National Club Golfer October 2013 Issue

WINTER SUN SPECIAL DON’T MISS OUR 20-PAGE LONG-HAUL TRAVEL GUIDEPUTTERS

TEST60 MODELS

RATED BY OUR TEAM

ALSO INSIDE: US PGA REVIEW n TAYLORMADE’S NEW SLDR DRIVER n INSTRUCTION TIPS

These big names all played in it. So who will be the next superstar toemerge from the latest edition of the

WALKER CUP?n The captain’s verdict on Team GB&I n Max Homa – America’s new sensationn 2007: Was this the greatest ever match?n McEvoy’s guide to winning in American GB&I’s Sea Island heroes reflect on 2001

IN OUR PREVIEW OF 2013’S GB&I v USA MATCH

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NCG Cover Oct 13 23/08/2013 13:54 Page 3

OCTOBER 2013 | www.nationalclubgolfer.com4

EDITORIAL DIRECTORDan Murphy

DEPUTY EDITORMark Townsend

STAFF WRITERSJames TompkinsonJoe Whitley

CONTRIBUTORSChris BertramColin Callander

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Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but thepublishers cannot accept responsibility for omissionsand errors. Readers are advised to check pricing anddetails of availability before making any journeys. Allmaterial in this publication is strictly copyright and allrights are reserved. The views expressed in NationalClub Golfer do not necessarily represent the views ofthe company or the editor. Every care is taken incompiling the contents but the publishers assume noresponsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising fromparticipation in any offer, competition or advertisingcontained within National Club Golfer.

REAT Britain and Ireland’s 10 bestamateur players are on their way to theUnites States to take part in the 44thWalker Cup.

Some of them may well go on to win Majors andtour events and take part in Ryder Cups. Forothers, probably the majority, their week at theNational Golf Links in New York will be thehighlight of their golfing career. Not that any ofour team will be thinking that way at the moment.

The Walker Cup – and the ladies’ equivalent,the Curtis Cup, for that matter – is very much seenas the final stepping stone on the journey fromamateur to professional. Of this year’s team onlyRhys Pugh played at Royal Aberdeen two years agoand he was only 17 at the time. Come the nextinstalment at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2015,there will most likely be 10 new players.

The purists among us would urge a promisingyoung player to stay amateur long enough to havethe chance of playing in a Walker Cup. Thepragmatists would insist that if you are ready, and inform, and opportunities have presented themselves,then why wait.

Having a Walker Cup appearance on your CVdoes not, of course, earn you any money or give youany advantage in the professional game beyondmaybe encouraging the occasional event organiserto hand you a sponsor’s exemption. Yet beingconsidered to be one of the best 10 amateurs inthese isles is clearly worth something.

As Andrew Coltart, himself a Walker Cup playerback in 1991 at Portmarnock, said when reflectingon the absence of any Scottish players in this year’steam and their prospects of becoming successfultour players: “If they are not ranked inside the top12 amateurs in Britain, what are their chances to cutit in the professional world?”

It reminded me of a conversation I had earlier in

the summer with GrahamWalker, England Golf’smen’s lead coach. Hespoke about thestandards required ofa young amateurbefore they shouldeven considerturning pro. Whatworried him was theattitude of those playerswho believed that weaknessescould be eradicated and games raised while out ontour – after turning professional. Walker believesthat your game needs to be of the required standardbefore you think about playing for money.

The seven Englishmen, two Irishmen and oneWelshman who will represent us in America may ormay not go on to be the next Rory McIlroy or LukeDonald. But they certainly have a chance to do so.Good luck, boys, both next week and beyond.

NE thing I am very much hoping notto see at National is the disrespectfulaction of walking off a green beforeyour opponent has finished putting. I

saw it from both teams at the Curtis Cup and fromMichelle Wie at the Solheim Cup (though she didapologise afterwards). No matter what level you areplaying at or what the state of the match is,common courtesy dictates you wait until a hole isfinished before walking on to the next one.

WINTER SUN SPECIAL DON’T MISS OUR 20-PAGE LONG-HAUL TRAVEL GUIDEPUTTERS

TEST60 MODELS

RATED BY OUR TEAM

ALSO INSIDE: US PGA REVIEW n TAYLORMADE’S NEW SLDR DRIVER n INSTRUCTION TIPS

These big names all played in it. So who will be the next superstar toemerge from the latest edition of the

WALKER CUP?n The captain’s verdict on Team GB&I n Max Homa – America’s new sensationn 2007: Was this the greatest ever match?n McEvoy’s guide to winning in American GB&I’s Sea Island heroes reflect on 2001

IN OUR PREVIEW OF 2013’S GB&I v USA MATCH

ROUND WORTH £85!FREE Subscribe to NCG and you can play a round atone of 17 De Vere courses absolutely free...

NCG is a monthlymagazine distributed to thegolf clubs of Great Britain.Written specifically for you,the serious golfer, we aim to

provide an insightfuland trustworthy guide to all

aspects of the game

TWO HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE...P16: COUNTDOWN TO GLENEAGLESThe qualifying has begun and we are just a year away

from the next instalment of the Ryder Cup. So what

better time to have a go at predicting Europe’s 12 to take

on Tom Watson’s Americans.

P34: WALKER CUP COVER STARSIn case you were wondering, the players are: Top row –

Duval, Woods, Montgomerie, Mickelson. 2nd row –

Dougherty, Rose. 3rd row – McIlroy, McDowell. Bottom

row – Casey, Nicklaus, Harrington, Donald.WALKER CUP PREVIEW

Image courtesy of Tony Edgeworth

NationalPRIDEMark Townsend sets the scene for the matchat National Golf Links of America byspeaking with GB&I captain Nigel Edwards

N Nigel Edwards we have one of thereally good guys. The Welshman willalways find time for a chat and thenintersperse it with a few laughs. Hisattention to detail is also extraordinary, in the courseof our conversation I mention a friend who will havebeen on, to put it kindly, the outer fringes ofEdwards’ England squad. He then listed where andwhen he had seen him hit balls on a practice range.“He didn’t know I was watching him, but I was.”Two years ago the four-time player played a hugepart in Great Britain & Ireland’s first win since 2003.Not many gave his side much of a chance, Edwards’belief never waivered.

“I had had a quiet look at the things people hadsaid and written, but I told the boys from the outsetthat they did not need worry about anyone else. Allthey needed to do was focus on themselves and theyare very special and they proved that. They did agreat credit for themselves and their families andtheir countries.”After a few minutes in his company anyone wouldwant to play for Edwards, something that should,hopefully, become apparent this month.

How hard was it to decide on the final team?The four selectors agreed at the European TeamChampionships on at least seven, if not eight, veryprobables on the team.The reserves will be very disappointed and I feelfor them. Greg Eason was a first-team All Americancollege player and clearly plays well over there. RyanEvans has come such a long way, last winter he was inEngland’s development squad and last summer hewon the South of England, then this year he wassecond in the St Andrews Links, won the Berkshireand Biarritz Open, tied second at the South ofEngland and won five out of six at the HomeInternationals.

You would love to have 12 players on the team.There are no Scots in the squad, obviously thereis no room for sentiment?You have to pick the best team, simple as that. WhenI took the job I said I don’t mind if we have 10 Scots,10 Irish, 10 Welsh or 10 English, as long as we getthe job done. We’re not looking for sentiment, wewant players who are performing.

How much of a boost is it to have the new USAmateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick in there?It is tremendous. Two years ago Jack Senior got tothe semi-finals and Neil Raymond was the medalistin qualifying this year and Matt Fitzpatrick’sperformance was outstanding. Having him on theteam adds a real bit of gold dust there.I didn’t know whether to ring him during the USAmateur but did and rang on the Friday night and Iknew straightaway that I had done the right thing.He had the semi-final the next day but he was verycalm and was delighted at the news. He was alwaysgoing to be in the team whether he won or lost.This year the squad didn’t meet up beforehand,

IWOLSTENHOLMEON EDWARDS

His dedication isextraordinary and he isincredibly competitive; we hadsome great matches and he isstill a brilliant player andprobably capable of still playing. Very well

organised like Peter McEvoy and, withthe R&A back up, then you have a

winning combination.

O

Editor’s comment


ON THE TEE | | | | | TOUR |

THE RACE TO GLENEAGLESQualification is now underway for the 2014 Ryder Cup. We name the 24 players who

we think will make their way on to Paul McGinley and Tom Watson’s teams

HOW QUALIFICATION

WORKS IN 2014Europen The leading four members on

the European Points List on

Sunday August 31, 2014

n The leading five members on

the World Points List

n Three captain’s picks

United States

n The leading nine players on the

qualification list


n Qualification begins on October

7 2013

Name: G McDowell

Record: W5 H2 L5

Streaky winner who will

have no problems in

making the team for a

fourth time.

Current holder

of the Volvo

Match Play.

Name: J Rose

Record: W6 H0 L3

Chances: Expect to

see Rose and Poulter

out on the first morning

of Gleneagles. Will

again be a

stalwart on the

team.

Name: S Garcia

Record: W16 H4 L8

Chances: Not the

season he would have

wanted in 2013 but he

is back on an upward

curve and

nobody loves

this week more.

Name: Ian Poulter

Record: W12 HO L3

Chances: The only

question is whether

Poulter will play four or

five matches. Mr Ryder

Cup has won

his last seven

matches.

Name: L Donald

Record: W10 H1 L4

Chances: Donald’s

form has dipped and

his Major form is yet to

happen but he will be

back soon

enough.

Superb record.

Name: M Manassero

Record: Debut

Chances: Still only 20

but has already won

four times including

this year’s PGA.

Getting longer

with every

season.

Name: L Westwood

Record: W18 H6 L13

Chances: Will be 41 at

Gleneagles but

showing no signs of

slowing down. Another

Florida winter

will prove

beneficial.

Name: R McIlroy

Record: W4 H2 L3

Chances: A year to

forget, so far, but

things will settle and he

will soon be back

winningmultiple times

next season.

Name: M Kaymer

Record: W3 H0 L2

Chances: Was the

poor relation going to

Medinah, now he is

putting together some

high finishes

and some low

scores.

Name: F Molinari

Record: W0 H2 L4

Chances: Is yet to win

a match but grabbed a

half with Tiger in 2012.

Too solid not to play his

way on and

putting is

improving.

Name: H Stenson

Record: W2 H2 L3

Chances: Will be like

having a rookie after a

six-year absence. His

worst Major finish this

year was T21.

2nd at Open,

3rd at the PGA.

Name: C Wood

Record: Debut

Chances: Always

good to roll the dice

and we like the 25-

year-old. Won in Qatar

and edging

towards world’s

top 50.

1. Name: Jason Dufner

Record: W3 H0 L1

2. Name: Tiger Woods

Record: W13 H3 L17

3. Name: Phil Mickelson

Record: W14 H6 L18

4. Name: Brandt Snedeker

Record: W1 H0 L2

5. Name: Hunter Mahan

Record: W3 H3 L2

6. Name: Matt Kuchar

Record: W3 H2 L2

7. Name: Dustin Johnson

Record: W3 H0 L3

8. Name: Keegan Bradley

Record: W3 H0 L1

9. Name: Webb Simpson

Record: W2 H0 L2

10. Name: Bubba Watson

Record: W3 H0 L5

11. Name: Zach Johnson

Record: W6 H1 L4

12. Name: Jordan Spieth

Record: Debut

TEAM AMERICA

G

NCG pp 4 Ed Comm 23/08/2013 15:03

Your essential guide to the world of golf – including competitions, quick tips, interviews and new gear

ON THE TEE


NCG pp 6-7 MOTM 23/08/2013 10:13

www.nationalclubgolfer.com | OCTOBER 2013 7

THE Major year finished asit began; with a playerfinding redemption soonafter blowing his first

opportunity to land one of thegame’s most sought-after prizes.

While it took Adam Scott justnine months to exorcise hisdemons at the Masters, JasonDufner had to wait a little longer.

At the PGA Championship of2011, the American stood on the15th tee with a four-shot lead overhis nearest challenger – the now-forgotten Anders Hansen. KeeganBradley was a further shot behind.

But Dufner found water andmade bogey, then sand off thenext tee and made bogey thenfound the green in regulation atthe 17th but still made bogey.

Bradley, meanwhile, dug deepfor two closing birdies then beathis compatriot in a play-off. Dufnerhad proved Norman-esque in hisability to locate defeat where onlyvictory seemed within grasp.

Two years on and in the leadgoing into the final round, he waspaired alongside exactly the manhe would have selected to playwith; Jim Furyk. The veteran wasnot going to intimidate him in anyrespect and, with a brittle chasingpack each with their own issues,Dufner must have known that if hecould maintain the ball strikingwhich had so impressed everyonefor three, he would have a verygood chance of landing the PGA.

Of course, he has his ownblind spot. Not the five and six-footers which dog men likeWatson, Couples and Garcia, butthe two-footers which most Tourplayers knock in almostunconsciously. Dufner deliberatesover them at such length that he isbound to miss the odd one.

But those behind him eitherfailed to mount a seriouschallenge or – in the case ofHenrik Stenson – fell away justwhen they looked to be ready topounce. With Dufner’s long gamenotably imperious, those short,short putts were struck withoutdebilitating pressure.

The result was a two-shotvictory for one of the players ontour it is easy to like.

If 2014 follows 2013’s lead, itmeans Dustin Johnson is in linefor the Masters next April...

MOMENT OF THE MONTH

NCG pp 6-7 MOTM 23/08/2013 10:13

SAUNTON (EAST)WE’D RATHER BE PLAYING...

This south west of England links is good enough to host The Open

ON THE TEE | | | | | | GRASS ROOTS

Saunton loveExpect a classiclinks experiencein Braunton


NCG pp 8-9 WRBP Saunton 23/08/2013 15:48

CONTACT DETAILSFor further information or tobook your tee time, visit sauntongolf.co.uk or call01271 812 436

Many believe that werethe R&A ever lookingfor a 10th venue onthe current Open

circuit their search should beginand end here in North Devon.With the seaside town ofBarnstaple nearby, and the M5passing within 30 miles, it is anopinion that extends far beyondthe locals whose privilege it is tobe able to choose on a Saturdaymorning which of the club’s twofabulous courses to tackle. WhileSt Enodoc, a couple of hourseven further south and west inCornwall, possesses theunpredictability and charm ofseaside golf at its best, it isSaunton that presents the kind ofhonest, relentless challengeguaranteed to identify a truechampion. Leaving aside themerits of the almost equally fineWest for a moment, it is the Eastthat is billed as Saunton’schampionship course.

THE HISTORY Although it is believed a courseexisted in Braunton Burrows in theearly 1890s, Saunton was notformed until May 1897. It wasoriginally a 9-hole course but wasextended to 12 holes by 1906 andto 18 holes in 1908. The East aswe know it today was redesignedin 1919 by Herbert Fowler, theman behind such inland gems asWalton Heath.

THE COURSEMuch like Royal Birkdale, holeshere tend to run between, ratherthan across, the dunes and blindshots – for those who believe theycarry a negative connotation – arefew and far between. And just asat Birkdale, the East is a coursethat eschews the spectacular infavour of presenting one hole afterthe other of fair and demandingcharacter. This is not a course forclifftop thrills and tee shotsdemanding carries over theocean. But what it does offer issomething courses of the abovetype so rarely can – namely themaintaining of an excellentstandard from first to last.

THE DEALGreen fees are £79 (£99 a dayduring the week and Sunday and£105 all day Saturday). £40 after4pm (£45 on a Saturday).


NCG pp 8-9 WRBP Saunton 23/08/2013 15:48

ON THE TEE | | | GEAR | | |

ALL-NEW TAYLORMADE DRIVER

TAYLORMADE SLDR DRIVERThe market leaders in drivers have taken adjustability to new levels - again

SLIDING DOORS

The SLDR features an innovativeweight slider that allows you to fine-tune your ball flight by pushing a 20-gramme weight alone a rail. One side

promotes a fade, the other a draw.

INSTANT TOUR SUCCESS

The SLDR has been put into play byJustin Rose, Martin Kaymer and LukeDonald, as well as Brandt Snedeker,who won the Canadian Open with it

for it first PGA Tour title.

NO MORE WHITE

Say goodbye to the white crown - theSLDR has a gorgeous charcoal-greyfinish that will suit traditionalists andmodern players alike. The blue and

silver colour scheme is very striking.

Key facts and figuresLOFTS: 9.5, 10.5 & 12°SHAFT: Fujikura Speeder 57(Fujikura Speeder Tour Spec6.3 on TP model)SRP: £349 (TP £399)AVAILABLE: Now

THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR GAME


NCG pp 10-11 Change Your Game 23/08/2013 10:19

THE LONGESTTAYLORMADEDRIVER EVER?Dan Murphy explains how a

centre of gravity positionchange is key to speed

TaylorMade’s new SLDR driverfeatures a weight that slides alonga rail on the sole of the club.

The SLDR (pronounced‘slider’) takes the market-leadingcompany’s Movable WeightTechnology (MWT) to new levelsand is engineered to launch theball high, fast and long.

Key to the leap in distance is alower and more forward centre ofgravity (CG) that promotes ahotter launch, low spin and fasterball speed. Similar to the impactthe “Speed Pocket” had on theperformance of the RocketBallzfairway, TaylorMade engineersbelieve SLDR’s low and forwardCG will redefine driver distance.

“Without a doubt, this is thelongest driver we have created,”said TaylorMade’s chief technicalofficer Benoit Vincent.

The SLDR features a blue, 20gweight that slides on a tracklocated on the front of the sole.Movable weight shifts theclubhead’s CG horizontally towardeither the heel, to promote a draw,or toward the toe, to promote afade. It delivers 6mm ofmovement – that’s 50 per centmore than R1 – promoting a shot-dispersion range of up to 30yards. The SLDR weight slides ona 21-point track system locatedon the sole of the club.

To position the weight in anyone of them simply loosen thescrew, slide the weight to the pointselected, then tighten the screw.Golfers can adjust for a “draw” or“fade” by sliding the weightacross the slider track into theappropriate position in as little as10 seconds.

The company believes SLDR’snew weight system is a significantleap forward in its quest toengineer a driver that offersoutstanding performance withsimple and intuitive technology.

SLDR also incorporatesTaylorMade’s Loft-sleeveTechnology, which allows thegolfer to adjust the loft easily.


PLAYER FEEDBACKON TWITTER

Some of TaylorMade’s Tourstaffers have sung the SLDR’s

praises on the socialnetworking site Twitter. Here

are some of the bestcomments.

• Justin Rose(@JustinRose99): “It’s Solid.Great acoustics and Hot Flight”

• Darren Clarke(DarrenClarke60): “It goes like adream”

• Joel Sjoholm (@SwedishTORO): “Amazed bythis new driver #musthave”

• Ken Duke(@DukePGA): “I love this driver”

NCG pp 10-11 Change Your Game 23/08/2013 10:19

ON THE TEE | ARCHIVE | | | | |


JUNE 29, 1956Sam Snead and son prepare for the Canada Cup at Wentworth

CAPTURED ON FILM

NCG pp 12-13 Captured On Film 23/08/2013 10:19


The World Cup is comfortably theWorld Golf Championship eventwith the most pedigree. It wasfounded in 1953 by Canadianindustrialist John Jay Hopkins,who hoped it would promoteinternational goodwill through golf.Back then it was known as theCanada Cup – taking its namefrom Hopkins’ nationality as wellas the fact the first two eventswere staged in that country –before evolving into the WorldCup in 1967. In its first 20 years,with tour golf still yet to resembleanything like today’s versions, itwas regarded as one of the keyevents on the golf calendar. As thecircuits in America and especiallyEurope became more organised,its status was reduced; indeed, itwas not staged in 1981 or 1986.But back in the day, all the bignames played in the Canada Cup.

Few Canada Cups attractedbigger names than the 1956version (although Jack and Arnietogether in four events in the 60s,which must have been quite somesight). Pictured is Sam Snead,practising for the event alongsidehis son Jack. He was partneredby Ben Hogan. This can safely betermed a stellar pairing, and it islittle wonder this star-studdedAmerican side triumphed, withHogan also claiming the individualaward. The runners-up were hardly also-rans though; South Africa wererepresented by Gary Player andBobby Locke.

The hay day of the Canada Cupcoincided with Snead’s final yearsas a leading player. He had wonall but won of his Majors prior toits foundation but it was to provideseveral highlights in the twilight ofhis career: ‘Slammin’ Sam’ wonthe Canada Cup four times withthree different partners (Palmerand Jimmy Demaret as well asHogan) including three in a rowfrom 1960; he won the individualaward in 1961 in Puerto Rico; andhe was runner-up twice, alongsideDemaret in 1957 in Tokyo andCary Middlecoff two years later inMelbourne – on both occasionslosing to the home side.

THE BACKGROUND

THE ACTION

SNEAD AND THE CUP

NCG pp 12-13 Captured On Film 23/08/2013 10:19

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ON THE TEE | | QUICK TIP | | | |

Analysis by GaryAlliss, pro atLadbrook Park. The‘King of the Swing’has twice captainedthe PGA Cup side. w: ladbrookparkgolf.co.uk

What the less supple can learn fromthis 44-year-old PGA Tour winner

HOW TO KEEP THECLUBFACE SQUARELIKE KEN DUKE

A QUIET ROTATIONKen has nowhere near as great anangle of separation between hisshoulders and hips at impact asother players. His shoulders aresquare to target and his hips just45˚ open (many players havecloser to a 90˚). But he’s accurate – because he maintains theconsistency of the clubface anglethrough the hitting area. There is nohinging of his left wrist, merely aquiet rotation of the forearms whichallows the clubface to remainsquare to fractionally closing.

SWING THE CLUBDuke suffered scoliosis as achild, which demanded a rod beinserted down his spine. Heworks with legendary 86-year-old coach Bob Toski and hetaught Duke to swing the cluband not lash at it. Duke is one ofa few winners to be usinggraphite-shafted irons whichhelp generate good clubheadspeed. As an older player Dukecertainly does not have theflexibility to turn through the shotas easily as younger players.

NCG pp 15 OTT Quick Tip 23/08/2013 10:20



THE RACE TO GLENEAGLESQualification is now underway for the 2014 Ryder Cup. We name the 24 players whowe think will make their way on to Paul McGinley and Tom Watson’s teams

HOW QUALIFICATIONWORKS IN 2014Europen The leading four members onthe European Points List onSunday August 31, 2014

n The leading five members onthe World Points List


United Statesn The leading nine players on thequalification list


n Qualification begins on October7 2013

Name: G McDowellRecord: W5 H2 L5Streaky winner who willhave no problems inmaking the team for afourth time. Current holderof the VolvoMatch Play.

Name: J RoseRecord: W6 H0 L3Chances: Expect tosee Rose and Poulterout on the first morningof Gleneagles. Willagain be astalwart on theteam.

Name: S GarciaRecord: W16 H4 L8Chances: Not theseason he would havewanted in 2013 but heis back on an upwardcurve andnobody lovesthis week more.

Name: Ian PoulterRecord: W12 HO L3Chances: The onlyquestion is whetherPoulter will play four orfive matches. Mr RyderCup has wonhis last sevenmatches.

Name: L DonaldRecord: W10 H1 L4Chances: Donald’sform has dipped andhis Major form is yet tohappen but he will beback soonenough.Superb record.

Name: M ManasseroRecord: DebutChances: Still only 20but has already wonfour times includingthis year’s PGA.Getting longerwith everyseason.

Name: L WestwoodRecord: W18 H6 L13Chances: Will be 41 atGleneagles butshowing no signs ofslowing down. AnotherFlorida winterwill provebeneficial.

Name: R McIlroy Record: W4 H2 L3Chances: A year toforget, so far, butthings will settle and hewill soon be backwinningmultiple timesnext season.

Name: M KaymerRecord: W3 H0 L2Chances: Was thepoor relation going toMedinah, now he isputting together somehigh finishesand some lowscores.

Name: F MolinariRecord: W0 H2 L4Chances: Is yet to wina match but grabbed ahalf with Tiger in 2012.Too solid not to play hisway on andputting isimproving.

Name: H StensonRecord: W2 H2 L3Chances: Will be likehaving a rookie after asix-year absence. Hisworst Major finish thisyear was T21.2nd at Open,3rd at the PGA.

Name: C WoodRecord: DebutChances: Alwaysgood to roll the diceand we like the 25-year-old. Won in Qatarand edgingtowards world’stop 50.

1. Name: Jason DufnerRecord: W3 H0 L1

2. Name: Tiger WoodsRecord: W13 H3 L17

3. Name: Phil MickelsonRecord: W14 H6 L18

4. Name: Brandt SnedekerRecord: W1 H0 L2

5. Name: Hunter MahanRecord: W3 H3 L2

6. Name: Matt KucharRecord: W3 H2 L2

7. Name: Dustin JohnsonRecord: W3 H0 L3

8. Name: Keegan BradleyRecord: W3 H0 L1

9. Name: Webb Simpson Record: W2 H0 L2

10. Name: Bubba WatsonRecord: W3 H0 L5

11. Name: Zach JohnsonRecord: W6 H1 L4

12. Name: Jordan SpiethRecord: Debut

TEAM AMERICA

NCG pp 16 OTT RC Gleneagles 23/08/2013 13:49

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The tournament is played acrossfour of the finest links courses onScotland’s east coast – MontroseMedal, Panmure, Monifieth Medaland the legendary CarnoustieChampionship (pictured).

Over the last decade, theCarnoustie Country Classic hasgained a reputation as one ofgolf’s friendliest amateur

tournaments, with golferstravelling to Carnoustie Countryfrom across the United Kingdom,Europe and the USA to competein the 72-hole Stablefordcompetition.

The tournament is open tomen and women (maximumhandicap of 24 for men, 36 forwomen), with daily prizes and

social events including a welcomereception, quiz evening and prizegiving dinner.

Costs start at £399 for golf andsocial events or £599 for golf,social events andaccommodation at CarnoustieGolf Hotel.

For more information visitwww.carnoustiecountry.com.

An innovative new website hasbeen launched to help golfersmake more informed decisionswhen booking a golf holiday.www.golfboo.com is a new onlinecommunity and powerful searchengine designed to connectgolfers and help them tailor aperfect golf break.

With thousands of packagesand experiences readily availableto view online, all of which areeasy to search by price, ratingand availability, this revolutionarydigital golf travel portal is a must-visit for any golf traveller.

“GolfBoo enables golfers toaccess great information relating

to their golf experience,” said co-founder Fabio Peral. “Society hasbecome accustomed to usingsearch engines for a variety ofnecessities and we believe thegolf industry is ready for a searchengine of its own,” he added.

GolfBoo will enter the first1,000 profile sign-ups into a drawto win a trip to a five-star resort.

GOLFBOO CAN HELP WITH HOLIDAYS

SIGN UP NOW FOR CARNOUSTIE COUNTRY CLASSICEnter now for next year’s Carnoustie Country Classic, which will take place over aquartet of stellar links courses in Angus from May 18 to 22.

VETERAN GOLFER MAKES 19TH ACERoyal Ashdown Forest

member Bob Deakin

scored his 19th hole-

in-one to help him win

the Sussex Veterans’

Championship at Piltdown.

Playing the 158-yard 15th, the 86-year-old found the cup with a 5 ironfrom the tee. “The ball took a hopand slowed down before hangingover the lip and, while my playingpartner turned away to get his club,it fell gently into the hole,” saidDeakin, whose first ace was in1952 at Sidcup. “On one of them,to a raised green, we couldn’t findthe ball before looking in the hole.”

NCG FASHION

FOOTJOY CONTOURCASUAL MYJOYSSRP: £140

FootJoy have added thetrainer-style spikelessContour Casual shoe to theirMyJoys programme.A whopping 1.6 milliondifferent colour and stylecombinations are available,including changing thesaddle, the accent panels onthe side, and the laces. Youcan pick from severaldifferent leather types,including shiny patent, andeven add logos and yourinitials. Log on to www.myjoys.co.uk and get designing –it’s great fun!

CHERVO MILLEN JACKETSRP: £175

The best thing about thisjacket is how quiet it isthroughout the swing whileallowing maximum flexibility.huge bonus. The aqua-blocktechnology protects you fromboth wind and rain, but thegarment is also light enoughto wear through the autumn –containing laser-techtechnology which reducesthe temperature of the directsun radiation. There is plentyof room in the pockets tokeep all manner of courseessentials to hand and thecolour is good for the currentseason.Review: James Tompkinson

NCG pp 18-19 OTT Carnoustie, ProQuip Comp 23/08/2013 10:24


WE have teamed up withweather-wear specialistsProQuip to give readers

the chance to win a completeweather-beating golf wardrobe,including a rain suit designed foruse by the 2012 European RyderCup team.

The prize includes ProQuip’sTrophy Suit, which is made fromexactly the same exclusivelydeveloped fabric technology usedby the players at Medinah.

In addition to this, the winnerwill also receive products fromProQuip’s pioneering waterrepellent knitwear range – jumpersthat can withstand 24 hours ofcontinual exposure to water, andits ultra-lightweight stretchyTourFlex Wind 360 top.

The full prize includes:n ProQuip Trophy suit (£329)n TourFlex Wind 360 top (£59)n A water repellent lined half-ziplambswool jumper (£79)n A water repellent Merino v-neckjumper (£59)n Two ProQuip performance

technical polo shirts with UVprotection and moisture wicking(£30 each)n A ProQuip performance baselayer top (£35)

Two runners-up will also receive aProQuip Aquastorm Pro rain suitworth £129. This a stylishcontemporary mid-range suit witha three-year waterproof guaranteeand an ultra-lightweight satin softfinish. Runners up will also receivea polo shirt worth £30.

Go to www.proquipgolf.comfor more on the brand’s 2013collection, which is its biggestever range.

How to enter

Entry is completely free, just headto NationalClubGolfer.com andclick on Competitions.

Simply answer a quickquestion, fill in your details (so wecan contact you if you win!) andyou’re entered.

You have until September 30 togive yourself a chance of winningthis superb prize.

TOTAL PRIZE VALUE:over £1,000!

To enter this fantasticcompetition visit

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FROM PROQUIPWith winter looming, we have over £1,000 of fantastic

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NCG pp 18-19 OTT Carnoustie, ProQuip Comp 23/08/2013 10:25



IN our April issue we teamed upwith knitwear specialists Glenbraeto offer a club team the chance towin a full set of matching jumpersand polo shirts – complete with anembroidered club crest. Thewinners were Hilton Park GolfClub in central Scotland – the clubwhere PGA Tour star Martin Lairdis an honorary member.

As a group and as individuals,the gents have represented HiltonPark in the club’s various teamswearing the new branded gear.

The most significant resultfrom this group in the season todate, has been Graham Waddell(top right), who won the HiltonPark Golf Club HandicapChampionship.

In the picture above right,Graham Waddell, Bob Balloch,(front, L-R) Stuart Baker and JohnJunor, are seen proudly holding asmall but very important trophy. Itis known as the ‘Baker Trophy’and was won last year when thegents played a team of ladies,including Graham and Stuart’swives. The gents will defend thetrophy wearing their newGlenbrae sweaters in September.

Junor said: “The team headedinto this year’s competition with

theconfidence of not only playingwell but looking even better in ourGlenbrae jumpers and poloshirts.”

GLENBRAE WINNERS RELISH NEW KNITWEAR!

EXCITINGCLIMAX TOFANTASYGOLF...Daniel Narog bagshimself a set ofcustom-fitTaylorMade driverand irons!

FULL LIST OF WINNERSWinner: Daniel Narog - TaylorMade R1driver & RocketBladez ironsRunner-up: Simon Miller -RocketBladez ironsThird place: David Hyde

Highest score in April: Victor Hundeboll

Highest score in May: Alex Johnson

Highest score in June: Ian Gaskell

Highest score in July: Yowie Roberts

Highest score in August: Gianni Vallesi

(All received R1 driver)Overall mini-league winner:

Machrihanish Blues - Adizero Tour Shoes

THE NCG Fantasy Golfseason ended indramatic style afterJason Dufner won thePGA Championship.After 26 events, thesummer Fantasy Golfwinner was Daniel Narogwith a staggering total

score of 22,096 points.Daniel has won a fullycustom-fitted set ofTaylorMadeRocketBladez irons andan R1 driver.

If you missed out onwinning this summerthen our winter

Fantasy Golf leaguestarts at the end ofOctober, with registrationopen from October 1.See next month’smagazine for moredetails.

ABOUT GLENBRAEGlenbrae are the British knitwearcompany which supplies many of thebest venues throughout the golfworld. The all-important Glenbraeyarns are spun in their Yorkshire mill,which dates back to 1907.

READER OFFER Hilton Park are so pleased with their Glenbrae jumpers thatany NCG reader can get 50 percent off green fees until October31, 2013 (subject to tee times).Quote ‘NCG/Glenbrae’ offerwhen you book.

Andrew Junorand RobbieMcKenzie aftera charity medal

FANTASY GOLF

NCG pp 20 Glenbrae & Fantasy Golf 23/08/2013 10:51

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Founded in 1892 Headingley is theoldest golf club in Leeds, and isactually set in the pretty suburb ofAdel, a few yards off the A660 fivemiles north of the centre of Leeds.

The course was laid out andshaped in the early 20th Centuryby a number of eminent architectsincluding Dr Alister MacKenzie andHarry Colt. Located in a completelyrural setting, the course enjoysmany wonderful views and boastsseveral memorable holes whichmake full use of the varied anddramatic terrain.

Well presented and never less thanchallenging. Beginning with alovely downhill par 4 from a newlyelevated tee, the real challenge atthis mature parkland and moorlandlayout is to survive a tricky openingstretch that can damage your cardbeyind repair.

Having crossed the road afterthe 3rd with its awkwardlycambered fairway, you graduallyclimb to the highest point of the 6thbefore tackling the longest hole onthe course, extended a few yearsago. Five here is a great score.

The back nine is arguably moreattractive and the closing stretch isfantastic. The pick is the downhill16th with its incredible greencomplex and the sensational par 3which follows to a putting surfaceringed by sand.

Yes, and there is a fantastic offeravailable for the month of October.To commemorate the 90thanniversary of Hagen andSarazen’s match, a fourball canplay for just £90. Simply quote‘NCG 90th’.

www.headingleygolfclub.co.uk0113 267 9573

WHERE IS IT?

MUCH HISTORY?

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HEADINGLEYThis bustling North Leeds club has recently invested in its facilities

DID YOU KNOW...

Headingley’s World Championship

In 1923, 90 years ago this year,legendary the American pair of GeneSarazen and Walter Hagen took part ina special match at Headlingley thatwas dubbed the 1st WorldChampionship of Golf. The two menwon 18 Majors between them.

Fine all-rounderThe 17th green,the 1st (belowleft) and 3rd.


NCG pp 22 The Main Course Headingley 23/08/2013 13:48



DUFNER HASWHAT IT TAKES

Two years ago Jason Dufner had onehand on the Wanamaker Trophy. He led

by four shots with as many holes to play atAtlanta before three successive bogeys anda rampaging finish by Keegan Bradley set

up a play-off that the latter won.At a largely uninspiring Oak Hill,

Dufner outlasted Jim Furyk to record athree-shot victory thanks to a final

round of 68 and a total of 270,10 under par.

TIGER STUCK ON 14Yet another Major year rolls byand, with it, Tiger Woods’quest to catch Jack Nicklausloses momentum.It certainly has not been a pooryear for the World No 1, who hasfive wins under his belt in 2013.But after failing to convert tworealistic chances at the Mastersand Open, and struggling withinjury, his Major-less streak nowspans 18 championships. At OakHill, his start was bright and hewas under par quickly. However,more putting problems saw himdrift out of contention as early asthe second round. He seemsconfident his game is in the rightplace to lead an assault in 2014,but time is starting to be againsthim chasing down Nicklaus’shaul of 18 unless a breakthroughcomes very soon.

THE RETURN OF RORY There were signs at Oak Hillthat Rory McIlroy may becoming out of his awful slump.The Northern Irishmanshowcased trademark ballstriking throughout the week andwent out in the fourth-to-finalgroup on Sunday thanks to athird-round 67. A strong start,which included a birdie at thetough 3rd hinted at a chance ofMajor number three, but a smallerror in judgement on the 5th putpay to that. A solid 9 iron into thepar 4 landed inches short ofperfection and instead spunbackwards, riding the shavedslope into water. The result was atriple-bogey seven which put himout of the running.

In full flow, his swing was asgraceful as ever, so expect bigthings towards the end of 2013.

WESTWOOD STILL CAN’TFIND HIS PUTTING TOUCHBased on ball striking alone,Lee Westwood would havewon several Majors by now. Unfortunately, there is more to thegame than that and,unfortunately, the Englishmancontinues to struggle getting theball in the hole. The former WorldNo 1, who is now ranked justinside the top 15, started the finalround at Oak Hill with yet anotherchance of Major glory but wentout in 41 (+6) after severalmissed short putts and someuncharacteristically waywarddrives and irons, presumably aresult of the frustration. He driftedinto a tie for 33rd and proceededto lash out at Twitter trolls whowere taunting him. He later apologised to both hisfans and sponsors.

HENRIK STENSON BACKINTO WORLD’S TOP 10 In early 2012, Henrik Stensonwas ranked 230th in the world. Following his fourth consecutivetop-five finish (a run that includestwo Majors and a WGC), he isnow back into the top 10 – aposition he has spent over 90weeks in since 2007. The secretto the Swede’s success seems tobe his mix of serious power andability to hole key putts.

Indeed, in the final round atOak Hill he made eagle on thelong par-5 4th that got him withinstriking distance of the leaders.However, he bogeyed the easy14th after finding a fairway divot,and dropped another at the 17th,eventually finishing three offDufner’s pace. A win surely isn’tbe far away and the Ryder Cupwill definitely be on his mind.

THINGS WE LEARNEDAT THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIPJoe Whitley reflects on the year’s final Major at Oak Hill...

FIVE

NCG pp 23 PGA Five Things 23/08/2013 10:24

ON THE TEE INTERVIEW | | | | | |

How long have you beenplaying golf and whointroduced you to the game?I started playing golf aged 5 onholiday in Portugal with my family.

How is your golf at themoment and what is yourhandicap?My handicap is +1.

Where do you play?I am a member at Sunningdale,Queenwood and Huntercombe.

You have had a busy summercommentating on tennis.Which tennis player is the bestgolfer?The best tennis player turnedgolfer is definitely Scott Draper.He got his card twice on theAustralasian Tour and won anevent shooting 64,64 on theweekend!!

Which game do you prefer toplay now, tennis or golf?!Given the choice of a game oftennis or a game of golf, now Iwould definitely choose golf!!

What are the strengths to yourgame?My favourite club is my driver. Iwould like to improve my putting.

Do you prefer inland orseaside courses and which isyour favourite course?My favourite courses would beSunningdale Old course,Kingsbarns and Pine Valley.

What was your best round ofgolf?My best round is 66 atSunningdale.

Who is your favourite player?My favourite player to watch is

Justin Rose.... probably because Ibet on him to win the US Open!Justin is a great guy so manycongratulations to him.

Who is the most well-dressedgolfer in your opinion?Adam Scott is pretty well turnedout on the course.

Why is golf such a greatgame?Golf is such a good gamebecause it’s a stationary ball andjust you and the course. One day you can hit the ball welland the next you have no ideawhere it’s going!

How do the nerves in golfcompare to your tennis playingdays?I definitely am a bit nervous whenI am on the 1st tee at the DunhillLinks in Scotland. It’s the bestgolfing week in my year.

Finally, will Europe win thenext Ryder Cup at Gleneagles?Europe are dominating the RyderCup and Paul McGinley isdefinitely going to keep the trophyat Gleneagles.

“GIVEN THE CHOICE, I WOULDDEFINITELY CHOOSE A GAME OFGOLF OVER TENNIS THESE DAYS”

DI TEAMS UP WITH LYNX“I became the ambassador for Lynxlast year and the brand is growingfrom strength to strength. We allremember Ernie Els and Fred Coupleswinning Majors with Lynx equipment,the company are building on thatheritage and are keen to remembertheir history in today’s modernmarket. The company also recognisesthe importance of the women’s Tourand is very keen to support femaleBritish golfers. Design, style andperformance are key for Lynx andtheir innovative ideas are clear to seein their new ranges.” lynxgolf.co.uk


DI MEETS... TIM HENMAN

Di chats to Tim Henman who is almost as handy with a wood as he used to be with a racket

8th at Sunningdale Old

NCG pp 24 OTT Di Meets…Tim Henman 23/08/2013 10:23

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*Boom-Boom 2 tested as 9 degree stiff by RoboGolf 11/09/2012 hitting 288.6 metres; on average 6.6 metres further than nearest competitor club. Dispersion rates equalled the lowest of other brands at 3.3.

ON THE TEE INTERVIEW | | | | | |

DOUBLE AGENTWe talk to Chris Hanson about his dual role as a Challenge Tour

player and the star of Stromberg’s catalogue

What do you think of Stromberg’s clothesand the brand’s history and heritage?They are absolutely fantastic. Stromberg been very supportive with me andit’s great to use a product that does exactlywhat it says on the tin. The brand is comfortable, it’s fashionable andit has gone from strength to strength over thelast eight years.

They introduced their funky range back in2006/07, proving they move with the timesand are one of the market leaders.

I’m from Huddersfield so it’s nice to besupported by someone local as well.

People always comment on how goodthe garments are and now Stromberg havegone into shirts and jumpers, it’s great tobe kitted out in full attire from onecompany.

What is it like to bethe showcase playerfor the Strombergcatalogue?I’ve taken a little bit ofstick over the yearsfor it, but only friendlybanter! It’s great to be ableto do it and it’scertainly an addedbonus to be able toget myself out thereand increase myreputation and mywebsite. It’s good fun andStromberg haveprovided greatsupport.

You play allover the world,so do theclothes stand up equally as wellwhen it’s freezing cold inScotland and in the swelteringDubai heat?Yeah they’re great. The new shirtsare fantastic, and you don’t have

to iron them, which is a huge bonus when you aretravelling! The new shirts are really good in the heat, muchbetter than the old style cotton shirts.

Stromberg have such a massivevariety of trousers, and are probably theonly company who have a collectionthat suits all people’s tastes and sizes,as well as all weathers.

How important is fashion to you asa professional player?The old fashioned phrase is that if youlook good and feel good then you’llplay good, and that’s probably thecase. You have to be comfortable with whatyou wear. I’m not the sort of person who is goingto go out wearing loudmouth trousersor anything bright, but with Stromberg Iget to wear whichever items I want so Ifeel comfortable when I’m playing. It gives you confidence in yourself and Ithink Stromberg is a great image tohave.

Which is harder – doing somemodelling or holing a key putt in atournament?

Modelling is definitely more tiring! When you’re not the supplest of people then standing stilland holding a pose is quite painful after about five minutes!

To see Chris modelling more of Stromberg’s latest range,log on to www.stromberggolf.com

STROMBERG’S HERITAGEDrawing on a wealth of experience in thetextile industry, Stromberg is a companywhich prides itself on producing thehighest quality goods. Based in the heartof Yorkshire, the company produces alltheir goods in Europe using locallysourced fabrics. Stromberg began as aclothing manufacturer in 1977 andsupplied textile goods to many leadingbrands. In the late 1990s they started toproduce their own golf range, applyingknowledge and experience to produce atrouser range which offered style,comfort and performance to players.

One of the unique aspects ofStromberg’s products is that they offer atrue fit, meaning that the productsaccurately represent the size that thelabel states. With many high streetshops offering sizes that do not reflectthe measurements that a tape measurewould give, Stromberg’s true fit sizingmeans you have complete fitting claritywhen making a purchase.

The Challenge Tour star sporting a striking pair of red Strombergs

NCG pp 26 OTT Stromberg 23/08/2013 13:46



DID YOU KNOW?The last Englishman to win the USAmateur trophy was Harold Hilton

back in 1911. Hilton was a four-timeBritish Amateur champion who had wonthe Open twice before his US Amateur

victory at The Apawamis Club, NewYork. This year’s US Amateur was also

the first in the tournament’s historynot to have a US player in the

final.

HISTORIC VICTORY FORHALLAMSHIRE’S FINESTSheffield’s Matthew Fitzpatrickbecame the first Englishman inover 100 years to win the USAmateur Championship after astunning performance atBrookline.The 18-year-old beat AustralianOliver Goss in the 36-hole finaland joins an illustrious list ofwinners which includes TigerWoods, Phil Micklelson, MattKuchar and Jack Nicklaus.The victory means that Fitzpatrick,who finished as the leadingamateur at Muirfield, will now playin the Masters, Open and USOpen next year. “It's absolutely amazing. I can'treally describe how I'm feeling.That's sort of what everyone wantsin golf, wants to achieve, and niceto go down in the history books.”

ENGLAND WIN HOMEINTERNATIONALSEngland secured acomprehensive win in theHome Internationals at Ganton,remaining unbeatenthroughout the tournament. After an opening day win againstthe Irish, Terry Casey's teamproduced an excellent comebackagainst Wales on day two, winningthe singles matches 9-1 afterfalling behind in the morningfoursomes games.After another tense morning onthe final day against Scotland, bigwins from Ben Stow and PaulHoward helped the home side toa 9-6 singles win which securedthe trophy.Ireland ended in second place,Scotland finished third and Walesended the event in last place afterfailing to record a win.

SHINKWIN WINSENGLISH AMATEURCallum Shinkwin is the newEnglish Amateur championafter he secured a 4&3 victoryover new US Amateurchampion Matthew Fitzpatrickin the 36-hole matchplay finalat Frilford Heath.The Moor Park player became thefirst Hertfordshire player to win thetournament since Sir Nick Faldo’svictory in 1975.Shinkwin began the final with ablistering round of 68 to open up athree-shot advantage heading intothe final afternoon, and confirmedvictory on the 32nd hole.“This win means a lot because itmeans my name is therealongside some famous ones,”said Shinkwin. “I played so well in the morningwith a bogey-free 68.”

SUCCESS FORCULVERWELL AND BUSH Dunbar’s Alex Culverwell wonthe Scottish AmateurChampionship at Blairgowrie,and Merthyr’s Jack Bushclinched the Welsh Amateurtitle at Ashburnham.Culverwell beat James White 2&1in the 36-hole final over animmaculately presentedLandsdowne course, and joins animpressive set of championswhich includes Stephen Gallacherand Colin Montgomerie. “I’m ecstatic, I didn’t expect to dothis at the start of the week but Iknew I could potentially do it.Meanwhile Bush secured animpressive 9&8 win over USbased student Mike Hearnehaving knocked out formerchampion Ben Westgate in thesemi-finals.

ENGLAND’S MATTFITZPATRICK LANDSTHE US AMATEURJames Tompkinson rounds up the action

NCG pp 27 Amateur Five Things 23/08/2013 10:21


HE first time I watched a WalkerCup was as an excited 13-year-oldwhen my father took me to the lastday of the 1971 match over the

Old Course at St Andrews.I had been looking forward to watching the

likes of Hugh Stuart, Warren Humphreys,Charlie Green, Roddy Carr, GeorgeMacGregor and David Marsh for weeks but,little did I know, that all six of those GreatBritain & Ireland players were to win on thatfateful final afternoon.

And that Marsh was to hit one of the finestshots I have seen to this day.

That shot came on the Old Course’sinfamous 17th Road Hole and it was all-the-more memorable because Marsh executed it ata crucial moment in a match in which GB&Iwere about to win for only the second time innearly 50 years.

Marsh was playing in the penultimatesingles against the formidable Bill Hyndman IIIand by the time he reached the 17th he knewthat if he could beat his opponent he wouldsecure GB&I’s first victory since the 1938match over the same course.

His drive was solid but nowhere near asmemorable as a sublime 3-iron second shotwhich soared through the air and came to restno more than 15 feet from the hole.

That set up a winning par 4 and 10 minuteslater he halved the 18th to confirm a hithertoalmost unimaginable 13-11 scoreline in favourof the home side.

GB&I’s surprise victory led to wildcelebrations within the Home of Golf but,unfortunately for British supporters, it did notsignal the advent of a new era of parity betweenthe two sides.

The victory came after a run of 12 straightAmerican successes and there would be afurther eight more straight after the upset of1971.

Two years later the US team gained revengewhen it won at Brookline and then in 1975,arguably the strongest side the US has everassembled, claimed a 15 ½ - 8 ½ victory, againback at the Home of Golf.

I was fortunate enough also to be at StAndrews for that match and it was obvious evento a largely inexperienced 17-year-old that theUS squad was something special.

It included Jerry Pate, Craig Stadler andCurtis Strange who would all go on to winMajor titles; future PGA Tour winners in theshape of George Burns, Jay Haas and GaryKoch; plus career amateurs Vinnie Giles, DickSiderowf and Bill Campbell all of whom woneither the British or American amateur titles.There was also the diminutive John Grace.

He was a largely unheralded figure but hewon both his singles during that match andreturned across the Atlantic many years later tobecome a popular winner on the Senior Tour.

Most of my earliest Walker Cup memoriesinvolve US victories. Some, like the 1983match at Hoylake, were relatively close butothers, most memorably the 16 ½ - 7 ½ defeatat Sunningdale in 1987 and the 19-5 trouncingat Interlachen in 1993, were embarrassinglylop-sided and resulted in a media clamour toextend the GB&I team to include the topcontinental players.

I was one of those writers who led the callfor change but, fortunately, such a move wasresisted and then, in relatively quick successionGB&I won at Royal Porthcawl, Nairn, OceanForest and Ganton.

The Americans battled back with victoriesof their own at Chicago, Royal County Downand Merion but, just when it seemed the badold days of the Walkover Cup were re-emerging, Nigel Edwards’ team defied the oddsto win at Royal Aberdeen in 2011 and set up ahumdinger of a match back at the NationalGolf Links of America, where the inauguralWalker Cup was staged in 1922.

I would not be foolish enough to predictwhat the outcome might be when the teamsreturn to Southampton, New York, this monthbut what I can forecast is that the match will beclose.

Two points or less have separated the sidesin four out of five of the most recent matchesand there is no reason to doubt that it will beany different this time round.

COLIN CALLANDERThe Walker Cup began for me at the Old Course in 1971

• Colin Callander is a former editor of Golf Monthly

and this year celebrates his 30th anniversary

working as a golf writer

TClass of 71

GB&I'swinning teamat St Andrews

‘What I can forecastis that this year’smatch will be close’

NCG pp 28 Columnist CC 23/08/2013 10:20

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NCG provides an insightful & trustworthy guide to allaspects of the game. Which equipment to purchase |Where to play in the UK or abroad | Tips, methods &

gadgets to improve your game | Who to back in thenext Major | Analysis & discussion of the issues thatmatter at golf clubs like yours...

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OPEN YOUR EYES TO LUMINELUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community has made an instant impression on golf travellers thanks to its attractive proposition of 45-holes of championship golf, 27 of which are designed by Greg Norman, abundance of first-class leisure facilities, wealth of accommodation options, sumptuous local cuisine and traditional Spanish hospitality. Located just one hour south of Barcelona on Spain’s stunning Costa Dorada, this golfi ng haven is within easy reach of two international airports and promises visitors a truly authentic experience.

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THE 2013WALKER

CUPIN OUR PREVIEW34 Setting the scene

38 Meet Team GB&I’s

40 USA’s Max Homa

48 The class of 2001

Your ultimate guide to theshowpiece of the amateur game

NCG pp 33 Lead to Walker Cup 23/08/2013 10:19

WALKER CUP PREVIEW

Image courtesy of Tony Edgeworth

NationalPRIDEMark Townsend sets the scene for the matchat National Golf Links of America byspeaking with GB&I captain Nigel Edwards

NCG pp 34-36 WC Scenesetter 23/08/2013 13:44

N Nigel Edwards we have one of thereally good guys. The Welshman willalways find time for a chat and thenintersperse it with a few laughs. His

attention to detail is also extraordinary, in the courseof our conversation I mention a friend who will havebeen on, to put it kindly, the outer fringes ofEdwards’ England squad. He then listed where andwhen he had seen him hit balls on a practice range.

“He didn’t know I was watching him, but I was.”

Two years ago the four-time player played a hugepart in Great Britain & Ireland’s first win since 2003.Not many gave his side much of a chance, Edwards’belief never waivered.

“I had had a quiet look at the things people hadsaid and written, but I told the boys from the outsetthat they did not need worry about anyone else. Allthey needed to do was focus on themselves and theyare very special and they proved that. They did agreat credit for themselves and their families andtheir countries.”

After a few minutes in his company anyone wouldwant to play for Edwards, something that should,hopefully, become apparent this month.

How hard was it to decide on the final team?The four selectors agreed at the European TeamChampionships on at least seven, if not eight, veryprobables on the team.

The reserves will be very disappointed and I feelfor them. Greg Eason was a first-team All Americancollege player and clearly plays well over there. RyanEvans has come such a long way, last winter he was inEngland’s development squad and last summer hewon the South of England, then this year he wassecond in the St Andrews Links, won the Berkshireand Biarritz Open, tied second at the South ofEngland and won five out of six at the HomeInternationals.

You would love to have 12 players on the team.

There are no Scots in the squad, obviously thereis no room for sentiment?You have to pick the best team, simple as that. WhenI took the job I said I don’t mind if we have 10 Scots,10 Irish, 10 Welsh or 10 English, as long as we getthe job done. We’re not looking for sentiment, wewant players who are performing.

How much of a boost is it to have the new USAmateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick in there?It is tremendous. Two years ago Jack Senior got tothe semi-finals and Neil Raymond was the medalistin qualifying this year and Matt Fitzpatrick’sperformance was outstanding. Having him on theteam adds a real bit of gold dust there.

I didn’t know whether to ring him during the USAmateur but did and rang on the Friday night and Iknew straightaway that I had done the right thing.He had the semi-final the next day but he was verycalm and was delighted at the news. He was alwaysgoing to be in the team whether he won or lost.

This year the squad didn’t meet up beforehand,

IWOLSTENHOLMEON EDWARDSHis dedication isextraordinary and he isincredibly competitive; we hadsome great matches and he isstill a brilliant player andprobably capable of still playing. Very wellorganised like Peter McEvoy and, withthe R&A back up, then you have awinning combination.

➤



how has that affected yourpreparations?Basically all the players were allover the place with tournaments.We did think about taking them toAmerica but the only free weekwas Open Championship week.

We’ll go on August 29 and we’llbe having a special few days aswe’re going to Pine Valley,Bayonne in New York Harbourand also Shinnecock before gettingto the National Links.

What particular events do youpay close attention to?All the major British amateurevents so that’s the LythamTrophy, all the national amateurtitles, St Andrews Links, BritishAmateur, European TeamChampionships, the Europeanindividual, the US Amateur andfinally the Home Internationals.

You are also looking at the StAndrews Trophy team from lastyear and the other events from lastyear and you’re looking for playerswith great attitudes and great shortgames. And those who, when theyget the chance, can win.

In all team events everyonetalks about holing putts as beingthe key, will you be focusing onthis particularly?I can’t stress enough how muchattention we’ll pay to the shortgame and the greens there will be

that much quicker. A lot of ourplayers will have played in the USAmateur so that will help.

Have you got an idea in yourhead about pairings?You are looking for partnershipsthat have worked well before andplayers who get on well together.In 2011 Rhys Pugh ended up withJames Byrne and they are verydifferent characters and thatworked really well so it’s not ascience. I will ask all the playerswho they might not want to playwith and that will go no further. A lot of them say I don’t mind butyou try and squeeze a bit more outof them.

You played on four Walker Cupteams and are a career amateur.Will you make sure your playersare all aware of the great historyof this event?It’s very important to get over theprofile and history of thecompetition. You saw last timehow many hours the last matcheshad on the BBC and it’s a greatopportunity for them to be part ofthe history.

The Walker Cup is a greatevent; look at the 2011 matcheswhere the Americans had HarrisonEnglish, Russell Henley andJordan Spieth and they have allnow won on the PGA Tour.

The players need to understand

and respect the competition, andthey do, and they understand it’sbeing a part of a winning team.

How easy is it to go from beinga player to being the captain?I haven’t got to hit a shot! My roleis to help create an atmosphere toget the most out of the players. Itis very easy to get caught up inwhat is going on as it is sodifferent to any other week.

I feel like I’ve got a closeenough relationship with theplayers without being too close as,ultimately, I’ve got to pick a team.For the first three parts of thematch two players will be rested so

you have to manage that and thedifferent personalities.

How tough is that?I try and let them know that thereare some things that they need tobuy into and that any decision hasbeen made for the benefit of theteam. It was difficult not to pickRhys Pugh and James Byrne forthe first series of foursomes inAberdeen and they proved whythat was but they always gotbehind the team. If they’re not ateam then we won’t win.

The ideal is to get everyone outon the first day, players haven’t goton the team to sit on the sidelines.

What do you know of thecourse and the opposition?It is a second-shot course, thegreens are slopey and quick soapproach shots need to be veryaccurate. It is not a massively longcourse and there should be plentyof birdies.

It didn’t play like a links when Iwas there but I suspect the greenswill be firm and it’s a great venue.

We can’t control what theAmericans are doing and, if welook after ourselves, then we’ll bejust fine out there. It will be a hugechallenge but we have the makingsof an excellent team. It was greatthat England and Scotland were inthe final of the European Teamchampionships.

2011 STARS ONEDWARDSJack Senior: The preparationwas unbelievable. He justmakes you feel so special,and makes you want to goout there and win for him.That’s how it makes you feel.You don’t want to go outthere and win for yourself,you want to go out and winfor your team. It’s anunbelievable experience.Michael Stewart: We havethe respect for Nigel, he’splayed in this event and he’sdone so well. We hang onevery word he says really.The motivation in the teamroom was great. It was just apleasure playing with him asa captain.



WALKER CUP PREVIEW

MeetTeam GB&IOur captain Nigel Edwards on the men charged with retaining the cup

MATTHEW FITZPATRICKCLUB: HALLAMSHIRE

AGE: 18HIGHLIGHT: 2013 US AMATEUR

CHAMPION

Fitzpatrick won the Silver Medal asthe leading amateur at the OpenChampionship at Muirfield andbecame the first Englishman since1911 to win the US AmateurChampionship with a 4&3 victoryover Australian Oliver Goss in the 36-hole final.

The 2012 Boys Amateur champion reached the final of theEnglish Amateur where he lost to fellow Walker Cup team-mateCallum Shinkwin.

Fitzpatrick will play collegiate golf at Northwestern Universityin Chicago from September.

CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Matt is really composed and is a great putter. Hewill bring a lot to the team room in his own quiet way and I’m surethe confidence he has gained this summer will resonate throughoutthe entire team. Very calm and focused.

NEIL RAYMONDCLUB: CORHAMPTON

AGE: 27HIGHLIGHT: 2013 ST ANDREWS

LINKS TROPHY CHAMPION

Raymond held off Walker Cup team-mates Nathan Kimsey and Max Orrinat St Andrews in June, adding theLinks Trophy to the back-to-backBrabazon titles he won in 2011 and2012.

He missed out on the squad lasttime around and at 27 is the oldestmember of the team by a fair margin.

Raymond burst onto the international amateur scene at a laterage than many of the other squad members.

CAPTAIN’S NOTE: He has been desperate to get on this team and haswon two Brabazons and then the St Andrews Links Trophy this year.He proved his matchplay pedigree by reaching the quarters of theAustralian Amateur, the final of the Spanish and the quarters of theUS Amateur. He has a lot of credentials, is a great man in foursomesand a lovely chipper. A solid guy and good lad.

GARRICK PORTEOUSCLUB: BAMBURGH CASTLE

AGE: 23HIGHLIGHT: 2013 BRITISH AMATEUR

CHAMPION

Porteous won the AmateurChampionship at Royal Cinque Ports,Deal in June and secured a place inthe Open Championship at Muirfield,a place in next year’s US Open atPinehurst and the traditionalinvitation to the Masters.

He also won the Scottish StrokePlay Championship at Southerness and was runner-up in theWelsh Amateur Stroke Play.

CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Garrick has really improved his putting this yearand made a big effort over the winter with Graham Walker andPhil Kenyon on his short game which paid off with wins in theAmateur Championship and Scottish Stroke Play. He is a good ballstriker and long off the tee and was another member of the winningteam at the Europeans. Quite a quiet guy and goes about things inhis own way. He is also a talented photographer and artist.

CALLUM SHINKWINCLUB: MOOR PARK

AGE: 20HIGHLIGHT: 2013 ENGLISH AMATEUR

CHAMPION

Shinkwin beat GB&I team-mate andnewly crowned US Amateurchampion Matthew Fitzpatrick in the36-hole final to win the EnglishAmateur in August.

He was a member of the winningEnglish team in both the EuropeanTeam Championships and the Home Internationals.

The Hertfordshire player also beat players from around theworld to win in Columbia at the start of the year.

CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Probably the most explosive player on the team,Callum has that gold dust spark. He won the South AmericanAmateur in January and he has continued that great form with avictory in the English Amateur at Frilford Heath. He hits a lot ofgreat shots that most could only dream of, plays with a smile on hisface, is very positive and a great character.

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NCG pp 38-39 WC Team GB&I 23/08/2013 13:42


GAVIN MOYNIHANCLUB: THE ISLAND

(IRELAND)AGE: 18HIGHLIGHT: 2012IRISH STROKEPLAY

WINNER

CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Ihave known Gavin fora number of years andhe is a greatcompetitor and match player. He won the IrishStrokeplay last year and then lost in a play-offthis year. Has been finishing exams but has hada couple of good weeks since at the EuropeanAmateur in Barcelona and the HomeInternationals where he won all his singles. Agood putter and solid team member.

MAX ORRINCLUB: NORTH

FORELAND

AGE: 19HIGHLIGHT: 2013BRITISH AMATEUR

SEMI-FINALIST

CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Ican’t sing his praisesenough, he has reallycome of age this yearreaching the semi-finals of both the EnglishAmateur Championship and the BritishAmateur Championship. Max qualified into the matchplay stages of theUS Amateur and has generally, along withNathan Kimsey, been very consistentthroughout the season.

KEVIN PHELANCLUB: WATERFORD

CASTLE (IRELAND)AGE: 22HIGHLIGHT: PLAYED

IN TWO US OPENS

CAPTAIN’S NOTE:Kevin has been on thescene since 2010 andhas already played intwo US Openchampionships. He has won the on the UScollege circuit this year and is inside the top 10on the NCAAs. Kevin is another good putterand will be a great guy to have on the team. Heknows the National Golf Links well as he has afriend up at Long Island. A solid performerunder pressure.

RHYS PUGHCLUB: PONTYPRIDD

AGE: 19HIGHLIGHT: WON ALL

THREE MATCHES AT

2011 WALKER CUP

CAPTAIN’S NOTE:Dependable andknows how to win,which he has donefrom a very young ageby winning men’s events at the age of 13. Rhyshas won some big events and will be the onlyplayer from the winning team in Aberdeenwhere he won all three of his matches. Heplayed for Wales when he was 15 with his first-ever partner in the Home Internatioanls – abloke called Nigel Edwards!

JORDAN SMITHCLUB: BOWOOD

AGE: 20HIGHLIGHT: WINNER

OF THE 2013BRABAZON TROPHY

CAPTAIN’S NOTE:Jordan is a verydependable lad whofirst got into theEnglish team last yearafter reaching the semis of the English Amateurat Silloth-on-Solway. Won four out of fourmatches playing for England against Spain andtopped then off with the Brabazon Trophysuccess at Formby. He also has a good record in both foursomesand singles.

NATHAN KIMSEYCLUB: WOODHALL

SPA

AGE: 20HIGHLIGHT: RUNNER

UP IN ST ANDREWS

LINKS TROPHY

CAPTAIN’S NOTE:Nathan has reallystepped up thissummer and is a realhard worker. He will be a very strong part ofthe team and was great at the European TeamChampionships. There has barely been atournament this year where he hasn’tperformed. He has won in America so knowshow to get over the line as well as being veryconsistent.

Coltart has littlesympathy for Scots

FOR the first time since 1949,there will be no Scottish playersin the Great Britain and IrelandWalker Cup team.

The 2013 squadis only the secondin the history ofthe event not tocontain a singleScot, and formerRyder and Walker Cup playerAndrew Coltart (pictured) hadlittle sympathy with theomitted players.

In an interview with TheScotsman, Coltart questionedthe application levels shown bythe top Scottish amateurs.

“Glimpses of a quality golferisn’t enough to meritselection,” said Coltart.

“Sadly, a lot of greatopportunities have beenignored and things taken forgranted. Instead of looking forexcuses, they should be lookingin the mirror. Being aprofessional golfer takes a lot ofhard work and dedication.There are many who don’tmake it. So, it didn’t surpriseme that Scotland didn’t haveanyone picked on this team,”he added.

“Some don’t take notes intheir yardage books when theyplay practice or competitiverounds. I find this bizarre,inexcusable even!

“What is it about some ofthese amateurs that they thinkthey can get away withoutdoing these basics? Are theythat good? The answer seemssimple I’m afraid.”

Only one Scottish player,James Ross, ended the seasoninside the top 100 of the WorldAmateur Golf Rankings, with afurther four placed inside thetop 200. Comparatively,England have 16 players insidethe top 100, nine of whichfailed to make the Walker Cupsquad, and Ireland have fourplayers rated higher than Ross.

So, there are currently 20GB&I players rated higherthan the highest-rankedScotsman.

NCG pp 38-39 WC Team GB&I 23/08/2013 13:42


WALKER CUP PREVIEW

AX HOMA is no stranger to the feeling ofdisappointment on a golf course. Yet once the recentCal-Berkley grad got a taste of the winner’s circle, hisappetite for eminence has become insatiable.

In early May of this year, Homaearned his first outright collegiatevictory with a dominating, wire-to-wire win at the Pac-12 ConferenceChampionships in which heopened with a course-record 61 atLos Angeles Country Club beforeoutlasting the field by five shots.

Four weeks later, Homa wouldclaim individual medalist honors atthe stroke play NCAA Division-IChampionships with a three-shotedge over six runners-up at theCapitol City Club outside ofAtlanta. The following week,Homa emerged from a two-hole

play-off at US Open sectionalqualifying in Southern Californiato punch a ticket to the US OpenChampionship at Merion.

And though Homa wouldfollow an opening-round 73 with aFriday 78 that found him missingthe Open cut line by three shots,the 22-year-old was nonethelessable to hang a cap on outscoringthe likes of Keegan Bradley,Graeme McDowell, Jordan Spieth,Angel Cabrera and Jim Furyk.

“Winning that firsttournament, the Pac-12Championship, just gave me that

HOMA’SODYSSEY

American writer Judd Spicer offers an insight intothe youngster he expects to shine for Team USA

M

THREEOTHERAMERICANSTO LOOKOUT FOR...One has a famoussurname, another hasbags of tour experienceand the final hot-shot isout for revenge.

MICHAEL KIMHoma’s former Calteam-mate authored asterling sophomoreseason with fourindividual titles and aslew of awards thatincluded theGolfweek/SagarinPlayer of the Year, theJack Nicklaus Awardas top player in NCAADivision-I golf and theFred Haskins Award asnational collegiateplayer of the year. Atthe US Open, Kim waslow amateur by fiveshots, eventuallyearning a tie for 17th.

JUSTINTHOMASTwo months afterleading Alabama to theD-I title (a leadingevent on the collegegolf circuit), Thomasannounced hisintention to turnprofessional followingthe Walker Cup. Thedecision seems aptconsidering thatThomas has alreadyappeared in four PGATour events, makingthree cuts. At the PGATour’s TravelersChampionship in June,he finished T-30.

THE VIEW FROM AMERICA

NCG pp 40-41 WC Max Homa 23/08/2013 15:17


bit of confidence I didn’t havebefore,” Homa said in late Julywhile prepping for an appearanceamong a cache of collegiate All-Americans at the Web.com Tour’sMylan Classic.

“My head is in a good spot.I’ve started to feel verycomfortable in regard to outcomesand calmer about my finishes. Iknew I could win out there. I’dracked-up something like 10 or 12second-place finishes in college.But never getting that [outright]win . . . it’s not like it haunted me,but it bugged me. It started tobecome a weight on my back.Now, I just feel freed-up.”

The lure of off-course greenaccompanied Homa’s spring andsummer sizzle, with opportunitiesfor professional exemptions atPGA Tour events such as theFedEx St Jude Classic, theTravelers Championship and theRBC Canadian Open.

“Obviously, the money thatpresents itself is a bonus and youcan kinda start making moneyquick, but I don’t think that wasfor me at the time,” said Homa.

The reward for staving offtemptation and remaining agentleman amateur was validatedin mid July when Homa was one offive players initially named to theAmerican team for the 44thplaying of the Walker Cup matchat the National Golf Links ofAmerica.

With plans to turn pro directly

after the Walker, the opportunityfor one last amateur salvo was toomuch to walk away from.

“It was really a tough decision,”Homa added of passing on thetour exemptions.

“But making the Walker Cupteam in our country with so manygood golfers, I just didn’t want toturn down the challenge and theopportunity to make this team.

“Looking back, it’s probablyone of the better decisions I’veever made.”

Now seeking to segue hissummer sizzle into an autumn fallof the Cup-holding Great Britain

& Ireland squad, Homa is able toemploy the lessons of his recentrun to further his confidenceheading to the Walker battlegrounds for the Septembershowdown.

“The first couple of days at the(US) Open were reallyintimidating, but looking back onit now, that was the biggest thing Ihad to get over,” Homa detailed.

“But if people had told me thatone over would have won theevent, I probably would’ve done alot better; at least told you that Icould’ve shot one over.

“But you get so nervous and it’s

scary to think that you’re going totry to beat your idols. Now,looking back, it was kinda silly ofme to focus on who I was playingwith instead of the course.

“But I think that’s what thesetting did. There’s just a lot goingon that week and you just have tofocus on the golf.

“What I learned, mostly, is thatI can play out there.”

With introductory practicerounds at the National Golf Linksplayed in early August, Homaadmits that the windy, links-stylegrounds may serve as comfort turfto the visitors.

“I’m sure it might make themfeel at home, or at ease, but I knowthat we’ve all had our experienceswith links-style golf,” he said.

“So it should be good. It shouldlevel everything out nicely for bothsides.”

Ultimately, Homa aims to helpinfluence said level toward anAmerican side that hasn’t lost aCup on domestic soil since 2001.

“I’d love to be on a team thatre-acquires the Cup,” heconcluded. “I think that just addsa bigger bonus to it.

“What gets me going is gettingto represent the Red, White andBlue. To wear the colors; I don’tthink it’s something that happensto a lot of people.

“And it’s something I’mextremely proud of – that’s thebiggest thing for me, that’s whatexcites me the most.”

Image courtesyof the USGA

PATRICKRODGERSPart of America’slosing 2011 WalkerCup squad, Rodgerswill be driven toreadily improve on his0-2-1 showing twoyears ago. A five-timeindividual medalist inhis two seasons atStanford (Tiger Woodsand Michelle Wie’salma mater), thejunior-to-be claimed aT-15 finish at theTour’s John DeereClassic in mid-July. Ahighly regardedprospect.

THE AMERICAN VERDICTTo conclude his lowdown on what Team USA will offer at National Links, our

American correspondent Judd Spicer considers all the factors and offers his

conclusion on where the 2013 Walker Cup match will be decided...

Revisiting the National GolfLinks of America for thefirst time since the WalkerCup’s inaugural match in1922 is significant for

everyone associated with this latestinstalment in the history of the event.

And it will prove too steep amountain of history for even a talentedcollection of visitors to climb.

Although the GB&I team should nodoubt be well-served by the links-style

layout, a battle-tested US bunch hasenough experience on such stages toreclaim the Cup in what will prove a tautmatch to the end.

Bobby Jones, Francis Ouimet, ChickEvans and Robert Gardner were all partof an American team that handled thevisitors 8 to 4 back in ‘22, and theirluminary spirits will oversee a closevictory by the hosts. Spicer’s prediction:

America 14-12 GB&I

NCG pp 40-41 WC Max Homa 23/08/2013 15:17


THEGREATESTMATCHDan Murphy recalls the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down when a hostof now household names introduced themselves to the golfing world

WALKER CUP PREVIEW

NCG pp 42-45 WC The Greatest Match 23/08/2013 13:34

HERE are noguarantees thatplaying in the WalkerCup will lead to a

successful professional career. Yetit remains the case that even in thisage of the best young playersconsidering the Walker Cup as astepping stone rather than the finaldestination that almost all the bestBritish, Irish and American playersplay in the amateur game'sshowpiece before joining the paidranks.

And for the best possibleexample, you only need to look atthe cast list from the 2007 WalkerCup at magnificent Royal CountyDown in Northern Ireland.

The match finished in a narrowAmerican victory but moreintriguingly a series of sub-plotsbegun as a host of soon-to-beworld-class young players madetheir first acquaintances with eachother.

In summary, since thatmemorable early-September

weekend six years ago, two of theplayers have gone on to becomeMajor champions while a furthernine have won titles on either thePGA or European Tours.

Four have already gone on toplay in the Ryder Cup with morelikely to follow them in the yearsahead.

Then, as now, the star was RoryMcIlroy, aged 17 and playing inwhat was effectively his own backgarden.

Irish crowds of 10,000 per daymarched the fairways and the vastmajority made a beeline for thelocal teenager with the world at hisfeet.

Yet what the spectators thatweek did not know was just howmuch talent there was on theAmerican team.

One of the most fascinatingaspects of spectating at a WalkerCup is trying to work out which ofthe players on view will go on togreat things. It is not always asobvious as you might think.

The word on the streetsurrounding this American teamwhen they arrived in Ireland, ➤

T

“The star then, asnow, was homehero McIlroy”



WALKER CUP PREVIEW

1

76

543

2

1 Can you spot Dustin and Rickie?2 Rickie and Colt Knost celebrate3 Rhys Davies and Lloyd Saltman4 David Horsey and John Parry5 Danny Willett holes a putt6 Webb Simpson with the trophy7 Royal County Down bites back



believe it or not, was that it waslacking in star quality. Howerroneous that assessment hasproved to be.

The team contained the likes ofthe 2012 US Open championWebb Simpson, but he was onlyable to take half a point from histhree games and was twice beatenin singles on the final green byCheshire’s David Horsey.

Dustin Johnson, then littleknown, was tanked 5&4 in the firstday's singles by the impressiveRhys Davies – though he did atleast win one and halve the otherof his two foursomes alongsideColt Knost, the team's mostcelebrated player at the time.

Johnson, who has gone on toplay on two Ryder Cups andcontend in several Majors, wasbenched for the final series offoursomes.

It was a much happier weekendfor two more PGA Tour stars ofthe future, Rickie Fowler and BillyHorschel, who teamed up foremphatic foursomes wins againstfirst Davies and Lloyd Saltman,then the the prize scalp of McIlroyand his countryman JonathanCaldwell.

McIlroy was also beaten byHorschel in a tight singles gameon the Saturday afternoon. So bylunchtime on the second and finalday, the home hero was visiblyriled, complaining about perceivedgamesmanship and Horschel'sirritating habit of running ahead ofhim.

If the Holywood hero had untilthat point given the impression oftreating the weekend as the samekind of exhibition he memorablyclaimed the Ryder Cup to beahead of his debut at CelticManor, his mood changedmarkedly.

Wouldn't you just know thatthe two were matched up for athird time in the Sunday singles inthe top match.

Finally, McIlroy had somerevenge, in the shape of a 4&2triumph. Yet his record of one winand a half from four games washardly what captain ColinDalgleish was hoping for from hisstar man.

In two Ryder Cups to date,McIlroy's record is no better thanordinary (W4 H2 L3) and youwonder if a trend was set before he

even turned pro.Nor was it the kind of week the

team's other star name had hopedfor.

Lloyd Saltman had finishedeven higher in the 2005 Open, atSt Andrews (T-15th), than McIlroydid at Carnoustie earlier in 2007(T-42nd). But the Scot played sopoorly on the first day that he wasomitted from the Sundayfoursomes.

The Americans actuallyoutplayed a very talented homeside in three of the four series andthe eventual final scoreline wascloser than it probably ought tohave been.

Much of GB&I's play up untilthe final singles session wasuninspired. Only Danny Willettbroke par in the Saturday singles –and even that was not goodenough to win his game.

The Americans may have been

flattered by their 4-0 whitewash inthe Sunday foursomes but not bythe overall 10-6 lead thataccurately reflected theirsuperiority to that point.

Then came a brave fightback,and a level of play unrecognisablefrom the day before. Cumulatively,GB&I were an estimated 27 overpar in the Saturday singles.

On Sunday they were twounder.

Leading the way was Wales’Davies. Playing in his secondWalker Cup, the then 24-year-oldhad just graduated from EastTennessee State University andhad clearly benefitted from histime in the States. He was the onehome player who looked to havethe beating of every singleAmerican opponent.

Two one-sided singles gamesillustrated that and when he shookhands with Fowler, to that point

boasting three wins from threegames, on the 16th green, his backnine scorecard read: 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4,3.

Davies began his professionalcareer in some style and cameclose to making ColinMontgomerie’s side in his homecountry in 2010.

His form has dipped since thenbut he remains a joy to watch withhis old-fashioned putter.

England's David Horsey wonthree of his four games to beGB&I's top points scorer whilemuch credit was also due to thewhole-hearted Daniel Willett, whowas nowhere near making the sideat the start of the season.

Unlucky enough to draw theredoubtable Knost, reigning USAmateur champion, in the singlesboth days, the then teenager wasundaunted, taking his illustriousopponent down the 18th onSaturday and securing a half 24hours later despite being expectedbefore the match to be little morethan a bit-part player.

Despite such heroics – formerplayer, captain and chairman ofselectors Peter McEvoy declaredhe had "never seen such nakedcourage on a golf course" – thetruth is that GB&I had simply leftthemselves too much to do.

They were unable to preventthe USA repeating their 12 1⁄2 -11 1⁄2 win at Chicago in theprevious instalment.

The decisive and sublime blowcame from America’s JonathanMoore, playing against GB&I’smuch-respected captain this year,Nigel Edwards.

From 252 yards, his 4 ironapproach to the final green fromthe semi rough left the blade like aguided missile.

His tap-in eagle ensured thecup was America's.

Six years on, and Moore isplaying mainly in Asia. Which is asobering reminder to show that forevery McIlroy, Simpson, Fowlerand Johnson, there are others yetto make their mark on theprofessional game.

Nevertheless, if you watchclosely at National Golf Linksthere will almost certainly beseveral players on display who willgo on to be household names.

See if you can spot them first inthe Walker Cup.

GB&I

Jonathan Caldwell – On and off theChallenge Tour and European Toursince turning pro in 2008

Rhys Davies – Won the TropheeHassan in 2010 and nearly made theRyder Cup team that year

Nigel Edwards – Now director ofcoaching at England Golf, Edwards isalso GB&I's Walker Cup captain

David Horsey – Two wins and anestablished figure on the EuropeanTour

Rory McIlroy – Won the 2011 USOpen and last year's PGAChampionship

Llewellyn Matthews – Played mainlyon satellite tours without notablesuccess

Jamie Moul – Earned European Tourcard last year after winning onChallenge Tour

John Parry – Won the Vivendi Cup in2010. 5th in the Scottish Openrecently

Lloyd Saltman – Plays mainly on theChallenge Tour. Had a top 5 thisseason

Danny Willett

Finally won his maiden European Tourevent, the BMW International, last year

AMERICA

Rickie Fowler – Played in the 2010Ryder Cup and now a bona fide PGATour star

Billy Horschel – Won the PGA Tour'sZurich Classic earlier this year afterseveral near misses

Dustin Johnson – Won seven PGATour titles since turning pro after theWalker Cup

Chris Kirk – Won the Viking Classictwo years ago on the PGA Tour andgoing well in 2013

Colt Knost – Has a PGA Tour card thisyear. Best finish on tour is third(twice)

Trip Kuehne – Career amateur whoknocked out Tiger Woods in the 1994US Amateur

Jamie Lovemark – Back injurycaused two years out. Better now andwon on Web.com Tour recently

Jonathan Moore – Earned winningpoint at RCD. Now playing mainly inAsia

Webb Simpson – Won the US Open atOlympic last year and played in theRyder Cup

Kyle Stanley – Won the Phoenix Openlast year – a week after losing a play-off to Snedeker at Torrey Pines

HOW THEY’VE FARED SINCE 2007


WALKER CUP PREVIEW

NCG pp 46-47 WC McEvoy 23/08/2013 10:14

ACK in 1977 PeterMcEvoy made hisdebut alongsideanother rookie, Sandy

Lyle, at Shinnecock Hills.The pair wore synthetic bluetrousers which heated up in thesun. They would go on to losetheir opening match 4&3 andneither would contribute as muchas half a point in a 16-8 reversal.

Since then McEvoy has been aspivotal as anyone in the amateurgame in reinvigorating the GreatBritain & Ireland outfit and histwo stints as captain, in 1999 and2001, resulted in a pair of crushing15-9 victories.

You often talk about the stat ofhome teams winning two thirdsof their matches – how do youchange that thinking whenplaying away?You use the same statistics. Youillustrate the two thirds at homeand you explain that that can onlybe because of what is going on inyour mind.

All the other things areconstant so it shows the power ofthe mind.

Is it key to drum the favouritestag into the players? It is very important. When I firsttook over as captain we had lost 33of 37 matches and it was importantto change the expectation level.We had had a good run, we hadwon the Eisenhower Trophy in1998, we had the No 1 amateur inthe world (Luke Donald) and wehad players wining college eventsso that was hugely emphasised.

I copied something that theLions had done with Willie JohnMcBride when handing out thejerseys and he always said a fewlines.

I remember handing out thecashmere sweaters and just relatingthe records of all the players infront of each other and, by thetime you had gone through half adozen players, the atmosphere inthe room was very much like oneof a team of winners,

How much are the Americancrowds a factor?As soon as we had won over there,an hour and a half before the end,everyone had gone home.American crowds are as violently

patriotic as any crowd but, again,you can control that in your mind.

How important is it to keepthings fresh and not to over-prepare with practice rounds onthe same course? In 1977 in my first match we wentvery early to Shinnecock and wewere sick of the sight of the placeby the time the matches started.The Americans did the same in2001 and went very early and over-practised.

I only allowed our team two-and-a-half practice days at thecourse.

Everyone was desperate to geton the course so the more I couldmake them feel like that the better.

The Americans would be goingout on buggies by themselves topractise a shot that they hadn’tpractised and they were gettinginto over-thinking things.

The course was still fresh andexciting to us.

If you look at aMajor the pros will havetwo days’ practice. Theymight go the week before to havea bit of privacy but two days isbasically enough.

How good a judge of characterdo you have to be given that youhave 10 individuals as part ofyour team?

It is common sense really, peoplelike Gary Wolstenholme and LukeDonald don’t need any cajoling ormotivation and they have theirown agendas.

There is no better team manthan someone who is trying to wina point for themselves.

Then there are some playerswho might feel a bituncomfortable or overawed andyou just have to build them up asbest you can.

How would you pick GaryWolstenholme’s brains?Gary was obsessed with winning apoint so if you asked him who hewould like to play with in

foursomes thenthat would giveyou a good ideaof who he

consideredwas

playing best. As far as he was concerned that

was his pecking order of merit ofthe players. It wouldn’t necessarilybe right but it gave you some extrainformation.

How would you generally goabout your foursomes andsingles order?There is a momentum thing inteam golf, you want to be saying tomatches three and four thatmatches one and two are ahead. SoI tended to stick out my bestplayers in the foursomes. At Nairn I put Casey and Donaldout together and they won bothmatches.

For different reasons, I putGraeme Rankin out early but thatwas only because he was the onlyScot in the side and I wanted himto get the crowds going.

It worked very well.

You played at Peachtree in 1989when GB&I won for the firsttime overseas. What were someof the keys to that win?That really was groundbreaking,nobody had done it before and wehad a good team and we werebetter than they were.

It was very hot and we only juststaggered over the line.

If we had played at home Ithink we would have killed them,and the conditions made it as closeas it was.

You get belief fromachievements and I think it had aminor effect on achievements.

Given their win was away wasthe 2001 side slightly betterthan 1999?There wasn’t a lot in it, if theyplayed a match it would be veryclose but, given the fact that theywon away, maybe 2001 wouldslightly edge it.

How much of an advantage wasit to have players out thereplaying in the States?In those days it was quiteimportant, it was the early days ofour team realising we weren’tinferior. The players now play a lotinternationally and with the RyderCups and other team competitionsthe illusion that American golf issuperior has now gone.

B


HOW TOWIN INAMERICABy Peter McEvoy,2001 GB&I captain

Mark Townsend picks the brain of theastute Walker Cup legend

NCG pp 46-47 WC McEvoy 23/08/2013 10:14

WHEN WE WERE

WALKER CUP PREVIEW

Left to right: Nigel Edwards, Marc Warren, Steven O’Hara, Graeme McDowell, Jamie Elson, Luke Donald,Peter McEvoy, Richard McEvoy, Nick Dougherty, Gary Wolstenholme and Michael Hoey

NCG pp 48-53 WC The Story Of 2001 23/08/2013 16:23

KINGS Mark Townsend speaks to three members ofGB&I’s star-studded, record-breaking 2001 side



NLY once had GreatBritian & Irelandtriumphed onAmerican soil, back at

Peachtree, Georgia, in 1989. Now, 12 years later and back in

Georgia, the visitors were theholders after a resounding 15-9triumph at Nairn in Scotland.

Only two members of that teamwere still in place, World No 1amateur Luke Donald and GaryWolstenholme, but so was thecaptain Peter McEvoy.

Any inferiority complexes overbeing the weaker team or there tosimply make up the numbers wereno longer part of the GB&I make-up thanks to McEvoy and itshowed over the two days at SeaIsland. McEvoy’s men retained theWalker Cup for the first time everand by the exact same 15-9margin. We spoke to threemembers of the team; MarcWarren (MW), Michael Hoey(MH) and Gary Wolstenholme(GW) about their memories of thishistoric match.

GW: I remember Steven O’Harabeing a bit nervous and we wereout in the first match so I hit thefirst tee shot. There was water leftand trees right, I hit driver downthe middle, twirled the club andgave him a wink - and all of asudden he was smiling.

I always say the key to teamsuccess is to laugh a lot, it takes thepressure off immediately. On theteam bus at Porthcawl we had BillyConnolly on the team bus.

At Nairn we playedCaddyshack in the team room;Luke Donald knows every wordand Simon Dyson and I were likekids anyway and we just laughedall the time.

MH: Peter McEvoy was verygood, he was different and a biteccentric maybe. He used a lot ofpsychology. Luke was the No 1amateur in the world and wasturning pro the week after thematches and Graeme was startingto get extremely good at college. Iwas behind those guys but I hadjust won the Amateur at Prestwick.What really helped me was an11th-place finish in the ScottishOpen at Loch Lomond after abest-of-the-day 64 on the Sunday.

So my confidence was higher. Hedidn’t tell me I was playing withGraeme McDowell. We thoughtwe would be playing together buthe said we would be playing withother people, so we were moreexcited when he only told us thenight before. Graeme was verypositive, if I could hit him to 30feet there was a good chance thathe would hole it and you couldfeed off his positivity.Results:Green & Trahan lost to O’Hara &Wolstenholme 5&3Cassini & Glover beat Donald &Dougherty 4&3Eger & Molder halved with Elson& R McEvoyDriscoll & Quinney lost toMcDowell & Hoey 3&1USA 1 ½ GB&I 2 ½

MW: I was disappointed not toplay the morning but totallyunderstood the pairings andlooking back it was quite a goodway to ease my way into it,supporting my team-mates andknowing I was playing in the

afternoon. In the singles againstJohn Harris I remember standingon the 1st and thinking it was oneof the toughest tee shots I had everseen. It was only a 2 iron but therewas water down the left and treesdown the right and grandstandseverywhere else. He had never

been defeated in singles before butI managed to pull through.MH: Lucas Glover beat me in thesingles and he was solid. Luke wasseven under the following day towin 3&2 on a very tough course. GW: I lost to Erik Compton in thetop match. We had a great matchbut the crowd got a bit toovociferous and a bit over the top. Results:Compton beat Wolstenholme 3&2Trahan beat O’Hara 2&1Driscoll lost to Dougherty 2&1Cassini beat Edwards 5&4Harris lost to Warren 5&4Quinney lost to Donald 3&2Molder beat McDowell 2&1Glover beat Hoey 1 holeUSA 6 ½ GB&I 5 ½

MH: On the second day we had towear a darker colour of trousers.Peter McEvoy told us there was nodifference in heat absorptionrates – it was 104˚ but he didn’twant it to get in our heads.

GW: Peter then decided to rest

OWALKER CUP PREVIEW

DAY 1 FOURSOMES

DAY 2 FOURSOMES

...ON LUKE DONALDMW: Donald was not the mostvocal in the team but his stature inthe amateur game spoke for itself. Steven O’Hara and I played a lot ofpractice rounds with Luke and NickDougherty and got to know himquite a bit when we had a trainingcamp at La Manga. Nigel Edwadsand Gary had the experience andtheir advice was always available –I had lots of questions, the onlyMajor I had been to was the Openso I asked Gary about the 1st tee.

GW: Luke and Paul Casey were themost confident players we haveever had in a Walker Cup. Luke islike Bernhard Langer, he doeseverything right. He is very brightand analytical, he maybe lacks theextrovert nature that might win hima Major but who knows.

DAY 1 SINGLES



me in the foursomes which was astupid idea and Marc Warrenplayed with Steven, they lost by abig margin and it could havejeopardised the whole match.

MW: It was obvious we weregoing to get beaten so we tried totry and enjoy the rest of it and findsomething for the afternoon. Assoon we finished we ate then wentto the range; we know each other’sgame well and gave each other acouple of thoughts and won oursingles. It was one of thosematches where if we made par theymade birdie and if we made bogeythey made par so the score wasquite heavy but they deserved towin. Our pride was hurt but it wasjust one point and it made us evenmore determined to win the singles.Results:Compton & Harris lost to Donald& Dougherty 3&2Cassini & Glover lost toMcDowell & Hoey 2&1Eger & Molder beat O’Hara &Warren 7&6Green & Trahan lost to Elson & RMcEvoy 1 hole USA 7 ½ GB&I 8 ½

MW: I was confident, I was a goodlong iron player and the conditionssuited me. On the Sunday I had a3 iron late on which I held offagainst the wind and it came offjust right.

To defend the trophy for thefirst time and to hole the winning

putt just made it all the morespecial. We were always confidentthat we would win but maybe notby that margin over there. We hadso much quality in the side.

It is hard to judge these thingsbut maybe it was the strongestteam we’ve had.

MH: You could see the scores onthe board and I had to focus on mygame. I wasn’t playing a verystrong player in Danny Green, hewas an older guy on a course thatwas a bit too tough for him but hewas still three up after five holes.

Nobody told me we had wonthough there was a sense that wewere close.

GW: I liked to play at the top orthe bottom which was normallywhere the pressure is.

My first Walker Cup I went offnumber eight against Tiger andthat worked out really well.

I played Nick Cassini who wasrated one of their best players andit worked out pretty good and Iwon at the 15th. It also meant thatI was the first player to be on threedifferent winning GB&I teams.

Results:Glover lost to Donald 3&2Harris lost to O’Hara 4&3Trahan lost to Dougherty 1 hole Driscoll lost to Warren 2&1Molder beat McDowell 1 holeGreen lost to Hoey 1 holeE Compton halved with J ElsonCassini lost to Wolstenholme 4&3USA 9 GB&I 15

DAY 2 SINGLES

...ON GRAEME McDOWELLMH: His swing was moreunderneath and his work with PeteCowen over the last few years hashelped him to cover the ball more.Even then he had four wedges inhis bag which was quite advancedthinking then as most of us wouldhave three at the most.

MW: I had never met him before,he would hit a high slinging hookthen off the tee, now he can hit itboth ways but looks comfortablehitting it right to left.

I got quite a shock when Iplayed with him years later to seehow he has totally changed hisgame. But even then he was a verygood putter and wedge player.

AN ALL-STAR CASTBOTH teams from 2001have contributed one USOpen winner apiece inGraeme McDowell andLucas Glover.

Other than NigelEdwards, all of the GB&Iside turned pro, althoughWolstenholme not until2008. Warren, Donald,McDowell, Dougherty andHoey have all won on theEuropean Tour. The biggestsurprise is three-timewinner Dougherty’s drop inform in recent years.



Peter McEvoy has beenheralded as one of the greatestcaptains in Walker Cup history.Here, three of his chargesreflect on his strengths...

MW: His attention to detail wasincredible and he was verythorough and professional. Histeam talks were very much aboutnot being overawed and stargazingthe Americans. We were mentallyfully prepared for the challengeahead.

Gary was older but was a kid atheart. He could hit a 3 wood as

close as most people would hit ashort iron and the course suitedhim as it was quite tight.

GW: Peter was probably thegreatest tactician and he hadthis amazing man-management ability, hewould recognise players’strengths and weaknesses as anindividual. He wouldn’t use thesame words for everyone.

In a team situation in golfit is very unusual asnormally it is a veryindividual sport and it

is one of the reasons why theAmericans haven’t been successfulas they are very individuallymotivated. You would see himcoming towards you and I wouldsay to my partner ‘you are going toget a funny comment in 5-4-3-2-1

seconds’ and he would ask how wewere doing?

We would say we were one up,he would reply ‘I’m sure I said Iwanted you to be two up by thispoint, I’ll give you a couple ofholes and I’ll be back’.

He would always come up witha funny comment, he would watchthe opponent swing, pull an oddface and say ‘you’ll be fine, I’llleave you to it’.

MH: Peter was very clever; hewould introduce us to the crowd asLuke Donald, No 1 college player,and then list his victories.

So he also mentioned my finishin Scotland and it gave us all somuch confidence before thematches had got under way.

WALKER CUP PREVIEW

GB&I PLAYERS GIVE THEIR VERDICT ONMcEVOY... AND AMERICA’S SKIPPER REFLECTS

THE CAPTAIN’S REPORT



Danny Yates Junior was only thesecond American captain to loseon home soil. This is how hereflects on the week...

“I knew they had a great team;that we were really, really going tohave to play well. On the first day Ithink we had them down in sevenmatches early in the afternoon, butI really didn't think that was goingto last because they were too good.I was hoping for maybe a split inthe foursomes, and then see whathappened in the afternoon, butthey got off to a good start, and wereally didn't.

“I guess a couple of our guysdid, but they put the pressure onearly. They made birdies and gotus down and kept us down, and wecame back. We had a fighting

chance, but we just made moremistakes and they played better.They played really well.

“That's why I wanted to seewhat kind of scores they wereshooting.

“I know Lucas Glover wasunder par and lost to Luke Donaldon 16 and he made a lot of birdies.We just didn't get the job doneand they played very well. I likethe way it matched up but they justoutplayed us.

“We have a world amateurteam and a Walker Cup team, andthey do it a little more often; that'snot an excuse, but they are good atit. A lot of their guys were raisedto play on these teams and theyplay, obviously, great teammatchplay.”

GARY Wolstenholme played onsix Walker Cup teams from1995-2005 and won four of them.In that period he beat none otherthan Tiger Woods on his debutat Royal Porthcawl as well asMatt Kuchar, Bill Haas, AnthonyKim and Casey Wittenberg.Here he shares his memories ofhow he tried, and oftensucceeded, in getting one overthe Americans.

“I was phoned up a couple ofweeks before the 2003 matches atGanton byMark Reasonof the DailyTelegraph andhe asked whatmy tactics werefor matchplay.I said thatPeter McEvoyhad given mesome good tipsand that youshould try anddominate thematch from the1st tee so youget your golfball and say‘Titleist 1’. Soif he is usingthe same ball then the onus is onhim to change ball.

“When you shake hands youlook them in the eye with a firmshake. Then it is always bigswishes like Olazabal does, likeyou really mean it.

“I would always try and walkquickly so the opponent is alwayslooking at my back and you are incharge. On the greens just say‘repair any pitchmarks, you don’tneed to ask’ so, again, you are incontrol.

“The Americans were in themale changing rooms and theyhad pictures of me turned upsidedown. In the matches they woulddo all these things that I had saidso I then walked very slowly andthey would be looking back to seewhere I was.

“Against Wittenberg in the

second-day singles as soon as Ihad broken his focus at the 8th Iknew I had him. He was one upand had hit a decent tee shot andhis intensity had gone slightlyand then I really started toirritate him by winning the nexttwo, the second with an eagle. Hethen took a massive divot out ofthe green at the 10th and I hadhim. It is super critical to hitfairways and greens in the firstfew holes, you think you have toraise your game but the mainthing is to keep hitting fairways

and greens.

“Thebreakfast atQuaker Ridgein 1997 wasdire, it was allsweet andsugary. Weneed low-fatyoghurts andfruit and oat-based cereals.

Theybrought outdoughnuts andGraemeRankin istroughingthese down,

everyone was. They tasted greatbut they are the worst things youcould have.

“I could tell pretty quicklyhow good a putter my opponentwas, I would test them on thefirst couple of holes and, if Ithought there was a risk that theywould miss one then I wouldleave it for a few, and then makethem hole it.

When they looked at me Iwould totally ignore them, Iwould be doing my own thing. Ifthey then have to ask then youknow there is an issue. At NairnDavid Gossett had a putt to winthe hole at 17 and he knocked itthree foot past, he said ‘even Iwouldn’t give myself that’.

Of course I didn’t but, to hiscredit, he did hole it.”

“When you shake hands youlook them in the eye with a firm

shake” - Gary Wolstenholme



THE CLASS OF 2011:

RHYS PUGH

Pugh is still an amateur andplayed in his first OpenChampionship at Muirfieldthis year after winning theWelsh Open at RoyalPorthcawl. He will bemaking his second WalkerCup appearance.

PAUL CUTLER

Cutler played in the 2012 Irish Open,but that remains his only EuropeanTour appearance to date. He currentlyplays on the EuroPro Tour and hasseveral top-10 finishes this year.

STIGGY HODGSON

Hodgson turned professional in 2012 andfinished as the joint winner of Alps TourFinal Qualifying School. He finished third inthe EuroPro Tour qualifying this year andplays regular events on this circuit.

ANDY SULLIVAN

Sullivan is currently enjoying a successful period on the EuropeanTour. Although he is yet to win, he has posted several top-10finishes, including tied third at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

TOM LEWIS

Finished tied 10th in his first European Tour eventbefore winning the Portugal Masters in October 2011.Was the European Tour’s 2011 Rookie of the Year buthad a modest 2012 season and also, so far, 2013.

MICHAEL STEWART

Stewart turnedprofessional followingthe Walker Cup in2011 and has playedevents on theEuropean Tour, theEuroPro Tour and theAlps Rising StarsTour. The 22-year-oldsigned withInternational SportsManagement.

JACK SENIOR

Senior now plays on the Challenge Tour, but has had adisappointing year and missed eight successive cuts.His best performance was tied fourth in the 2012Kazakhstan Open. STEVEN BROWN

Brown turned professionalfollowing the Walker Cupand played in a handful ofevents on the EuropeanChallenge Tour with littlesuccess. His best finishwas T14th in the 2012Norwegian Challenge.

JAMES BYRNE

Byrne turned pro shortly after the matchand plays most of his golf on the AsianTour. He has also played a few EuropeanTour events including the Scottish Openand the Johnnie Walker Championship.

ALAN DUNBAR

Dunbar remained an amateur after thematch and went on to win the 2012Amateur at Troon. He played in the 2012Open and 2013 Masters before turning pro.

WALKER CUP PREVIEW

NCG pp 54-55 WC Where Are They Now? 23/08/2013 11:15


WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

JORDAN SPIETH

Turned pro in December2012 and now plays on thePGA Tour. Gained first tourwin by beating David Hearnand Zach Johnson in a play-off at John Deere Classic.

HARRIS ENGLISH

Earned a 2012 PGA Tour card andmade 22 out of 27 cuts, earning over$1.8m and keeping his tour card.Gained his first PGA Tour win at theFedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis.

PATRICK CANTLAY

Cantlay holds the record for the mostconsecutive weeks at world number one inthe World Amateur Golf Rankings. Turnedpro in 2012 and gained his first win inMarch 2013 at Colombia Championship.

KELLY KRAFT

After his win in the 2011 US Amateur and the Walker Cup match,he remained an amateur to play in the 2012 Masters. Turned profollowing Augusta and currently plays on the Web.com Tour.

BLAYNE BARBER

Attempted to make it through PGA Tour Q School inDecember 2012, but disqualified himself for signingan incorrect scorecard. Has played in a few events onthe PGA Tour and Web.com Tour this year.

PETER UIHLEIN

Turned pro in 2011and began life on theChallenge Tour. Hewon the MaderiaIslands Open in Mayand now plays on theEuropean Tour wherehe has enjoyedseveral high finishes.

NATHAN SMITH

Still an amateur and works as an investment advisor.Played in 2013 Masters following several strongperformances in amateur events last year.

CHRIS WILLIAMS

Remained an amateuruntil June this year whenhe turned pro ahead of theTravelers Championship.Won lots of amateur titlesafter the 2011 matches.Played in 2013 US Open.

RUSSELL HENLEY

Started pro career on the Web.com Tourafter Royal Aberdeen and progressed tothe PGA Tour at the end of 2012. Won2013 Sony Open in Hawaii to qualify forthe Masters and PGA Championship.

PATRICK RODGERS

Remains an amateur and will make hissecond appearance for the US. He iscurrently completing his study at StanfordUniversity in California.

NCG pp 54-55 WC Where Are They Now? 23/08/2013 11:15

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Comprehensive and objective gear tests | The latest releases | Competitions | Fashion | Accessories

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BELTSBuckle up and make a stylestatement with these great options

82FASHION: ASHOWCASEOF THELATEST GOLFBELTS

This new Mizuno iron is designedto offer everything a low-handicapper could ask for.Generally speaking, the reason mostprofessionals do not use cavity-backirons is they feel they lose a bit offinesse, both in terms of looks andperformance.

Mizuno have spotted a gap in the

market and released an iron setdesigned to offer the best of bothworlds – the forgiveness of a cavity,with the looks, feel and finesse of aplayers’ iron.

Mizuno say the forged MP-54iron was built to ‘awaken theshotmaker in players needing just alittle forgiveness’ and features a

milled pocket cavity in the long andmid irons to help minimise the effectof mis-hits. A heavily bevelled solereduces interaction with turf andimproves workability while a stylishhead shape, which was designed on acomputer and fine-tuned by hand,will suit all players. Expect to pay£100 per iron.

GO TONATIONALCLUBGOLFER.COMTO SEE THE RESTOF MIZUNO’S NEW RANGE

FORGIVENESS AND FINESSE

MIZUNO MP-54sSRP: £100 per ironSTANDARD SHAFT: Dynamic GoldSTANDARD GRIP: Golf Pride Tour VelvetLOFT: 6 iron 30˚; PW 46˚CUSTOM OPTIONS? YesLH OPTION? YesIN SHOPS: Now

DESIGN OF THE TANK

How Odyssey’s newheavy putter was bornAR: The genesis of theidea came from theJapan LPGA tour. TheOdyssey Team therestarted getting requestsfrom players to makeshorter and heavierputters using Belly heads(400g) with a heavyputter shaft (150g) andan oversized grip (110g).They really found thatthis design helpedsmooth out their strokesand made them puttmore consistently. TheTank uses inertia tostabilise the putter duringthe stroke instead ofanchoring. We use acounter-balance weightunder the grip.

INSERT APPLICABLE?Are you for or against putterface inserts?AR: I strongly believe in putterinserts. We design our inserts to bevery lightweight. Whether it is using man-madeurethanes or a combination ofaluminum and urethane like onour Metal-X putters we strive toremove as much weight from theface in order to reposition it lowand deep in the putter head toincrease forgiveness and improveroll and therefore give ourcustomers more consistency. Inserts are also great tools for us tochange the sound and feel ofimpact. We can change thehardness and stiffness of the facematerial in order to tune both thesound at impact and the ball speedoff the face to ensure we make aputter strong across the board. It is more difficult to do that withan all metal putter.

CAST OR FORGED?Which method is best formaking putters?AR: We do both. All of ourmachined putters are forged andCNC milled. CNC milling aputter is an expensive way to makea putter. We like to forge ourblanks because it reduces theamount of wasted during theprocess. This makes the millingtime faster. The forging processdoes help to retain the niceuniform grain structure of themetal. This will help to ensure thesound of the each head is veryconsistent. When you are makinga non-inserted and machinedputter it is a great way to start.Casting is a fantastic way to massproduce a product because you canmake a lot of parts very fast.However, during the castingprocess the grain structure of themetal is very different and morerandom than in a forged part.

Rigorous testJames lookingat the Covertin great detail

THE #1 SHAFT

IN GOLF30 YEARS OF TOUR SUCCESS

ABOUT THE TESTHOW WE DID IT AND OURMETHODOLOGYChoosing a putter is a verydifferent process to any other clubin the bag and so we adjusted ourmethodology. While we believethere is certainly a role for putterfitting and using technology, itremains the case that putters arethe most individual clubs in thebag and you must be comfortablewith what you are looking downon. Accordingly we assembled atest team of pros and lowhandicappers to spend a day on theputting green getting to know ourputters. We didn’t want to tell youthat one putter was better than thenext but we did want theseexperienced golfers to tell us uswhat they saw and felt when tryingputters that suited their eye andpreference. There are no medalsfor this test, but instead a series ofinsights and observations.

ODYSSEY IDEASWhat has been Odyssey’sgreatest innovation so far?CK: We judge everything we doon its success in the marketplace,so with that as our barometer, the2-Ball would have to be the mostsuccessful. It represented 50 percent of the market within its firstyear at retail and we’ve sold about5 million of them in the last 10years. What made it successful wasits innovative alignment system. Itwas one of the first putters in themarket where the bold alignmentfeature defined and worked wellwith the shape of the putter.Initially, it was designed withbeginner golfers in mind. It helpedthese golfers align square to thetarget line which is essential inmaking putts. However, tourplayers around the worldimmediately saw the advantage tohaving such a bold and simplealignment feature on a putter.

CONFIDENCE IS KEYWhat makes a good putter?AR: It needs to inspire confidence.That is the most important quality.We do this by ensuring that theshape is the head is pleasing to theeye down to the smallest detail.The shape needs to be balanced sothat it is easy for the golfer to alignthe shape to the target. The putterneeds to have loft to ensure thatthe ball is launched enough to geton top of the grass with aminimum amount of bounce. Theputter must also feel great to thegolfer. Feel means different thingsto different golfers. Basically, it iswhat the golfer can hear, see, andfeel with his hands. When wedesign putters we pay very closeattention to the sound the impactwith the golf ball makes as thishelps the golfer judge distance. Wealso work very hard to select theright face materials to ensure goodball speed off the face.

THE TESTING PANEL

THE FORMER TOUR PLAYERDANNY DENISONHandicap:ProfessionalCurrent putter: NikeMethod 001Likes: Pretty simplelooks – heel-toe weighted and atraditional Anser-style shape is whatI’ve always used.

BLADE LOVERJAMES WHITAKERHandicap:ProfessionalCurrent putter: NikeMethod 001Likes: Putting is allabout feel for me so it’s got to besomething simple and compact thatdoesn’t get in my way.

MALLET MANDAN MURPHYHandicap: 3Current putter: PingRedwood Piper SLikes: I’ve usedmallet-style putters forso long now that it would be hard tochange to anything else. I like acompact head with a clean but low-key alignment aid.

THE MODERNISTTOM LENTONHandicap: 2Current putter:Odyssey 2-BallLikes: I prefersomething that helpsyou line up short putts – hence I’veused the 2-Ball for a while now. Idon’t like anything too soft in termsof an insert.

THE NCG PROMISEWe pride ourselves on offeringunbiased, independent reviews


EXPERT ANALYSISWe speak to the top men from Odyssey – the leading brand in putters

THE MAN AT THE TOPCHRIS KOSKEOdyssey’s global director

THE ENGINEERAUSTIE ROLLINSONOdyssey’s principle designer

75PUTTERS:OUR REVIEWOF THENEWESTMODELS


THIS year’s range fromBenross is headlined by theRip, Hot and Max Speed

drivers, which are a real treat. Each has a different head and

Aldila shaft and one is guaranteedto match your game. The RipSpeed is designed for powerfulplayers with 10˚ of loft, a deepface, traditional pear-shapedprofile and will give a low to midlaunch for power and control.

The Hot Speed has 12˚ of loft,

a more modern head design, dualcrown technology and a high-MOI head while the Max Speedhas 14˚, a wider, shallower headshape and offers maximumforgiveness on mis-hits.

Exactly the same theory isapplied throughout the fairways,hybrids and irons. The Rip rangeis aimed at the powerful, moretraditional player, the Hot offersextra forgiveness and playabilitywhile the Max range is the easiest

to use and flight.It means you can easily

identify the best range for you.Learn more by logging on to

benrossgolf.co.uk

HOW BENROSS’S SPEED RANGE WORKS ABOUT THE TESTWe invited three readers of varyinghandicaps to be custom-fitted for afull set of Benross clubs by thecompany’s technical expert ScottNightingale at Moor Allerton Golf Clubin north Leeds. Benross built the clubs to theirspecifications and sent them out toour panel. We then spoke to thereaders once they had had thechance to test the new clubsthoroughly both on the practiceground and out on the course.

BEN CAMPBELLHANDICAP: 2His game: I’m someone used to playing bladesand really traditional clubsFirst impressions: The head shapes are reallynice – I was amazed by how good these looked.I’ve never used a hybrid before but I think I willnow. The irons are fantastic even for me, it’s reallyopened my eyes.Benross spec: Rip Speed driver (10˚). Rip Speed14˚ fairway. Rip Speed 20˚ hybrid (all X flex). Ripirons (4-P). Zip It 52 & 58˚ wedges (all withDynamic Gold S300 shafts). What Scott thought: I’d be happy to let Benchoose himself whether he wants to go stiff or Xin his woods. He’s a good enough player to makeup his own mind. I think stiff of all day but it’s upto him. What a striker this boy is – when hecollects the ball it’s just royale with cheese!Long-term verdict: It’s nice to use the technologyrather than fight it with blades like I have beendoing. I have found the rescue club to be a greataddition to my bag. It offers another option off thetee as well as being something I can attack par 5swith.

MIKE GOODMANHANDICAP: 18His game: I knew my set was a bit of a mishmash and suspected they weren’t working welltogether so I was looking forward to seeing whatthe expert said. First impressions: I can see there’s now abalance to the set. The fitting was brilliant.Benross spec: Max Speed driver (14˚). MaxSpeed 18 & 22˚ fairways. Max Speed 32˚ hybrid.Max Speed irons 7-SW (shafts: regular graphite)What Scott thought: I was thrilled with Mike’snew driver. His old one, which had 10.5˚ wasmiles off. He’s now carrying it 179 and runningout to 195, which is a total gain of 25 yards! Thisset might look unusual but as a fitter all I amconcerned with is plugging the distance gaps.Long-term verdict: I’ve been really pleased withthe whole range. The driver is probably the bestI’ve ever had and it is going 25 yards further thanbefore. The fairway woods are much straighter,and I’ve ditched the old 3 wood that I used tocarry. The hybrid is a new club for me, but I usedto find it really hard to hit a consistent 5 iron so ithas added a better option.

ALAN TOBIASHANDICAP: 14His game: I was off 8 but then had a quadrupleheart bypass. I retired in 2010 – I was a scientistworking in the nuclear power industry so I’mcomfortable with technology.First impressions: Long irons are the weakestpart of my game so I’m delighted to get rid!Benross spec: Hot Speed driver (12˚). Hot Speed16 & 20˚ fairways. Hot Speed 22 & 25˚ hybrids.Hot Speed 7-P irons. Zip It 48 and 56˚ wedges(all with regular shaft)What Scott thought: Alan hit the clubsfantastically well. His existing driver had 12˚ sothat was good but he was struggling with his 3wood and long irons so we’ve made that a loteasier for him.Long-term verdict: The new set took a little whileto get used to because of the graphite shafts, butI’m consistently hitting my driver much furtherwhich is excellent. I really like the feel of the lobwedge, and since the fitting I have invested in agap wedge which is really helping with shortapproaches. I’m still not convinced by thehybrids. Overall I’m very happy with the clubs.

Our tests suggest Benross’s 2013 kit is their best ever.So what happened when we got three readers to do a

CUSTOM-FITLONG-TERM TEST?

66READERSTRY OUT ABENROSSCUSTOMFITTING

NCG pp 57 Equipment Lead 23/08/2013 14:14


Adams have brought their famousTight Lies fairway woods back tolife – and given them a moderntwist.

The brand say the market issaturated with woods designed fordriving and that there is a realneed for a club that can be used offthe deck as well as the tee.

That’s where the Tight Liescome in, with their ultra-low-profile faces that make themperfect for use from the shortgrass.

“The marketplace is filled with43 1/2-inch, 180cc fairway woodswith super-deep faces. We’re in aworld again where no one can hittheir fairway woods. We hear allthe time that players don’t hit theirfairway woods off the deck anymore, they hit them off the tee. Sothis is the perfect time to re-launch Tight Lies,” said Adams’Mike Fox.

At address, the Tight Lies lookslike a stretched-out hybrid and thesound is very similar. In keeping

with the rest of the Adams woodrange, velocity slots are chiselledout of the crown and sole toimprove ball speed.

Don’t expect the same off-the-tee distance as one of their meatierfairway woods, but from thefairway they should launch higherwith optimal spin and thereforecarry further with a softer landing.

Adams believe there is a realneed for a club that can be used offthe deck as well as the tee.

“We’re going after distance in a

different way than a lot of otherfairway woods,” said Justin Honea,Adams’ R&D head.

“I’m not going to say that it’sgoing to win a driving contest, butit’s going to win a contest off thefairway for guys who need helpgetting the ball airborne, whodon’t create enough spin and whowant to land it on the green.

“It’s also going to give you thebest ability to hit the ball off thefairway, and it glides through thickrough with ease.”

ADAMSTIGHT LIES FAIRWAY WOOD

SRP: £149

LOFTS: 14, 16, 19 & 22º

SHAFT: Mitsubishi

Bassara (55-gramme)

THE RETURN OF A CLASSIC

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

LIGHT IN THE HAND

A lightweight shaft andhead give the club aslight feeling in thehand, allowing you toswing much faster andhit the ball a lot further

LOW PROFILE FACE

An ultra-thin facedepth allows you toget perfect contactfrom any lie. Think of itas a hybrid but withextreme power

SLOT MACHINE

Two velocity slotscarved into the headmakes the face behavelike a trampoline formaximum ball speedand lots of distance

NCG pp 58-59 UGT Adams 23/08/2013 12:16


NCG’s Dan Murphy recalls theday he put the original in thebag – longer ago than he mightcare to admit..."Back in the 1990s there were twonew kids on the block when itcame to fairway woods.“One was Orlimar and the otherwas Adams, with their arrestingTight Lies model.“It was a real eye-opener becauseit looked so different. If you think3 woods are hard to hit off thedeck now then you obviously

never tried 20 years ago. Backthen, when drivers were small andbest left to the experts, a 3 woodwas very much for use off the tee.The 5 wood was the club most ofus relied on for fairway shots. “Suddenly, with the Tight Lies,you had a club you could sitbehind the ball that looked like itmight propel it upwards as well asforwards.“My abiding memory of this clubwas the sheer excitement of beingable to hit a 3 wood off the deck.”

NCG VERDICTTHE RETURN OF THE LEGENDARYLOW- PROFILEFAIRWAY WOOD

MEMORIES OF THE ORIGINAL

NCG pp 58-59 UGT Adams 23/08/2013 12:17

THE #1 SHAFT


True Temper 23/08/2013 11:55 Page 1


INTRODUCING THE SHAFT

THAT WEIGHSLESS THAN FIVE£1 COINS

ow much does ashaft weigh? Well,in the case of TrueTemper’s ground-

breaking new Project X PXv 39driver shaft, not very much at all.In fact, less than five £1 coins.And yet this is a shaft capable ofwithstanding the force of a460cc head swinging on the endof it at speeds of up to 120mph.

“The PXv 39’s lightweightproperties produce an incredibleincrease in ball speed,” say TrueTemper. “Project X engineersincorporated the most advancedmaterials available in theindustry to ensure that golfersget the control they need.”

It stands to reason that if ashaft is lighter then you will beable to swing it more quicklyand with less effort. But what alighter shaft gains you in speed itcan take back – and more – interms of dispersion and qualityof strike. If you can’t ‘feel’ thehead then you will be lessconsistent on terms of directionand you will miss the centre ofthe face more often. Havingtested the PXv 39 in a Ping

Anser driver head, what isremarkable is the consistency.

And all this in a shaft that islighter than just about anythingwe’ve seen previously. Youraverage driver shaft these days inthe latest model of a top driverweighs around 55g. A steel TrueTemper Dynamic Gold shaftcomes in at almost 130g.

So you might expect to losesome control with the PXv – notaccording to our testing. Interms of flexes in this shaft, 5.5 isroughly equivalent to a regular,6.0 to a stiff and 6.5 to an X. Asever with shafts, a good fitting iscrucial to optimise performance– to find ones that interact withyour swing characteristics andthe head.

As well as the PXv 39, TrueTemper are also making theGrafalloy BiMatrx TourPrototype available in six customcolour options. This shaft wasfamously used by Bubba Watson(in pink) when he won theMasters last year. n Expect to pay around £225 fora Pxv39 and £79 for BiMatrx.grafalloy.com pxshaft.com

True Temper have made a majorbreakthrough with the introduction of the

first sub-40g shaft, says Dan Murphy

H

NUMBER CRUNCH The PXv weighs 39g. A £1 coin weighs just over 9g

NCG pp 61 Equipment Grafalloy 23/08/2013 11:47


Launch pad

The long irons aredesigned to launch highand land soft, while theshort irons have aflatter flight

Smooth entry

A narrower sole in theshort irons helps thehead enter and exit turf.Long irons are widerfor more forgiveness

Moment of inertia

The large heads havespecial weighting thatpromotes more speedon mis-hits forconsistent distances

Dual cavity

New structure featuresperimeter weightingand a tungsten weightfor improvedforgiveness and feel

High MOI

A thin upper cavity inthe long irons plus aDual Cavity andtungsten weightimproves forgiveness

Raise me up

A higher centre ofgravity in the shortirons combined withstrong lofts makesthem easier to flight

Lived in

A ‘pre-worn’ leadingedge design with addedcamber reducesdigging at impact andcontrols divot depth

Solid feel

Different centre ofgravity position withforged constructionand medallion in backof head gives solid feel

NCG pp 62-63 Titleist AP 23/08/2013 10:56

HILE most majorequipment companiesare currently releasingnew products more

often than ever before, Titleistdevotees have had to wait twoyears for the latest (and fourth)incarnation of the stylish AP irons.

Having seen, being fitted, andtested the new clubs I can say withconfidence that their patience willbe rewarded.

“The reason we have two-yearlife cycles is important to us,” saysTitleist’s brand director MattJohnson.

“It is different to other brands.The reason is because we have aproven R&D process that includestaking feedback from tour andgolfers of all abilities. Once they'vegot that, they go into thedevelopment stage then into thevalidation process through Tour,which happened with these ironssince June and culminated in agreat win for Jason Dufner at thePGA.

“To make something that isconsiderably better than theprevious generation takes us thatlong,” he said.

Like most things with Titleist,the improvements are subtle butsignificant. There may well beother, more eye-catching productson the market but any golfer withan eye for classic head shapes andproportions will be drawn to theAP range.

Better news still for those of uswhose ball striking is not always of,shall we say, tour standard, theseare the most playable irons thebrand have ever brought tomarket. The really clever bit,though, is not just making

forgiving irons – it is doing sowhile retaining timeless looks andproportions.

To my eye, the 714 AP2s looksleeker and shinier than theirpredecessors. I suspect that therewill be some Titleist fans who havepreviously played CBs nowtempted to make the switch to

AP2. You get a very similarlook at address but arelikely to find the longirons fly that little bithigher and go furtheron off-centre hits.The short irons havebeen carefully

refined interms of shape,

with a little height taken off theblade, and also design, to ensureno ballooning and that flat flightwe all like from clubs at that end ofthe set.

The more forgiving AP1s justlook that little bit more credible tothe serious player in search ofgreater playability.

“We don't stray too far fromour blade length and certainly wehave a look that works very well,but there is a lot of technologyunder the hood, particularly morefeel and forgiveness,” saysJohnson.

“On the shelf, you’ll notice theback of the club is a bit moreappealing. Those are the two maindifferences. Personally I noticed abig difference in feel. Whenpeople hit it, it has a big top linecompared to the AP2 but peoplewill be surprised how good it feels.

“Many golfers who might havefelt they were unsuited to Titleistirons will look at these and realisethat here is an iron for them.”

Titleist expect sales to beroughly equal between the twoirons, perhaps with AP1 justshading it.

W


WORTH THE WAITTITLEIST LAUNCH

Dan Murphy says patience has been rewarded with the latest range of Titleistirons, which offer great feel, forgiveness and a desirable flight

What’s changed with the new APs?

The differences are feel, flight andforgiveness. You will notice it morewith AP1, we have made a big effortto make this product more appealingto more people. If we get this productin golfers’ hands they’ll be surprised.

Is it fair to say the new AP2 looks

more like a CB than before?

I wouldn’t say that is true from myperspective. They certainly don’tphase me and I’m no elite golfer. If itappeared to be a difficult iron to hit itwould phase me but it didn’t.

How does AP1 look compared to the

last generation?

Personally I noticed a big difference infeel. It has a big top line compared tothe AP2 but people will be surprisedhow good it feels.

Is there now a bigger gap between

AP1 and AP2?

As a business we are putting morefocus on AP1 – we want more peopleto be playing this iron. The currentAP2 is more forgiving than the originalAP1 – that’s how the technology hascome on. I have only been at Titleist ayear and before that had bought intothe myth that Titleist only made hard-to-hit products. I was surprised as it isnot only easy to hit but also offersgreat performance.

Titleist’s brand director Matt Johnson on the new AP models

WHY TITLEIST’S IRONAPPEAL IS GROWING

DON’TFORGET THENEW MBS AND CBS The former is Titleist’s out-and-out blade and is aniron of great tradition andbeauty. The CBs offer

pocket cavities on thelonger irons for that

little bit of extraforgiveness.AP1 AP2

NCG pp 62-63 Titleist AP 23/08/2013 10:57


f you buy one piece ofouterwear for thewinter ahead then canwe respectfully

suggest it is a Galvin GreenWindstopper. The new Brett, available in fivedifferent colour combinations, isarguably the highlight of the latestGalvin Green range and this is ajacket that you will find yourselfwearing every time you play.

That’s because it’s warm,comfortable to swing in, stylish,easy to look after and showerproof.

In short, perfect for Britishconditions.

The new flagship Gore-Texjacket is the Alex, and if you preferan ultralight Paclite then go forthe Acton.

The Alf trousers are available ina remarkable 26 different sizes.

Insula pullovers are also idealfor playing in the winter months –choose from the half-zip Dexter orfull-zip Dawson.

New shirt designs include thebody-mapping Miller and thepolyester/cotton Mike.

Excitingly, Galvin are alsointroducing a new thermal baselayer. The East is a long-sleevedcrew-neck vest specially developedfor warmth when playing in coldweather.

All of the collection is availablenow in the shops, with lots ofdifferent colour combinationsavailable.

Galvin Green gear is certainlynot cheap but you can rely on theirproducts to perform for years tocome and the fit is nothing shortof exceptional.

WINDSTOPPERS STAR IN NEW GALVIN GREEN RANGEGear up for the autumn – the industry leaders have revealed a striking new line

IGALVIN’S RYDER CUP RANGEGalvin have created five luxurygarments for next year’s Ryder Cup atGleneagles. The stylish look is basedon black and gunmetal with yellowand blue detailing and incorporatesthe trophy itself rather than the officiallogo. You can buy the exclusivelylicensed range from February.

Alex Gore-Tex jacketSRP: £299

Acton Gore-Tex PaclitejacketSRP: £269

Alf Gore-TextrousersSRP: £229

BrettWindstopperjacketSRP: £169

DawsonInsulapulloverSRP: £109

Dexter InsulapulloverSRP: £99

Mike Ventil8shirtSRP: £69

MillerVentil8 shirtSRP: £89

Eastthermalbase layerSRP: £55

NCG pp 64-65 Galvin Green 23/08/2013 15:02


FootJoy have added a splash ofcolour to their glove line with theintroduction of their newSpectrum model.

The premium cabretta leatheroffering, which features high-performance FibreSof material,comes in six vibrant colouroptions. Designed to perfectlymaster grip and maximisedurability, this performance-infused glove has been precisionengineered and constructed fromthe very best materials to deliveroptimum benefit to the golfer.

The Spectrum utilisesPremium Cabretta leather on thepalm and index finger for anextremely soft feel along withadded perspiration resistance for adurable, consistent grip. High-performance digital FiberSofmaterial features on the upper ofthe grip and sets new standards inproven, comfortable andconsistent fit.

“FJ Spectrum is an excitingaddition to our market-leadinggolf glove collection and I have nodoubt the assortment of vividcolours along with our provenperformance technologies willstrike a chord with all ages,” saidFootJoy’s Russell Lawes.

“More and more we are seeinggolfers co-ordinate all aspects oftheir on-course wardrobes, so whynot round that outfit off with apop of colour on you hand.”

The FJ Spectrum is now in theshops with a retail price of £16.

‘FJ’ GO COLOURFUL WITH GLOVESMarket leaders FootJoy introduce Spectrum range

A WELCOME SPLASH OF COLOURIT is a strange rule of golf gloves thatpremium ones are white and all-weatherones black, writes Dan Murphy.You can get colourful trousers, shoes andeven grips these days – so why notgloves? As golfers continue to welcomethe chance to add colour to their gear theSpectrum range is sure to go down well.

NCG VERDICT

NCG pp 64-65 Galvin Green 23/08/2013 15:02

Our tests suggest Benross’s 2013 kit is their best ever.So what happened when we got three readers to do a

CUSTOM-FITLONG-TERM TEST?

NCG pp 66-67 Benross Reader Test 23/08/2013 10:59


THIS year’s range fromBenross is headlined by theRip, Hot and Max Speed

drivers, which are a real treat. Each has a different head and

Aldila shaft and one is guaranteedto match your game. The RipSpeed is designed for powerfulplayers with 10˚ of loft, a deepface, traditional pear-shapedprofile and will give a low to midlaunch for power and control.

The Hot Speed has 12˚ of loft,

a more modern head design, dualcrown technology and a high-MOI head while the Max Speedhas 14˚, a wider, shallower headshape and offers maximumforgiveness on mis-hits.

Exactly the same theory isapplied throughout the fairways,hybrids and irons. The Rip rangeis aimed at the powerful, moretraditional player, the Hot offersextra forgiveness and playabilitywhile the Max range is the easiest

to use and flight.It means you can easily

identify the best range for you.Learn more by logging on to

benrossgolf.co.uk

HOW BENROSS’S SPEED RANGE WORKS ABOUT THE TESTWe invited three readers of varyinghandicaps to be custom-fitted for afull set of Benross clubs by thecompany’s technical expert ScottNightingale at Moor Allerton Golf Clubin north Leeds. Benross built the clubs to theirspecifications and sent them out toour panel. We then spoke to thereaders once they had had thechance to test the new clubsthoroughly both on the practiceground and out on the course.

BEN CAMPBELLHANDICAP: 2His game: I’m someone used to playing bladesand really traditional clubsFirst impressions: The head shapes are reallynice – I was amazed by how good these looked.I’ve never used a hybrid before but I think I willnow. The irons are fantastic even for me, it’s reallyopened my eyes.Benross spec: Rip Speed driver (10˚). Rip Speed14˚ fairway. Rip Speed 20˚ hybrid (all X flex). Ripirons (4-P). Zip It 52 & 58˚ wedges (all withDynamic Gold S300 shafts). What Scott thought: I’d be happy to let Benchoose himself whether he wants to go stiff or Xin his woods. He’s a good enough player to makeup his own mind. I think stiff of all day but it’s upto him. What a striker this boy is – when hecollects the ball it’s just royale with cheese!Long-term verdict: It’s nice to use the technologyrather than fight it with blades like I have beendoing. I have found the rescue club to be a greataddition to my bag. It offers another option off thetee as well as being something I can attack par 5swith.

MIKE GOODMANHANDICAP: 18His game: I knew my set was a bit of a mishmash and suspected they weren’t working welltogether so I was looking forward to seeing whatthe expert said. First impressions: I can see there’s now abalance to the set. The fitting was brilliant.Benross spec: Max Speed driver (14˚). MaxSpeed 18 & 22˚ fairways. Max Speed 32˚ hybrid.Max Speed irons 7-SW (shafts: regular graphite)What Scott thought: I was thrilled with Mike’snew driver. His old one, which had 10.5˚ wasmiles off. He’s now carrying it 179 and runningout to 195, which is a total gain of 25 yards! Thisset might look unusual but as a fitter all I amconcerned with is plugging the distance gaps.Long-term verdict: I’ve been really pleased withthe whole range. The driver is probably the bestI’ve ever had and it is going 25 yards further thanbefore. The fairway woods are much straighter,and I’ve ditched the old 3 wood that I used tocarry. The hybrid is a new club for me, but I usedto find it really hard to hit a consistent 5 iron so ithas added a better option.

ALAN TOBIASHANDICAP: 14His game: I was off 8 but then had a quadrupleheart bypass. I retired in 2010 – I was a scientistworking in the nuclear power industry so I’mcomfortable with technology.First impressions: Long irons are the weakestpart of my game so I’m delighted to get rid!Benross spec: Hot Speed driver (12˚). Hot Speed16 & 20˚ fairways. Hot Speed 22 & 25˚ hybrids.Hot Speed 7-P irons. Zip It 48 and 56˚ wedges(all with regular shaft)What Scott thought: Alan hit the clubsfantastically well. His existing driver had 12˚ sothat was good but he was struggling with his 3wood and long irons so we’ve made that a loteasier for him.Long-term verdict: The new set took a little whileto get used to because of the graphite shafts, butI’m consistently hitting my driver much furtherwhich is excellent. I really like the feel of the lobwedge, and since the fitting I have invested in agap wedge which is really helping with shortapproaches. I’m still not convinced by thehybrids. Overall I’m very happy with the clubs.

NCG pp 66-67 Benross Reader Test 23/08/2013 11:00

In last month’s issue, we examinedvarious different training aids onthe market – and Golf121’s new,cutting-edge mobile app was a bighit with our team.

This free application acts as aPGA pro in your pocket. Being onyour iPhone, one of the beauties ofthe app is that the fact it is aconstant reminder – it can improveyour game anywhere, either athome, in the office or out playing.

As golfers we all struggle withtime constraints, but it’s so simpleand convenient with theGolf121app.

FOUR REASONS TODOWNLOAD THE APP:n It’s the first app to deliverpersonalised swing video analysisvia a smartphone

n PGA coaching professionalshand-picked to deliver top-qualityanalysis

n Over 34,000 courses within theApp, including a stats trackingfeature and GPS Range Finder

n Full HD drills and skills gamessent to the user with each analysis

So if you are frustrated withyour game, but have no time orlack the finance for expensivelessons – and then forget what thepro says anyway – downloadGolf121’s superb app now.

It can lower the scores of anygolfer...

SPECIAL OFFER: NCG andGolf121 would like to offerevery reader an introductoryhalf-price lesson whichnormally retails at £9.99:Download and use half-pricelesson code: NCG121.


GET A PRO IN YOUR POCKET!The cheap and easy way to get personal lessons by PGA professionals on your iPhone

The advantages of Golf121

n It gets round the issue oftime constraints; most golfersonly have enough time to getout and play – they don’t havetime for golf tuition

n Lessons are expensive – andGolf121 clearly offers superbvalue for money

n The main benefit? It mightjust be that Golf121 gives thegolfer simple advice andcoaching and these clearinstructions continue throughbespoke drills and games

n Having the ability to callback every lesson, practice drilland game ensure you don’tforget what you are taught

NCG pp 68 Golf 121 23/08/2013 11:01


COBRA LAUNCH LOW-HANDICAP WEDGE

THE TOUR TRUSTYFeatures heavy input from tour professionals...

The Tour Trusty, which is anextension of the Trusty Rustyrange currently on the market,blends a gorgeous shape with aninnovative grind and grooves tooffer maximum versatility andspin. The head is compact andfeatures no offset, while a new K-Grind provides heel and toe reliefthat allows you to open the face onalmost any lie and keep the leading edge flat. A new milling process

- called Variable Feed Rate -offers two depths of cut in thegrooves to maximise spin even onchips and pitches. A rough surface texture bolstersspin further, while a straightleading edge improves bothalignment and visual appeal.

Cast from top-end carbon steel,the Tour Trusty is available in twomatt finishes - satin or black. SRP: £99

LONG-TERM REVIEW

These just might be the best golfshoes I have ever had the pleasureof wearing. I was not immedaitelytaken by the thick sole at the back,which looked a touch built up. But interms of performance and comfort,you genuinely can’t go wrong.

They are based on Nike’sfamous running shoe – the Free – atthe request of Tiger Woods, whoexercises in them regularly. Theworld No 1 said: “I love training in it,running in it, lifting in it. So I asked,why can’t I play golf in it?”

Nike’s designers got to work onadapting it into a golf shoe while stillmaintaining the flexibility, comfort,light weight and support. They havemost certainly succeeded. The shoeis seriously comfortable and flexible,yet remains stable throughout theswing. It’s also waterproof. I’vewalked 36 holes in them twice nowand not once have I had an issuewith discomfort or blisters.

Every step feels effortless – thesole flexes with your foot and thelight materials make it feel like you’rewearing slippers. The best way todescribe them is as a perfect middleground between spikeless andtraditional shoes.

They have the athletic fit, stylingand comfort of the former with thestability and grip of the latter.

I suppose some would arguethat there are other shoes in theshops that are easier on the eye but Isincerely doubt they perform as wellas this. SRP: £150 By Joe Whitley

PING TO LAUNCHNEW DRIVING IRON?Ping have created a prototype 17˚driving iron that has been used bysome of their Tour staff this year.The Rapture is designed to offer alow-spinning, low-flying option offthe tee. It is cast from stainlesssteel. Heel-toe weighting places thecentre of gravity low and at theperimeter of the clubhead toincrease resistance to twisting andproduce a flat trajectory. The club isideal for playing in the wind.Whether or not this will materialiseinto a release remains to be seen.

PREPARE FOR THE BRITISH WINTER WITH THE NEW

FOOTJOY RANGE Innovation, performance and styleare the driving force behindFootjoy’s new-season line

The collection is spearheaded by three newouterwear garments - the fully-waterproof DryJoysTour XP, HydroLite, which is designed for warm-weather rain, and the thermal, water-resistant FJSoftshell. “This high-performance, seasonalcollection is the result of years of intensive testingand research, representing what I believe is themost visually-striking and golf-performance infusedouterwear range on the market,” said FootJoy’sRussell Lawes. “We have received tremendous

feedback towards what is our most stylish and high-tech offering to date and I am confident we have arange that will see our market share grow.”All the new garments combine high-performancefabrics with contemporary colours, ensuringoptimum style.SRP: DryJoys Tour XP (jacket £200, rain shirt£175, trousers £155); HydroLite (jacket £130, 1/2zip rain shirt £125, short-sleeve rain shirt £115,trousers £90); Softshell (jacket £100, vest £85)

NIKE TW 14 SHOESOur conclusions after two

months of rigorous use

NCG pp 69 Equipment Footjoy, Cobra 23/08/2013 11:49

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THEDRYING

GAMEDan Murphy has over 30 years’ experience

in testing waterproofs. Here he offers hisopinions on the latest suits on the market...

EQUIPMENT INSIGHT

GolferCLUB

NATIONAL

ESSENTIAL

GUIDE TO

WATERPROOFS

Everything you need to know

about the newest suits

NCG pp 71-73 Waterproofs 23/08/2013 11:53

SKED which part ofequipment haschanged the mostover the last 20 years

the vast majority of golfers wouldpoint towards the ball, and the wayin which Titleist’s Pro V1 hasredefined the category, or theadvent of giant-headed titaniumdrivers.

Yet just as dramatic has beenthe transformation of waterproofsuits from the kind of thing youwould expect to see a deep-seatrawlerman wearing to the ultra-light, ultra-breathable and highlystylish outerwear you can see onthe opposite page.

Back in the day, and we aretalking about as recently as 20years ago and the early 1990s here,your average waterproof suit washeavy, gathered weight the wetterit got, quickly acquired a stalearoma, was difficult to swing inand was strictly for use inemergencies.

It is never much fun to play in

heavy rain but back then it wasmuch, much worse. You were alsolooking at a product that was ofuse for one thing only – golf in therain. How things have changed. Inthis country at least, one companyhave led the way – Swedish brandGalvin Green. They have single-handedly it seems invented anentirely new price category and itis evident that British golfers havebeen happy to pay £500 or morefor a suit in the knowledge that itwas the best performing on themarket and would last for years.

These days, we do not put onour Galvin Greens as a last resort– we are delighted to wear themboth on and off the course.

In recent years the attitudefrom rival brands seems to havebeen that they could not competewith Galvin at the super-premiumprice point but it looks like that isall about to change this winter ifnotable new releases from Adidas,Nike and Abacus are anything togo by.

The key areas where thesemanufacturers will be hoping toentice us consumers:

WATERPROOFNESSGalvin Green and Gore-Tex havebecome synonymous in golfwaterproofs. The fabric dates back to the 1970syet, astonishingly, it still seems tobe the best available option. Thatmuch is apparent from Adidas’sdecision to use the material intheir flagship new suit.

By contrast, Abacus and Nikeare both using their own materials.Abacus’s StretchLite is, they say,both light and quiet.

Nike are this year introducingHyperadapt which they claimcombines flexibility andwaterproof performance.

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENTVery much the key to Nike’s newsuit – they claim it allows you toswing in a completely unimpededfashion. Similarly Abacus’s Pitch

suit is designed to be ‘quiet’ incomparison to a Gore-Tex suit andboasts impressive stretchingproperties.

CHOICE OF SIZESGalvin Green have the edge here –you but their trousers in the wayyou would a pair of regular ones.So whether you are tall and thin,tall and broad, small and wiry orsmall and stocky, you will be ableto find a pair of trousers that fitjust the way you want them Nikesay their Hyperadapt will allowyou to wear your normal sizewithout feeling restricted.

LIGHTWEIGHTGalvin’s Paclite is the establishedmarket leader in this area whileAdidas say their new suit will keepyou dry without weighing youdown. A Galvin Paclite suit weighs lessthan a 500ml bottle of water – andwill barely take up more space inyour bag.


HOW WATERPROOFS HAVE CHANGED THE RULESFrom gear akin to that worn by a fisherman to hi-tech fashion garments – this is how waterproofs have developed

A



GALVIN GREENACTON JACKET/AUGUST TROUSERSJacket £269; Trousers £229One of the most popular GalvinGreen rainwear outfits is theGore-Tex Paclite jacketand trouser combination– such as the newActon full-zip Shelllayer jacket withstretch function andmatching Augusttrousers.

The Paclitejacket weighs lessthan four golfballs. The stretchfunction makes itvery flexible,while the cleanfront panel keeps it streamlined for a smoothswing. It has a water-repellent zipper, plus anadjustable bottom edge and elasticatedcuffs.

ABACUSPITCH STRETCHLITESRP: Jacket £299; Trousers £119The abacus Pitch StretchLite jacket is the ultimate all-roundwaterproof and represents a complete new performance standardin technical golfwear.

The jacket is made from a two-layer, unlined, high-performance stretch fabric that is both featherweight and feather-soft, making it quiet and supremely comfortable.

Abacus Sportswear was among the first companies tointroduce lightweight stretch waterproof fabrics to golf 10 yearsago. Its latest StretchLite technology represents a major stepforward for golf weatherwear, withextraordinary levels of elasticity.

NIKEHYPERDAPT STORM-FITHalf Zip jacket £199.99; Full Zipjacket £210; Trousers £169.99The new Nike Hyperadapt Storm-Fit jacketgives comfort, mobility and protection againstthe elements. Paul Casey experienced instantsuccess while winning the Irish Open in winds gusting up to 35mph and heavy showers combined with sunshine.

Combining flexibility and waterproof protection, it is the onlygolf performance rain jacket of its kind. With sweater-like stretchand an impenetrable outer layer, this jacket combines the benefitsof both without sacrificing performance.

With no-sew technology throughout the inner layer,designers minimised chaffing.

LOOK OUT FOR OUR SPECIAL TEST OF THEHYPERADAPT INOUR DECEMBERISSUE

ADIDASGORE-TEX TWO-LAYERSRP: Jacket £224.99; Trousers £174.99Offering lightweight protection without sacrificing performance,this two-layer Gore-Tex rain jacket is engineered to allowmoisture vapour to escape and keep heavy wind and rain out –guaranteed. Designed to allow freedom of movement throughoutyour swing, you stay dry, comfortable even when the weathertakes a turn for the worse. It is fully-seam sealed, has articulationat the elbows for added comfort and has a double-secure centre-front storm flap with zipper and Velcro enclosure.


Finest British Knitwear

www.glenbraegolf.com

Official Clothing Partner to the PGA of Yorkshire

Supporting our BritiSh Armed

ForceSwear Glenbrae with pride

PUTTERSOur team put over 60 of the latest models

through their paces

GolferCLUBNATIONAL

|TESTS...

NCG pp 75-77 Putters Test Intro 23/08/2013 12:01

ABOUT THE TESTHOW WE DID IT AND OURMETHODOLOGYChoosing a putter is a verydifferent process to any other clubin the bag and so we adjusted ourmethodology. While we believethere is certainly a role for putterfitting and using technology, itremains the case that putters arethe most individual clubs in thebag and you must be comfortablewith what you are looking downon. Accordingly we assembled atest team of pros and lowhandicappers to spend a day on theputting green getting to know ourputters. We didn’t want to tell youthat one putter was better than thenext but we did want theseexperienced golfers to tell us uswhat they saw and felt when tryingputters that suited their eye andpreference. There are no medalsfor this test, but instead a series ofinsights and observations.

ODYSSEY IDEASWhat has been Odyssey’sgreatest innovation so far?CK: We judge everything we doon its success in the marketplace,so with that as our barometer, the2-Ball would have to be the mostsuccessful. It represented 50 percent of the market within its firstyear at retail and we’ve sold about5 million of them in the last 10years. What made it successful wasits innovative alignment system. Itwas one of the first putters in themarket where the bold alignmentfeature defined and worked wellwith the shape of the putter.Initially, it was designed withbeginner golfers in mind. It helpedthese golfers align square to thetarget line which is essential inmaking putts. However, tourplayers around the worldimmediately saw the advantage tohaving such a bold and simplealignment feature on a putter.

CONFIDENCE IS KEYWhat makes a good putter?AR: It needs to inspire confidence.That is the most important quality.We do this by ensuring that theshape is the head is pleasing to theeye down to the smallest detail.The shape needs to be balanced sothat it is easy for the golfer to alignthe shape to the target. The putterneeds to have loft to ensure thatthe ball is launched enough to geton top of the grass with aminimum amount of bounce. Theputter must also feel great to thegolfer. Feel means different thingsto different golfers. Basically, it iswhat the golfer can hear, see, andfeel with his hands. When wedesign putters we pay very closeattention to the sound the impactwith the golf ball makes as thishelps the golfer judge distance. Wealso work very hard to select theright face materials to ensure goodball speed off the face.

THE TESTING PANEL

THE FORMER TOUR PLAYERDANNY DENISONHandicap:

ProfessionalCurrent putter: NikeMethod 001Likes: Pretty simplelooks – heel-toe weighted and atraditional Anser-style shape is whatI’ve always used.

BLADE LOVERJAMES WHITAKERHandicap:

ProfessionalCurrent putter: NikeMethod 001Likes: Putting is allabout feel for me so it’s got to besomething simple and compact thatdoesn’t get in my way.

MALLET MANDAN MURPHYHandicap: 3Current putter: PingRedwood Piper SLikes: I’ve usedmallet-style putters forso long now that it would be hard tochange to anything else. I like acompact head with a clean but low-key alignment aid.

THE MODERNISTTOM LENTONHandicap: 2Current putter:

Odyssey 2-BallLikes: I prefersomething that helpsyou line up short putts – hence I’veused the 2-Ball for a while now. Idon’t like anything too soft in termsof an insert.

THE NCG PROMISEWe pride ourselves on offeringunbiased, independent reviews


EXPERT ANALYSISWe speak to the top men from

Odyssey – the leading brand in putters

THE MAN AT THE TOPCHRIS KOSKEOdyssey’s global director

THE ENGINEERAUSTIE ROLLINSONOdyssey’s principle designer


DESIGN OF THE TANK

How Odyssey’s new

heavy putter was born

AR: The genesis of theidea came from theJapan LPGA tour. TheOdyssey Team therestarted getting requestsfrom players to makeshorter and heavierputters using Belly heads(400g) with a heavyputter shaft (150g) andan oversized grip (110g).They really found thatthis design helpedsmooth out their strokesand made them puttmore consistently. TheTank uses inertia tostabilise the putter duringthe stroke instead ofanchoring. We use acounter-balance weightunder the grip.

INSERT APPLICABLE?Are you for or against putterface inserts?AR: I strongly believe in putterinserts. We design our inserts to bevery lightweight. Whether it is using man-madeurethanes or a combination ofaluminum and urethane like onour Metal-X putters we strive toremove as much weight from theface in order to reposition it lowand deep in the putter head toincrease forgiveness and improveroll and therefore give ourcustomers more consistency. Inserts are also great tools for us tochange the sound and feel ofimpact. We can change thehardness and stiffness of the facematerial in order to tune both thesound at impact and the ball speedoff the face to ensure we make aputter strong across the board. It is more difficult to do that withan all metal putter.

CAST OR FORGED?Which method is best formaking putters?AR: We do both. All of ourmachined putters are forged andCNC milled. CNC milling aputter is an expensive way to makea putter. We like to forge ourblanks because it reduces theamount of wasted during theprocess. This makes the millingtime faster. The forging processdoes help to retain the niceuniform grain structure of themetal. This will help to ensure thesound of the each head is veryconsistent. When you are makinga non-inserted and machinedputter it is a great way to start.Casting is a fantastic way to massproduce a product because you canmake a lot of parts very fast.However, during the castingprocess the grain structure of themetal is very different and morerandom than in a forged part.

Rigorous testJames lookingat the Covertin great detail

THE #1 SHAFT




BENROSS

Casino Rummy

SRP: £69.99

PING

Scottsdale TR Anser No 2

SRP: £129

PING

Scottsdale TR ZBS

SRP: £129

PING

Scottsdale TR Senita

SRP: £129

PING

Scottsdale TR Tatum

SRP: £129

RIFE

Vault 001 Iconic Z

SRP: £124.99

NIKE

Method Core 01w

SRP: £109.99

WILSON STAFF

8882

SRP: £79.99

WILSON STAFF

8881

SRP: £79.99

WILSON STAFF

8883

SRP: £79.99

SCOTTY CAMERON

Select Newport

SRP: £278

TAYLORMADE

Ghost Tour SE-62

SRP: £119

YES!

i4 Tech Cally

SRP: £119

ODYSSEY

Versa 1

SRP: £119DM: I think Versa is well-suited tothose who putt with a square-to-square stroke

BENROSS

Casino Joker

SRP: £69.99DM: A nice simple shape and thefat grip feels great.

ALSO TESTEDRead more about all theseputters and more now at

nationalclubgolfer.com

TRADITIONAL MODELSIf you like your putter to be plain and simple then check out these

SCOTTY CAMERONSELECT NEWPORT 2

SRP: £278

DM: Such a nice shape – this is theputter I wish I could use but inpractice I struggle for consistency.TL: I absolutely love this on the shelf.But when I get over it on short puttsit doesn’t inspire confidence. Istruggle with consistency of strikeand felt like I was getting a few out ofthe bottom.JW: Very traditional. I love the lookswhen it’s on the shelf. It’s myfavourite Scotty Cameron shape.There’s too much loft on it for myeye, which makes the toe looks like itis in front of the heel.

RAACGT BLADE

SRP: £199

DM: The Raa is not as pretty as some but I wasreally impressed by both the feel off the face andthe roll I got. Well worth a look and with Raa’scustom-fitting expertise you will definitely get aputter that works well for you and performs.TL: This really worked for me. I got used to thelooks very quickly.JW: I don’t like the flare of the shaft into the head.But it rolls very well. I like the weighting. Itperforms better than I was expecting – very good.

ODYSSEYPROTYPE #2

SRP: £209

DD: It’s a great look with the black shaft – stealthlike. I like the alignment line. It gives good soft feel. It looks great on the shelf. Icould put this straight in the bag without a doubt -brilliant if you like this shape.JW: I love the alignment aid on the back and theway the putter swings. The grip is good as well.TL: This is very nice. It sits naturally slightlyforward which is just where I want it. Comes offthe face really nicely.

BESTTRADITIONALS

NCG pp 78-80 Putter Test 23/08/2013 14:01


MALLETSIf you like stability in a compact head then check these out

WILSON STAFF

8885

SRP: £79.99

ODYSSEY

Protype Tour Series 7

SRP: £209

RAA

CGT Mallet

SRP: £199TL: If you like to line your ball upthis will really help you and itperforms well.

SCOTTY CAMERON

Select GoLo

SRP: £278DM: Love the flowing nature of theshape – it’s a gorgeous design.

ODYSSEY

White Hot Pro 5

SRP: £109DM: I prefer the alignment lines onthis one to the equivalent Protypeversion.

YES!

i4 Tech Stephanie

SRP: £119 JW: I like the ‘rusty’ style look. Areally nice putter.

SCOTTY CAMERON

California Fastback

SRP: £278JW: Beautiful. Lovely roll off theface.

SCOTTY CAMERON

California Del Mar

SRP: £278DD: I like all the weight being in thetoe as it promotes an arc whichhelps me.

SCOTTY CAMERON

Select GoLo

SRP: £278DD: I really like the shape andproportions of this head.

TAYLORMADE

Spider Mallet 72

SRP: £159JW: I really like this. I can’t say whybut it works!

BENROSS

Casino Spades

SRP: £69.99DM: I like the shape – it’s just thekind of thing that suits my eye.



ODYSSEYWHITE HOT PRO V LINE

SRP: £129

DD: This is easy to line up with the threelines on the back. Putter sits really square.If you struggle with your alignment a greatoption. Nice soft feel off the insert.JW: Lovely. A really good putter and adead-simple mallet. Rolls really well. I likeeverything about this. I much prefermallets that are uncomplicated to lookdown on like this one.DM: I’m a big fan of this – I could groovea low and smooth stroke that gave me lotsof confidence. Because of the flat sole I wasable to slide the putter away from the balland back again very easily.

RIFEVAULT PRODIGY

SRP: £149.99

DD: I wasn’t so keen on the look with the two-tone colour. But I actually liked the feel and theroll and the deep face helped me keep the putternice and low.TL: This feels really good. Quite easy to line up.Forgiving on long putts. And springy off the face.DM: I really like the sound. Nice and solid. Theshape is very appealing though personally I had tohit a few putts to get past the two-tone aspectwhich I found unnecessarily distracting.

PINGSCOTTSDALE TR SHEA

SRP: £129

DM: This, to my eye, is what a mallet should looklike in terms of proportions and the way it sits.With this range, you get the added benefit of beingable to adjust the length, which I think is a brilliantway of letting you experiement to find what worksbest for you. With putting being so much aboutfeel, it’s great that you can adjust it, take it out for 9holes and then decide if it’s right for you. TL: Very nice to line up. Would suit someonegoing from blade to their first mallet. Very nice.

BESTMALLETS


SCOTTY CAMERONFUTURA X

SRP: £278

TL: I love the hollow feel off the face. One of my twofavourites. I like this shape of putter. I’d prefer it if there wasone line down the line of the ball for alignment.DM: I thought it was light – surprisingly so, given thesize. I totally get the idea –it is incredibly stable. JW: First impressions areit’s very big. The two reddots catch my eye and it’sall I can see. The more Iused it the better the results.DD: As someone used to a blade, it’s like aspaceship! But it swings very nicely and I can seethe theory.


BENROSS

Casino Shooter

SRP: £69.99JW: It just sits behind the ball in avery stable way. Really good andextremely easy to use.

ODYSSEY

Versa 7

SRP: £119TL: I don’t like the colours but I dolike the feel off the face, it is veryeasy to line up.

PING

Scottsdale TR Greyhawk

SRP: £129JW: For me the chunky grip wasfine with this type of putter. Goodalignment aid.

RIFE

Vault Hero

SRP: £149.99JW: It looks quite funky but I mustsay it rolls the ball really well. Goodif you can get past that.

NIKE

Method Core Drone 2.0

SRP: £125JW: Quite a striking head – there’sa lot going on.

ODYSSEY

Tank #7

SRP: £139TL: Really good on short putts. Ithelps you be smooth and you canbuild up loads of confidence.

ODYSSEY

White Hot Pro Dart

SRP: £109JW: I like this. The alignment aidhelps me feel like I’ve got the rightline.

ODYSSEY

White Hot Pro 2-Ball

SRP: £109TL: Still the original and best for mymoney. I would pick this every dayof the week. Utter class.

BURTON

Custom (Blue)

JW: The sound is very arresting.There’s too much going on withhead. Hard to argue with the qualitythough and the feel is nice whenyou get it out of the smallsweetspot. One for good putters.



MODERNUtilise the benefits of modern technology with one of these shapes

TAYLORMADESPIDER S

SRP: £149

JW: This is just so easy. It’s my favourite from therange. Everything is simple and it really wants toroll off the face. Simply swing it back and thenthrough again and it doesn’t want to veer offline.TL: It doesn’t feel like you’re hitting it but itcomes off really nicely – it’s quite springy, which Ireally like. There’s nothing worse than a deadinsert and this certainly gives you some speed atimpact. I like this a lot.DM: I wouldn’t normally go for a putter that isthis big and busy but I agree with the other testers– it works!

ODYSSEYVERSA 2-BALL

SRP: £169

JW: I like the contrast. It made it simple to gostraight back and through and get a pendulumstroke. These are selling well and I’m notsurprised – they’re brilliantDM: I personally don’t get on with 2-Balls and I’mafraid this was no exception. I do think that theVersa concept works well on this style though – it’svisually very strong and extremely easy to line upand see throughout the stroke.TL: I think the insert is a touch too firm for myliking. The black does help you line up though,alignment is not an issue.

BESTMODERN


WHAT WE LEARNEDSome conclusions from a day testing dozens of putters

FEEL, FEEL, FEELWe firmly believe in usingtechnology and custom fittingwhen it comes to golf equipment.And there's no doubt an expert canhelp suggest some good areas tolook at when it comes to a newputter. But we've concluded that,in putters, feel trumps everything.If you believe a putter is for youthen you've got a chance. If itdoesn't look or feel right then nomatter how much it suits yourstroke or has a great insert oralignment aid then you are alwaysgoing to struggle.

TRY LONG AND SHORT PUTTSWhere do you struggle most?Holing out or to judge distancefrom long range? If it's the formerthen you should at leastexperiment with a modern design.These putters are amazingly stableand can help take any twitches outof your stroke.

If it's the latter then you mightfind a smaller head is easier tocontrol when making a longer

stroke. Then again, if you aremissing the sweet spot more oftenthan not then a model with a bitmore forgiveness could well help.

The key is to experiment andmake sure you are as happy withyour new putter when tickling in adownhill three-footer as whenclubbing one from the fringe of aslow green.

WEIGHTY MATTERSDon't confuse a large head with aheavy one, or a minimalist bladewith a light one. It doesn'tnecessarily work like that. In ourexperience, the opposite is oftenthe case. Some people like a bit ofweight in the head. Others findthey are more smooth with a lighthead. Again, it's crucial to tryputters before buying.

GROOVES REALLY WORKWhen you hit thousands of puttswith different clubs the differencein roll from putter to putterbecomes noticeable. And generallyspeaking grooved putters created

the quickest and effective roll.That’s not to say flat inserts andnormal faces don’t roll it nicely.

SOFT MIGHT NOT BE GOODSome of the more expensiveputters on test are milled or forgedfrom soft steel and, although thisfeels fantastic at impact, it comesoff the blade slowly and makesgetting the ball to the hole quitedifficult. It also exaggerates yourmis-hits as the toe and heel areboth much firmer than the softcentre and this can affect distancecontrol when you miss the sweetspot. If you play fast greens, thereis nothing better.

NECKS MATTERWhere the shaft enters theclubhead is arguably one of themost important things to consideraesthetically. Heads of the same shape lookdramatically different withdifferent neck types, so make sureyou try out a few and get the onethat best suits your eye.

@ Moor AllertonGolf Club, Leeds

For the best in

CUSTOMFITTING

www.jwgolf.co.uk0113 266 5209

QUOTE ‘NCG’ for afree fitting

We useTrackman forthe ultimatein accuracy

Authorised fitting centre for


NCG pp 81 Putters WWL 23/08/2013 12:05

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DRUH Players Collection £44.95

ABACUS Fringe £19.99

FOOTJOYBelt £60

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GALVIN GREENWest £65

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IJP Signature Buckle £15.95

Luxe leather belt in white £54.95

GOLFINOCotton £39.95

PUMAHigh Shine £40

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Reversible £50

ADIDAS Three-Stripe £44.99

BELTSBuckle up and make a stylestatement with these great options

NCG pp 82 Fashion 23/08/2013 11:57


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EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY


Hit it further and straighter | Hole more putts | Sharpen your short game | Golf psychology | Fitness tips

YOUR GAME

ALSO INSIDEn FAIRWAY TRAPS P89

How to escape in stylen SLICE OF LIFE P91Get rid for goodn BE SMOOTH P93Great tip to hit more greens


UNDERSTAND YOUR SLICE

How your hips can help you finally lose your big miss


The biggest slicers have thefollowing at impact: hips the leastforward, weight the least forwardand the club handle is low and

back behind the clubheadThese make the path go across theball and allow the club to comesteeper into the ball.

THE SLICER

The biggest drawers have thefollowing at impact: the hips,weight and the handle the mostforward of the clubhead and the

highest through the ball.These make the path go out at theball more as they allow the club todescend shallower into the ball.

THE DRAWER

So we need to set up with the hipspushed forward as above, notletting the head go forward of thehips. This will close off theshoulders and put more weight onthe left. Then push the handleforward and raise the handleheight up (above right). These areyour impact alignments. So whenswinging the club you must feelthe handle height raise more asyou move through the ball. Thiscombined with maintainingstraight arms through impact willensure you have the draw ballflight you have always dreamed of.

THE DRILL

SLICING isa problemthat canhaunt most

people when the driver ispulled from the bag.You must understand whatcontrols the curvature ofthe ball.The path is the maincontributory factor thatcontrols this and for mostplayers their path can be

aggressively out to in.Even if the clubface isbullet straight to thetarget at impact, the ballcan still curve if the path isacross the ball. So this is what we need toaddress.By getting the player tohit more out at the balland not across it we willhaving you hitting drawsin no time.

S

Shot on location atLas Colinas Golf & Country Club

THE UK’S LARGEST GOLF RETAIL GROUP WWW.FOREMOSTGOLF.COM

Graeme Bell is head professional atLinlithgow GC. He is one of over 1,000Foremost pros from all over the UK. Formore visit www.foremostgolf.com andwww.graemebellgolf.com

F you are one of thesepeople who is stillunconvinced by thebenefits of a hybrid

over a long iron then the one shotthat probably highlights theadvantages of the hybrid most isthe fairway bunker shot. Most amateurs will get the ball out

but they rarely produce the correctcontact, trajectory or energy to getto the intended target.

Obviously the features of thehybrid head don’t change fromlonger grass to sand, however theirbenefit in helping you successfullyexecute the shot in hand certainlydo.

I

SAND &DELIVER

Why landing in a fairway bunker doesn’tnecessarily mean dropping shots


Stuart Wilson is the professional at Eastwood GCnear Glasgow. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost prosfrom all over the UK to givetuition.www.stuartwilsonpro.co.uk



Let’s start with that sole width. When the ballis in thicker grass that sole helps cut throughthe ground to get to the ball, however this timein the sand that sole design will stop the clubdigging too deep into the sand meaning youdon’t have to be as precise with your contact.Given the difficulty of the shot it is veryreassuring to know that you don’t have to hit itperfectly.

The lower-profile face and distribution ofhead weight will always encourage the ball topop up with a higher initial launch angle than asimilar long iron meaning you can escape overthe high bunker lip without sacrificing theoverall distance you are trying to hit, This willhelp you visualise the ball coming out high andclean, which will reduce you helping the ball upthat I see all too often with golfers.

The key to any bunker shot remember startswith good sound footing!

So remember to shuffle your feet into thesand to help retain stability and counter balancethe fact that you`ve lowered yourself to the ballby gripping slightly down the club.

Now make sure that you maintain yourheight throughout the shot and swingnormally – and trust the club’s benefits.

Instruction section in association with The UK’s Largest Golf Retail Group

BETTER BALLSTRIKING...

IN AN INSTANT

I have many players come to seeme who really struggle withconsistency in striking the ball andalso the direction that they startthe ball. A common cause of this isthe club going off plane during thebackswing with many playersdropping it on the inside orpicking it up too quickly.

The following drill will help youto set the club into a goodposition, allowing you to completethe backswing properly and fromthere make a better and moreconsistent strike.

THE DRILLWhen performing the drill place aclub or alignment stick pointingout at 45˚, then take the clubhalfway back, setting it in a directline over the club on the ground.Once you have checked you are inthe correct position complete yourshoulder turn and hit the shot.

Repeat this four or five timesbefore introducing a ball in orderto train the muscle to make thisnew move.

LESS ISMORE

A great tip that should help you to hit more greens...

Peter Myers is headprofessional at HainsworthPark near Hull. He is one ofover 1,000 Foremost prosfrom all over the UK to give tuition.More: www.petermyersgolf.co.uk

F you want to hit more greenswith your irons, I suggestimproving your rhythm. To dothis, take more club and hold

down the grip. Swing slower to improveboth control and balance. I can understandaverage players trying to squeeze 10 moreyards out of the driver, but getting more outof your irons is the kiss of death. If you canresist the tendency to swing more than 80percent, you’ll have better balance andrhythm. Take a solid 6 iron instead of tryingto belt a 7 iron and watch the flight, distanceand spin improve. Your mechanics will bebetter, and you’ll find the sweet spot moreoften. Get down the range and practice acontrolled iron shot swing, seek out aprofessional with a launch monitor and dialin those distances.

I


James Whitaker is headpro at Moor Allerton.www.magc.co.uk0113 266 5209

CORRECTIONThis is an amended version from our

September issue. We apologise for any confusion

NCG pp 87 Instruction Lead 23/08/2013 14:12

F you are one of thesepeople who is stillunconvinced by thebenefits of a hybrid

over a long iron then the one shotthat probably highlights theadvantages of the hybrid most isthe fairway bunker shot. Most amateurs will get the ball out

but they rarely produce the correctcontact, trajectory or energy to getto the intended target.

Obviously the features of thehybrid head don’t change fromlonger grass to sand, however theirbenefit in helping you successfullyexecute the shot in hand certainlydo.

I

SAND &DELIVER

Why landing in a fairway bunker doesn’tnecessarily mean dropping shots

NCG pp 88-89 Wilson Foremost 23/08/2013 10:12


Stuart Wilson is the professional at Eastwood GCnear Glasgow. He is one of over 1,000 Foremost prosfrom all over the UK to givetuition.www.stuartwilsonpro.co.uk



Let’s start with that sole width. When the ballis in thicker grass that sole helps cut throughthe ground to get to the ball, however this timein the sand that sole design will stop the clubdigging too deep into the sand meaning youdon’t have to be as precise with your contact.Given the difficulty of the shot it is veryreassuring to know that you don’t have to hit itperfectly.

The lower-profile face and distribution ofhead weight will always encourage the ball topop up with a higher initial launch angle than asimilar long iron meaning you can escape overthe high bunker lip without sacrificing theoverall distance you are trying to hit, This willhelp you visualise the ball coming out high andclean, which will reduce you helping the ball upthat I see all too often with golfers.

The key to any bunker shot remember startswith good sound footing!

So remember to shuffle your feet into thesand to help retain stability and counter balancethe fact that you`ve lowered yourself to the ballby gripping slightly down the club.

Now make sure that you maintain yourheight throughout the shot and swingnormally – and trust the club’s benefits.

NCG pp 88-89 Wilson Foremost 23/08/2013 10:12


UNDERSTAND YOUR SLICE

How your hips can help you finally lose your big miss

NCG pp 90-91 Bell Foremost 23/08/2013 14:04


The biggest slicers have thefollowing at impact: hips the leastforward, weight the least forwardand the club handle is low and

back behind the clubheadThese make the path go across theball and allow the club to comesteeper into the ball.

THE SLICER

The biggest drawers have thefollowing at impact: the hips,weight and the handle the mostforward of the clubhead and the

highest through the ball.These make the path go out at theball more as they allow the club todescend shallower into the ball.

THE DRAWER

So we need to set up with the hipspushed forward as above, notletting the head go forward of thehips. This will close off theshoulders and put more weight onthe left. Then push the handleforward and raise the handleheight up (above right). These areyour impact alignments. So whenswinging the club you must feelthe handle height raise more asyou move through the ball. Thiscombined with maintainingstraight arms through impact willensure you have the draw ballflight you have always dreamed of.

THE DRILL

SLICING isa problemthat canhaunt most

people when the driver ispulled from the bag.You must understand whatcontrols the curvature ofthe ball.The path is the maincontributory factor thatcontrols this and for mostplayers their path can be

aggressively out to in.Even if the clubface isbullet straight to thetarget at impact, the ballcan still curve if the path isacross the ball. So this is what we need toaddress.By getting the player tohit more out at the balland not across it we willhaving you hitting drawsin no time.

S



Graeme Bell is head professional atLinlithgow GC. He is one of over 1,000Foremost pros from all over the UK. Formore visit www.foremostgolf.com and

www.graemebellgolf.com

NCG pp 90-91 Bell Foremost 23/08/2013 14:04

Foremost Golf 23/08/2013 11:58 Page 1

LESS ISMORE

A great tip that should help you to hit more greens...

Peter Myers is headprofessional at HainsworthPark near Hull. He is one ofover 1,000 Foremost prosfrom all over the UK to give tuition.More: www.petermyersgolf.co.uk

F you want to hit more greenswith your irons, I suggestimproving your rhythm. To dothis, take more club and hold

down the grip. Swing slower to improveboth control and balance. I can understandaverage players trying to squeeze 10 moreyards out of the driver, but getting more outof your irons is the kiss of death. If you canresist the tendency to swing more than 80percent, you’ll have better balance andrhythm. Take a solid 6 iron instead of tryingto belt a 7 iron and watch the flight, distanceand spin improve. Your mechanics will bebetter, and you’ll find the sweet spot moreoften. Get down the range and practice acontrolled iron shot swing, seek out aprofessional with a launch monitor and dialin those distances.

I


NCG pp 93 Myers Foremost 23/08/2013 13:35

LIFT WEIGHTSTO IMPROVEYOUR GAMEThese golf-specific exercises offer great advantages

It requires that you are either amember of a gym or that youhave access, at the very least, tosome dumbells or weights.

Without having either ofthese, it is very difficult torecreate the exercises I refer to.

What I would say is thatdoing a bit of resitance trainingis beneficial for everyone –whether they are a golfer or not.Lifting weights burns fat quicker

than running and the effects lastlong after your workout. An hourtwo to three times a week doingthese golf-specific exercises willreally benefit your game and takeyou to the next level.

John Sheehy is a personaltrainer and Herbalife coach,based in Leeds. He is also agolf professional. Call 07988 449936

for further details.

The final instalment in the series will focus on improving strengthand balance for your golf swing through resistance training.


NCG pp 94-95 Fitness 7 23/08/2013 12:14


STRONG THROUGH IMPACTThis mimics the throughswing and strengthens your back/shouldersand hips. You don’t need much weight to feel the effect. Starting atthe top of the backswing, work the arms and hips to impact positionand repeat. Rhythm and timing are key; use momentum to help get

you going. Do four sets of 20 reps and feel the body working.

POWER AND BALANCED BACKSWINGIn your golf address position and two dumbells/kettlebells clutched to

your chest as shown, turn your upper body as you would on a shot,keeping your lower body solid – knees flexed and hips turned. Hold

for five seconds and repeat. Do four sets of 15 reps.

A MORE DYNAMIC TRANSITION AND FINISHPlace one dumbell/kettlebell in your right hand with your knuckles

‘looking’ at the ceiling and elbows bent. Rotate your body to the left,mimicking the swing finish and simultaneously push the weight

towards the ceiling. Hold finish for three seconds. Repeat. Completefour sets of 12 reps and benefit from a more balanced finish position.

NCG pp 94-95 Fitness 7 23/08/2013 12:14

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NCG.com 23/08/2013 11:58 Page 1


HAD the great pleasure during theOpen Championship to meet thegreat Gary Player back at the sceneof one of his many Major victories.

If I had never played golf before and somebodyhad asked me to guess the age of thisdiminutive character, with a sharp twinkle inhis eyes and a palpable energy about his wholebeing, I would have said late fifties.

But I did know who it was and, at the firstopportunity I had, the smartphone was engagedand the question was put into Google. Theinstant answer came back – Gary Player, golfer,South Africa, born November 1 1935 agedSEVENTY SEVEN!

If ever there was a man who embodied theepitome of ‘walking his talk’ and living as hepreached, here he was. Still beating his age bynumerous shots on a regular basis, stillincredibly enthusiastic, very opinionated,sometimes controversial but, above all, I gotthe impression of the man in front of me whowas someone who was very much alive.

It got me thinking about the link with golfand wondered do we take our eye off the ball intrying to keep older people playing or even theseemingly far-out idea of getting older peopleinvolved in the game for the first time?

I honestly believe golf can be a life enhancerif not a life saver. Could golf also help us to‘think ourselves young?’

The legendary Harvard psychologist EllenLanger conducted an experiment many yearsago that is both exciting and profoundlyimportant for all of us as we get inevitablyolder. Professor Langer recruited a group ofelderly men in their late 70s or 80s for what shedescribed as ‘a week of reminiscence’. Theparticipants were not told they were taking partin an experiment. Langer wanted to know whatwould happen to the bodies of the men as theywere taken back 20 years in time. The groupwas basically placed in an environment whichwas essentially a time-warp capsule. Theywatched films from the 1950s, they listened tomusic from the era, had discussions aboutCastro marching on Havana and the latestNASA satellite launch, all in the present tense,for a whole week.

Prior to the experiment Langer had takenphysiological measurements of all theparticipants. The stunning results afterwards

showed clearly across the board how the menhad improved gait, dexterity, arthritis, speed ofmovement, cognitive abilities and theirmemories had all measurably improved. Bythinking younger, they had become younger!

The great beauty of golf is it affords us theopportunity to mix with younger people, tothink younger, to have goals of improvement,the opportunity to travel, to socialise. We are asocial animal and, if we stop playing the game,the opportunity for numerous socialinteractions can be taken away from us.

Also, the game requires a certain level offitness but it also gives us a reason to be fit.Player is that living breathing example of the

benefits of staying fit but science is telling usthat just because you are over 45, you don’thave to begin the slide into decrepitude.

According to a study resistance training canenhance muscle mass and function even in 90-year-old subjects (McComas 2005). Individualsover 90 have been shown to make significantgains on a weight-training programme. Elderly(ages 67-97) who participated in a free weightprogramme reported a decreased fear of fallingin addition to increased functional performance(Brill, et. al. 1998).

Golf needs to look at how we can get moreyoungsters involved for sure because that isvital to the future of the game but we don’twant to miss the opportunity of keeping oldergolfers involved.

KARL MORRISEver happy

Player stilllooks andfeels great

n Come and experience an extraordinary three days atthe Mind Factor Certification course for coaches andplayers with Karl. The course will be held in Manchesteron November 16–18. www.themindfactor.com

GOLF PSYCHOLOGY

Can golf make us look and feel younger?

‘Golf affords us theopportunity to mixwith younger people’

I

NCG pp 97 Columnist KM 23/08/2013 13:34

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100NORTH AMERICAPlay some of the mostfamous names in golf, fromPebble Beach to Pinehurst...

105TURKEYWhy the fastest-growinggolf destination simplykeeps getting better

108UNITED ARABEMIRATESDesert golf on a five-starand grand scale in Dubaiand Abu Dhabi

112MAURITIUSThe archetypal paradiseisland has a myriad optionsto choose from

114NORTH AFRICATunisia and Morocco arenow very serious aboutattracting travelling golfers

116THAILANDWhy this is rapidlybecoming the world’s mostpopular golfing destination

CONTENTSTRAVEL SPECIAL

LOOK OUTFOR CLIVE

with his toptips for our

destinations

NCG pp 99 Travel | Contents 23/08/2013 14:19 Page 1


TRAVEL SPECIAL | North America

North AmericaFor the experience of a lifetime, head to the States on yournext trip – it can offer everything you could possibly desire

CLIVE’SKEY ADVICE

Fly with Virgin Atlantic and

take your golf clubs for free

(max weight 23kg). Even I

sometimes get IDd – my skin is still

very soft – so be sure not to

go out without being able to

produce something

official.

NCG pp100-102 Travel | USA 23/08/2013 14:42 Page 100


MERICA is home toover half the world’sgolf courses, andmany of its finest.

Beyond this, the attractions forUK golfers are manifold: Englishis spoken, direct flights arecommon, there’s warm weatheryear round and even with the

pound languishing against thedollar, it still offers good valuefor money.

British citizens holding 10-year passports can travel to theUS for up to 90 days without avisa under the Visa WaiverProgramme, but must still applyto enter via the ESTA process

(Electronic System for TravelAuthorization) which costs £10.Passports must be valid for atleast six months after the date ofentry. The Department ofHomeland Security is addressingits reputation for, let’s say,sternness at border controls, butonce through customs nowhere

on earth will give you a warmerwelcome.

The sheer scale of Americamakes fly/drive holidays aparticularly good option,especially if you are hoping tovisit a few courses. Roads areexcellent – wide and well signed– car rental is easy and good ➤

A



TRAVEL SPECIAL | North America

value, plus petrol costs around 75per cent less than in the UK.

You must be over 25 to rent acar and will need both parts ofyour driving licence. Note that SatNav doesn’t come as standard andis worth the extra investment ifyou’re planning a road trip. Withsuch diversity and a glut of coursesacross the country it’s difficult tonarrow recommendations down,but we have chosen four distinctdestinations of note.

CALIFORNIAThe state of California is almost800 miles long, ranging from thecool, forested north borderingOregon, to the hot, hip, laid-backsouth where San Diego meetsMexico. The Pacific CoastHighway runs almost the length ofthe state, hugging the coast, and issurely one of the world’s greatestroad trips. Fly into San Franciscoand head south on PCH to SantaCruz and Pasatiempo Golf Club,designed by the great Dr AlisterMacKenzie. Or keep on straight tothe Monterrey Peninsula, home toCypress Point, another MacKenziemasterpiece and candidate for the

title of greatest golf course in theworld – although you’ll needserious connections to get on here.

Not to worry though, a stone’sthrow away on scenic 17 MileDrive is Pebble Beach, JackNicklaus’ favourite course, routedalong craggy headlandsoverlooking Carmel Bay.

Playing Pebble is a rite ofpassage for many, but isn’t cheap.If you baulk at the $495 green fee,try neighbouring Spyglass Hill,arguably the toughest course onthe Peninsula, with an army of fanswho’ll swear it’s also the best.

If there’s still gas in your tank,continue south, past Los Angelesand its uber-exclusive countryclubs towards San Diego and hitPacific-pounded Torrey Pines –frequent PGA Tour fixture, two ofthe best municipal courses in theUS (the North and South) andTiger’s playground.Flight Time: 11 hours

ARIZONAArizona – and specifically the areaaround Scottsdale to the north eastof Phoenix – is synonymous withdesert golf, dramatic landscapes

and mild winter climates. It is alsopossible to combine a trip toArizona with Palm Springs andLas Vegas for a multi-centreholiday. For quintessential target-style desert golf, try the Chollacourse at the We-Ko-Pa GolfClub, or play the undulating,boulder-strewn Pinnacle course atTroon North GC, overlooking theeponymous peak, and feel likeJohn Wayne.Flight Time: 11 hours

FLORIDAFlorida is the home of resort golf.Fly direct to Orlando and you canbe teeing off the same day. Disneyis king in these parts and the LakeBuena Vista Golf Course is thejewel in its crown; a classic countryclub course that has hosted thePGA Tour.

The Magnolia Course is a truetest of length for serious playersand the nine-hole Oak Trailfeatures junior tees and the chancethe play with the whole family. IfMickey’s not your thing, Floridahas world-class courses inSawgrass (Jacksonville), Doral(Miami) and the Pine Barrens

course at World Woods GC.Flight Time: 9 hours

THE CAROLINASThe Carolinas share both themajestic Blue Ridge Mountains,part of the Appalachian Range,and a meandering, unspoiltcoastline where you can spot wildhorses and eat shrimp and grits,served with a huge dollop ofsouthern hospitality.

Most famous is NorthCarolina’s Pinehurst, the spiritualhome of American golf. The No. 2course is the 2014 US Openvenue, although stay at Pinehurstand you can pick any of its eightcourses to suit your level. A closesecond is Kiawah Island, home tofive championship courses with thepick being the Ocean Course andits panoramic Atlantic views (andwinds). If your golf relies onfinesse rather than strength, headfor Harbour Town Golf Links atthe Sea Pines Resort, or if youwant to stay in one place, MyrtleBeach is the Mother Lode; youcould stay for two months and notplay the same course twice.Flight Time: 9 hours


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NCG pp105 Travel | Turkey 23/08/2013 11:31 Page 105


N a word: convenience.That's why British golfersstarted flocking to Turkey afew years ago and have been

returning ever since. Winter Sun, formany golfers, needs to be simple. We'veonly got five days, or a long weekend, toget our fix and want to spend as muchtime as possible on the golf course andbe able to enjoy ourselves afterwards.

Well, I am here to tell you that golfin Turkey is very, very relaxing. Theflight into Antalya Airport is around thefour-hour mark and from there it is allplain sailing.

If you haven't yet been to Turkeythen you will probably just accept thereis going to be some sort of travel fromone course to the next when on a golfingholiday – it’s the price you pay forwanting to play at different places. Butnot here in Turkey. Unless you go toplay at Lykia Links, which is still withinhalf an hour of most hotels, you’ll be intransit for just 10 minutes; often less.

The stretch of land extending westfrom Antalya, which is on Turkey's southcoast, stretches for miles and includeslittle that is not either a luxury resort ora golf course. All these resorts offertransfers to the other courses and itmeans you can be on the 1st tee withinminutes of leaving your hotel reception.

Once you're finished, simply wanderinto the clubhouse or sit outside andenjoy a relaxing drink – you won't need adesignated driver as a minibus will whiskyou and your merry crew back to yourresort once you're ready.

Golf is a very new sport in Turkeyand they have several factors in theirfavour. One is certainly the economicfactor of not being in the Euro. Iberianresorts simply can’t or won’t compete onprice. Another is the wonderful year-round climate that the south-coastregion of Belek enjoys.

More than anything else, though, thegolf is excellent. The land is perfectlysuited to our sport. Many of the 14courses in the Belek golfing hotspot (infact, there are only 20 courses in thewhole of Turkey) are quite literally builton sand – and that’s one reason why theyplay so well. Quick-draining and firm,the conditioning is generally excellent soyou can anticipate some crisp ironstriking and putting on some quick andtrue surfaces.

In my experience, the conditioning ofthe courses in Turkey is outstanding –and that is something that cannot alwaysbe said in the Algarve, for example.

I

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CLIVE’SKEY ADVICE

Consider playing early

in the morning. Pace of

play can get slow later in the

day – and at that kind of

time I prefer to be nursing

a large sundowner in the

shade.

TRAVEL SPECIAL | Turkey

NCG pp106 Travel | Turkey 23/08/2013 11:32 Page 106

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TRAVEL SPECIAL | The UAE

United Arab EmiratesWhy Abu Dhabi is now the place to go for golf in the Arabian Gulf

NCG pp108-109 Travel | UAE 23/08/2013 11:37 Page 108


OU wouldn't thinkthe pictured coursewas in the heart ofthe Arabian desert,

would you? And 50 years ago youwould've been right. Back then,the UAE was home to less than100,000 people and wasessentially a desolate block ofblistering sand.

The discovery of oil in 1962changed all that. Withmonumental revenues piling upthrough exportation of crude oil,

the government sought toimprove the lives of its people andinvested heavily.

The world watched spellboundas billionaire Emiratis builtmegastructure aftermegastructure, seducing slack-jawed tourists and expats witheverything from the sail-shapedBurj Al Arab to sensational souks,and sprawling tax-free shoppingcentres. The bustling metropolisthat exists now is characterised byits dredged islands, man-made

waterways, opulent hotels, and anarray of top class golf courses, likethis one on Saadiyat Island in AbuDhabi, which was designed byGary Player. Saadiyat Beach isone of three Abu Dhabi courses inGolf Digest's Middle East top-four, so it makes sense to start

your Emirati journey here. Thecapital of the UAE, Abu Dhabihas slowly become the culturalheart of the country. For a while,it seemed nothing could halt thesteaming locomotive that wasDubai, but the global financialmeltdown put pay to countlessproperty projects. Abu Dhabi,with its larger oil reserves,escaped relatively unscathed.

The city is now leading theway in tourism and is at the centreof most of the new architecture ➤

Y “Test your mettle onthe world’s fastestrollercoaster”

NCG pp108-109 Travel | UAE 23/08/2013 11:37 Page 109


TRAVEL SPECIAL | The UAE

investment. Indeed, two newgalleries - the Louvre andGuggenheim - are set to open inthe next few years, while FerrariWorld, a theme park home to theworld's fastest rollercoaster, islocated opposite the city's F1track, which has a Grand Prixevery year.

It goes without saying that offthe course you are spoilt forchoice. And although there areonly three recognised grasscourses in the city, they are allsuperb. The Player-designedSaadiyat Beach is the first course

in the Middle East to be locatedon the sea front. Visuallystunning, it is a seriousexamination paper which canmeasure a whopping 7,806 yards.The holes are littered withbunkers and water hazards, too.Although extremely enjoyableand respected, Saadiyat isarguably the quirkiest of AbuDhabi's offerings. Abu DhabiGC, on the other hand, isrelatively traditional. Theeponymous host of the city'sannual Tour event is one of thestrongest on the circuit. It is

slightly resort in style but verydifficult and interesting. Thegreens are lightning quick, andthe fairways and tees like carpets.If Saadiyat is the fast-paced thrillride, and Abu Dhabi GC is thetechnically-sound resort layout,Yas Links is a perfect middleground. Renowned architectKyle Phillips (Kingsbarns and

The Grove) has sculpted whatcan only be described as the bestexample of links golf in a hotclimate I’ve seen.

Long fescue grass, ripplingfairways and mountainous dunesgive the impression you’re inScotland, just with much betterweather. And no deep-fried marsbars. It is fair to say that AbuDhabi GC is possibly the bestall-round course in the city.Saadiyat Beach and Yas Links arestunning in their own right, butyou could argue a lot lessplayable everything being equal.

“You are spoilt forchoice both on andoff the course”

CLIVE’SADVICESave some dirhams forthe airport - cigs andbooze are cheap as chips soyou can stock up. Justmake sure customsdon’t find out...Clive

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NCG pp110 Travel | UAE 23/08/2013 11:35 Page 110

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FREE daily golf, Half Board, transfers & fl ights


TRAVEL SPECIAL | Mauritius

MauritiusDoes the archetypal beach and golf resortholiday better than anywhere else on earth

CERTAINLYcan’t improve onthe descriptionMark Twain gave

to Mauritius. “You gather theidea that Mauritius was madefirst and then heaven wascopied after Mauritius,” wrotethe fabled American author.

Clear the grounds of theairport – a gloriously hassle-free experience in itself,despite it having echoes of abygone age with a feeling orgood-natured chaos – and youare immediately surroundedby breathtaking scenes,whether classic beach views orlush green forests inland.

Dotted within this idylliclandscape are a collection ofluxury hotels which, squaremile for square mile, mustrival anywhere else in theworld. Grouped in littlepockets at various points onthe island’s coast, at times youcannot travel for more than aminute without driving pastan entrance to a chic resort.

British holidaymakers makeup a good proportion ofvisitors to Mauritius, returningyear after year (estimated at100,000 annually) to enjoymore hot sun, crystal-clear sea,gorgeous white sand and first-class service. The latter is an

I

PERFECT PACKAGESupertravel Golf is one of the UK’slargest golf tour operators, offeringworldwide breaks. Mauritius is theirpremier long-haul destination. The deal: A 14-night half-board stay in ajunior suite at five-star Prince MauriceHotel from £2,845pp. Includes free dailygolf on the two championship courses(Belle Mare’s Links and Legend) alongwith buggies, premium club hire, freetransfers and direct flights from London(regional airports available on request).supertravel.co.uk • 0207 962 9494

NCG pp112-113 Travel | Mauritius 23/08/2013 14:17 Page 112


under-rated aspect of the island’sattractions; its multicultural mix –Indian, Creoles, Chinese andFrench – combines to give theMauritians the perfecttemperament for hotel staff, beingeasy going, friendly and achinglykeen to help in any respect.

The British have come toMauritius for centuries andremnants of the colonial eraremain in the tea plantations andthe reassuring law which seesdriving on the left.

The link extends to golf. In1902 Royal Navy officers formedthe Gymkhana Golf Club. Itremains today and their coursenot surprisingly offers the best-

value on the island. You also getto lap up the atmosphere of theirclubhouse, which is amusinglyreminiscent of a British pub. It’scertainly worth a tour inland toplay (it’s near Vacoas) and breakup the regular fun you will behaving on your resort’s course.

Le Touessrok is the mostfamous resort, and with goodreason. It boasts a stunning islandcourse as well as one of the‘Leading Hotels of the World’.

Not a bad combination.The course is reached via a

small boat from a jetty next to thehotel and straightaway there issomething special about theexperience. Once on ‘Ile aux

Cerfs’ – island of deer – you playa course combining predictablysensational ocean views withsome serious woodland action.

The density of trees meansyou must hit it straight – it wasdesigned by Bernhard Langer –to thoroughly enjoy the round;this is no time for bravado.

Back on the mainland, five-star Le Touessrok is frequentedby celebrities and the rich but isby no means unaccessible to youor I. Shop around for deals – andconsider going outside of ourwinter when the weather isactually more settled, and you canenjoy the holiday of a lifetime.Like the golf course, the layout of

the hotel is pretty special, with acentral hub spreading out into theocean through a series of bridgesand paths. It is here the bedroomsare found, perched on the edge ofthe crystal clear Indian Ocean...

There are lots of alternativestoo, starting with Belle MarePlage, which has two courses, theLegend and the Links. Or try theErnie Els course (on a peninsulajutting into the ocean) at FourSeasons Anahita or the quirkynine-holer at Le Telfair. Paradison Le Morne Peninsula is specialand Tamarina offers fabulousmountain and sea views. Finally,Golf du Château’s inland courseat the Heritage Resort is terrific.

CLIVE’SKEY ADVICELe Touessrok has anew chic hotel, LongBeach, and it is ideal foryounger couples orgroups of golfers. It’salso a bit cheapertoo.

NCG pp112-113 Travel | Mauritius 23/08/2013 14:17 Page 113


TRAVEL SPECIAL | North Africa

North AfricaEgypt, Tunisia and Morocco offer great winter sun options

MAZAGAN, MOROCCO

NCG pp114-115 Travel | North Africa 23/08/2013 14:18 Page 114


ITH the game verymuch on the up inthis part of the worldmore and more of us

are taking advantage of the shortflight south for affordable golfplayed under bright skies.

Fifteen years ago you might beable to name a handful of coursesin Morocco; now there are six inthe bustling city of Marrakechalone – all within a short drive ofwherever you are staying and, bythe year 2015, the country shouldboast as many as 40 courses.

At the Royal Golf Club you willbe following in the footsteps (ordivots) of Winston Churchill andGeneral Eisenhower while theAmelkis, played under the gaze ofthe magnificent Atlas Mountains,has already hosted men’s andwomen’s European Tour eventsand has three loops of nine.

Slightly further afield an hourfrom Casablanca is arguably thecountry’s premier resort, Mazagan.Overlooking the Atlantic Oceanand set in magnificent landscapedgardens, it has a five-star hotel,

exclusive casino, an invigoratinghealth and beauty centre and alinks course designed by thelegendary Gary Player.

From the back tees it is thelongest course in the countrythough there are plenty of optionsand some magnificent facilities,managed by Troon Golf, to workon your game in the sunshine.

Agadir is also well catered forwith resort courses but if you arelooking for something a little bitmore romantic then try the AgadirRoyal. There are nine holes herethat were laid out by a ‘mysteriousScotsman known only as MrWilson’.

Tunisia is the most northerncountry on the continent with asandy coastline of over 700 miles.The first course, Carthage, wasopened in the 1920s but it took 50years for others to follow.

Yasmine Valley, in Hammamet,is played over rolling landscapeand between pine and olive groves.It is considered to be one of thebest in the country while nearbyCitrus has two great courses.

In the Kantaoui part of thecountry there are two layouts atPort El Kantaoui – the Sea and thePanorama. The former hosted theEuropean Tour the first time itmoved outside of Europe.

Palm Links, in Monastir, isanother of the best in Tunisia withsome links-style holes

Hidden away in the north westby the border with Algeria isTabarka, where the ChallengeTour has visited. American RonFream, a leading figure in Tunisia’srise in the game, designed thecourse which cuts through, firstly,sand dunes before moving awayfrom the coast.

On to Egypt. Not surprisinglyCairo boasts the most amount ofchoice and, on the outskirts of thecapital, lies Allegria.

This is Greg Norman’s firstdesign venture in the continent

and it has already received ravereviews with creeks and waterhazards a feature of the course.

Kateyama Dunes, east of Cairo,is a 27-hole project of Sir NickFaldo. Here a barren desert hasbeen transformed into a lush oasis.A popular destination withoverseas visitors is the resort ofTaba Heights on the east coastbetween the Sinai mountains andthe Red Sea.

The fairways reside as islands inamong the desert and, along with avariety of bunkers, you can expectto play a lot of shots from sand.

W

“There are sixcourses in the cityof Marrakech”

CLIVE’SKEY ADVICEHead here in winter.With a journey whichflies by in the company of acouple of G&Ts, NorthAfrica offers fantasticwinter sun options.

MAZAGAN, MOROCCO

YASMINE VALLEY

NCG pp114-115 Travel | North Africa 23/08/2013 14:18 Page 115


ThailandHead east for delicious food, attentive caddies, bags of culture, hot weather and top-class courses

TRAVEL SPECIAL | Thailand

NCG pp116-117 Travel | Thailand 23/08/2013 11:28 Page 116


VEN if there was nogolf on offer,Thailand would stillbe a sensational

country to visit. Here you findstunning cities, a thousand years ofculture, terrific communications,delicious food and one of thefriendliest races on earth.

Factor in some terrific golfcourses and it becomes one of thevery best long-haul golfdestinations available anywhere.

The only downside is that thecountry can be either blisteringlyhot or else soaking wet, so the besttime to go is during the coolseason from November toFebruary, where fine, sunny days –like the very best of a BritishJune – are the norm.

We shall start, as so manyvisitors do, in Bangkok, thecountry’s capital straddling thegreat Chao Phraya River.

Take time out to enjoy the sightsbefore heading off to golf as thisvast sprawling city has some of theworld’s most beautiful andfascinating landmarks.

The Temple of Wat Arun andthe Grand Palace are must seesand do take a fast water taxi toyour destinations as traffic and

noise in the city can beoverpowering.

The best golf is between 20minutes to an hour away. Coursesin Thailand tend to be of the

stadium variety with big, raisedgreens and lots of sand and water.Navatanee is typical of the bestand only 20 minutes outsideBangkok. A mature Robert TrentJones Jr design that does not gettoo crowded, do try to get a roundin here as well as the beautifulThai Country Club, host to fourVolvo Masters events.

The noise and the heat of thecapital persuade many wealthyThais to move north to ChiangMai and we should do likewise.Chiang Mai is a mini Bangkok, butwithout the pollution. Stay andplay at Chiangmai Highlands golfand spa resort. Set amid cool andpeaceful wooded hillsides, thisSchmidt-Curley design is a joy toplay, especially in the still of themorning.

Moving south, the resort town

of Pattaya could not be moredifferent to Chiang Mai. Raucous,bawdy and unsophisticated itnonetheless boasts some ofThailand’s best courses with theSiam Country Club probably thepick of the bunch with immaculategreens, perilous creeks and lakes,plus 101 sand traps.

And if the bar girls and vulgarityof downtown Pattaya get all toomuch we can always stay hereinstead.

Continuing south from Pattayawe reach Phuket, Thailand’slargest island. This is real beachresort territory with palm trees,golden sands and some great golfcourses. Play and stay at theexclusive Banyan Tree resort if youare feeling rich but also try and getto the Red Mountain golf club,possibly Thailand’s most dramaticcourse with soaring elevations inthe heart of Phuket’s woodedhighlands created from an oldquarry. Like so much of Thailandit is totally different.

One final tip to those of youwho can get a bit uptight on thelinks: don’t shout angrily if you hita bad shot – to the Thais, nearly allBuddhists, to raise one’s voice inanger is the height of ignorance.

E“Bawdy Pattayahas Thailand’sfinest courses”

CLIVE’SKEY ADVICETip your caddiegenerously if she doesher job well. Most coursesuse female caddies, whoare both knowledgeableand good fun.

NCG pp116-117 Travel | Thailand 23/08/2013 11:29 Page 117


TWILIGHT GOLF

ABERSOCHG O L F C L U B

Situated in the picturesque North West Wales, Abersoch GolfClub enjoys stunning views across the bay to the Snowdonia

range and is protected from the harsh North East winds by themountains and the Llyn peninsula.

From late October through to early spring you canplay a round for just £25 - 7 days a week.

Add in a welcoming and friendly clubhouse with bar and restaurantand you have the perfect package for out-of-season golf.

www.abersochgolf.co.uk | 01758 712622

NCG pp118 Twilight Golf Ads 23/08/2013 10:42 Page 118

Tackling the issues that matter to you

CLUB GOLF

News | Personalities | Club focus |Greenkeeping | Secret Secretary | Must Plays | Area guides

Inclusive golfTournamentwinner BillyMcAllister withthe trophy.


AboutBrampton is a fantastic James Braidlayout that is worth visiting whentravelling up the M6 to Scotland orvisiting fellow Cumbrian favouriteSilloth-on-Solway.

The club is located just outsidethe town of Brampton next toTalkin Tarn Country Park.

Great views of the Tarn can beseen along the 13th fairway, 14thgreen and 15th tee.

The CourseMeasuring over 6,400 yards fromthe back tees, the course is anundulating heathland layout set inrolling fell country.

The challenging nature of thecourse is complemented by unspoiltpanoramic views of the LakeDistrict, Pennines and Scotland.

Braid’s excellent design featuressuperb drainage, making it playablethroughout the year.

Top HoleThe par-4 3rd is a great early test.It will play longer than the 414yards on the card, especially if youchoose a safer line away from therailway line and out of bounds.

Card WreckerThe 462-yard par-4 11th is asimilarly testing hole. It features asharp dogleg and a downhillapproach to the putting surface.

Investment in Worsley ParkManchester club Worsley Park hasannounced that it will invest £175,000 in acourse improvement programme.The club will use the money to improveboth drainage facilities and machinery, andthe investment means that around a thirdof a million pounds will have been spent onthe venue since 2011.Worsley Park is also a Marriott Hotel andCountry Club venue.

A new coaching scheme isbeing rolled out inCheshire as the countyfurther extends itsacademy scheme.

The programme willbe used to help playersunder the age of 14develop their golf skillsand knowledge.

Players will receivecoaching from seven PGA

professionals throughoutthe coming year.

Commenting on thescheme, Cheshire CountyAcademy coordinator IainSeath said: “The teenageyears are important foranyone looking to developtheir golfing skills. Webelieve that we can offer apathway for players todevelop their game.”

New developmentofficer in North WestEngland Golf haveannounced theappointment of a newregional developmentofficer for the Lancashireand Cheshire regions.

Sean Hammill will takeup the post havingpreviously been countydevelopment officer forStaffordshire since 2011.

NORTH WESTCheshire | Cumbria | Lancashire | Merseyside

Academy programme extended

Charnock Richardclosed by Wigan FC

Charnock RichardGC in Lancashire hasbeen closed down bynew owners WiganAthletic FC withimmediate effect.

The club was boughtwith the intention ofusing the land forfootball trainingfacilities, but WiganAthletic had assuredCharnock Richardmembers that the clubwould run as normaluntil the end of thecurrent golf season.

However, with£30,000 of machineryneeding to be replaced,the new owners havenow decided to close theclub to the dismay ofstaff and members.

County Champion: Brampton, Cumbria

CLUB GOLFNews & Reviews

in association with glenbraegolf.com

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Green light for new golffacility in OldhamOldham Council haveapproved plans for anew facility at GrainsBar. The current nine-hole course will be re-vamped, with newfeatures such as adriving range and cafeincluded in the plans.

Healy stars for EnglandWest Lancashire juniorEloise Healy recorded acrucially comprehensivewin to help England U16girls defeat Switzerlandin a new match betweenthe teams.

She won her game5up, cancelling outHarriet Allsebrook’s fivehole defeat and helpingEngland record a slendertwo hole overall win.

Lancashire lad helpsEngland to victoryLancashire’s PaulHoward helped Englandto a final day HomeInternationals win,recording a sensational7&6 victory overScotland’s Ewan Scott.

Double win for GeorgeDelamere Forest juniorLewis George securedboth the Cheshire Boysand Cheshire JuniorChampionships in thespace of seven days. Heset a course record at hishome club (pictuerd) onthe way to the boys title.


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DuskDEALS

Extend the summer with these superb offers

MURRAYSHALLSee our Scotland news page(p144) for more on this course.Special offer: Two nights’ dinner,bed and breakfast plus two roundson the Murrayshall and one roundon the Lynedoch course for £249.

PENNARDSee our Wales news page

(P142) for more.

Special offer: Play after

October 30 for just £25pp

(weekdays) and £35

(weekends)

121Dusk Deals:Discountedlate seasonpackages

THIS MONTH’S TOP STORY

Success for first Disabled OpenThe first pan-disability golf open to be playedin the UK took place at The Shire Londonwith great success.

The Golf Trust UK Disabled Open was thefirst organised competition to unitecompetitors from several different disabledgolf organisations in the same event.

Sixty players with a range of disabilities,including lost limbs, MS, learning difficultiesand blindness took part in the tournament,won by blind golfer Billy McAllister.

“This was a significant day for golf, and itsends out a strong message about how inclusivethis great sport can be,” said the Golf Trust’sCae Menai Davis. “It has been a huge effort tomake this day a reality,” he added.


AboutPennard is living proof that themodern game need not exclusivelyrely on long and tedious 7,000-yardlayouts to provide a contemporarytest to even the very best players.

The village is located on theGower Peninsula, an area ofstunning natural beauty that isgloriously under-appreciated andtherefore unspoilt, within a half-hour drive of Swansea.

The CourseMeasuring under 6,300 yards fromthe tips, time and again thisdelightful course provides holes ofmodest length that confound thethoughtless and careless golfer.There are dramatic undulations andbeing on the wrong side of the holecan be disastrous for your score.

Top HoleThe signature hole is the 16th,

which forms the first of two trulyexcellent par 5s. The fairway turnssharply to the right towards a greenwhich is attractively perched on topof the cliffs.

Card WreckerImmediately following the 16th isthe trickiest hole on the coursewhich is played among a sea ofgorse. This par 5 doglegs to the leftand uphill to a distant green.

Get the Gower experienceThree courses on the Gower Peninsulahave teamed up to offer visitors to the areaan outstanding stay-and-play deal.

Based at the newly opened four-starSomerfield Lodge for two nights, guestscan enjoy a full dinner, bed and breakfastpackage plus the opportunity to play thecourses at Clyne, Langland and Pennardfor just £199 per person. Call 01792401989 for further information.

Former Masters championand 2006 European RyderCup captain Ian Woosnamhas warned that golfingtalent in Wales has fadedsince the 2010 Ryder Cupwas held at the CelticManor Resort.

Woosnam wasparticularly critical of thelack of Welsh playerscurrently playing on the

European Tour - of whichthere are currently justtwo, Jamie Donaldson andPhillip Price.

"We used to have five,six or seven players on thetour," said Woosnam.

"It's just fading awayagain so we need to getsome sort of infrastructurein place to get the playersplaying,” he added.

Amateur Champ visitsPriskilly ForestBritish AmateurChampion and WalkerCup player GarrickPorteous recently visitedPriskilly Forest. Porteouswon his first evercompetition at the venue,which is a charming ninehole course with attachedfive-star accommodationin a historic manor house.

WALESAll the latest news and course reviews from the Principality

Woosnam: Welsh talent is fading

Youngster breaksrecord for victory Cottrell Park youngsterKyle Harman broke acourse record to win the2013 Welsh Boys’Championship atGlamorganshire GC.

The 16-year-old wasthe leading qualifierfrom the strokeplaystage of the tournamentfollowing a courserecord round of 62, andwent on to win thematchplay final by asingle hole.

“I had felt a goodround was coming as Icame into thecompetition, but toscore 62 in thestrokeplay stages stillwas not something Iexpected. That was anice feeling,” he said.

County Champion: Pennard, Swansea



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Boulden wins EnglishStrokeplay titleCurtis Cup star AmyBoulden secured theEnglish Women’s OpenStrokeplayChampionship atMannings Heath,Sussex. She adds thetitle to the WelshStrokeplay that she wonearlier this year.

Ladies’ Day a successLadies once againenjoyed outstandinghospitaility on the thirdday of the Wales Openat Celtic Manor.The club had madeSaturday ‘Ladies’ Day’for the second yearrunning.

Dewstow celebratesDewstow is celebratingits 25th anniversary thisyear. TheMonmouthshire clubwill host a series ofspecial events and haveoffers running until theend of the year to markthe occasion.

Caernarfon golfermakes historyRoyal Town Caernarfongolfer David Duckworthmade history at his clubby becoming the firstplayer to break the net-60 barrier in 30 years.Duckworth, a 13-handicap player, shot thegross 72 in a recent clubchampionship event.

142Wales: Whyyou mustplay atPennard


AboutThe Rotherwick Course at TylneyPark is set in over 200 acres ofHampshire countryside and is oneof the best inland courses in theregion.

The area is protected by EnglishHeritage and the surroundinglandscape provides stunning views.The course is situated next toTylney Hall Hotel and is close toboth Basingstoke and Farnham.

The CourseThe course was subjected to acomplete redesign in 2003 and nowstands at over 7,000 yards from theback tees. However, there are fivedifferent tee positions to choosefrom, so the course sets up well forall levels of player. The maturetrees and large undulating greensare the main features of this terrificparkland layout. There are alsoseveral excellent long par 3s.

Top HoleThe 200-yard par-3 13th is the bestof the lot. Coming directly beforethe hardest hole on the course, along club is needed to reach thegreen in one blow.

Card WreckerThe long par-5 14th is the hardesthole on the course, measuring 562yards from the back tees. Birdiechances are rarely entertained here.

Juniors play with PoulterTwo junior golfers were handed the chanceof a lifetime as they won the opportunityto play with Ian Poulter at his juniorinvitational event at Woburn.Basingstoke’s Eddie Hamilton andCliddesden’s Tara O’Herlihy played at theJuly tournament and received one-on-onetime with Poulter as he toured the course.“I’m passionate about providing juniorswith a platform to develop,” said Poulter.

Hampshire’s NeilRaymond and Harry Ellisfailed to qualify for thematchplay stage at theEnglish Amateur afterpoor performances atFrilford Heath.

Ellis entered thetournament as defendingchampion following hisvictory at Silloth-on-Solway last year, while

Raymond is a twiceBrabazon Trophy winnerand the St Andrews LinksTrophy champion.

The pair were widelyexpected to perform well,but Raymond could onlymanage a score of threeover in qualifying, andEllis slipped to nine overafter two poor rounds atthe Oxfordshire venue.

London club buildsFootGolf courseAddington Court hasbecome the latest UK clubto build a FootGolfcourse. FootGolf involves playerskicking a football into alarge golf hole in thefewest kicks possible. Thesport began in the USAand is becomingincreasingly popular here.

SOUTH EASTBeds | Berks | Bucks | Essex | Hants | Herts | Kent | Middx | Surrey | Sussex

Hampshire duo fail at Frilford Heath

European success forregion’s youngstersThree players from theSouth East regionhelped England to teamvictory at the EuropeanYoung Masters inHamburg, Germany.

Marco Penge(Sussex), Alice Hewson(Hertfordshire) andSophie Madden (Essex)helped England post acollective total score of12 under tocomprehensively takethe team title by sixshots from nearest rivalsand runners-up Spain.

England also secureda second win in theevent as Bradley Moorewon the boys’championship inEurope’s premierUnder-16s tournament.

County Champion: Tylney Park, Hampshire



French youngster winsat North HantsFrench junior AntoineKouch won the EnglishBoys Under-14Championship by fivestrokes at North Hants.The victory means thatonly one English playerhas gained the trophysince 2008 - BradleyMoore in 2011.

New clubhouse atRichmond ParkRichmond Park hasopened a new £2.5million clubhouse. Thebuilding, located inLondon’s largest royalpark, features an eco-roof made from acidgrassland - the largesteco-roof in the capital.

Award for HoebridgeHoebridge Golf Centrein Surrey has beenawarded a globalenvironmental award.The pay-and-playfacility has been givenGEO certification,which rewards eco-friendly work in golf.

English mid-am win forSingapore starSingapore-basedCharlotte Thomas haswon the EnglishWomen’s Open Mid-Amateur championshipat John O’Gaunt,Bedfordshire. She beatBraintree’s ChloeRogers 4&3 in the final.

© Leaderboard

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CONTACTt: 01256 762079tylneypark.co.ukp: RG27 9AY 136

North West:Club closedby footballowners

132South East:Juniorsplay withPoulter

CLUB GOLF section in association with The Finest British performance knitwear

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The finest British knitwearwww.glenbraegolf.com

NCG pp119 Lead to Club Golf 23/08/2013 13:40 Page 119


TWILIGHT GOLF

GREY OWL GOLFFRANCE • BELGIUM • SPAIN • ITALY

Contact Bill Anslow

Tel: 01206 841994 • Fax: 01206 841995

Email: [email protected] • Web: www.greyowlgolf.com

Let us organise your bespoke golfing break

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CLUB GOLFDusk Deals



DuskDEALS

Extend the summer with these superb offers

MURRAYSHALLSee our Scotland news page(p144) for more on this course.Special offer: Two nights’ dinner,bed and breakfast plus two roundson the Murrayshall and one roundon the Lynedoch course for £249.

PENNARDSee our Wales news page

(P142) for more.

Special offer: Play after

October 30 for just £25pp

(weekdays) and £35

(weekends)

NCG pp121 Twilight Golf 23/08/2013 13:01 Page 121


TWILIGHT GOLF

Bowood Park Hotel & Golf Club, Lanteglos, Camelford, Cornwall PL32 9RFFor further information please visit us at www.bowood-park.co.uk

or contact us at [email protected] or 01840 213017

Additional golf break benefits in 2013:Organiser FREE OF CHARGE for groups of 16 and above

BOWOOD PARK HOTELRESIDENTIAL GOLF BREAKS 2012

BOWOOD PARK HOTELRESIDENTIAL GOLF BREAKS 2013

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Evening Meals • 3 Rounds of GolfSeptember: £149pp October: £134ppNovember: £105pp December: £99pp

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Evening Meals • 4 Rounds of GolfSeptember: £209pp October: £189pp

November: £145pp December: £139ppAvailable midweek or weekends

• All package tariffs above are based on 2 people sharing a twin/double room.• Single room upgrades may incur a per night supplement.

• Superior room upgrades incur a supplement of £10 per person per night.• Buggy hire is available at £22 per round or £33 per day.

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ABERSOCHSituated in north-west Wales thislinks/parkland hybrid course offersstunning views across the bay towardsthe Snowdonia mountain range.

Thirteen holes play like a traditionalseaside links, with the remaining fivehaving a more parkland feel.

The holes that run alongside the mainbeach at Abersoch are simply stunning.

Built on sandy soil, the course hadexcellent drainage and as such is a greatlate season option.

It is also well protected from theelements by the nearby mountain rangeand the Llyn peninsula. Special offer: Flat £25 green fee ratefrom October

ALRESFORDCreated in 1890, but extended to itscurrent layout in 1993, Alresford isestablishing a reputation as a ‘must play’course in the south of England.

Set on rolling downland on the slopesof Tichborne Down, the course is aninteresting and challenging layout withtree-lined fairways and a variety ofcleverly positioned bunkers.

This location not only offers somesuperb views of the surroundingHampshire countryside, but also ensuresany excess moisture is easily absorbed bythe natural chalk underfoot, making thecourse playable throughout the year.Special offer: Sunday fourball visitorsrate - £100 after 1pm

BOWOOD PARKSet in the heart of North Cornwall in230 acres of rolling hills and woodland,Bowood Park once formed part of a13th-century deer park.

It is now home to a luxury hotel,award-winning restaurant and animmaculate 18-hole parkland course.

The par-72 layout measures 6,735-yards from the back sticks and featuressuperb greens, no less than 26 ponds andplenty of sand to catch wayward shots.

The 600-yard 7th certainly needsthree of your best hits to reach theputting surface, and the signature 12th isa challenging par 4 with an island green. Special offer: One night bed, breakfastand dinner with two rounds for £89.

BROCKET HALLThis 18th century estate boasts twochampionship courses, which are namedafter the two prime ministers who onceresided at Brocket Hall - LordPalmerston and Lord Melbourne.

The Melbourne course was opened in1992 having been designed by PeterAlliss and Clive Clark, while thePalmerston course showcases some ofDonald Steel’s finest work and openedshortly after its neighbour.

The club’s new ambassadorprogramme features European Tour starSimon Khan and 2010 world longdriving champion Joe Miller.Special offer: Visitor twilight rates from£85 in September and £60 in October

CLYNESituated on the Gower Peninsula, thisHarry Colt-designed course boasts a richhistory dating back to the 1920s.

The course offers commanding viewson all sides, overlooking Swansea to theeast, the Bristol Channel and Mumblesto the south, the Black Mountains andBrecon Beacons to the north, with theGower’s Cefn Bryn to the west.

Many top names have been associatedwith the club, including Percy Alliss,father of Peter, who was the first clubprofessional. More recently, Clynehosted the 2011 Welsh Youths Open.Special offer: Stay-and-play for £79ppincluding two rounds of golf. See websitefor details.

CRAIL GOLFING SOCIETYThis Scottish gem is the seventh oldestclub in the world and boasts two superbdesigns - one historic and one modern.

Legendary designer Old Tom Morrislaid out the Balcomie course in 1895, andthe Craighead Links was added to theclub’s excellent course portfolio in 1998.

A combination of stunning coastalviews, centuries of history and hugelyenjoyable golf is what makes theBalcomie Links one of Scotland’s mostfinely polished courses, while its cliff-topneighbour is wonderfully designed,offering spectacular coastal views.Special offer: £120 for a fourball after1.30 when booking two rounds at a Linkswith History course.



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A challenging 18 hole, 6021 yds SSS 69/70 parkland course set adjacent to the River Gala,2 miles North of Galashiels on the A7 & 30 miles South of Edinburgh.

GREEN FEES £32 round, £42 day- Weekdays & Weekends

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Phone: 01896 752260 (Option 3) www.torwoodleegolfclub.co.ukEmail: [email protected]

Edinburgh Road, Galashiels, Scottish Borders TD1 2NE

For bookings contact the Society Co-ordinator

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Hosted the Final Qualifying event for the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham

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DEWSTOW This stunning 36-hole complex is set inthe heart of the Monmouthshirecountryside in South East Wales.

The club is celebrating its 25thanniversary this year, meaning that therehas never been a better time to visitDewstow and sample the superb golf.

The Valley course is the originallayout and is designed around the naturalmeadowlands of the Dewlands estate.

The newer Park course opened in1993 and winds around theMonmouthshire hills. It also features theonly par-6 hole in the UK – measuring astaggering 690 yards.Special offer: Play as many holes as youcan after 6pm for £16.

DONNINGTON VALLEYThis Berkshire club is located minutesfrom Highclere Castle – which is whereDownton Abbey was filmed.

The club has hosted many events tocelebrate its 25th anniversary, and willcontinue to so do for the rest of the year.

The Victorian Grade II-listedclubhouse perches at the top of theentranceway and offers views over the9th and 18th greens.

Donnington Valley also contains anoutstanding spa and hotel which makes itperfect for golf breaks. Special offer: Play for £15 after 2pmmidweek and £20 weekends after 1pmthroughout September and October2013 quoting ‘NCG’.

DORSET G&CCOffering 27 holes of challenging golf anda large leisure complex, Dorset is one ofthe finest clubs in the region.

The three nine-hole loops –Woodland, Lakeland and Parkland –were designed by renowned architectMartin Hawtree and conform to fullUSGA specifications. They are alsoextremely well maintained and the clubhas hosted many professional andamateur championships.

The Lakeland and Parklandcombination is the most popular 18-holechoice, but the par-33 Woodland courseshould not be ignored either.Special offer: Dinner, bed, breakfast andfree golf from £67.95pppn.

FULFORDFulford used to be home to the Benson& Hedges Cup - one of the most popularevents on the European Tour calendar.

This York course is also famous forthe image of a young Bernhard Langerperched in the ash tree at the side of the17th green after his approach becamelodged in its branches.

The dense population of trees aroundthis heathland course, which wasdesigned by Major Charles Mackenzie,shape the fairways.

Fulford still hosts many county,national and international events.Special offer: Visit the website and bookonline to take advantage of various lastminute and late-season deals.

GULLANEWith three outstanding courses locatedon Scotland’s Golf Coast, Gullane isquite simply a golfer’s paradise.

No 1 is regarded as the best of thebunch, climbing up to the crest ofGullane Hill before a succession ofoutstanding holes tumble downwards.

The course then rises gently again forthe final drop from the 17th tee, with thewalk towards the town up the last fairwayundoubtedly providing one of thedefinitive experiences in golf.

No 2 is also a fine track in its ownright, with No 3 offering fun golf forbeginners and juniors.Special offer: Play No1 from just £50after October 1st with selected tee times.

IRVINEIrvine is not quite a seaside course, butthe land is close enough to the coast forthe turf to boast that sandy texture that issuch a delight to strike the ball from.

Established in 1887, the club hashosted many international tournamentssuch as the Amateur Championship andthe Open Final Qualifying.

Its great strength is the variety of theholes, which are quirky in places andvery solid in others. So while the 4th isunder 300 yards with a green borderedby the railway and a wall, the 9thmeasures 456 yards and is well bunkered.Special offer: Winter ticket currentlyavailable. Contact the club on 01294275979 for more details.


Links with History is a uniquegolf pass offering the

opportunity to play top qualitychampionship golf at greatvalue. Developed by four of

Scotland´s leading golf clubs, thepass provides a ‘one stop-shop’to book and play rounds of golf

at special rate green fees onthese historic venues.

Links with History brings together CrailGolfing Society, Ladybank, Lundin and

Scotscraig golf clubs, three of which havebeen Open Championship Final Qualifying

venues. These clubs are among the oldest inthe world and enjoy a rich golfing heritage.They are all within a short driving distanceof the Home of Golf at St Andrews making

the pass the ideal way to experience playingon some true golfing treasures.

The Links with History golf pass offers:

Four historic golf clubs offering fivetop class championship golf courses to

choose from

Special green fee rates

Short travelling distance betweenthe courses

Maximum convenience when planningyour golfing break

Professional advice and assistance

Get socialTo keep up to speed with our latest news

and offers or to share your feedback,thoughts, pictures and comments follow us

on Facebook and Twitter.

A unique opportunity to play five of the world´s most historic championship golf courses

Links with History

Play 5golfing jewelsset in the

Kingdom of Fife

Links with History Bookings | t: +44 (0) 1592 649660 | e: [email protected] | online www.linkswithhistory.com

Crailgolfing society

~ 1786 ~

Scotscraiggolfclub~ 1817 ~

Lundingolfclub~ 1868 ~

Ladybankgolfclub~ 1879 ~

© Copyright Links with History. All rights reserved

LINKS WITH HISTORY A4 ADVERT IN VS GUIDE_Layout 1 26/06/2013 16:40 Page 1


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KENILWORTHFounded in 1889 in the heart ofWarwickshire, Kenilworth boasts anexcellent 18-hole parkland course.

Measuring 6,308 yards, the layoutstarts with a selection of difficult holes.This tough start culminates in the 5th,which is the toughest on the course.

Known as ‘Devil’s Elbow’ the 443-yard stroke index one par 4 requires aprecise long iron or fairway wood fromthe tee to set up a long approach up to anarrow, tricky green.

The club lies between Kenilworth andCoventry and is easily accessible fromthe A452 or A46.Special offer: Tee off any time after 3pmfor just £27.50.

LADYBANKLadybank, located less than 45 minutesfrom Edinburgh airport and 30 minutesfrom Dundee in the heart of Fife, is achampionship heathland set amongheather, pine trees and silver birch.

It measures a stiff 6,754 yards fromback tees and plays in two loops of nine.Visitors may be wise to play off the bluetees at 6,299 yards. One of our favouriteholes is the par-5 2nd where plenty ofprecision is required.

Ladybank has hosted Local FinalQualifying for the Open on sevenoccasions since 1978.Special offer: £120 for a fourball after1.30 when booking two rounds at a Linkswith History course.

LUNDINThe original Tom Morris design atLundin was reworked by five-time Openchampion and renowned designer JamesBraid in 1909, and what stands today is ahistoric links of the highest quality.

The course has a complex layout, withopen burns creating natural hazards, anold railway line forming an internal outof bounds area and strategic bunkeringensuring a tough test on each hole.

If you are looking for a course whichis full of character in the heart of one ofthe world’s best golfing regions, thenLundin would prove an excellent choice. Special offer: £120 for a fourball after1.30 when booking two rounds at a Linkswith History course.

MANOR HOUSE ANDASHBURY RESORTNestled in the foothills of the DartmoorNational Park on a 600-acre complex arethe Manor House and Ashbury Hotels.

With golf on offer over 99 holesalong with many other sport, leisure andcraft facilities, this is a unique place for agolf holiday or short break. A range ofoffers are available throughout the year.

The courses occupy a light woodlandand parkland setting with many naturaland strategically-placed hazards. Many ofthe holes have purpose-built alternativegreens, offering year-round play.Special offer: September breaks from£59pppn, free golf on stays afterSeptember 23.

MARSDEN PARKMarsden Park is a delightful parklandlayout offering stunning views over EastLancashire and Pendle Hill.

The course is crafted into nearly6,000 yards of attractive semi-parklandand boasts a well-varied set of holes.

Take the signature 17th for instance.Also the toughest on the course, the 363-yard par 4 features a drive over maturetrees as well as a sloping fairway and outof bounds stretch.

Other notable holes include the 16th,which is known as Cardiac Hill due tothe severity of the slope on the fairway.Special offer: Society packages availablefrom just £20 when booked before theend of October.

MOOR PARKSet amidst 300 acres of mature woodlandand fine Hertfordshire parkland, MoorPark features two championship golfcourses, the High and the West.

Designed by Harry Colt to blend intothe grounds of the estate, the course isminutes from London and can even beaccessed from Moor Park undergroundstation on the Metropolitan Line.

The High course has hosted keytournaments, including the EnglishSeniors Open and the Carris Trophy,which attracts Europe’s best youngstersand has been won by the likes of SandyLyle, Ken Brown and Justin Rose.Special offer: £150 for a fourball withselected tee times through September.


With no fewer than 7 courses in the UK & Ireland

Top 100, including 3 Open Championship venues,

the quality and concentration of golf within

England’s Golf Coast is second to none.

With a wide choice of accommodation, exciting

tourist attractions and breath taking coastline, the

fun doesn’t stop on the 18th green. You can take it

easy on The Wirral, enjoy England’s Classic Resort

in Southport or live it up in Liverpool, the home of

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Come and visit www.englandsgolfcoast.com

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Royal Lytham & St. Annes / Royal Liverpool /

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PINE RIDGEThis all-encompassing golf centre inSurrey opened in 1993 and its uniquecombination of golf and other leisurefacilities make it an excellent venue.

Measuring 6,458 yards from theChampionship tees, the course weavesthrough a mature pine forest over sandysoil, which provides fast-draining turfand makes ball striking a real delight.

The course ranks amongst the bestpublic courses in the country and has awonderful scenic backdrop.

The club also boasts a full academy,bar, restaurant, a 36-hole driving rangeand a 10-pin bowling facility. Special offer: Play after 4pm from just£17 and after 6pm for £10.

ROYAL ASHDOWN FOREST –WEST COURSEFew clubs can boast two adjacent coursesthat vary so much in their settings andchallenge despite their proximity.

Royal Ashdown’s West Course wasfirst constructed as a 9-hole course in1889. It was transformed to 18 holes in1932 in time to host the English Ladies’Championship, the same year that theLadies’ Golf Club was given royal status.

While the Old Course glories in itsheathland setting, the West Course issurrounded by lovely woodland layout,albeit with ample heather, and testsaccuracy rather than power.Special offer: Twilight rate (after 4pm)£17 weekdays, £20 weekends.

SCOTSCRAIGConveniently located just 15 minutesfrom St Andrews, Scotscraig is used as afinal qualifying venue when the Openvisits the famous old town.

The links and heathland hybrid layoutdoes not sit flush to the nearby coastlinebut the sea breeze more than often addsan extra dimension to any round here.

Top-quality players such as Ian Baker-Finch, Brian Barnes, Justin Rose, MarkMouland, Duffy Waldorf and SamTorrance are only a few of the famousplayers to have graced this renownedclassic Fife course.Special offer: £120 for a fourball after1.30 when booking two rounds at a Linkswith History course.

TORWOODLEEThe course at Torwoodlee is apicturesque 6,021 yard par-69 parklandsteeped in over 100 years of history.

Flanked by the River Gala and setamongst a mix of mature woodland androlling parkland, it is one of the mostchallenging courses in the Borders.

Although not the longest course,there are only two par 5s which ensures atight and demanding test.

For a predominantly parkland venue,Torwoodlee utilises the natural contoursof the land exquisitely and boasts somestunning views over the surroundingcountryside landscape.Special offer: £15 per round after3.30pm and £10 per round after 6pm.

TRETHORNEOffering a challenging and beautifullymaintained course, Trethorne is theperfect place to escape to for either asingle round or a golf break.

The club is set in the picturesqueCornish countryside on the borderbetween Devon and Cornwall,conveniently located just off the A30 andjust half an hour’s drive away from boththe north and south coast.

The course is a challenging par 71which contains lots of water and manytrees. The layout has been subjected tocareful redesign over the last six years,and the benefits are clear for all to see.Special offer: 10% discount on autumngolf breaks from September 23.

WEALD OF KENTThis beautifully-maintained parklandlayout is set in the rolling Kentcountryside and offers far-reaching viewsover the surrounding area.

Just a short drive from bothMaidstone and Ashford, the coursecontains many elevations, lakes and otherhazards along with perfectly manicuredgreens and fairways. It opened in 1991and has matured wonderfully since.

The addition of a 19-room lodge stylehotel which sits just 100 metres from theclubhouse makes the venue perfect forgolf breaks and society days. Special offer: September Society offer -£39.50 (includes full English breakfast,18 holes, pork belly meal).



AboutThe golf courses here are set inover 600 acres of beautifulcountryside, offering stunningviews of Dartmoor and across therolling Devon countryside.

The complex offers designswhich utilise the natural features ofthe landscape – making the most ofmature trees, hedgerows and ponds.

The Courses

This unique complex offers threefull-length 18-hole courses (theKigbeare, Beeches and Oakwood),three 18-hole loops made fromperming two of the Pines, Forestand Beeches nines and a further 18-hole par-3 course, the Willows.

In other words, that's 99 holeson the same site, something that noother British venue can rival – 27holes of golf are also included whenyou book an overnight stay.

Top HoleThe Kigbeare is the newest andgrandest of the courses and the 3rdis stunning. From the tee it drops50 feet to the green, and you mustalso carry Hookmoor Brook.

Card WreckerThe 8th on the Forest is flanked bypines, oak, sycamore and ashes, sothe tee shot is intimidating. Wateralso guards the approach here.

New scheme at TrethorneTrethorne have formed an innovative newpartnership with two other local clubs in abid to boost membership numbers.

The Cornwall club will link withBoringdon Park and Lostwithiel, offeringthe opportunity to join one club andautomatically gain full membership rightsat the other two for free.

“This package offers total value formoney,” said Trethorne’s Jon Standing.

Dorset’s Sophie Keechsecured her secondnational title of the seasonby winning the EnglishGirls’ Open at OakeManor, Somerset.

Having already wonthe English Schools’Championship earlier thisyear, 17-year-old Keechfinished the 72-hole eventon level par, five shots

clear of nearest rivalAnnabel Dimmock.

Commenting on thewin, she said: “Winningthis tournament makesthis year my best ever.

“I tried to keep in frontthe whole time. I didn’twant to drop back andthen have to attack, Iwanted the others to chaseme,” she added.

Dorset clubs back ‘GetInto Golf’Five clubs in Dorset havebecome new ‘Get IntoGolf’ centres.

Bridport & WestDorset, Canford Magna,Crane Valley, SturminsterMarshall and Yeovil willencourage more beginnersand disabled people toplay golf through reducedprice coaching offers.

SOUTH WESTChannel Is | Cornwall | Devon | Dorset | Glos | Somerset | Wilts

Keech wins English girls’ title

Willis wins Fuller’sLondon Pride medalMark Willis won theFuller’s London PrizeGold Medal atWoodhall Spa followingthe closest finish in theevent’s 17-year history.

The Kendleshire 34-year-old returned ascore of 34 Stablefordpoints over theHotchkin course to takevictory in the popularevent for club golfers.

“I’m very surprisedbut also proud to havewon,” Willis said.

“I’m surprisedbecause my game hasnot been good cominginto the event so I didn’tthink I’d be in the hunt.I think the course andthe wind helped meand hindered others.”

County Champion: Manor House, Devon


in association with glenbraegolf.comC

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Golfers win Masters tripA group of Bristolgolfers have won a tripto the 2014 Masters atAugusta National afterwinning a competitionrun by golfbreaks.com.The competitionmarked the company’s15th birthday.

Successful longest dayDevon’s GolfDevelopment Officerhas completedMacmillan’s LongestGolf Day Challenge.Craig Townsend played72 holes over fourcourses and raised over£1800 for the charity.

Amor wins Carris TrophyWiltshire’s Ben Amorwon the Carris Trophyat West Lancashire aftera thrilling play-off. TheMarlborough youngsterbeat Italy’s RenatoParatore and Bath’sJamie Li on the secondsudden-death hole.

Mullen impresses atHome InternationalsRoyal North Devon’sJimmy Mullenperformed well forEngland at the recentHome Internationals.Having proved histalents at the OpenChampionship in July,Mullen won singlesmatches against Walesand Ireland tocontribute two points.

NCG pp130 Club Golf SW 23/08/2013 12:58 Page 130


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AboutThe Rotherwick Course at TylneyPark is set in over 200 acres ofHampshire countryside and is oneof the best inland courses in theregion.

The area is protected by EnglishHeritage and the surroundinglandscape provides stunning views.The course is situated next toTylney Hall Hotel and is close toboth Basingstoke and Farnham.

The CourseThe course was subjected to acomplete redesign in 2003 and nowstands at over 7,000 yards from theback tees. However, there are fivedifferent tee positions to choosefrom, so the course sets up well forall levels of player. The maturetrees and large undulating greensare the main features of this terrificparkland layout. There are alsoseveral excellent long par 3s.

Top HoleThe 200-yard par-3 13th is the bestof the lot. Coming directly beforethe hardest hole on the course, along club is needed to reach thegreen in one blow.

Card WreckerThe long par-5 14th is the hardesthole on the course, measuring 562yards from the back tees. Birdiechances are rarely entertained here.

Juniors play with PoulterTwo junior golfers were handed the chanceof a lifetime as they won the opportunityto play with Ian Poulter at his juniorinvitational event at Woburn.Basingstoke’s Eddie Hamilton andCliddesden’s Tara O’Herlihy played at theJuly tournament and received one-on-onetime with Poulter as he toured the course.“I’m passionate about providing juniorswith a platform to develop,” said Poulter.

Hampshire’s NeilRaymond and Harry Ellisfailed to qualify for thematchplay stage at theEnglish Amateur afterpoor performances atFrilford Heath.

Ellis entered thetournament as defendingchampion following hisvictory at Silloth-on-Solway last year, while

Raymond is a twiceBrabazon Trophy winnerand the St Andrews LinksTrophy champion.

The pair were widelyexpected to perform well,but Raymond could onlymanage a score of threeover in qualifying, andEllis slipped to nine overafter two poor rounds atthe Oxfordshire venue.

London club buildsFootGolf courseAddington Court hasbecome the latest UK clubto build a FootGolfcourse. FootGolf involves playerskicking a football into alarge golf hole in thefewest kicks possible. Thesport began in the USAand is becomingincreasingly popular here.

SOUTH EASTBeds | Berks | Bucks | Essex | Hants | Herts | Kent | Middx | Surrey | Sussex

Hampshire duo fail at Frilford Heath

European success forregion’s youngstersThree players from theSouth East regionhelped England to teamvictory at the EuropeanYoung Masters inHamburg, Germany.

Marco Penge(Sussex), Alice Hewson(Hertfordshire) andSophie Madden (Essex)helped England post acollective total score of12 under tocomprehensively takethe team title by sixshots from nearest rivalsand runners-up Spain.

England also secureda second win in theevent as Bradley Moorewon the boys’championship inEurope’s premierUnder-16s tournament.

County Champion: Tylney Park, Hampshire



French youngster winsat North HantsFrench junior AntoineKouch won the EnglishBoys Under-14Championship by fivestrokes at North Hants.The victory means thatonly one English playerhas gained the trophysince 2008 - BradleyMoore in 2011.

New clubhouse atRichmond ParkRichmond Park hasopened a new £2.5million clubhouse. Thebuilding, located inLondon’s largest royalpark, features an eco-roof made from acidgrassland - the largesteco-roof in the capital.

Award for HoebridgeHoebridge Golf Centrein Surrey has beenawarded a globalenvironmental award.The pay-and-playfacility has been givenGEO certification,which rewards eco-friendly work in golf.

English mid-am win forSingapore starSingapore-basedCharlotte Thomas haswon the EnglishWomen’s Open Mid-Amateur championshipat John O’Gaunt,Bedfordshire. She beatBraintree’s ChloeRogers 4&3 in the final.

© Leaderboard

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CONTACTt: 01256 762079tylneypark.co.ukp: RG27 9AY

NCG pp132 Club Golf SE 23/08/2013 13:31 Page 132


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Cheriton Road, Tichborne Down,Alresford, Hants. SO24 0PN

01962 733746 www.alresfordgolf.co.uk

• A challenging and picturesque downlandcourse, exceptional playing conditions all year

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ONLY £100 (after 1pm)

ALRESFORDGOLF CLUB

‘Enjoyable golf and a great deal more’

PINE RIDGEG O L F C L U B

Pine Ridge Golf ClubOld Bisley Road | Frimley | Camberley | Surrey | GU16 9NX

T: 01276 675444 | E: [email protected]

Pine Ridge is a venue for all seasons. Whether playing golf,bringing the family ten-pin bowling, planning a special event,

or simply coming up for a relaxing drink or meal, you willalways find a friendly welcome.

SPECIAL OFFERS4 ball for £80 Midweek | Society days from £25pp

Twilight rate is £17.00 after 4pm

NCG pp133 Club Golf SE Ads 23/08/2013 10:08 Page 133


AboutHowley Hall dates back to the early1900s and the course is renownedas one of the best in the area.

The club is less than eight milesfrom Leeds city centre but enjoys afine location. This parkland andwoodland gem looks out over theCalder Valley, with the best viewsseen from the 16th and 18th tees.

A modern clubhouse tops off theimpressive facilities on offer.

The CourseHowley is by no means long and

placement the key when attemptingto counter the sharp doglegs.

In its 110-year history, thelayout has been tweaked a numberof times, most notably by Dr AlisterMacKenzie in 1913.

Top HoleEnjoy the panoramic view from thetee before taking on the stunning

par-5 16th. The approach shot isplayed blind up to a green guardedby a ditch. If you go for the greenin two there is a srong chance offalling foul of the hazard.

Card WreckerThe long par-4 7th is the trickiesthole to negotiate. With out ofbounds to the left, the drive mustbe precise to set up a second shotinto a long, narrow green.

Westwood opens new coursesThe first Lee Westwood courses have beenopened at Close House, Northumberland.

Ryder Cup star Westwood has beenclosely involved with the redesign of thetwo courses – the Filly and the Colt – atthe venue where he is the attached tourprofessional and he visited in July.

“The enhancements that are currentlyunderway will make the course even moreattractive and challenging,” he said.

Hexham youngster MattyLamb secured victory inthe prestigious Sir HenryCooper Junior Masters atNizels in Kent.

The 15-year-oldcarded a score of six underover four rounds, finishingtwo shots clear of runner-up Adam Chapman fromWindermere, Cumbria.

The tournament is

considered to be one ofthe most important juniortournaments, and isdesignated as a ‘major’ bythe R&A.

This means that it actsas a qualifying event fornational squads.

Past winners includecurrent European Tourplayers Chris Wood andJoost Luiten.

Durham starter centresTwo new golf startercentres have opened inDurham to increaseaccessibility for adults.

The centres at BishopAuckland and Chester-le -Street join six establishedstarter centres in the area.They will support thenational ‘Get Into Golf’campaign and will offerdiscounted coaching.

NORTH EASTCleveland | Durham | North’land | Tyne & Wear | Yorkshire

Hexham youngster gains Masters win

Success for RuddingPark youngster A graduate of theRudding Park GolfScholarship has enjoyeda season ofunprecedented success.

Alice Boothroyd, 20,triumphed over moreexperienced players towin the HarrogateDistrict Union LadiesScratch Championshipat Bedale.

She is also the newLadies’ club championat Rudding Park and hasled her US college teamto back-to-back NorthEast conferencechampionships.

“I have had manysuccesses over the years,and it has been great torepresent RuddingPark,” she said.

County Champion: Howley Hall,Yorkshire



US college star setsnew Hickleton recordAlison Knowles has set anew course record atHickleton. The 20-year-old broke her previousrecord with a round of66 over the Doncastercourse. Knowles is basedin the USA and plays inmany college events.

Jamboree win for YorksYorkshire securedvictory in the annualNorthern CountiesJamboree at SandburnHall. The event isdesigned to give femaleyoungsters theexperience of playinggolf at county level.

St Andrews win for YorkyoungsterPike Hills’ Craig Smithhas won the EdenTrophy at St Andrews.The York player beatKings Lynn’s Jack Yulein the 36-hole final overthe famous venue’s Edenand Jubilee courses.

Progress continuesThe presence of rarenewts at Ramside Hallhas not stopped progressat its new £15m golfdevelopment site. Parent companyRamside Estates Ltd iscurrently building theonly new golf courseunder construction innorthern England.

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NCG pp134 Club Golf NE 23/08/2013 13:29 Page 134


CLUB GOLF

MOOR ALLERTONGOLF CLUBCoal Road, Wike, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS17 9NH

SOCIETY PACKAGES FROM £25PPCALL NOW TO BOOK A GREAT DAY OUT

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27 GLORIOUS HOLESSTATE OF THE ARTPERFORMANCE CENTRE

0113 266 5209www.magc.co.uk

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0113 266 5209www.magc.co.uk

THE FULFORD (YORK) GOLF CLUB1906 – 2013

Contact Gary / Fiona for further information01904 413 579

[email protected]

OCTOBER RATESAvailable from £45pp Packages also available

WINTER 2013/14Selected dates available now - from £30pp

Please quote National Club Golfer to securethese rates. Visit our website for last minutedeals and internet bookings

www.fulfordgolfclub.co.uk

GolferCLUBNATIONAL

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• Attract new members• Attract societies from nearby clubs• Attract visiting parties fromfurther afield

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NCG pp135 Club Golf NE Ads 23/08/2013 12:02 Page 135


AboutBrampton is a fantastic James Braidlayout that is worth visiting whentravelling up the M6 to Scotland orvisiting fellow Cumbrian favouriteSilloth-on-Solway.

The club is located just outsidethe town of Brampton next toTalkin Tarn Country Park.

Great views of the Tarn can beseen along the 13th fairway, 14thgreen and 15th tee.

The CourseMeasuring over 6,400 yards fromthe back tees, the course is anundulating heathland layout set inrolling fell country.

The challenging nature of thecourse is complemented by unspoiltpanoramic views of the LakeDistrict, Pennines and Scotland.

Braid’s excellent design featuressuperb drainage, making it playablethroughout the year.

Top HoleThe par-4 3rd is a great early test.It will play longer than the 414yards on the card, especially if youchoose a safer line away from therailway line and out of bounds.

Card WreckerThe 462-yard par-4 11th is asimilarly testing hole. It features asharp dogleg and a downhillapproach to the putting surface.

Investment in Worsley ParkManchester club Worsley Park hasannounced that it will invest £175,000 in acourse improvement programme.The club will use the money to improveboth drainage facilities and machinery, andthe investment means that around a thirdof a million pounds will have been spent onthe venue since 2011.Worsley Park is also a Marriott Hotel andCountry Club venue.

A new coaching scheme isbeing rolled out inCheshire as the countyfurther extends itsacademy scheme.

The programme willbe used to help playersunder the age of 14develop their golf skillsand knowledge.

Players will receivecoaching from seven PGA

professionals throughoutthe coming year.

Commenting on thescheme, Cheshire CountyAcademy coordinator IainSeath said: “The teenageyears are important foranyone looking to developtheir golfing skills. Webelieve that we can offer apathway for players todevelop their game.”

New developmentofficer in North WestEngland Golf haveannounced theappointment of a newregional developmentofficer for the Lancashireand Cheshire regions.

Sean Hammill will takeup the post havingpreviously been countydevelopment officer forStaffordshire since 2011.

NORTH WESTCheshire | Cumbria | Lancashire | Merseyside

Academy programme extended

Charnock Richardclosed by Wigan FC

Charnock RichardGC in Lancashire hasbeen closed down bynew owners WiganAthletic FC withimmediate effect.

The club was boughtwith the intention ofusing the land forfootball trainingfacilities, but WiganAthletic had assuredCharnock Richardmembers that the clubwould run as normaluntil the end of thecurrent golf season.

However, with£30,000 of machineryneeding to be replaced,the new owners havenow decided to close theclub to the dismay ofstaff and members.

County Champion: Brampton, Cumbria



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CONTACTt: 0169 77 2255bramptongolfclub.com

p: CA8 1HN

Green light for new golffacility in OldhamOldham Council haveapproved plans for anew facility at GrainsBar. The current nine-hole course will be re-vamped, with newfeatures such as adriving range and cafeincluded in the plans.

Healy stars for EnglandWest Lancashire juniorEloise Healy recorded acrucially comprehensivewin to help England U16girls defeat Switzerlandin a new match betweenthe teams.

She won her game5up, cancelling outHarriet Allsebrook’s fivehole defeat and helpingEngland record a slendertwo hole overall win.

Lancashire lad helpsEngland to victoryLancashire’s PaulHoward helped Englandto a final day HomeInternationals win,recording a sensational7&6 victory overScotland’s Ewan Scott.

Double win for GeorgeDelamere Forest juniorLewis George securedboth the Cheshire Boysand Cheshire JuniorChampionships in thespace of seven days. Heset a course record at hishome club (pictuerd) onthe way to the boys title.

NCG pp136 Club Golf NW 23/08/2013 13:28 Page 136


CLUB GOLF

www.bramptongolfclub.comT: 0169 77 2255/2000 E: [email protected]

Brampton Golf ClubTake one large tract of beautiful, rolling, sprawling, gloriously unspoilt Cumbrian heathland. Add in the creative

architectural flair of five-time Open Champion James Braid. Allow to gently mature for 100 years. Enjoy! This isunpretentious, unfussy, pure golf that will keep you smiling no matter how you are playing.

VISITORS AND SOCIETIES WELCOME 7 DAYSVISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE THE LATEST OFFERS AND INFORMATION

GolferCLUBNATIONAL

CLUBGOLF

Are you aNorth West club?Want to appear in our new

regional directory?

• Attract new members• Attract societies from nearby clubs• Attract visiting parties from

further afield

Call 0113 289 3979 oremail [email protected]

NCG pp137 Club Golf NW Ads 23/08/2013 12:07 Page 137


AboutUllesthorpe Court Hotel and GolfClub is located in the heart ofEngland and sits in an enviablelocation close to many of Britain'stop tourist attractions.

The venue is nestled in theLeicestershire countryside, andwhen playing there it is sometimeshard to believe just how close youare to the M1 and the nearby townsof Leicester, Rugby and Coventry.

The CourseThe championship length 18-

hole course features challengingcontours on the greens and fairwaysalong with several water features.

The 6662-yard par-72 is only 34years old but looks and feelssurprisingly mature.

Ullesthorpe will host its annualanniversary week from September30 to October 4, with many opencompetitions taking place.

Top HoleThe long 549-yard par-5 18thprovides a perfect end to yourround. Rated as the fourth hardestthis is a terrific closing hole.

Card wreckerUllesthorpe opens with a long par 5of considerable difficulty. Threesolid shots will be required toensure that you set off with arespectable score here.

Charity golf is a hit in IpswichLocal celebrities and sports stars took partin a golf day in Ipswich to raise money for anational stillbirth charity.

The event at Purdis Heath marked thelaunch of the JB Amateur Tour, formed bythe Jude Brady Foundation.

Scott and Rachel Drummond, RossMcFarlane and Jamie Moul all took part.

The charity has raised over £100,000 forsick children since it was founded in 2008.

Kedleston Park youngsterBradley Moore won theboys’ championship at theEuropean Young Mastersin Germany.

The 15-year-old waslocked in a gripping finalbattle with Portugal’sPedro Almeida until thefinal hole of the 54-holeevent, but a birdie on thelast for Moore ensured the

victory by a two-shotmargin after Almeidacould only manage tomake a bogey.

Better still, Moore’sscore combined with thosefrom his England team-mates Marco Penge,Sophie Madden and AliceHewson gave a total of-12 which was enough tosecure the team title.

National success forDerbyshire youngsters Young golfers fromDerbyshire club MarriottBreadsall Priory finishedthird in the English JuniorChampion Club event atWoodhall Spa. Junior captain Matt Steelsled the team, playingalongside Will Davidsonand Sam Capewell.

EAST MIDLANDSDerb | N’ants | Notts | Leics | Lincs | Cambs | N’folk | Suffolk

European Young Masters joy for Moore

Young Norfolk playerwins Abraham Trophy Norfolk’s JasmineCampbell claimed thetitle of England’s mostimproved girl golferwith a three-shot win inthe Abraham Trophy.

The 13-year-oldfrom Royal Norwichscored a net 70 atTiverton in Devon,finishing three clear ofHertfordshire’s RebeccaEarl and her Norfolkcolleague AmeliaWilliamson.

The tournamentrecognises junior playerswho have significantlycut their handicap overthe last year.

Since July 2012,Jasmine’s handicap hasmore than halved,tumbling from 34 to 15.

County Champion: Ullesthorpe Court, Leics



Course record brokenA youngster has brokenthe course record atGreat Yarmouth GC.Alex Fellas shot 63 in aclub competition to beatthe previous record by ashot. He is currentlypreparing to travel tothe USA for college.

President-elect quitsThe former captain andpresident-elect ofSleaford has beenbanned from the club forthree years. RichardTacey was accused ofcheating in clubcompetitions.

Spalding win ElshamTrophySpalding GC securedthe Elsham Trophy titleafter beating Sleaford inthe final of theLincolnshire event.Stoke Rochford defeatedMarket Rasen in thethird place play-off.

Hollis wins BoysStrokeplayWollaton Park’s JamesHollis won theNottinghamshire Boys’Amateur StrokeplayChampionship atSherwood Forest. Hewon by a single shotfrom fellowNottinghamshireyoungster Jacob Walker.

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CONTACTt: 01455 209150bw-ullesthorpecourt.

co.uk/golfp: LE17 5BZ

NCG pp138 Club Golf EM 23/08/2013 13:26 Page 138


CLUB GOLF

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NCG pp149 Club Golf EM Ads 23/08/2013 12:04 Page 139


AboutSituated in the heart of Shakespearecountry, Draycote Hotel is theperfect location for a stay-and-playgolfing break.

The hotel offers 49 luxuriousrooms, all of which are equippedwith wireless internet connectionand freeview television.

The venue is situated justoutside Rugby and can be easilyreached from the M45.

The CourseThe main attraction at Draycote

is undoubtedly the Whitefieldschampionship course. Measuring6,289 yards, the par-71 design canalso be enjoyed as a nine-holelayout, making it accessible togolfers of all abilities.

Top HoleIt is crucial to keep your tee shotgoing right on the 435-yard par

four, as anything left will leave ablind second shot to the devilishlytricky sloping green.

Card wreckerWatch out for the 450-yard par-four seventh. Known as “White’sWalk”, the hole has a stroke indexof one and features a fairwaybunker that will catch any waywardtee shots. Two more sand trapsflank the large green.

South Staffs salutes VardonThe South Staffordshire GC is preparingto host its annual Vardon Bowl Trophy - atournament created to celebrate the HarryVardon-designed course at the club.

The event was created in 2008 to mark100 years of the Vardon design.

Entry forms for the September eventare available either from the club’s websiteor from the manager. Call 01902 751065for more details.

A blind golfer was one ofsix players to score a hole-in-one at CleoburyMortimer in the space ofjust two weeks.

Arthur Aston wasplaying with a guide whenhe discovered he hadachieved the rare feat.

Golf director DavidPain said: “We normallyget a couple of people

who get a hole-in-oneevery year - but to have sixin such a short space oftime is unheard of!

“When Arthur came toplay we were delighted toaccommodate him. Wehad never had a blindgolfer play here before,and when he got a hole-in-one we wereastounded,” he added.

Region’s football clubs tohelp boost local golfPremier League footballclubs from the WestMidlands will work withgolf clubs and schools topromote the golfingopportunities in localcommunities. WestBromwich Albion andAston Villa will deploy agolf coordinator to workin the Birmingham area.

WEST MIDLANDSStaffs | Shrops | Herefords | Worcs | West Mids | Warks | Oxon

Blind golfer one of six to shoot ace

Chesters winsEuropean AmateurHawkstone Park’sAshley Chesters won theEuropean Men’sAmateur Championshipat Real Golf Club ElPrat, Spain.

The 23-year-oldbecame the first Englishwinner of thetournament for nineyears, and joins anillustrious set of formerwinners which includesthe likes of Ryder Cupstars Rory McIlroy andSergio Garcia.

Despite a final roundof 76, an outstanding 65in the second round leftChesters four shots clearheading into the last day- a margin good enoughto see off the rest of thefield and take the title.

County Champion: Draycote Hotel, Warks



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CONTACTt: 01788 521800draycotehotel.co.uk

p: CV23 9LF

Pash is seniors champSandwell Park’s DougiePash has won theStaffordshire Seniors’Championship at hishome club. Trentham’sSteve Wild finished insecond place with RogerHumphreyson of SouthStaffordshire in third.

Pugsley is championWorcester G&CC’sHarry Pugsley has wonthe County Under-14sChampionship at LittleLakes. The youngstershot a gross round of 74to win the event by asingle shot.

Fleetwood wins Par 3European Tour playerTommy Fleetwood haswon the British Par-3Championship atNailcote Hall.Fleetwood managed topull away from the restof the field to win thecoveted title by a singleshot and take home the£25,000 prize money.

Experience Brocket HallBrocket Hall have re-introduced theirPreview Membershippackage, offering thechance to experience thetwo championshipcourses at the venue.Visit www.brocket-hall.co.uk or call 01707368700 for more details.

NCG pp140 Club Golf WM 23/08/2013 13:25 Page 140

£49from

www.whitefieldsgolfclub.co.uk

CALL: 01788 521800

draycoteH O T E L

whitef ieldsG O L F C O U R S E

Draycote Hotel & Whitefields Golf Course and Club,

London Road, Thurlaston, Nr. Rugby, Warwickshire CV23 9LF

Tel: 01788 521800 Fax: 01788 521695 Email: [email protected]

Terms & conditions apply. Subject to availability.

Bed, Breakfast & Two Rounds Golf. Please quote ref:

NCG1 to receive free range balls on your stay.

J933 Fairway Golf Breaks A5 Ad.indd 1 14/05/2013 08:37


AboutPennard is living proof that themodern game need not exclusivelyrely on long and tedious 7,000-yardlayouts to provide a contemporarytest to even the very best players.

The village is located on theGower Peninsula, an area ofstunning natural beauty that isgloriously under-appreciated andtherefore unspoilt, within a half-hour drive of Swansea.

The CourseMeasuring under 6,300 yards fromthe tips, time and again thisdelightful course provides holes ofmodest length that confound thethoughtless and careless golfer.There are dramatic undulations andbeing on the wrong side of the holecan be disastrous for your score.

Top HoleThe signature hole is the 16th,

which forms the first of two trulyexcellent par 5s. The fairway turnssharply to the right towards a greenwhich is attractively perched on topof the cliffs.

Card WreckerImmediately following the 16th isthe trickiest hole on the coursewhich is played among a sea ofgorse. This par 5 doglegs to the leftand uphill to a distant green.

Get the Gower experienceThree courses on the Gower Peninsulahave teamed up to offer visitors to the areaan outstanding stay-and-play deal.

Based at the newly opened four-starSomerfield Lodge for two nights, guestscan enjoy a full dinner, bed and breakfastpackage plus the opportunity to play thecourses at Clyne, Langland and Pennardfor just £199 per person. Call 01792401989 for further information.

Former Masters championand 2006 European RyderCup captain Ian Woosnamhas warned that golfingtalent in Wales has fadedsince the 2010 Ryder Cupwas held at the CelticManor Resort.

Woosnam wasparticularly critical of thelack of Welsh playerscurrently playing on the

European Tour - of whichthere are currently justtwo, Jamie Donaldson andPhillip Price.

"We used to have five,six or seven players on thetour," said Woosnam.

"It's just fading awayagain so we need to getsome sort of infrastructurein place to get the playersplaying,” he added.

Amateur Champ visitsPriskilly ForestBritish AmateurChampion and WalkerCup player GarrickPorteous recently visitedPriskilly Forest. Porteouswon his first evercompetition at the venue,which is a charming ninehole course with attachedfive-star accommodationin a historic manor house.

WALESAll the latest news and course reviews from the Principality

Woosnam: Welsh talent is fading

Youngster breaksrecord for victory Cottrell Park youngsterKyle Harman broke acourse record to win the2013 Welsh Boys’Championship atGlamorganshire GC.

The 16-year-old wasthe leading qualifierfrom the strokeplaystage of the tournamentfollowing a courserecord round of 62, andwent on to win thematchplay final by asingle hole.

“I had felt a goodround was coming as Icame into thecompetition, but toscore 62 in thestrokeplay stages stillwas not something Iexpected. That was anice feeling,” he said.

County Champion: Pennard, Swansea



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Boulden wins EnglishStrokeplay titleCurtis Cup star AmyBoulden secured theEnglish Women’s OpenStrokeplayChampionship atMannings Heath,Sussex. She adds thetitle to the WelshStrokeplay that she wonearlier this year.

Ladies’ Day a successLadies once againenjoyed outstandinghospitaility on the thirdday of the Wales Openat Celtic Manor.The club had madeSaturday ‘Ladies’ Day’for the second yearrunning.

Dewstow celebratesDewstow is celebratingits 25th anniversary thisyear. TheMonmouthshire clubwill host a series ofspecial events and haveoffers running until theend of the year to markthe occasion.

Caernarfon golfermakes historyRoyal Town Caernarfongolfer David Duckworthmade history at his clubby becoming the firstplayer to break the net-60 barrier in 30 years.Duckworth, a 13-handicap player, shot thegross 72 in a recent clubchampionship event.

NCG pp142 Club Golf Wales 23/08/2013 13:24 Page 142


CLUB GOLF

PENNARD GOLF LINKS ON GOWERA spectacular place to play golf, only eight miles from Swansea. Pennard has cliff top fairways with views over

Three Cliffs Bay and beyond. Negotiate the 7th hole between a Norman castle and the ruins of a church. We welcome visitors to our “Links in the Sky” experience.

One of the oldest courses in Wales with a new traditional club house offering modern facilities. Regularly placed in the top 5 in Wales and 100 in the UK, with four tees located on every hole to suit golfers

good and not so good. Contact our office or Pro Shop for green fees or flexible membership prices.

Our staff and members are ready to greet you.

Tel. 01792 233131 www.pennardgolfclub.com

Visit the stunning Gower Peninsula and enjoy 3 challenging courses, all with superb views of Gower and its surrounding coastline.

Make newly opened 4 star Somerfield Lodge your base where a warm welcome awaits. Then play any combination of three of themost spectacular courses in south Wales, all within 3 miles of each other. Each course offers a different challenge - heathland, linksand cliff top parkland - all in superb condition with breathtaking views at every turn. Over 300 years of golfing history have resulted

in 3 natural and challenging courses.

GOWER GOLF EXPERIENCE

Clyne Golf Club Somerfield Lodge @ Clyne Golf Club

Langland

Pennard

SPECIAL OFFER!!!2 nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast andplay all 3 courses for £199 per person.*

A saving of over £80 by booking a package deal.

For more info about the Gower Golf Experience visit www.clynegolfclub.com

Contact the Manager at [email protected] to make a booking or call 01792 401989

NCG pp143 Club Golf Wales Ads 23/08/2013 10:08 Page 143


New facility at Kings LinksAberdeen FC manager Derek McInnestook part in a custom-fitting experience atKings Links to mark the opening of theclub’s new custom-fit studio.

The largest independent golf retailer inthe north east of Scotland has invested£25,000 into the new facility, which offersindividual fitting on a wide range ofbrands, including TaylorMade, Callaway,Titleist, Ping, Wilson, Nike and Cobra.

A group of clubs inEdinburgh have joinedforces to help promotegolf in the capital.

Baberton,Broomieknowe,Craigmillar Park,Duddingston,Kingsknowe, Liberton,Lothianburn, Merchants,Musselburgh,Prestonfield, Ratho Park,

Swanston New andTurnhouse have pooledresources to improvemembership retention andattract visitors.

“The calibre of peoplewe have on board with theproject is fantastic. Wefeel we have the rightpeople to make thiswork,” said Kingsknowecaptain Bill Buchan.

Coach Developers setto boost clubsFour PGA professionalswill deliver help andadvice to volunteercoaches across Scotland asthey take up new positionsas Coach Developers. Theprofessionals will providetips to ClubGolf coaches,providing a boost to thenational junior coachingprogramme.

SCOTLANDNews and course reviews from the Home of Golf

Edinburgh clubs unite to boost game

Ferguson scoops BoysAmateur titleEwen Ferguson securedvictory in the BoysAmateur Championshipat Royal Liverpool.

The Bearsdenyoungster became thefirst Scot to win theevent in almost adecade, and joins a rollof honour that includesRyder Cup stars JoseMaria Olazabal andSergio Garcia.

“This is absolutelyamazing,” saidFerguson, who beatGermany’s MichaelHirmer 10&9 in the 36-hole final at Hoylake.

“I’ve worked hardover the last two yearsand this has made it allworthwhile,” the newchampion added.



AboutHome to two outstanding coursesand a superb hotel which boasts 41rooms, Murrayshall is aparticipating hotel for the 2014Ryder Cup, located just 30 minutesaway from Gleneagles. The venueis an hour away from thechampionship courses at StAndrews, Kingsbarns andCarnoustie, making for the perfectplace to base a Scottish golf escape.

The CourseThe Murrayshall championshipcourse was designed by Hamilton JStutt and is laid out on a maturewoodland estate. The coursemeanders through tree-linedfairways and contains severalnatural burns which protect thegreens. It has hosted manyprestigious events, including theScottish Schools Championshipsand Sky Sports Trilby Tour.

Top HoleThe par-3 4th can require anythingfrom a 6-iron to a 9-iron and playsover a large pond to a greenprotected by bunkers. Realprecision is needed to avoid thetricky hazards here.

Card WreckerRated Stroke Index one, the longpar-4 13th can be especially toughwhen played into the wind.

County Champion: Murrayshall, Perthshire

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New campaign launchedThe Scottish GolfUnion have launched anew campaign toencourage people tostart playing golf.The new marketingcampaign will highlightthe relative benefits ofgolf compared to otherpopular sports such asfootball and fishing.

Victory for MacIntyreGlencruitten’s RobertMacIntyre stormed to anine-shot victory in theStephen GallacherFoundation ScottishBoys Stroke PlayChampionship at TheRoxburghe.

Booth and Alfredsongive tips to youngstersLET player Carly Boothand 2007 Solheim Cupcaptain Helen Alfredsonoffered advice to youngplayers at the recentWomen’s British Open.Twenty girl club golfersvisited the range at StAndrews to receiveswing tips and help.

New halfway houseThe Carrick on LochLomond hastransformed a formerriverboat into a newhalfway house. ‘TheHighland Laddie’ wasunveiled between the9th green and 10th tee,offering stunningHighlands views.

NCG pp144 Club Golf Scotland 23/08/2013 13:23 Page 144


CLUB GOLF

Visit Scotlands Sweet Spot

Situated in its own 360 acres of Perthshire countryside, Murrayshall is a four star country house hotel. With twofabulous golf courses, set in mature woodland you wont need to stray far to enjoy great golf, and a choice of

dining in the Clubhouse or Old Masters Restaurant. With 50 golf courses within an hours drive includingCarnoustie, St Andrews and Gleneagles, Murrayshall is the perfect base for your Scottish Golf Break.

Visit www.murrayshall.co.uk or Tel: 01738551171 • Email: [email protected] House Hotel & Golf Courses | Scone | Perthshire | PH2 7PH

2014 GOLF BREAKFrom £120.00 per person

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Gullane Golf Club offers 3 Championship quality links courses.Winter Offers from 1st October. Normal tees and greens.

Gullane Golf Club, West Links Road, Gullane, East Lothian EH31 2BBwww.gullanegolfclub.com T: 01620 842 255

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NCG pp145 Club Golf Scotland Ads 23/08/2013 10:06 Page 145


T has been a good year for theMajors; good guys finished first inall four and, at the PGAChampionship at Oak Hill, we had

someone who looks like an extra from OneFlew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest winning his firstMajor. Here’s why an overweight 36-year-old,who looks like he has just been woken up, is myhero in life.

1 He looks like he has just rolled out of bed When you talk to golfers close up there isgenerally an uncomfortable level going onaround their self preening. Hair is styled with aload of ‘product’, the odd eyebrow has evenbeen plucked and there is a strange waxycomplexion after too much time in the sun.Dufner has an explosion of hair, which mostlynestles underneath his Titleist cap, and youwould imagine (and hope) that he only bothersto visit his ‘stylist’ once every three months.

2 He has the perfect paunchAge can be unkind to gentlemen of a certainage. Once we hit the big 4-0 our waistline canexpand on an annual basis as exercise becomesless and appetite (and alcohol intake) remainson a consistent level.Our tobacco-chewing friend has gone early onus. He is just 36 but already has an ideal paunchin place that sits comfortably over his belt. Inan age of an awful lot of talk over core stabilityand flexibility we haven’t heard too much ofour hero’s training programme. He has alreadyworked out that you can fit 43 beers in theWanamaker Trophy, the prize for the PGA (thetrophy, not the beers).

3 The waggleSometimes as few as five, often as many asdouble figures. This is a tip of the hat to thelegends of yesteryear having watched endlessvideos of the likes of Sam Snead and BenHogan. Modern-day players have advancedroutines for settling the nerves and to help‘switch on’ the process. Dufner just keepswaggling until he feels ready to go.

4 DufneringIn March Dufner visited a school in Texas.While the children appear content and engaged

the star visitor is slumped against the wall, withhis arms by his sides and a comatose stare.Within a few days the picture had gone viralwith McIlroy, Donald, Fowler, Bradley,Creamer and, this month, Gary Player alldoing their best impressions.Instead of offering up some rubbish excuseDufner explained: “It just caught me at aperfect time,. The funny thing about it is thephoto taken represents how I act all the time. “They were talking about focusing andrelaxation. They have some big test coming upon ways to relax and concentrate. And I guess Itook it to another level.”

5 He sees golf for what it isSome golfers, you might think given theirarrogant behaviour, are world leaders. In anever-more fawning world it is easy to getcarried away with yourself but don’t expectDufner to go down this route.After his PGA victory Dufner appeared on‘shock jock’ Howard Stern’s radio show. This is what was said..

HS: Do you hate golf sometimes?JD: Yes, definitely.HS: There’s guys you dislike.JD: It’s like anything else.HS: What do they do that gets under your skin?

JD: Guys are just jerks sometimes.HS: How does that play out?JD: Most of the time nothing plays out becauseguys are pretty soft. Golf is pretty soft. I’veseen guys do stuff that if it happened in anNFL locker room there’d be fists thrown.HS: What do they do?JD: Just the way they treat people and howthey interact with people and things they say.HS: Are they obnoxious?JD: Yeah.HS: Are they trying to get under other golfers’skins so they can win?JD: No, I think they’re just jerks.

Follow @JasonDufner on Twitter

MARK TOWNSENDUnkempt, uncool and unathletic - just three reasons why I love Jason Dufner

• Mark Townsend is NCG’s deputy editor. He now

plays off 8 after a slow start and middle to the year

The Duff

Not youreveryday heroI

NCG pp146 Columnist MT 23/08/2013 13:23 Page 146

h i g h - p e r f o r m a n c eg o l f w e a r/ / b a s e l a y e r

h e a t u p y o u r g a m e

s e r i o u s g o l f e r s p l a y a l l y e a r r o u n dt he sKintight ™ t hermal series is specially developed for playing golf in cold weather.

Trump International 23/08/2013 11:59 Page 1

National Club Golfer October 2013 Issue

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Transcript of National Club Golfer October 2013 Issue