US Senior Open and US Senior Women’s Open would also feature a two-hole aggregate play-off. If this leads to a tie after the two holes, it will become sudden death. USGA executive director Mike Davis said: ‘We know how important it is to everyone in the golf world to see play conclude on the Sunday of a major championship, and to award the trophy to the champion,’
STARS HIT BACK AT LOUDMOUTH LOUTS
It is being called one of the worst blights on professional golf, and Rory McIlroy reckons that Tiger Woods loses two shots to the field per tournament because of it. The problem is golf fans, particularly on the other side of the Atlantic. While the vast majority support players with respectful silence where appropriate, a small but growing number of so-called supporters cannot seem to resist calling out something crass. ‘Get in the hole’ has been joined by ‘Mashed potatoes’ as the favourite shouts. Tiger Woods’ comeback was marred by the latest high-profile example. Just as he was in mid-stroke on an important birdie putt in the Farmer’s Insurance at Torrey Pines, there it was again: a rowdy ‘Get in the hole’ cry. Tiger missed the putt. Not cool Tiger glowered his disapproval, and some in the crowd objected to the oaf. One yelled ‘C’mon, man!’ and another shouted: ‘Get him out of here.’ Even the course announcer called it ‘not cool’. Rory McIlroy, Woods’ playing partner at the time, said after seeing Tiger Mania at close quarters: ‘I swear playing in front of all that, he gives up half a shot a day on the field – it’s two shots a tournament he has to five to the field because of all that goes on around. ‘It’s just tiring. I’ve got a headache after all that.’ Some of the shouts are just sheer nastiness. Justin Thomas, the world number three, is prepared to take on fans whose behaviour is often beer-fuelled. After the Tiger episode, Thomas had a loud-mouthed spectator ejected from the course. As he moved from one green to the next tee, he heard a fan yell: ‘I hope you hit it in the water’. Then after Thomas dispatched a superbly accurate tee shot, the same spectator shouted: ‘Get in the bunker.’
4 TEE TIMES | March 2018
Thomas said afterwards: ‘I was like, OK, I’ve had enough, ‘. Microphones picked up Thomas telling the fan, ‘Who said that? Was it you? Enjoy your day, you’re done.’ Thomas spoke for genuine fans when he added: ‘He got to leave a couple of holes early. ‘Just because you’re standing behind the ropes doesn’t mean that you can - I don’t care how much I dislike somebody, I’m never going to wish that kind of stuff upon them. I felt it was inappropriate, so he had to go home.’ Iain Carter, BBC golf correspondent, wrote: ‘It is refreshing to hear top stars taking a stand against those loudmouths. They ruin what should be one of the more civilised of sporting experiences. ‘Organisers who run tournaments should also take responsibility; after all, they are happy to cash in on the takings from all-day beer tents. At the last Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, those tents were in plentiful supply and open from early morning. ‘The abuse hurled at Europe’s players, primarily Danny Willett, grew in volume as more and more booze was consumed. ‘It becomes an even more dangerous mix when it is a match on partisan lines rather than a run-of-the-mill tournament. This should be considered carefully ahead of this September’s match between Europe and the US at Le Golf National. ‘The irony at the last Ryder Cup was that Willett was singled out because his brother had written an article branding US fans as, among other things, ‘pudgy, basementdwelling irritants stuffed on cookie dough and p***y beer.’
A spokesman for The Retreat & Links at Silvies Valley Ranch said: ‘We will get you a caddie who really knows the course and won’t give you bad advice — and they work for peanuts.
Phil’s back Five-time Major winner Phil Mickelson has registered his first victory in nearly five years. The hugely popular American’s previous win was in the 2013 Open before beating Justin Thomas in a play-off in the WGC-Mexico Championship.
‘The kid caddies can carry drinks, balls, tees and a few clubs in special satchels strapped to their bodies and are professionally trained on the course.’
Thomas chipped in for eagle at the last for a seven-under 64 but could only watch as Mickelson birdied the 15th and 16th to post 66 for a 16-under total. Mickelson, 47, parred the first extra hole to win his 46th title and end a run of 101 tournaments without a win.
Colby Marshall, head of livestock and guest services at the ranch, said: ‘Goats are very social animals, they are very fun, and it is going to add a whole lot of fun into the game of golf.’
England’s Tyrell Hatton missed out on the play-off after a bogey on the 18th. He told the European Tour website: ‘You don’t get many opportunities to win WGC events and I feel like I’ve thrown a really good opportunity away. So I’m pretty upset, definitely angry.’
‘As it turned out, there was a noisy minority who lived down to PJ Willett’s assessment. ‘Now, though, it is America’s Player of the Year who is calling out those who seek to take advantage of what should be respectful silences, just to have their tiresome voices heard around the golfing world. ‘Thomas is a legitimate big noise in the game and his views on how spectators go about watching him are well worth a listen.’
Tiger reacts to a putt ruined by a shout from the crowd
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March 2018 | TEE TIMES 5
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Clubs
in the boot LUDLOW AND SHROPSHIRE
Two very different golf courses, all visited as a consequence of journeys in the summer of 2017, for very different reasons, both family related and enjoyable but with the added benefit of savouring golf on new courses or old trusted venues revisited. The first was the Notts Golf Club, better and more affectionately known as Hollinwell, and a truly wonderful majestic course, the second farther to the west on the England Wales border at Ludlow in Shropshire. A country cottage rented in Craven Arms was the ideal base of operations, which would extend from golf to fly fishing, walking and sightseeing, and my passion for bird watching, and of course assessing the merits of the local hostelries, all of which passed muster with flying colours. The golf club in Ludlow, the oldest in Shropshire and founded in 1889, it is adjacent to the race course, not an unusual situation in a number of locations around the countryside. The first assumption might be that the ground is relatively flat, and that would be true of the opening holes, though later in the round good use is made of the natural rise in the terrain to offer interesting challenges on the 9th and 10th holes. The race track and the imposing presence of the grandstand is set to the right of the clubhouse, a homely single story building housing the professional’s shop and the clubhouse. The race track is the boundary on the many of the early holes and it cuts across the 3rd 9th 12th and 15th holes as the course winds it’s way out beyond the Ludlow road which bisects the course, and back to the clubhouse. This is parkland terrain which looks very similar to heathland, it has been populated by areas of gorse and other native shrubbery that add to the challenge and the colour. The layout was redesigned in 1927 by none other than James Braid, five times Open Champion, which in
6 TEE TIMES | March 2018
itself is justification for the visit. It proved to be an ideal holiday venue, not too long, and with receptive greens that putted well. The par 3’s are holes to remember, shots over water, into punchbowl greens each individual and challenging, particularly the back to back 13th and 14th holes. The finish to the front nine is another good hole, a dogleg right over the track to an elevated green protected by bunkers to both left and right. The par fours offer several birdie chances, but the driver needs to be working well to maximise the opportunities to the full, for on the shorter par fours the target is small. A most enjoyable venue, and a welcome waiting in the clubhouse, with a wholesome menu and well served ale.
For those with a wish to trek or walk, the awesome majesty of the Long Mynd, the Townsbrook Valley and the Cardingmill Valley, all readily seen from the golf course, are just wonderful, spectacular scenery that will reward every step. My alternative course of action was to take the fishing rods and attempt to catch lunch, there can be nothing finer than to bring fresh trout from the water to the barbecue. Our session on the well stocked lakes nearby at Delbury Hall was successful, and four good sized trout provided an ample starter for all the family. This is a superb venue located by the walled garden, with two lakes, Garden Lake and Corve Lake, peace and tranquillity and excellent fishing. Shropshire has some wonderful and very interesting towns, and Ludlow is a particular example, black and white timbered buildings, a market and the castle set at the top of the square, nooks and crannies, little alleyways that house some excellent eating places, a town to simply wander around at leisure. There are several National Trust sites, such as Powis Castle and Gardens, and Chirk Castle. The local countryside abounds with picturesque villages, and each seems to have a sign for the delicious cream teas, impossible to pass as the late afternoon bodes.
The visit to the castle, sparked interest in the other historic sites all around, the close proximity of the Welsh Marches, and the invaders meant that many were built, and Ludlow and Clun are just two examples of the many within easy distance. There is a good choice of other courses in the vicinity, the Church Stretton Golf Club, set high on Long Mynd with it’s fabulous views, was designed by James Braid, and is the highest course in England. Hawkstone Park with two first class courses, is a short drive away, Welshpool is another intruiging venue that goes into the unusual category, but a fascinating example of where a golf course can by built, with more than a little ingenuity. There are several courses in the Shrewsbury area, which will merit a visit to play, so the choice is wide. Having played many of them, Hawkstone Park would have to take pride of place, with Hill Valley, Kington and Ian Woosnams’ old club at Llanymynach also high on the menu.
While the hunter gatherer was fishing for lunch, the rest drove to Rhyader, where there is a unique spectacle, the feeding of the red kites at Gigrin Farm. This is a bird sanctuary with a difference, where each day meat is place out in the fields for the red kites to come, on occasions over four hundred have been recorded diving to the ground to pick up the chunks of meat, a memorable sight that was the topic of conversation for days after, and another convincing reason to return. The border country and Shropshire in particular has an abundance of good golf courses and many other attractions, our week proved to be the perfect appetiser, and a return is already on the drawing board. Michael Rees
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
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March 2018 | TEE TIMES 7
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Sunshine maiden win for Eddie Eddie Pepperell says adjusting to the wintry weather back in the UK was harder than coming to terms with winning his first European Tour title. Pepperell, from Abingdon in Oxfordshire, won the Qatar Masters for his maiden victory. Despite his success, the 27-year-old was taking a break from the tour for six weeks to rest and recuperate. ‘That was always going to be the plan,’ Pepperell said. ‘I just wished I’d picked a time without any snow.’ Pepperell, who finished a stroke ahead of compatriot Oliver Fisher on 18 under, felt confident his first tour win would come following a number of top 10 finishes and a strong performance at last year’s U.S. Open. He also had to reclaim his European Tour card after being forced to go through qualifying school in 2016.
First European Tour victory: Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell
‘I always felt the win would come and it’s almost been an inevitability,’ he told BBC Radio Oxford. ‘That’s not to sound arrogant. It’s just how I’ve seen it. ‘My whole game’s been progressing for a while now and I made a small change in personnel that’s obviously had an immediate impact. ‘Moving forward, I’m excited to maintain the level that I’m at and to keep improving. But more immediately, it’s about keeping warm while I’m out walking the dog.’
Can Rory banish putting demons on the devilish Augusta greens? Speed is important and lag putting, they are big keys and I feel like I’ve started to get lot better at that, especially at Augusta because there is a lot of break and a lot of different slopes but I think I have it figured out. Rory McIlroy believes his putting is now good enough to secure a first Masters Green Jacket and complete a career Grand Slam. The four-time Major winner has dropped from number one in the world rankings to just inside the top 10 – and putting has been his biggest problem during the slide. The 28-year-old’s last victory was in September 2-16, but he had an encouraging start to 2018 with top-three finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and has been spending time with putting coach Phil Kenyon to work on improving what has often been the weakest part of his game. ‘At Augusta you don’t need to putt great, you need to not waste any shots, no three putts, hole everything inside five feet,” McIlroy told BBC Sport NI. ‘I feel good about Augusta, I know the golf course so well.” The Northern Irishman The greens at Augusta are traditionally the most difficult of the year, but McIlroy thinks his putting game can master them. ‘You don’t need to hole every 15 footer that you look at, you need to be efficient, just not to be wasteful.
‘Speed is important and lag putting, they are big keys and I feel like I’ve started to get lot better at that, especially there because there is a lot of break and a lot of different slopes but I think I have it figured out.’ McIlroy has never before in his professional career gone 17 months without a win, but he is upbeat about donning the famous Green Jacket and become only the sixth player in the history of golf to secure the Grand Slam of all four Majors. McIlroy says he’s approaching this month’s event with confidence although admitting that the harder he tries, the harder it gets. “I feel like if I just play my game it will all happen some time soon hopefully - any week I tee it could be the week. ‘Winning is important and that’s how I will be judged, but right now it’s about the journey and getting back there. I’m not that far away. ‘Since I won the Open in 2014, the Masters is the biggest event of the year. ‘This will be my fourth go at it (achieving the Grand Slam), I have had three top-10s in the last three years and I played well - but just not played well enough.’
briefly Furyk’s picks United States captain Jim Furyk has named Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker as his vicecaptains for this year’s Ryder Cup. At Le Golf National in Paris in September, America will be trying to retain the trophy they won in 2016 by beating Europe at Hazeltine. Furyk had already named former captain Davis Love III as his first assistant. ‘ To win in Paris will be a great challenge,’ said the U.S. skipper. ‘To have Steve and Tiger share the journey is important for me and for American golf.’ Woods will be making his second appearance as a vice-captain, having been an assistant to Love in the 2016 victory alongside Furyk, Stricker and Tom Lehman. The U.S. have not won in Europe since 1993 at The Belfry and face a European team led by Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.
Looking up Bristol’s Chris Wood was beaten by two shots at the Oman Open but was still able to see it as a positive. Wood, who was part of the 2016 Rydeer Cup team, had missed his first three cuts of the season. Dutchman Joost Luiten won the Oman tournament and Wood said: ‘I’m pretty down but in the grand scheme of things it’s night and day to how I’ve been. ‘ After a couple of days I’m sure I’ll reflect and see it’s a big step in the right direction this week.’
The day when a troubled Watson asked himself: Crash survivor Is this my old-man moment? Ss this month’s Masters came round, the man who had twice eased himself into the famous Green Jacket was revealing how he almost quit golf. Bubba Watson was speaking as he claimed his 10th victory on the PGA Tour said he was “close to retiring” last year as he claimed his 10th PGA tour title with a twostroke victory in the Genesis Open. The 39-year-old, who spent several years in the world’s top ten but had sunk to number 117, was reflecting on the lady who prodded him into carrying on: his wife, Angie. ‘The last year and a half, almost two years, has been a struggle, because I want to be
8 TEE TIMES | March 2018
at the top,’ he said. I was top 10 in the world for a few years, so not being there you feel like: Is this it? Is this my old man moment where I can’t play golf again?’ After his Los Angeles win, Watson said he never thought he would finally pass the landmark of 10 Tour victories. He lost weight through illness last year and had to be convinced by Angie not to throw in the towel: ‘I was close to retiring - my wife was not close. ‘My wife basically told me to quit whining and play golf. She’s much tougher than I am. I was focusing on the wrong things - pitiful me and not how beautiful my life was.
Bubba Watson: ‘My wife basically told me to quit whining and play golf
‘Nobody thought Bubba Watson from Bagdad, Florida would ever get to 10 wins - without lessons, head case, hooking the ball, slicing the ball, can’t putt. ‘The trend is going in the right direction, I’m not saying I’m going to have a chance of winning (the Masters again) - but I’m in the field, so I’ve got a chance.’
American golfer Bill Haas has left hospital after being involved in a car crash which left one person dead and two injured, Los Angeles police said. The 35-year-old was a passenger in in a Ferrari which collided with a BMW in the Pacific Palisades. The Ferrari’s driver was pronounced dead at the scene. while Haas and a 50-year-old female were taken to hospital. Haas’ father, Jay, said his son has pain in his leg but no broken bones. The world number 67 is expected to make a full recovery.
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
March 2018 | TEE TIMES 9
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
BILLY CONTINUES HAMPSHIRE’S REIGN IN SPAIN
Billy McKenzie: Won title in all-English final. Image courtesy Adolfo Luna, Spanish Golf Federation.
Hampshire’s Billy McKenzie won an all-England final against Yorkshire’s Alex Fitzpatrick to become the 2018 Spanish international amateur champion at La Manga.
Billy’s mentor this year was another Hampshire golfer, Scott Gregory, who was the 2016 Amateur Champion and a losing finalist in the Spanish amateur of the same year.
‘I wanted a decent result to start the season and felt that getting to the last 16 would be acceptable. After that I just freed up and played it one game at a time and it became, if not easier, but less pressured.’
The 23-year-old from Rowlands Castle won the biggest title of his career so far on the 34th hole of the final, defeating his opponent 3/2. ‘It’s unbelievable,’ he said afterwards. ‘To win one of these big match play events is a dream come true.’
‘I’m very close with Scott, we have the same coach, and we have been pushing each other on. I’ve seen his successes and watched him grow as a player and go on to great things. He’s been giving me advice this week and telling me to bring it home, which he couldn’t!’
McKenzie’s closest shave was in the quarter finals where he had to go to the 20th, but he won his semi-final 5/4 and soon took charge in the final, leading by three holes after the first 18.
McKenzie was continuing a strong tradition of winning Hampshire golfers, starting with Major champion Justin Rose, who tweeted his good wishes. Meanwhile Gregory, who is now a tournament professional, and Harry Ellis (Meon Valley) have kept the Amateur Championship in county hands for the last two years. In all, there have been English winners in the last 15 years.
McKenzie just scraped into the match play stages in the 32nd and final spot after an anxious wait at the end of the 36-hole qualifying. But from then on his trajectory was rapidly upward – he defeated top qualifier and England international Jake Burnage (Saunton, Devon) by one hole in the first round and gained steadily in confidence.
He pushed further ahead after lunch, getting to six up after 22 holes. But then Fitzpatric) launched a fightback and after 32 holes only trailed by two. However McKenzie won the 33rd to return to three up and after the players halved the 34th the title was his. ‘We are one big team, we all support each other and I couldn’t hope for a better band of lads to push for me this week, as I have pushed for them in other tournaments.’
As golf mixes it up with battles of the sexes, there’s still plenty of skill and courage on the women’s tours
Broken-jaw Jessica’s brave win Jessica Korda completed an amazing recovery from jaw surgery to card a five-under 67and win the LPGA Thailand event. The 24-year-old American had an operation in December that involved breaking her nose and jaw in five places to correct an overbite which had caused headaches. Korda still has 27 screws in her face after a three-hour operation that meant she had to eat via a syringe for weeks. But despite suffering with some numbness in her face, she completed her season debut with a cumulative course record 25 under to cruise to a fifth LPGA Tour title. ‘ I can’t believe it,’ she told the LPGA website afterwards. ‘Today was such a blur - I was just trying to make birdies. I tried to relax, but I was nervous. ‘ This tournament was my first event in my rookie year. I played really, really well this week.’ She led from the first round, finishing four shots ahead of Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn and the USA’s Lexi Thompson. Six birdies sunk in her final round also included a 25-foot putt on the 17th. England’s Charley Hull carded a 66 to finish on 13 under.
10 TEE TIMES | March 2018
Maiden title is a family affair Meghan surprises herself with a big Tour breakthrough England’s Meghan MacLaren claimed her first Ladies European Tour title with a two-shot victory in the Women’s New South Wales Open in Australia. The 23-year-old overnight leader carded a level-par 71 to win on 10 under. ‘It feels incredible. I didn’t think those words would be coming out of my mouth so soon,’ said MacLaren, playing only her 11th LET event. ‘It can take some players years before they get over the line. To do it now gives me a lot of confidence.’ MacLaren opened with two birdies in her opening three holes at the Coffs Harbour course north of Sydney, to build a fourshot advantage that she maintained at the turn, despite Danielson holing four birdies on her front nine.
That’s my girl: Meghan’s father David, CEO of the Seniors Tour, flew in to caddie for her final two days
Rookie Danielson, who began the day seven shots of of the lead, carded another birdie on the 12th for a bogeyfree round. MacLaren could afford a three-putt bogey on the 13th and another dropped shot on the par-five 17th before a par on the last sealed victory.
Lydia Hall of Wales finished in a group of four who tied for fifth on seven under, while England’s Gabriella Cowley closed with successive birdies to post a 67 and five-under total. American Casey Danielson (66), Silvia Banon of Spain (68) and Norway’s Marita a Engzelius (71) finished joint second.
Michelle: This was my career-best putt Michelle Wie holed a 40-foot monster putt to win the Women’s World Championship in Singapore and hailed it as ‘the best of my career’. It was the American’s first victory since the 2014 U.S. Open and she did it in style, having begun the final day five shots off the lead. She rounded off a bogey-free 65 with that putt on the 18th to win by a single shot on 17- under. Nelly Korda missed a nine-foot birdie putt to force a play-off.
Wie, 28m saudL: ‘It was crazy, my head’s running at a million miles an hour. ‘ I wanted to win really badly, especially after what happened last year (her final round ruined by a four-putt double bogey). I had some unfinished business. ‘ I knew if I shot seven, eight under I’d have a chance and that was my one and only goal.’ Nelly Korda missed a nine-foot birdie putt to force a play-off while Jenny Shin bogeyed the last to end 16 under.
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Stories to be Told
The Donnington Grove Estate, set in beautiful countryside on the outskirts of Newbury, is spliced by the River Lambourn and bedecked with a varied and mixture of iconic English parkland and woodland. Records tell us that the house, the centre piece, was built by James Pettit Andrews between 1763 and 1772, on a site overlooked by Donnington Castle. It was designed by John Chute in Strawberry Hill Gothic style, and described as expensive to construct and costly to maintain, and was eventually sold to William Brummell (father of Beau Brummell) in 1783, and it was Brummell who turned it into a true country estate. By the time of his death, the estate covered 800 acres, and the house had been substantially extended, stables built, and entrances lodges erected. The superbly landscaped gardens were probably the work of William Brummell himself, as he had knowledge of estate design. When he died the estate was sold, as directed in his will, and the proceeds shared amongst the children. John Bebb an East India Company executive became the owner, until it passed to Head Pottinger Best, eventually being requisitioned for Allied Supplies Ltd for the war effort. Sometime after World War 11 ended the estate was sold to Hon Reginald Fellowes (the cousin of Winston Churchill) and his wife Daisy, the heiress to the Singer Sewing Machine empire. Renowned for her decadent behaviour, she had one of the most lavish collections of jewellery in Europe. The house became infamous for the parties held there, and Daisy had a little white cottage built in the style of the main house, where she would take shelter accompanied by her maid, and recover from her party excesses.
October 1644, in the midst of the Civil War, the Second Battle of Newbury was fought on the land between the rival armies of the Cavaliers and the Roundheads. The Parliamentarians had had several successes in the field, and had moved to Berkshire. On this occasion, the forces of King Charles 1 fought an unequal battle against the Parliamentarian army, which had twice the number of men at arms as the Royalists. The rebel army had laid siege to Donnington Castle, a key royalist outpost, but abandoned the siege when Charles came with reinforcements. Oliver Cromwell was among the commanders of the Roundheads, and it is believed that the flanking manoeuvre which was attempted was used for the first time in combat. The Battle however was inconclusive but both sides suffered heavy losses, and King Charles was allowed to retreat to Oxford. Nonetheless it was a significant event with far reaching consequences. The following year, with the New Model Army the throne was defeated, King Charles 1 executed and a republic declared and Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. The republic was to last eleven years until 1660 when Charles 11 was restored to the throne.
More radical change came about in modern times when in 1991 the estate was purchased by Shitenoji International. The Japanese buyers bought the site with the purpose of building a top quality golf course on the land. They were also responsible for the creation of the wonderfully tranquil temple area and ornamental gardens. As the twentieth century was heading to a close, the estate was to have a new and totally different purpose, an elite golf facility, in an era when golf was going through a period of high popularity and rapid expansion. Donnington Grove was to become a major player in the Berkshire golfing countryside. The Japanese then made a master stroke in appointing Dave Thomas to be the architect for the new course. The brief that Thomas was given was simple, build a course of championship standard that would blend in with the surrounding countryside, test the best players, but be enjoyable by those less accomplished. In my opinion, he met the criteria perfectly. The result is a modern resort style course, with USGA specification greens, American style bunkering, but looking perfectly in place in the rolling Berkshire countryside. From the back tees it is over 7100 yards, but from the yellows a more manageable 6576 yards, though still a tough examination needing all the clubs in the bag, only made easier if the driving is spot on. Work began in 1991 and on June 12th 1993 The Donnington Grove Country Club opened. In 2005 the estate changed hands when it was acquired by the present owners; it is now privately owned and managed and remains a successful independent and unique resort in Newbury.
However history had made a mark on the grounds centuries before the house was built, for on 27th
March 2018 | TEE TIMES 11
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Something for Everyone
As fascinating as the history of the estate undoubtedly is, the Hotel and Country Club are very much the hub of an up to date and progressive complex offering excellent accommodation, and a wide variety of sporting activities in additional to the first class golf course which is at the heart of the scene. The recently modernised and re-styled clubhouse was an ambitious project, part of a major new investment programme which included the total refurbishment of the bar and restaurant, the creation of three fully equipped beauty treatment salons and major work on the driving range. The changing rooms have the luxury of sauna steam rooms as well as very well furnished locker rooms. The restaurant can accommodate eighty people, and has marvellous views over the terrace toward the ornamental lake and the River Lambourn. The driving range and practice area is in the process of having ten bays installed, five of which will be under cover, and with the setting beside the lake will make practice a delight. This is now a real case of “Not Only But Also� for the quality of the golf course has long been recognised, and is the focal point of the location. The greens are second to none, fast and true and with enough undulations to test even the best putter. Dave Thomas created this impressive course on the 550 acre estate, a mixture of mature wooded parkland and chalk downland, with the river and lakes providing first class natural hazards. It was constructed in 1991, but it has the look and feel of a long established links, no doubt because of the setting and the classical backdrop not only of the house but also Donnington Castle nearby. It is no surprise that the venue has played host to EuroPro Tour events and numerous other recognised events on the golfing calendar. The course is the ideal venue for Societies, leisure
12 TEE TIMES | March 2018
breaks and visitors in general, but also provides everything that the club member could wish for. The importance of their involvement is paramount and fully recognised, with many benefits attached to the status of member at the resort. Membership and the loyalty card gives discounts for all the treatments and use of facilities at Donnington, and fully enjoyed by over 400 members, including sixty ladies and a very strong seniors section, active and very successful in representative competitions. With no joining fees and very competitive annual fees the club has much to offer the local golfer. The modern fleet of buggies and a very attractive half way hut are those important touches that add to the enjoyment of playing one of the best courses in the region. For those with wider sporting ambitions, there is wonderful game fishing on the complex, a perfect chalk and gravel stream with crystal clear water, with excellent wading and stalking in the river for trout and grayling and also more fishing in the lakes. The waters are stocked with brown trout and there are grayling to be had on the streams. For those needing tuition in this other recognised art, lessons can also be arranged. A perfect combination, golf and game fishing, the best of all worlds from my own point of view, and the ideal addition when enjoying a stay at Donnington Grove.
As well as the excellent game fishing, clay shooting is also on the agenda. Local expert Sean O’Shea is the instructor, offering lessons and advice for all standards, whether first time novices are more accomplished shots, and with all necessary equipment for a sample or something more. Archery can also be arranged and Combination Activity Days can be the ideal way to provide Corporate Days with a difference, for golfers to try new challenges in addition to the golf. There are so many aspects that can be built into the programmes that it would be difficult to find a more complete venue for a group activity. After the endeavours of the day, there can be nothing more satisfying than a return to the House, for food and refreshment whatever your tastes. The house constructed in 1760, but with every modern facility is in the Strawberry Hill Gothic mode, and in the early evening with the lights twinkling in the windows it is quite enchanting. Set in the lee of the ruins Donnington Castle, standing sentinel over the burgeoning complex. On my return visit after a gap of just a few short years, I was pleasantly surprised at the progress with all the new facilities, established and made to complement the course, which was already one of my personal favourites.
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12) Golf at Donnington Grove is typical of the style used by architect Dave Thomas, after a successful playing career he turned his talents to course design, became famous for his construction at The Belfry when in partnership with Peter Alliss, and his numerous courses in Spain, headed by the West Course at La Manga. There are two loops of nine holes, both very different in character, returning to the clubhouse in traditional manner, the front nine on higher ground overlooking Newbury, and the back nine, holes set out in classic parkland with several water hazards to spice the challenge. The 10th and 11th set the scene and the 14th reminds that water is still to be avoided. As you play the latter holes a glance left and you may see anglers wading deep water and casting for those elusive brown trout, or perhaps a silver grayling to take home for supper. A delightful course to play and enjoy, with enough scenery and wildlife to tempt you to spend a few seconds concentrating on things other than a little dimpled ball.
Twenty Fifth Anniversary is no need to be deterred by adverse weather, which will prove to be a real boon in the winter months, and an added benefit when wives and companions accompany visiting golfers for that leisure break with a difference. It has proven to be a very popular location for that very special wedding day, and offers the perfect setting for treasure wedding photographs. Donnington Grove is celebrating its Twenty Five Year Anniversary, a milestone worthy of recognition, and much will be happening during the course of the year. It would be the perfect time to visit for a stay, and with a wide variety of accommodation; plenty of options. There are three individual lodges each to accommodate two people, with sitting room, diner and fully equipped kitchen, with the secret garden and the Japanese Temple close by. The Summer House with its very attractive terrace has six suites, Lake View has ten ensuite double bedrooms, ample choice to satisfy the most discerning visitor, and in the main house there are eight further ensuite double rooms, with traditional bathtubs to soak away the aches of the golf adventures, or other sporting exertions. There will be promotional activities throughout the Summer and Autumn that will be attractive and enjoyable.
The location is ideal, whether travelling from the Midlands, London or the South, with easy access from good arterial roads and motorways, the M40 and the A34, just a few miles north of Newbury. General Manager Nigel Green and his team have a very flexible but highly professional approach, and will be happy to receive enquiries and to help to plan a visit that will be tailored to the individual requirement and certainly one to be remembered. Michael Rees
At the present time there are plans in train to install a new professional team to run the golf shop and provide tuition, changes that will widen the scope of service available to members and visitors, and to take place smoothly and with the minimum of disruption. A trait evident wherever you go in the resort, efficient and unobtrusive. With all the facilities on hand in the main buildings, it has become a very popular location for Corporate Meetings and Presentations, well located and with delightful setting and service. There has been substantial investment in the hotel complex and the sports facilities, part of an ongoing process which will enhance an already superb resort, and with all the essential ingredients now in place it can offer the perfect location for golf on Corporate Days, Society or group visits, particularly with some tuition attached. With the new Beauty Treatment rooms, suitable for both male and female clients, there
March 2018 | TEE TIMES 13
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
SHROPSHIRE AND THE WELSH BORDERS
Clubs
in the boot
There are so many delightful areas of the English countryside, that it is extremely difficult to choose a favourite, as each has its very own crop of golf courses that simply demand to be played, the perennial problem is which of the many to play. Shropshire certainly has abundant delights, we have already visited and enjoyed Ludlow Golf Club with the iconic racecourse as the perimeter. Shrewsbury Golf Club at Condover, Church Stretton, Hill Valley, Llanymynech with it’s spectacular views, Patsull Park and my old favourite, the Old Course at Hawkstone Park, one I can never resist playing on any visit.
river banks, and those lucky may spot a kingfisher. The finish is one to remember, a par three with a wicked green, especially under the watchful eyes of members in the bar.
It was left to an old golfing buddy to select the other treats for this latest visit, he opted for one on each side of the English/Welsh border, and with my parentage, the ideal choice.
at Adderley, which eventually moved to Sutton, the present site in 1926. The period of survival after the Second World war, in common with may other courses, lasted until well into the 1960’s. The current 18 hole layout, was completed in 1988, it is a parkland/ heathland course, and is in two distinct nines, the front nine around Salisbury Hill, and the back nine around Brownhill Wood. The club Bungalow is located
The first was a short ride to the charming Vale of Llangollen in Denbighshire, famed for it’s inland waterways with the Pontcyslite Viaduct, white water canoeing, the steam railway to the Horseshoe Pass and Falls, the Eisteddfod, and the sheer beauty of the Dee valley with the backdrop of the Berwyn Mountains. The golf club nestles at the bottom of the valley, shortly before you enter the town on the arterial road the A5, it is impossible to miss as you glance down to the course spread before you. It is one of the few courses in Wales that has been awarded the HSBC Gold Medal Rating, and not surprisingly has hosted many professional and amateur events. It is a classic parkland course that runs down to and along the River Dee. From the clubhouse on the hillside there is a magnificent view over the course, taking in the first and ninth tees and the 9th and 18th greens with the river and the mountains as a backdrop, the ruins of Dinas Bran Castle standing out high on the skyline. The club was founded in 1908 as a nine hole course, it has been developed over the years and is now 6705 yards from the medal tees with a par of 72. The opening par five looks to be a gentle introduction, but it will need a good drive and an equally good second to set up the approach over the pond to the green. The signature hole is the 9th, a long par four that follows the river, and will test every player, with a tricky green waiting when you get there. There are other great holes, the par 5 15th, and the 16th which returns along the river, time to glance left and see the birds on the
14 TEE TIMES | March 2018
A really enjoyable course with greens to remember. Market Drayton was the selection for the English side of the border, reckoned to be one of the hardest courses in Shropshire. Described, I found quite justifiably, as “A Hidden Gem” the title of the club history, written to celebrate the club’s centenary in 2006. The club was originally a nine hole course
overlooking the 14th and 15th fairways, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days enjoying MDGC or the other numerous delights nearby. The course is unforgiving, with out of bounds on at least half of the holes, so driving is at a premium and straight shots are the order for the day. The short holes are a challenge, both on those on the front nine are downhill, so club selection is priority one. Two holes commemorate noted past professionals, the first is Willis’s Whim, after long serving pro Percy Willis, and the tenth, Gadd’s Gem is rated one of the best par fives in Shropshire. Bert Gadd, who went on to achieve great things in the game, was the pro in 1928, he returned when he was 88 years old to both play and speak at the club dinner. The course is a real delight, with changes in elevation, wonderful views across to the Wrekin, and the most important fact, a course in superb condition, with fast true greens that are a test for any golfer. It is a real credit to the green staff. If you are in the area, take the trouble to seek out Market Drayton Golf Club, you will surely not be disappointed. Michael Rees
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
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David’s show has travelled throughout 58 countries worldwide and he has performed at many European Tour events, including The Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and six times at The Race to Dubai. His on-course commentary has become as popular as the show itself. The video captures the ‘magic moments’ on the course, punctuated with David’s quick wit and humour and is shown in the clubhouse at the end of the day, bringing lots of laughter amongst the players and guests. David is now taking bookings for 2018, so if you are looking for something extra special, make sure an appearance by him is at the top of your ‘Wish List’ for your golf event.
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March 2018 | TEE TIMES 15
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Clubs
in the boot
The Midlands was the heart of the industrial might of Great Britain for over a hundred years, heavy industry, mining and many specialised trades originated there. The smoke and grime were so bad it was christened, perhaps a little heartlessly The Black Country, it was so bad that when Queen Victoria rode through, she ordered the blinds on the windows of her train carriage pulled down.
Enville Golf Club
and play began in October of that year, a period of just nine months from the formation. Within three years the course had been extended to 18 holes, and in the following years the course was redesigned and extended by some six hundred yards, as there was ample land available.
Yet the skills of the workers brought fame to the region, Willenhall locks, Dudley chains (the Titanic anchor came from Netherton), Walsall leather and midst all the sweat and toil there were pockets of brilliance and dedicated skills, Stourbridge glass and crystal and Worcester porcelain to cite two of the most recognised. Hidden amongst these factories and pits, were some of the real survivors of the era of prosperity. Though much of the industry has gone, the bonuses that resulted from it are the bequests made for the benefit of future generations. In recent years there has been a huge amount of wonderful regeneration work, giving new life to the canal systems and other industrial sites. Two of the pictures provide excellent examples both of the history and also the beneficial changes that have taken place in the area. Firstly some superb examples of Royal Worcester Porcelain, and secondly the wonderful changes that have taken place to the canals that once served the heavy steel industry at Brierley Hill and are now a hub of the leisure industry. Close at hand, often just a few miles from the noise and clamour, were many wonderful golf courses, formed by the successful businessmen as they prospered and caused golf to spread and blossomed out into the nearby countryside. There are so many examples, Penn near Wolverhampton, Beau Desert at Cannock, and Sandwell Park in West Bromwich. Courses, any one of which would stand comparison with the best in the land. They spawned wonderful Black Country golfers, such as Archie Compston and Charlie Stowe. Just south west of Dudley and Stourbridge lies Highgate Common, a belt of sandy heath type soil that would become home to one of the most delightful golf settings in the region, Enville Golf Club. The club was founded by a group of enthusiasts in 1935, they met in a local hostelry in January of that year to consider forming the club on the common. A tract of land was leased from Sir John Grey of Enville Hall, and he also accepted the honour of being the first club President. In a remarkably short period of time, the first nine holes and a clubhouse were completed,
16 TEE TIMES | March 2018
In 1969, the original clubhouse was demolished and a new home was created in a former farmhouse, which was refurbished to form the current facilities. It is a short step across the country lane to the first tees of the Highgate and Lodge courses. For there are now thirty six holes of championship golf on the site. Firstly another nine were added in 1973, during the construction of which three stones were thoughtfully re-sited, they commemorated the replanting of trees to replace those hewn down to smelt iron ore along the River Stour,. They currently stand close to the 16th tee on the Highgate Course. Then in 1983 a final nine holes were opened on Captains Day of that year. The thirty six holes were re-organised to create two first class layouts, appropriately name Highgate and Lodge. The two courses start quite differently, the Highgate with a testy par 5, and the Lodge with an equally demanding Par 3. Both are a delight to play, demanding but eminently fair, and there are several holes, particularly the short holes that will be easily remembered. The Par 3 16th on Highgate is over two hundred yards, driving off from close to the small
pavilion and over the lake which has recently been extended. The 17th on Lodge is well protected by a huge angled bunker guarding the approach, three’s on these two holes are always a good result. The Highgate course is slightly the longer at 6556 yards, but with a par of 72 may be a little more tenable than the par 70, of the 6300 yard Lodge course. Both are in excellent condition, and the recently improved bunkering has added to the already fine layout on the Lodge, the subtle contouring a real compliment to the green staff who have completed some fine structuring. It is no surprise that the club has been chosen to host the Regional Qualifying rounds of The Open Championship in recent years. Visitors are most welcome at the club, and the friendly members soon make that evident, the perfect place to play whichever course you choose, you may well be spoilt for choice. I have been coming to play these two courses for over forty years and I have never been disappointed. Michael Rees
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When did you last tuck into a sandwich or tasty treat on the course? We all do it from time to time to boost energy levels or seek comfort from a disastrous round? Eating food after handling a golf ball that’s skimmed through terrain occupied by bunnies, birds and foxes (plus goodness knows what else) is probably not the most hygienic thing to do. Of course, these days there are various wipes and antibacterial gels to keep bugs at bay but somehow, therethe never seems time to dig them outThey of your bag,itscrub up, It’s interesting to compare miserable partner. consider far more eat and thenbetween take your shot. starting differences someone important to have a good day out with mates out playing golf and an experienced on a pleasant but forgiving course. Despite the potential health dangers of munching merrily on the course, most of us golfer in their twilight golfing years. manage to survive dodgy tummies and are far more likely to succumb to a nasty bug Beginners can sometimes struggle with picked up on a holiday abroad, or struck down by a virulent virus ‘shared’ by germ For instance, newbies are keen to play as long carries and dog-legs due to riddengolf grandchildren. much as possible so they’ll play in any inexperience and misjudgement. Sadly, conditions. Whereas,isolder golfers areand moresome elderlyindicating golfers also to cope (bugs with What’s interesting there’s more evidence soilfail microbes reluctant to venture course long as they lose their to you and me) areonto not the as bad as ifwethethought andcarries exposure to them canmuscle actually weather’s looking aMaybe bit dodgy arethe more and distance. keep us healthy. this,and plus fresh power air (vitamin D) as well as exercise is than happy to while away time in the why a Swedish Study found golfers live 5 years longer and have a decreased risk of clubhouse until the clouds pass by. New golfers are pretty naïve when it comes chronic diseases. to course management but they gradually We certainly acquire good competitions dose of dirt on the if we’re lucky enough When beginners initiallya enter learncourse, where even to place the ball, nevertheless, to stay on the fairway. To put it is perspective; just one teaspoon of healthy soil they realise they need more lessons to they tend to remain bullish and optimistic can contain more bacterial cells that there are people in the UK. That doesn’t improve their scores. The difference with even when they are in deep trouble.even older golfers is they’ve developed However, senior golfers know include the extra few already trillion bugs carried around by the average golfer onprecisely their golf the techniques but you it’s just question of whereremember to place thethis ball, even ifaspect. they can’t towel! So, when walka off with muddy shoes, positive whether their hips, knees or shoulders will always reach it, or see it! They’re Mindwith you,themost of us already know digging experienced around in theanddirtrealistic doesn’tenough do ustoany cope challenge. know if harm. After all, the majority of golfers are from a generation who happily spent they’ve just played a lousy shot it’s their childhood making mud in back gardens, with mates streets Initially, as a beginner, it can bepies difficult probablyplaying unrecoverable and in thethe chance of or venturing into the go fishing and enjoy a picnic (well, at least a trying to remember howcountryside many shotstoyou’ve scoring is pretty remote. couple of jam taken – let’s facesandwiches). it, multi-tasking is tricky when you’re so focused striking andto the ongoing Beginners soon understand a good part of Microbes may also holdonthe answer chemical restrictions on the tracking the ball. Interestingly, it’s not the pleasure of golf is about friendship but course. A recent chemical ban has already left Green-keepers trying to find uncommon for elderly golfers to also it’s the senior golfer who appreciates the alternatives ways of eradicating common pests like the daddy-long-leg larvae much ‘mislay’ the odd shot due to short term ‘good feel’ factor of the constant cracks to the delight of badgers, foxes and crows who devastate large areas of fairway memory loss. with a bunch of fellow golfers, regardless to find and eat them. Avoiding chemicals on the course is good news for us, so of how dire they play. if nutrients are added to encourage soil biodiversity and reduce diseases/drought When you’re fresh into golf, you’re keen to thenupletforthe of even the bugs weshows can still our sweets safelyage, sign anybattle games, if youbegin. don’t That way It just yousuck that regardless of your on the course. have a clue what you’re entering, or who the benefits of golf are huge for everyone. you’re playing with. Whereas the wiser, older One thing I’ve personally discovered about microbes is if you accidentally leave a golfer chooses carefully to avoid slogging week, you can guarantee to harvest a whole banana in your bag until the following over long courses, through soggy meadows your golfing bits and pieces. © Claire Kane colony of unwanted microbes amongst Follow my tales on twitter@golfsnippets or having to climb cardiac hills with a
© Claire Kane
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After 2 practice rounds the wait was over and Romsey found out who they would be facing in their group stages.
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They were drawn withMinimum England Home nationsrequired to book a Golf Day of 8 players champions Cuddington, Bothwell Castle from *Minimum of 15 players required Scotland and Pyle & Kenfig from Wales.
Tel: 372210saw | Email: Day 1 of02392 main tournament Romsey Portsmouthgolf@glendalegolf.co.uk V Cuddington in a 6 person Matchplay format on the Morgado course. It was a tough matchThe with some fantastic golf. Romsey Manor triumphed House with a 4-2 win.
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into the team at the last minute. There was not a lot Romsey's Josh Hannam could do and the match went to Beadlow Manor to played such fantastic courses.” Stephen W - Trip Advisor So it was to be“I’ve an allnever England affair with halve the match 3-3. neither team expected to make Kigbeare it past the Par 72 6528 Summer Pines Par 72the6400 group stage. Unfortunately tournaments rules state Beeches Par 69 is5803 that if a Match halved then the winner will Sizzlers 2018 Oakwood Par 68 5502 The final was held on the Morgado course be decided on the number of holes won. 16/07/18 - 29/08/18 Ashbury 9 + Pines Front 9 Par 69 5775 • FREE Unlimited Golf and Beadlow Manor took an early lead on 9 + Pines Back 9 Par 71 6111 • ½ 9. Price Buggies - £8 on Ashbury the front Things changed the back BeadlowPar Manor were to crowned champions Willows 54 1939 3G Sports Pitch nine with Romsey's Owen Grimes bringing in as they won 10-7 on countback. Romsey the first win, followed by George2018 Nicholson-Fullwere gutted asBreaks they lost on afrom: technicality. June / July Board Jack4nt with a Midweeks nail biting win on the last, £240pp • 3nt Weekends £195pp Romsey 2up. This was a great match and Romsey did Additional Facilities FREE to residents of our hotels themselves proud as runners Ranges up. They never Sports Racket Sports Leisure Family Bowlscame back with Tennis Archery Beadlow Manor winning theSwimming lost a matchFunhouse the whole week, the only team Tennis Badminton Spa & Sauna Gamezone Air Pistols next twoTable matches with some stunning golf, to achieve this. 5-A-Side Squash Snooker Waterslides Air Rifles Basketball Short Play Area Lasers now all square. It was down to Tennis the last two Ten-Pin PLUS unique Craft Centre featuring 18 tutored crafts, including Pottery & matches, and Romseys Aaron Danson took No one expected a small club toWoodwork do so well the next match making a draw most likely. and to be the second best team in the Uk is quite an achievement. This has been an 0800 197 7582 ashburygolfhotel.com The last match saw Beadlow Manors junior experience that the whole team will never rooms en-suite • Full board forget. • Child • Party discounts haveAll a hole in one after only being brought Wellrates done Romsey Juniors. !
Golf through Getting Down the Ages and Dirty
GREAT VALUE GOLF DAYS!
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Claire Kane
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Your Monthly Blog by
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March 2018 | TEE TIMES 17
BLACKMOOR GOLF CLUB
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Masters Memorabilia Sale
Tiger Woods Signed Photograph
All items open to offers
Millenium Golf Towel and Golf Bag Tag
18 TEE TIMES | March 2018
Vijay Singh Signed Flag
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Masters Ball
Seve Ballesteros Signed Flag
Masters Pin
Masters Coasters
Billy Casper Signed Flag
Contact Peter for more information on: 07870 631 040 March 2018 | TEE TIMES 19
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Memorabilia Sale
King Edward VIII Signed Golf Ball
All items open to offers Contact Peter for information on: 07870 631 040
ALGARVE MOURNS THE DEATH OF ‘GRANDFATHER OF GOLF’ John Stilwell MBE, ‘the grandfather of golf in the Algarve’, has died at the age of 93. Stilwell, who was born in Lisbon in 1925 to an English father and Portuguese mother, purchased the land on which Penina was then built to become the Algarve’s first golf resort back in 1966. His vision to build a five-star hotel and employ the expertise of Sir Henry Cotton to create the famous course, was the catalyst for the Algarve to become the leading golf destination in Europe, which now boasts 43 courses dotted along the stunning stretch of coastline. The original idea behind Penina was born in 1961 during a holiday in Praia da Rocha, when Stilwell was urged by his friends to come up with something to do in the winter.
Alonsgide Cotton’s creative design to transform the huge areas of swamp around Ria do Alvor and the plantation of around 300,000 trees, the Campo de Golfe da Penina and the luxury hotel of the same name opened for business in 1966 and remains a key landmark for golf in the Algarve more than half a century later. Before turning his attentions to golf in the Algarve, Stilwell served in World War II for the Coldstream Guards as he gained the rank of lieutenant and was also afforded the honour of hosting the Queen and Prince Philip during a royal state visit to Portugal in 1957. Maria Manuel Delgado e Silva, ATA golf product manager, said: “We are all mourning the death of John Stilwell and would like to pass on our sincere condolences to his family and friends. He was the grandfather of golf in the Algarve. “Anyone who has any connection with golf in the Algarve owes a huge debt of gratitude to him for his vision to build the first golf resort at Penina and pave the way for the wealth of courses and resorts we have today. “Without him, there simply would not be golf in the Algarve as we know it. But his legacy lives on and his influence will be remembered for many years to come.”
20 TEE TIMES | March 2018
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Switzerland’s oldest golf club, Engadine Golf Club, Celebrates 125th Anniversary in 2018 St Moritz, Switzerland, March 2018: Switzerland’s oldest golf club, the Engadine Golf Club, established in 1893 and located in the picturesque Engadine Valley, will this year celebrate its 125th anniversary with a number of commemorative golf events whilst also looking back on its rich, eventful history. The Engadine Golf Club not only has a fascinating story to tell but the fact that the golf club is home to two separate, very different golf courses located a mile apart and run by a single organisation, Golf Engadin St. Moritz (www.engadin-golf.ch), sets it apart from most traditional golf clubs. The 125-year-old Samedan course is an ancient, linksstyle parkland layout that runs along the flat valley floor, meandering through streams and characterized by broad fairways flanked by giant larch trees whilst its younger sister course at Zuoz-Madulain, opened in 2003, offers challenging elevation changes, undulating fairways fringed by meadow flowers and receptive greens as it weaves its way along the side of the mountain and between the pine forests. Situated on some of the highest terrain in the country and within a UNESCO World Heritage site, both Samedan and Zuoz offer stunning views of the towering Alpine mountains beyond and many of the charming villages of the Engadine Valley.
To mark the 125th milestone and ensure an unforgettable year for the club, Golf Engadin St Moritz is hosting a series of golf events over the summer as well as staging two exhibitions to showcase the unique history of the club. Preparations for the anniversary actually began in 2016 when the club decided to plant 125 sapling larch trees on the Samedan and Zuoz courses. With some of the existing larch trees even older than Samedan, 125 club members sponsored the planting of a single larch each to guarantee the future of both courses and their characteristic larch populations. This sustainability project will be recognised at the Anniversary Tournament on August 1 when Mixed Foursomes will be played, just as it would have been some 125 years ago. An Anniversary Dinner will then take place that evening at the famous Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St. Moritz. However the first event to launch the summer celebrations will take place on June 6 when the club’s partners, local dignitaries, hotels and nearby golf clubs will be welcomed to the Samedan clubhouse for a look behind the scenes at Engadine Golf and to view an exhibition of over 20 posters located around the Samedan golf complex depicting the club’s history.
This will be followed by the St Moritz Gold Cup in July, the Swiss Senior Amateur Championship the week after that and the three-day GolfersChoice Engadin ProAm over both golf courses in August. The Engadine Golf Club will also be the theme of an exhibition at the Design Gallery St Moritz from June to December. Along the famous giant escalator from Lake St Moritz up to Badrutt’s Palace, 31 posters will portray the times gone by at the club as well as the development of golf in the Engadine. Finally a 20-year-old single malt whisky by Glentauchers in just 246 numbered bottles, 125 of which come with a matching decanter designed by Robert Niederer, has also been produced to mark the jubilee. This being a nod to the fact that at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th century, sandwiches were washed with whisky for breakfast at Samedan! For more information on Golf Engadin St Moritz, go to www.engadin-golf.ch
Donnington Grove Country Club - Golf Packages 2018 Summer Package £50 per person 1st April 2018 to 30th September 2018 Tea, Coffee & Bacon Roll, 18 Holes & 2 Course Meal Anytime Mon – Fri / Weekends & Bank Holidays after 11am (Minimum of 8 golfers, full english breakfast £5 supplement, groups of 20 or more, the organiser goes free & receives a free 4 ball voucher worth £180)
Donnington Grove Country Club offers a winning combination of excellent championship golf course to test golfers of all abilities, a superb clubhouse, tasty food and friendly hospitality. We are located only 4.8 miles from the M4 junction 13 & just off the A34 close to Newbury town centre. Our facilities in 18 hole championship, par 72 – measuring 7108 yards from the whites, driving range, 2 practice greens, buggies available from £25 each, fully stocked ProShop with registered PGA professionals and stunning views of Newbury and Donnington castle.
To book, please contact – Tom Fleming / Golf Manager 01635 581000 ext.220 or email golf@donnington-grove.com Packages can also be tailored to suit requirements, please contact our Golf Manager to discuss.
March 2018 | TEE TIMES 21
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary (see page 12)
Monthlytotuition gettop youofon topgame of your thly tuition get youtoon your bygame by Advanced PGA Lady Professional, Katie anced PGA Lady Professional, Katie DawkinsDawkins
In it off the tee! Escaping the fairway trap with ease… Fairway bunkers can be a bit of a vague area with many golfers, some feel they should hit a sand iron because after all they are in the sand, some grab the 3 wood out of the bag with the intention of nailing it as far up the hole as possible. This can be a costly exercise, here’s how to make sure a sandy tee shot doesn’t result in your score being buried! First… Take a good look at the height of the bunker lip. This will determine your club selection, the higher the lip the more loft you need to clear it. Take more than enough loft to guarantee a clean exit. You may find there is hardly any lip so a rescue club or 7 wood may prove extremely effective. If there is trouble before the green then it might be worth laying up, so bear this in mind when selecting your weapon. Remember, our main aim is to get out first time. Go through your usual pre-shot aiming routine and ensure to take you practice swing bruising the grass outside the bunker. To get the ball to fly a good distance you must strike the ball extra clean, almost thinning it out. Any contact with the sand will absorb a good deal of you power.
Based at Ampfield Club Meon Valley Based at Ampfield GolfGolf Club andand Meon Valley Country Club GolfGolf andand Country Club
Pitching the easier way As I mentioned last month, this month I would show you another method of pitching that is a bit more user friendly. If you didn’t see last month’s issue on pitching, I would suggest you read that one before reading this one!
The pictures that accompany this article are of George Saunders. George, who has been capped for England, was voted 2017 Hampshire Player of the Year. He has a pitching action that is very user friendly. When I say user friendly, I mean that this action has a bigger margin for error than the action featured in last month’s article.
b) Hold the club a little tighter than you would normally do, this shortens your forearm muscles therefore lifting the base of the arc of your swing enough to nip the ball off the surface.
Just as a reminder, the article featured an action where the hands are well ahead of the club head before impact, making the angle of attack fairly steep. To avoid chunking into the ground, the hands have to move upwards slightly through impact as the club releases. Mistakes can be made by either the club releasing without the hands lifting or the hands lifting without the club releasing. This means that the timing of the two ends has to be very precise. If the timing is out, the shot can be thinned one minute and chunked the next.
c) Play the ball slightly forward in your stance – nearer your front foot so you strike it slightly on the up-swing.
No need for all this precise timing in George’s swing. He is sliding the club beautifully under the ball and has no fear of junking or thinning from even the tightest of lies.
Wiggle your feet into the sand a touch – just enough to give you a solid base. The biggest threat to this shot is an over-active lower body; you should feel the upper body is dominant and you’re swinging it more with your arms.
In the picture of him approaching the ball, notice there is not much of an angle between the left arm and the shaft of the club. No trying to lag the club in this action. Approaching the ball like this means that the club head is coming into the ball on a nice wide landing angle. Having this width makes it very easy for George to use the bounce of the club rather than the leading edge at impact.
a) Grip down the club a touch
Now look at the impact. See how the club head is directly under the hands, which means he is using the bounce on the club beautifully. No turning the club into a digging tool for George. Now look at the post impact picture. See how the left wrist has broken down slightly; something that many golfers try to avoid like the plague. This breaking down of the left wrist has allowed the club to pass the left arm without closing the club face, thus ensuring that the bounce of the club stays in play. I have found my best fairway bunker shots occur when I hover the club over the top of the ball at address, this again encourages that slightly thin shot. Take the club away nice and smooth, think tempo with this shot as you need control to pull it off. Above all practice the fairway bunker shots, with a seven iron if the lip allows. You can then tinker with exactly how much to squeeze the club, how high to hover the club head above the ball etc. Most importantly it will give you confidence to stride into that fairway trap and escape with ease.
Just a thought:
• Take more than enough loft to clear the bunker’s lip, rescue clubs are great out of fairway sand. • Hover your club over the ball at address to encourage you to strike ball first, not sand. • Being confident with fairway bunker shots will ease the pressure off the tee; you won’t be too concerned about going in them if you know the secret of getting out of them!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this two part series on pitching. If you need a little help with yours, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.
• PRACTICE, you will never get confident if you don’t. Good Luck!
If you need some help deciding how to improve your striking please contact me.
I’m officially on maternity leave until next Feb, but I am always happy to answer emails and give advice. So fire away and enjoy your golf… email: katie@katiedawkinsgolf.co.uk
Mobile: 07787 887578 Email: martin.butcher@aim.com Website: mbtourcoach.com
Katie x
22 TEE TIMES | March 2018
WATERLOOVILLE GOLF CLUB
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“I joined the Club because of the friendly atmosphere and the challenge of this long course. The condition of the course makes it a pleasure to play all year round.� - Steve Dunn
To join Waterlooville Golf Club, call 023 9266 3388 or email secretary@waterloovillegolfclub.co.uk
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