Sommaire pour November 2016 de Golf Monthly

The Algarve coast has become a firm favourite with golfers and holidaymakers alike, with easy access to Faro airport, the region's spectacular golden beaches, sunny weather and some of the world's finest championship golf courses. Dom Pedro Hotels in Vilamoura offer a Golf Desk to provide all the help golfers need to book green fees, with special rates and conditions, as well as a shuttle service to Vilamoura's golf courses. The Dom Pedro Hotels group offers three four-star hotels comprising a total of 556 rooms and apartments in Vilamoura, only 150 metres from the beach, 50 metres from the casino and 200 metres from the lively Vilamoura Marina – one of the main attractions in the Algarve, with bars, esplanades, nightclubs, restaurants and shops, which bring the marina to life.…

My expectations of the golf courses weren't massively high ahead of my trip to Mallorca. As a golfer who's grown up in Surrey playing the likes of Wentworth, Woking, West Hill, Camberley Heath and Hankley Common, I've come to expect the best. Mallorca had never really been a destination that shouted out 'golf' to me, but as I discovered, the island really came up trumps. On a four-day trip I played six courses, Capdepera and Son Servera in the east and then Puntiro, Golf de Andratx, Bendinat and Son Quint in the south. The latter four are all situated within a short drive of the capital Palma. We arrived at the fabulous Serrano Palace Hotel in Cala Ratjada in the north-east and that made a great base to play Son…

Photography Kevin Murray Life on the Med strikes the perfect balance: blue skies, clear waters; year-round sunshine and an outdoor lifestyle. Throw in World Heritage Sites and fresh, local cuisine, not to mention world-class Greg Norman-designed golf courses, and not many places can rival the experience on offer at Lumine. Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community, located just an hour south of Barcelona, has all the best ingredients of the Mediterranean lifestyle, and has adopted the very apt mantra of 'Live Mediterránea'. Pristine fairways offer views across the sea, and the community atmosphere of the 45 holes offers golf and so much more. With a diversity of experiences – from World Heritage Sites in nearby Tarragona, fishing trips from the marina in Cambrils, or winery tours at nearby La Boella…

We Brits get a good welcome in the Champagne region. The locals approve of our admiration for their most famous product. Last year, Brits bought 34 million bottles of Champagne, making the UK the largest export market and almost a quarter of the market as a whole. Moreover, while the French themselves have been drinking less Champagne in recent years, we have been drinking more. No wonder our party of Brits kept being urged by our hosts to vote Remain in the EU referendum during our press trip in early June! I hope for our hosts' sake that the Brexiteers toasted their success in Champagne rather than sparkling wine. The original course at Golf de Reims was built in 1928 for the Brits who came over to sample and buy…

Aoyal Dublin, Ireland's second-oldest club, was founded in 1885 and earned Royal designation in 1891. By this time it had moved to its present site on Bull Island, a huge sandbank. The new course was built by the British Army, and also destroyed by it during the First World War when it was used as an artillery range. The club received £10,000 in compensation after the war and invited Harry Colt to design a fresh layout on the land. Christy O'Connor Snr described it as “a links of equal quality and standard to any Open Championship course I have played.” He knew it well, as he became the club pro in 1959. In the 1966 Irish Championship, he put his local knowledge to good use when he needed three birdies…

The south-western coastline of mainland Greece is a stunningly beautiful and unspoilt area blessed with a superb climate and spectacular scenery. It is also home to the extensive, multi-award-winning Costa Navarino destination that has the environment and sustainability at its heart, whether in the architecture, the delicious cuisine or its two excellent golf courses. The first to be completed was the Dunes course, a collaboration between Bernhard Langer and European Golf Design. It opened six years ago and is remarkably mature despite its tender age, offering great variety and a fresh set of challenges at every turn. The downhill 2nd is one of several standout holes with the ocean as a beautiful, shimmering backdrop, while the 4th is a superb dogleg left with distant mountains on the horizon. There is…

Photography Kevin Murray, Getty Images It has long been puzzling to me why so many courses have a picture of the clubhouse on the scorecard. Who plays a course because of what the outside of its clubhouse looks like? Well, one club that might have an excuse to resort to just such a picture is Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Its clubhouse is a glorious design statement crafted to look like a falcon taking wing as if about to fly over the 9th and 18th greens. This dominates the golf course, and its interior has been designed to provide, in the words of the club, “an atmosphere of relaxed elegance”. This 27-hole club is 15 minutes from the city centre and ten from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The 1st hole of…

Photography Golf Assoufid, Lawrence Quammu A round this time of year, being a British golfer can become distinctly unpleasant. As winter closes in, the mercury invariably plummets, large raindrops fall from leaden skies and your local course can begin to resemble that scene in Caddyshack where the bishop plays his final round. It's at times like these that thoughts turn to flying south for the winter in search of some blue sky, warm sun and firm greens. Ticking all three boxes (plus many more besides) is the kingdom of Morocco. MOROCCO Situated a mere 12 miles from Europe, Morocco is the closest exotic country to Britain. Direct flights to Morocco take under four hours, meaning that you can exchange the bitter winter weather for glorious warmth in less time than…

Any golfer would dream of waking up with the sun reflecting off the lagoon outside their suite, while looking forward to breakfast overlooking the sea and then teeing off on one of the best courses in Mauritius. But this doesn't have to remain just a dream, as that is what is available at the Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa on the Le Morne peninsula on the south-west coast of Mauritius. The peninsula is home to two Beachcomber resorts, the Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa and the Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa, which are sister resorts that share facilities. Paradis' own championship course was designed by David Dutton as a stern yet fair test set among some spectacular scenery. The course winds its way around the peninsula utilising…

The glorious 150-mile-wide expanse of coastline located at Portugal's southernmost tip has been Europe's golfing mecca for the best part of five decades, and its appeal is only growing stronger as golfers continue to flock to the Algarve in search of sun, fun, sea and sensational golf. Some 50 years ago, Henry Cotton designed the Algarve's original layout at Penina. Since then, more than 40 other courses have appeared on this sun-drenched parcel of land, which both hugs the Atlantic Ocean and extends inland through wooded hills and beautiful mountains. The Algarve is laden with high-quality golf courses which receive more than 300 days of sunshine a year, top-notch restaurants, lively nightspots, numerous accommodation options and other leisure activities. Indeed, last year, 1.2 million rounds of golf were played –…

Photography Getty Images A SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE HIMMERLAND GOLF CLUB, DENMARK The 16th hole at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort has quickly established itself as the European Tour's answer to the 17th at Sawgrass. The Made in Denmark tournament may only be three years old, but it's already seen as one of the highlights on the tour calendar, thanks to fantastic crowd support, a unique atmosphere and a raft of off-course attractions. Paul Lawrie explains its appeal on page 34. OPINION DESTINATION GOLF EQUIPMENT INSTRUCTION STAND-OUT STATS... 207 Number of American victories on the European Tour -12 Tom Lewis’ score after 13 holes of the Made in Denmark tournament. He ultimately shot 62 – the fifth of the season on the European Tour – but finished the event tied for 26th…

ROYAL ST KITTS THE CARIBBEAN For many golfers, there are few more appealing prospects than playing through swaying palm trees alongside azure ocean waters amid equatorial warmth and scenery. This, in a coconut-shell, is exactly what you get at the stunning Royal St Kitts in the southeastern corner of this spectacular island. The course, which opened some 40 years ago, received a comprehensive makeover earlier this century. The result? A thrilling and photogenic layout that dips its toes in the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. There are four sets of tees to suit all abilities on a par-71 design that contains five short holes, including the signature 15th. Played towards the ocean and Half Moon Bay, and usually into the cooling breeze, the…

When it's all over for another year at the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, as the crowds go home and tranquility returns to Bay Hill, Arnold Palmer always invites the winner to his house for a drink. It's not compulsory, that's not Palmer's style. Some players stop by, some can't. What about 2016 champ Jason Day? “To win Mr Palmer's tournament and to have a drink with him afterwards was pretty special,” starts Day, 28, in an exclusive interview. “Mr Palmer's personality saw the game evolve into what it is today. To sit there and have a one-to-one conversation with him is something I won't forget. “Every generation has its own set of great players and it is special to be a part of that. Without the standards…

> BOGEY Originally, a score which the good golfer should aim for on a hole was known as the 'ground score'. One day, the secretary at Great Yarmouth, Dr Browne, and Major Wellman played a match with the ground score as a 'third man'. When Wellman failed to outplay the ground score, he said to Browne: “this player of yours is a regular bogey man!” – a Scottish term for a devil or monster in undefined form. The description stuck, and golfers started playing against 'Mister Bogey' instead of the ground score. > DORMY Sometimes clubs have accommodation known as a Dormy House, and when someone in a match is up by as many holes as there are left, they are 'dormy'. The origin of both terms comes from the…

Photography Preston Mack, Matthew Salacuse Copyright ©2016 TI Golf Holdings, Inc, reprinted with permission CLUB UP Longer clubs go further so you won’t then have to rush your swing. Smooth is good! PEAK SPEED Build speed slowly after a tiny pause at the top to help you max out where it counts at impact PERFECT RHYTHM Get it right at the top of your swing and a solid impact should follow My golf swing has been called the smoothest on tour. I take that as a huge compliment, because there are a lot of great players out here, and I do work hard on tempo. To make your motion a lot sweeter, try the four moves that I explain in these five pages. You'll soon be hitting every single iron…

“YOU MUST DECIDE IF THE RISK OF A PLUGGED LIE IN THE SAND IS PREFERABLE TO GOING BACK AND PLAYING AGAIN FROM DISTANCE” Most golfers like to think that however their ball is lying, there must always be some way of making a stroke at it, even if they can only move it a few feet. Such positive attitudes are admirable, but as every golfer will also be able to testify, there are occasionally times when it is simply impossible, impractical or inadvisable to make any stroke at the ball. But what if your ball lies in a bunker at such a time? First, it's worth reiterating that under Rule 28, the player is the sole judge as to whether or not his or her ball is unplayable, and may…

Son Gual is an excellent course near the glorious capital city of Palma de Mallorca. It is also handy for the airport; too handy, perhaps, as planes fly low over the early holes. Son Gual was built in 2007 with the express aim of becoming the best golf course on Mallorca. German double-glazing magnate Adam Pamer had a home on the island and decided to improve its already impressive golf offering. His course cost €30m to build. The club is run by his son, Anders, who takes justifiable pride in the course's appearance and maintenance. Such quality came at a price, and when I played here a few years ago the course and clubhouse were empty. But the green fees have been lowered, and when I played Son Gual this…

For sun-seeking golfers who have grown tired of the lottery of the British weather, southern Spain, and particularly the Costa del Sol, has long been the default destination of choice. There's nothing wrong with that. After all, the weather's great, it's easily accessible and there are more courses down that neck of the woods that you can shake a sand wedge at. But if you're looking for something a little different on your next trip to Spain, try the Costa Blanca and, more specifically, the area around the port town of Javea on the far eastern tip of the country. It's the perfect base for a golfing break, not least because it's not nearly as busy as it is down south. The climate in Javea is just perfect. With 325…

The very mention of Provence evokes thoughts of the most glorious escapism: drinking local wine in a shady spot on a terrace overlooking stunning countryside populated by historic villages, vineyards and farmland. The idyllic qualities of the region have been an inspiration for artists, film-makers and authors over the years and it continues to draw visitors from all over the world. It also attracts golfers seeking to test their mettle on some of France's finest courses. Just 45 minutes from Nice airport, the wonderful Terre Blanche Resort has been designed to be like a Provençal village set on a hillside. It's home to 115 luxurious suites and villas, four restaurants, including one with a Michelin star, an award-winning spa and two superb 18-hole courses. Le Château course is the more…

Discerning golfers are often looking for something substantially more than just a round or two to fill their holiday. They are interested in a hotel, resort or destination that offers fine dining, friendly and efficient service, beautiful and well-appointed accommodation plus plenty of local scenery and colour. Italy is a scintillating country with many distinct and different regions, and Puglia in the south east is blessed with a sunny climate, whitewashed hill towns, ancient farmland and endless miles of Adriatic coast. Midway along this undiscovered coastline, and equidistant from the relatively small airports at Bari and Brindisi, is the luxurious and very chic Borgo Egnazia hotel and its adjacent golf course, San Domenico. Rated as one of the best designs in Italy, the course opened for play in 2003. It…

It's 50 years since oil was discovered in Dubai and the growth and development of the Emirate since then has been astounding. In 1966, Dubai was a trading and fishing station, an outpost of some 100,000 people on the shoreline of the Arabian Gulf. Today it's a sprawling mega-city of over 2 million people; home to some of the most innovative and striking architecture on the planet, big business and world-leading hospitality in the superb hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities. The oil that gave Dubai its enormous wealth has all but dried up in the Emirate but the economy has diversified with the finance sector, retail and tourism now contributing large chunks of Dubai's GDP. There's a huge amount to attract international visitors to Dubai. Many travel simply to see…

The Caribbean may have eluded me for the first 52 years of my life, but no sooner had I made my maiden journey to the Bahamas late last year than another trip loomed large on my horizon this spring. This time it was to the world-famous Royal Westmoreland resort on the west coast of Barbados, the small island in the east of the West Indies that is actually surrounded entirely by the Atlantic rather than the Caribbean. The Caribbean sounds cooler though, doesn't it, and so it would prove over my all-too-brief three-day visit. All I knew about Royal Westmoreland was that there had been a Senior Tour event there for many years, and that Ian Woosnam owned a house on the resort. It transpires that Wayne Rooney is among…

When most of us think about golf in America, Minnesota isn't one of the states that springs readily to mind. But, after my recent pre-Ryder Cup scouting mission, it really should be, as there are some fantastic courses to play in the North Star State... HAZELTINE NATIONAL It's not every day you tee it up at a Ryder Cup venue and I'm heading out to the 11th for a shotgun start. The tee marker tells me it's a par 5 of 605 yards, but one of my playing partners informs me that it's not the longest hole I'll be playing – the 15th is the longest of three that exceed the 600-yard mark at 645 yards! Yes, Hazeltine National is a beast of a course at 7,674 yards, and I…

Photography Kevin Murray We've teamed up with The Inn West End – which is conveniently located in the heart of Surrey's prestigious golf belt – to offer one lucky winner an overnight stay for four people. The Inn West End is situated in Surrey just a stone's throw away from West Hill, Worplesdon, Woking, Windlesham and Chobham golf clubs and not far from Wentworth, Swinley Forest, Sunningdale and The Berkshire – the majority of which feature in Golf Monthly's most recent Top 100 UK and Ireland Courses rankings. The Inn West End is the ideal base for those wishing to explore the multitude of great courses in the area and the perfect place for an overnight stay after a round on one of Surrey or Berkshire's finest layouts. It's not…

MIZUNO JPX900 IRONS The endless search for marginal gains in golf-club performance goes far beyond the design. Mizuno looks just as closely at materials, and the fruits of this endeavour are there for all to see in the new JPX900 series, which boasts three models made from different metals to provide feel and performance for everyone. The ability to bend the club into the correct lie angle must never be overlooked. In the Hot Metal iron, Mizuno has created a faster, more forgiving club that can satisfy the rarest of specs using a metal called chromoly. Mizuno encourages golfers to get fitted by having all its shafts as no-upcharge choices, including graphite. Whichever model you choose, you won't be disappointed.…

BALANCED FINISH You should be aiming to hold this position until the ball lands The best ball strikers in the world know exactly how far every iron shot will go. No matter what the conditions or what club they are holding, the consistency of the strike enables them to get the ball to finish pin high and that takes a huge amount of pressure off your game. One thing all good ball strikers have in common is they deliver the club back to the ball consistently, so they have good impact positions. There are a few varying opinions but I think you want to feel that most of your weight at impact is on your left side, the shaft has returned on the correct path – a square path –…

Shona McRae, R&A assistant director – Rules, was right on hand to assist Lydia Ko with a ruling when a spectator picked up her ball during the women’s Olympic golf event… Not only did Lydia Ko and Justin Rose both experience the highs of an Olympic hole-in-one and collecting an Olympic medal, but both also fell victim to spectators picking up their balls during the Olympic golf events in Rio de Janeiro. Enthusiastic spectators lined the fairways for both the men's and ladies' golf at the Olympic course within the Marapendi reserve in Barra da Tijuca this August to witness the battle for gold, silver and bronze. When Rose's tee shot on the 2nd hole in the final round of the men's competition came to rest outside the ropes and…

1 In stroke play, Fergus removes some sand covering a ball in the bunker to establish if it is his, brushing sand aside rather than marking and lifting his ball to identify it. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty. B Fergus incurs a penalty of one stroke. C Fergus incurs a penalty of two strokes. 2 In match play, Jezz’s ball lies close to a shelter on his line of play but it does not physically interfere with his stance or the area of his intended swing. What is the ruling? A Jezz is entitled to free relief from the shelter on his line of play. B Jezz must play the ball as it lies altering his line of play if necessary, or may declare it unplayable.…

Photography Kim Porritt “THE LOWER BALL FLIGHT IS EASIER TO CONTROL AND THE SPIN FROM THE ROUGH IS INVALUABLE” Joel Tadman, technical editor 1 KEY TECHNOLOGY New Feel Balancing technology shifts the centre of gravity (CG) closer to the middle of the clubface by shortening the hosel and inserting a micro cavity to save weight. This reduces vibration to improve feel, while head stability at impact increases for better forgiveness and distance control. A new V-shape sole improves turf interaction, while new Tour Zip Grooves have a deeper, narrower U-shape with a sharp edge radius to enhance control and help prevent fliers. 2 LOOKS RTX-3 wedges, with their clean muscleback design, come in a tour satin finish plus a new, highly durable black satin finish. Compared to the 588 RTX…

With every passing year, golf shoes seem to be getting more and more futuristic. That is all down to a technology race in which manufacturers are striving to create the perfect blend of comfort, grip and support. This year has been no different, and Ecco thinks it might have really cracked it with its eye-catching new Cage Evo model. Last year's Ecco Cage featured the excellent Champ Slim-Lok cleats and a fully-integrated wrap design that boosted both heel and underfoot support. For 2016, Ecco directed its attentions towards transforming the shoe's upper. What it has come up with is a “structured textile bonded with polyurethane webbing.” In layman's terms, this is a very flexible upper designed to create an incredibly comfortable fit while walking and playing, yet still deliver that…

OLD THORNS Old Thorns has established itself as one of the leading resorts in the south of England, but this is no bland hotel golf course. With sprawling views over the rolling Hampshire countryside, this tree-lined track makes the most of challenging terrain and small, undulating greens, as you will quickly discover on a pair of par 4s on the front nine that reveal some of the course's best vistas. The 3rd sees you play across a valley, and, depending on the length of your tee shot, you'll be hitting across it or have a blind second uphill. The short signature 5th then looks the picture-perfect setting to fire a driver, but beware, the fairway funnels in and a greenside pond awaits any stray shots. Around the turn, water comes…

Situated 300km off the coast of Morocco, the Canaries are seven volcanic islands forming an autonomous community of Spain. Tenerife is the largest with a population of 750,000. It also boasts the highest point in all of Spain – Mount Teide, a striking peak that rises to 3,718m above sea level. Other significant islands in the Canaries include Gran Canaria to the south-east and Lanzarote, the most easterly of the Canaries. Flying time from the UK to the Canaries is approximately four hours, but you won't have to change your watch as the islands are in the same time zone as Britain. With average temperatures of 23°C all year round, beautiful scenery and an interesting history, it's not hard to see why these islands continue to attract tourists from Britain…

Photography Roderick Easdale “You'll enjoy the Tour course, but you'll find the Stadium course hard and you'll lose several balls on it,” advised one of my golfing mates before my trip to PGA Catalunya in Girona, northeastern Spain. Well, I took great delight afterwards in telling him I lost no balls when playing the Stadium, although I omitted to say I lost several on the Tour! Admittedly we only played half the Stadium as the press trip organised by the club coincided with them closing the front nine for planned maintenance, but the half we did play was an absolute delight. It featured the club's signature hole, the 13th – a par 4 with a lake in front of and behind the green. But my back-nine favourite was the…

Modern course designers tend to stick to a well-trodden path: vast bunkers acting as lighthouses flanking the fairways; intimidating water hazards; and enormous putting surfaces that provide greenkeepers with a plethora of pin placements. These layouts are usually made long enough to carry the 'Championship Course' tagline. Challenging the very best players may help to build a reputation, but keeping the same course enjoyable and playable for the paying amateur is a delicate balancing act. Chateau d'Augerville achieves this with ease. My journey to Chateau d'Augerville, situated 85km south of Paris and 80km north-east of Orleans, was made entirely by car. Setting off from my home in Kent, I drove to Eurotunnel, got straight onto a train and after an hour's crossing, was motoring south through the rolling French countryside.…

Ireland is the twentieth-largest island on the planet, boasting breathtaking scenery, outstanding hospitality and a wealth of history and activities that attract tourists from all over the globe. It is also home to around 400 golf courses, including many that feature prominently in rankings of the world's finest. From championship giants to backwater nine-holers, there is more than enough golf here to last anybody a lifetime. In recent years, golfers from the island have featured prominently in the global game, with Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and this year's Ryder Cup captain, Darren Clarke, all Major Champions. Now, it is the turn of the courses themselves to take centre stage. Ireland's unbeatable array of links, clifftop, heathland and parkland jewels offers something for anyone who loves the game. THE…

Photography Kevin Murray The emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi tend to dominate the headlines when it comes to golf in the UAE, but top-quality golf isn't solely confined to these quarters. At the very tip of the United Arab Emirates lies Ras al-Khaimah, which aptly translates as 'top of the tent'. It's just an hour north of Dubai, but boasts more of a relaxed feel than its non-stop neighbour. It's also arguably more picturesque, courtesy of the striking Hajar Mountains and the white sandy beaches that link the mainland with the Arabian Gulf. Given this stirring backdrop, it's not surprising that golf continues to go from strength to strength in this small emirate, with the wonderful Al Hamra Golf Club at the forefront. Here, you'll fine first-rate golf, excellent…

The Portuguese were the first to land on Mauritius, but they did not stay, so the Dutch became the first to colonise the island in 1598. The Dutch named it in honour of their head of state, Prince Maurice. The French took the island in 1715 and the British in 1810, before Mauritius gained independence in 1968. The Dutch introduced sugar cane, which, together with tourism, remains one of the central pillars of the local economy. But it was the British who introduced golf to the island, allowing Mauritius to lay claim to being just the third country to have a golf course after Britain and India. Golf came here in 1844 when the British Navy built a nine-hole course in the grounds of the British military garrison at Vacoas…

Photography Kevin Murray Those thinking of a golfing voyage to California are likely to be drawn towards Monterey and the city of Santa Cruz. Here you will find some of the most prized jewels of the golfing world like Pebble Beach, Pasatiempo, Spanish Bay and Poppy Hills. But the ingredients that make these layouts such a treat (sea views, perfect weather, rugged terrain) are shared by a plethora of great courses up and down the Golden State. Indeed, they are what makes a visit to this part of the USA an absolute must for any travelling golfer. My own pilgrimage to California involved flying from London Heathrow to Los Angeles, but instead of heading north along the famous Route 101, I made my way south 50 miles or so to…

I was playing a practice round at my local course one evening and there was a gentleman and his young son, maybe 12 years old, ahead of me. As I was playing a practice round and hitting two balls off the club tees I was content to wait for them to play ahead of me, but on the 5th hole, a long par 4, they teed off and indicated for me to play through. They allowed me to hit both my balls and we played the hole together. As I was playing it struck me that we see less juniors compared to 20 years ago, and I was wondering what I could do to encourage this young lad to stick at it. When we finished the hole, I took a…

Back in the latter half of the 20th century, golf clubs across the UK were generally doing quite well. Waiting lists were often full and all looked rosy for the future. Fast forward 25 years and the picture is rather different. Economic and social conditions have changed, and people – the younger generation in particular – have less disposable income and less time to spend it. Golf club membership has become a luxury that, for many, is difficult to justify. According to England Golf's most recent membership survey, only 10% of clubs now have a waiting list in any membership category and 95% have membership vacancies. So clubs must work harder than ever to succeed. One route to explore is joining forces with other local clubs to find ways of…

In 1878, Royal Jersey Golf Club was established in Grouville, Jersey. For families struggling after the decline of the wooden shipbuilding industry on the island, the club presented a much-needed opportunity to make a little money. Phillip Vardon recognised this and sent his eldest son Harry, then just eight years old, to offer his services as a caddie. It was either that or menial labour, so Harry was happy to opt for carrying clubs. He became fascinated by the game, watching the swings of the 'gentlemen' and studying their techniques and tactics. He fashioned himself a club and began hitting shots, imagining he was playing, and winning, some great championship somewhere. Ten years down the line, the daydream wouldn't seem so fanciful. After a few years working in domestic service,…

Q Playing recently, the sun glinting off the tee markers made the blue tees look white. Both my fellow competitors played from the wrong tee (I only noticed as I was teeing up). They both accepted their penalties and off we went to the correct tee. One of them had hit his ball into the hay from the wrong tee and was about to play a provisional, so as it was likely to be lost, was he playing three or five from the correct tee? Driven2Distraction, GM website forum A Under Rule 11-5, your fellow-competitor incurs a penalty of two strokes and is required to correct his error and play from the correct teeing ground. The stroke played from the wrong teeing ground and any subsequent strokes prior to his…

KEY TECHNOLOGY Ping has used the largest ever Activated Elastomer insert behind the face to save weight and aid forgiveness. It also dampens more vibrations for improved feel and sound. Heavier ‘near pure' tungsten weights raise the MOI for improved impact stability. A higher strength-to-weight-ratio 431 steel provides thinner faces for more distance. GM REVIEW Looks The iBlade is cleaner-looking than the S55 with fewer graphics and much of its technology hidden away. The slim topline and minimal offset appear no different to S55 at address, with the iBlade perhaps having a slightly more rounded toe section. Performance iBlade irons are about precision and control for the better ball-striker. They're not for the fainthearted, for whom Ping has plenty of other more suitable models. But the levels of forgiveness are…

Photography Kevin Murray The parkland course at Knole Park is one of the limited, but highly regarded, designs of renowned architect JF Abercromby. It opened for play in 1924 and enjoys a wonderful location in a gently undulating 1,000-acre deer park. Next door is Knole House, a fabulous former archbishop's palace inhabited by the Sackville family since 1603. When golf was first mooted at Knole, Abercromby was up against the legendary James Braid for the design job, and it was the former's anti-clockwise loop with just one starting point that won the day. With the benefit of some lengthening about 50 years ago, the course is still largely as it was, with one of its key assets its diversity throughout. No two holes are the same, and although several of…

Photography Getty Images, Kevin Murray Golf was conceived, born and nurtured throughout its golden age by the efforts, imagination, finances and love of a great many people. The majority of golf's pioneers and evangelists were those who ran and jointly owned the courses that have become its greatest legacy – the Muirfields and Sunningdales, the Portrushes and Porthcawls. If there had been a Golf Monthly Top 100 when the magazine was founded in 1911, it is likely that just about every course would have belonged to a private club where the secretarial role would have been honorary, and the whole set-up would have been run for the sole and often short-term benefit of its members. Since then, the world has changed a great deal, and continues to do so at…