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SEPTEMBER 2010 AUG 12-SEPT 8

TODAY’S GOLFER SEPTEMBER 2010 (AUGUST 12-SEPTEMBER 8)

Golfer BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE

FORGET HOURS DOWN THE RANGE BEATING BALLS

107 COURSES

REVIEWED

BIGGEST & BEST GUIDE TO THE TOP TRACKS

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TIPS SPECIAL

BEST GEAR

LEARN FROM OPEN CHAMP

NEW FAIRWAY WOODS TESTED

KEY SWING MOVES TO HELP YOUR GAME

29 HIT BY GOLFERS OF ALL ABILITIES

ALL-NEW SECTIONS

P L AY B E T T E R

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B O O ST P OW E R , C H I P I T CLOSE, SHAPE SHOTS...

BUY BETTER

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T O P C OU R S E D E A L S . P LU S : R E A D E R S G O U N D E RC OV E R

FIRST TEE { U P RO L AU N C H E D }

PICTURE PERFECT Callaway unveils first foray into UK GPS market Callaway’s revolutionary new uPro aims to combine the best features of a range finder and a GPS with the added bonus of high-res aerial photography.

The distance-measuring device has two operating modes. ProMode features aerial photography and industry-leading graphics, video flyovers of the entire hole and yardage markers at 100, 150 and 200 yards from the centre of the green.

BasicMode uses the same

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POCKET CADDIE

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courses database as ProMode, showing hazards in sequential order from the golfer’s position and distances to the front, middle and back of greens.

Callaway’s foray into the UK golf GPS market is, according to a spokesman, based on need.

“There are a large number of lower cost apps for the iPhone and other leading smart phone platforms. In general, these offerings are attractive in terms of initial cost but fail to live up to a golfer’s expectations. Some

of the primary reasons for the disappointment are lack of accuracy, inaccurate course mapping, poor battery life and viewability and the social stigma and distraction of using your phone on the golf course.”

The Callaway uPro will retail at £299. All BasicMode options are free to use and ProMode options can be unlocked for as little as 66p per course, when bought as a bundle. Visit www. uprogps.com for more information.

MORE TO LOOK AT...

Six iPhone apps every techsavvy golfer should have ◗ SKYCADDIE SGX, £349.95 Dual navigation option for one-handed control .Info: www.skycaddiesgx.com GOLFSHOT: GOLF GPS Aerial views of 33,000 courses, with TouchPoint technology for yardages to any point. Price: £17.99

iGOLFRULES More than 200 graphics and animated illustrations to answer your rules queries in seconds. Price: £5.99

GOLF COURSES: UK Find the nearest golf course to you anywhere in the UK from more than 2,200 listed.

Price: £0.59

PGA TOUR Live tournament coverage, the latest news and inside access to all the players on the PGA Tour. Price: Free

TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR Play the greatest golf game ever made. Use WiFi to take on your mates on the world’s best courses. Price: £2.99

365 GOLF LESSONS Canadian PGA pro Steve Smith covers 25 topics to help you play better golf.

Price: £1.19

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◗ GARMIN APPROACH G5, £329.99 Touch any point for exact yardage and track your stats. Info: www.garmin.com

◗ GOLFBUDDY WORLD PLATINUM, £349 Brilliant touch screen. 27,500 courses.

Info: www.gpsgolfbuddy.eu

ON COURSE uPro boasts 2,400 UK courses (over 21,000 in total) and measures just 2.0x4.0x0.65 in.

LATE ST NEWS

Top

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RYDER CUP NEWS

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THE VICE SQUAD

Monty and Pavin announce their vice captains

EUROPE ◗ THOMAS BJORN

Age: 39 Pro wins: 16 Ryder Cups: 2 Record: 3-2-1 Monty’s reasons: “He has had past experience as a vice-captain in 2004 under Bernhard Langer and will bring passion to his role.” ◗ PAUL MCGINLEY Age: 43 Pro wins: Nine Ryder Cups: 3 Record: 2-2-5 Monty’s reasons: “Paul is a European Tour committee member and who can forget the scenes in 2002 when he sank the winning putt at The Belfry?” ◗ DARREN CLARKE Age: 41 Pro wins: 20 Ryder Cups: 5 Record: 10-7-3 Monty’s reasons: “A five-time Ryder Cup player and of those five Ryder Cups he was four times on the winning team.”

USA ◗ TOM LEHMAN

Ryder Cups: 3 Record: 5-3-2 Pavin’s reasons: “Having been a captain in Europe previously is a very good experience to have had.” ◗ DAVIS LOVE III Age: 46 Pro wins: 34 Ryder Cups: 6 Record: 9-12-5 Pavin’s reasons: “Davis has been playing in the team format as much as anyone with the exception of Phil Mickelson.” ◗ JEFF SLUMAN Age: 52 Pro wins: 13 Ryder Cups: None. Record: n/a Pavin’s reasons: “Jeff is a Major champion and a seasoned veteran.” ◗ PAUL GOYDOS Age: 46 Pro wins: Five Ryder Cups: None Record: n/a Pavin’s reasons: “Paul is well-liked, a fine player and a good judge of talent. He’ll be an asset.” ◗ Who would be your wildcard picks? Vote now at www. todaysgolfer.co.uk/wildcards

Age: 51 Pro wins: 25

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British golf has never had such strength in depth, with unprecedented numbers in the top 50 and top 100 in the world rankings. Twenty one wins on the European and PGA Tours in the last 12 months, plus Graeme McDowell’s US Open, have ushered in a new golden age. ◗ June 27 2010 – 9 and 15 ◗ June 26 2005 – 5 and 13 ◗ June 25 2000 – 4 and 9 ◗ June 25 1995 – 5 and 12 ◗ June 24 1990 – 5 and 11

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RANKINGS NUMBERS GAME

GOOD FUNDAMENTALS Double-check your grip, posture, alignment and ball position. Getting these right prevents bigger swing faults developing.

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PROPER PRACTICE Give every session an objective, work on all areas of your game and test yourself to monitor your progress in all areas.

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COURSE PLANNING Plan the best way to play every hole from green back to tee and put yourself in the best position to play your next shot.

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CORRECT GEAR Get yourself custom-fitted so you’re using the latest equipment that suits your style of play and maximises your swing.

By Geoff Sweet of The Sun Four shots separated Rory McIlroy from Sergio Garcia at The Open, but if you listen to the unfulfilled Spaniard you suspect the difference might as well have been 40.

Garcia’s threat to quit golf at just 30 was no idle one. And the message to McIlroy, nine years his junior, was also clear: win a Major – and quick.

It’s 11 years since the teenage Garcia thrilled Medinah with a scintillating 6-iron onto the green from behind a tree in the US PGA. He failed to triumph that day and, sadly, ever since in the four biggest events of the year.

Sergio was the new Seve Ballesteros; Rory is the latest lumbered with the assumption he might match Tiger Woods.

When the Irish upstart shot a record 63 in the first round at St Andrews there was little to suppose that prediction was far-fetched. But 24 hours later McIlroy copped a wind-ruined 80 while Sergio, with his second 71, was all for quitting the game altogether.

Garcia simply can’t stand the reality that dark forces have repeatedly replaced the silky skills once the envy of the world’s top players.

“I know I am able on a golf course. If now I am not able this is not worth the pain.”

The difference between them is clear; McIlroy is the carefree young buck Sergio once was, while Garcia is now long enough in the tooth to have missed a mountain of three and four-footers that so drain the confidence.

Reach his age with his talent but no Major and the doubts creep in. He has shown what can happen if you draw a blank in 48 attempts. It drives you crazy. So think on, Rory.

Land one sooner rather than later. Because otherwise, from the flush of youth, you could become a grumpy old man before your 30th birthday.

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bests Second

This dazzling dozen of so-called ‘second string’ courses should be checked out. Compared to their more illustrious neighbours, you’ll save a lot of money and have a thoroughly enjoyable round of golf…

WOR D S K EV I N BROW N

King’s course GLENEAGLES SCOTLAND

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Inland links challenge at The Belfry’s PGA National.

Stunning Ayrshire views from the Kintyre.

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Gleneagles King’s course Understudy to: Nicklausdesigned PGA Centenary, 2014 Ryder Cup venue This 1919 Braid masterpiece regularly staged the Scottish Open and is still widely considered a top course. The only thing it lacks compared with the PGA Centenary is length.

The King’s has loads of charm and personality. The par-4 1st looks like a straightforward opener but isn’t, the 3rd is a quirky, seriously uphill hole to a hidden green, the 5th is a classic short hole while the 14th is a stunning short par 4. And so it goes on… to the thrilling finale. ◗ Vital statistics Location: 16 miles south west of Perth on A9. Green fees: All week: £155. 2-FORE!-1: SunThurs after 2pm. Contact: 0800 704705 or 01764 662231 or visit www.gleneagles.com

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Woburn Duke’s course Understudy to: The Marquess’ The magical Duke’s has staged a host of top tournaments since opening in the mid-1970s and was the home of the prestigious

British Masters for 20 years.

The Charles Lawrie-designed course wonderfully weaves its way between majestic towering stands of assorted timber and helped firmly establish Woburn as a major golfing venue.

It’s shorter than the Marquess’ but considerably tighter so pinpoint accuracy, particularly with the driver, is critical. ◗ Vital statistics Location: Half-a-mile east of A5, 4 miles west of M1 junction 13.

Green fees: £102.50.

Contact: 01908 370756 or www.discoverwoburn.co.uk

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Slaley Hall Priestman course Understudy to: The Hunting Course Slaley is one of the leading golfing venues in the north-east and the Dave Thomas-designed Priestman layout is one of the primary reasons. Although the Hunting course takes most of the plaudits, the Priestman is equally demanding and memorable and boasts some stunning short holes with Tyne Valley views to match.

Highlight of the round though will be the par-5 4th, a breathtaking downhiller to a green lurking beyond two ponds. ◗ Vital statistics Location: 20 miles west of Newcastle. Green fees: All week: £50. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Fri & after 2pm at weekends.

Contact: 01434 673350 or www.devere.co.uk/slaleyhall

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St Mellion Kernow course Understudy to: The Nicklaus After a two-year, £2m revamp, the par-70 Kernow is now a splendid complement to the mighty Nicklaus layout.

The new-look Kernow has nine new holes and is completed by nine of the best from the original Old Course. It also has eight new USGA-spec greens and overall is longer than the original Old Course, with many new tees and hundreds of new trees added.

About 250,000 tonnes of earth was moved to boost the challenge which, while more benign than the Nicklaus, has its own teeth. ◗ Vital statistics Location: A388 between Saltash and Callington. Green fees: Mon-Wed: £40. Thurs & Fri: £45. Sat & Sun:£50. 2-FORE!-1: All week after 3pm. Contact: 01579 352002 or visit www.st-mellion.co.uk

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Celtic Manor Roman Road course Understudy to: The 2010 (this year’s Ryder Cup course) Seriously overshadowed by the big, bold and brassy 2010 Course, the wonderfully rolling Roman

Road is where it all started at the five-star South Wales Resort. The Roman Road first put the venue on the golf map in 1995, having been designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr. It’s always in tip-top condition and has pedigree of its own, having staged a number of Wales Opens and a celebrity version of the Ryder Cup involving the likes of Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones and Alice Cooper. ◗ Vital statistics Location: East of Newport on A48. Green fees: Mon-Thurs: from £28. Fri-Sun: from £38.

2-FORE!-1: Mon-Thurs.

Contact: 01633 410262 or www.celtic-manor.com

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Forest of Arden Aylesford course Understudy to: The Arden The Aylesford was impressively upgraded a few years back and is maintained to the same standards as its superstar neighbour, a former European Tour venue.

There’s a great variety of holes with a sting at the tail in the form of a potential card-wrecking par-5 18th which requires a precise approach shot through an avenue of trees to a green guarded by water. ◗ Vital statistics Location: 9 miles west of Coventry off A45. Green fees: Mon-Thurs: £45. Fri-Sun: £55.

2-FORE!-1: Any time.

Contact: 01676 526113 or visit www.marriott.co.uk >>

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INSTRUCTION I M P R OV E T I M I N G

STRIKE IRONS BETTER

OUT OF SEQUENCE A common fault among amateur golfers. The hips have not slowed and stabilised resulting in the club being left way behind. This position is what is referred to as being stuck too much from the inside, which occurs as a result of poor downswing sequencing.

GE T ST UC K

Consistent iron shots require a correct downswing sequence.

Adrian Bishop shows how...

OUT OF TIME Poor sequencing of body movement results in errant golf shots.

● HOW IT WORKS… The Kinematic Sequence in the downswing refers to the proper unwinding of the hips, torso, arms, and hands. When carried out correctly, the golfer can produce the most efficient amount of power and improve timing considerably. It is arguably one of the most important features of an effective golf swing so it’s important you get it right.

All good ball-strikers begin to generate speed from their lower body and then transfer this speed into their torso, their arms and then finally into the club. For a proper kinematic sequence to unfold, your body not only has to initiate acceleration, but also accept deceleration. It’s vital you understand where, in a good swing, certain parts of the body slow down and speed up to achieve a solid strike. The graph below highlights the swing sequence of Laurie Canter, a +5 handicapper and England International. ◗ Check out more top iron play tips online at: www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/ironplay.

SEE FREE I RO N S VIDEO TIPS AT T G S I T E

DELAYED RELEASE A baseball swing uses similar body movements to a golf swing.

KEY POINTS

1500

Lower Body Torso Arms Hands

1300 1100 900

Speed

B ODY MOV E

KINEMATIC SEQUENCE 700 500 300 100 -100 -300 -500 7.0

7.1

7.2

Time

7.3

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This graph shows the ideal sequence exhibited by all good ball-strikers from the top of backswing (dotted line) to impact.

That sequence is: lower body first (red line), torso second (green line), arms third (blue line), hands fourth (brown line). Each part of the chain slows down once the next part accelerates. It works in a similar way to cracking a whip: you accelerate the handle to build speed then rapidly decelerate it to pass the speed along the whip.

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DOWNSWING CHAIN Whether we are skimming a stone, throwing a Frisbee or hitting a baseball we move in a natural sequence. This sequence always starts from the ground up and the power builds as we accelerate each segment of the body, like a golf swing.

APPROACH

STEP ONE TURN TO THE TOP

BALL-STRIKING

STEP TWO THE HIPS MOVE FIRST

● BACKSWING POSITION…

● START THE MOVE...

At the top of the backswing, achieve a full shoulder turn over stable hips and legs.

The club is in a good set position with arms maintaining the width of the swing. Notice how the left shoulder is positioned behind the ball to ensure the weight shifts correctly onto the left side. Feel that the hips (45°) turn half as much as the shoulders (90°).

The downswing must be initiated from the ground up with the hips starting the acceleration. Try and feel like you get yourself into a ‘sit down’ position where the knees flex a little bit more and engage the thigh muscles.

All good players achieve this position, where the hips rotate and shift towards the target to start the downswing.

CHECK POINT Notice from the graph that at no point does every part of the body and club stop moving.

The golf swing requires the body to be in constant motion, with the body parts moving in sequence correctly.

CHECK POINT The graph enforces the fact that the hips are the first part of the body to move in the downswing.

Not only do the hips rotate to start the downswing move, they also shift slightly towards the target.

STEP THREE ARMS AND SHOULDERS SPEED UP

STEP FOUR HANDS SPEED UP, THEN SLOW DOWN

● GET IN THE SLOT…

● ENTER THE HITTING ZONE…

Coming into impact, the hips start to decelerate and stabilise as the torso, the next link in the downswing chain, speeds up. This brings the club into the slot, or delivery position, where the butt of the club points down the target line. From here, the club can be released naturally with the wrists unhinging to square the clubface.

At impact, the hips and torso are now both slowing down.

This allows the arms and then the hands to speed up coming into the hitting area, creating maximum clubhead speed.

The weight is favouring the left foot, the right arm and wrist have yet to straighten and the upper left arm is squeezed against the chest to help keep the body turning through the shot.

CHECK POINT Notice how the hip speed on the graph starts to travel downwards as the shoulders reach their top speed. On the graph each segment, having reached their maximum speed in the desired order, then rapidly decelerates.

CHECK POINT The hands should slow down momentarily before impact to allow the club to be delivered with maximum velocity through the impact area and to allow the correct rotation of the clubface for a square hit.

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INSTRUCTION

PLANT FOR DRIVING DRILL

FEEL WEIGHT SHIFT Make a smooth backswing. As you reach the top of the swing allow your left foot to rise a few inches off the floor, placing your weight onto the inside of the right leg. In this position, you’re fully loaded ready to start a powerful downswing.

PLANT DOWN FIRMLY As you start your downswing, firmly plant your left foot into the ground feeling that you’re making a footprint as you plant your foot.

This starts to send the weight across to the left side, promoting lower body movement and weight shift.

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DRIVING

Weight transfer through impact is critical in ensuring your swing delivers the maximum amount of power possible.

The correct timing of this weight shift helps you sequence your action – and this sequencing allows you to create clubhead speed where you need it most – as you strike the ball.

Amateur golfers often attempt to generate power by swinging the club too quickly in the

backswing and they lose a sense of where they actually need the most speed in the swing. We don’t need to be swinging the clubhead at its fastest in the backswing – that’s a waste of energy that interrupts the flow and rhythm of the swing. So to get speed and power in the right place to gain yards on your drive, try the following three-step drill on the range to give you sense of where the power comes from.

Maximize your driving distance by staying grounded with weight shift, says Gareth Johnston.

To drill home the feeling of how to transfer your weight, try this simple exercise: Place a club on the floor, your feet either side. Practise jumping from the right leg to the left either side of the club – like a speed skater. You can do this at home, but it’s a great way of waking up your weight transfer muscles before you tee off. ◗ See more great distance techniques for free at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/power

INSTEP PUSH-OFF As you swing through impact, try to sense the weight being pushed from the instep of the right foot. By the finish, all your weight will be in the left leg. This movement utilises your body weight for power rather than lashing at the ball uncontrollably.

S E E T G’ S WEBSITE FOR MORE P OW E R T I P S

Shot on location at Son Gual, Majorca. www.son-gual.com

POWER

POWER

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EQUIPMENT { FOCUS ON WEDGES}

WEDGE FUND The wedge has come on a fair bit since its birth in the 1930s, especially over the past 10 years. We take a look at how it evolved IT' S A LL IN THE SH A PE Gene Sarazen will rightly be remembered for winning seven Major Championships in the 1930s, but there is also something else fairly impressive in his career resume. He was the pioneer of the first-ever sand wedge.

En-route to the 1932 Open Championship, Sarazen noted how the wings of the plane he was in glided effortlessly through the clouds – and he wanted to find something that did a similar job from the sand found on golf courses. The American decided to weld a piece of steel to the sole of the club and ground it to produce 'bounce' and with this the 'explosion' shot out of bunkers was born.

Wilson, who Sarazen was associated with, sold 50,000 units of that first-ever sand wedge, which became known as the R-90.

The R-90 was in stark contrast to the Niblick, previously used for extricating your ball from bunkers. Its sharp leading edge meant no bounce, which made it difficult to use in sand. A decade after the birth of the Wilson, the USGA set rules to define grooves, one of which being that wedges had to feature V-shaped grooves. In 1988 – four years after the USGA modified the groove rule to also allow U-shaped grooves – Cleveland unveiled the 588 wedge. It was a revelation and is still in their current product line with sales of over 3.8 million.

Titleist, too, were keen and in 1996 turned to club-maker Bob Vokey. Vokey spoke to the best players in the world to discover exactly what they were after and what sort of feel they were looking for. In 1999 a Vokey Design wedge won its first Major Championship when none other than Tiger Woods won the USPGA at Medinah, Illinois.

Following the success of the 588 wedge, the 485 RTG (Raw Tour Grind) was launched

by Cleveland. In 2000 they introduced their ninth wedge, the 900, which offered a variety of bounce options so fitting golfers to a wedge for their specific swing was do-able. In late 2009, Cleveland’s CG15, with its lasermilled face, combatted the groove rule change that was introduced on both sides of the pond. Effectively the face of the wedge in between the grooves is textured to give extra grip on the ball and therefore additional spin.

TaylorMade’s latest offering, the xFT, features an interchangeable face, so when the grooves are worn down the face is replaced for about £40.

Our top five specialist wedges are featured opposite – see if you agree with our team of testers.

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READ THOUSANDS OF GEAR R EV I EWS AT TG WEBSITE

CLASSIC LOOK The teardropshaped clubhead makes the xFT really stand out from the crowd.

REMOVEABLE TaylorMade's interchangeable face helps promote maximum spin.

THE ORIGINAL The R-90 was dynamite in Gene Sarazen’s hands as he won seven Major titles.

LISTINGS

WEDGES

10 BEST DRIVERS

5 BEST WEDGES

10 BEST IRONS (SGI*)

This year’s driver test was fiercely competitive, but from of a lengthy list of 36 clubs we ended up with these as our top 10.

Wedges are becoming a bigger part of set make-up and with so many options available it can be tricky to find the right one. Here’s what our testers liked.

(*Super Game Improver). If you’re in need of some easy-to-hit irons to improve your consistency, then our top 10 featured here will help you choose.

1. PING G15 £249

1. PING TOUR W £95 (S) £110 (G)

1. CALLAWAY DIABLO EDGE FROM £549

After the success of the G10, the G15 takes it up a notch. It’s loved on Tour and at most courses up and down the land.

Rating HHHHH www.ping.com or 01427 619 224 2. PING I15 £289 Designed ultimately as a driver for the better player, it still features a bit of forgiveness.

Rating HHHHH www.ping.com or 01427 619 224 3. MIZUNO MX-700 £199 Hot Metal Titanium face helps make this driver incredibly long. Unlike previous Mizuno offerings, it also sounds great.

Rating HHHHH www.mizuno.eu or 0800 328 0180 4. TAYLORMADE R9 SUPERTRI £349 Movable Weight Technology and Flight Control Technology makes for a forgiving, adjustable and gorgeous driver.

Rating HHHHH www.taylormadegolf.eu or 08000 728 624 5. PING V2 RAPTURE £320 The lime green aesthetics might not be to everyone’s taste, but the performance certainly will be.

Rating HHHHH www.ping.com or 01427 619 224

Ping are well known for their brilliant irons, but the gorgeous Tour W wedges are a big favourite as well.

Rating HHHHH www.ping.com or 01427 619 224 2. MIZUNO MP-T10 £95 Mizuno’s range needed updating but the MP-T10 has done more than that. Quad Cut grooves give lots of spin and control.

Rating HHHHH www.mizuno.eu or 0800 328 0180 3. CALLAWAY JAWS VINTAGE FROM £89 Famous Mack Daddy grooves are used to brilliant effect. There are two finishes (Vintage or Chrome) to choose from.

Rating HHHHH www.callawaygolf.com or 0800 096 4591 4. NIKE VR £99 Another example of how Nike continue to improve products in double-quick time. One of the best-looking on test.

Rating HHHHH www.nikegolf.eu or 0800 056 1640 5. TAYLORMADE XFT £119 When your grooves aren’t offering up enough spin, simply change the face for a mere £39!

Rating HHHHH www.taylormadegolf.eu or 08000 728 624

YOUR WEDGE BUYING GUIDE Get yourself properly fitted before you decide

Arguably THE driver for a slicer. The shape of the head makes it hard to push the ball.

Rating HHHHH www.callawaygolf.com or 0800 096 4591

Wilson's Smooth driver sits nicely behind the ball, feels good and achieves some very good results.

Rating HHHHH www.wilson.com or 01294 316 270 10. TOUR EDGE CB3 TOUR £299 The Tour Edge franchise is massive in the States and the CB3 is one reason why. Good looking and powerful.

Rating HHHHH 01753 218 913

3. NIKE MACHSPEED FROM £480 Nike have added 50g of weight to the area where it really matters, which makes it massively forgiving.

Rating HHHHH www.nikegolf.eu or 0800 056 1640 4. MACGREGOR MT 0S FROM £499 Somewhat of a surprise, but the MT OS certainly deserves its place here. The irons were incredibly long.

Rating HHHHH www.golfsmith-europe.co.uk or 01480 308 800 5. YONEX NANOSPEED 3I £799 3D Power Weight System creates a substantially larger sweetspot for more consistent results off the entire face.

Rating HHHHH www.yonex.co.uk or 0208 742 9777

Not massively appealing looks-wise due to the hybrid appearance, but the performance is sensational.

Rating HHHHH www.clevelandgolf.com or 01420 541 709

For the price, the Innovator XXX irons are as good as it gets. Benross continue to make great clubs for those on a budget.

Rating HHHHH www.benrossgolf.com 8. PING RAPTURE V2 FROM £110 EACH

8. CLEVELAND LAUNCHER DST £229

9. WILSON STAFF SMOOTH £229

Hot Metal technology offers explosive distance along with an impressive level of forgiveness too.

Rating HHHHH www.mizuno.eu or 0800 328 0180

7. BENROSS INNOVATOR XXX FROM £249

7. CALLAWAY DIABLO EDGE £249

The DST Launcher does exactly what you’d expect; it gets the ball flying high to give you optimal distance.

Rating HHHHH www.clevelandgolf.com or 01420 541 709

2. MIZUNO MX-1000 FROM £105

6. CLEVELAND HB3 FROM £499

6. TAYLORMADE R9 460 £299 This is the larger version of TaylorMade’s R9, making it more forgiving with the 460cc head.

Rating HHHHH www.taylormadegolf.eu or 08000 728 624

Designed to have one large sweetspot, while the undercut cavity maximises perimeter weighting.

Rating HHHHH www.callawaygolf.com or 0800 096 4591

DON'T PICK ON LOOKS ALONE

There is absolutely no point buying a wedge purely on looks, because you won’t get optimal performance from aesthetics.

If you’re a brand-led golfer, that’s fine. Don’t be afraid of sticking to the manufacturer you know and like, but it’s imperative you get yourself properly fitted for a wedge.

There are many things to consider. If you have a steep angle of attack, you’re a 'digger' and that will probably mean you’ll need a high bounce wedge. But if you have a shallow angle of attack a low bounce option will work better for you.

There is also wedge make-up to consider. Do you really need to carry a 5-wood, or would you benefit from putting an additional wedge in your bag? The only way to find out is by going through your bag on the range and working out all your distances.

Forgiveness and dispersion stats were very good, but the look of the club and the lime green shaft put our boys off.

Rating HHHHH www.ping.com or 01427 619 224 9. SNAKE EYES VIPER XT FROM £449 For an SGI-iron, the Viper XT looks almost sleek at address and they performed well, too. A fairly competitive price, too.

Rating HHHHH www.golfsmith-europe.co.uk or 01480 308 800 10. TAYLORMADE SUPERLAUNCH £499 TaylorMade don’t just do great drivers or better player irons. These Burner irons really are perfect for the newcomer.

Rating HHHHH www.taylormadegolf.eu or 08000 728 624

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COURSES { 2 -F O R E ! -1 L I N K S C OU R S E S }

SEASIDE GEMS

You can play this stunning selection of seaside courses for as little as £13. And the most expensive is only £22.50...

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HALF-PRICE GOLF

Delightful Dunstanburgh has been thrilling and generally entertaining golfers for over a century.

The par-70 course is a little on the short side but its 18 holes, stretching out over 6,000 yards of prime links land alongside towering sand dunes and wonderful golden beaches, make for a proper golfing experience – with the eerie ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle overlooking the southern section of the layout.

There’s plenty of trouble lurking out there in the form of serious rough, strategically-placed pot bunkers and, in the summer, lightning-fast greens. Oh, and then there’s the ever present wind factor, of course.

The round really bursts into life at the stunning par-4 6th hole, where you need to take careful aim – and avoid being distracted by the breathtaking panoramic vistas – if you’re to successfully find the fairway way down below.

Outstanding holes also include the 8th, a rampaging rollercoaster of a par 4 over undulating terrain, and the 10th which tightly hugs the coast. Hook it here and you’re well and truly beached – with the castle on the right.

Other likely highlights will almost certainly involve striking a precise wedge shot into the par-3 13th green, which virtually sits underneath the castle, while at the par-4 finale your approach shot also needs to be spot-on to avoid the stream guarding the left side of the green.

We rounded off a perfect golfing day with a welcome pint on the patio of the friendly clubhouse – seemingly frequented by nearly as many holidaymakers and walkers as golfers.

Though extremely popular with holidaying golfers, Dunstanburgh is still underrated and very much a hidden gem. On a warm summer’s day there are few places finer to be – especially when you consider you can get in a day’s golf for just £16, provided you’ve got a 2-FORE!-1 voucher and it’s a weekday. ◗ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Location: Seven miles north-east of Alnwick on B1339. Green fees: Mon-Fri: £26 a round, £32 a day. Sat-Sun: £30/£38. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Fri after midday (on the day rate).

Contact: 01665 576562.

‘TOWERING SAND DUNES, GOLDEN BEACHES AND THE EERIE RUINS OF DUNSTANBURGH CASTLE’

LINKS COURSES

FIVE MORE TOP LINKS Hidden seaside treats to try for around £20

◗ SEAHOUSE S

14 miles north of Alnwick.

Costs: Mon-Fri £24 a round, £32 a day. Sat-Sun £32 & £40. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Sat. Contact: 01665 720794.

◗ MONTROSE MEDAL

Great course just a mile from centre of Montrose.

Costs: Mon-Fri £50. Sat £55.

Sun £45. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Fri. Contact: 01674 672932.

◗ LITTLEHAMP TON

On west side of River Arun.

Costs: Mon-Fri £35.

Sat-Sun £45. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Fri. Contact: 01903 717170.

◗ CAPE CORNWALL

Five miles from Land’s End. Costs: Mon-Thurs £25.

Fri-Sun £30. 2-FORE!-1: Any time. Contact: 01736 788611.

◗ NORTH SHORE

One mile north of Skegness.

Costs: Mon-Fri £31.50.

Sat-Sun £39.50.

2-FORE!-1: Mon-Fri. Contact: 01754 764822.

TRAVEL { A L GA RV E S P E C I A L }

GO WEST FOR A BARGAIN

The Algarve has a reputation for being good but costly.

The west of the region keeps the good but costs a lot less...

WOR D S CH R IS BE RTR A M

PORTUGAL Boavista Golf Resort is an hour’s drive west of Faro in the south of Portugal.

All the other featured courses are within 30 minutes’ drive of the airport.

SPOTLIGHT ON

L

et’s be honest, golf in the Algarve is often just too expensive. It might be the birthplace of the foreign golf holiday for Britons, but that doesn’t mean an average round of golf should cost more than £100.

When every round is in three figures, it makes golf breaks very expensive.

Green fees can often cost more than your return flight, car hire, accommodation, meals and refreshments combined!

But there is an alternative, one which can give you excellent golf but at a sensible price. Simply turn left out of Faro airport and cruise past the famous names around Vilamoura and past rounds of golf which leave a nasty taste in the mouth before you step on the 1st and top your drive.

The base for this break is Boavista Golf Resort. You’ll play the majority of your golf here, but it’s such good value that you’ll have enough spare cash to head to a few surrounding courses.

Boavista opened in 2002 and they don’t pretend they have a venue capable of staging

the Portuguese Open. What they do offer is a very pleasant round of golf, exceptional accommodation, a terrific clubhouse and a lot of nous when it comes to providing what golfers (especially British golfers) want.

It is about an hour from Faro and just a few minutes’ drive from the A22 motorway, as well as Lagos and Luz. It’s very easy to enjoy yourself at Boavista and you can stay for four nights with three rounds, daily breakfast, farewell dinner and car hire for just £50 per person per night.

That’s right, £200 for everything but your flight, evening meals and drinks.

That’s got to be top value in anybody’s money (or language) and should leave you plenty of room on your credit card to tee it up at the revered Penina, as well as one or two other nearby courses.

And that’s the beauty of playing this neck of the golfing woods. Besides seeing the ‘real’ Portugal, the courses are all within a 30-minute drive, including the Pestana trio of Pinta, Gramacho and Silves and also Morgado and Golfe dos Alamos.

ALGARVE

1.BOAVISTA RESORT Par 71, 6,658 yards Boavista was designed by renowned architect Howard Swan and, while it offers several good birdie chances, it can be a real test when it is windy.

The first couple of holes are lined by villas and as a result are pretty tight, but it’s not long before you can open your shoulders. The par 3s are top class. The uphill 2nd, the downhill 4th and the 6th – needing a firm hit with as much as a 3-wood to clear an unforgiving ravine – all require a good ball strike. The dog-leg 7th – which plays down to the Atlantic – is another cracker. On the back nine, water frequently comes into play, especially at the long par-3 14th where a wood or long iron must fly its entire distance over a pond.

There’s a great clubhouse including a sparkling new spa/gym. ◗ VITAL STATISTICS

Green fee: £65 (high), £50 (low).

Contact: 00 351 282 000 111 or www.boavistagolf.com

S E E EU RO COURSE R EV I EWS AT TG WEBSITE