Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2017 i Golf Monthly

Photography Getty Images, Kevin Murray, © Crown copyright (2017) Visit Wales Machynys is Wales’ newest links With water on three sides and a coastline stretching to 850 miles, it's no surprise that Wales should be blessed with such a strong line-up of seaside golf. This whistlestop clockwise tour of ten of the Welsh coast's finest courses tees off at its most highly regarded links – Royal Porthcawl, ranked 23rd in Golf MonthlyÕs UK & Ireland Top 100. The sea is in view on every hole on this superb links, with the early stretch running right alongside the beach, most notably the 2nd, where the green lies just a few feet from the out of bounds fence. Porthcawl has hosted many premier events, among them the 1995 Walker Cup, and in…

If you are a tourist looking for somewhere to golf, Tenerife is a superb option – particularly if you like bananas. I met a chap whose father had carted fertile soil across the island to its northern fringes to build banana plantations. Years later his brother was employed to rip up these plantations to build tourist resorts in the warmer, drier south. The chap himself works in tourism. This family's story is the island's economic one. Bananas used to be the main export; now it is tourism, as other parts of the world can produce bananas more cheaply. But the fruit is still in plentiful supply and exporters now focus on organic bananas. As there is little insect life here, organic farming is easy and cheap. The bananas benefit from…

Photography Kevin Murray Gran Canaria's variety of enticing landscapes encompasses volcanic craters, white sand beaches, ravines, picturesque hillside villages and dramatic cliff formations. Indeed, nearly half of the island is protected land. Such terrain has provided the perfect canvas for golf architects to create some stunning tracks. Gran Canaria has seven full-length courses and their quality was recognised four years ago when the second-largest Canary Island won Best European Golf Destination of the Year in the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) awards. With 2,805 hours of sunshine annually, Gran Canaria boasts that it is one of the world's sunniest places. Average monthly temperatures range from 24°C to 18°C. August is the hottest month, January the coldest, with June, July and August normally experiencing no rainfall at all. The…

The strawberries in my room at Château des Vigiers Golf & Country Club in Monestier were the best I have tasted. The food here is locally sourced – and very good. So is the fruit of the vine. Set in a famous wine-growing region, the château has 40 acres of vineyards and makes its own wine. It can also organise tasting trips to local vineyards for guests. The four-star château dates from 1597 and is set in the Dordogne Périgord region of south-west France, 30 minutes from Bergerac airport and an hour from the one in Bordeaux. This part of the world is famed for its wines – the Saint-Emillion wine district is a Unesco World Heritage Site – and celebrated for its natural beauty. Head chef of Les Fresques…

LAZIO Lazio boasts 250 miles of coast and is mainly hilly with small mountainous areas, especially in its most eastern and southern parts. It is also the Italian region with the greatest number of lakes – a wealth of water that for centuries has been vital for both economy and society. There are lakes of many types, from coastal and volcanic to karst, offering charming landscapes and opportunities for activities such as sailing, fishing and bird watching. The fascinating archipelago of the Pontine Islands is also part of Lazio and lies opposite its southern coast. Thanks to its favourable climate, Lazio offers golfers the opportunity to play all year round. Its clubs are spread around the region's main cities – Rome, Viterbo, Rieti, Frosinone and Latina. In total, Lazio boasts…

TRANQUILO GOLF CLUB FLORIDA, USA The Sunshine State boasts a wealth of quality courses, but Tranquilo Golf Club has perhaps slipped under the radar. Originally opened as Osprey Ridge in 1992, this Tom Fazio design south-west of Orlando lives up to its new name. Unlike most courses in the area, only a few villas come into view on your way around the stunning layout. In fact, you're more likely to see a herd of deer or a flock of wild turkeys, as Tranquilo is part of a respected environmental protection programme. With lush green grass, fast greens and white bunker sand, Tranquilo has shades of Augusta on every hole. The treacherous par-3 18th, with water down the left, is the obvious choice for signature hole, but the sweeping, risk-reward par-5…

“I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.” Bobby Jones did not say this, of course. Although, if he had, it would have been a perfect description of his beloved Augusta playground. No, this was William Butler Yeats’ idea of a terrific pair of lines and, as ever, Ireland’s greatest poet was spot on. Treading on dreams, chasing dreams, just plain dreaming is what the Masters gig encourages each year. And so here we go again – off on the magic carpet ride and big-time sport’s answer to the world’s greatest theme parks. Golf, as imagined by Disney. Drama often worthy of Hitchcock. Almost always, a final scene worth framing and looking at again. Nothing in the old game is quite the…

“ON PAPER, HE’S AN EXCELLENT FIT FOR AUGUSTA NATIONAL” Five years ago, there was only one Japanese youngster poised to take the world game by storm. Given recent events, it may surprise you to learn that man wasn't Hideki Matsuyama. Indeed, Matsuyama's name was barely on the radar as a flamboyant 20-year-old by the name of Ryo Ishikawa appeared on the scene. In 2012, he played 18 events on the PGA Tour following a record-breaking nine-win stint on the Japan Golf Tour, but as golf journalists everywhere were devoting endless column inches to this new superstar in the making, Matsuyama was quietly making his way to the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Five years on, Ishikawa finds himself outside the world's top 100 and without full PGA Tour…

Copyright ©2017 TI Golf Holdings, Inc, reprinted with permission BRANDEL CHAMBLEE (Golf Channel analyst) I hadn’t yet met Dustin in 2007, but we share the same agent, and we both played in the Desert Marlin, a fun off-season tournament. During the event, I was talking to some people and this guy comes up and goes, “I’m Dustin Johnson. It’s really nice to meet you.” He called me “sir” – the first time anybody had called me “sir.” He never didn’t say “Yes, sir,” “No, sir,” or “Mr. Chamblee.” He was that way with everybody. He was the right amount of confident and comfortable, but he definitely wasn’t arrogant. I couldn’t have been more impressed with him. AUSTIN JOHNSON (Brother, caddie) The Monday after Chambers Bay [2015 US Open], Wayne [Gretzky],…

While Bob Vokey has his own office in the main Titleist club headquarters in Carlsbad, he spends far more of his time on the range at the Titleist Performance Institute. His diary is filled with wedge-fitting sessions, both with tour players and paid-up members of the public (many of whom have spent years on a waiting list). The reason for this is simple – Titleist as a brand and Bob Vokey himself are trying to convince more everyday golfers to get fitted for their wedges. A 45-minute session with a wedge fitter is, they believe, one of the fastest ways to lower scores. And while we all know the importance of these scoring clubs, how many of us get tempted to buying directly off the shelf? It's an anomaly Titleist…

1 Taking Relief New Rule: Relaxed dropping procedure – the only requirement is that you hold the ball above the ground without it touching any growing thing or other natural or artificial object, and let it go so that it falls through the air before coming to rest. To avoid any doubt, it is recommended that the ball be dropped from at least one inch above the ground or any growing thing or object. “We like the idea of making the process quick and simple. We're not setting out a detailed process here. We're just saying, you need to drop the ball and it needs to stay in this relief area. And it's really as simple as that. Don't worry about precisely what height – just drop it. That has…

KEY TECHNOLOGY Textreme carbon fibre is 20 per cent lighter, creating a lower and deeper CG. Three adjustable weights in the sole – one 12g and two 2g – allow golfers to adjust launch and spin or add draw bias. The F7+ version (£299) has a smaller address profile, a deeper face and lower loft options. GM REVIEW Looks Whether you opt for black, blue or silver, the King F7 driver has a large, confidence-inspiring profile at address with lots of loft on show. The shiny finish may produce a little sun glare, something that's not a problem on the F7+ model thanks to its matte finish. Performance In our view, the King F7 is ideal for the improving, everyday golfer who doesn't want to shell out half his life…

Portugal is famed for its golfing treasures, especially in the south, but the rest of the country has plenty to offer too. This is certainly true of the Lisbon area, where the courses rival those on the Algarve while being less busy and offering outstanding value. Orizonte's collection of seven courses is a fine example. Each lies close to the capital in the beautiful Costa Azul region, which is becoming firmly established with golfers across Europe. Located 30 minutes from Lisbon city and framed by the Arrábida Natural Park, Quinta do Peru is a beautiful Rocky Roquemore design regarded among continental Europe's finest. This parkland layout, which opened in 1994, meanders through verdant pines, with astute bunkering and true-rolling, quick greens. The front and back nines both open with a…

The Marbella Club proves the wisdom of the adage, “If you build it, they will come.” The man responsible for this glorious resort on Spain's southern strip was Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who first spied the potential of this wonderful seafront plot in the 1940s, then gradually transformed it into a place the jetset would find irresistible. The Marbella Club boasts a superb array of accommodation (topped off by the mind-blowing beachfront Villa del Mar), restaurants and facilities to keep old and young entertained. It really is a resort for all ages, with the Kids' Club, in the old Finca where Alfonso once lived, the most impressively equipped I've ever encountered. Sadly, the kids weren't with me this time – they would have loved it! The adults don't fare badly…

With 200 miles of enchanted coastline, over 300 days of sunshine every year and 9,000 years of history and culture, North Cyprus is undoubtedly a fantastic place to explore. It boasts gorgeous, golden sandy beaches and stunning scenery, and is also home to the superb Korineum Golf and Beach Resort. Situated on the coast near the ancient city of Kyrenia, the resort is home to the only 18-hole championship golf course in North Cyprus. The David Hemstock design is carved from a natural forest of umbrella pines and olive trees, with stupendous views of the azure Mediterranean Sea on one side and the famous Besparmak mountain range on the other. The course, which opened in April 2007, measures more than 6,800 yards from the tips, so can provide a good…

I'll be honest with you – I'd never really considered Italy, and more specifically Sicily, when planning an overseas golf break. Having subsequently now been, I'm left scratching my head as to why. Perhaps it's because Spain is such a tried-and-trusted proposition and the Algarve continues to be a magnet for British golfing tourists; maybe it simply comes down to poor research on my part. Either way, Italy will definitely be on the shortlist the next time I come to plan a golf trip abroad. Spain and Portugal are rightly very popular, but Italy is emerging as a more than viable alternative. It shares many parallels with those two golf-tourism powerhouses, while adding some idiosyncratic ingredients into the mix. Sicily is one of Italy's 20 regions and ranks among its…

Italy’s sophisticated original capital is home to the superb I Roveri Golf Club, host of this year’s Italian Open. Rob Smith pays a visit Turin is situated in the north-west corner of Italy, 30 miles or so from the French border and overlooked by the spectacular Alps, which also serve as a protective weather-break. Just a short drive from the main airport and a few miles from the historic city centre, the beautiful and surprisingly peaceful I Roveri Golf Club is home to not one but two excellent courses. The club dates back to 1971 and its name is Italian for The Oaks, in reference to the older of its two courses, which runs through stately specimen trees that were once part of a vast hunting estate. Robert Trent Jones…

With around 34,000 golf clubs worldwide, the game offers an inexhaustible supply of new and varied courses to suit all tastes and pockets. Most are more than worthy of a game, but some, such as the Old Course at St Andrews, should be on the must-play list of every golfer. Here, though, we leave home treasures behind and cross over into continental Europe and beyond to take a look at ten fabulous and very different designs guaranteed to challenge and delight. Yes, some are pricey, but all offer genuine, aspirational, bucket-list golf... THRACIAN CLIFFS: BULGARIA W: thraciancliffs.com GF: €99-€129 There are some courses whose design and looks are so striking that even the silkiest of words simply cannot do them justice. Thracian Cliffs is one of that rare breed,…

Photography Tom Miles, Getty Images Captain fantastic In June of 2015, a year in which I was fortunate enough to be the proud captain of Yeovil Golf Club, I hosted my Captain's Day. On our signature hole, the 219-yard downhill par-3 15th, I shot a hole-in-one. I could spend a lot of time talking through the shot, which was played with a driver to the left-hand side of the green where it rolled right and disappeared cleanly into the hole. However, as much as every hole-in-one must be the greatest moment in the life of any golfer, my question is do any of your readers know of any other instances of a captain recording an ace on their Captain's Day? It still feels pretty special to me but it may…

1 BATH Enjoying an elevated position on the outskirts of the lovely, historic city, this charming downland course dates back to the 1880s but was the beneficiary of a major Colt redesign in 1937. His work included the creation of new holes at the start of the back nine and little has been altered since. There are just three par 3s including the memorable quarry hole at the 14th, and two par 5s which both work their way from right to left. This is a very friendly club and a delightful course. Par: 71, 6,505 yards GF: £28-£52 W: bathgolfclub.org.uk 2 ILKLEY As at Bath, the original course here also existed some time before the arrival and advice of Harry Colt, and in this case as well, Alister MacKenzie. This…

KEY INFO RRP: £52 per dozen. Pro V1 offers a softer feel, lower ball flight and less iron spin than the Pro V1x, which provides more short game spin TITLEIST 2017 PRO V1 & PRO V1X GOLF BALLS When you're the number-one ball in golf, you know the product performs for every level of golfer. As such, wholesale changes would be an unwise move. That's why Titleist has implemented some small yet influential refinements to its most popular ball franchise to help deliver even more consistency. The Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls represent the pinnacle of premium golf ball performance, and have done ever since Billy Andrade's victory at the 2000 Invensys Classic – the first of countless wins for the game-changing white sphere. The difference between the…

Rory McIlroy enjoyed a stellar 2010. Aged 21, he won the Quail Hollow Championship, recorded nine top-tens on the European Tour, climbed to 7th in the Official World Golf Ranking and played a key role for Europe in the Ryder Cup. But as much for his achievements, young McIlroy's year would be remembered for a couple of Major disappointments. At St Andrews, he led The Open after a course-record-equalling 63 in round one. He was unable to deal with strong winds in round two and fell away with an 80. Although he fought back to take third, it was an opportunity missed. In the USPGA at Whistling Straits, he was tied for the lead until a three-putt on the 15th. He missed a birdie putt on the final green to…

This will depend on the type of golf tour you have planned. If it’s a family venture then it’s simply a case of laying out the positives of the prospective destination. If, on the other hand, you don’t want your partner coming along, try the following lines of argument: 1 I haven’t seen these people for a whole year… These are some of your oldest friends and because of circumstance and location, it’s your only chance to stay in touch. 2 I need the exercise… You’ve been sitting behind a desk for six months – gloss over your objective to eat only chips for four days and drink your hotel out of wine. 3 What’s the point in having paid all this money for golf equipment and lessons if I…

When you mention the Algarve, everyone seems to have some kind of story – a round played while on holiday with the wife, a boys' weekend or a visit to a fellow member's villa. But what makes the place just such a huge draw for us Brits? The climate is obviously key. The average temperature never drops into single figures, much like my handicap. It also regularly tops 20°C as late in the season as October, as it did during my visit when I was invited to sample the region during the Portugal Masters, won by Padraig Harrington. There is also a great range of courses within an hour's drive of one another, which ensures plenty of variety for those on longer golfing breaks. For this trip, I would be…

On April 15, 1972 Antonio Garrido won the inaugural tournament of The European Tour when he captured the Spanish Open at the Pals Golf Club in the north of the country. Six months later and 450 miles to the south in the region of Murcia, the opening of a new resort rubber-stamped the golfing revolution which was sweeping across Spain and which would be shop-windowed by the swashbuckling Seve Ballesteros. La Manga Club Resort staged an International Pro-Am in October 1972 and six months later played host to the first of five successive Spanish Opens. Golf, like Spain, was exploding in popularity and La Manga, nestling between the Murcian hills and the Mediterranean, swiftly became a fashionable destination. Today, La Manga has three courses and under the astute leadership of…

here was some relief when the USA won last year's Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, and not just in America. The biennial contest is one of golf's, and indeed sport's, most eagerly anticipated and greatly enjoyed spectacles. With Europe winning six of the previous seven contests, enthusiasts were keen for the event not to become as one-sided as it had been the other way before GB&I became Europe in 1979. Having played Le Golf National in Paris – host venue of the 2018 Ryder Cup – before, I was keen to see how it had changed following a year-long closure for upgrade work, so was more than happy to accept an invitation from Brittany Ferries to do just that. We were also going to take in a couple of other courses…

Photography Rob Smith and Peter Ellegard I have been lucky enough to play golf in several regions of Italy over the years and have always been struck by how very different each area is: the scenery; the people; the culture; the cuisine. I was therefore delighted to visit the north-east of the country in October last year. Friuli, or Friuli-Venezia Giulia to give it its full passport name, is an area I had never before visited. To be honest, I had never even heard of it! In simple terms, it is the northeastern corner of Italy, which borders Austria, Slovenia and the beautiful Adriatic Sea. The best arrival point is probably the Marco Polo Airport at Venice, from where the whole region is easily accessible. We then headed over to…

What could be better than visiting new and different courses, playing the game you love in friendly company and endless sunshine? The one drawback of golf tours is that very often you need to pack and unpack, check in and out of hotels, and spend important holiday time travelling. The prospect of a golfing cruise that avoids just such a rigmarole therefore proved an irresistible temptation and a perfect way to start the year. P&O Cruises operate around the world, and I was lucky enough to fly out to Barbados to join their flagship, the vast and massively impressive Britannia. I am pretty sure I had never seen such a large vessel before; to put it into a golf context, she is the same length as the 18th on the…

The depth and variety of golfing prospects in this country is incredible and the UK's golfers are hugely fortunate to have such fantastic choice on, or just beyond, the doorstep. From grand old links to modern greats, and from 'hidden gems' to world-famous venues, there's an amazing selection of tracks to explore in the UK. Here, we look at ten excellent courses from right across the impressive spectrum of golf that this country has to offer. Some represent established quality with a price tag that reflects this; others may be less well known, but can still deliver a memorable golfing experience, as well as value for money. Make this the year you sample more of the golfing delights the UK has to offer by adding these great courses to your…

The proposed Rules changes for 2019 have made me so pleased – the game of golf has finally seen sense! It brings me joy that simple things such as putting with the flag in, repairing spike marks on greens and being able to remove loose impediments from bunkers are all being introduced – after all, a bunker is penal enough! I'm also thrilled about search times being reduced from five to three minutes. This game is difficult enough as it is and, at the end of the day, we all play it for the same reason: to get outdoors, socialise and have fun. What is the point in having Rules that make things overly complicated? We are trying to encourage as many people as possible to take up golf. I…

PAUSE AT THE TOP I use a small pause at the top of my backswing as the signal to start the downswing with my lower body DELAYED RELEASE The longer you can hold on to your wrist angle, the more lag and speed you will create coming into impact DRIVING KEY ALWAYS… Prioritise tempo over speed, as a centred strike with everything moving in sync will trump a fast but erratic technique NEVER… Just aim for the fairway. This general target is like throwing a dart and aiming for the board, rather than a specific number I averaged more than 300 yards off the tee last season on the European Tour, but that didn't come through sheer brawn. I have always worked hard on my tempo, and I think swinging…

Through my role at Golf Monthly and as a committee member at Banchory GC in Aberdeenshire, I'm conscious of the challenges members' clubs in this country face. The way people play the game is changing and, although total numbers striding out on the fairways seem to have stabilised, the number of clubs looking for members continues to grow, as more people take advantage of reduced green fees and choose to play their golf itinerantly. Golf clubs across the UK must look to enhance what they offer to current and prospective members to deliver value for money. A few success stories have emerged in recent years from golf facilities offering ‘flexible membership'. I wanted to find out if it might be something my club could consider. In the style of Seve…

When Matthew Fitzpatrick earned his first professional playing privileges by finishing 11th at the 2014 Qualifying School, he arrived on the European Tour with a formidable reputation. In 2013, he was ranked as the world's highest amateur golfer. That year, he finished as the leading amateur at The Open and won the US Amateur Championship. This is the sort of pedigree that signals someone special is making their way through the ranks, but having quickly reached the European Tour, Fitzpatrick knew that to transform potential into reality, the hard graft would truly need to begin. Between December 2014 and November 2016, the Englishman competed in a whopping 61 professional events on the European Tour. He travelled to 24 different countries and played 213 competitive rounds. This is proof, if proof…

SEASCALE I asked Ian at lakedistrictgolfbreaks.com to help piece together a Cumbria golfing itinerary and requested a bit of everything. That's exactly what I got, starting with the excellent Seascale links. It may live in the lee of the infamous Sellafield nuclear power station, and in the shadow of highly regarded Silloth 40 miles up the coast, but this is a fine must-play links in its own right. It starts with a gentle uphill opener, but the 3rd then demands great care with an OOB field on the right of the hole. The middle part of the front nine has real shades of Porthcawl, and the outward half finishes strongly via the long par-3 8th from an elevated tee in the dunes and the superb 9th, playing steeply down from…