n eW s eR ie s
Q U I C K F I X E S
I M P R O V E Y O U R G A M E FA S T R a n g e s tat i o n When you practise, it’s important you have some structure to your session and also select varying targets to hit using dierent shape shots. But the fundamentals required for every shot are ofen overlooked both on the range and on the course. By building a training station on the range every time you practise, you take any variables in your set-up out of play, thus allowing you to work on your swing and strike. Tis should help recreate the good shots you hit during practice on the golf course, something we could all do with a little more of.
channel vision Create a channel with two clubs or canes pointing down your intended target. Not only will this assist the alignment of your feet, shoulders and clubface, but it will also provide a visual aid to help improve your swing path.
5
MINUTES
ball position Place another club or cane in- between your feet to represent ball position. Again, this provides a visual aid of where the ball is in your stance, making it easier to alter for different types of shot if you desire.
Q U I C K F I X E S
I M P R O V E Y O U R G A M E FA S T
box put ting game Tis is a fun game that can be played on your own or against two or more people. Te sole purpose of the drill is to get you focusing on distance control and switching on your natural feel. Using canes or clubs, set up an open box to putt into as pictured here. From a start point 20 feet away from the opening of the box, the idea is to hit as many balls into the box as you can – but each ball must go past the last ball that you hit. Te challenge is great at creating pressure and developing a feel for distance control.
game Rules The first ball must go into the box, creating your first marker ball. Then, attempt to hit the next ball past that ball and repeat the process. The game ends if the ball you hit doesn’t go beyond the previous ball or if you strike any of the canes.
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MINUTES
hoW to pRogRess Make a mental note of your best score and try to beat it next time. If you feel you have reached a point where it feels easy, you can make the game harder by moving your start position further away or by making the box smaller.
52 COURSES YOU MUST PLAY IN 2012
Forget playing the same course week in, week out – follow our A-Z guide and prepare to be amazed! WOR D S K EV I N BROW N
ING N N STU RSES COU E A ON K WEE
Trump International Golf Links is set to open in Summer.
52 COURSES FOR 2012
Initially the handiwork of James Braid and later Dr Alister MacKenzie, the course weaves through avenues of fir, pine and silver birch trees as well as swathes of heather and is simply a magical place to play. Down the years Blairgowrie has staged a number of leading tournaments and in fact was the scene of the legendary Greg Norman’s first European Tour victory (1977 Martini event).
◗ Factfile
Blairgowrie is inland Scottish golf at its best.
BURHILL (OLD COURSE)
ABERDOVEY You could say that Aberdovey has come a long way since its first holes were laid out with nine flowerpots to aim at over 120 years ago! Wales has some wonderful seaside layouts but none better than Aberdovey which, over the years, has been more thoughtfully – and effectively – moulded by the combined magical minds and hands of Harry Colt, James Braid and WH Fowler. This wonderfully raw, natural links thoroughbred is flanked by breathtaking Snowdonia National Park scenery on one side and dunesland on the other. It is loved to bits by everybody who plays it with former Masters champion and Ryder Cupwinning captain Ian Woosnam one of its biggest admirers. ◗ Factfile
Location: Half-a-mile west of Aberdovey (A493) in Gwynedd, North Wales. Green fees: Winter – £35 a round or £110 for a fourball. Summer – £52.50 (before 2pm) & £40 (after 2pm). Contact: 01654 767493. They said it: “I’ve played at Aberdovey for about 20 years now and it has proved a fantastic venue for experiencing the uniqueness of links golf. The out-and-back layout with its ever-changing winds tests my range of shots to the full.” European Tour stalwart Peter Baker.
A LW O O D L E Y Dr Alister MacKenzie’s first course design and despite his later more celebrated work, he rarely touched such dizzy heights as these. ‘The Alwoodley’ is a glorious heathland with delightful turf, pretty
Location: 15 miles north of Perth, Scotland. Green fees: Winter – £25; Summer – £40 (Apr) & £60 (May-Sept). Contact: 01250 872622. They said it: “The most beautiful inland course I have ever seen.” Tom Morris, professional golf pioneer.
if penal heather and cleverly-designed greens. The unique clubhouse is a fine place to unwind after your round – and for a traditional club it is very welcoming to all visitors. ALDEBURGH Just 6,603 yards but don’t expect an easy ride. ◗ Factfile Location: North of Felixstowe, off A12. Green fees: Winter – £50 a day (Mon-Fri), £60 (Sat & Sun); Summer – £75 a day, £60 (after midday), £45 (after 3pm, all Mon-Fri). £80 a day, £65 (after midday), £50 (after 3pm - all Sat & Sun). Contact: 01728 452 927. ARDGLASS Awesome Ardglass has been likened to Pebble Beach. ◗ Factfile Location: 7 miles south-east of Downpatrick on B1, Northern Ireland. Green fees: Winter – £28 (Mon-Fri), £38 (Sat & Sun); Summer – £43/£62. Contact: 028 4484 1219. BERWICK-UPONTWEED (GOSWICK) A hidden gem of a links. ◗ Factfile Location: Five miles south of Berwick, off A1 in Northumberland.
◗ Factfile
Location: Off the A61, four miles north of Leeds city centre. Green fees: £80 (all week). Contact: 0113 268 1680. They said it: “What makes Alwoodley so special is the ultimate combination of options from the tee and endless pin positions on huge greens which allows strategy and bold driving to be rewarded in equal measure.” Tom Irwin, TG reader.
BLAIRGOWRIE (ROSEMOUNT COURSE) Scotland is renowned for its historic links layouts but inland golf just doesn’t get any better than brilliant Blairgowrie which is right up there with superstar Perthshire neighbour Gleneagles. Burnham is among the finest links.
A venue steeped in pedigree and history – on and off the course. The wonderful par-70 Old Course was created by Willie Park over a century ago and although not long it remains a stern test for players of all levels. With many subtle slopes and undulations the greens in particular are regarded as being among Surrey’s finest and trickiest to read. You’ll spot Dick Turpin’s Cottage between the 14th and 15th fairways – some say this one-time alehouse was used as a hideout by the legendary highwayman. And it’s all overlooked by one of the most striking clubhouses around, a magnificent Georgian mansion in which Barnes Wallis created the Dambusters’ lethal Second World War bouncing bombs. ◗ Factfile
Location: Between Walton-onThames and Cobham in Surrey. Green fees: £105 (Mon-Fri & after 1pm weekends). Contact: 01932 227345. They said it: “One of the reasons our charity golf day is so special is because of the wonderful Old Course – I can’t ever imagine the Rick Wakeman Golf Classic for SPARKS being held anywhere else.” Rock legend Rick Wakeman.
BURNHAM & BERROW Somerset is not renowned for the quality of its golf courses so Burnham and Berrow sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb and is an obvious exception to the rule. It is now widely considered one of England’s finest links – a far cry from 1890 when it set out as a nine-holer on a strip of land called the Warren between the town of Burnham and the >> Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 91
EXCLUSIVE INSTRUCTION
SERGIO’S SECRETS
Red-hot spaniard sergio Garcia shares his unique swing moves 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 a n
ewind just over a year and you wouldn’t find Sergio Garcia on a golf course. He’d had enough and taken an extended break from the game he loved to get away from the media scrutiny over his putting woes. But no matter how bad his putting got (it's red hot again now by the way), there’s no denying that the Spaniard has one of the most consistent long games in the business. Afer a three-year victory drought he won back-to-back in his homeland this October, climbed to seventh in the Race to Dubai and is currently inside the top five in the Ryder Cup standings. His sub-70 stroke average both sides of the pond is more than impressive (fourth on the European Tour and sixth on the PGA Tour). Here, exclusively for TG, he shares the unique swing secrets that enable him to be one of the longest and straightest drivers in the game.
R
Pro TuiTion
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SMOOTH START It’s important to get the start of the swing right. Te takeaway is crucial because that is going to help you get the club in a good position at
the top of the swing. One thing I like to focus on is to not go out too fast, making sure I’m in control of the club at all times.
pre-shot waggle I still waggle the club a few times before I hit. Tis is really to make my wrists feel like they are loose and free to move. Obviously when I start my swing they are passive. When the club reaches parallel is when they come into play, hinging to set the club on plane.
Ta k e away T i p I try to keep the clubhead in front of my hands at the start of the backswing. I do this by controlling the move with my shoulder, maintaining arm structure to keep the face square.
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Tearful and heartfelt goodbye to Seve
EMOTIONAL A lone piper leads the mourners – friends, family and golfing superstars – at Seve’s funeral.
The entire sporting world mourned the loss of a man whose legend transcended golf Few sportsmen have been so universally loved or been as inspirational as Severiano Ballesteros; his death, at the age of just 54 on May 7, 2011, was met with immense sorrow around the globe. Seve’s swashbuckling style and film-star looks made him an instant favourite with the fans. He turned professional at the age of just 16, won his first European Tour event at 18 and finished second at The Open the following year, which was the moment he really burst onto the global scene. Many of those fans have gone on to become the leading professional golfers (and stars of other sports) of today – a good proportion of
them citing Seve as the reason they started playing golf. Seve won five Majors (three Opens and two Masters), a total of 91 professional tournaments and played in eight Ryder Cups (winning three). He was also world No.1 for 61 weeks – but numbers simply do not explain the impact the Spaniard had on golf. When he holed the winning putt in The Open at St Andrews in 1984, it wasn’t even shown live on Spanish television. Twentyseven years later, his passing was marked by a minute’s silence at major sporting events around the world and his funeral was shown live on Spanish state television and a three-
day period of mourning was observed in his home region of Cantabria. José Maria Olazábal, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, George O’Grady, Peter Dawson, Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe and many others attended the funeral in his hometown of Pedrena. But it was Seve’s youngest son Miguel who perfectly summed up the emotion of the occasion as he looked skywards: “Papa, as you can see Javier, Carmen and me are strong. Just like you asked us. For us, it’s not a day to say goodbye. We know you are by our side and we will always be by yours. We love you dad.” Seve will never be forgotten.
Waterproofs became standard uniform Yet again the British summer flattered to deceive and failed to deliver Te weather teased us in 2011. Te hottest spring on record (since they began in 1910) had us all dreaming of an overdue blistering summer, but what we actually got was more of a damp squib. We saw 268.6mm of rain across the UK through the summer, which is 18 per cent more than average. “Summer came as a disappointment to most, with below-average temperatures making it the coolest since 1993,” says Helen Chivers of the Met Office. “However, we did also record our highest temperature of
the year in June when it reached 33.1°C at Gravesend in Kent on June 27. “August was a particularly dull month across the UK with just 79 per cent of the average amount of sunshine.” But there was a ray of hope towards the end of the year as the disappointing summer gave way to the second warmest autumn on record with a UK mean temperature of 11.2°C. Some parts of the country even enjoyed their warmest weather of the year in late September and early October.
MISERABLE The Saturday of The Open saw spectators at Sandwich lashed with wind and rain. Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 91
EQUIPMENT
IT IS ROCKET SCIENCE
NEW DE MA T A Y L O RT B A L L Z ROCKE
Te name may shock but TaylorMade's new range is as impressive as ever I www.taylormadegolf.eu
TaylorMade like to shock us. Last year it was white-headed woods and this year it's a name. RocketBallz is certainly an unusual label for the new range which replaces the highly-successful Burner series. Te RBZ driver may be a bit of a beast, but the exciting story comes in the form of the fairway wood and hybrid. Engineers developed a technology that saw a steel face
plate welded to a cast body, as well as a newly-designed Speed Pocket behind the face which improves the flexibility in the head for extra yards. TaylorMade say better players will be able to get an additional 17 yards. For the first time, they’ve been able to produce a steel fairway wood that reaches the legal limit in terms of speed. TaylorMade have made the RocketBallz driver adjustable,
unlike the Burner, and it features TaylorMade’s superb Flight Control Technology (FCT). And with the driver at less than £250, it's sure to win many friends. Options (available end of Feb) RBZ driver (9.5°, 10.5, HL) £249. Tour version (9° or 10.5°) £329. Fairway woods (15°, 17°, 19°, 21°, 24°) £179 each. Rescues (19°-27°) £139 each.
TG SAYS: Te name takes a bit of getting used to but the RBZ range looks great and is well-priced. If it lives up to the Burner's reputation then it will be another huge success for TM.
SWEET SUCCESS
BIG SHOES TO FILL
Inverted Cone Technology behind the clubface enlarges the sweetspot for better forgiveness on mishits.
Te RBZ driver and fairway wood replace the Burner range. While the new range is all about speed too, the new driver is now adjustable.
T ECHNO LO GY LES S ON... The DRIVeR
T h e F A I R W AY
The hYBRID
Te FCT allows easy adjustment of the face angle, lof and lie to one of eight settings for 60 yards of side-toside adjustment. Inverted Cone Technology enlarges the sweetspot for greater yardage on mishits.
TaylorMade's engineers have welded a steel face plate to a cast body which, coupled with the newly-designed Speed Pocket behind the face, reaches the legal speed limit and improves flexibility in the head for distance.
Te hybrid features similar technology to the fairway wood, and it's very much a forgiving rescue that will appeal to a wide variety of golfer. Te higher-launch properties combined with a low spin rate make it a great option.
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COURSES
THE GREAT ESCAPE This breathtaking corner of south-west England guarantees golfers an exhilarating time on and off the course at any time of the year wor d s K EV I N BROW N
The beST of b r I Ta I n
NORTH DEVON
North Devon has successfully been meeting holidaymakers’ needs for countless years but unbeknown to many, it’s a quality golf destination boasting two of England’s finest links venues. Te breathtaking links of Saunton’s East and West courses and historic Royal North Devon, the oldest course in England, sit at opposite ends of Saunton Sands. Te Sands are a three-mile stretch of golden beach overlooked by towering sand dunes and which Barbados would be proud of – and the Taw Torridge Estuary. Saunton always features prominently in Britain’s Top 100 Courses listings and is widely regarded as the best links never to have staged Te Open. Quaint and quirky Royal North Devon, more simply known as Westward Ho afer the seaside village it dominates, sees golfers share the links with roaming sheep and horses. Te course, originally designed by Old Tom Morris in 1864, is plotted on common land and the animals have life membership! But there are plenty of other golfing reasons to pay the area a visit, including stunning clifftop track Ilfracombe, which is playable all-year round. Accommodation-wise the elegant four-star Saunton Sands Hotel is ideal, overlooking the golf club and boasting incredible sea views. Away from the course stroll along the beautiful beach, try surfing, or just enjoy the hotel’s cream teas, sun terrace (in the warmer months!), indoor and outdoor pools, spa and beauty salon. And make sure you take a drive to Braunton, reputedly the largest village in England, and the popular seaside town of Ilfracombe, with attractions including wildlife cruises from the pretty harbour. But if you prefer to do sightseeing by land, the Tarka Trail – a scenic 21-mile traffic-free cycle path – perfectly sums up what North Devon is all about... the great escape.
1. ROYAL NORTH DEVON Par 72, 6,398 yards
Te St Andrews of England – founded in 1864, this revered links is England’s oldest course. It oozes history and tradition. Five-times Open champion JH Taylor was born in the village of Northam overlooking RND where he started his illustrious career as a caddie boy. Although at first it seems flat and featureless, you gradually understand and appreciate its numerous intricacies, nooks and crannies. Hopefully you’ll negotiate colossal Cape bunker, and the sea rushes which are prominent afer the turn. And ensure you visit the superb museum. Doyen of golf writers Bernard Darwin summed Westward Ho! up in his book Te Golf Courses of the British Isles, stating: “It is, as is the case of a few other great links, a reverent pilgrimage.” ◗ Vital statistics
Location: Two miles north of Bideford (A39). Green fees: Sun-Turs: £55, Fri & Sat: £60. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Turs & Sun (on day rate). Contact: 01237 473 817 or www.royalnorthdevongolfclub.co.uk
V I S I T w w w. 2 4 1 g o l f. c o m T o b o o k l a S T - m I n u T e T e e T I m e S aT m o r e T h a n 7 0 0 c o u r S e S Powered by
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TRAVEL
ELEGANCE AND EXCELLENCE
With great golf, weather, cities, food, art, history and beaches, it’s no wonder 24 million visitors descend on Costa Brava annually wor d s Ch a r l e s Br isC oe-K n ight a n d K ev i n Brow n
C O S T A B R AVA
Te Catalonian region of Costa Brava offers more golfing style and elegant alternatives than most areas on Spain’s Mediterranean coastline. So when we arrived in Girona via Ryanair at midnight, it seemed a shame not to take in the sights of a two-millennium-old region that boasts Salvador Dali as one of its sons. Stats can lie of course, but the fact that the region is actually the prime tourist region of Spain is one we hadn’t appreciated until this visit: 24 million visitors enjoy the area annually, including a good sprinkling of golfers who shy away from the scorching heat of the courses further south. Costa Brava does offer year-round golf but on a cooler and, it has to be pointed out, generally cheaper scale. Te golf courses are sheer class and include regular European Tour venues PGA Catalunya and Greg Norman’s El Prat as well as brilliant Bonmont which was created by Robert Trent Jones and has hosted two Catalan Opens. Having a more typical Mediterranean ambiance, the historic city of Girona boasts many “micro-climates” – at TorreMirona the wind was blowing one side of the course but was dead calm on the other! Off-course excursions to historically notable venues abound and quaint, quiet villages with more “chocolate box” homes and buildings than the Cotswolds, mean that time away from the course will be usefully spent contemplating Greek, Roman and Medieval history and architecture. Ten there’s the post-round sustenance. Both gastronomic excellence and a wine-producing reputation going back to Romanesque days, is a major draw. In fact the picturesque coastal region is home to more than 20 Michelin star restaurants. On and off the course, you just cannot fail to have a ball in this corner of Spain… and all at a reasonable price.
1. PGA CATALUNYA
Stadium Course: Par 72, 6,675 yards Tour Course: Par 72, 6,065 yards
One of the best golf resorts in continental Europe with the stunning Stadium course right up there among the leading layouts. It’s been dubbed the ‘Beast of the Brava’ – more than 7,200 yards of PGA Tour quality golf; fortunately you can take your pick from several tees. Te neighbouring Tour is a shorter track that mere mortals can attack with enjoyment and without fear of losing too many balls. Both courses feature two loops of nine that return to the clubhouse, along with strategic and hazardous lakes and ponds. Te Stadium course has its own Augusta-style Amen Corner with the par-4 13th probably being the signature hole owing to the awesome views gleaned from an awesome elevated tee. Pick of the Tour course is the short par-4 3rd requiring a precise drive to a sloping fairway into an undulating green protected by a large pond. ◗ ViTAl sTATisTics
Green fees: Stadium: £62-£112. Tour: £55-£90. Contact: 0034 972 472 577 or visit www.pgacatalunya.com
for THoUSANDS more coUrSe reVIeWS AND ImAgeS VISIT W W W.T o DAy S g o l f e r . c o.U k /c o U r S e S
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