Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2022 i Golf Monthly

In this issue, we’re delighted to announce Golf Monthly’s new list of our Top 50 Coaches in the UK. The list has been expanded from 25 to 50 to more fully represent the exceptional level of instruction and support delivered by our incredible PGA professionals to a diverse pool of golfers across the country. Our new Top 50 Coaches list, covered fully on page 46, comprises a combination of teaching professionals we have known and worked with for 15 years and more, plus new faces who have demonstrated their coaching knowledge and ability through their everyday work and our selection process. Talking to PGA professionals, I am always struck by their passion and commitment to grow the game by helping golfers to improve and enjoy the sport more. We’re very…

Across 7 Club Alan Shephard used on the moon (3-4) 8 Course which held its first Open in 1977 (5) 9 Slope seen at Carnoustie’s 5th (4) 10 One motif redrawn for 5th hole on 8 (8) 11 Susie, winner of four Majors (7) 13 Architect shelters from sleet (5) 16 Ends at Montrose’s 4th (5) 18 Joins Beeches and Berrow (7) 20 First man with desire to be a Desert Classic winner (4,4) 22 (and 23) Nicer honk summons Australian golfer (4) 23 see 22 (5) 24 Internet way monarch discovers leading amateur at 1995 Open (7) Down 1 Welsh saint (6) 2 Long time sponsor of Tiger Woods (4) 3 Where bunker shots at St Andrews may rest in peace? (7) 4 Injury to Leonie (4) 5 Recess…

Sam Burns Burns hasn’t finished outside the top 25 on the PGA Tour since August and he rounded out the year with three consecutive top-tens. Graeme McDowell The former World No.4 has missed his last three cuts and is now hovering around the 300 mark on the Official World Golf Ranking. Nicolai Hojgaard The Dane finished T4 at the DP World Tour Championship. Nicolai and brother Rasmus are the first twins to both occupy a spot in the world’s top 100. Danny Willett Since winning the Alfred Dunhill Links, he has fallen back outside the world’s top 100 after two missed cuts and a T39 at the DP World Tour Championship.…

SOUND BITES “I MEAN, THIS F***ING RIPPED SHIRT, JESUS”Rory McIlroy lost his cool after repeated questions about his shirt at the DP World Tour Championship “THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME – I’M NOT KIDDING – WHERE I JUST FELT LIKE I WANTED TO LEAVE THE GAME. PEOPLE WERE DAMAGING MY CHARACTER. I WAS LIKE, ‘I REALLY DON’T NEED THIS. I CAN WALK AWAY AND BE TOTALLY FINE THE REST OF MY LIFE, BE HAPPY AND GO AND HIT THE LONG BALL AND CALL IT A DAY’”Bryson DeChambeau said he nearly walked away from golf amid a barrage of online abuse “I FELT ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE AND I WAS VERY SORRY. I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SAYING HAPPENED. I WAS JUST EMBARRASSED AND FELT HORRIBLE”Thorbjorn Olesen was cleared of…

It’s not the done thing for a player to celebrate another’s misfortune. Even so, Johannes Veerman could have been forgiven for uttering a few encouraging words under his breath – nothing audible or over the top, of course – when Tapio Pulkkanen dunked one in the water on the final hole of the Czech Masters last August, an error which left the door wide open. After a few nearlies, this was Veerman’s opportunity – and he grabbed it with both hands. You have to strike while the iron’s hot at this level. In July, Veerman had come third at the Irish Open and tied eighth at the Scottish Open – lucrative finishes, yes, but when you keep coming close, the pressure builds to get the job done. Miss out and…

Rule 15 covers situations involving loose impediments. This advises on when and how loose impediments can be removed when they are in the general area, bunkers and penalty areas and also highlights the one-stroke penalty that applies should you move your ball in the process. But what is a loose impediment? Well, essentially it is any unattached natural object, such as: ◆ Stones, loose grass, leaves, branches and sticks. ◆ Dead animals and animal waste. ◆ Worms, insects and similar animals that you can remove easily, and the mounds or webs they build (such as worm casts and ant hills). ◆ Clumps of compacted soil (including aeration plugs). You would hope you would never have to remove a dead animal or animal waste to play your next shot unimpeded, but…

ASK OUR EXPERT Why are there so few left-handed golf clubs? David Edmonds, Email Quite simply, it is down to demand, or a lack of it. With only five to seven per cent of golfers being lefthanded, it’s hard for manufacturers to justify the investment in the tooling required to make the clubs when the financial return isn’t likely to cover it. Choice in models is consequently smaller, which I can imagine is frustrating, but a good fitter should have enough options for you to get what you need. What gear launches are you most looking forward to in 2022? Hugo Jones, Twitter There’s so much to be excited about this year, with new launches from brands not seemingly slowing down despite logistical challenges. An early stand out has to…

Visio Mirrored Gates £34.99 This versatile training aid will help you understand how well you start putts on your intended line. Two magnets provide the ‘gate’ in front of the ball and give you the option of three different widths to alter the difficulty. Miss your target line and you’ll get audible and visual feedback of where you went wrong. Eyeline Metronome Tour Edition Training Aid £34.99 This device has an adjustable metronome to allow you to drill a consistent and comfortable putting tempo. Starting with the metronome at 75bpm, it’s easy to adjust the device to match your ideal tempo. There’s a useful headphone output, too, so you don’t distract your fellow golfers. PuttOut Premium Pressure Trainer £29.99 It uses a parabolic ramp whereby each putt made is returned…

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Bull Bay Opening shortly before World War I, this lightly bunkered Herbert Fowler design is in the centre of Anglesey’s scenic and craggy north coast. Its elevated position means that wind is often a factor, but to compensate there are views out over the sea and up towards the Isle of Man that are simply magnificent. There are constant changes in direction, each offering something new and unexpected, as well as some very demanding back tees. The undulating, rocky terrain often makes the yardage chart redundant, and there is a wealth of character here due to the interesting and everchanging topography. This is an extremely friendly club where staff and members take the time to welcome visitors. If it wasn’t quite so off the beaten track – a strength far…

Dun Laoghaire A short drive to the south of its famous namesake port, the 27 holes at Dun Laoghaire are blessed with a quite beautiful parkland setting that is as far from links as it’s possible to be. The club relocated to enjoy a brand new Martin Hawtree design 15 years ago and each nine has its own, different challenges with strong bunkering throughout. The elevated nature of the Upper leads to panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the Wicklow Hills, while water is a feature on the Middle and Lower. GF: 18 holes: €75 Mon-Thu, €95 Fri-Sun Ring of Kerry The west coast of Ireland is unbelievably scenic, and this idyllically located collaboration between the great Eddie Hackett and Ron Kirby is an engaging blend of heathland and…

Been there, done that Whenever I read an interview with Billy Foster [January issue], he never ceases to entertain and inform. He really has seen it all when it comes to professional golf and has so many stories to tell. People often lament the lack of characters in the game these days, and to some extent I agree with them, but they are out there if you look in the right places. Caddies are always there when the major events are unfolding and will often have a unique take on the moments that matter. It fascinates me to get their view on how the top players operate. Not every caddie will have as many stories as Billy, but they can let us see things from a different perspective. I will…

You were seen hitting full shots at the Hero World Challenge. How is your rehab progressing? As far as playing at the tour level, I don’t know when that’s going to happen. Now, I’ll play a round here or there – I can do something like that – but to see some of my shots fall out of the sky a lot shorter than they used to is a little eye-opening. But at least I’m able to do it again. For a while, it didn’t look likely. Now I’m able to participate in the sport, but to what level, I do not know. Do you think you’ll be capable of playing PGA Tour events again? I don’t foresee this leg ever being what it used to be, and the clock’s…

Nairn’s Championship links is one of the UK’s finest, serving up mesmerising views across the Moray Firth to the Black Isle, with Royal Dornoch just 20 miles north as the crow flies, albeit three times that via the glorious A9. Touched by the hands of Old Tom Morris, James Braid and Ben Sayers, among others, the links heads out in a westerly direction before briefly venturing inland on the back nine, then returning to the narrow links strip for the final stretch. The ever-busy Tom Mackenzie has recently added his name to the design roster, with a major remodelling completed in March 2020 ahead of last year’s Amateur Championship. His extensive alterations included new greens on the 1st, 7th and 14th holes, plus a number of in-vogue open sand areas.…

The MP or Mizuno Pro series of irons has long been preferred by the game’s elite players, and the latest iteration comprises three models – the 221, 223 and 225 – as well as a Fli-Hi driving iron. But that’s not to say they’re exclusively aimed at the single-figure handicappers of the world – the appeal is much broader than that. All three models boast the soft copper underlay we saw on the MP-20s to improve the feel, but these irons have been made more compact than their predecessors. The Mizuno Pro 221 is billed as the ultimate muscleback, inspired by Mizuno blades of old with incremental refinements that will make it more playable. The head has been bevelled for the appearance of a shorter face profile and narrower topline,…

After a barnstorming 2021, this season has a lot to live up to in terms of excitement in the professional game. From a competitive perspective, the focus will be on both the men’s and women’s Majors, with a growing pool of international talent. There may be no trans-Atlantic team contests on the calendar, but the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow in September will see the International team take on a US side that should be as robust as the one that showed Europe a clean pair of heels at Whistling Straits last September. Off course, significant changes and investments could have long-term repercussions for pro golf. Indeed, the season could be a transitional one, with a new generation of players and a new competitive schedule starting to take shape.…

There’s huge money in the elite professional game, with various factions attempting to maintain, expand or gain their piece of the pie. The PGA Tour continues to offer players the opportunity for a series of bumper paydays, none more so than the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Already with the biggest purse in any single tournament in professional golf, the prize fund has been increased to an obscene $20 million for 2022. When Justin Thomas defends his title from March 8, he’ll be competing for a top prize of $3.6 million. The total prize fund on the 2022 PGA Tour will be an eyepopping $633 million. The European Tour, meanwhile, is fighting hard to keep pace and a new partnership for the circuit has been reached with DP World. Fifty…

1 How do you spend your time between shots? If you look at golf as a whole, it boils down to playing in little slots of time which are, essentially, 40-second chunks. You are out there for over four hours and there is maybe half an hour of playing golf and a bit of time for your decision making, but the majority is walking between shots. Even on the green, you’re spending more time between your shots than over the ball. Most of us need to use that time better. A lot of our time is spent playing with our B game at best, so there are always going to be some erratic, disappointing shots and some good ones – we’re not always going to be happy, confident, smiling or…

1 In stroke play, Fergus makes a stroke on the putting green while his caddie (Jezz) holds an umbrella over him to protect him from the sun. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty. B Fergus gets a one-stroke penalty. C Fergus gets the general penalty (two strokes). 2 In stroke play, Jezz’s ball rests against a rake in a bunker. Without marking its position, he moves the rake, causing the ball to move. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty and Jezz must replace the ball. B Jezz gets a one-stroke penalty and must play the ball from its new position. C Jezz gets a one-stroke penalty and must replace the ball. 3 In stroke play, Fergus’ ball lies on the OOB line after his…

GM Verdict Bettinardi is a putter brand with a growing reputation thanks to its wide range of styles and models as well as an increasing presence out on tour, including in the bag of Matt Fitzpatrick. The Studio Stock range is its more traditional offering in terms of looks, but modern performance remains at its core. The SS18 model we tried is one of two blade styles available and it is very pleasing on the eye. It features a warm satin finish and clean lines combined with rounded corners. The star of the show is the face design, specifically the groove pattern, which helps produce a soft, gentle sound at impact. We found the speed off the face to be slightly down on most other putters we’ve tried, but once…

This is arguably the most popular iron category among amateur players, offering distance in a refined but playable package. This selection covers a wide portion of the current market, although we acknowledge that some of these models have been around for a while and may well be reaching the end of their shelf life. With Ping’s i500 iron no longer available at retail, no model from this brand was included here. Looks All these irons look fantastic in the bag, with the TaylorMade P790 and Honma TR20 P arguably having the most shelf appeal. The largest irons behind the ball at address are the Callaway Apex 21, TaylorMade P790 and Cobra King Forged Tec – ideal for those golfers who want a bit more metal behind the ball to inspire…

Zen Green Stage £18,700-£26,942 As seen on Sky Sports, the Zen Green Stage is a computer-controlled adjustable putting platform. The grass-like truerolling surface runs at 11.5 on the stimpmeter and the multiple holes mean you can practise any type of putt from 20ft or less. There are three size options – 12ft, 16ft or 20ft – and it can be turned into a full home simulator with an attached launch monitor. Hole More Putts Launch Monitor £669 This compact, portable putting launch monitor tracks your putter head and ball through impact, measuring 13 elements of the putting stroke in the process. When paired with the app on a smart device, it uses data-led analysis and visualisation graphics to help you master your putting stroke. Blast Golf Swing Analyser £149.99 Great…

In late 2021, I returned to play Horsham Golf, where I worked for six years in the 1990s. It had a very short nine-hole course back then, somewhere in the region of 2,200 yards I think. I do remember once being six-under after five, courtesy of several short par 4s early on and the planets aligning spectacularly one day. Sadly, those holes no longer exist, with the club developing a fine new 18-hole course mostly on new land, which opened in 2015. The closing holes do play over the site of four of those early holes but in the opposite direction, with the original course’s longest hole – the 7th – now home to Horsham Football Club. It was sobering to discover that the scene of my only ever hole-in-one…

Suzann Pettersen has been announced as the European captain for the 2023 edition of the Solheim Cup. The Norwegian will lead 12 of the continent’s best as they resume battle with their American counterparts at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, Spain. As a player, Pettersen enjoyed plenty of success from nine appearances in the contest, most notably in 2019 when she holed the winning putt at Gleneagles. That would prove to be a fitting final act of an illustrious playing career and she went on to serve as a vice-captain to Catriona Matthew in 2021. Now Pettersen, who has been a part of five winning sides, is relishing the chance to step up and take on the captaincy. “This is the biggest honour of my career,” the two-time Major Champion said.…

What’s been your best moment in golf? St Andrews course record or winning the Ryder Cup in 2010. What would be your dream four-ball? Jeremy Piven, Seve and Roger Federer. What would you be doing if you weren’t a golfer? Either computer games or something to do with fast cars. You can only play one course for the rest of your life… Augusta National. Favourite app on your phone? Waze, I use it all the time. If you could have a career mulligan, where would you use it? My third shot into the last at the 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions, or the tee shot on the 5th hole during the final round of the 2009 Open at Turnberry. Lowest round away from the tour? 60. Any superstitions? Don’t think so. If…

When not to putt Putting may not be wise on undulating fringes or if there’s long grass behind the ball – a belly wedge or hybrid chip will be better choices here. Many golfers who do putt from well off the green might be better off improving their chipping and pitching, as flying it on to the green takes out the humps and hollows that make these putts hard to judge. Practice makes perfect If you like the idea of putting from more than a couple of feet off the green, you’ll need to practise these shots a little more to get used to the change in speed once the ball exits the fringe. I would recommend adding this shot to your practice regime, and then taking a few more…

This year will also see a new strategic alliance between the European and PGA Tours. In it, the PGA Tour has acquired a minority investment stake in European Tour Productions (ETP), the European Tour’s media production company, which produces and distributes content internationally. The Tours will also work in partnership over a number of other areas, including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships. It will be the first year that three tournaments are to be co-sanctioned by the PGA and European Tours, meaning both FedExCup and Race to Dubai points will be on offer to participants at the Barbasol Championship, the Barracuda Championship and the Genesis Scottish Open. We may well see more players featuring in the season-long contests on both circuits.…

Just because you were a good player, it doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to be a good presenter or commentator in your given sport. Nick Dougherty enjoyed a playing career that most golfers could only dream of, but when form deserted him on the course, he was able to become one of the best and most recognisable broadcasters off it. To have just one of those careers is impressive, but despite all of his accomplishments, the 39-year-old’s journey hasn’t been an easy one. The player Dougherty was a stand-out amateur and a protege of Sir Nick Faldo. He won the 1999 World Boys Championship and three Faldo Junior Series events and was part of the victorious Walker Cup team in 2001. So it was with great fanfare and expectation that…

Having secured approval to redevelop the existing public course at Lethamhill in north-east Glasgow, The R&A is pushing ahead with exciting plans for a multi-faceted community facility that will act as a ‘new pathway’ into golf. The wide-ranging development, set to open in the spring of 2023, will feature a nine-hole course as well as adventure golf and other shorter formats of the game, as part of a family-focused venue. Jenny Brown tells us more… In a country of fertile golfing land, why did The R&A choose Lethamhill as the site for this venture? Martin Slumbers [chief executive of The R&A] talks a lot about golf being the game that started in Scotland and how it was a game for the people. If we were going to do one of…

I’m a senior. How do I get more distance? By Top 50 Coach Gary Alliss You can start off by gripping the club a little looser – say 4/10 pressure wise. Less grip pressure allows the wrists to hinge a bit more. More wrist hinge promotes more release and adds to clubhead speed. Also, lifting the lead heel makes it easier to get weight on to the trail foot, which in turn makes it more likely to generate extra speed as the weight moves forward. Again, this should increase club speed and add a few extra yards. Step to it Note how I’ve also taken a little step after impact, which is what Gary Player does. It will help get your weight through the ball. How do I stop decelerating…

Outside influences Back in November, Padraig Harrington was involved in a slightly unusual Rules incident during the Portugal Masters following a bizarre run-in with a moth. Chris Wallace, Rules manager at The R&A, explains all… Putting out for par on the 2nd hole, Harrington looked to have comfortably rolled his five-footer safely in when the fluttering of a moth’s wings temporarily brought his round to a stop and sparked a long conversation with a Rules official. So, why was it that a moth flying away had prompted Harrington to seek advice? Put simply, as the moth had flown away from the edge of the hole at the moment the putt had dropped, Harrington was concerned that the ball had hit the moth on its way in. Under the Rules, moths…

GM Verdict Oscar Jacobson, a brand that boasts a rich heritage in fashion tailoring, launched its Autumn Winter 2021 apparel last year to the delight of many club and professional golfers. The brand’s traditional and contemporary designs are popular with club golfers and trusted by many of the world’s best players. The premium collection features an impressive range of technologies, with luxurious yarns and fabrics ensuring no matter what the weather throws at you – be it wind, rain or a biting frost – you will remain comfortable out on the fairways. The Oscar Jacobson Tarren sweater is one of the most stylish garments in the collection, offering golfers a more athletic look on the course with plenty of protection from the cold. In terms of practicality, the sweater is…

The putter is the club you’ll use the most during a round of golf, so it really does pay to have one that works with your stroke and suits your eye. Feel has been a big focus of late, with brands recognising not everyone likes a very soft-feeling flat-stick. Yes, there are buttery options out there, but also more solid-feeling choices that better match the trend towards softer-feeling balls. Clever use of heavy tungsten weighting by some of the manufacturers means that putters have never been so forgiving. This means that if you’re able to return the putter to square at impact, the ball should hold its line and travel the full distance to the hole, even if you don’t make contact with the sweetspot. A new putter brings with…

Which UK&I courses most reward a difficult journey? David Crane, Manchester One of the great things about golf is that so many of us have an appetite to travel for our passion. I remember going to Cruden Bay about 30 years ago and it took me 600 miles to an area not previously on my radar. I enjoyed every minute of the whole experience. One of the real joys of visiting more remote courses is that feeling of other-worldliness. In Ireland, as you drive to play at Waterville or Connemara way out west, you feel like the road is going on forever. Once you are there, this is all forgotten as you revel in the glory of your new surroundings. Then there is The Machrie, more than worth the ferry…

As I write this, I’m in a tent. That in itself is nothing extraordinary. But I’m also surrounded by meandering sheep and there’s the inevitable deluge of rain oncoming. Only in Scotland, eh? Yet it’s come at the end of a day of growth I didn’t know I needed; the end of day one of my golf camping extravaganza with the man known as ‘The Iron Golfer’ and his partner in crime. “Open your mind to your limitless potential” is the sign-off of one of my fascinating hosts. Luke Willett, who some in certain golf circles will know through his exploits as one of the world’s finest speed golfers, has an entirely different view on life from almost anyone I’ve ever met and anyone I will likely ever meet. And…