Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2016 i Golf Monthly

Photography Getty Images In nearly ten years as editor I can't think of one time where I have felt the need to highlight bad news surrounding the game. I prefer to focus on the positives, but two recent events – and their negative impact on golf – have been impossible to ignore. Firstly, the result of the vote to admit women members to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers who play at Muirfield, which failed, by 14 votes, to reach the two-thirds majority needed. The vote gave the golf haters (of which there are seemingly many) the opportunity to lay into the game, which they did with relish. While I respect the right of a private club to decide its own membership policies, I would have hoped the bigger picture…

Photography Paul Severn “It is the job of all the assistant captains to help ensure that the players are ready to perform. That, in turn, will give Europe the best chance” I've been lucky over the course of my 30-year career in professional golf. A lot of nice things have happened to me along the way, but this was a moment I'll never forget. Last July, right after he and I had played in the Farmfoods Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Challenge on the Monday of Open Championship week, Darren Clarke asked if he could have a couple of minutes with my wife, Marian, and myself. Darren had a simple request: would I, assuming I wasn't going to make the team as a player, like to serve as one of his…

1 Speed is key Before we get into the details of the technique itself, the most important thing to remember is to accelerate through impact. The flop shot is an exciting one to play because there is so much danger attached to it. When it goes wrong, it is usually because the player doesn't commit to the strike, decelerating through impact. If you get the address position right, more speed creates more height. Therefore, it makes sense to be as committed as possible, to make a big swing and, most important of all, to accelerate through impact! Adopting a half-hearted approach here is guaranteed to end in disaster. 2 Opening the face If you have ever read any flop-shop tips, you will know how important it is to open the…

KEY TECH Gyro anti-deviation system keeps it stable across slopes and bumps AIMED AT Golfers who like extra features and a trolley that's easy to manoeuvre HOW MUCH £1,099 with a lithium battery Tech-heavy electric trolleys are becoming more on trend every year, so it's no surprise to see Europe's biggest trolley brand, Big Max, add a remote-control model to its offering. The Navigator Quad Gyro (£1,099) makes the most of a patented Gyro anti-deviation system that means it rights itself if it hits a bump, and can steer across a hill in a straight line. It also features four wheels, with the front two benefitting from 360-degree rotation for very tight turning circles. It's a design that also puts less pressure points on the trolley's structure than a traditional…

KEY TECHNOLOGY As well as new low-profile wheels and the excellent Quickfold system, features include shot measurement, USB charging port, cartlock pin security system, battery meter, adjustable distance control and lost-ball timer, all integrated into the ergonomic handle and displayed on a new user-friendly, hi-resolution full-colour screen. GM REVIEW First and foremost, the S3 Pro is light and easy to manoeuvre. No matter how undulating your golf course, it chews up the terrain and makes getting round far less tiring. Where the S3 Pro excites is through the added features and the digital display, which looks great and is easy to read. All the functions are simple to grasp and easy to use. The lithium battery version may be marginally more expensive than the lead acid model, but Motocaddy has…

“A POOR OUTFIT CHOICE IS AN UNWANTED DISTRACTION” Joel Tadman Growing up playing golf as a teenager, I was never one who fully embraced the concept of layering. In fact, my inability to check the weather forecast prior to leaving the house (this was pre-smartphone days) often left me either too hot or too cold and certainly ruing my choice of outfit as I stepped onto the first tee. Add in the fact I liked to tee off relatively early, and therefore the temperature could change by up to 15 degrees from the start to the end of the round, and it made not employing proper layering all the more regretful. Most days, the base layer was the most serious offender – it's the garment that seems like such a…

Long gone are the days when hybrids were experimental clubs for inconsistent ball strikers. They are now widely used on tour, with more than 50 per cent of professionals playing one, and many even carrying two. If you plan on giving your long-iron the elbow, or upgrading your current hybrid, this showcase should help. It includes a mix of larger-headed models designed to be hit off the tee and give you extra forgiveness, and a collection of more compact options that will appeal to consistent ball strikers looking to fine-tune their trajectory and shape shots into par 5s and long par 3s. Through the use of modern designs – whether that’s fixed sole weights or lightweight crowns – hybrids will help you get the ball airborne more easily, especially from…

“FIND THE FEEL AND FLIGHT REQUIRED TO HIT THE FRYING PAN AND CREATE A GONG-LIKE SOUND" This is a great drill to help you really hone your touch around the greens. You'll need a green, some balls, your preferred chipping wedge… and a frying pan! Put them all together and you have the 'gong-shot drill' – perhaps best practised on the chipping green rather than out on the course where you may get some strange looks! Put the pan down at the point where you think you're going to have to pitch the ball to get it to roll up to the flag. Prop the handle up using a tee so the base of the pan is angled towards you. The idea is to chip the balls and get them…

Photography Kevin Murray “If you’re pushing me for my favourite heathland courses, I’d say Sunningdale. If you wanted to play golf every day of the week, that’s where you’d choose” The golfing terrain of the British Isles is some of the best to be seen anywhere. Being Australian, though, I have to get something in for us! We have some pretty cool golf courses down under. Some of the places you probably haven't played are the sandbelt layouts in and around Melbourne. They are a must play at some point in your life. Seriously. They are reminiscent of your Surrey and Berkshire classics; heathland layouts that are total masterpieces in their own right. And that is coming from a Sydney lad! As you might have guessed, there is a little…

My 58° lob wedge is my favourite club in the bag as it gets me out of trouble. I was lucky growing up because I played at a golf club in Ireland called Esker Hills where every green is raised by four to six feet, so when you missed them you were forced to chip the ball with a lot of loft and try and get some spin. I used to go out a lot on my own when I was a kid and just chip the ball around, which helped me become one of the best chippers in the game. I just hope some of my short-game magic rubs off on you! FLOP OVER A BUNKER This is a shot I practise all the time so it comes naturally…

KEY TECH Unique sole design improves traction without harming comfort AIMED AT Golfers who demand stability, grip and comfort from their footwear HOW MUCH £220 Every golfer knows the golf swing starts from the ground up, and using the ground efficiently is how the likes of Rory McIlroy create power and consistency in equal measure. So looking to gain any margin possible, Nike designers have unveiled a new sole design with what they call ‘Articulated Integrated Traction’, which they claim helps facilitate better footwork during the swing. Showcased in the new Flyknit Elite shoe, the futuristic outsole “decouples the medial heel and lateral forefoot area to help propel the athlete through the swing.” According to Nike, this is possible thanks to articulated channels that move your feet closer to the…

KEY TECH Two-piece Srixon AD333 ball reaches the ten-year milestone AIMED AT Golfers with slower swing speeds for whom price is a factor HOW MUCH £30 per promotional pack To mark the milestone of having the best-selling two-piece golf ball for ten years, Srixon has announced its biggest ever AD333 promotion. From the beginning of July until the end of August, it is giving you the opportunity to win a host of prizes, including a ten-night golf holiday in the Algarve and a top prize of £10,000. All in all, there are more than 1,500 prizes up for grabs over the two-month period, as well as more on Srixon's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages through the #Srixon10 hashtag. To be in with a chance of winning, you need to find…

KEY TECHNOLOGY The non-adjustable M2 fairway has a carbon composite crown that saves weight and repositions it in more desirable areas to increase launch and forgiveness. A larger, more open Speed Pocket increases ball speeds on shots struck low on the face and also helps reduce spin. A fluted hosel saves weight and improves the feel and acoustics. GM REVIEW Looks The M2 fairway has a low profile and mid-to-small head size at address. It's arguably not the most confidence inspiring to look down on but is still easy to align, thanks to the contrast between the black face and white front section. Performance The M2 fairway wood provides distance and versatility without losing out on trajectory or forgiveness. What strikes you instantly is the incredibly hot feel off the…

In a schedule dominated by 72-hole stroke play tournaments, there is one event this summer that offers an alternative perspective on many of the world's best golfers. Ahead of Europe's trip to Hazeltine for the 41st Ryder Cup, many of Darren Clarke's hopefuls are set to battle it out in the Paul Lawrie Match Play. The 1999 Open Champion and Golf Monthly columnist has again joined forces with the European Tour to host a unique knockout event that pits a high-class 64-man field against each other. Taking place from August 4th to 7th, the event will be staged at the Archerfield Links in East Lothian. Situated on a prized stretch of land between Muirfield and North Berwick, Archerfield blends tree-lined and links holes to provide a varied test and views…

The Golf Colt (1-9) par 36, 3,509 yards Alison (10-18) par 35, 3,242 yards Lane Jackson (19-27) par 36, 3,089 yards The golf at Stoke Park comes in the shape of three nine-hole designs that were originally laid out by Harry Colt in 1908. Set in the rolling grounds of the impressive mansion house, this is quintessential English parkland golf. The Colt nine has just reopened after a significant makeover that transformed the network of bunkers that define and protect the layout. There might be 23 fewer than before, but a complete overhaul of the shaping has made them more imposing from the tee. What's more, many have been repositioned, meaning the Colt is a far greater test of strategy. A similar revamp of the Alison and Lane Jackson nines…

LETTERS The Editor Golf Monthly Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7BF EMAIL  @timeinc.com TWITTER @GolfMonthly FACEBOOK facebook.com/ golfmonthlymagazine GOLF MONTHLY FORUM golf-monthly.co.uk/ forums GOOGLE+ +golfmonthly YOUTUBE youtube.com/GolfMonthly VINE vine.co/Golf.Monthly INSTAGRAM instagram.com/ golfmonthly All contributions must be original, not copies or duplicated to other publications. The editor reserves the right to edit letters. Time Inc. (UK) or its associated companies reserve the right to reuse any submission sent to these pages of Golf Monthly, in any format or medium.…

21 Top 10s recorded by Sergio Garcia in Majors, the most recent coming at the US Open 18 Brooke Henderson’s age when she won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, defeating Lydia Ko (19) in the play-off 306 Number of English European Tour victories following Matthew Fitzpatrick’s win at the Nordea Masters 7 Years between Dustin Johnson’s first Major top ten and his first Major victory at the US Open $ 1,530,000 Dollars earned by William McGirt for winning the Memorial Tournament – his first PGA Tour title. His first professional cheque was $16,000 in 2007 21 Average age of LPGA Tour winners after 16 events in 2016 1 Wu Ashun became the only Chinese player to win multiple European Tour events at the Lyoness Open…

1 ASHBURNHAM This beautiful links along the south coast of Wales staged what is now the Tour's flagship event, the PGA Championship, in 1959 and 1969. It produced two famous winners in Dai Rees and Bernard Gallacher, and subsequently hosted the 1976 Martini Tournament, won by a young Sam Torrance. All three went on to become Ryder Cup captains. The club continues to host important events, and the JH Taylor design is a fine and very enjoyable test which offers exceptional value for money. Stats: Par 72, 6,627 yards W: ashburnhamgolfclub.co.uk 2 FULFORD Those of a certain vintage will remember Bernhard Langer's approach to the 17th green in the 1981 B&H International. The German's 9-iron had finished 15 feet up an ash tree, from where he miraculously chipped onto the…

Photography Paul Severn “When you’re not playing well it’s hard to miss tournaments. There are certainly times when you need to try to find some form on the course” Planning your diary and working out how often and exactly where to play each year can be tricky. As soon as the schedule is out, the first thing you do is sit down and go through the big tournaments you already know you're in: work it back from the Majors, the big events and the ones you like, and take it from there. Ideally you'll then be able to put a nice little run of decent events together, so you're not forever travelling backwards and forwards – one of the tougher elements of life on the European Tour. But at the…

Jan Squire believes there is room for more female caddies on the European Tour. Squire is currently the only woman working full-time on the circuit but would be happy to see others choosing the job as a career option. “I don’t see why not,” she says. “In Japan, all the local caddies are female – it is very much accepted and the norm. And there were a couple in America when I was there.” A touch ironically, though, it’s the European Tour that has produced the most famous female caddie, Fanny Sunesson. The Swede blazed a trail in the late 1980s and went on to form a formidable partnership with Nick Faldo in his pomp. “They were a good team,” says Squire, who is a long-term friend of Sunesson. “She…

1 Set-up is key A pushed iron shot starts right of target, stays on that line and ends up missing to the right. Most of the causes lie in the set-up before you even start your swing. The ball-to-target line – represented by the white stick closest to the clubhead – is the line straight to the target along which you're trying to hit the ball, but people often set up with their body and feet pointing right of that. This generates the in-to-out swing path that starts the ball on a straight line right of target. 2 Parallel or perpendicular What we're looking for at set-up is for everything to run either parallel to our ball-to-target line, or at right angles to it. Toes, knees, hips and shoulders should…

KEY TECH Multiple technologies combine to create a high launch with forgiveness AIMED AT Competent players who prioritise feel and workability HOW MUCH Prices TBC The new Srixon Z565 driver replaces the Z545 model and features a new Power Wave Sole. This is essentially a multi-step design that allows the lower portion of the face to bend more, increasing distance across the face. A Stretch Flex Cup Face has also been added, extending further around the crown and sole to create a larger sweetspot. The crown has been made four grams lighter than the previous driver and that weight has been repositioned to enhance clubhead MOI and lower the centre of gravity. The Z565 model will suit a wider range of handicaps and swing speeds, while the Z765 driver is…

Photography Kim Porritt “THE FEEL THESE PUTTERS OFFER IS UNMATCHED. IT’S CRAFTSMANSHIP AT ITS VERY BEST” Technical editor Joel Tadman 1 TECHNOLOGY Central to the new Select Newport line, which is available in seven head shapes, is the wrap-around face inlay that promotes a smooth roll and more consistent distance control. Between the body and the steel or aluminium inlay (depending on the model) is a vibration-dampening silicone membrane, which improves both feel and feedback. 2 LOOKS The Select line boasts simple, classic head shapes in a premium silver mist finish that looks fantastic from all angles. The bladed Newport models are quite elongated from heel to toe, with clean sightlines and rounded corners. The M1 and M2 mallets have a criss-cross sightline with rounded edges that pops through…

KEY TECHNOLOGY The Ping G Crossover is designed to offer the ball speed and distance of a hybrid and the penetrating flight and spin of a long-iron. The face is made of a high-strength steel to increase ball speed, while extreme toe weighting provides hybrid-like forgiveness for distance and accuracy. GM REVIEW Looks The significant offset, a wide sole and a thick topline make it look similar to a driving-iron. It comes in a dark finish with a lighter face section that frames the ball well. Performance Where this club differs significantly from a driving-iron is the height of the trajectory. The Crossover offers a higher flight, but one that is still lower than a hybrid of the same loft. It offers much higher levels of forgiveness than a long-iron…

Photography Kevin Murray Whether competing on tour or picking up a club for the first time, golfers are often told by coaches that power comes from the ground. The way in which your lower body interacts with the floor, harnessing the stability of the ground, has a huge impact on the speed and balance with which you swing the club. This basic concept lies at the very heart of the game. Looking at the golf swing in this light, the question ‘what is the right golf shoe for your swing?' becomes an important one to answer. Spoilt for choice As we all know, each golf shoe manufacturer offers a range of different models to choose from. Some are very stable and well structured and others are more mobile and lighter,…

BUYERS’ GUIDE If you're lucky enough to have arranged a game on one of the UK's rare sunny and hot days, a decent pair of golf shorts is a must. But be careful, as some golf clubs have a strict dress code, specifically the wearing of tailored shorts only. These are defined as “being made of chino-style material with a conventional waistband, including belt loops, and conventional hip pockets (no cargo or patch pockets) worn with the hem approx. 10cm above or below the knee.” If you buy shorts from any of the golf-specific brands featured here, this shouldn't be a problem, but some found in high-street shops might not meet the criteria. Just like golf trousers, golf shorts feature a host of performance technologies within the material to keep…

Photography Tom Miles “A man can lose perspective when the dollars flow like a tsunami into his life. Misjudged entitlement is only one of the pitfalls that await the unwary” I don't know about you but I subscribe enthusiastically to the thought that while money can't buy one happiness, it's better to feel melancholy in a Rolls Royce than it is to be fed up on a bicycle. This occurred to me when I read recently of the shedloads of money currently being showered on the old game's leading participants. Each year Forbes magazine publishes its Rich List and each year it sub-divides this totem pole of envy into various sections, including, inevitably, sportsmen and women. From this we may learn that the best-paid athlete is Cristiano Ronaldo, a footballer…