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It was so close, but magic 59 eludes Nicolas
Build more Ryder houses Cup: on golf The aftermath courses, says minister
FOR all the world, the 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th looked like it was trundling towards history.
LEE Westwood has criticised the United States Ryder Cup team for airing their ‘dirty laundry in public’ after their Gleneagles defeat.
But Nicolas Colsaerts’ effort slid just millimetres wide and deprived the Belgian of becoming the first man to shoot a round of 59 in the 42-year history of the European Tour.
Phil Mickelson rapped captain Tom Watson sitting at the same press conference table and European stalwart Westwood described the episode as distasteful.
Business Secretary Vince Cable: ‘Is a golf course sacred or are there better uses of the land?’
It happened during the opening round of the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club, and the 31-year-old had to sign for 60 after nailing seven birdies in his first 12 holes, followed by eagles on the 15th and 17th.
ONE step towards solving Britain’s housing crisis would be to build homes on golf courses, said Business Secretary Vince Cable. Mr Cable was commenting on London School of Economics research, reported in Tee Times, showing that more of Surrey is devoted to golf courses than housing.
‘I managed to make an eagle and then hit a good drive on the 18th. It's too bad the putt just shaved the edge.’
Addressing a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat party conference, Mr Cable said that if he were in a middle-income family in Surrey struggling to find a suitable home he would “ask myself is a golf course sacred or are there better uses of the land?”.’
A round of 60 has now been achieved 19 times on the European Tour. American Peter Uihlein did so twice in 2013, as did Scotland's Scott Jamieson.
Mr Cable said it was a cliché to rely on brownfield land for new developments and insisted there must be a focus on using up agricultural land.
Just last year, Scot Craig Lee came within a shot of equalling the lowest-ever official round at the European Masters.
‘Walking down 17, I told my caddie, “it's 59 or nothing”,’ said Colsaerts, world number 185.
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‘
I ask myself is a golf course sacred, or are there better uses of the land?
’
-Vince Cable, Business Secretary in the Coalition government
‘I don't like to see people's great reputations being brought down by something that shouldn't really happen in public,’ said Westwood. ‘It should all be done behind closed doors and sorted out there - and not be done in the media.’ Watson subsequently in an open letter said he took full responsibility for mistakes made in the United States' eighth defeat in the past 10 Ryder Cups: ‘My intentions throughout my term as captain were both to inspire and to be honest.’
150,000 hectares or 1.1 per cent of England’s 13.4million hectares are taken up by golf courses.
Westwood, who earned two points to move to fifth on the list of all-time Ryder Cup scorers with 23, added: ‘I don't think anything good can come of all this (for the Americans).’
Mr Cable’s comments were dismissed by Sir Paul Beresford, Conservative MP for Mole Valley in Surrey: ‘Vince Cable is into dancing and dance studios - perhaps we can turn all the dance studios in Twickenham into care homes. Would that help?
Westwood was part of the European team that lost at Valhalla under Nick Faldo's controversial leadership in 2008. The was beset with problems, but players kept their counsel in the aftermath.
The 36-year-old was in sight of the Tour's first official sub-60 round with nine birdies in his first 10 holes. But his two pars to finish still gave him a course record 10-underpar 61.
He told the meeting organised by the think tank Localis: ‘Most people do want green, they want green, but they would rather have it outside their own house than sitting 20 miles away where they have no access to it.’ The LibDem said new housing was being focused on the south east because ‘people are not flocking to Burnley’.
‘It is quite ridiculous. The employment it gives to Surrey people is enormous. The money it brings is enormous.
France's Alexander Levy won the Portugal tournament after it was reduced to 36 holes by persistent rain.
According to Golf England, there are a 103 clubs in Surrey, with 1,764 holes in total. Analysis by Inside Housing suggests that
‘Look at the cars queued - you would think it was Gatwick airport, whacking a little ball around a bit of green.’
‘I think there were a lot of people disappointed in '08 but we tried to come together and not say anything in public,’ added Westwood. • On the positive side, all-time great Jack Nicklaus was fulsome in his praise for the role Hampshire’s Justin Rose played in the European victory - see Page 8.
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Stars pay tribute as dogged Oliver Wilson, nine times a runner-up, ends 10-year wait for Tour title IT WAS a fairytale 10 years in the making, a story of the man who was nine times a golfing bridesmaid and never the bride - until now. The Cinderella golfer who finally went to the ball at St Andrews and ended it in tears of joy was world number 792, Oliver Wilson, who held on to win his first European title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The Englishman, making his 228th start, finished ahead of a chasing pack which included world number one Rory McIlroy to win by one stroke on 17-under. Wilson played in the 2008 Ryder Cup but lost his European Tour card in 2012 and needed an invite to play at the home of golf. As the realisation sank in on the 18th, the 34-year-old gave wife Lauren a long, long hug and the Twittersphere burst into a tide of congratulations from his fellow professionals (see right). Champagne
‘So many people had written me off and that hurt, but I kept believing,’ said Wilson, whose victory brought him a winning purse of almost £500,000. ‘A lot of people had a part in this and I can’t thank them enough. This is pretty special. I could be drunk for a while - it’s been a long time coming and I have a lot of champagne on hold. It’s going to be a good party.’ His playing partner Tommy Fleetwood could have sent the tournament into a play-off but missed a 10ft putt for birdie on 18 to
The Cinderella golfer who finally went to the ball Long, long road: emotional Wilson and wife Lauren as the victory sinks in
ALL A-TWITTER • Don’t think I could’ve chosen a better person to finish second to this week! Congrats @Oliver_Wilson so well deserved! • Just saw that @Oliver_Wilson won the Dunhill. Keep believing, keep working and good things will happen. Congrats Oli, really happy for you.
A picture 10 years in the making: Oliver Wilson with the Dunhill Links trophy on the famous St Andrews bridge over the Swilcan Burn
hand the emotional Wilson victory and a two-year European Tour exemption. Mansfield-born Wilson was ranked 104th on the second-tier Challenge Tour with earnings this season of around £10,000. In the round of a lifetime, he dropped just one shot in his final circuit of 70.
‘I don’t have the words for it,’ he added. ‘It’s been 10-11 years coming, and nine runner-up finishes where nothing really went my way. To have the invite to play here, I can’t thank people enough. When I came here at the start of the week I was just trying to make the cut and each day my confidence grew.
• Ian Poulter:The biggest win of 2014 just happened @Oliver_Wilson wins the Dunhill Links. Congrats mate, keeping the faith & never giving in. I can’t tell you how happy every player on Tour will be. It’s been a long road back
‘I’ve been playing pretty well but I went to see Rob Rock (the man credited with the best classic swing on tour) two weeks ago and spent a lot of time working with him on my swing. He gave me confidence to go and play.’
Chasing his fifth win of the season, the world number one bounced back with four straight birdies and was tied for the lead down the back nine but bogeyed the difficult 17th when he rolled his putt from off the green into the Road Hole bunker.
Wilson went into the final round with a three-shot lead but lost it over the front nine.
Playing the pro-am event alongside his father Gerry, who was celebrating his 55th birthday, McIlroy birdied the 18th to get within one but just came up short.
McIlroy, who confessed to feeling ’a little bit flat’ after the euphoria of the Ryder Cup the previous week, got off to the worst possible start when he double-bogeyed the opening hole after seeing his ball spin back into the Swilcan Burn.
‘I probably lost it on those two holes, the first and the 17th but it was fantastic to play with my dad and for him to play St Andrews on his birthday was very special,’ said McIlroy.
GOLF DAY SUPPORTS INJURED OWEN Kim, 19, is a Major champ
THE Gareth Edwards Golf Day at Celtic Manor supported a new cause this year when it was held in aid of the #StayStrongForOws campaign for injured Cardiff Blues rugby star Owen Williams.
KOREA’S Kim Hyo-Joo saw off Karrie Webb to win the Evian Championship and become the third youngest Major champion on the LPGA Tour.
Williams suffered a serious spinal injury while playing for the Blues in a tournament in Singapore in June and is recovering at Cardiff’s Rockwood Hospital. Blues have launched a campaign to assist the injured centre and the rugby world has bought thousands of gold and blue #StayStrongForOws wristbands.
Staying strong for Owen Williams: the Gareth Edwards Golf Day
Edwards, the rugby legend who played for Cardiff, Wales and the Lions, is a Blues director and was determined to support Owen’s cause at his annual charity celebrity golf day, presented by Centric Recruitment.
wishing him a successful recovery. The support that Owen has received from throughout the rugby community has been inspiring and the Cardiff Blues are determined to keep the campaign going to ensure Owen has all the rehabilitation support he needs.”
He said: ‘Our thoughts and our prayers are with Owen and his family, and we’re all
Celebrities playing in the event included Craig Bellamy, Allan Lamb, Christian Malcolm
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and Dennis Taylor, and broadcasters Gethin Jones, Owen Money and Geraint Hardy. Zinzan Brooke, Derek Quinnell, Scott Quinnell, Ieuan Evans, Cliff Jones, Steve Fenwick, David Richards and Gareth Davies were among the rugby names taking part, along with current Blues players Matthew Rees, Gareth Davies, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Andrews and Lloyd Williams.
Webb, 39, a seven-time major winner, held a one-shot lead going into the final hole in France. But the 19-yearold held her nerve on the 18th green to sink a birdie putt, which put the pressure back on Webb. The Australian then had a putt to save par and force a play-off, but narrowly missed as Kim triumphed by one stroke. Kim had led after the first and third rounds of the tournament, taking a one-shot lead over Webb into the final day.
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FOR THE RECORD ROUND IN 55! Much has been written about the long hitting and low scoring on the US Tour and the European Tour. David Duval, remember him, recorded a fabulous 59 in the last round of the Bob Hope Classic in 1999 and hit the headlines. That score has still to be achieved on the European Tour, whilst there have been numerous 60’s, the latest by Andy Sullivan included a hole in one which won him a trip into space. Conversation about that result, raised the question of the best score ever achieved over 18 holes, when and who did it. Until recently it was thought that there were four scores of 55 holding that honour, all of them in the USA. E F Staugaard at Montebello Park California in 1935, very little is known about the facts surrounding this, and it is said to be suspect, although it is recorded in both the USGA and R&A publications. A more modern 55 was achieved by Homero Blancas, a Ryder Cup player, but while still an amateur; before he turned pro he played in the Premier International at Longview Texas. He went out in 27 shots, came home in 28 for a score of 55. He had 13 birdies and one eagle, and took only 20 putts, on the par 70 layout, amazing golf. In May 2004, Steve Gilly, a pro who had won over two dozen mini tour events was playing a friendly round with two buddies at the Lynwood Golf & Country Club. His score of 55 was achieved against a par of 71, though the course was less than 6000 yards, a great score nevertheless. The current record is held by a little known Australian professional named Rhein Gibson. Born in New South Wales, he attended Oklahoma Christian University where he was an All American Collegiate player. On 12th May 2012 at River Oaks Golf Club in Oklahoma, Gibson started on the back nine and went out in just 26 shots. He then played the front nine in 29 to record a score of 55 over the 6850 yard par 71 course, and waltzed into the Guinness Book of Records. Rhein Gibson plays on the minor professional tours in the USA and at the time of his marvellous round he was ranked 1,444th in the world. His scorecard contained twelve birdies, two eagles and just four pars. Much was written about that round, but the score had stirred something at the back of
Rhein Gibson
my mind, an article I had read in Golf Weekly over fifteen years ago. Digging round in the archives I located the magazine, and read the piece with a smile, for this was indeed the first genuine 55 on record and it was done here in England. The tale had been brought to light by the publication of an amusing series of anecdotes in a book called Golf is a Dangerous Game and written by T Wilson Goad, a member at Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club; I have it on my bookshelves. More than sixty years ago, professional Fred Smith, lived at the Woolacombe Bay Golf Club in Devon. He was an accomplished golfer, who was sponsored by Dunlop at that time; he received a retainer of £6.00 a year to play their golf balls. He spent his spare hours in the winter of 1935 trying to break 60 on the 4248 yard course, which was par 70 at that time. On New Year’s Day he completed the Woolacombe course in just 55 shots. Sadly the course does not exist today; it was devasted by American Armed Forces in the Second World War and was never resurrected. Fred’s old playing partner shed light on the great man describing him thus.
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If he was on the green he never thought of two putts, expecting every one to go in, and they usually did. Sometimes he hit putts straight, but more often with spin on and curved them in, very useful when tackling the stymie, which was still legal at that time. He was a wiry little man, less than five feet six inches tall, and no weight at all, at the top of his swing he did a loop, a sort of figure of eight, similar to Jim Furyk today. Fred’s son explained that the course was frozen that December, and the ball would run farther. Although he was playing with hickory shafted clubs, but he still drove the ball well over 200 yards. He started trying to beat 60 early in the December, and got close on a number of occasions, then on the 1st January 1936 he was well on target when he arrived at the 18th tee, then surprised his playing partners by finishing off with a hole in one, and a score of 55 shots.
The ironic thing was that he had played 17 holes with his customary Dunlop ball, but for some unexplained reason he changed his ball to a Slazenger for the tee shot and then holed out. That snippet of information was certainly hushed up a little when the record was reported. Fred Smith went on to become professional at Windermere in the fifties, and then to Grange Fell. He had had a hard life in his younger days, living onsite, mowing 18 holes in the mornings before even thinking of being able to play. The pro was a cross between green keeper, maintenance man and golfer pro. He died in the middle of a round of golf at Benham when he was 80 years old, and still playing to an 8 handicap. For many years his feat was in the Guinness Book of Records, until they changed the length of the course necessary for qualification, due to the advantages of modern balls and equipment. Be that as it may, it remains a score that may never be beaten. Michael Rees
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ICON SAYS HAMPSHIRE’S ROSE WAS THE GREATEST GLADIATOR OF GLENEAGLES
Nicklaus: Justin is Europe’s best
U.S. needs its own ‘12 Musketeers’
McILROY was imperious, McDowell was gritty and Donaldson had the glory of the winning shot.
THE acrimonious fallout from the Ryder Cup beating which the United States took at Gleneagles carried on long after the event - and could do so for quite a while yet.
But for Jack Nicklaus and many observers, the choice of stand-out team player in the victorious European Ryder Cup side was Hampshire’s Justin Rose. As the spoils of Europe’s 16½-11½ victory against the United States at Gleneagles were counted, Rose emerged as the continent’s foremost player with four points.
Above: How the national press lauded Justin Rose’s Ryder Cup triumph. Below: Rose, back row third from right, and the rest of Paul McGinley’s European team savour the victory
Eighteen-time Major champion Nicklaus looked down from his exalted position as a golfing icon and declared: ‘Rose is the best player on the European team. I like Justin. I like the way he plays, the way he carries himself. He is a good competitor. First rate. A class act, on and off the course.’
immortal man as he made his way through the tunnel towards the first tee on the final day.
Rose won all his three matches with Henrik Stenson. His fourball with Stenson, against Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson, broke all the records and will probably go down as one of the best four-man slugging matches ever seen in the Ryder Cup. The Euros registered 12 of the 21 birdies in the match, and Rose was the star of the show with seven of them. He went on to grab a crucial half with Martin Kaymer in Saturday afternoon’s foursomes to give Europe the momentum going into Sunday. Chosen by captain Paul McGinley to be one of two players to take part in all five matches - the only other was McIlroy - Rose came up against a gritty competitor in Hunter Mahan in the singles. The 34-year-old Englishman, attached to North Hants Golf Club in Fleet, dug deep into the well of experience which began
when, as a 14-year-old club junior, he won the famous Hampshire Hog tournament with a record winning score, and climaxed as U.S. Open winner in 2013. On Ryder Cup Sunday, Rose went four down after six, but clawed and battled to the end to secure a half on the last hole and keep his unbeaten record intact, returning the highest individual total of any European, including McIlroy. Four points out of five took his record over three Ryder Cups to 10 points from 14 matches, and the quiet young man from Hampshire even showed some fistpumping exhilaration. Invoking the Ryder spirit of Seve Ballesteros, Rose fist-touched a huge image of the
And there was even a touch of Seve about the way Rose responded when he got stuck in some gorse on the 13th hole. He hit a Seve-style escape to within two feet of the flag, turned to a nearby TV cameraman with a grin and called the shot ‘a bit of Seve for ya!’ He said afterwards: ‘When I walked up to my ball it was in the gorse bush and I thought I’m dead here. All I could do was try to punch out an eight iron. Seve was at his best when he was trying to make something out of nothing. I’ve been watching footage of him doing that my whole life, so that’s why I thought of him. It just felt so Ryder Cup.’ Justin Rose seems to be poised to take over the mantle of Ryder war horses such as Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. Having turned in one of the finest European performances in the competition for the past 30 years, he has surely signalled that he has taken his place at golf’s matchplay top table - and that the feast has just begun.
Follow that! Clarke is 2016 favourite SOMEBODY has to follow the Captain Fantastic exploits of Paul McGinley as Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain - and it will not be the man himself. The 47-year-old, roundly applauded by everyone including his players for the way he set up this year’s victory, has counted himself out of the role for 2016. McGinley has a perfect six-hitting Ryder Cup record, winning three times as a player, twice as a vice-captain and memorably as captain at Gleneagles: ‘Like a heavyweight fighter, I will retire undefeated.’ But McGinley will play a big part in the coming months as part of a five-strong panel selecting the next European captain for Hazeltine, Minnesota.
Winning captains McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie, along with European Tour chief executive George O’Grady and a players’ committee representative, will make up the selectors.
The bottom line is that the Americans could not match the camaraderie and team spirit of the European team. They never seriously bonded as a group and seemed unable to find their own version of Paul McGinley’s 12 Musketeers - who were forged into an allfor-one and one-for-all unit. The public criticism by Phil Mickelson of 65year-old Tom Watson - described by one observer as a ‘terrible act of betrayal’ directly or indirectly raised questions about the captain’s age, his lack of personal contact with his players or understanding of them, his choices of player pairings and when to play them, and his lack of involvement of others in Paul Azinger: his decision-making. Never say never again Mickelson was left out on the Saturday, pleaded in vain to play, and played smiling assassin to his skipper in the inquest afterwards: ‘Unfortunately, we have strayed from a winning formula in 2008 for the last three Ryder Cups, and we need to consider getting back to that formula that helped us play our best,’ he said, referring to former skipper Paul Azinger. Watson, who as a player is much loved by British golf fans, would not be drawn into a public slanging match. He said of Mickelson: ‘He has a difference of opinion. That’s OK. My management philosophy is different than his.’ Former Europe captain Nick Faldo said Mickelson had ‘thrown his captain right under the bus. That should have been a private conversation. Phil certainly doesn’t respect Tom Watson.’
Darren Clarke and 2014 vice-captain Miguel Angel Jimenez have emerged as the main contenders. The bookies have already installed Clarke, 46, as 1 to 4 favourite. Jimenez is likely to be backed by compatriot Spaniard Olazabal and by McGinley, who chose him as one of his five vice-captains this year.
Colin Montgomerie, winning captain in 2010, agreed that Mickelson’s comments were inappropriate: ‘You support your captain under all circumstances. In public, you respect and honour your captain.’
O’Grady and Monty may well go for Clarke, leaving the casting vote with the players’ committee man. It was widely thought that this would be Thomas Bjorn, but the place has gone to David Howell, Ryder Cup winner in 2004 and 2006.
Azinger, America’s only winning captain his century, later said he is open to the possibility of leading the United States in 2016: ‘I’m not going to rule anything out.’
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PREPARE LIKE A PRO SERIES • Master Pro British PGA • PGA of Europe 5 star Professional • European Tour and Senior Player • Ryder Cup and World Cup Player • International Coach
POSITION OF BALL
Peter Dawson helps golfers, at all levels, to reach their potential. As an international coach you can trust his expert eye to build your game, knowledge and confidence.
S ON SS LE O DE VI NE LI ON R FO TE SI EB W LOOK AT MY W W W.P ET ER DA W SO N G O LF.C O M
3 Iron Position
5 Iron Position
7 Iron Position
9 Iron Position BGN Golf Clinic
ver the past few months we have related the golf swing/preparation to that of the business man / women and how he / she would prepare for a presentation be it to an individual a group or a golf ball.
O
generates the ball needs to be placed forward as there is a more lateral movement.
We would run through the basics, prepare for every eventuality, the questions that might be asked and the questions we would ask ourselves during the following session. having the ball in different positions would lead to indifferent strikes.
On certain occasions when we find the ball on an upslope we might want to place the ball in the centre or possibly just behind centre of our stance because, due to the slope, the weight transfer from back to front foot will be less, putting the bottom of the swing more in the middle of our swing.
We in fact need to position the ball slightly forward of centre because due to centrafugal forces the weight shifts laterally forward on the down swing moving the bottom of the arc that bit forward.
For the down slope, the ball will need to be placed slightly forward of centre. The weight will move more laterally resulting in there being more weight on the front foot at impact.
We have all heard of the late hit, after a good backswing then we have a late hit, it is the weight moving forward that gives us that late hit.
Other than on a slope try keeping things simple. With all irons, try to keep the ball in the same position and let the back foot move to influence the position of the ball. With all woods, keep the ball opposite the front heel.
The golf swing could be put in the same bracket, ie the question we need to address when preparing ourselves for the next shot: Our preparation at address: • The posture dictating the plane of the swing • The grip which controls the face of the club
Also we are trying to hit the ball slightly on the up swing to create top spin to make the ball roll further when landing on the fairway.
Very rarely do you see a golfer with the ball too far back in his stance but it can happen, this would lead to the club face being open at address and the shoulders closed resulting in a push. Some of us will remember being told that the ball should be placed a fraction behind centre for all wedges and nine irons and progressively be moved forward with each longer club.
• Our alignment These three elements having been thoroughly checked at address we now need to confirm the position of the ball in relation to our feet. If the ball is too far forward in our stance there would be a tendency to have the shoulders aiming too far to the left at address (or too far right if left handed) and for the weight to be too much on the front foot.
What with the ball position moving with every club things could get very confusing! Thank goodness along came people like Jack Nicklaus who advised the choice of two ball positions to simplify things. Keeping the ball in the same position for all shots makes life a lot easier. If you imagine the centre of the swing being the head (the axis point) then the bottom of the swing will be under that spot but by
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As I have demonstrated in the photos, try to keep the ball in the same position with all irons, it is the back foot that moves thus positioning the ball in the required position. It is advised that with all the woods the ball be positioned opposite the front heel.
Circumstances will dictate but as with our business colleague we should prepare the basics the best we can so that we have to have a platform to work from.
Returning back to the lateral weight shift, because the swing with a wood is at it’s optimal width, with the force the swing
Peter Dawson 07901229275 www.peterdawsongolf.com
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TEE TIMES 11
Old Thorns
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TEEING UP WITH
AMY BOULDEN Status: Professional Age: 21 years Height: 5’ 7” Club: Conwy Golf Club, Wales Average Drive: 260 yards
Q When did you first start playing golf? A My Dad, Simon Boulden, who is the golf professional at
Maesdu Golf Club introduced me to the game when I was just six years old. Q Does anyone else in your family play? A Yes, everyone!
My Mum Gillian plays at Maesdu GC (handicap 10); my eldest sister, Kim, is a coaching pro at Golf Development, Wales; and my middle sister Hayley represented Wales as a top amateur golfer before training to be a nurse.
my Boulden from Conwy Golf Club has been the most successful Welsh Amateur golfer (male or female) in history, but this year she made the huge leap from the Amateur Ranks to the Professional Circuit.
A
During her illustrious Amateur career, she represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup and also notched up many personal wins including the Welsh Open and Scottish Open. So, how would she fare in her rookie year as a touring professional?
TEE TIMES ASKS THE QUESTIONS … Q What is your home club? A Conwy Golf Club...
where I’m an honorary member.
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Q What age were you when you started playing off
single figures? A I was about 13/14 years.
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LADIES’
AMY BOULDEN
Q How often do you practise? A I practise for the same amount of time as when I was an
amateur, which is every day! But now, it tends to be more structured and productive - I always review my rounds to analyse my strengths and weaknesses, and then organise my sessions accordingly. Q Do you have regular lessons? A Yes, I’m attached to the Robert Rock Academy in Lichfield,
Birmingham. Robert coaches me and has done for the past 18 months. I see him regularly when we are not at tournaments plus we always keep in touch over the phone - I send him my swing so we can discuss it. He’s been a fantastic coach and mentor, and my game continues to improve under his tuition.
‘
TEE TIMES 13
Q&A
band by Carol Younghus
Q What was your biggest motivator for turning
Amy joined Conwy in her late teens to develop her links golf skills and use its excellent practice facilities. When she’s not competing, she spends hours either practising or playing at Conwy and her hard work is certainly paying off. Amy is not only a great talent but is also personable and friendly - always finding time for a chat and rarely short of a smile. All at Conwy Golf Club wish her continued success for the future.
’
professional? A I achieved a handicap of +4, and I’d represented Wales in
all the International Teams. I’d been included in the Curtis Cup, played in the Junior Solheim Cup, and had also won a number of top amateur tournaments so I felt the time was right to turn pro.
Chris Chance, Sec/Manager Conwy GC. Q What would you say is the strongest part of your game? A My drive. I’m extremely straight off the tee and average
260 yards which is a good distance.
CONWY (CAERNARVONSHIRE) GOLF CLUB North Wales coastʼs leading Championship Links course
For me, it was always going to be the next step. For more Q and A please turn over.
EVENTS HELD AT CONWY GC IN RECENT YEARS 2016 Ladies Golf Union Home Internationals 2015 R&A Boys Home Internationals 2014 Welsh Menʼs Amateur Strokeplay Championship 2012 Speedy Services Wales Senior Open (European Senior Tour) 2010 S4C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe (Ladies European Tour) 2009 European Mens Amateur Team Championship 2008 Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open (European Senior Tour) 2007 Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open (European Senior Tour) 2006 Final Qualifying Course for The Open Championship
For details on Full Membership, Green Fees and Societies, contact The Secretary at secretary@conwygolfclub.com or call 01492 592423. Conwy Golf Club, Morfa, Conwy, North Wales LL32 8ER.
www.conwygolfclub.com
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The first and only time that the Final Qualifier has been held in Wales A golf course good enough to be chosen for top events, but playerfriendly for all levels.
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TEEING UP WITH AMY BOULDEN Q What have been the highlights of your
first year as a professional? A My first pro win on the LET (Ladies’
European Tour) Access Tour at the Association Suisse de Golf Ladies’ Open. This gave me a huge confidence boost. I then went on to compete in both Germany and the Czech Republic where I finished fourth and third respectively. It has been a great experience for me to play alongside the top LPGA (Ladies’ Professional Golf Association) players and compare my game with theirs. Q Presumably there are also low points? A Yes. Missing the cut in Holland after being
on the leader board after 27 holes was really disappointing. I had a terrible back nine, but you just have to learn from it and move on. Q How do you progress from the LET
Tour to the LPGA? A There are two ways. You can either go to the
LPGA Qualifying School in the US to get your card, or do well in the Major tournaments so that you start getting invitations. I’m currently weighing up my options.
Q I see you qualified for the US Open
and the British Open this year? A Yes, I won at the Buckinghamshire Golf
Club with a 271 (-2) to qualify for the US Open at Pinehurst and even though I didn’t make the cut, simply being there and playing in such a prestigious tournament was a truly memorable experience. Plus, I was also very fortunate to qualify for the British Open. The first three leaders at the European Masters have automatic entry, and although I finished 11th the eight girls above me had already qualified which meant I was able to qualify and play at Royal Birkdale, which again, was a fantastic experience. Q You’ve obviously played some
wonderful golf courses around the world, so which is your favourite ‘away’ course to play? A Kingsbarns in Scotland. I LOVE it! It’s the most beautiful course to play, and I qualified there for the British Open in 2013. Q What hobbies do you have outside golf? A I like going to the gym, listening to music,
and spending time with friends.
LADIES’ Q & A
Q What’s your favourite club in the bag? A My Odyssey putter! I hole out well with it
and it’s one of the strengths of my game. Q Do you play with ladies' or men’s clubs? A I play with men's Cobra clubs and really
believe they have helped my game this year. Q Which golfing event would you love to
win above all others? A The Evian or Kraft Nabisco. I would also
love to be a part of a Solheim Cup team - I relish team golf! Q Do you do any golf-related
gym exercises? A Yes, I go to the gym regularly as I think it's important to feel and look good on the course. I mainly work on my strength and cardio. Q Who are your golfing heroes? A I will always admire Tiger Woods and
everything he has done, and will do, for the game of golf. Plus I’m also a huge fan of Annika Sörenstam – I’ve always looked up to her, and recently read her biography which covered her personal life as well as her career … it was fascinating.
Q What golfing tip would you give to
other young golfers? A I would always get the young juniors to
start with their short game as that is the most important part of the game. Everyone can hit the ball half decent, but it takes a lot of skill to have a great short game. They should also enjoy it - it's an amazing sport, and I am very lucky to be able to play golf as a career. Q What is the best piece of advice you
have ever been given? A Practise your short game!
AMY’S HIGHLIGHTS Amateur: 2008 2010 2011 2011/13 2011 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2010/12/13
For ladies who take their golf seriously Lady golfers are easy enough to please. As long as everything is exactly as it should be, we’re happy. All we expect is an unhurried pace, a friendly atmosphere and a course that’s in great condition all year round. Preferably with stunning views. Wales can oblige with 202 superb golf courses – and plenty of restaurants, galleries, shops and spas. For ladies who are equally serious about seaweed wraps.
To request a copy of the Wales Golf guide visit golfasitshouldbe.com
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Welsh Girls Champion Represented Europe in Junior Ryder Cup Represented Europe in Junior Solheim cup Represented GB&I in Vagliano trophy Represented GB&I in Astor trophy Represented GB&I in Curtis cup Welsh Ladies Closed Champion Scottish Ladies Open Champion Welsh Ladies Open strokeplay Champion English Ladies Open Champion Qualified for three RICOH British Opens
First year Professional - 2014: Won Swiss Open LETAS tour Won US Open Qualifying Competed in the US Open at Pinehurst Finished 11th European Masters Qualified for RICOH British Open Finished fourth in Ladies German Open Finished third in Pilsen Golf Challenge Finished second in Lacoste Ladies Open de France
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GET AROUND FOR YEARS TO COME
TEE TIMES 15
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Hampt p worth Golf & Co ountry Club Hampt p worth Road, Hamptworth, Salissbury SP5 2DU Tel: 01794 390155 www..hamp ptworthgolf.co.uk emaiil: inffo@ o hamptworthgolf.co.uk
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Beverly’s BIG Secrets
Hampshire Ladies Golf
GLORIOUS AUTUMN FOR HAMPSHIRE LADY GOLFERS
– Beverly Huke Putting is the easiest part of golf – or at least it should be. he technical requirements of a putting “swing” are so much simpler than any other part of the game. But sometimes we try so hard to make the putter swing correctly that we forget that “seeing” the direction and “feeling” the distance of a putt are what really counts.
T
Picture 1
Try the practice drill opposite (Picture 1): Putt whilst looking at the hole. Yes, you can still hit the ball and you’ll get a much better feeling for both direction and distance. Div 2 Trophy Winners (L-R) Carol Evans, Jenny Garner, Alix Goddard.
Picture 2 – when you play, before you swing, half turn your head towards the hole.
The wonderful summer that continued throughout September helped to make HLCGA events successful and the two Autumn Meetings were no exception. These are very popular events in the Hampshire calendar.
You should still be able to see the ball but you will also retain the perception of where the hole is and be able to judge both direction and distrance. If you would like me to help you make those putts, please call 07973 307880 or check out www.beverlyhukegolf.com
Picture 2
DARREN WALKLEY EQUALS HAYLING AMATEUR COURSE RECORD WITH A FABULOUS 63 STROKES – EIGHT UNDER PAR
There are plenty of nett and gross prizes on offer plus trophies. In addition competitors also play for trophies for the best aggregate nett and scratch scores after adding the scores from the Championship rounds played at Stoneham in May. So.. plenty to play for. Division 2 (21 – 36 hcap) was held at Botley Park. They were great hosts both on the course and in the clubhouse and everyone enjoyed their day. The course was in beautiful condition with reports from players of lots of run, fast greens, and absolutely no complaints. The best round of the day belonged to Carol Evans of Gosport & Stokes Bay who returned a handicap dropping nett 66. 2 shots behind was Jackie Richards from Corhampton. Elizabeth Hesse (Alresford) earned the best gross prize with 91.
Darren plays off a handicap of +3 at the Hayling Golf Club in Hampshire, were he has honed his exceptional skills with golf club and ball since joining Hayling GC in 2010, his golf handicap at this time was 7.
This score card is testament to the tremendous round of golf which followed over the remainder 17 holes. Darren wasn’t boasting when he said “with a bit of luck it could have been better; 5 lip-out’s!
His equalling record score was achieved whilst playing on Saturday the 11th October in the monthly medal. Starting at the first at 7.30 in the morning with poor visibility, rain and wind, he holed a 15th footer for birdie 2 at the 186 yard par 3.
Darren has a great future ahead of him, he said he would maintain his amateur status for the time being, should he continue to improve over the coming eighteen months, he will then consider moving to the professional ranks. - DFCP
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The trophies for the best aggregate nett and gross scores were also awarded. The two players who managed to put together two good rounds 4 months apart were Alix Goddard (Shanklin & Sandown) with netts 69 and 76, and Jenny Garner (Weybrook Park) with gross 91 and 101. The sun also shone at Hockley GC for the Division 1 meeting. The course was looking at its very best and the players obviously enjoyed the day with many good
Division 1 Trophy Winners : (L-R) Cookie Bridgeman, Kerry Smith, Lynne Cowser
scores ensuring that CSS stayed equal to SSS at 73. We were delighted to be at Hockley in the year that they celebrate their 100th anniversary. The best gross of the day was 75 posted by Kerry Smith who was presented with the Meeting Scratch Coasters. Her 75 was 3 better than the next best score from Lynne Cowser (Alresford), Sara Barnes (Romsey), and Elly Gardner (Hockley). Back in May at the County Championship Kerry had also scored 75 in the morning round and her aggregate 150 was 5 ahead of the nearest (Elly Gardner) and so she was also presented with the Scratch Porringer. There were 9 players who played below their handicap. Lynne Cowser may have missed the scratch prize, but she made sure of the Meeting Nett Salver with her 4 under 69. Great score off a 9 handicap. Kay Walshe (Hockley), and Royal Winchester players Pauline Davies and Cookie Bridgeman had 71. Cookie also scored 71 at Stoneham and so her consistency was rewarded with the Aggregate Nett Cup.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE COMPETITIONS AND HAMPSHIRE GOLF FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS SEE OUR WEBSITE: WWW.HAMPSHIRELADIESGOLF.CO.UK
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TEE TIMES 17
Both teams at The Shire
SCOTLAND’S SDGP WIN THE LATEST HOME INTERNATIONAL OVER TEAM DGA AT THE SHIRE This year's 'Auld Enemies Cup', the ONLY pan-disabled Ryder Cup style match in the World, between the disabled golfers of England / Wales and Scotland took place at the prestigious The Shire in Barnet, North London this year. At the only Seve Ballesteros designed course in the UK, the disabled golfers of England/ Wales and Scotland battled in 3 days of amazing golf and tension. The disabilities represented included amputees, one arm, blind/partially sighted, MS and blind golfers. After 3 days Scotland won the trophy back and now the series is level at 2 matches each – strangely it’s always been the Away side who have won so far – England won at Slaley Hall 2011, Scotland at Breadsall Priory 2012 and England at Kinross 2013.
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Captains Graeme Robertson and Stevie Cunningham
Many thanks to the Menai-Davies family at The Shire for their continued support of disabled golf. it was great to play at the Seve Ballesteros course, a great test of golf made for a matchplay event and enjoyed the camaraderie and to uphold the legacy of the Paralympics to show the power of the human mind to overcome adversity.
The home international series now includes Wales - England won the Oldfield Trophy played out at The Wiltshire in a two-day event held over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Thanks also to Glenbrae for supplying kit for the event”.
Results Monday 15th September - 6 x Foursomes, Scotland 3.5 / England 2.5 Tuesday 16th September - 6 x Fourballs, Scotland 4.5 / England 1.5 Wednesday 17th September - 12 x Singles, England 6.5 / Scotland 5.5 Final Score Scotland 13.5 / England 10.5
Stevie Cunningham, Scots Captain “Delighted to have the trophy back home for the next 2 years when we will defend it in Scotland. A massive congratulations to all of the team who played really well over the 3 days. Also well done to all involved with team England/Wales, but the real winner is disabled golf played at the highest level by all.
Graeme Robertson, non-playing captain of the England/ Wales team said “Many congratulations to Scotland on their welldeserved victory, we are disappointed to lose, but the matches were very close and I am very proud of my team for their efforts and sportsmanship.
The overall score is now 2-2 and it is great for us to level the score & bring the trophy north of the border especially in the year the Ryder Cup is being played at Gleneagles. We enjoyed making the journey to London & must say a big thanks to Virgin Trains who sponsored the travel costs for Team Scotland.”
I put together a team from our season-long Order of Merit, that represents what the Disabled Golf association is all about different abilities/disabilities, ages and parts of the country joining together. We have ex-serving service members, amputees, Parkinsons, MS, blind and stroke survivors all participating together.
DGA is a pan-disability, not-for-profit organization, membership is FREE.
The main competitive advantage enjoyed by SkyCaddie Touch users is the ability to link via Bluetooth to the free SkyGolf 360 app on their phone, to instantly download the very latest golf course maps to their Touch before each game. In other words, SkyCaddie Touch users know that they are always using the newest golf course maps on the market. In a UK launch promotion, every SkyCaddie Touch is bundled with a free box of Bridgestone B330-RX golf balls (1 doz), worth £47.99. Product highlights also include new, onDemand Vivid HD course graphics, and a brilliant colour ‘glove-friendly’ touch-screen, alongside a huge features-set which gives golfers the ultimate ability to use SkyCaddie’s giant and exclusive golf course information database to plot their way around a golf course.
“It works when lasers go blind” says the company, indicating that Touch is aimed at serious, competitive golfers. If you’ve ever tried to laser to a green target on an uphill hole, or from behind a tree, you’re at a disadvantage to anyone with a SkyCaddie. The wealth of information provided instantly by SkyCaddie TOUCH (up to 40 target points per hole) gives serious golfers both speed and performance advantages over laser users, with zero blind spots.
More information is at www.disabledgolf.org.uk and www.sdgp.org.uk with events scheduled all over the country.
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With 100s of exclusive TrueGround Targets per course, the Touch contains a staggering amount of golf course data, all produced by
SkyCaddie’s revolutionary ground-mapping process. The company creates and regularly corrects each golf course map on foot using professional GPS surveying equipment, and each year updates over 300 golf course maps in the UK alone – such is the speed of change. Only SkyCaddie maps golf courses this extensively. Pre-loaded with SkyCaddie’s 35,000 exclusive error-corrected global golf course maps, including 99% coverage of UK golf courses, the Touch offers glove-friendly touch-sensitive navigation with a highresolution, sunlight-readable, glare-resistant colour HD display. In-play features such as Dynamic RangeVue and Interactive HoleVue with Precision Zoom enable golfers to closely examine yardages throughout the hole, and to set their own target points including quick layups. When Touch users are shooting for the green, SkyCaddie’s patented IntelliGreen technology gives them comprehensive, dynamic green information from their angle of attack. With SkyCaddie mappers having walked the circumference of every green, only SkyCaddie users have such accurate data about their all-important approach shot. The Touch also showcases SkyCaddie’s new onDemand Vivid HD graphics, inspired by Tour yardage books, giving incredible visual detail for each hole. SkyCaddie Touch users pay an additional annual membership fee, to access a variety of Tour Feature Plans giving up-to-theminute updates for golf course maps on a UK-wide or Global basis. With Hands-Free Automation including Rotating Auto-View, Digital Scorecard and Stat Tracking, the ability to store up to 20 rounds’ data between syncs, Shot Distance Measurement and Pace-of-Play Timer, the SkyCaddie Touch is the ultimate GPS rangefinder for all serious golfers.
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A HAMPSHIRE-based tee signage company is offering golf clubs a free, one-stop-shop type of service which is aimed at pushing it to the forefront of the industry. Premier Golf Promotions Ltd says some tee signage companies fail to build up a really good, long-lasting working relationship with customer clubs who feel they have got their fingers burned by poor service. Managing Director Gary Wootton says: ‘I looked around and I saw that some tee signage companies were not really getting close to a good, long-lasting working relationship with their client clubs.
‘I could see that there was not enough contact or interaction throughout something like a five-year contract. But we should not all be tarred with the same brush, and we aim to prove to our customers that we are different and offer a different kind of service. ‘We have set out to offer a win-win situation all round - for the club, its members, the signage sponsors and us.’ The relationship begins not with cold calling or the dreaded telephone marketing, but personal face-to-face contact, and is followed up with a strikingly full service to the client golf club, which includes: • Full complimentary tee signage (typically, an 18-hole course is provided with 19 signs - one for each tee and a large course layout/welcome sign) • A huge business-to-business data base •Access to a complimentary design team • Complimentary marketing support - not to replace in-club marketing experts but to enhance the operation
‘Others charge for some of this, we do it free,’ said Mr Wootton. ‘If we do not bring sponsors on board, that is our problem.’ If a contract is not closely shepherded through the years, he said, and a golf club has a new owner, new ideas or a new secretary who were not involved at the beginning, the personal contact can be undermined.
‘I have introduced a marketing campaign for golf clubs that fuels a good working relationship. It is a partnership. We look after sponsors and offer marketing support. ‘We buy huge amounts of data, we campaign for the club, bring in sponsors, and use our data base which covers thousands of businesses in the area to support the club in activities such as membership campaigns.’ So the placing of tee signage is just the beginning? ‘Certainly,’ said Mr Wootton. ‘It is not just the signage, but we are there to support the club during the whole contract.
‘We are based in the area and have in place a selling team, marketing team, designers and tele-sales, all in-house. We do not use agencies. ‘We believe our customer service is second to none. I would be very surprised indeed if there is another company out there which can match our all-round service.’ Premier Golf Promotions does not promote two clubs in the same area: ‘That would give ruse to a conflict of interest,’ said Mr Wootton. ‘Our pledge to clubs who make an inquiry is that they will receive personal attention and all the resources at our disposal.’ Part of the arrangement with client clubs is that they provide vouchers which go to sponsors of the tee signage. But there are terms and conditions which ensure that the host club is comfortable: vouchers must be subject to availability; sponsors must prebook tee times that fit in with the club’s priorities; if a group of eight or more players are involved, sponsors are asked to pre-book a meal at the club; and sponsors are expected to use other club facilities.
CARDIFF GOLF CLUB Cardiff Golf Club is the Premier Club and Course in Wales' Capital City. Situated in the heart of Cardiff's Cyncoed area, the Golf Course has earned the reputation as one of the best parkland courses in the Country, with no two holes the same, high quality fast greens and a course setup which provides both a fine test of golf to the low handicap player and Professional and an enjoyable challenge to the higher handicap golfer. Cardiff Golf Club plays host to a number of prestigious Amateur and Professional Championships, a trend we are delighted will continue in the future. The Welsh PGA Championships as well as a number of the more prestigious Golf Union of Wales and Glamorgan County Golf Championships have been held here in recent years. Our Clubhouse was completely rebuilt in 1999 and as a result we have the finest Clubhouse anywhere in the Country. Our function and meeting rooms are situated on the 1st floor with a balcony which visitors and Members alike can use and enjoy after their round whilst enjoying a bite to eat and a drink from our fully licensed bar - the view down over the 1st hole and 18th hole from these areas of the Clubhouse really are the most impressive you will find!
Our Catering offering here at Cardiff Golf Club is also renowned across the region, with our Caterer, Simon Morgan, having built a reputation for quality. Simon has a fantastic CV in the Catering industry and has even cooked for Royalty! Whether it's a simple golfer's meal after your round, a 2 or 3 course dinner for you and your golfing group or a full a la carte menu, Simon has proven himself to be the very best around! With so much to enjoy here at Cardiff's Premier Golf Club, this genuinely is an ideal location for your "Away Day" in 2015. Why not contact The Club today and make an enquiry either via the telephone on 02920 753320, our Club Website www.cardiffgolfglub.co.uk or by e-mail to office@cardiffgolfclub.co.uk
‘We respect the club and its members,’ said Mr Wootton. Premier Golf Promotions Ltd Ashford House, Frimley Road, Ash Vale Hants GU12 5PN Email: gary@pgpl.co.uk Tel: 01252 549149
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Much more than just a tee signage company You may have been approached in the past and been offered tee signage in return for 4-ball vouchers to secure sponsorship. However, have you ever been offered tee signage, course graphics, complimentary marketing activity, course accessories and audio-visual equipment? Introducing Premier Golf Promotions, the Hampshire based tee signage specialists that are proud to go that extra mile for every partner. Golf Clubs that partner with Premier Golf Promotions receive the following FREE OF CHARGE: Hand crafted signage for every tee as well as a course planner Graphics for every hole that includes your clubs logos and corporate colours 6IKYPEV QEVOIXMRK EGXMZMX] MRGPYHMRK HEXE WYTTP] IQEMP HIWMKR ERH JYP½PQIRX A choice of course accessories and/or audio visual equipment for the club We will actively promote your club in your region to build awareness, increase footfall and drive membership.
“I have found Premier Golf Promotions very approachable and would certainly recommend them to clients or golf clubs for any future projects” James Lever, General Manager, Southwick Park Golf Club, Southwick, Hampshire 8S ½RH SYX LS[ E TEVXRIVWLMT [MXL 4VIQMIV +SPJ 4VSQSXMSRW GER FIRI½X ]SYV GPYF GEPP 0800 542 2133 or email: info@pgpl.co.uk Alternatively, visit our website www.pgpl.co.uk and download our e-brochure
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THE COLOUR-CODED SWING GRIP it and rip it, right? Not any more. Top players these days have swing coaches, short-game coaches, putting coaches, diets and gym regimes to keep themselves at the top of their game. And now a new training tool has arrived from a company named Swing Catalyst - a machine which analyses a player’s balance and foot pressure. The 3D Motion Plate consists of more than 2,000 high-resolution pressure sensors and provides critical data including detailed foot pressure
analysis, accurate pressure distribution and other factors which cannot be detected by the best-trained eye or even the highest-speed cameras. It gives a complete analysis of torque and ground forces generated during the golf swing. Sean Foley, coach of Hampshire’s Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose, has one at his home in Orlando, and Rose has now had one installed at his home in the Bahamas. Foley said: ‘The system allows me to examine weight-shift patterns and balance.’
Heat from the feet: How the new system records weight distribution and pressures during the golf swing
Latest news and views from worldwide ladies’ golf Bags of money His and Hers Ryder Connie breezes for Kim’s mum Cup? Bring it on! to Tour triumph GIVE a teenager a pile of money and what will they buy? An X Box, the latest phone or a wide-screen TV for the bedroom? Not so with Hyo Joo Kim, who fired a stunning 10-under 61 - the lowest ever round in a men’s or women’s Major - to send her on her way to victory in the Evian Championship in France. With her first-place winnings of $487,500, Kim vowed to buy ‘many, many designer handbags’ . . . for her mum. The 19-year-old became the 10th South Korean to win a Major, reinforcing the Asian country’s huge impact on golf in recent years. But Kim’s 10-birdie feat and her place as the third youngest ever to win a Major did not go to her head: ‘My goal is have a good experience in here, that’s all,’ she said. The previous lowest round in a women’s Major was 62, by Minea Blomqvist at the 2004 Women’s British Open at Sunningdale, which was equalled by Lorena Ochoa at the 2006 Kraft Nabisco Championship. The lowest round in a men’s major is 63, which has been recorded many times.
THE idea of a mixed-gender ‘Ryder Cup’ tournament has been given the backing of the world number one lady player, Stacy Lewis. A competition of this kind and stature does not exist in the sport, although a mixed even was introduced for the first time at the Youth Olympics this year. The 29-year-old United States player told BBC Sport: ‘It would be a great thing. Anything like that would help sell our sport. I’d be a huge fan. I’d be all over it and love to play.’ Lewis has played in two which currently take place during odd years, while the Ryder Cup takes place in even years. In the seasons between Ryder Cups, a USA team play against International counterparts in the established Presidents Cup. Two-time Major winner Lewis, the 2013 British open champion, said: ‘The scheduling will be the hardest part. But we have a Women’s PGA championship (formerly the LPGA Championship) beginning next year, so we’re establishing a relationship with the men’s game - maybe that could lead to something.’ PGA chief Pete Bevacqua told BBC Sport there were no plans in hand for a new matchplay event but added: ‘Although it’s not on our
World number one Stacy Lewis: ‘I’d be a huge fan’
radar, it’s an interesting idea. Never say never. As the women’s game continues to develop and grow, then maybe that is something that is down the road. It’s so difficult to find three, four, five days in the season. It becomes increasingly difficult to give serious thought to creating new events. But the more we can do mixed events, the better it will be for the game. Anything we can do to make golf more attractive and compelling is something we should be looking at.’
SOUTH African Connie Chen fired a superb final round of three-under-par 69 in hot and breezy conditions to earn her first Ladies European Tour victory at the Tenerife Open de España Femenino in the Canary Islands.
The 21-year-old from Pretoria ended on 12under and two strokes clear of home favourite Carlota Ciganda after four rounds, with Beth Allen of the United States a stroke further behind in third and England’s Charley Hull in solo fourth place. ‘I’m so happy, I was so nervous today teeing off and being able to keep going and make an eagle on the back nine gave me a good feeling for the day,’ said Chen.
Amy pipped in France AZAHARA Muñoz of Spain came from four strokes behind the overnight leader Maria Hernández to retain her Lacoste Ladies Open de France title at Golf de Chantaco. The 26-year-old from San Pedro de Alcántara, near Malaga, birdied the last two holes to end a stroke clear of Hernández and Amy Boulden. Boulden, the Welsh Ladies European Tour rookie, set the target at 10 under par.
TOUR EXTENSION IN MOROCCO THE Ladies European Tour has extended its agreement with the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association to stage Lalla Aicha Tour School under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in Morocco for a further three years. The Lalla Aicha Tour School was first played in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2012 and grew with the addition of three pre-qualifiers in Rabat.
Lalla Aicha Tour School - the class of 2014 season
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Qualifying School was renamed Lalla Aicha Tour School in honour of Her Royal Highness Late Princess Lalla Aicha. The first Arab woman ambassador (London and Rome), Her Royal Highness late Princess Lalla Aicha took part in the Hassan II Golf Trophy and Lalla Meryem Cup since the 1970s and played 18 holes every day until she passed away in September, 2011.
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Top Event with former soccer players in the Gloria Hotels & Resorts Golf club instead of soccer ball: The Signature Event occer and golf fans can look forward to a top event: From 11th to 18th November 2014 former professional football players compete with amateur golfers at The Signature Event in the Gloria Serenity Resort. Twelve kickers from different countries are expected. Further information: http://www.gloria.com.tr/highlights/the_signature.
S
The event-team of the Gloria Hotels & Resorts in Belek is known for bringing together the best entertainment trends worldwide and prominent guests of diverse areas at the Turkish Riviera. With The Signature Event the modern Turkish hotel group organises a spectacle of top class. From 11th to 18th November 2014 around twelve former professional soccer players from all around the world show, that they also can handle golf clubs. Among them are Alan Shearer, David Seaman and David Platt (English football players), Andrij Shevchenko (Ukrainian football player and afterwards politician), Peter Schmeichel (Danish goalkeeper), as well as Patrick Berger and Vladimír Šmicer (from Czech Republic). The former professionals compete with amateur golfers in four rounds: on the Gloria Old and Gloria New, part of the Gloria Golf Club, which is the largest golf club of Turkey with 45-holes, as well as on the golf courses Lykia Links and National Golf Clubs. Further information about Gloria Hotels & Resorts: www.gloria.com.tr. Gloria Hotels & Resorts are bookable via all renowned tour operators. About Gloria Hotels & Resorts Where the Mediterranean and the Taurus meet, the Gloria Hotels & Resorts, a part of the renowned Turkish company Özaltin Holding from An¬kara, inspire with their fivestar resorts in the whole year destination Belek, just 30 kilometres away from Antalya airport. Those are, on a total area of 212
hectares, the three hotels Gloria Golf Resort (since 1997), Gloria Verde Resort (since 2001) and Gloria Serenity Resort (since 2007) as well as the Gloria Villas and the Glo¬ria Golf Club, which is the largest golf course in Turkey with 45-holes (two 18-hole championship courses and a 9-hole academic course), designed by the French
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golf course architect Michel Gayon. The Gloria Convention Center offers with the latest technological facilities the right platform for meetings, congresses and events of all kind. Besides Özaltin Holding plans tp openthe Gloria Sports Arena in January 2015 – the biggest sports arena in Turkey for professionals and amateurs with
more than 40 sports possibilities. Whether holidays with golfing equipment, for the soul with plenty of oriental spa highlights and gourmet experiences or with numerous leisure activities for the family – the Gloria Hotels & Resorts with their master plan offer a multitude of services for many different target groups. www.gloria.com.tr
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S UNGOLF BELEK
* 5 T R O S E R F L O G GLORIA o lf ) g f o s d n u ro 5 es d u cl n (i K E E GOLF W
Arrival Dates Feb 20th-21st 2015
7 NIGHTS ULTRA ALL-INCLUSIVE **5 rounds of golf - 3 x Gloria Old / 2 x Gloria New All tee times pre booked and confirmed for each day Airport & golf transfers included in Belek
ONLY£599pp All Inclusive Non Golfers Welcome Only £420.00pp Single room only £120pp extra / non golfers welcome Extra nights stay at Gloria Golf Resort for just £85pp (For February 20th arrivals ONLY) Flights not included but can be arranged on your behalf FREE excursion to Antalya Harbour
Terms and conditions apply / full details on request.
Tel: 0044 (0)115 9681007
BELEK
Open 9am - 7pm 6 days Email: sungolfinfo@btinternet.com www.sungolfbelek.co.uk
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WHATS HOT OR NOT
in the World of Ladies Golf
Your Monthly Blog by
Claire Kane
THE STRANGE RITUALS WE HAVE WITH GOLF BALLS
THE VALE RESORT CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF FLAGSHIP GOLF COURSE The Vale Resort celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first championship golf course, The Lake Course, in October.
This is the time of the year when green keepers carry out their autumn maintenance and hollow tining, using vast amounts of sand so we end up ploughing through ‘Yellows’ rather than putting on ‘Greens’. It’s also when green keepers fertilise parts of the course and the amusing warning notices appear reminding members ‘Not to Lick their Balls’. Personally, I’ve never felt the urge to give any of my balls a ‘go faster’ lick, which is the misguided theory behind the action. For a start, my wayward balls see far too much evidence of bunnies and vermin on the course and secondly I’d prefer to maintain the health of my liver for more civilised pleasures such as visiting the 19th hole, rather than exposing it to poison from herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers and end up with ‘Golf Ball Liver’. Yes, this really is a disease recognised by the medical profession! Now, I’m aware Golf Clubs these days try to use more natural products to feed the course but I was once stuck for hours in a traffic jam behind a tanker full of effluent fertilizer. The lorry displayed a big notice on the back stating it was non-hazardous but my bored brain definitely came to the
conclusion that just because something’s natural doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Continuing on the subject of golf balls, many golfers, including professionals, feel the need to shout at their ball, hoping the power of their voice will telepathically guide it to their desired destination, rather like steering a car. A friend of mine was once playing a few holes with her newly trained Jack Russell dog secured to her trolley by a lead. At one point she struck the ball really well but soon realised it was heading straight through the green and off the other side. Caught up in the emotion of the moment, she automatically shouted “sit…. sit…. sit” but whereas the ball completely ignored her requests to sit on the green, her dog on the other hand obediently sat down by the trolley, looking up at her in utter puzzlement as to why she kept shouting commands at him. Mind you, as someone recently pointed out to me, it’s no use shouting at your ball anyway as they always chop their ears off at the factory. © Claire Kane Follow my tales on twitter @golfsnippets
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Unveiled in 1994, the 18-hole course has been played by more than 70,000 golfers in 20 years including professional players such as Wales’s Bradley Dredge, Ian Woosnam as well as world-famous stars such as Gareth Bale, Sir Alex Ferguson and Bernard Gallagher. The par-72 course has hosted four professional tournaments in the last 20 years, including Welsh professional championships and European Challenge Tour events. Aptly named, the course is dominated with water on 12 of its holes, including the impressive 20-acre lake running along the 14th hole. And the course’s signature hole, The Island Green, is ranked as one of the Wales’ top par 4 golf holes. Clive Coombs, golf operations manager at the Vale Resort, said: “The Lake Course was the resort’s first golf course and certainly set the benchmark of the high-standard of golf facilities at the Vale Resort.
“Over the last 20 years, the course hasn’t changed much, but it has certainly matured. There were more than 20,000 trees planted when the course opened, which were no more than 1ft high. “The Lake Course now boasts impressive wooded areas, with some of our trees reaching more than 40ft in height, offering a sanctuary for wildlife including kites and hawkes. Coupled with a mixture of wide and narrow fairways and challenging water obstacles, the course attracts thousands of golfers every year to the resort.”
As part of the anniversary celebrations, the Vale Resort was offering reduced green fees, 20% off shoes and clothing at resort’s Pro Shop and £20 a buggy per round of golf throughout October. And new members could also enjoy their first six months golf membership for £200 if taken during the anniversary month. Mr Coombs added: “The 20th anniversary of The Lake Course is a milestone; there aren’t many golf clubs in Wales that have such an impressive history and we’re inviting golfers, past and present, to celebrate with us this October.” Players of the resort’s two championship winning golf courses, The Lake Course and the Wales National, can now access 3D flyover technology to watch the journey to the green through aerial shots of each hole, offering insight on how the course should be best played, before teeing off. Golfers can also download the Vale Resort’s bespoke golf app, which acts as a 3D-GPS distance device to help players improve their game. For more information visit www.vale-hotel.com/Golf. • The Vale Resort is located just three miles off junction 34 of the M4 and six miles out of Cardiff City Centre. • The independent 4-star Vale Resort includes a 143-bedroom hotel, 700-seat conference facility, restaurants & champagne bar and award-winning golf, leisure, spa and sports facilities. • The Vale Resort was recently nominated for the Marvellous Massage and Best Spa Wales awards by the Good Spa Guide.
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WINT GOLF ER FOOD & PA starti CKAGES ng fro m
拢35pp
Temple Golf Club near Marlow,urth a club with over 100 years of history and an increasingly modern approach, offers a flexible Lifestyle membership for Today始s Golfer.
For more information please email secretary@templegolfclub.co.uk or call 01628 824795
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A WELCOME IN STRATFORD Stratford is renowned the world over as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, in fact the town is an incredible magnet to tourists of every kind. Shakespeare Country abounds with attractions, and it is no surprise that Michael Rees there is a requirement for suitable accommodation to satisfy that need. Situated centrally in the country, Warwickshire is very accessible, so the ideal location for a visit, and we found the perfect solution. With “Clubs in the Boot” we headed for the Menzies Welcombe Hotel Spa & Golf Club, and the name could not have been more appropriate. Just a short distance outside the town, on the Warwick Road, and easy to find, a drive up the leafy lane through the golf course, and the welcome mat is out, excuse the pun. The building is impressive as you approach, but with the instinct of a first class concierge, Michael appears with a smile, and softens the impact instantly. Leaving our luggage in his capable hands, we set off for the golf course, the focus of attention for the afternoon. A short drive along the road, with a separate entrance is the golf club, a total contrast to the traditional buildings of the hotel, this is the ultra modern clubhouse designed for the purpose of comfort and convenience for the players, which it does very well. With plenty of time, we sampled the lunch menu, enjoying the views over the putting green and driving range. In prime location adjacent to the entrance is a first class professional’s shop, stocked with a full range of equipment and clothing, Dan Hacker is the Director of Golf, with his team he provides the total service for visiting golfers and members alike. Accustomed to organising corporate and society days, his team ensure that visitors enjoy a trouble free and value for money golf outing. So to the course, and without question I would recommend a buggy, if like me you are past the flush of youth, for it is a hilly course with some walking between tees. Fine for the active but take heed if not. This is a classic parkland course, enhanced by water hazards, subtly placed bunkering, and
are always welcome, you do not have to be a member or resident in the hotel; Green fees start at £40 per round depending on when you wish to play, and there are excellent society and corporate packages.
first class greens. The opening holes have generous fairways, with some fascinating doglegs, that means thinking is more important than length from the tee. Evidenced at both the 4th and 5th holes, a ravine and a severe dogleg need to be conquered, and the 6th, a sporty par three encircled by bunkers. The 8th provides the first view of the lake, and also the rear façade of the hotel, a series of views worth spending time to savour. The back nine opens with a few opportunities to enhance the scorecard, after enjoying the vista across the countryside from the 10th tee. The closing holes are simply delightful, from the 16th to the last, each offering a different challenge. Along the northern side of the lake, up to the spectacular water features and Italian Gardens at the rear of the hotel. Then the signature hole is the 17th, a drive over the ornamental lake, with a carry in excess of 180 yards, before the approach to an elevated green. Your rounds ends with a birdie chance, and a fitting reward to an enjoyable round. Visiting golfers
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The original estate has long been connected with Shakespeare and his heirs, including his daughter Suzanna, and it passed through eminent hands until it was purchased by Mark Phillips, a Manchester businessman, who rebuilt the house in Jacobean style in 1845, designed by Henry C Clutton. The construction took four years and is constructed as a Calendar House, which means that it has seven entrances, (days of the week) fifty two chimneys (weeks of the year) twelve fireplaces (months) and 365 windows, one for each day. This infuses luck and prosperity for all who stay in the house. I will patiently await my turn for good fortune. The obelisk which stands sentry like on the hill overseeing the estate was built to the memory of Mark Phillips MP. So to the hotel, which has 78 rooms of various kind, a superbly equipped spa, for relaxing after the excesses of the golf course, all contributing to the total package of comfort and relaxation for the discerning client. We enjoyed the luxury of a suite overlooking the fabulous Italian gardens and the golf course, before dining in the
restaurant where the food and service were truly first class, and even being told of the change in the menu felt like a privilege. Add a fine wine list and you have all the ingredients for a perfect conclusion to a most satisfying day. The Welcombe Hotel Spa & Golf Club is the ideal location for a relaxing getaway, or for a conference or corporate event, with not only a comprehensive range of facilities onsite, but also a plethora of other attractions in the town and surrounding area. The Shakespeare theatre, castles, history, countryside and a variety of attractions in the town itself, or a river cruise to sample the River Avon. Luxury in a refined but relaxed environment, and staff patently happy to provide the service that goes with it. The team at the hotel will be happy to provide any information about visits or reservations, and our inspection of the Christmas and New Year Festivities brochure left us with plans to make a return, much sooner than we had originally intended. For more information go to the website: www.menzieshotels.co.uk/hotels/midla nds/stratford-upon-avon-welcombehotel-spa-and-golf-club/ Or email: welcombe@menzieshotels.co.uk
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THE LECKFORD GOLF COURSE
SOUTHWICK PARK GOLF CLUB
Festive Special ‐ £23.00
OUTSTANDING MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
(Minimum of 8 Golfers) “A unique opportunity to play this Harry Colt classic and savor the delights of the Waitrose Farm Shop”
Offer to include Coffee and Mince Pies on arrival 18 Holes of golf on the Leckford Old Course A Turkey, Stuffing and Cranberry Baguette (Delivered from the Waitrose Farm Shop) A further 9 holes of golf on the Leckford New Course (For those who wish to) (Offer valid on selected dates, Mon-Fri throughout Nov and Dec, limited availability)
Contact our office to find out more about our fabulous deals on offer! Come & see this hidden secret in the Hampshire countryside with a unique golfing history, play 18 holes for only £15 and try the course. The green fee will be refunded when you join, terms & conditions apply.
Offers include*: 18 month deal until March 2016 15 months membership for the price of 12 Adult members enjoy one free junior membership Intermediate membership categories (18-29 yrs)
For all bookings please contact Daniel Robinson on 07860 719184 Or email golf@leckfordestate.co.uk Similar packages available throughout the year, please call for further details
Bacon Roll and 18 Holes Monday - Thursday - £24 Promo code PPNOV - T&C's apply (call club for details) T. 01276 675 444 www.pineridgegolf.co.uk www.facebook.com/pineridgegolf follow us @Pine_Ridge_GC
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Telephone or email 02392 380131 option1 or email jameslever@southwickparkgolfclub.co.uk
www.southwickparkgolfclub.co.uk
* Terms & conditions apply.
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GLORIA GOLF CLUB BELEK
BELEK TURKEY 45 HOLES OF GOLFING EXCELLENCE
GLORIA GOLF RESORT THE NEW VENUE OF THE SUNGOLF COMPETITION WEEKS 2015 Email: sungolfinfo@btinternet.com Web: www.sungolfbelek.co.uk Tel: 0044 (0)115 9681007
Gloria Golf Club, designed by renowned French architect Michel Gayon, is the largest Golf Complex in Turkey; with 45 holes comprising of the 18 hole Old Course, the 18 hole New Course and the 9 hole Verde Course. Gloria Golf Club turns golf into an unforgettable pleasure of countless privileges with the magical beauty of the Mediterranean situated just a long iron away, throw into the equation the three Gloria Hotels sited on the boundaries of the fairways you can see why Gloria Golf is so very very popular. Gloria Old Course Disputably considered to be the best course this 18 holes is a Par 72 with a very respectable distance of 6,900 yards off the back tees, the Championship Old Course has been host to several European Tour Events becoming a firm favourite with golfers since it opened in 1997. The surroundings are quite stunning with swathes of Pine trees and 7 fresh water lakes and the ever dominant Taurus Mountains as a constant back drop. There are not so many bunkers as some of the other Belek courses but those that are there are well positioned and seem to have magnetic qualities every time my ball went anywhere near. The fairways are always in great condition but the first cut can be quite demanding, the lush Bermuda grass can soon snag your club so the philosophy is quite simple keep your ball on the fairway! On all of the 45 holes at Gloria the greens are just superb, some say a little on the fast side but in my opinion just perfect, I can always find slow greens back in the UK. Gloria New Course Construction on the Gloria New Course, also 18 hole Par 72, started in December 2004, to be inaugurated in November 2005. The terrain is almost identical to that of its big sister the Old Course, but many differences soon become apparent, the fairways are wider and the course is much shorter, having said that the PGA were happy to use the Gloria New Course to host the European Seniors
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Tour Classic in 2007. Again the fairways are lined with Pine trees and 4 lakes regularly come into play, Gloria New Course is ideal for holiday golf, not too demanding but still a great challenge especially off the back tees. The signature hole is the wonderful 17th, modelled on the 17th at Sawgrass, a picturesque par 3 that will stick in your memory for a good or bad reason that only you and your chosen golf club will determine. Gloria Verde Course The Verde Course is a very demanding 9 hole challenge of golf, being a Par 35 with a distance of just over 3,000 yards, Verde opened in 2001 with the intention of being a practice facility but soon gained a deserved reputation of being one of the best 9 hole courses in Europe. It is worth noting that at certain times players without handicaps are allowed and encouraged to use this facility to gain the experience needed to progress to full handicap status. It is easy to understand why golfers who stay at either of the 3 Gloria Hotels tend to play local, why travel off site with 45 wonderful holes of golf on your door step. Gloria Golf Resort Hotel has always been very popular with the golfers who travel to Belek, so much so the Sungolf competition weeks will be once again held there in February and March 2015. Full details on page 23 of this magazine. Sungolf Belek website: www.sungolfbelek.co.uk
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Corhampton Golf Club, Corhampton, Southampton
Where your golfing dreams come true!
DEDICATED BELEK WEBSITE Specialising in golfing holidays to Belek Turkey Every hotel in Belek represented including: Gloria Golf Resort / Gloria Serenity / Gloria Verde / Cornelia Diamond Cornelia Deluxe / Maxx Royal Golf & Spa / Voyage / Rixos / Kempinski the Dome Carya Regnum / Sueno Golf Hotel / Susesi Hotel / Riu Kaya / Zeynep Sirene / Riu Pallazo
Every golf course in Belek represented Gloria Old / Gloria New / Gloria Verde / Faldo Kings / Queens / Princes Montgomerie / Carya / Tat Golf / Lykia Links / National / Pines / Dunes If you are looking for a golfing holiday to Belek we can offer the best insight, the best knowledge the best advise. Because we have been there and vetted every golfing holiday that we sell.
WE GUARANTEE TO BEAT ANY LIKE FOR LIKE QUOTE.
Please contact tel 0044 (0)115 9681007 email: sungolfinfo@btinternet.com www.sungolfbelek.co.uk Open 10am-8pm 6 days
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MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE 7 DAY Just £18.03 per week 5 DAY Just £15.46 per week
ptionally quickly and provides a mud Set on chalk the course drains exce coming Clubhouse No Booking free round of golf. Friendly and wel iprocal golf, at 15 other Golf Clubs. System for Tee Times necessary Rec
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ELAINE JOINS DORSET’S GOLF DRIVE THERE’S a new face behind the drive to get more people playing and staying in golf in Dorset. Elaine Barrow has just taken over as the Dorset Golf Partnership’s County Development Officer. She will work with golf clubs and other organisations to help bring more people into the game. Among the initiatives Elaine will be promoting is the Get into Golf campaign, which inspires more people to play the sport by offering great value coaching with PGA professionals.
‘I’ve got a real passion for golf and for trying to encourage people to start playing or
return to the game I just love golf,’ said Elaine. ‘I think golf is a great way of socialising, exercising and enjoying fantastic scenery – you’ve got everything in one package. I just love golf!’ Elaine plays her golf in Hampshire, where she is a five-handicap member at Brokenhurst Manor. Her daughters, Laura, 19, and Charlotte, 17, are both single-figure players – and Charlotte has just helped Hampshire to win the English women’s county championship. Elaine brings much experience to her new role. She has been ladies’ captain and a member of both the ladies’ committee and the board of
directors at her club. She has also been the junior organiser for the Hampshire ladies and been much involved with the development of girl golfers in the county. Elaine takes over from Dee Wood, who is retiring after three years to spend more time with her six grandchildren. However, Dee will continue to run the Dorset Tour which encourages novice golfers to get out and play. For more information about the Dorset Golf Partnership visit www.dorsetgolfpartnership.org.uk. For more information about Get into Golf and to find out about coaching opportunities visit www.getintogolf.org
Elaine Barrow: Promoting the Get into Golf campaign in Dorset. Picture by Leaderboard Photography
. . .and farmer The monster albatross ace Andrew reaps
MORE than 4,000 golfers have so far received an exclusive watch for holing an ace during a club Great feat: Kyle nailed a 360competition, but yard hole-in-one Buncrana’s Kyle Mccarron has claimed the longest holein-one to date - on a monster 360-yard par-four.
North West, while playing for the Eamon MacManus President’s Prize.The scratch golfer ought to have perfect timing both on and off the golf course after being rewarded with membership of the exclusive BOSS Watches H1 Club and a speciallycommissioned, commemorative timepiece.
McCarron is currently attending Maynooth University College in Kildare after being honoured with the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship and his golfing diligence is paying off as he follows the footsteps of Rory McIlroy, recently being crowned the Ulster Youth Golf champion.
McCarron’s albatross - the Americans call it a double-eagle - also gave him his very first ace.
Big-hitter McCarron, 18, from Buncrana, Donegal, accomplished the astonishing feat with his driver on the second hole at his club,
He said: ‘This is my first hole-in-one and I’m very pleased. I have been playing golf for six years and I practise every day.’
The BOSS cheme is open to any golfer whose club uses HowDidiDo - a freeto-use, web-based social network for golfers - and anybody playing in official club competitions will be eligible. Currently, more than 1,800 clubs use the website.
Rory relishes Augusta hype
The long hitters get set to soar
RORY McIlroy says he is looking forward to embracing the pressure when he bids to complete a career Grand Slam at next year’s Masters at Augusta.
TWO Englishmen will be lining up this month alongside some of the world’s biggest hitters of a golf ball in the 2014 European Long Drive Championship.
The Ulsterman’s Open triumph at Hoylake marked the third leg of the career milestone, and he scooped up a second USPGA title three weeks later.
‘I know there is going to be a lot of hype going into Augusta,’ McIlroy told BBC Sport Northern Ireland. ‘The spotlight will be firmly focused on me but I won’t mind. I’ll embrace it.’ Speaking after opening a new support centre for children with cancer in County Down, McIlroy said he has thought about how victory in April would set him up for an attempt at winning four successive Majors at the U.S. Open two months later.
World long driving star in 2010 Joe Miller, who recently joined Brocket Hall’s ambassadorial team, entertaining corporate clients and members, will be attempting to out-drive other contenders such as fellow Brits John McSloy of Scotland and England’s Scott Beaven. The 2010 world champion’s longest drive in a competition was measured at 474 yards, and he is current European and World Matchplay Champion.
A FARMER from Rotherham has laid claim to being the luckiest golfer in Britain after scoring three holes-in-one - in just 15 days. Andrew Walker achieved two of the aces on a huge hole at his home course, Wath GC - its feared 248yard, par-four sixth. As his most recent was in an official club competition, the three-handicapper was rewarded with a specially-commissioned, commemorative BOSS timepiece. Walker, 54, scored his first ace on the parfour sixth, with a 22degree rescue club, and followed up with his second a week later, on the 137-yard, par-three third, using Ace king Andrew: ‘I just go for it’ a pitching wedge. He went on to complete his hat-trick when he returned to the sixth, again using his trusty rescue. Walker’s amazing triple feat was all the more remarkable as the selfemployed farmer had never before recorded a hole-in-one.
The Long Drivers European Tour season concludes from November 14 at Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community on the Costa Dorada coastline, an hour south of Barcelona, with The Masters LDET Cup.
Joe Miller, a 474-yard champion
The flagship golf course at Lumine is the Greg Norman-designed Lakes Course. Opened in 2008 with a Sergio Garcia ProAm, it now plays host to a number of high-
profile tournaments, including the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School, Nordea Tour Winter Series and PGAs of Europe’s annual fourball event.
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3 in a fortnight
He said: ‘I’ve been playing golf seriously for about 10 years. I played cricket for 30 years on the first team of my village, but was told I was too old. Since I had no interest in playing on the second team, someone suggested I take up golf, so I did’ There’s no secret. I just go for it.’
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NOVEMBER 2014
Continuing the saga of a late-convert golfer’s search for glory on the greens. . . AND did it last? That was the question I left you with when I’d just discovered every golfer’s dream – the perfect club. This one, if you remember, was an Adams four hybrid. I’d got very excited because on the driving range it picked up the ball cleanly, hit it straight, and delivered it about 170 yards down the fairway. I’ve had it for four weeks now. Did it last? Well, yes. And no. It’s more consistent than my three-wood, without the distance. It hits it further than my five-wood, but isn’t quite so reliable. Which means that I’m still in the state of terminal uncertainty which fogs the minds of most senior golfers. All of which I rather forgot when my pal Biggles tried to murder me. Now I know golf is a frustrating game, but I do think that’s taking it a bit far. Biggles, an Adams convert, was anxious to try out a bagful of them he’d bought at Eastern Road, Portsmouth, even though it was raining heavily. Rather reluctantly, I went with him.
How my golf buddie tried to murder me DIARY OF A BUS-PASS GOLFER
minute or two. Then he helped me to my feet and I staggered about a bit.
‘Let’s get you back to the clubhouse,’ he said, sounding very worried. I realized why when I looked in the mirror in the gents. My face was streaked with crimson where the mingled blood and poured down my face. Biggles wanted to run me to the local A and E but I mopped up the blood and headed instead to the doctors’ surgery at Midhurst. The doctor took one look at the laceration on my hairline and looked at his watch.
By Bob Evans Halfway down the second fairway, the rain got worse. I put my clubs away and offered to hold the umbrella over him.
That’s where it went, and, I might say, at some speed. It clocked me on my rainsoaked baseball cap.
That was when I made the near-fatal mistake. I took up my position just behind his left shoulder.
Now I’m a smallish chap so didn’t go down, as they say, like a felled oak. I was more of a stamped daffodil.
Where does a golf club go after it has struck the ball?
‘Good God!’ said Biggles, dropping his club. ‘Are you okay?’
That’s right. Straight over the left shoulder.
To be honest, I wasn’t okay, not for a
It was just after mid-day. ‘We normally see these around 2am,’ he said, ‘caused by a bottle. What caused this one?’ Lying there on the bed, head reeling, I gave him a full and honest answer: ‘It was an Adams hybrid, a three, I think, with a seniors’ graphite shaft.’ I paused as I felt the stitches going in. ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you the loft.’ If you see a bloodstained baseball cap on e-bay, you’ll know where it came from.
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Fancy Footwork… The width of your stance at address is super important when it comes to your ability to make a full golf swing. This is a quick tip on how far apart your feet should be when it comes to a full shot.
Like many young golfers starting out I thought I would end up beating the World. I was a member of The European Tour for three years back in the late 70s and early 80s and shot a few good rounds, but unfortunately my game didn’t measure up. Since then, in a sincere effort to help golfers I have spent my time trying to improve my coaching skills and my understanding of everything to do with golf.
So many golfers I teach have their feet wither too far apart or too close together… this results in all sorts of problems in the full swing. Too far apart and you will be giving away a good amount of mobility in your full swing. So chances are you won’t get a full shoulder turn unless you are made of elastic like Mr McIlroy. The tour players get an incredible X factor where they can coil their upper half up against a fairly solid and wide base. This is down to hours of gym work so don’t try and copy!! If you are too wide then because your shoulders can't turn properly you will find your arms get too involved and this will lead to a collapse in the left arm (in right handed players) in an attempt to complete the swing. On the other side of the coin if you stand with your feet too close together then chances are you will move about too much. The issues this causes with stability mean the chance of getting the middle of the clubface back to the ball consistently is greatly reduced. Width of stance is often something golfers are just not aware of themselves. Check in a mirror at home by setting up to a ball facing the mirror without looking at your reflection. Then once you are comfortable glance up and see what you look like. This is an ideal chance to check your ball position too. Alternatively get someone to video your set up and swing from face on and this will allow you to see for yourself what is going on. The best advice I can give is to build a specific sequence of movements into your pre-shot routine. Set up to the ball with your feet together and the ball opposite the very middle of your feet. Then take your feet apart to approximately shoulder width (from the inside of your heels). If you are someone who sets up to the ball with your feet far too wide then your correct stance will feel very narrow, and vice versa. If you usually adopt a narrow stance then a correct width with your feet will feel like you are doing the splits. It is worth checking this in a mirror or have it videoed as it will put your mind at ease. Then just remember how exaggerated the correct stance feels and recreate that on the course. There are occasions when a more unorthodox stance comes in handy. If you are faced with an awkward lie a wider stance will help you balance on a severe slope. This applies when you are in a seriously precarious position in a
Don’t think it, feel it. Coaching golf is certainly varied, one minute you have in front of you a person who is pleased to get the ball off the ground and somewhat in the direction of the target and the next, an expert wanting to tighten his game a little. Factor in that everybody is different and have different learning styles. Some golfers will just go for it and do whatever it takes to improve, while others are more cautious and don’t want to do anything that feels a bit uncomfortable. You can see that as a coach you have to be very flexible as well as a bit of a psychologist in order to give somebody what they want.
bunker. I’m sure you’ve all seen the players on tour with really wide set-ups when they have to stand with one leg in a bunker and one outside it. It all helps them to balance but will hinder their mobility. I tend to give some of the older players I teach a narrower stance as this offers increased mobility as their motion gets limited due to age or in some cases back injury. Try it if you are a golfer who has struggled to get more shoulder turn as a result of either reason. Just be aware that less effort is required if you are to maintain your balance. If you try and bash the ball into the next millennium from a narrow stance you’ll end up on your derriere! It is important to be aware of your width of stance as some of the faults in your swing may lie here! Good luck and happy practicing through the winter. I am about to go on maternity leave as Baby D number 2 is due on Jan 6th. I’ll be back teaching in June. IF YOU ARE STUCK ON GIFT IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS VISIT MY ART WEBSITE FOR SOME PRESSIE INSPIRATION: www.katiedawkinsart.co.uk Prints and vouchers are available.
As a coach one is always trying to convey feelings. Showing somebody a particular way of standing or swinging is ok but unless they can practice the corrected movement repetitiously and correctly it is going to be very difficult for them to significantly improve. Some years ago I started using several pieces of great technology as teaching aids that help pupils to do just that. One of them is a K Vest, the vest has a sensor placed on the hips, torso and left wrist. With it I can measure the movement of the hips and torso in 3D, as well as their rotational speeds throughout the swing. This is very valuable information when it comes to making a swing motion more efficient and powerful. What makes the K Vest great is that it has a practice mode. While wearing the vest the golfer can swing into a position or through a series of positions and hear an audible tone when the ideal position is attained. This process can be repeated until the feeling is automatic. This type of learning is ideal for experts and novices alike. Different swing types may need different training. For instance, a golfer who has a one plane type action, the likes of Justin Rose or Hunter Mahan, may be standing up in the downswing, which is causing his club to come way from the inside and he is hooking badly.
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Maintaining his angles would help remove his hook because the club would come into impact less from the inside. Body angles during the swing are largely controlled by the forward and backward movement of the pelvis. This movement can easily be trained with the K Vest. The combinations are endless, someone with a two plane type action, the likes of Angel Cabrera or Tom Watson, who has the spine leaning towards the target at the top of the backswing can easily be corrected – most golfers who leaning the spine towards the target on the backswing, reverse the process on the downswing. The majority will slice but others may hit a big hook. Some golfers might not need or want to go on the K Vest, after all everybody is different. My other half Nikki, loves it, mainly because she had the round of her life after practicing on it!! Pictured is Emma Allen who had a sparkling season this year and is now a member of the English Girls Squad. Emma falls into the “I’ll do whatever it takes” category. In the picture Emma was improving her turn and hip position on the K Vest. More about some other equipment next month! If you need any help with any department of your game, please don't hesitate to contact me either through my website: www.mbtourcoach.com or by telephone M: 07787 887578.
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