ISSUE 212 | Jan 2019 | Tel: 01329 834360 | Email: peter.teetimes@gmail.com | www.teetimesgolfmagazine.com
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2 TEE TIMES | January 2019
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Georgia swinging AND THE WINNER IS. . . towards the world GOLF SPORTSMANSHIP top spot Oh, Danny Boy! At last another win
Reflecting on a marvellous Masters: Justin Rose, Hampshire’s favourite golfing son, made us so proud as he played his role in one of the tightest but most gentlemanly showdowns in the history of the event
It was a long time coming, and all the sweeter for that.
England’s Danny Willett won the DP NORTH Hants Golf Club in Fleet will have World Tour Championship in Dubai to to find some more space in its Justin register his first title since donning the Rose Room to record the continuing Green Jacket the 2016 Masters. exploits of theatcounty’s favourite golfing son. Willett won his first Major at Augusta two years earlier age of 29 but Room will be foundatforthe mementoes of the nosedived from a career-high ninth in 2017 Masters to be placed alongside those of Rose’s Open triumph in 2013 the world U.S. rankings to outside theand tophis Olympic Golf Gold. 450 because of injury and a chronic loss of form. But while Rose was pipped at Augusta by
Bournemouth’s Georgia Hall: Now the youngest player to win consecutive Order of Merit titles
Dorset’s Georgia Hall is on the crest of a wave which she aims to sweep her to the dizzy heights at the top of world women’s golf.
Europeans fought the fight.
“ I’m going to work hard in the off season to get off to a great start in In the final round, they were toe-to-toe rivals the new season and take the next but not opponents, supremely competitive yet gentlemanly, acknowledging each other’s step.” skills with a knuckle-touch or a nod.
Hall is already walking in illustrious footsteps. England’s Dame Laura Davies previously held the record
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INSIDE
Rory: My Green Jacket wedding wish – Page 4
The exciting
We meet the 10th tee new face of hell British Asian hound Bus Pass Golf? Golfer – Page 16
- Page 4
Philip’s second spell as Hants PGA skipper – Page 16 Justin Rose, Brilliant
Davies: golfing nobility whose record Georgia has beaten
I spy the elusive Tweedy Man - Page 8
for the youngest player to win consecutive Orders of Merit awards, having won the second of her seven titles at the age of 23.
PLUS 2 Course Reviews this month! There nothing Bird Hillsis Golf Centre like a Dame - page 14-15
Fellow English star Charley Hull became the LETAt the Order Well youngest played, Masters mate: end andof on the course, Rose and Garcia were Merit winner in 2014, aged 18. sporting gentlemen
-Romsey PageGolf 14Club
“ It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hall added. “ I still feel like the same person and player and enjoy playing in every tournament, just playing golf.”
Was this golf’s worst injustice ever? – Page 24
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INSIDE
accolade – Page 16
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TEE TIMES 3
but a terrible format Hampshire -Jenny’s Page 8 lifetime
The Bournemouth 22-year-old has become the youngest player to win two consecutive Ladies European Tour Order of Merit titles.
Garcia, the inevitable disappointment “ ISergio ’m massively proud of myself,” an for his fans was counterbalanced by a emotional Willett told Sky Sports. display of skill and sportsmanship which was “It’s been a lotmen, of hard It’swhich She reached this landmark soon a credit to both and towork. a sport been tough theonpast twoand years. after her maiden Major victory in still prides itself honesty fairness. the Women’s British Open - the “ YYes, ou the never when a two winRyder is finalquite roundknow between these first English winner since Karen around thewascorner. Cup titans bound With to be everything emotional. Rose Stupples in 2004. was edging his wayyou’re towardsnever a second that’s happened sureMajor, if and Garcia was trying to secure his first on another win is going to come. The world number eight was also the very day which would have been the voted Players’ Player of the Year. 60thbeen birthday of his Ballesteros. “ It’s a hell of hero, a lotSeve of work. It’s just nice to be back.” “ That is my main goal, to become But the overriding emotion for spectators of number one,” Hall said. the final round was the way these two
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TEE TIMES | January 2019 3
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Alistair Magowan of BBC sport meets a young man who is in the vanguard of something special
Is this the Future Star of British Asian Golf? When England’s Aaron Rai won his first European Tour title at the Hong Kong Open recently, something marked him out as a bit different. The 24-year-old, who wanted to be an F1 driver before becoming a golfer, is one of a growing number of players of Indian descent making their mark on the game. One of first things outwardly noticeable about Rai comes in the form of his kit; the Wolverhampton-born player always wears two gloves, making him look more like a goalkeeper than a golfer. “I started wearing them from the age of eight for better grip. My game isn’t pretty without them,” he told BBC Sport. He is also not your average young sportsman to have earned £1m either. He is not on social media and he does not have an agent, all a process “to keep things simple,” he says. There is some great BBC archive footage of a five-year-old Rai in action at his local course after winning his first tournament: The interviewer asks him what he wants to be when he grows
No social media. No agent. Just a pair of gloves, a rare talent and a simple philosophy
Aaron Rai: First European Tour victory. Below, at age 15 he was given a Lee Westwood putting aid and completed 207 consecutive 10-foot putts.
up, to which a cheeky-faced Rai replies: “A racing driver.” Speaking now, he says: “That changed pretty quickly. I used to love watching Michael Schumacher back in the day, and it ran so deep that in junior golf competitions I wore Ferrari T-shirts and jumpers. “That was my thing even from a young age. But since eight or nine, it became very quickly just about golf.” A putting green was installed in the family’s back garden and by the age of 15, Rai was setting
records. After being given a Lee Westwood putting aid, he completed 207 consecutive 10foot putts. “I had a couple of attempts which weren’t good but at a third attempt, that happened,” he says. “It was about an hour-and-ahalf and afterwards I had a sore back.” After playing with his older brother’s hockey sticks as a toddler, he ended up with a nasty bruise on his head, so his mum went out to buy some plastic sticks to make things a bit safer in the living room. But she returned with plastic golf clubs and Rai got to repay his mum in poignant style in 2017. Dalvir, who is of KenyanIndian descent and grew up in
Mombasa, decided to escort Aaron to the Kenya Open in Nairobi. It was the first time she had visited the country in 47 years. So when her son held on to win his first professional tournament on Mother’s Day, it completed a perfect story as she ran on to the 18th green to congratulate him. “To be able to share that with her was very special”, Rai says. Rai, who made his major debut at the 2017 US Open, says pursuing a career in golf might not always have been met with encouragement from some parents of Indian descent. But he says his folks have always encouraged him and his dad Amrik has “always been there for support and guidance, but not in a pushy way”. Rai says traditional values about the choice of career could be a reason why there are relatively few Indian golfers on Tour, but he also admits there have been some rare cases of him being subjected to racism, which may also be a factor. But he says the rise of golfers of Indian descent across the globe is another sign that “the perception of golf is changing” and becoming “a lot more acceptable and more inclusive It’s great to see more and more guys out on Tour now.”
Belgians win their first World Cup
Big trophy: the two Thomases with Belgium’s first world golf hardware
4 TEE TIMES | January 2019
Belgium won the World Cup of Golf for the first time with Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry holding off Mexico and hosts Australia in Melbourne. The pair went into the final day with a five-shot lead and carded a four-under 68 in Sunday’s alternate shot foursomes to win by three strokes on 23 under. “It’s been a long time since I won and this feels as good as an individual title. I’m very happy,” said Pieters. Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter’s 70 left the Englishmen eighth on 15 under.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Paul Dunne finished joint 10th on 12 under, while Scottish pair Russell Knox and Martin Laird ended joint 14th on 10 under. Australia, backed by a vociferous home crowd, started six shots adrift of the Belgians but had four birdies on the front nine and three more from the 12th on the back nine. Mexico’s late birdies saw them close with a sixunder 66 to join Australia in second. Defending champions Denmark tied for fourth at 17 under alongside Canada.
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TEE TIMES | January 2019 5
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Take the Royal Route to Golf on the French Riviera
Renowned for delivering glitz and glamour on a widespread scale, there are few places in the world that can rival the French Riviera, and golfers can experience all this and more when staying at the exclusive Royal Mougins Golf Resort over the coming months. Famous for the Cannes international film festival, luxury shops, designer boutiques, beaches and opulent nightlife, the region also boasts some outstanding golf courses including Royal Mougins - the French Riviera’s only golf resort and named as France’s ‘Best Golf Hotel’ for the last three years at the World Golf Awards. Situated just four miles from Cannes, the resort offers first-class facilities on and off the course and players can take full advantage this winter and spring, with one night’s bed-and-breakfast including golf available from €165 per person. Bookable until April 19, 2019, the breaks feature 18 holes (including buggy) on the award-winning venue’s championship course - designed by acclaimed architect Robert Von Hagge and a four-time host of the European Tour’s Cannes Open - and an array of other attractive benefits. These include unlimited use of the golf practice area, a free club-cleaning service and access to the resort’s new concierge service and luxurious Royal Spa offering facilities including a sauna, steam room, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and a range of treatments (not included in price). Accommodation is provided in a spacious suite in Royal Mougins’ exclusive hotel while all packages, which are based on two people sharing, also include VAT.
6 TEE TIMES | January 2019
Royal Mougins has established itself as one of France’s premier golfing venues over the last decade, and helped to set the standard for European golf resorts thanks to the quality of its course, the pristine nature of its setting, and its top-of-the range services. Laid out in a wooded vale, Royal Mougins’ championship course winds its way around scenic wooded vales, rivers and lakes - several with picturesque, free-flowing waterfalls. The resort also features the Prime Golf Academy - with a par-three course and performance studio, an exclusive fourstar hotel with 29 designer suites, conference facilities, a Mediterranean restaurant ‘La Terrasse du 18’ and a 450m2 Royal Spa and fitness centre, situated in an authentic 19thcentury stone-walled country house, and a real estate agency. And Royal Mougins’ prime location provides guests with the opportunity to explore the many cultural and gastronomic delights of the historic nearby village of Mougins. Just 20 minutes from Nice airport, the town is overflowing with an array of internationally-acclaimed art galleries, museums and Michelin-star restaurants, which are home to some of France’s greatest chefs. www.royalmougins.fr
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TEE TIMES | January 2019 7
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WHO EVER HEARD OF A SCOT PLAYING GOLF? IT’S ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT GOLF WAS INVENTED IN YORKSHIRE He looked like a real golfer, and I haven’t seen one of those for years. He was propping up the pro-shop counter in one of those rather smart clubs in the South Downs. Old-fashioned flat cap in what looked like an authentic tweed. A high-fastening jacket with a belt round the back and those truncated trousers which tuck into knee-high socks, and all fashioned from a material so heavy and hairy that it might have been made from giant thistles. Years ago, this was how all real golfers used to look. Now they’re all wearing kit that would be just as suitable for the Tour de France or for the US Superbowl. Remember – it was the Tiger himself who suggested that white men only played golf so they could dress like black pimps. This side of the Atlantic, it’s the only place where perfectly respectable Brits may be seen to be wearing baseball caps.
I spy a real golfer: The Tweedy Man
They wouldn’t keep them on in Waitrose, would they? The Tweedy Man was a bit of a surprise all round. When he spoke - would you believe it? - the man was obviously a Scotsman. I mean, who ever heard of a Scot playing golf? It’s always been pretty clear to me that golf was invented in Yorkshire. Why do I say that? Well, whenever Yorkshiremen take up a sport, the first thing they do is to start quarrelling. Look at cricket. As it happens, the Tykes were – and still are – rather good at cricket.
What they can’t do, oddly, is get on with each other. Put two Yorkies in a changing room and within minutes they’ll knocking six bells out of each other. Cricketers like Brian Close and Ray Illingworth had to leave those sacred acres and go and play elsewhere. Illingworth, I seem to remember, ended up captaining Leicestershire and Close was the captain of Somerset. It’s perhaps worth mentioning here that Close was also a scratch golfer, playing either right or lefthanded. Cricket teams throughout Britain are delighted to recruit homeless and unhappy Yorkshiremen. So too are golf clubs. Every club in the south seems to have at least one disgruntled Yorkshireman in its ranks. I think they must be done by allocation
– one here, another there – and they are so in demand that there must be some sort of rationing system ensure no-one goes without. We must never forget the old saying: you can always tell a Yorkshireman but you can’t tell him much. I came across one the other day on the 18th overlooking the A3. I asked him if he was from that splendid county. He replied (and I think I’ve got this right): “Tha’s reight theer. Ivvery tahm Ah oppens me gob, fowk know wheer Ah’m from.” Which, translated, means: “You’re correct. Each time I speak, my county origins become all too clear.” How would I know that? Well, you can take the lad out of Wensleydale, but…
ascent is great but this format is not Making clubs Rose Justin Rose: world number impossible. And what of the casual one again, two months after sports fan, who would normally athletes such a safer place he had earned the honour for “ GasreatRosegolfing delight in seeing a Briton ascend lose out on the A programme has been put in place to ensure that golf clubs are a safe place for youngsters. Golf clubs are being urged to join a UK and Ireland scheme aimed at ensuring high standards to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. If any club has concerns about the welfare of a player, or the behaviour of a coach, volunteer, organiser, parent or a player, it can contact SafeGolf via the website. From there, the club will be put in touch with the lead safeguarding officer at the national governing body. A spokesman said: “We think it’s the most important thing we can all do for our sport.” To get SafeGolf registration, a club has to put safeguarding policies and procedures in place and appoint a welfare officer.
8 TEE TIMES | January 2019
a single week. But there was nothing quick about the gutsy way the Englishman seized his opportunity to become the world’s best player for the second time. Rose, the pride of Hampshire golf, needed to win the Turkish Open and got the job done at the first extra hole. It was a scrappy end; Li Hoatong’s dramatic three-putt capped a climax in which Rose nervously bogeyed the final two regulation holes. But a win is a win and every one of them is precious - this one more than most given its world ranking implications. While there is no doubt Rose’s victory ultimately made for dramatic viewing, it took way too long to unfold because the final round was played in threeballs - a trend
recognition they deserve”
says BBC Golf Correspondent Iain Carter. Here we pass on his views about a three-ball in grey washtrend which, he argues, is stifling the drama of competition
that seems increasingly prevalent and does nothing to sell the game as a spectacle. Too often professional golf goes into its own little world in a tournament week and forgets that life goes on elsewhere. To give the fantastic duel that developed between Rose and China’s Li its due attention would have involved viewers sacrificing nearly six hours of prime weekend time. A few of the most ardent golf fans might stretch to that but there are plenty who would find it
to the game’s summit? No chance. It was a big missed opportunity. How does this portray golf in its best light? Organisers should preserve the concept of twoball play for final rounds at all costs even in tournaments where there are no cuts, as was the case in Turkey. The perception and attractiveness of the sport is paramount and making the most of characters such as Rose is vital if the game is to grow. Rose, reigning Olympic champion and 2013 U.S. Open winner, was unfazed. “I love the grind of it,” he said. “I love that feeling. So the more I can be competitive, the more I can “The fun thing is I still feel like there’s improvement to be had and that’s what I’m looking for.”
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TEE TIMES | January 2019 9
Manufactured Specifically for the Golf, Country & Sports club
Sorting the truth from the Hype. Imagine how much you could lower your scores by getting the kind of distance you know you’re capable of. Adding distance to your drives changes the way you attack a golf course. And those extra yards give you a competitive edge. That’s why most of the top players in the world are so focused on finding the right equipment to increase distance. It’s no secret that most of us want to hit it longer. Golf club manufacturers know this and try to produce drivers that push the distance envelope. The problem? Most drivers sold at retail outlets are built to specs that simply don’t work for most players’ swings. What can you do to find the right driver? The answer lies in knowing what the most important club fitting parameters are and using them to match the right equipment to your swing speed. There are four club fitting keys I can think of that you need to focus on for maximum distance and consistency: loft, shaft flex, club length, and ball spin. 1. Loft Selecting the right loft may be the most important fitting parameter when you’re looking to increase distance. The biggest mistake golfers make is buying a driver with too little loft. A few years ago, the average loft on tour was 7° and the average club golfer loft was 10°. Today the average on tour has risen to 10° but the handicap golfer is still attempting to use the same loft. The slower you swing the more loft you need for distance. Slower swing speeds don’t generate the spin rate needed to maximize distance. Higher lofts give you more hang time and more distance with the same effort. 2. Shaft Flex It’s a fact: about 8 out of 10 players select a flex that’s too stiff for their swing. How does this affect distance? All shafts have to bend in order to get the ball airborne. Players with lower swing speeds need more flex to launch the ball on the right trajectory. Try to find the most flexible shaft you can handle with accuracy. More flexible shafts offer a couple of advantages: You increase distance with less effort because of the shaft’s extra kick. You’ll get better feel with less harshness. Better feel means more confidence, and that translates into better ball striking. 3. Club length A lot of us don’t pay much attention to club length. You probably think all clubs are built to standard lengths. The fact is, there are no standards when it comes to club length. Club length can change from brand to brand, or even from model to model within brand. Most drivers sold today are built to a length of 45.5”, and many drivers reach 46”. That’s because
longer lengths usually produce longer drives. You’ll hit occasional bombs at these lengths but your consistency suffers. How come? Your percentage of on-center hits decreases pretty quickly once you go longer than 45”. Miss the sweet spot by just a small amount and you can easily lose 17 yards on a drive. My guess is, if you go with a driver length of 44” your average drive will be longer, and more of those drives will stay in the fairway. That’s the reason most tour pros stay below driver lengths of 45”. If you’re struggling with your driver think about having it shortened to about 44”. I think you’ll be surprised at the results. 4. Ball spin What are the hottest selling golf balls? Just about any ball advertised as a “distance” ball. They’re all pretty similar; they don’t spin much, feel hard at impact, and are usually pretty inexpensive. Distance balls do work, but ironically, not all that well for most average players. The reason? Distance balls spin less. Slower swing speeds don’t generate the spin needed to make these balls effective. Players with fast swing speeds can take advantage of a distance ball’s lower spin rate. Slower swing speeds do better with more spin. Look for two piece balls that are softer and spin more; you’ll find they work a lot better in several ways: They stay airborne longer, maximizing carry. They spin more and that helps you hold greens better. They feel softer when hitting chips and short pitch shots. Just the Facts • A ssuming a consistent swing, the two factors that affect club head speed the most, are length of shaft, and your swing. • L engthening the shaft makes it much more difficult to hit the ball squarely. • A larger head on a driver is always more forgiving in terms of accuracy, and will give a higher trajectory than a smaller head with the same loft. • T he use of titanium, which is lighter and harder than steel, has allowed club heads to become larger because the same strength can be maintained with thinner walls. The overall weight of a titanium head is the same as a
10 TEE TIMES | January 2019
steel head, it’s just bigger and more forgiving. The increased distance that comes from titanium drivers is due to the longer and lighter shafts which increase club head speed, which in turn, increases distance. The main advantage of the titanium is the increased forgiveness on off-center hits which result from the use of longer shafts. • A more flexible shaft will increase distance, but may sacrifice some accuracy if to flexible for your swing speed and tempo. • A stiffer flex will help with accuracy but will sacrifice some distance if too stiff for your swing speed and tempo. • Most average golfers play with too stiff a flex reducing their potential distance.
• A low centre of gravity will help provide a higher trajectory, which will increase distance for golfers with lower swing speed. For more information or to receive the benefits listed above, contact me), to arrange an appointment, or just drop in and receive a friendly welcome. A copy of this and my previous articles for Doyle’s Dilemmas can be found online at http://www.servicetogolf.com/ doylesdilemmas.asp Should you have any questions on this or any equipment matter please call me on 01256 322007 or 07859 920055 Alternatively, email me directly at dave@madetomeasuregolf.co.uk or visit www.madetomeasuregolf.co.uk
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THE PRO SHOP East Horton Golf Club
The East Horton Golf Club Pro Shop offers ranges of equipment and clothing from many of the major manufacturers. Prices regularly checked against internet suppliers and we try to be competitive whilst offering professional advice, custom fit and trial facilities. THE PRO SHOP
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There is nothing like a dame (Dame Laura, that is)
Serial title winner Laura Davies: “The Solheim players will listen to her”
Golfing nobility will be joining the European management team for this year’s Solheim Cup. Dame Laura Davies has put aside her well-known reservations about being in charge of other golfers and accepted an invitation to be a vice-captain at Gleneagles. Skipper Catriona Matthew appointed Davies, the continent’s most successful Solheim player, to complete her backroom team for the contest against the United States in September. Davies, who has always said she has no interest in a captaincy
role, is the event’s leading points scorer with 25 and has played in a record 12 events. She will join Suzann Pettersen and Kathryn Imrie to support captain Matthew as Europe seek to win back the trophy for the first time since 2013. Speaking ahead of the Ladies European Tour’s season-ending event, the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de Espana, Matthew said selecting Britain’s most successful golfer was an obvious choice. “It was a no brainer,” said Matthew. “I’m delighted to have
Laura alongside me on the journey to Gleneagles. She is hugely respected by the players and has a great sense of humour, which will bring a bit of levity. “Her experience speaks for itself: she has played in 12 Solheim Cups, on both winning and losing teams, she has won 87 titles around the world and has been the lynchpin of the Ladies European Tour for the last 30 years. “The players in the team have such respect for her that if any of them need a question answered, they will listen to Laura.”
The Match: Was IT’S FRANCESCO It fun… or farce? THE FANTSTICO! Above, give me the money: The biggest players and the biggest pile - what nine million dollars looks like in folding money Above, Mickelson and Woods: Smiling all the way to the bank
It was billed as simply ‘The Match’. Two of the greatest players of the modern era, head to head in single combat at last. At stake: a winner-takes-all nine million dollars (£7million). The showdown between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson at Shadow Creek on Thanksgiving weekend was criticised by some as a pointless, indulgent exercise which served only to make two of the richest golfers in the world even richer. Others felt it was an absorbing clash of sporting giants and a great showcase for golf. It was certainly surreal. No spectators were allowed on the course, apart from a select band of family, friends and sponsors. So the only way for ordinary American fans to watch the matchplay contest was to pay a
$19.99 (£15.50) streaming fee for commercial-free television coverage. And the match went on so long they had to finish it under floodlights. Mickelson claimed the prize money, which in banknotes could not be carried away in a wheelbarrow but needed a forklift truck. The match went to a 22nd hole before Mickelson sank a fourfoot putt for victory. He said afterwards: “I’m just trying to calm down, my heart can’t take any more, it was such an incredible opportunity. “Tiger’s the greatest of all time but to have a little bit of smack talk for the coming years means a lot to me because I don’t have a lot on him!”
14 TEE TIMES | January 2019
Italy’s Francesco Molinari won the Race to Dubai ahead of the man who earlier in the year was paired with him in the now-famous MoliWood partnership which set the Ryder Cup alight. Molinari claimed the Dubai title from his pal, defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. Needing victory in Dubai to overhaul Molinari, England’s Fleetwood carded a 68 to finish on 10 under - eight shots behind winner Danny Willett. Molinari, who won The Open this summer, was confirmed as European number one during the final round. “It’s more than I ever dreamed of achieving,” said 36-year-old Molinari. “I’m really struggling for words.” Willett shot a four-under 68 in the final round to beat fellow Englishman Matt Wallace and American Patrick Reed by two strokes at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Race to Dubai victory caps a memorable year for Molinari, who won his first major at Carnoustie in July and became the first European player to seal a perfect 5-0 record in the Ryder Cup in September. He is the first Italian to become the European Tour’s top player.
Francesco Molinari: Open champion, Ryder Cup hero and now top gun in Race to Dubai
Molinari and Fleetwood in Ryder Cup heroics mood
Molinari said: “I’ve seen guys that I think are better players than me not winning majors and not winning Order of Merits or Race to Dubai. To achieve those things in one single season is just incredible.” Fleetwood, 27, slipped out of contention with a third-round 74. “It’s just golf, but it does hurt when you have days like that,” he said. “I feel the adrenaline might have gone. You kind of know when your time’s up. I lasted within two days of the season and it was always a stretch trying to win it.”
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Heritage In Great Britain CHANNEL ISLANDS - GUERNSEY
The island of Guernsey lies just 30 miles from the coast of Normandy, and has a very strong French influence, though it is a Crown Dependency, and has very strong historical links with the United Kingdom. In the north of the island, in the parish of Vale lies L’Ancresse Common, common land over which two separate and independent golf clubs play, similar to several sites in Scotland. The older of the two is the Royal Guernsey Golf Club established in 1890, and the second formed five years later is the L’Ancresse Golf Club. Golf on the common has long been recognised as of major economic importance to the island, and so the importance of the Royal Club. The Royal approval came very shortly after the formation of the new club, when Queen Victoria informed the Lieutenant Governor that the warrant was granted, and the club renamed the Royal Guernsey Golf Club. The first club Captain was a military man, Captain G E Giles, a good sportsman who accompanied Lord Randolph Churchill and Cecil Rhodes on the mission to Mashonaland in South Africa from which he was not to return. Three of the major club trophies are named after early dignitaries of the club, Swinburne, Macleane and Stevenson who all figured prominently in the early days. For a club so recently formed, and the puritan attitudes to female sports at that time, it is surprising that lady members of the club were known at national level, both Miss Kirkpatrick and Miss May Field were regular winners, and performances reported in the wider golfing press.
There have been four main courses in use since 1890, although there is evidence that golf was played over the common many years before the formation of the clubs. The first course had a long walk to the first tee, described poignantly by Horace Hutchinson when he came to play an exhibition
16 TEE TIMES | January 2019
match. The course was then re-designed when Old Tom Morris was brought over from St Andrews for the task, his first words were “it is just pairfect, and could na be better”. The third course was in use from 1920 to 1928, little golf had been played during the Great War, for many men were called to service, many never to return, and the common extensively used for military training. In the meantime some houses had been built, so the layout was changed and stayed in use until 1940 and the German invasion. During the war the course was decimated, and the new clubhouse which had just been opened in April 1940, paid for by a debenture for £4,000 issued by the club, was severely damaged. None of the members who attended the opening celebrations could have envisage the events of the next five years of occupation.
After the war was over, the common was in such condition that neither Royal Guernsey nor L’Ancresse golf club could afford the reinstatement. Recognising the importance of having a championship course on the island, The States of Guernsey provided £5.000 and a further £5,000 loan to pay for the renovation. So respected architect Mackenzie Ross came to complete the new layout. Further changes came in 1969 and the course finally opened for play on May 19th 1969. After roaming the L’Ancress Common for almost eighty years, the layout was crystallised. During the years the club has been fortunate to have the services of some of the great golfers of the day. Ted Ray, born on the island was US Open Champion in 1920 and successful Ryder Cup player, he was great friends with Harry Vardon born on nearby Jersey, and they dominated the scene in the early part of the last century.
The Jolly brothers, there were four of them, Tom, Bert ( the best known), Billy and Jack all born at L’Islet in the Vale parish. Henry Cotton first played golf on the links, his mother was Guernsey born, and the family returned to the island when Henry was in his teens. In more modern times Scot Norman Wood was at the club, he had a very successful European Tour record in the 1970’s with several wins, and represented Scotland in the World Cup and Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1975. The highlight was his win in the singles over Lee Trevino by 2&1. The most famous amateur the island has produced is actually a member of L’Ancresse, and a social member of Royal Guernsey, throughout the nineteen eighties his record was outstanding, and topped when he was chosen to play in the Walker Cup against the USA in 1987 at Sunningdale. His first success came in 1984, winning the Channel Island Championship and also the Hampshire County Championship, a county he represented for many years. In 1986 he won the Hampshire Hog, as well as the Golf Illustrated Gold Vase at Walton Heath where he received the trophy from Henry Cotton. His Hampshire team mates were to deprive him of success in the English Amateur, losing in the final to Kevin Weeks in 1986 and again to Steven Richardson in 1989. He did however win the English Amateur Stroke play Championship at Saunton in 1988 and the Scrutton Jug for the best aggregate in the Brabazon and the Berkshire Trophy. He played for England from 1986 to 1989, a truly wonderful amateur record. The club history published to mark the Centenary contains some “Random Jottings” some which really do stand being repeated. The following in particular: Just after the war, in 1947 when rationing was still in place, the Secretary reported” Members bewailing the absence of Roast at every lunch are asked to appreciate the fact that 11/17th of an ounce per person per meal including bone, does not represent a very large joint even for a party of twelve. Lady members will more readily understand the difficulty in catering for a catch trade in these days, when a slide rule and a chemist’s scale appear to be very necessary kitchen utensils. After five years of German occupation and with a golf course recovering from being decimated, such humour has to be recognised. Long may the traditions of Royal Guernsey Golf club be continued over the classic links land at L’Ancresse.
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ROMSEY JUNIORS ARE RUNNERS UP in the World of Ladies Golf IN HOME NATIONS FINAL, PORTUGAL!
WHATS HOT OR NOT Your Monthly Blog by
Claire Kane
Hotthrough Vesting Golf the Ages
Now the winter is upon us, our golfing wardrobe has transformed from bright, flimsy fabrics to snug cosy, padded outfits which unfortunately make us look like we’ve gained yet another spare tyre.
When the chilli months arrive, our warm, centrally heated homes lull us into a false sense of temperature. There’s many a time I’ve set off to play golf dressed in line wth a weather forecast I’d listened to in the warmth of my home, only to go into complete shock when I’ve opened the front door and been met with a freezing wind or temperature that was well below what I thought. Sometimes it’s not even until I’ve trekked up to the 1st tee and waited for my turn to play that I’ve realised another couple of layers were appropriate to cope with a howling wind. The great winter cover-up involves scarfs stuffed into neck crevices, gloves and muffs so fingers don’t turn blue, hats perched on heads to avoid frozen ears, vests the and thermals to trap heat andThey finally barriers to It’s interesting to compare miserable partner. consider it far more stop wind and water penetrating. In fact, all the high-tech gear the average differences between someone starting important to have a good day out with mates out golfwould and anconsider. experienced on a pleasant but forgiving course. articplaying explorer golfer in their twilight golfing years.
To complicate matters, a decent walking pace along a fairway can quickly Beginners can sometimes struggle with For instance, newbies are keen play as canlong carriesseveral and dog-legs to course raise body temperate and toweather change timesdue in the much golf as possible so they’ll playextra in any layers inexperience and misjudgement. of a round, so it’s no surprise can quickly turn a body Sadly, into a conditions. Whereas, older golfers are some elderly golfers also fail to cope with glowing mass. reluctant to venture onto the course if the long carries as they lose their muscle weather’s a bit dodgy and skiing, are morecycling powerand andwalking distance.have merged and Outdoor looking attire such as golf, than happy to while away time in the now include those clever fabrics that ‘wick away moisture’, although I clubhouse until the clouds pass by. New golfers are pretty naïve when it comes STILL have absolutely no idea where the moisture is wicked away to! to course management but they gradually When beginners initially enter competitions learn where to place thepanels ball, nevertheless, So when I heard about a new vest with embedded heated which they realise they need more lessons to they tend to remain bullish and optimistic plugs into a power pack, it intrigued me as I adore the coziness of an improve their scores. The difference with even when they are in deep trouble. electric blanket andalready this was surely a similar older golfers is they’ve developed However,concept. senior golfers know precisely the techniques but it’s just a question of whereforto golfers place thetoday ball, even they tend can’t Of course, heat pads are already available butifthey whether their hips, knees or shoulders will always reach it, or see it! They’re to end up being limited to keeping pockets warm and occasionally heat cope with the challenge. experienced and realistic enough to know if up the odd golf ball, which by the way is a penalty in golf so be A they’ve just played a lousy shotcareful. it’s friend of recently a heated pad to her but was Initially, as mine a beginner, it canattempted be difficult to tape probably unrecoverable and body the chance of trying to remember how many shots you’ve scoring isdown. pretty remote. constantly distracted because it kept slipping So having a heated taken let’s facebeit, amulti-tasking is tricky jacket– would great option rather than having to rummage in your golf when you’re so focused on striking and Beginners soon understand a good part of bag for additional warm clothing to strip mid fairway. tracking the ball. Interestingly, it’s not or struggling the pleasure of golfoff is about friendship but uncommon for elderly golfers to also it’s the senior golfer who appreciates For women of a certain age who struggle with temperate control due the to ‘mislay’ the odd shot due to short term ‘good feel’ factor of the constant cracks an inner glow, having an electric top with an ‘on and off’ switch may be a memory loss. with a bunch of fellow golfers, regardless good solution to avoid morphing into ‘boil in the There may even be of how dire bags’. they play. a cooling available - now wouldn’t that be useful. When you’reoption fresh into golf, you’re keen to sign up for any games, even if you don’t It just shows you that regardless of your age, So, ifa clue you what suffer from the cold and would to keep in the have you’re entering, or who the like benefits of golf playing are huge golf for everyone. depthplaying of thewith. winter, thentheitwiser, couldolder be well worth a try, although don’t forget you’re Whereas you’llchooses need tocarefully remember recharge both golf trolley and heated jacket the golfer to avoidtoslogging over courses, through soggy meadows © Claire Kane nightlong before. or having to climb cardiac hills with a Follow my tales on twitter@golfsnippets © Claire Kane
After 2 practice rounds the wait was over and Romsey found out who they would be facing in their group stages. They were drawn with England Home nations champions Cuddington, Bothwell Castle from Scotland and Pyle & Kenfig from Wales. Day 1 of main tournament saw Romsey V Cuddington in a 6 person Matchplay format on the Morgado course. It was a tough match with some fantastic golf. Romsey triumphed with a 4-2 win.
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Day 2 saw Romsey v Bothwell Castle in a thrilling match on the Alamos course. Romsey once again win 4-2, and now go top of their group! This meant that they only needed a draw in the final group match to qualify for the final.
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Day 3, Romsey v Pyle & Kenfig was to be Romsey's finest performance with a 5-1 victory! They make the final against the other group winners Beadlow Manor from England. So it was to be an all England affair with neither team expected to make it past the group stage.
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The final was held on the Morgado course and Beadlow Manor took an early lead on the front 9. Things changed on the back nine with Romsey's Owen Grimes bringing in the first win, followed by George NicholsonJack with a nail biting win on the last, Romsey 2up.
Unfortunately the tournaments rules state that if a Match is halved then the winner will be decided on the number of holes won. Beadlow Manor were to crowned champions as they won 10-7 on countback. Romsey were gutted as they lost on a technicality. This was a great match and Romsey did themselves proud as runners up. They never lost a match the whole week, the only team to achieve this.
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Beadlow Manor came back with winning the next two matches with some stunning golf, now all square. It was down to the last two matches, and Romseys Aaron Danson took the next match making a draw most likely. The last match saw Beadlow Manors junior have a hole in one after only being brought
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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 halve the match 3-3.
No one expected a small club to do so well and to be the second best team in the Uk is quite an achievement. This has been an experience that the whole team will never forget. Well done Romsey Juniors.
GOLF CLUB TEEBLACKMOOR TIMES | January 2019 17
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Three and easy for Royal Mougins at World Golf Awards Royal Mougins Golf Resort is celebrating a fantastic hat-trick after being named as ‘France’s Best Golf Hotel’ at the annual World Golf Awards for the third year in a row. The exclusive venue on the French Rivera confirmed its place among Europe’s premier golf resorts after receiving the leading accolade at the fifth edition of the event at La Manga Club, Spain – regarded as the most prestigious awards programme in golf tourism. Situated four miles from the glamorous resort town of Cannes, Royal Mougins – a four-time host of the Cannes Open – is the French Riviera’s only golf resort and has quickly established itself as one of France’s elite golfing venues, thanks to the quality of its 18-hole championship course, the pristine nature of its setting, and its top-of-the range services. The award is the latest accolade to be bestowed on Royal Mougins, with other notable successes including the resort being named in Golf World magazine’s benchmark list of the ‘Top 100 Golf Resorts in Continental Europe’ for the first time in its history. Jurgen Wondergem, general manager at Royal Mougins Golf Resort, said: “It’s a great honour to receive fresh recognition from one of the golf industry’s most prestigious events, and to win the award for the third successive year is an amazing achievement. “We are always striving to improve the golf experience that we offer to our guests, and hopefully this award will help lay the foundations for the resort to enjoy further success in the future.” Laid out in a wooded vale, Royal Mougins’ championship course was designed by world-famous architect Robert Von Hagge – creator of the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup – and winds its way around wooded vales, rivers and lakes – several with picturesque, free-flowing waterfalls.
The resort took its golfing experience to new heights recently after implementing a comprehensive upgrade of the bunkers and irrigation system on its awardwinning layout, as well as carrying out an upgrade of its driving range. Complementing the golf facilities are an exclusive four-star hotel with 29 designer suites, conference facilities, a Mediterranean restaurant ‘La Terrasse du 18’, a 450m2 Royal Spa and fitness centre situated in an authentic 19th-century stone-walled country house, a real estate agency and the Prime Golf Academy – with a par-three course and performance studio. Meanwhile, Royal Mougins’ prime location provides guests with the opportunity to explore the many cultural and gastronomic delights of the historic nearby village of Mougins. Just 20 minutes from Nice airport, the town is overflowing with an array of internationally-acclaimed art galleries, museums and Michelinstar restaurants, which are home to some of France’s greatest chefs. www.royalmougins.fr
Romsey Golf Club WINTER SOCIETY & GREEN OFFERS Winter Golf Societies from just £25pp:
To Include Coffee on Arrival, 18 Holes of Golf followed by a 1 Course Chefs Winter Warmer Special
Winter Green Fee Offer – 4 Ball £80: 4 People to Play Golf Including Coffee & Bacon Roll on Arrival followed by 18 Holes for just £80 (£20pp) Available from Now until 28th February 2019
For more information contact Romsey Golf Club on 02380 734637 ext. 3 or Email: secretary@romseyglfclub.co.uk Romsey Golf Club, Romsey Rd, Nursling, Southampton, Hants, SO16 0XW
18 TEE TIMES | January 2019
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New Flights To Elevate Quinta Do Lago To New Golf Heights The popularity of Portugal’s exclusive Quinta do Lago resort among European golfers is set to soar to new heights with the launch of five new flight routes to the Algarve this winter. From now until the end of March, low-cost airline Ryanair will be operating twice-weekly services into Faro airport from five new destinations: Berlin, Cologne, Cork, Marseille and Milan. And with fares starting from just €5 per flight, golfers will have even more money to enjoy the full range of Quinta do Lago’s world-class golf and lifestyle facilities. Situated just a 15-minute drive from Faro airport, the luxury lifestyle resort is the perfect choice for a sporting break with its golfing facilities including three 18-hole championship golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal – a Paul McGinley Golf Academy and TaylorMade Performance Fitting Center. Individuals and groups can take advantage of savings of 10 per cent and an array of other benefits when booking a three, five or seven-night stay at the award-winning venue from now until December 12, with three nights’ bed-and-breakfast including two rounds of golf bookable from €342 per person. Accommodation is provided in Quinta do Lago’s boutique Magnolia Hotel with prices including golf
on any of the resort’s three 18-hole championship courses. One hotel dinner is also included while nongolfers can exchange their golf for spa vouchers to be used in the Magnolia’s Wellness Centre. Five-night bed-and-breakfast packages, which feature three rounds of golf and two hotel dinners, are available to book from €509 per person, while golfers looking for an extended holiday can enjoy a seven-night, five-round stay including three dinners from €797 per person. All prices are based on two people sharing a room. In addition to its renowned courses and outstanding practice facilities, guests can stay in shape at the state-of-the-art performance centre The Campus,
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a world-class sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit. Complementing the golf facilities is a choice of 10 high-class bars and restaurants that deliver an array of delicious world cuisines, including the muchloved Bovino Steakhouse and Dano’s Sports Bar & Restaurant, a new sports gastro pub which opened last month. For more information on the latest golf packages available at Quinta do Lago before December 12, please visit: https://themagnoliahotelqdl.com/ offers-category/stay-play/ www.quintadolago.com
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As well as the clubhouse accommodation, there are three Swiss style self catering cottages, designed and furnished to the highest standards, each sleeping up to four guests. There is also a six bedroom Garden Suite, ideal bases for the visiting golfer. The cottages are located among the birch trees, wild ferns and grasses providing peace and comfort in equal parts.
Pride of Poland – Modry Las The rise in golf course development in Europe has been consistent, in Poland there are now twenty eight courses on the national list. Many of those have been developed in the last few years, and Modry Las in West Pomerania is one of the finest. The region is a famous and popular resort destination with many outdoor sports, water sports, riding, fishing, hunting, and the addition of a first class golf course completed the picture. The course was designed by world famous golfer and course architect Gary Player, and he, along with Miroslaw Drzewiecki, the Polish Minister for Sport, opened the club in the summer of 2009. Player, nicknamed The Black Knight was, at the height of his playing powers in the 1960s and 70s, part of the great modern triumvirate of Player, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. These three dominated the world of golf, between them winning thirty four major titles, nine of them by Player, including the career grand slam. All three went on to design great courses around the world, and Gary described the location at Modry Las thus “ A classy golf course carved in a beautiful natural landscape with mature pine forests, spring fed lakes and fields of wild flowers – just an incredible setting” It would be impossible to disagree, a truly spectacular location. It was therefore no surprise that Modry Las was voted Poland’s Best Golf Course, overcoming stiff competition for the third straight year. The course is laid out in the tried and tested manner, two loops of nine holes, each returning to the clubhouse, the first three holes of both nine holes follow the shoreline contours of Lake Radun, as does the finishing hole the 18th. All that sounds like a lot of water, but it does not always impinge on the shot, and in all cases when it does, it adds to the quality of the individual hole. The 7th being a prime example, with the green defended by a stream backed by an ornamental stone wall. The challenges begin early,
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on the second hole there is a water hazard crossing the fairway 150 yards from the green, making course management a priority. The back nine has two really classic holes, the 14th, a beautifully crafted hole which doglegs left following the shoreline of the lake. The next, the 15th, in my view the signature hole for the course, a beautiful par 3 which edges the lake and is prefaced by a huge bunker, possibly a stroke saver if you land in it. Once again a stone wall giving the feature a really impressive appearance. The final hole is just the type to keep your concentration high to the very end, a well bunkered dogleg on which a par will be a very satisfying way to conclude the round.
At the end of which, you will have had more than a round of golf, but in addition a walk with nature, a most enjoyable experience. So how did it come to pass, this golf course a little out of the way in the countryside. The logic is not the usual one, because the land was purchased by the owners in 1993, simply to protect the landscape near their ancestral home, and wanting to share the beautiful scenery, which was when they called upon golfing legend Gary Player, who has designed a golf course to captivate golfers of all abilities. This year has seen the unveiling of the brand new clubhouse, due to open fully in 2019 the clubhouse has 11 new bedrooms, extensive dining facilities and incredible views over the championship course.
As well as the Championship course, there is also a stunning nine hole layout which runs through a peninsula of thick lush lake edge forest, comprising a selection of one shotters to undulating greens which will test the short game and the putter to the limit. With water visible on every hole. It is far from a pitch and putt, more a severe short game examination, but one to be savoured and remembered.
To complete the picture the Academy is laid out on the high point of the estate with panoramic views over the course. It has covered bays, grass practice tees, undulating practice greens and well qualified staff to provide instruction. Everything the golfer could desire. For those with wider interests, especially the nature scenario, there is ample competition to the golf course with two spectacular nature reserves within a short travelling distance, Jasmund National Park and the West Pomeranian Lagoon Area, and an ideal combination for my Bird And Birdie Project, spot them and score them. So how do you get there ? Modry Las - The resort is situated on the outskirts of Choszczno in West Pomerania, just two hours from Berlin. LOT, Ryanair, Norwegian and WizzAir all fly into the local airport in Goleniow, and Berlin is serviced by all the major international airlines. For those wishing to extend the golfing boundaries and wishing to play great courses, at excellent value, this is certainly one to add to the must play list.
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TEE TIMES | January 2019 21
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NEW YEAR, NEW YOU It’s a New Year, the time when everyone thinks about reinventing themselves or cleaning up their act. Why do we wait til January for this? If we really want to change there’s nothing stopping us acting straight away is there? Nothing apart from the story set out in front of us, what we deem to be the way things are and always have been. Here’s an idea… how about we rewrite that story and do things differently? It’s like waiting for the 10th Tee to reset ourselves. Why after a lousy 3rd hole do we feel we can’t make a difference and look to improve until the back nine? We write the front nine off with another 6 holes still to play. It’s simply the way it’s always been. Golfers break their rounds into 2 halves. Front and back. Why not reset after the disruption has occurred. Try breaking your games into groups of 3 holes. You have a natural re-set after the 3rd, then the 6th, then the 9th. Draw these breaks on your card before you tee off. Reminding yourself to take check, breathe and simply gain back some control of yourself. This should help you avoid blow ups where you just lose it out on the course and can’t find your way back from steam spouting from your earholes. The ability to re-set yourself comes down to good routine and self-control. So as you head into 2017, think about how you conduct yourself after a bad shot or hole. Have you got the ability to shake off mistakes and crack on a fresh on the next shot or tee? Or does that mishap lurk beside you and tickle you during your next shot, affecting the quality and therefore dampening your game further. Also consider what you want to improve in your game? What really costs you and where are your REAL weaknesses? Knowing how to straighten up your shots again with some “parachute drills” out on the course or something you can cast your mind back to. Anything that will help to smooth out any creases in your head/ technique during a testing round. These tools will save you shots. I know that many golfers will need a hand from their pros to pinpoint the real things that drag their games down. I’ll be back teaching in 2019 and if you think 2019 could be your year for greatness on the course then contact me to discuss how we can transform your game. Invest in one of my packages and see results in 2019. Happy New Year everyone and here’s to the dawn of a new level in your golf games. Check out my newly vamped website www.katiedawkinsgolf.co.uk and get inspired.
Another Killer Move I hope you all had a great Christmas. I’m sure you must be looking forward to the end of Winter and playing golf in the sunshine! Last month, I focused on conveying how trying to hold your head still and fix your eyes on the ball could crucify your swing. This month I’m focussing on another potential swing wrecker - trying to lock the right knee on the backswing. This would be to try and hold it in the same position it was in at address throughout the backswing. Similarly to keeping your head still, trying to do this can ruin your chances of a powerful, correct, flowing pivot motion. Power isn’t created by locking things up. On the contrary, being loose is a major factor in the production of speed. It’s been proven that athletes who can relax their muscles the fastest are the quickest. The reason for this is that to create a movement muscles have to work in synergy. When a muscle fires to produce a movement, the opposing muscle has to relax quickly. Dustin, pictured here, doesn’t seem particularly tight!! Check out Cameron Champ’s swing for the epitome of relaxed power. To demonstrate why locking the right knee can be so harmful, we’ll look at the correct motion of the pelvis during the backswing. I’m using a model of the pelvis so that you can more easily understand what I am talking about. As you can see from the first picture of the model, from face on, the pelvis is fairly level. The next picture shows the pelvis at the top of the backswing. From face on you can now see that the pelvis is no longer level, it is now tilted. From side on, notice that the side of the pelvis nearest you (the right hip) has moved rearwards and upwards. The other side (left hip) has moved down and forwards. Look at the picture of Dustin Johnson at the top of the backswing. Dustin has a beautifully balanced hip turn. Notice that his right leg appears to have straightened slightly to allow the hip to make a back and up movement.
Locking the right knee can have many detrimental effects. The most common I’ve seen is that the right hip is prevented from moving rearwards and upwards and the left hip moves forward towards the ball. The upper body will either stand up or move more forward over the ball. In both cases there will be a reaction in the downswing. The person that has moved forward will probably stand up in the downswing and have a tendency to hit thin, fat and hook shots. The other reaction would be to fall forward on the downswing, causing chunks, pulls and slices. The chap that is forced to stand up on the backswing will tend to hit thin, fat and hooked shots. If standing up on the backswing has made his takeaway too flat, he may overreact and swing down very steeply. Pull, slices and chunks would be the order of the day. Next month, an avid reader of “Butcher’s Better Golf” makes good! Mob: 07787 887578 | Email: martin.butcher@aim.com | Web: mbtourcoach.com
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