Today's Golfer Issue 289 Preview

Today’s

WWW. TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK

NEW DRIVERS

10-PAGE INSTRUCTION SPECIAL

DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE 289 NOV 3-NOV 30

NIKE, COBRA & ADAMS

£4.20

Today’s Golfer DECEMBER 2011 (NOVEMBER 3-NOVEMBER 30) www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

Golfer BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE

TAKE CONTROL

LEARN TO MASTER YOUR BALL FLIGHT

SHOWCASED

WINTER KIT SPECIAL ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗

WATERPROOFS SHOES ◗ JUMPERS TROUSERS ◗ MITTS UMBRELLAS ◗ HATS BASE LAYERS

SWING TIPS

LEARN FROM LUKE DONALD

SEE HOW YOU CAN GAIN DRIVING DISTANCE...

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

MAJOR-WINNERS REVEAL SECRETS MCILROY’S KEY LESSONS ◗ CLARKE ON COURAGE ◗ SCHWARTZEL’S BASICS ◗ BRADLEY’S NEW GOALS ◗

HOME & ABROAD

ALGARVE AND DEVON SPECIALS GREAT GOLF NEED NOT COST A FORTUNE

WIN AMAZING PRIZES

289

◗ A W E E K I N F L O R I DA ◗ A RO U N D W I T H WO L S T E N H O L M E AT T H E B E L F R Y ◗ S T E WA R T T R O L L E Y & B A G ◗ P I N G C L O T H I N G ◗

FIRST TEE { QUICK T IP }

Clubhead wins race

With our iron and wedge shots, we’re always taught that the butt of the club should win the race to impact ahead of the clubhead, creating shaft lean forwards at impact and a descending blow. But to maximise the bounce and loft on our wedges when faced with a greenside splash shot, you need to change your set-up and swing so that the clubhead wins the race just after impact, ahead of the butt and the ball! Gareth Johnston explains all…

Travel Deals

5

MAGIC MOROCCO

It’s the perfect time of year to visit North Africa and sample this exotic and emerging golfing destination

minutes with…

Jaco Van Zyl THE SOUTH AFRICAN IS A European Tour Rookie of the Year contender

Favourite destination on Tour?

Spain. It’s very similar to South Africa with nice weather, a great variety of courses and friendly people.

Palmeraie Village, Marrakech

Hotel & Ryads Naoura Barrière

Three nights’ bed & breakfast at the four-star Marrakech Hotel and two rounds of golf on Palmeraie Golf Course. Break valid until March 31, 2012.

Price: £159 per person in November. £169 from December-March. Flights not included.

Contact: www.golfbreaks.com or 0800 279 7988.

Seven nights’ B&B in Marrakech, five rounds of golf at a choice of Royal Marrakech, Al Maaden and Amelkis golf clubs and all transfers throughout the break. The offer is valid until March 31, 2012.

Price: From £645 per person. Flights not included.

Contact: www.leisurelinkgolf.com or 01708 339300.

Best friends on Tour?

Mainly caddies.

George Coetzee and his caddie.

STEP 1 Set up with your feet shoulder-width apart and weight favouring the left side. Soft knees allow the clubhead to stay low through impact.

STEP 3 Position the butt of the club so that it points to your belly button, presenting a neutral shaft and bounce position.

{ i n st ruc t i o n }

STEP 2 Weight is fixed in the left side throughout the swing to ensure the club works into the sand at a consistent point, just forward of centre.

STEP 6 Note how the shaft and the right arm have extended to form a uniform line post-impact. The divot should be relatively shallow.

STEP 5 To help you maintain the loft, feel that the clubhead overtakes the hands with the palm of the right hand pointing up at the sky at impact.

STEP 4 Through impact, try to feel the back side of the wedge burns through the sand.

This will ensure you utilise the rounded bounce angle of the club to full effect.

is sue 2 89 ❘ Todaysg olfe r .co.uk

Dream fourball?

Neither of them play golf but because they are always criticising, it would be my grandfather and father. And it’s always good fun playing with Luke, my caddie.

Miss most about home?

I always miss quality meat and biltong, which is a kind of cured meat, and specific good brandies.

Relaxing away from golf?

I love flying so I started out with model aeroplanes about 10 years ago then went onto hand gliders and the last couple of years I have been getting into microlights. I’ve got a friend who works for a big auctioneer and they’re selling a four-seater plane so I’m looking at buying that.

Mazagan Resort

Hotel du Golf, Marrakech

Four nights’ B&B in an ocean view room in El Jadida, unlimited golf (Mazagan course) and transfers from airport. Break valid from November 7 to December 24.

Price: £399pp. Flights not included.

Contact: www.destinationgolf.co.uk or 0207 223 8726.

Seven nights’ B&B in five-star Marrakech hotel, four rounds (Palmeraie, Al Maaden, Amelkis) and transfers.

Price: £514pp (December 4-25, 2011, Jan 1-Feb 6, 2012). £589 (Nov 1-Dec 3, 2011 and Feb 7-March 1, 2012). Flights not included.

Contact: www.golf-escapes.com or 01342 811777.

THE HAPPY COUPLE

INTRODUCING WOZZILROY McIlroy and Wozniacki confirm their relationship The US Open golf champion and reigning world number one female tennis player have confirmed their relationship, with Dane Caroline posting a picture of a personalised Titleist wedge that Rory gave her as a gift on Twitter.

The club featured the engraving ‘Wozzilroy’ – a celeb couple nickname that’s sure to catch on in the tabloids – and Wozniacki, 21, tweeted soon after that she’d asked Yonex to customise some rackets for the Northern Irishman.

“Why it’s going so well is that we have so much in common,” said McIlroy.

“Obviously, different sports, but we’re pretty much in the same position at a young age and we can talk about things that probably a lot of 21, 22-year olds can’t talk about. It’s nice to have someone that understands what you’re going through.”

{

competition

Rules

}

WIN A ROUND WITH GARY ON THE BRAB MacWet Gloves give you chance to play Wolstenholme at Belfry We’ve teamed up with MacWet Gloves to give one lucky reader and a friend the chance to have a round with European Senior Tour pro Gary Wolstenholme.

The winner will play on the Brabazon course at The Belfry, host of four Ryder Cups, and also receive a pair of MacWet Gloves in a colour and size of their choice. Five runners-up will also receive a pair of gloves.

Wolstenholme famously beat Tiger Woods in a crucial Walker Cup match in 1995 and has played in the US Open, Masters and Open Championship. His illustrious amateur career spanned an incredible three decades and saw him awarded an MBE from the Queen in 2008.

Wolstenholme turned professional and joined the European Seniors Tour in 2010. He won the Casa Serena Open in his second ever start and is on target to finish in the Order of Merit top 10 and be named Rookie of the Year this season.

MacWet’s high performance gloves promise unrivalled grip in all weather conditions, performing just as well when wet as when dry. Moisture on the skin is wicked to the outside of the material as a result of the breathable palm fabric and is used to increase grip and maintain comfort, regardless of humidity, perspiration or precipitation. In use, MacWet Gloves dry naturally within five to 10 minutes, adjusting to the climate to keep grip and sensitivity consistent. They are available in a vast range of sizes and colours for just £27.99. Visit www. macwet.com for more information. ◗ Read Gary’s exclusive TG blog at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/blogs.

How to enter Q. Gary Wolstenholme won the British Amateur Championship twice. His first victory was in 1991, but when did he win his second title?

A. 1995 B. 1998 C. 2003 Leave your answer at www. todaysgolfer.co.uk/competitions before midnight on November 30.

Postal entries to: Wolstenholme Comp, TG, PO Box 57, Coates, Peterborough, PE7 2FF. Ts and Cs apply.

TRIPLE TRIUMPH The winner and a friend will play with European Senior Tour pro Gary Wolstenholme on The Belfry's Brabazon course and receive a pair of MacWet Gloves.

Play as it lies?

Q. Last weekend I was involved in a friendly matchplay competition at Thorpeness GC in Suffolk. My tee shot on the 4th went into some bushes. I took an unplayable, measured two clublengths and dropped the ball to play my third shot.

I stood back and took a practice swing, but the toe of the club hit the ball and it flew straight back into the bushes. As it was a practice swing I felt I was correct in going into the bushes, retrieving my ball, placing it back in the position that it was dropped and playing four under Rule 183b. I told my playing partner what happened and after he putted out, I finished the hole in seven, we agreed a half and moved on.

However, after the match was finished, the captain of the opposition claimed I was wrong and stated the ball was in play and as such when it was struck in the practice swing, it should've then been played as it lay. What is the correct ruling?

Philip Coleman, Stowmarket A. A “stroke” is defined as “the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball”. As you had no intention of striking the ball because you were making a practice swing, you are not considered to have made a stroke.

However, you have moved your ball in play, so you incur a penalty stroke and are required to replace your ball (Rule 18-2a). You are now playing your fourth shot.

Kevin Barker, R&A Assistant Director, Rules

Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 89

Ball flights where the ball curves in the air come about because sidespin is being imparted. When there’s a difference between the club path (the direction the clubhead is travelling at impact) and where the club

face points, that’s when sidespin is created. A deadstraight shot, in which only backspin is imparted, will only occur when the face and path match the target line and the strike is centred in the clubface. There are two

‘families’ which most ball flights fall into; the ‘out-to-in’ family and the ‘in-to-out’ family. Generally a more upright downswing plane tends to deliver the club more steeply, resulting in the club travelling on an out-to-in path.

out-to-in path

target line

Two path ‘families’

Effect on low point When the club approaches on a neutral arc, the low point happens just after impact in front of the ball.

When the club approaches the ball too steeply, the low point of the swing, represented here by the black tape, is likely to move in front of the ball affecting both direction and quality of strike.

out-to-in shots Shots arising from an out-to-in path are the fade, slice, pull and pull-hook depending on the angle of the clubface and the severity of the out-to-in path. If this is your shot shape, out-to-in will be your path.

back and through?

Poor, out-to-in paths arise when the golfer mistakenly thinks they need to swing the club straight back and through to hit the ball straight.

In reality, the club swings on an inclined arc.

is sue 2 89 ❘ Todaysg olfe r .co.uk

Players are constantly told they need to attack the ball from the inside but many overdo it. They’ll either slide too much to get on the inside of the ball or may have a faulty grip and a closed clubface, causing them to

react to those set-up factors with an inside downswing.

Often a golfer sick of seeing the ball go left will then swing out more to the right, which actually amplifies the problem! Shots that occur as a result of an in-to-out path

are the draw, hook, block or push-slice. It’s important to note that the amount the ball curves in the air depends on the difference between the clubface and path. The bigger the difference, the more the ball will curve.

in-to-out path

target line

In-to-out club path

low point moves back If the clubhead approaches the ball too much from the inside, the low point is likely to move back behind the ball, causing tops, fats and inaccuracy. Off-centre strikes also cause the club to twist at impact. For example if you strike the ball out of the toe, the clubface will twist open.

effect of loft The effect of poor path depends on the loft of the club. Lower loft and increased speed will exaggerate sidespin, hence why most people hit their utility club straighter than their driver.

ball position Typically, golfers with a faulty path where the low point is occurring too far in front or behind the ball will adjust their ball position to suit their fault. But it’s the path that needs to be adjusted first.

Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 89

{T H E

“

TG

T W E N T Y

}

INCIDENTS, GOOD OR BAD, HAVE MADE ME WHO I AM.

I HAVE NO REGRETS ” FREDDIE FLINTOFF Could the English cricket legend drive his way to a TG20 victory or would he get hit for six? w o r d s J o e l T A D M A N P I C T U R E s H o wa r d B o y l an

O

n the cricket pitch, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was one of the finest all-rounders of his generation.

Steaming in and bowling in excess of 90mph made him a formidable opponent at the crease while his batting electrified the crowd, becoming the most prolific six-hitter in England’s history. Off the pitch, his laddish antics and care-free demeanour at times got him into trouble... but he remained loved by the fans and respected by his team-mates.

Such is Freddie’s enduring popularity, he didn’t struggle to fill a shotgun start for his Invitational day at Heron’s Reach Golf Resort in Blackpool, hosted by the De Vere Club, of which Flintoff is a member.

This was the setting for TG’s duel, and the course had done well to survive the preceding week’s heavy rain. The soggy conditions didn’t dampen Freddie’s mood on the 1st, but the prolonged drinking session the night before in the hotel bar certainly gave TG an immediate advantage.

But, a couple of strong coffees down his neck, and Flintoff was primed for battle. After TG found the left rough

off the tee, Freddie looked anxious... and quickly explained why. “I don’t think I’ve ever hit a good first shot,” he says. Sure enough, one shaky swing later, the ball shot straight left through trees beyond the out of bounds.

“Some might put it down to preparation,” he jokes. “Standing over the ball, I look at it and don’t know what to do with it. I get nervous every time. Hopefully that will disappear the more I play and the better I’ll get.

But there’s no sign of it yet.”

The first fairway runs alongside the neighbouring Blackpool Zoo and it wasn’t long before we heard a loud snarl from beyond the trees.

“What was that, an elephant?” his caddie asks. “Nope, that’s a lion,” Flintoff replies confidently.

And he should know. One of Freddie’s many new ventures since his retirement from cricket in 2009 has been ‘Alone in the wild’, an adventure documentary where he travelled to the Botswana wilderness armed only with a hand-held camera.

His enthusiasm to get up close with the wildlife soon backfired.

“I set up camp near a watering hole because I wanted to see more animals.

It was a classic case of being careful >> Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 89

{M A J O R

WINNERS

}

‘I had to lose before I could win’

Rory McIlroy US Open Rory McIlroy explains how his Masters meltdown was essential to his US Open dominance In the mid-afternoon heat of Sunday, April 10, Rory McIlroy cut a beleaguered figure as he stood on the 12th tee at Augusta with his head in his hands, knowing he’d just thrown away a four-shot overnight lead and blown his chance of a first Major. But just 70 days later he’d buried those demons by outclassing the field on his way to a magnificent wire-to-wire eight-shot victory at the US Open. In a little over two months, the deflated youth had transformed himself into a dominant champion.

“Straight after The Masters I said to myself, the media and everyone that you have to lose before you can win,” McIlroy told TG in an exclusive interview at the Old Course Hotel.

“I just think at The Masters I wasn’t ready.

You have to learn to win and learn to handle the occasion and situation that you have put yourself in.

“I’ve played a Ryder Cup, and that’s pressure, but going into the back nine of a Major with a lead is different, especially when you can feel it slipping away. It was definitely the most pressure that I’ve ever felt. I learned an awful lot from The Masters.”

The then 21-year-old had spent four months building up to the season’s first Major and to lose it in such a fashion prompted him to take a look in the mirror. “I was really trying to dedicate all my work from January to April just for The Masters, and it paid off for 63 holes. I just let the occasion get the better of me.

“It was obviously very disappointing at the time. It was crushing and I had to take a long, hard look at myself and see where I needed to improve and get better. I was honest with myself and spoke to the people closest to me and pulled together a plan of what to do better and how to make it right.”

Rory identified four areas to improve.

“Firstly, I knew that if I had putted well the first three days I probably would have had the same lead going into the final round as I did at the US Open. I addressed that by working

with Dave Stockton and it’s definitely been a big improvement in my game.

“Attitude was a big thing; just to believe in myself a bit more and maybe be a little more confident, even cocky on the course within myself. I maybe didn’t have that at The Masters but I definitely had it after that and at the US Open.

“As a team, my caddie JP and I learnt a lot about each other and how to handle those situations. We learnt that I need to talk my way through it. We both got very quiet at The Masters. It was a big learning experience for both of us.

“Finally, I tried to focus on going through the process of each and every shot. So instead of thinking ‘if I can birdie this hole I might get one back’, all I was trying to do was think ‘OK, it’s 164 to the front, 172 to the pin and the wind’s off the left’. Just go through the same process I go through for every shot and if I can do that right then the outcome should take care of itself.”

As well as his close friends, family and management at ISM, McIlroy received advice from two greats of the game. Greg Norman

won two Majors, but having suffered the most famous Masters meltdown of all time in 1996, he knew what McIlroy was going through.

“It was a great chat – all about how to handle what had happened at The Masters.

Not to read the newspapers or listen to the media and to try and wrap yourself in your own little bubble, and going forward that’s what I’ve tried to do. It’s hard when you pick up a paper and see a picture of yourself not to read it, but I’ve tried to limit myself.”

A few weeks later, the Northern Irishman caught up with 18-time Major winner Jack Nicklaus at the Memorial Tournament. “He just asked what happened. I replied it was just one of those things and he said ‘there’s going to be a lot of pressure on you, but that’s a good thing’. He put a lot of pressure on himself and he relished it and thrived on it and knew that the pressure would make him a better player. He told me to welcome the pressure and try to live up to it, so that’s something that I’ve taken on board.”

All eyes were certainly on McIlroy during the first round at Congressional and he opened his title bid with a stunning, bogeyfree 65 to lead the tournament. The pressure of leading the very next Major after his closing 80 at Augusta was intense but the 22-year-old silenced his doubters with rounds of 66 and 68.

He built a virtually unassailable eight-shot lead going into the final round and showed none of the nerves, quietness or twitchy putting that cost him the Green Jacket. Two months of honest self-analysis, dedicated practice and mental adjustments enabled him to complete the job, shooting a fourth round in the 60s and breaking 11 US Open records in the process.

“Having all these experiences this year has definitely changed my mindset and my attitude on and off the golf course. It’s been a huge learning curve for me, but one of the biggest things I’ve learnt is that if I put the work in I’ll get the rewards at the end of it.”

Future-proof “I want to try and finish this season off strongly. I’ve got seven or eight tournaments left and I’d love to pick up a win or two. I want to get closer to the top two guys in the world rankings, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood. I’m not too far behind Lee

at the minute so I want to get close to him and then the ultimate goal is to get to the number one spot.

“I try and pick the tournaments that I like to go and play. You want to play tournaments where you feel good and have played well in before. I

feel like I start the year well in the Middle East. I go to Dubai a couple of weeks before the season and do a good bit of practice and play the Middle East Swing.

“The thing that I did last year was take three weeks off before The

Masters and practised really hard. I went up to Augusta for a couple of days and got some practice rounds in.

I feel like I don’t need to play events to get ready. If I’m hitting it well on the range and in practice then I know I can take that onto the golf course.”

Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 89

INSTRUCTION CONSISTENCY

swing like the world No.1 Discover Luke Donald’s secrets to consistency with this exclusive analysis from his coach Pat Goss The level of consistency Luke Donald has shown over the last year or so has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s at a level now where golf comes easy to the Englishman and the stats prove it.

He tops the money list and stroke average on both the European and PGA Tours, as well as the driving accuracy on the European Tour.

Indeed the biggest improvement in Luke’s game in 2011 as he has ascended to World No.1 is his driving. Luke has been both longer and more accurate, allowing him to take advantage of his strong iron play, short game, and putting.

The biggest swing improvements were in his club position at the top and his start to the downswing.

Luke has consistently got the clubface squarer at the top with the shaft less ‘laid off’ by working on hinging the club more vertically in his backswing and feeling more “cup” in his left wrist.

The other main improvement was in the sequencing of his downswing. Luke has worked diligently this year to get his legs to initiate the downswing by shifting his hips more towards the target. These are both good moves for the club golfer to emulate.

ADDRESS Luke has great posture at set-up. Notice how he has tilted forwards from his hips and because of that avoids a rounded back.

ta k ea w ay This is a good frame for amateurs to imitate. He has kept the club in front of his chest and the head of the club is outside of his hands.

t ra n s i t i o n The important thing to note here is that his lower body has started the downswing but the club looks like it is in the same position as frame 5.

h a l f w ay d o w n Luke’s hips point left of the target but his shoulders still aim right, showing good sequencing. I love seeing the club between his forearms.

see mo r e driving video TIP S o n T G’S web sit e

is sue 2 89 ❘ Todaysg olfe r .co.uk

swing sequence

LUKE DONALD

h a l f w ay b a c k The club has now started to change direction, hinging up his right forearm and not behind it, something he’s worked on.

t h ree - q u ar t ers b a c k The club has continued working up on a good plane. He has maintained the flex in his right knee and his left shoulder has turned under his right.

top of the swing This frame improved for Luke in 2011 and will continue to get better. The clubface is more square and he has stayed in his posture better.

i m pa c t Good body rotation but Luke would like to see his right foot more grounded here with no daylight between his knees.

h a l f w ay t h r o u g h His body continues rotating as he releases the club back on plane with the face square. Look how the shaft plane matches that in frame 4 (above).

finish The classic finish of the World’s No.1 player! Notice how his right shoulder is lower than his left and he finishes in control, perfectly in balance.

Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 89

EQUIPMENT { c l ev e l a n d S P EC I AL }

BACK & BETTER Cleveland’s legendary 588 wedge is reincarnated for 2012... with a little twist They say things are never quite as good second time around; footballers should never return to the club where they were a star, sequels of classic films always seem to fall short of the original and returning to a favourite holiday destination never quite seems as good as you first remember it.

But the new Cleveland 588 wedge looks set to break the mould

– quite literally in this case – because it is back, 23 years after it was first revealed.

Except this time it is forged, rather than cast. The 588 wedge – launched in 1988 and the fifth incarnation of Cleveland wedges – can legitimately claim to be the most successful wedge in golf history and could even be the most successful club of all time.

In 20 years from 1988 to 2008 it helped Cleveland wedges secure 25 Majors – including many in the hands of players not paid to endorse the product – and 314 PGA Tour events.

The original 588 was revered for the teardrop-style headshape, which has since become the classically-preferred look.

Cleveland therefore didn’t want

to change the shape but wanted to improve the feel and that’s why they took the bold step of creating their first ever forged wedge.

The new 588 wedges are available in a multitude of loft and bounce options – from 46° to 64° – and two finishes, chrome and satin.

The wedges have an RRP of £119 and they are available from February 1, 2012.

POLISHED A new automated polishing process means no shape inconsistencies as per when done manually.

Spin doctor

The wedges feature the same Tour Zip grooves and laser-milled texture lines on the face which Cleveland have developed in recent years to maximise spin without falling foul of the new regulations.

NEW SHAFT An exclusive True Temper shaft with a less active tip delivers more spin and more feel.

Forging ahead

The 588s undergo a forging process involving heating a billet of 1025 carbon steel before stretching it and pressing it into shape under extreme pressure. Cleveland believe this enhances feel through the clubhead.

Cleveland wedge facts ◗ Since 1988 Cleveland wedges have been used to win more Majors than any other – and 24 per cent of all Majors played between 1988 and 2008. ◗ Tiger Woods used a

is sue 2 89 ❘ Todaysg olfe r .co.uk

custom-grind Cleveland 588 wedge to win his first Major, at Augusta in 1997. ◗ Cleveland have sold more than eight million wedges, with the 588 accounting for almost four million of these.

◗ Cleveland were the first to offer a raw finish wedge, which is designed to rust, with the 588 RTG in 1996. ◗ In 1997 Cleveland launched the 797 wedge made of Beryllium Nickel,

which delivered great feel.

But due to environmental concerns the wedge was discontinued and the models can now be found selling online... for extremely high prices!

LATEST NEWS

in balance The Speedline 9088 UL is light at 290g but it still remains balanced beautifully.

EYE TEST The lines might not be everyone's favourite but otherwise this is a great-looking club.

{ M E TAL }

NEW ADAMS DRIVER

DISTANCE The aero-shaped crown creates less drag for more speed and hence more yards.

ADAMS WEIGH IN WITH A WINNER L I G H T W EI G H T S P EE D L I N E D R I V E R ' S SU P E R B a e r o d y n a m i c s E Q UA L m o r e d i s ta n c e Adams has introduced their latest Speedline driver in the form of the new 9088 UL model that will benefit those golfers who prefer the feel of a lightweight big stick.

The new club weighs just 290g, making it one of the lighter models on the market and Adams engineers have been able to balance the weight throughout the entire club for more accurate tee shots. The technicians at the American brand have also used a 45g Matrix Radix HD shaft that makes it even easier to use and delivers greater distance.

Scott Burnett, Director of Advance Product Development, says: “Our extensive testing showed that many lighter drivers on the market ended up with very high swing weights, which most players tended to hit to the right.

"We solved that problem by balancing the weight throughout the entire club, creating lighter inertia around the grip, allowing players to hit the ball straighter.”

The new Speedline model retains some of the

brilliant innovations that have been present in the previous versions – the aero-shaped crown creates less drag for increased clubhead speed and more distance.

Looks-wise, we think this is very impressive and this is a common theme we’ve noticed with recent Adams Gofl products – aside from the lines on the crown, there’s very little that anyone could ever dislike about them and their performance is normally up there with the very best.

In terms of price, the new 9088 UL will retail at £279.99. We are well aware there are lots of good drivers out there at the minute at that kind of price range, with TaylorMade’s R11, Ping’s G20 and Callaway’s RAZR Hawk leading the way, but if you’re in the market for a new one make sure you give the new Adams some serious thought. ◗ The driver will hit the UK golf stores from November. It will be available in both left and right-handed versions and in a variety of flexes and lofts. Visit www.todaysgolfer.co.uk for more.

who are adams golf?

We’ve increasingly featured Adams Golf products over the past few years as we think they perform up there with the best.

But you may not know much about them.

The company was founded a relatively short time ago, in 1987, and by the early 1990s, founder Barney Adams had created the Tight Lies Fairway wood.

Its low-profile design and low centre of gravity helped to make it a huge favourite in the States. They built on their growing reputation by establishing themselves as a hybrid specialist – their Idea hybrids suit a wide variety of golfers, and they are well established on the PGA Tour with Aaron Baddeley, Ryan Moore and Chad Campbell on the books.

Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 89

WINTER SPECIAL {WATERPROOF

JACKETS

}

Galvin-ise your game

Swedish company Galvin Green are the experts on bad weather They say there’s no such thing as bad weather, simply bad clothing and that’s as true in golf as it is in any walk of life.

If you’re looking to maximise your time on the golf course this winter then you have to make sure you are kitted out in the right gear.

That means a top quality set of waterproofs and as we saw in last year’s Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor,

that can mean the difference between winning and losing.

Thankfully there are a host of modern designs and fabrics on the market from a range of manufacturers that are very good.

The number one selling brand in the UK is Galvin Green and hailing from Sweden they know a thing or two about bad weather.

Their new Achilles jacket and

PERFECT FIT Tabs on the back feature a fastener for chest width adjustment and a tighter fit without inhibiting the golf swing.

MAKE A MOVE Gore-TEX Paclite Shell fabric with stretch effect is used on different parts of the trousers for freedom of movement.

is sue 2 89 ❘ Todaysg olfe r .co.uk

keeping you dry on the course than that as the annotations below show. There’s no doubt the Galvin Green garments are expensive, but if it keeps you golfing 12 months of the year it’s a price worth paying. ◗ Galvin Green Achilles jacket £389, Aquilla trousers £289.

Tel: 01932 503330 Web: www.galvingreen.com

NO WATERWAY The cuffs in the jacket are partial elastic with a rubber tab fastener to ensure no moisture gets in at the wrists.

NECK IT A rubber tab with a touch and close fastener allows collarwidth adjustment to ensure a perfect fit around the neck.

PROTECT POCKET The pockets feature water repellent zips meaning anything in the pocket will stay dry.

Aquilla trousers are designed to produce the maximum protection from the elements while providing minimum impact on the golf swing.

This is achieved with the use of Gore-TEX Paclite Shell fabric, which stretches to allow freedom of movement without compromising its waterproofing properties. But that’s not all, there’s a whole lot more thought that goes into

no wear The lower back is made of extra abrasion resistant Gore-TEX fabric to withstand wear and tear from carry bags.

STAYING UP The jacket’s bottom edge features a drawstring for a tighter fit around the waist.

COMFORT FIT The trouser waistband is not only elasticated but features a drawstring for a better fit around the waist.

W A T ER P R O O F S , HA T S

SPLASH OUT STAY DRY

FJ D ryJ oy s T o u r C o l l e c t i o n R a i n Shi r t £12 5

G a lv i n G r e e n A s t o r Jac k e t £289

Sunderl and Resort C o n v e r t ib l e Jac k e t £12 5

www.footjoy.co.uk

www.galvingreen.com

www.sunderlandgolf.com

p i n g c o l l e c t i o n PROTECT JACKET £110

a d i da s C l im a P r o o f S t o r m S t r e t c h Jac k e t £12 4 . 9 9

Ni k e S t o r mF I T ½ zi p Jac k e t £10 0

www.pingcollection.co.uk

www.adidasgolf.com

www.nikegolf.eu

B e n r o s s X TE X Wat e r p r o o f Jac k e t £79. 9 9

Stuburt Helium Full Z i p Jac k e t £ 5 9. 9 9

UA A r m o u r S t o r m CG ¼ zi p £12 0

www.benrossgolf.com

www.stuburt.com

www.underarmour.co.uk

headgear

KEEP YOUR HEAD ON THE GAME

P I NG FLEECE B EAN I E £1 4

GALV I N GREEN B RADY W I NDSTOPPER £ 3 5

STU B URT B EAN I E £ 9. 9 9

UNDER AR M OUR STR I PED £18

NIKE REVERSIBLE KNIT FLEECE £1 4

www.ping.com

www.galvingreen.com

www.stuburt.com

www.underarmour.co.uk

www.nikegolf.eu

Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 89

COURSES { C lassy c rop }

theof t Bes tain i Br

CREAM of DEVON Luxury stays, quality plays and an air of class on the English Riviera‌ wor d s K EV I N BROW N

course planner Bovey Castle and Okehampton are close to each other, as are Thurlestone and Bigbury. Dainton Park near Newton Abbot and Dartmouth G&CC are a short drive apart.

BE ST OF BRITAIN

South Devon has an awful lot going for it and golf is one of the leading attractions in the region dubbed the ‘English Riviera’.

It may lack the North’s quality historic links of Saunton and Royal North Devon, but there are a cluster of excellent courses.

Thurlestone overlooks the Atlantic, as does Bigbury which towers above magical Burgh Island where Agatha Christie wrote ‘Evil under the Sun’ and ‘And then there were none’.

Among the shining inland stars is Bovey Castle, a luxury retreat on the edge of the wild and remote Dartmoor National Park. The course underwent a comprehensive upgrade a few years ago and is overlooked by a stunning manor house hotel with five-star facilities.

And all of this is just down the road from Dartmoor, famously the setting of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s celebrated Sherlock Holmes novel ‘The Hounds of the Baskervilles’.

It’s also the home of the imposing Dartmoor Prison and towering tors rock formations, the highest being High

Willhays at more than 621metres.

Another must-visit is Dartmouth Golf & Country Club which offers both affordable golf (27 holes) and on-site accommodation – as demonstrated by the special offer on page 110. The venue is a short drive away from the historic town of Dartmouth, overlooked by Britannia Royal Naval College with exquisite views across the delightful Dart Valley. It’s also where our present Queen first met Prince Phillip by the way.

Nobody knows South Devon’s golf scene better than Bovey head pro Richard Lewis who has been there for 26 years. He said: “There are so many lovely courses in this area, with a good number of hidden gems such as Alistair MacKenzie’s Teignmouth GC.” Off-course you can unwind on miles of golden sandy beaches on the English Riviera, the three neighbouring seaside towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, or Bantham Beach, which provides panoramic views over Bigbury Bay and Burgh Island.

SOUTH DEVON

1. DARTMOUTH G&CC Par 72, 6,637 yards Dartmouth Golf & Country Club is a splendid all-round venue in the heart of wonderfully remote countryside.

The main attraction is the highly challenging, par-72 Championship layout with a superb variety of holes. It boasts a stunning quartet of par 3s including the dramatic 168-yard downhill 3rd and 212yard finale, from a spectacular elevated tee to a green beyond a water-filled valley.

Another key hole is the difficult par-5 4th. You’ll do well to stay on the narrow, twisting fairway lined by trouble and leading to a green guarded by water.

Off-course you’ll find sound practice facilities, top-value accommodation and the Lakeside Health and Leisure Club. ◗ Vital statistics

Location: Four miles NE of Dartmouth.

Contact: 01803 712686 or visit www.dgcc.co.uk Green fees: Mon-Fri: £42. Sat-Sun: £50. £22/£26 after 2.05pm. 2-FORE!-1: All week. Teeofftimes: From £13.

VISIT www.241golf.com to book last-minute tee times at more than 700 courses Powered by