Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2015 i Golf Monthly

Wasn't it great to see the British Masters make a triumphant return to the European Tour after a seven-year absence! It was particularly pleasing to see how well attended it was, with more than 57,000 coming to watch across the week. Sky Sports was supporting the event and not only ensured huge galleries on the first day by giving away 15,000 tickets, but also treated fans who watched from home to some excellent, innovative coverage. Key in this was the use of the TrackMan system to provide details of tour players' launch data, and having the erudite Nick Dougherty mic'd up so he could talk to the commentators throughout the first two rounds. Post-round Sky delivered bonus coverage by staging informative live masterclasses with the players. It all bodes well…

Once a year the forum builds with excitement as a date, normally in early October, draws near. It has become, over time, the most important date in the fixture list. Travelling from all over the UK, the forum converged on West Hill Golf Club for the now legendary Help for Heroes meet. Despite the weather trying its hardest to dampen spirits, the event was once again a thoroughly enjoyable affair. Old friendships were rekindled, new ones forged and a new champion was crowned. Leading the way with an excellent 37pts was Region3 ahead of Liverpoolphil and cookelad (36). With the winner ineligible for the lowest gross prize, Liverpoolphil took it home, with Sandy (32) victorious in the ladies' competition. The winning guest and also the best score on the day…

Photography Kevin Murray, Getty Images You spent a year on the Challenge Tour after turning pro. How useful was that experience as a stepping-stone? When I was in high school, I thought that maybe I'd be good enough to try European Tour Q-School when I was 18. I decided to go to college instead, and then I tried Q-School straight after that. I was actually tenth going into the final round and shot 78 to just miss out on my card. Maybe that was the best round of my life. I played badly, but it was good that I shot 78 because I don't think I was ready for the main tour at that stage. I'm sure I would have got many punches! Instead, I finished high up on the…

What happened… While the Presidents Cup result followed the usual script, this was a tight affair between America and the Internationals that came down to the final match. When US captain, Jay Haas, picked son Bill for a wildcard ahead of other worthy candidates such as Brooks Koepka, little did he know that this encounter would come down to the final hole of the final match between Bill and local favourite Sang-moon Bae. Haas outlasted the South Korean to see the USA home by 15.5pts to 14.5pts. What they said… “They played phenomenal golf and made us play phenomenal golf. It was pretty uncomfortable at times today, but the guys stepped up and played amazing golf.” Jay Haas What we think… Just as some believe the Ryder Cup needs another…

If you're looking to spice up your rounds of golf and add another dimension to a day out on the course, betting app Golflutter could be of interest. It's betting with a difference, though. Each day represents a new nationwide competition, where you put £5 into a communal pool. If you're successful in your chosen game, you'll be entitled to a share of the pool. There is a range of games you can play, including ‘bet birdie', ‘bet eagle' and ‘bet 4, bet 6 and bet 9'. When you make your selection, the app will randomly generate four, six or nine holes for you to play against and then, via GPS, provide a scorecard for the course you're playing on. The holes are hidden to hinder cheating. Simply input your…

Much has been made of Jordan Spieth's putting this year, and other stars of today clearly excel in different areas of the game – Rory with his driving, for example. But when I look back on my playing days, it wasn't so easy to really know who were the best in the various categories because conditions weren't so conducive to generating all the statistics we can readily turn to these days, even if the desire had been there. When I came onto the British circuit in the 1960s, John Panton was the 'Prince of Iron Play'. I remember him being picked out, and articles written about him, but there were a lot of good iron players out there. And I suppose Dave Thomas excelled at driving, though he was also…

CLIVE TUCKER 1 Posture check As we all know, putting is where you turn the quality of your ball striking into a quantifiable score. That’s why it’s human nature, as soon as you hit each putt, to see where it’s gone. However, this can be dangerous. Many players come out of their address posture far too early to track the ball. This can actually lead to a poor strike and the putter cutting across the ball through impact. So this weekend, have one single thought: retain your posture until the ball comes to a finish. This one little tip could make all the difference to your success on the greens. Photography Mark Newcombe 2 Connection drill Where does the momentum for your putting stroke come from? For many, the answer…

Photography Paul Severn What’s in my bag Driver: Ping G30 9.5° Fairway wood: Ping G30 14.5° Hybrid: Titleist 915 19° Irons 4-PW: Ping i Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM5 50°, 56°, 60° Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T10 Select Newport 2 Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Unlike a lot of players who are into their launch monitor data and swing mechanics, I'd describe myself as a 'feel' player. That's the way I've always been since my dad, who still coaches me, started showing me the ropes when I was five. My dad, Jeff, believes coaching should only be given when it's needed and only ever to react to what the ball is doing, so we don't tweak much with my technique on a week-to-week basis. As such, we tend to focus on the…

SHAFT OPTIONS 14 shafts are available with no upcharge LOFT OPTIONS 9° and 10.5° (adjustable) Key technology Aimed predominantly at better players, the deep-faced Big Bertha Alpha 816 Double Black Diamond driver now features Dual Distance Chambers located in the heel and toe, one of which houses the Gravity Core. As such, golfers can now alter both shot shape and spin. Next-generation R-MOTO Technology provides the structure needed for a thinner face, leading to faster ball speeds on both centre and off-centre hits. A slightly open face angle and matte-black finish should also suit the eye of better players at address. Will suit Better players looking to control their dispersion while keeping spin levels low. GM verdict The deep face, combined with the shallow head length from front to back,…

Whether it's windy, rainy or freezing cold, the clothes you wear are crucial in determining if your round is enjoyable or forgettable. Today, manufacturers are continuing to push the boundaries with fabrics, designs and fitting options in an effort to negate the conditions as much as possible. Starting from base layers – the ideal primary layer when the temperatures drop – and moving all the way through to jumpers, vests, wind and waterproof outerwear, as well as accessories like winter hats and gloves, we've provided a buyer's guide for every type of winter garment. You'd also be surprised at how much wear you get out of some of these items of clothing. With the typically unpredictable British climate, elements of winter conditions can linger all year round. And, if you…

Buyer’s Guide For those who prefer a more traditional look with their mid layer, the jumper or pullover is still the perfect garment for some extra warmth over the top of a polo shirt. But the technology involved in this clothing is more high-tech than you may think. Some items that look like jumpers may have a wind-blocker lining or something similar, to help them feel softer and provide extra warmth and protection. When selecting a size, think about what you plan on wearing the garment with – the more layers you plan to wear underneath, the larger size you'll need. Many prefer vests or gilets because they provide great warmth while keeping the arms completely unrestricted during the golf swing. They also come in many forms and materials, depending…

Machrihanish Dunes Stats: par 72, 6,349 yards W: machrihanishdunes.com GF: £75 per round, £95 per day My return to Machrihanish Dunes, and David McLay Kidd's ever-challenging putting surfaces, was eagerly awaited, for on my last visit, the course had suffered at the hands of severe winter storms, with some areas and greens out of play. Arriving in the early evening to an empty car park, I was delighted on several counts: firstly, that I would have this fabulously natural links all to myself; secondly, that the nines had been reversed eliminating the long trek to the 1st tee; and thirdly, that the course had been fully reinstated and was now in rude health. The stunningly natural dunescape gets close to the beach in several places, asking searching questions…

Letter of the Month will receive a year’s supply (six dozen) of the best Titleist golf ball for their game Photography Getty Images, Mark Alexander In the footsteps of giants One of the great attractions of our wonderful game is that we have the opportunity to “walk in the footsteps of the legends.” That is exactly what my son-in-law and I did this April when we took on the Old Course only a few months before the Open Championship was played there. We walked the same course, drove on to the same fairways and putted out on the same greens. We had caddies, we played in front of the (empty) grandstands and in our minds we were professionals for the day! To do all this, knowing that so many famous…

Al Zorah / Ajman, UAE The UAE has become a real golf hotspot, with first Dubai then Abu Dhabi growing into highly acclaimed destinations and eagerly anticipated European Tour stops. Now golf is arriving in style in Ajman, a small Emirate north of Dubai, with the opening of a stunning new Nicklaus Design course at Al Zorah this December. This striking newcomer – the UAE’s first for six years – will be managed by Troon Golf, with its wealth of experience in developing top-end golf destinations. Laid out over native sandy areas, lakes and mangroves, Al Zorah’s long waterfront means tidal flows will affect how certain holes look and play throughout the day. “Al Zorah is an absolutely breathtaking setting for golf,” said Troon Golf’s Bruce Glasco, “and we now…

Noren attended Oklahoma State University and turned professional at the end of 2005. He reached the final stage of European Tour Q-School to earn a Challenge Tour Card for 2006. That year, he won the Rolex Trophy en route to a third-place finish on the Money List. The Swede played solid golf in his first two seasons on the European Tour in 2007 and 2008, finishing 63rd and 31st on the Race to Dubai respectively. The following year, he recorded his maiden victory at the Omega European Masters at Crans-Sur-Sierre in Switzerland. Noren’s best European Tour season to date came in 2011, when he won the Saab Wales Open at Celtic Manor and the Nordea Masters in his native Sweden to end the year 15th on the Race to Dubai.…

Photography Mark Newcombe, shot on location at Oceanico Amendoeira, Portugal I have created a familiar scenario on the range, having placed the ball above my feet. This is one of those everyday situations that requires some fine-tuning to your normal technique. Firstly, the slope will naturally make your swing flatter than usual and this will cause the ball to turn left in the air. There’s no way to really counteract this confidently, so just allow for the draw with your alignment. Secondly, move your hands down the shaft, to the bottom of the grip. This will prevent you from catching the ground before the ball and hitting it fat. Finally, stand a little taller to the ball than usual – you’ll need a little less knee flex at address to…

Photography Kevin Murray I completely agree with the decision of the European Tour's new Chief Executive, Keith Pelley, to give Rory McIlroy a special exemption to play in the European Tour's Finals Series. McIlroy has been given permission to compete in just 12 events on the European Tour this year, when you normally need to play in 13 to keep your card. The reason? The ankle injury he sustained before The Open, which kept him out of that event, the Scottish Open and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. It would be unimaginable for the person who is leading the Race to Dubai to not be competing in the Finals Series when he had suffered a perfectly legitimate injury. I'm sure the Ulsterman will feel bad for whoever finishes 61st in the Race…

GARY ALLISS 1 Reverse pivot If you are struggling with the tops, your first port of call is to check that you aren't reverse pivoting. This is when your weight moves in the wrong direction during the swing (your weight goes towards the target as you take the club back and then away from the target as you move towards impact). This will cause the club to bottom out too early and you'll catch the top of the ball with the sole of the club. To rectify this incredibly common mistake, place a ball behind the clubhead at address. As you take the club back, try to push the ball away from you. This will encourage a smooth, low takeaway that helps you set your weight over your right side…

Buyer’s Guide A lot more goes into the design of waterproof jackets than you may think. It's not just a question of preventing water from entering; manufacturers also consider the weight, breathability, freedom of movement, warmth and the ease with which golfers can slide the jacket on. The technology involved in the fabrics that make up today's waterproof jackets is staggeringly complex. Not only do materials now stretch to help reduce restriction of movement during the swing, but levels of breathability have also increased significantly. This means that while no water can get in, water vapor in the form of perspiration is able to get out, helping golfers stay cool, dry and comfortable when out playing in testing conditions. Design features that tailor waterproof jackets to the demands of the…

Buyer’s Guide If you plan to continue playing into the winter months, a good base layer should be one of your first purchases in preparation. They provide immediate warmth, and can be added to depending on the temperature and weather conditions that lie in wait. The first thing to mention regarding base layers is the fit. While most are relatively tight, but not skin tight, some take fit to the extreme. For example, compression base layers are designed to be very tight to the skin. While often tricky to get on and off, they deliver increased blood flow to the muscles while helping maintain your optimum temperature. Nearly all the performance fabrics used in base layers today have moisture-wicking technology that helps reduce the build-up of perspiration. This is often…

Photography Tom Miles Now and then in life you get the chance to do the right thing. This might be helping someone get a pram and a toddler onto a train, or stopping your car so an uncertain, elderly person can cross the road. Or it might just be smiling at someone who looks a bit lost and lonely. These small acts of kindness are what help to make life better for all of us. Whether you happen to be the person dispensing a bit of kindness or the one receiving it, we each take something positive away from these brief but vitally important experiences. This even extends into the rarefied world of top-level sport, and especially into golf. If this daft, old game means anything at all, it means…

Email golfmonthly@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.…

Photography Getty Images What happened… Since it was announced in March that the British Masters was returning to the European Tour schedule, with the support of Sky Sports, for the first time since 2008, the British golfing public had been keenly looking forward to an extra dose of European Tour action on home soil. With Ian Poulter assuming the role of tournament host at his beloved Woburn, a strong cast assembled to compete over the beautiful Marquess' course, with the event's post-Dunhill date and a strong prize fund encouraging a number of big-name PGA Tour regulars to stay on after Scotland. Fears about the weather were allayed, and although there was heavy rain in the run-up, the tournament itself was played in mostly fine, sunny conditions. The rain meant that…

Photography Paul Severn It was great to be back at Woburn this month playing in front of home fans as it really does give you an extra buzz. My biggest experience of that was at Wentworth this year when I was in contention, but I had a big draw the first two days playing with Lee Westwood too. That's how you want to play golf… it's certainly how I want to play golf anyway! It's great to have people rooting for you, and to be playing in front of as many home fans as possible, as long as you don't disappoint them, of course. I know that golf is our job, but people have paid to watch, so you are putting on a bit of a show at the same…

Photography Tom Miles As we reach the end of the golfing year, it’s a natural time to take stock and to evaluate your performances. It’s also a great time to go back to basics, to work on laying some of the core foundations that underpin a good golf swing. Away from the pressure of competition, regardless of whether you are an amateur or professional, you can do some extremely valuable work cementing those keys. The basics of the address position lie at the heart of a good golf game. In this exclusive feature, I’m going to break down those fundamentals. From grip and posture to alignment and weight transfer, I want to offer my theories on where consistent golf swings come from. If you can work on these elements this…

Better player You play well but want to shave those last few strokes off your handicap How to put a soft touch on your chips You've short-sided yourself and now face a delicate little chip of about ten yards, with the green sloping away from you. To stop the ball close to the hole, you'll need to create some height and plenty of green-grabbing spin. Here's how to get your ball to check up and nestle near the hole for an easy up-and-down par. Copyright ©2015 TI Golf Holdings, Inc, reprinted with permission STEP 1: PLACE THE SHAFT IN NEUTRAL Set up with your weight evenly distributed over both feet, the ball slightly forward of centre in your stance and your hands just behind the ball. The last adjustment is…

Each month, the readers whose queries are featured will receive a copy of The R&A’s Golf Rules in Action DVD, which covers the fundamental Rules of golf by showing actual incidents that have occurred during play at the highest levels of the game. Q This has happened on two recent occasions in competition and I do not know how to approach it. In the first competition, I made up a fourball. During the round the three other players played a total of 12 provisional balls, but over half of those shots followed what can only be described as poorly hit shots that clearly finished in either the fairway or the semi-rough. In my mind they were using the rule as an excuse to hit a practice shot. It should be…

Key technology Designed in conjunction with staff player Louis Oosthuizen, Ping's Tour Eye waterproof suit is part of the Sensor Dry platform. It features a special technology called Pertex Shield+, which combines waterproof protection (guaranteed for three years), breathability and stretch properties for complete freedom of movement during the swing. The jacket is available in both full and half-zip versions with matching waterproof trousers that boast the same technology, creating a protective but playable suit. Will suit Any golfers who are seeking a stylish set of waterproofs that are light, breathable and affordable. GM verdict Ping's ‘Eye' name is one that represents performance and innovation, and the Tour Eye waterproof suit lives up to that. The material is the suit's showpiece, offering excellent protection while still being thin and lightweight,…

Key technology Under Armour claims to have created the most advanced rain suit in golf with its Gore-Tex Tips jacket and trousers. The jacket uses three-layer bonded fabric to deliver a durable, smooth exterior and a soft, brushed interior, keeping the garment 100 per cent waterproof but also breathable. A stretch fabrication applied across the suit gives golfers 25 per cent more stretch than other Gore-Tex rainwear in golf. The Gore-Tex Tips trousers feature a soft waistband for a comfortable fit, hip adjusters and 12-inch leg zips. Will suit Year-round golfers seeking top-of-the-range waterproof protection and freedom of movement. What is certain is that however much rain you play in, you'll stay dry with the Under Armour Gore-Tex Tips waterproof suit. Water landing on the material rapidly runs away, with…

Buyer’s Guide Mid layers are arguably the most versatile garments a golfer can wear. Not only do they nullify the cooling effect of the wind, but many also offer warming properties and elements of shower proofing, meaning you don't have to add unnecessary layers in a light drizzle. In addition, they also come in a wide range of fits. A loose-fitting mid layer may feel roomy and comfortable, but the excess material could interfere with your action. Be sure to have a few practice swings in the shop before making your purchase to ensure it provides the look and freedom of movement you want. Most of today's mid layers are lightweight – which makes them ideal for bag carriers – and breathable to make sure you don't get too warm…

Stay The Village  T: 0800 151 3701 W: machrihanishdunes.com/stay/ There are accommodation options to suit all tastes in The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, whether the elegant Ugadale Hotel, a grand Victorian building now restored to its former glory, or the more modern Ugadale Cottages. The hotel has been sympathetically refurbished to blend the best of its heritage and character with the needs of the modern world. The cottages have more of a contemporary feel offering spacious, high-spec bedrooms and lounges. The Serenity Spa is also available. Eat Old Clubhouse Pub, Machrihanish  W: machrihanishdunes.com/dine/ There’s something special about supping on your pint and tucking into hearty fare in a building with such strong links to the early days of golf in Machrihanish. The original clubhouse has been tastefully restored and…