Today's Golfer Issue 294 Preview

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MAY 2012 ISSUE 294 MAR 22-APRIL 18

TODAY’S GOLFER MAY 2012 (MARCH 22-APRIL 18)

Golfer BUMPER 232-PAGE ISSUE WIN PRIZES WORTH £20k

3 CLUBS 15 SHOTS UNLOCK LOW SCORES WITH A RESCUE, 7-IRON & PUTTER

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A U G U S TA S P E C I A L

MASTERS

MAGIC

★ COURSE INSIGHT ★ ★ BEST EVER SHOTS ★ ★ WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN ★ LONG-TERM TEST

16 TROLLEYS TESTED OVER 3 MONTHS

SEE HOW TOP MODELS COPED WITH WINTER

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S T R AT E G Y

THINK BETTER SCORE BETTER PLAN YOUR WAY TO A DREAM ROUND

T O P - VA L U E C O U R S E S

GREAT GREEN FEE DEALS PLAY TOP COURSES AT AMAZING PRICES

294

FIRST TEE

PRIZES WORTHY There are 82 amazing prizes in the free Today’s Golfer Fantasy Golf game We’re delighted to announce the full line-up of 82 fantastic prizes for the 2012 TG Fantasy Golf game, in association with Your Golf Travel, worth more than £10,000 in total!

This year’s game will run for eight months, starting with the Masters, on April 5, and concluding with the DP World Tour Championship

at the end of November, taking in 33 European and PGA Tour events along the way.

Players will battle it out by selecting a six-golfer team for each tournament within the $15m budget. Their golfers earn points based on their performance in each event. Major championships are worth triple points and WGC events, the PGA

Tour Championship and DP World Championship are worth double points.

Visit www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/fantasygolf for full scoring and format details and the tournament and player lists.

The managers who earn the most points throughout the year will win these amazing prizes.

2 MONTE DA QUINTA HOLIDAY Three nights and two rounds at the Portuguese resort.

Monte da Quinta has three firstclass layouts; the new Laranjal design won best course at the 2011 Portugal Travel Awards.

3 DARTMOUTH G&CC BREAK Three nights and four days unlimited golf in the glorious Devon countryside. The 18-hole Championship course is regularly included in lists of the top 100 UK courses.

4 THE CARRICK BREAK Two nights at the five-star Cameron House Hotel, two rounds on The Carrick and a lesson with a resident pro for two at De Vere’s luxury resort on the edge of Loch Lomond.

5 ST MELLION BREAK Two nights’ accommodation, full English breakfast each morning, a threecourse dinner each evening and three rounds on the two worldclass courses for two people.

6 Q HOTELS BREAK A one-night break for four people at one of QHotels five golf resorts, including a threecourse evening meal, breakfast, two rounds of golf and use of the superb leisure and spa facilities.

7 GOKART TROLLEY WITH BAG A stylish GoKart Automatic electric trolley with a bag, worth £353. It is light, compact and durable with a powerful motor and no fiddly controls.

OVERALL WINNER 1 LA MANGA HOLIDAY Five nights' B&B in the five-star hotel, four rounds of golf for two, access to the spa and a meal for two in the Asia restaurant.

There are three courses on-site. The South Course has wide, palm-fringed fairways, and features water hazards on 15 of its 18 holes, while the slightly shorter North Course is drier, but tighter fairways and larger greens mean accuracy is key.

The West Course is set in pine woodland, and tests all elements amid superb views.

As well as the hotel, the resort, which celebrates its 40th birthday this year, has more than 20 restaurants and bars and its own Mediterranean beach to enjoy.

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OF FANTASY I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

MONTHLY WINNERS

1ST. QHOTELS FOURBALL Enjoy a challenging round of golf with three friends at a QHotels golf resort of your choice. There are five fantastic resorts to choose from in the UK. 2ND. A DOZEN WILSON FG TOUR X BALLS The new Wilson Staff FG Tour X ball (priced at £39.99 per dozen) has been designed for the competitive golfer looking for distance and control.

3RD. TWO 2-FORE!-1 VOUCHERS Enjoy half price golf at 914 superb UK courses. Visit www.241golf.com for more courses and booking.

KNOCKOUT CUP 1ST. FULL ADIDAS GOLF OUTFIT Dress to play well and impress with a pair of ATV shoes and ClimaCool Pique 3-Stripes Solid polo shirt and trousers in your choice of colours.

2ND-4TH. TAYLORMADE GHOST MANTA PUTTER TaylorMade's new Ghost Manta provides the performance benefits of a high-MOI putter, but is packaged neatly in a more traditional one-piece neo-mallet shape.

5TH-8TH. ASHWORTH JUMPER The 100% cotton, V-neck Argyle Placement Sweater comes in black.

8 MIZUNO JPX800 FAIRWAY WOOD The Mizuno JPX800 Fairway Wood is Mizuno’s update on the superb MX-700, which was a massive hit in both our 2009 and 2010 equipment tests.

9 NIKE VR PRO SAND WEDGE This wedge is forged for a soft feel on full and half shots and features Nike’s brand new X3X groove pattern, designed to minimise the effect of the new groove rule.

10 MD GOLF SEVE ICON MALLET PUTTER The Seve Icon range putters are CNC milled and come in a luxurious purple finish, with a soft grip and highquality leatherette headcover.

11-50 HALF PRICE GOLF WITH A PAIR OF 2-FORE!-1 VOUCHERS Play at more than 914 superb courses around the UK for half price with a voucher! Visit www.241golf.com for more info.

I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

As Europe’s largest golf travel company, Your Golf Travel are the experts when it comes to booking your next holiday to the fairways. With over 3,000 venues to choose from in the UK and abroad, all tried and tested by our team of avid golfers you can be sure of an unforgettable golfing getaway.

Your Golf Travel cater for groups of all sizes and abilities, so whether you’re beginners or scratch handicappers, they can find the perfect venue for you. Pick just about any of the top venues you can expect to see the tour players strutting their stuff on, and chances are you could be doing the same, offering you some truly unforgettable golfing experiences.

To help you get on the green for less, Your Golf Travel offer the best prices and if you do find the same holiday cheaper, then they’ll match it. And if that wasn’t enough, they’re also fully ABTA bonded and ATOL protected, so your break is safe no matter what, meaning the only thing you have to worry about is not slicing it on the first tee.

INFORMATION AND TO PICK YOUR MASTERS DREAM TEAM TODAYSG OLFE R .CO.UK ❘ IS SUE 2 94

LEARN WITH LESS

Playing a round with four clubs is refreshing, good fun... and offers valuable lessons on ways you can improve your scoring with a full set w o r d s K I T A L E X A N D E R P I C t u r e s H O WA R D B O Y L A N

four-club challenge A sand wedge is all you’d want here, even with 14 clubs!

Putting suddenly became even more crucial.

Manufacturing approach shots was not easy.

‘with four clubS to chooSe from, you’re forced to uSe your imagination’ ’ve got 185 yards to the centre of the green. Normally, I’d instantly reach for a 4-iron, but today I’m weighing up whether I’d rather hit a knock-down hybrid or a muscled-up 7-iron that may leave me requiring a chip and putt for par.

I opt for the former and knock it pin high just off the right edge of the green. A ‘Texas wedge’ and a three-foot putt later I’m walking off the green of Hunstanton’s 425-yard, strokeindex-one 3rd with a par. It’s amazing what you can do with only four clubs in your bag.

We wanted to put this month’s cover feature to the test, so TG’s seven-handicap Features Writer Kit Alexander joined up with Ben Miles (13 handicap), Steve Stones (16 handicap) and Hunstanton assistant pro Henry Potter to navigate the links layout with just four clubs. We had the luxury of a sand wedge in case any of us fell foul of those deep and vicious pot bunkers (which we did!).

It was a tough test irrespective of the clubbing limitations – three of the fourball had never played the course before and the two-club wind gave all our players something to think about – but the scoring was pretty solid (see ‘Magic numbers’). Most of all, there were some valuable lessons learned.

I

Safe tee ShotS Having to take a hybrid off the tee proved to be a blessing in disguise, particularly for Kit, who hit 11 of 14 fairways. Not only was it easier to hit the hybrid more accurately than a straighter-faced driver, but the lack of distance also took the vast majority of fairway bunkers completely out of play, even downwind.

This may have left some longer second shots, but 165 yards from the fairway is a lot better than 140 yards from a bunker or rough.

“I discovered I don’t have to rely on hitting my driver all the time,” said Ben afterwards.

“When playing a long par 5 I’m naturally tempted to hit a driver as far as I can, but it’s actually more important to get the ball on the fairway and stay out of trouble.”

Know your yardageS The 10th showed the importance of leaving yourself comfortable yardages for approach shots – and you can only do this if you accurately know how far you hit every club.

Ben hit a towering hybrid off the tee but this left him trying to hit a 130-yard 7-iron.

Kit’s ugly, low tee shot left him 160 yards, a perfect 7-iron yardage, albeit more by luck than judgement. Ben found the greenside bunker while Kit struck it to eight feet.

The ability to lay-up to a good yardage can prove even more critical on par 5s. “It makes things more complicated if you’re stood there with a 2-iron, 7-iron and a sand wedge on a par 5 and you’re trying to work out what clubs you need to hit where to give yourself a comfortable yardage to attack the green,” said Henry. His four easy pars on the long holes demonstrated the importance of doing so. get creative It is all too easy to automatically play set shots and clubs from specific yardages and positions without really thinking about all the options, but, as many of the greats have shown us, golf is a game of imagination and creativity.

When you’ve only got four clubs to choose from, you’re forced to use your imagination and play new shots. As Ben says, there’s always a way to get the ball where you need it.

“I thought I’d be standing in a lot of places on the golf course where I’d be stuck to find a

shot, but I was surprised that even with the very limited number of clubs, this didn’t happen very often.”

Kit learned the benefit of playing different shots the hard way: “After a series of awful pitches and chips with my sand wedge – the club I would usually use for these kind of shots – I reverted to using the 7-iron and hybrid and was getting the ball much closer.” viSualiSe and commit Henry didn’t miss much all day but he was clear about the reasons when he did. “There were a couple of shots that I hit when I wasn’t totally comfortable with what I was doing. I should have backed away and started again.

“It’s about picturing in your mind what sort of shot you want to see and execute. All Tour pros talk about visualising the shot before you hit it; you must have the right mind-set and a consistent routine that enables you to do this. You’ve got to stand over the ball after going through your routine and be 100 per cent confident of hitting the shot.” love every club “I’ve steered clear of using some of the clubs in my bag and I admitted to Ben before we played that I wasn’t great with my hybrid,” Steve revealed after the round. He’s not the only golfer to shy away from certain clubs – many of us have a weapon we hardly use.

“Before today I’d hit that three-hybrid maybe three times in a year and I’ve just hit it 20 or 30 times in one round. I got better with it as we went on; it just shows what a bit of confidence can do. In the past, I’ve hit 5-iron if faced with a three-hybrid yardage and relied on my short game, but I would hit my hybrid without hesitation after today.” >> Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 94

£20 harry redknapp T H E

TG

T W E N T Y

The popular Spurs boss has had a truly incredible 2012 so far. But could the England manager elect maintain his winning ways and nick the TG20? wor d s K EV I N BROW N PICT U R E s JA M E S CH E A DL E

H

arry Redknapp’s smile is back, and no wonder. On a day of exceptional drama even by the standards of modern-day football, he underwent a classic Sliding Doors moment.

Redknapp began Wednesday, February 8 facing the verdict of a jury in a tax evasion case at Southwark Crown Court which he insisted all along should never have been brought to court. He ended it as everyone’s choice as the next England manager after Fabio Capello’s shock resignation.

In a matter of hours, he went from the possibility of going to jail to being the hot favourite for a job he admits is every Englishman’s dream; sometimes, real-life football is more bizarre and entertaining than any soap opera.

As the FA sifts through its short-list and, no doubt, works out how much compensation Tottenham Hotspur would be due for taking their manager, Redknapp’s life has been fairly normal; he has managed football clubs since 1983.

Of course, questions about England will not go away until the FA makes its move, but for now Redknapp is content with keeping Spurs on course for their best season since the ‘60s.

TG took the opportunity at a less hectic moment in this crazy year for Redknapp to tackle him in a TG20

Challenge at splendid De Vere venue Wokefield Park in leafy Berkshire. It suits Redknapp just fine; apart from the touchline or his sumptuous Sandbanks pile in Dorset, the golf course is his next favourite place.

Well, apart from the pre-round portrait photo session. “I hate this,” he moans. “I’m just not comfortable with it. I’m a football manager not a model!” Thankfully he plays ball and perseveres with the photos and even agrees to do one at the wheel of his 4x4 – the trademark shots, usually captured by Sky TV cameras, of him leaving the Spurs training ground.

There was nowhere else to start but the England job. He is acutely aware managing England can be a poisoned chalice but, on the other hand, describes it as the “ultimate job” for an Englishman. And he is clear that he would only undertake the job on a full-time basis... not just for this summer’s European Championships.

“It’s a job that somebody has got to go in and do full-time. It would be tough to take the job and then go back to your club afterwards. Not easy,” he insists.

“If I get the opportunity it would be hard to turn it down and I’m sure I’d have a crack at it. But if it doesn’t I’ll be quite happy too going home at night. I won’t lose any sleep over it.” >> Todaysg olfe r .co.uk ❘ is sue 2 94

AUGUSTA COURSE GUIDE

FORGOTTEN NINE Champion Charl Schwartzel and Tour coaches Denis Pugh and Mark Roe on the holes that rarely attract headlines but often decide the Green Jacket’s destiny WOR D S K IT A L E X A N DE R

Hole 1, Tee olive, Par 4, 445 ydS Schwartzel: “The opening hole is harder than it looks. The fairway looks a mile wide off the tee but it is not hard to find trouble if you stray off line. You want to avoid the bunker on the right, which

can be in play since the tee moved back.

Ideally you want to be on the left-hand side of the fairway. I got my final round going here last year when I chipped in with a 6-iron for a birdie.”

HE MEET TL PANE A A U G U S TE D COVER LL F R O M AE S ANGL

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D RE A M RO U N D S T R AT EGY S PEC I A L

THINK SMART

Scoring well depends on hitting the correct shot for every situation. Consider ourse management is an overlooked aspect of scoring that often costs amateurs up to two or three shots a round. Too many times, you’ll step on the tee with a driver in your hand not having considered what’s in front of you. But good strategy doesn’t stop there. Approach shots and club selection around

C

the green are also a key part of scoring away from your technique. Now, as part of our Dream Round series, we want to programme your brain in a way that allows you to play sensible golf shots.

The aim of our 2012 campaign is to help golfers improve in all areas and set a new record score.

And over the coming months we will help you set

goals and assess your current level in all areas of the game before helping you take your game to a whole new level. ◗ For additional Dream Round advice and exclusive videos visit www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/ dreamround or follow the campaign on Facebook (Today's Golfer) and Twitter (@TheTodaysGolfer).

F A I R W AY H A Z A R D S Avoiding bunkers, water hazards, rough and out of bounds off the tee is critical if you’re to score well. Knowing how far you carry your woods will determine which hazards are in play. If it's on the limit, be conservative and play short.

SCORE When you're scoring well in a medal, it’s vital you don't make a club selection you’ll regret. Choose one that will get you in play, even if you mishit it slightly. If your round isn’t going well, retrieve the situation with more aggressive play.

CONFIDENCE LEVELS Some days, your golf swing just doesn’t feel right and finding the fairways with the driver seems impossible. So on a tight driving hole, ditch the big stick and hit whatever club you feel confident will find the short grass.

Shot on location at The Grove, Herts. Tel: 01923 294266 for more info.

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PLAY BETTER this strategy advice from TG Elite Pro Rob Watts and you'll save shots…

F L AG L O C AT I O N Consider the pin position before selecting your club off the tee, especially on par fours. Back flags require a lower ball flight and vice-versa, so position yourself with the best yardage to attack the flag from when you can.

WIND Higher handicappers should alter their alignment and use the wind to their advantage.

Better players can hit the shape of shot that negates it. Remember the ball tends to climb when hitting into the wind and vice-versa.

F A I R W AY C O N T O U R S Finding the fairway is key but more specifically, try and put your ball on a flat lie. This gives you the optimum lie from which to hit your approach.

For example, shots off a downslope fly lower, which is no good when attacking a front pin.

SHOT SHAPE The ability to shape the ball can be a useful tool to help avoid hazards and find the fairway on dog-leg holes. Here on The Grove's 8th hole, the fairway curves right so playing a fade means the ball flight follows the shape of the fairway.

A NUSROWN H R E T P E OPEAN TO INS

UR FOUR E

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EQUIPMENT

WHEELS OF FORTUNE 16 electric trolleys, 16 TG readers, three months' intense use... here are the results There are certain pieces of golf equipment that can only be accurately assessed after they have been in action for a decent period of time. Only when you have lived with an electric trolley and endured some tough conditions can you truly say whether it's any good or not.

Back in September, TG’s equipment team put 16 electric trolleys to the test, publishing the results in the December

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issue. We then sent each trolley to a TG reader or member of staff who recorded the pros and cons of living with the trolley for three months, as well as how they rated the products on looks, ease of use, ease of assembly, functions and performance.

These scores were combined and averaged with TG's test ratings.

Each tester also rated their trolley out of five for its reliability. Here are the results...

ERM LONG-TECIAL T E S T S PT R I C ELEC YS TROLLE

UKADDY £239

GOKART AUTOMATIC £484

TOUGH COMPETITOR FOR THOSE ON A TIGHT BUDGET

FIDDLY BATTERY, BUT EXCELLENT PERFORMER

Web: www.ukaddy.com Tel: 0845 094 3804

Web: www.gokart.co.uk Tel: 01227 712 288

Tester: Luke Alexander, HCP 11 Pros: This is a basic, no-frills trolley that does the job well.

Simple enough to assemble and easy to use, it also looks solid and proved to be so on rougher terrain in the north of Scotland in winter! It coped well with hilly terrain and also in very wet conditions. The battery never gave a hint of running out of juice either, even over 27 holes.

Cons: On the minus side, I found it difficult to set the speed to a comfortable walk on flat ground.

Also would have liked a simple on/ off switch, especially for the odd occasion when stopping in a hurry was necessary. The catch for locking the trolley in the assembled position is a bit of a "skin-pincher".

Finally, I bought the umbrellaholder accessory (it rains a lot up here), but, like all the other

Tester: Stuart Hodson, HCP 17 Pros: I liked that the trolley was very simple to operate, with the on/off button doing exactly that. The automatic trolley keeps pace with your walking speed, simply by holding the handle and it continues at the same pace. The lithium battery was also very light and could easily tackle 36 holes of golf in one sitting without a recharge. When I did recharge the battery, I noticed that it was very quick too.

Cons: Because the trolley has no speed controls and moves at your own pace, it does get a bit of getting used to. I found the battery a little tricky to attach too, and not overly sturdy. In fact, I cracked mine but although this was my fault, it was promptly replaced by GoKart. The customer service was excellent, in fact.

umbrella-holders I have used, the handle of my brolly didn't fit.

Conclusion: Brilliantly-efficient for such a low-budget product, but let down by the looks and the speed setting system. UKaddy have recently added a new silver frame, which should appeal to those who don't want blue or magenta.

THE VERDICT

Looks: 2.65 Ease of use: 3.65 Ease of assembly: 3.15 Functions: 2.15 Performance: 3.5 Reliability: 5 RATING:★★★★★

Conclusion: The lithium battery made 36 holes a doddle, but the battery was a little tricky to attach.

This is something that you will get used to over time and the excellent customer service when something goes wrong gives the GoKart brand a real plus point over some of its competitors.

THE VERDICT

Looks: 3.4 Ease of use: 3.75 Ease of assembly: 3 Functions: 2.25 Performance: 3.5 Reliability: 5 RATING:★★★★★

LINDEN FAIRWAY £274.99

POWERBUG PRO £450

SOLID PRODUCT BUT COMES WITH A FEW NIGGLES

LIMITED FUNCTIONS, BUT STRONG AND LIGHTWEIGHT

Web: www.lindengolftrolleys.co.uk Tel: 0844 542 0222

Web: www.powerbug.co.uk Tel: 0118 940 6609

Tester: Rob Bennett, HCP 21 Pros: The Linden Fairway was quick and easy to assemble, and performed well. The wheels were easy to remove for cleaning and transporting, which was especially useful if you needed to get the trolley into a small space.

I also thought the distance control device which allowed you to set the trolley off to 10, 20 or 30 metres away was a useful feature.

Cons: I found the on/off button quite unreliable and the speed dial was just too sensitive. I also had a few issues with the Linden tipping over because of the lack of the weight over the front wheel.

Conclusion: On the surface of it, the Linden looks like a very solid product that is easy to assemble, easy on the eye and gets the job done. It's also easy to store, but there are a few underlying issues.

The TG gear boys found the display

Tester: George Gow, HCP 12 Pros: It’s light, compact and fits in the car boot easily and I like the small size of the battery.

Never having used an electric trolley before it makes life so much easier especially on my hilly home course and I will definitely be looking into purchasing one in the future.

Look forward to reading other reviews.

Cons: I found the speed control a bit awkward to begin with but possibly with more use that will become easier. I also think that the price of the trolley could include a distance calculator. On the whole I found it to be a reasonable trolley in its price bracket.

Conclusion: The small, lightweight lithium battery makes this a very atttractive product and makes for a light and powerful model. But for

hard to use, and the long-term tester noted the sensitive nature of the On/Off button. Ultimately, it's a low-price product that will deliver good performance for the vast majority of the time, but there are certainly things that suggest it's less expensive than some other models on test.

THE VERDICT

Looks: 4 Ease of use: 4 Ease of assembly: 4.25 Functions: 3.5 Performance: 3.5 Reliability: 3 RATING:★★★★★

£450, you might expect a little more in the functions department.

White trolleys always split opinion, and we thought the lighter frame might have cheapened the aesthetics a touch. It's worth noting that the price listed is for a lithium battery, and an 18-hole model is available for £299.

THE VERDICT

Looks: 3.4 Ease of use: 4.5 Ease of assembly: 3.65 Functions: 2.65 Performance: 4.15 Reliability: 4 RATING:★★★★★

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TRAVEL

THE MOD HAS NO CONS Poland is about to go football crazy, but golfers can score a stunning deal here too All eyes will be on Poland this summer as the country co-hosts football’s European Championships with Ukraine.

But it's not just footie fans who have a lot to cheer about in this neck of the woods. Golfers can play some fastimproving courses at great prices.

Poland isn’t especially known for the quality of its golf courses but the Gary Player-designed Modry Las is top quality and has twice been placed in sister magazine Golf World’s Top 100 European Courses since opening in 2009.

And the good news is that the worldclass venue is set to get even better

following the addition of a new challenging nine-hole short course, plus plans for a Golf Academy and stylish onsite self-catering accommodation.

“The idea was to create a premier international golf resort centred around Gary Player’s superb design," says club chairman Arthur Gromadzki.

"With the course built and maturing nicely, the time was right to continue with the development of the resort. The new short course, academy and cottages will take us to the next level.”

Designed by Theo Geertshuis, design co-ordinator at Gary Player Design, the

MODRY LAS FACTS Getting there: Ryanair fly from Dublin and Stansted to Szczecin (one hour away) for £70. Or, go to Berlin (two hours away), with easyJet from Luton, Gatwick, Liverpool, Glasgow, Bristol and Manchester (£80).

Green fees: £30 MonFri, £40 weekends.

Contact: Telephone 00 48 957 689 906 or visit www.modrylas.pl

new nine-hole track will provide the ideal warm-up for the main course and gives players a chance to improve their game on a layout which takes little more than an hour to play.

“Short courses are a fantastic addition to any golf resort and if managed properly can provide a fun and practical alternative to the championship course,” adds Director of Golf, Stewart Snedden.

The Academy will feature covered teaching bays overlooking the driving range, club and equipment sales and a club-fitting service while the self-catering cottages (which will accommodate up to

four people) will be launched in the summer.

So it’s all happening on the course as well as on the pitch in Poland this summer. “The 2012 season will be the busiest yet at Modry Las and it’s sure to be exciting,” says Gromadzki.

Because it is so cheap and offers great value-for-money, expect plenty of Brits to head for Poland this summer… and not just for the football!

FIVE MORE FORMER EASTERN BLOC DESTINATIONS TO CONSIDER… ◗ Czech Republic – Well known for its cheap, strong beer and was voted the Best Undiscovered Destination six years ago. Within a short drive of capital city Prague you’ll discover more than a dozen venues including Karlstejn, in the shadows of a spectacular 14th century castle, and the stunning new Albatros layout.

◗ Estonia – home of the classy Estonian Golf & Country Club and its outstanding Sea Course, which enjoyed a significant jump up Golf World’s Top 100 European Courses last year and was an impressive host to the 2009 WGC World Cup qualifier. ◗ Bulgaria – a fast-emerging destination with seven top tracks (see pages 148-151 for further details), headlined by Thracian Cliffs. ◗ Hungary - a handful of courses surround the capital Budapest, including Pannonia and Polus Palac. ◗ Russia – the golfing revolution got underway in 1988 with Robert Trent Jones Jnr’s Moscow Country Club and has gradually been gathering pace.

Twenty years later saw the opening of Forest Hills (Arthur Hills design) and Tseleevo Golf Polo Club (Jack Nicklaus).

DEALS OF THE MONTH ◗ PORTUGAL Three nights’ B&B at four-star Tivoli Lagos Hotel, Algarve, and two rounds (Palmares) plus free buggies from April 1 to 15 & June to August from £169pp. To book call Your Golf Travel on 0800 043 6644.

Three nights’ B&B at five-star Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Resort, Algarve, and two rounds from £225pp. To book call Golfbreaks on 0845 543 6675.

◗ CYPRUS Four nights’ B&B at five-star InterContinental Aphrodite Hills, Paphos, and two rounds plus free upgrade to a Golf Sea View Room (May and June) from £329pp. To book call Your Golf Travel on 0800 043 6644.

Five nights’ B&B at InterContinental Aphrodite Hills and three rounds including buggies and car hire (1 in 8 stay & play for free) from £345pp. To book call Golfbreaks on 0845 543 6675.

◗ USA Seven nights’ B&B at PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and seven rounds and return flights from £1,085pp (May 19-June 23). To book call Your Golf Travel on 0800 043 6644.

◗ TURKEY Five nights’ halfboard at five-star Sueno Hotels Golf Resort, Belek, and five days unlimited golf including transfers (1 in 8 stay & play for free) from £435pp. To book call Golfbreaks on 0845 543 6675.

SHORT SHOTS TASTE OF ITALY A new golf travel website has been launched enabling golfers seeking to play in Italy with the chance to combine on-course action with other cultural activities.

Visit www.golfinitaly.org and you can book golf packages to 35 destinations and a teetime at 112 courses or choose accommodation at more than 100 hotels, villas and apartments. Deals start at £196 for a three-night, two-round break at four-star Boscolo Padova in Veneto.

DUBAI'S DARK SECRET If you’re in Dubai and fancy some late-night golf you’re in luck because a new Peter Harradine-designed nine-hole floodlit course is opening there in March. The unique layout is plotted alongside the Meydan Racecourse and hotel and stretches over 3,600 yards from the back tees, featuring a number of natural lakes which are in play on several holes. The venue is managed by Troon Golf – and it’s open until midnight!

Green fees (until May 31): £100 (18 holes), £68 (nine).

OLD HEAD, NEW IDEAS The greenkeeping team at the awesome Old Head of Kinsale links in Ireland, are being ably assisted by… a robot mower!

And the Ransomes Spider remote-controlled mower is proving money well spent – even at just over £23,000. It is designed specifically for steep banks and slopes – and Old Head’s majestic fairways tower 90m above the Atlantic.

“Our sloping semi-rough used to take two of our men a dayand-a-half to trim with strimmers – with the Spider it takes just 90 minutes,” said Old Head's Neil Deasy.

Green fees: From £114.

NEW RESORT VIDEOS The introduction of video guides by Golfbreaks.com could help you make up your mind where to head this year.

The 90-second slots feature high-definition footage of the golf course, hotel and leisure facilities at many of the leading resorts in the UK and Europe, giving golfers the inside track. The videos were shot and edited by a specialist production company. The full list can be viewed at www. golfbreaks.com/video.aspx

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TRAVEL

Bulgaria

the eASteRN BLOC PARtY

It’s the unlikeliest of golf destinations but Bulgaria, with just seven courses, is already winning international recognition wor d s Stev e JackSon

Bulgaria has come from nowhere to spearhead the Eastern bloc golfing revolution.

The country currently has just seven courses – and precious little golfing history or pedigree – but the lack of quantity is certainly not mirrored in the quality.

Bulgaria hasn’t looked back since the first course opened at the turn of the Millennium. Big names such as Gary Player, Ian Woosnam and Paul McGinley have designed or reshaped the leading layouts, contributing to Bulgaria bagging the coveted 2012 International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year award.

Virtually all of the country’s venues are close to either the capital city of Sofia or the coastal region bordering the Black Sea, meaning golfing visitors can base themselves in two contrasting areas – or indulge in a short break to both.

Three courses are located near the rugged north-east shoreline and beaches in Cape Kalikra, with the Thracian Cliffs Resort undoubtedly the star attraction.

With breathtaking panoramic views on offer, South African legend Player jumped at the chance to design this 18-hole track, and it hasn’t disappointed since opening last year.

Player was also the architect of the nearby Black Sea Rama Country Club, while the course at the Lighthouse Golf Resort, designed by Woosnam, is another quality track nearby.

If you’re seeking a city break in Sofia, the majestic Pravets Resort, the redesigned St Sofia and the cheap-and-cheerful Air Sofia all surround the capital.

Two hours south of Sofia, you’ll find the Pirin Golf & Ski Country Club, so an overnight stay might be required.

Bulgaria’s price is definitely right too and though green fees at the top tracks don’t come cheap, overall the country provides great value.

It’s also relatively cheap and easy (three-hour journey time) to get there with flights starting from under £100. And after playing golf in the only country in the world where a nod of the head means ‘No’, you’re sure to be shaking your head in disbelief all the way home!

THRACIAN CLIFFS Par 71, 6,845 yards Magnificent views are the norm on this spectacular Gary Player-designed clifftop course as the Black Sea comes into sight on all 18 holes, the front nine breathtakingly hugging the wonderful coastline.

Picking out feature holes is a tough ask as they all impress, but if forced the 3rd is a cracker before the round comes alive with memorable tee shots on the 6th and 7th. The 6th is a par 3 down the cliff face to a green close to sea level, while the opening drive on the next island tee involves an intimidating carry over water.

The fairways are narrow and, with several blind shots, the array of large unusually shaped bunkers often come into play. A big lake also needs to be avoided on the last two holes.

Be warned, a buggy is essential – walks between the greens and tees are long and invariably involve significant climbs or descents. ◗ ViTAl sTATisTics

Green fees: £70. Contact: 00359 5851 0550 or www.thraciancliffs.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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