Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i Golf Monthly

Photography Tom Miles, Kevin Murray When I first teamed up with Barney Puttick on this project back at the start of 2016, the brief was ambitious: come up with a practical fix for every fault in the game. Whether you are hitting it right, left, high or low, or simply cannot get up and down around the greens, the plan was to deliver an encyclopedic reference tome to help all golfers, no matter what their handicap. As we started to compile the list, it soon became clear just how hard our great game is. Frankly, with so many potential disasters awaiting us, it's amazing we ever hit good shots at all. Here in, I guess, lies the beauty of golf. The full swing involves such a complicated set of interconnected…

Too quick to judge I was interested to read Josh Proud's letter in the June issue regarding attitudes shown towards young golfers. Last year, I took my 15-year-old grandson to my local club for a game. Upon reaching the first tee, there was a man and woman, whom I assumed was his wife, preparing to tee off. As we were ready before they had finished their rummaging, they invited us to go before them but with the proviso, upon observing I was with a youngster, that we would allow them to play though “when they caught us up” – the inference being I was playing with someone too young to be of any worth. I played the first shot, with the ball going its customary 180 yards. My grandson then…

“WE NEED PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO SEE THE VERY BEST GOLFERS COMPETING AND PUTTING ON A GOOD SHOW” What are your thoughts on the Olympic format? I think it's dynamic, it will evolve over time. I think it was necessary. In order to reintroduce golf into the Olympics, the view was taken that we needed to do it in the simplest way possible to hit the ground running, and that was to have a 72-hole tournament. I'd agree with that policy. It was about getting golf back in and trying to make it as smooth as possible. We're all familiar with 72-hole events – they are the easiest ones to run and we want to make this reintroduction as simple as possible. I'd be in agreement with that. I'd…

You've probably heard of the Srixon brand through the boxes of balls on your pro shop counter, not the clubs on the rack. But over the last couple of years Srixon's hardware offerings have taken a big leap forward, and this trend has continued with the launch of the Z65 range. The likes of Graeme McDowell and world top-20 player Hideki Matsuyama have played Srixon clubs for a while, and its latest series of woods and irons are as cutting edge as they are pleasing on the eye. Forged in Japan and aimed more towards the low-handicap player, the Z65 irons are truly things of beauty but have the impressive performance to match. The Z565 driver has been created for all abilities and combines multiple new technologies with a clean,…

When you look back at an Open Championship, the sights, the sounds, sometimes the wind and the rain, crowd in to fill the mind with memories worth revisiting. Some Opens, however, do not need reigniting. Some, not many, are so wonderfully brilliant that you never really leave them behind. Opens like Tony Jacklin's victory in 1969 or Sandy Lyle's win in Kent. How about any of Nick Faldo's glorious trio, or Tiger Woods at St Andrews in 2000. Who needs a jolt to relive Tom Watson's epic duel with Jack Nicklaus in sunny '77 and the most appropriate shootout to link to this 21st-century rumble on the links? Yes, to these modern masterpieces we may now add Troon in 2016. Consider, for a start, the following facts from the final…

Graeme Storm: A Gold Medal doesn’t compare to the Majors, but I think most players would take one over 10 European Tour titles. Lee Slattery: Definitely the USPGA Championship. Golf has just come back into the Olympics and no one really knows how it’s going to affect the game at the moment. Obviously there have been a lot of withdrawals, but regardless of that, you have to take the Major. SSP Chawrasia: I think Olympic Golf, especially as it’s the first time it’s been in in my generation. It would also be great for more people in India to see the sport. Bradley Dredge: I think I’d be for the USPGA because it’s a traditional Major. I know a Gold Medal is pretty rare, but I’d have to go for…

Prince’s Golf Club, located on Sandwich Bay on the east Kent coast, boasts wonderful accommodation offering sea or golf course views and 27 holes of Championship links golf set near to the charming ancient town of Sandwich. The Championship links of Prince's, scene of Gene Sarazen's 1932 Open victory, has benefited from continual investment over the last few years and is now presented in the best condition that members and visitors have ever seen. In the three years since the Lodge accommodation at Prince's opened, golfing guests have enjoyed comfortable surroundings and a friendly welcome. The 38 en-suite bedrooms are the perfect choice for a golf break at Prince's, or indeed to also enjoy the other Championship links along this coastline – Royal St George's and Royal Cinque Ports Golf…

Q My ball came to rest on a step going down into a bunker. There was nothing on the back of the scorecard so I decided to play it off the step. I toyed with the idea of playing a second ball. Assuming a drop was okay, I couldn't drop anywhere in the bunker that wasn't closer to the hole. I presume, therefore, that a drop outside the bunker would be a penalty drop? sawtooth, GM website forum A Steps are man-made objects and are considered to be immovable obstructions under the Rules. If a player has interference from the steps, free relief is available under Rule 24. The key to relief is the position of the ball and where the ball lies, rather than the position of the steps.…

KEY TECH A heavy head combined with the loft of a mid-iron and a putter-length shaft AIMED AT Inconsistent chippers craving a simplified and smoother action HOW MUCH £109 Odyssey started counterbalancing its putters with the Tank range a few years ago, and that family has been so successful that the brand has now decided to take what it has learned and apply it to a new chipper. At 37° the X-Act Tank chipper has the loft of an 8-iron, but at just 35.5in long and with an oversized grip, it has the feel of a putter. It's a combination that Odyssey believes will help nervous chippers find a smoother and more consistent action. As well as an oversized grip to quieten the hands, the chipper also features a polymer…

Since their mass introduction 15 years ago, hybrids have helped many golfers to find extra distance and consistency in their long games. But as with drivers, irons and balls, you can't pigeonhole every player into one style of club, so many still go out of their way to find a 2-iron or 5-wood they get on with. Cobra recently spotted this trend, and moved to introduce a couple of versatile alternatives, with the King F6 Baffler and the King Utility iron launched earlier this year. Both these clubs are adjustable – the King F6 Baffler from 16° to 18.5° and the King Utility iron from 18° to 21° – and it's a feature that makes them ideal for players looking to fill a specific gap in their bag. As well…

HADDINGTON On previous visits to East Lothian I'd driven past countless signs for Haddington, which is partly what inspired me to focus on inland golf on my latest trip, a return visit to Kilspindie notwithstanding. Haddington dates back over 150 years, playing over rolling terrain by the River Tyne (no, not that one!). The green on the opener is beautifully framed, and angled towards you to encourage a confident first approach, but the 2nd from the elevated back tee is a shock to the system at 468 yards. The green on the 4th takes some mastering, too, as it slopes viciously down from left to right. The 7th and 9th are both good downhillers bookending an unusual par 3 up and over a 30ft bank short of the green. Coming…

Photography Tom Miles, Getty Images The bigger picture I was intrigued and infuriated in equal measure by the comments of Rory McIlroy during the lead-up to The Open. His totally egotistical, if brutally honest, remark that he “didn't get into golf to try to grow the game, (he) got in it to win,” demonstrates a totally dismissive attitude to the sport which has given him enormous wealth and exaggerated status in the world. Paul Simon referred to “the boy in the bubble.” Perhaps someone needs to burst Mr McIlroy's. I am sure that he did think about the possible consequences for himself and his family should he be struck down by the virus – that is a purely personal choice with which we cannot quibble. However, it still does not…

Photography Getty Images WITNESSING HISTORY ROYAL TROON, SCOTLAND Marshalls hold back the crowds on the 18th fairway as Sweden's Henrik Stenson completes his historic final round to become the first Scandinavian man to triumph at a Major. His total of 264 was the lowest in the history of the big four events, beating David Toms' 265 in the 2001 USPGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. OPINION DESTINATION GOLF EQUIPMENT INSTRUCTION…

While European Ryder Cup venues have been modern affairs since Walton Heath in 1981, the US continues to mix it up between newer courses and traditional clubs. This September, it's treading the middle ground when the 41st Ryder Cup visits Hazeltine National in Minnesota, created by Robert Trent Jones in 1962. No stranger to Major golf, Hazeltine memorably witnessed Tony Jacklin's US Open triumph in 1970 and the first of Payne Stewart's two US Opens in 1991. Two players have famously fended off Tiger here in Majors, too – Rich Beem in the 2002 USPGA and YE Yang in the 2009 staging. Tiger isn't playing this time, but he will be there as a vice-captain urging his compatriots on to a first victory since 2008. In keeping with modern Ryder…

“FOR WOMEN’S GOLF, THE GAMES PROVIDE A GREAT CHANCE TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE AND THE PLAYERS ARE EMBRACING THAT FACT” In 2008 the International Golf Federation (IGF) started a process that would lead to golf's reinstatement on the Olympic programme the following year and its confirmed return to the Games at Rio in 2016. The IGF presented a compelling case to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that golf belonged on the Olympic schedule and the sport spoke with a unified voice. The R&A, the European Tour, PGA Tour, USGA, LPGA Tour and the Masters Tournament, plus numerous other leading organisations represented on the IGF, convinced the IOC that golf's inclusion would have a positive impact on the game and on sport in general. It should do so. But…

We are looking to find a golfer who would benefit from some world-class coaching and a full through-the-bag PING custom fitting to help take their game to the next level. The lucky golfer will spend an unforgettable day at PING's European HQ at Gainsborough GC in Lincolnshire. In the morning, they will have a one-on-one coaching session with Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach Barney Puttick, who will analyse every aspect of their game, address faults that may be holding them back and identify key areas to work on. After lunch, the golfer will undergo a full through-the-bag custom fitting with a PING technical expert to give them a club line-up that will help them get the most out of their game and maximise their performance. To be considered for this…

“CASUAL WATER IS ANY TEMPORARY ACCUMULATION OF WATER NOT IN A WATER HAZARD” With the sheer volume of rain that has fallen across many parts of the country in early summer 2016, many courses have been suffering from high water tables that have left bunkers partially or completely flooded. So what can you do when you find your ball in a pool of water in a bunker – is free relief available? Well, yes and no, depending on the circumstances and how flooded the bunker is. Casual water is defined as any temporary accumulation of water that is not in a water hazard and is visible before or after the player takes his stance. You are entitled to relief without penalty from casual water, including casual water in a bunker,…

KEY TECH Polyurethane webbing on the upper moves in harmony with the foot AIMED AT Golfers wanting traction, comfort and something that stands out HOW MUCH £170 Ecco may be known for its stylish spikeless shoes, but with its latest creation it has stepped outside the box to bring something very different to the table. This new cleated model, the Cage Evo (£170), takes the fully integrated Direct-Injection Process (DIP) wrap design from last year's Cage shoe – a system in which heel-to-toe support increases stability – and combines it with a distinctive new upper that features polyurethane webbing. This webbing provides an anatomical shape that aligns and moves in unison with the foot for increased flexibility and comfort, with the lightweight uppers also exceptionally water-repellent thanks to Ecco's Hydromax…

KEY TECH Sound chamber creates feedback to match speed and roll AIMED AT Golfers who rely on feel to putt their best HOW MUCH £349 Odyssey says it is obsessed with the never-ending pursuit of innovation, and its latest range of limited-edition putters again brings something different to the table. Its new Milled Collection RSX putters – featuring the #001, #7 and V-Line Fang models – are milled from 1025 carbon steel, with the focus very much on sound and feel. This focus has led to Odyssey engineering a sound chamber that delivers a crisp sound for feedback that will match up more closely to the ball's speed and roll off the face. The big idea is that a six-foot putt will sound and feel like a six-foot putt. This…

A frequently asked question relating to our Top 100 Rankings is why a particular course has dropped a few places, or even disappeared. Occasionally, the answer is that there has been a decline, usually in conditioning, but by far the most common reason is simply that others are constantly improving. This is great news for golfers, because it means we are enjoying the results of remodelling and refinement that caters for modern tastes and equipment, as well as improved maintenance techniques. In such a competitive world, all clubs have to move forward to stand still! Open to ideas Arguably our greatest tests of golf are those on the Open Championship roster, and it is very rare that any reappear as host without some form of makeover, most often designed to…

Rich in history and culture, Lombardy has ten UNESCO sites. But it is also known for its lakes, mountains, food and the boutiques of Milan's fashion district. It is served by three international airports – Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio ‘Caravaggio' – with daily direct flights from the UK and Ireland. With more than 60 golf clubs – 28 of which have at least 18 holes – Lombardy is the Italian region where golf is most widespread. Luxury hotels, historic villas surrounded by parks and gardens and sceneries of rare beauty make Lake Como an ideal golf destination. In this area there is the Menaggio and Cadenabbia Golf Club – the second oldest golf club in Italy. It was founded in 1907 and its course was…

“HE WASN’T GOING TO BACK DOWN. I HAD TO KEEP ON PUSHING” With hindsight, there was a poignant moment as my team captain prepared to tee off the 1st in the Pro-Am for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open this July. Henrik Stenson was unsure whether he was expected to play, or if he was to wait for a 'shotgun start'. Fifteen yards away on the 10th tee, Phil Mickelson was asking the same question. They looked at each other and shrugged before a horn sounded from the direction of the clubhouse at Castle Stuart. “That wasn't a shotgun,” Phil noted, gesturing Henrik to go ahead. The Swede smiled and belted a driver down the middle. He then turned to watch Phil spank an iron up the 10th. Stenson nodded…

On the 72nd green of the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, Sergio Garcia faced an eight-foot putt to win outright. He settled, made a good stroke and set the ball rolling on what looked to be a great line. Somehow, though, it refused to drop – it just didn't take a small break that should have been there. Had the ball disappeared, recent golfing history may have been very different. Sergio may have used Open victory as a springboard to achieve further Major successes and to properly fulfil the potential we have all seen in him since he burst onto the scene as a teenager in the late 1990s. As it was, though, Sergio's near miss resulted in a playoff defeat by Padraig Harrington that left the Spaniard inconsolable, publicly…

Grounding your club in a hazard, whether sand or water, will lead to a penalty as Shona McRae, R&A assistant director – Rules, explains, with reference to Anna Nordqvist’s recent unfortunate breach during a play-off for the prestigious US Women’s Open title... Anna Nordqvist was penalised for grounding her club in a fairway bunker on the 17th during the second hole of a play-off with Brittany Lang to decide the 2016 US Women's Open at Cordevalle in Northern California. The pair were tied on level par after the first play-off hole. When playing her approach to the green from a fairway bunker, TV evidence showed that her 5-iron had gently grazed the sand when she began her backswing, resulting in a breach of Rule 13-4b. Rule 13-4b provides that a…

1 In match play, while waiting to play from the bunker, Fergus casually leans on his club in the hazard. What is the ruling? A Fergus loses the hole. B Fergus incurs a penalty of one stroke. C Fergus incurs a penalty of two strokes. 2 In stroke play, between the play of two holes, Jezz persuades Fergus to stop at the halfway house for refreshments before moving quickly on to the next tee. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty. B Both Fergus and Jezz incur a penalty of two strokes. C Both players are disqualified. Photography Kenny Smith – shot on location at The PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles 3 In match play, Jezz finds his ball off the ground, lodged in a tree. He deems it…

Photography Andy Hiseman Many clubs in the stockbroker belt to the west of London are blessed with impressive clubhouses, but the grand white 18th-century mansion at Burhill Golf Club just off the A3 is arguably most impressive of all. Both club and estate are rich in history, with Burhill coming into existence in 1907 when a group of local businessmen leased the mansion and sufficient land for two golf courses from the Guinness family. Those who last played here more than 15 years ago may query the ‘two golf courses' element of that previous sentence, as the New course only opened in 2001. But until the second world war, Burhill also had a South course, with the land given up for arable use to help the war effort. The Old…

Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy known for its beaches, towns and more than 210 miles of coastline. Along this coastline are now dotted 25 Blue Flag beaches, after Ceriale and Levanto obtained the designation earlier this year. The capital of the region is Genoa. Six miles west of the capital is Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport, to which British Airways and Ryanair fly frequently from London. Offering the warmth of the Mediterranean, Liguria's mild climate is perfect for all-year-round golf. There are a wide array of courses, all within easy driving distance of one another. The jewels in its golfing crown are the four 18-hole courses in Sanremo. Circolo Golf Ulivi is laid out in a delightful setting on the hills by Sanremo. This course, which opened in…

Golf is well established in Piedmont with more than 60 clubs around the region. Many of these are in areas of outstanding natural beauty and are a good starting point for discovering a region with much to offer: cities rich in art, history and culture, unspoiled countryside, soaring peaks, wide valleys and pristine lakes. Scheduled and low-cost flights operate from Gatwick, Stansted and Luton to Turin (Caselle Airport). While there are no direct flights from Ireland to Piedmont, Aer Lingus operates non-stop services from Dublin to Malpensa airport in Milan. Indeed, a wide variety of flights are available from several UK airports to Malpensa. Turin became the first capital of United Italy in 1861. Its artistic and architectural heritage spans from Roman times to la Belle Époque, and it's known…

“THE PAR-5 3RD IS WHERE THE BRABAZON’S TRUE CHARACTER IS REVEALED” The Belfry. Depending on when our wonderful game came into your life, those two words will undoubtedly spark one of many iconic images. If you witnessed Team Europe's first ever Ryder Cup victory in 1985, that snapshot will likely be Sam Torrance stood with his arms aloft on the Brabazon's 18th green, after holing a birdie putt to win his singles match and secure Europe the trophy. If your first Belfry memory is four years later, then you probably vividly remember one of the best 2-irons of all time from Christy O'Connor Jr, and his soon-to-follow look to the heavens after he helped his team secure a 14-14 draw to retain the cup. The Americans then returned to Warwickshire…