Table of contents for May-2018 in Golf Monthly

Photography: Getty Images Topics for me to cover in the editor's welcome are a little like London buses. You wait for ages for one to turn up and then three arrive at the same time. In fact, for this issue you can make that four. Firstly, there's the news that there will be a new World Handicap System from 2020. The overarching aim is to make it easier to get a handicap, and for that handicap to be more reflective of your current ability. Fergus Bisset explains what it means for us all on page 38. Secondly, The R&A and USGA released their third Distance Report, and after two years of what they considered to be minimal increases in driving distances, they reported an increase of three yards across the…

Photography: Getty Images The GM view: The statistics are interesting, but should the governing bodies be devoting more time to growing the wider game than focusing on the elite? We’ll have a piece on the subject in our next issue. Neil Dalzell: We need more shorter, tighter courses. Fifty-yard-wide fairways are the problem. Stop players just standing there and bombing it with little risk. The course used for the WGC-Mexico Championship was a perfect example. James Connor: Are we heading towards potential bifurcation here? Amateurs don’t need golf to be made more difficult, but the pros are hitting it outrageously far these days. It’s hardly as if pro golf and amateur golf is exactly the same from a rules perspective, anyway… DarrenWilliams: In the last decade or so, the gains…

Photography: Harry O'Reilly “Things may change but, as it stands, the older generation in the UK are better off than the young” YES Clubs across the country are struggling to retain and attract younger adult members and survey evidence shows a worrying lack of adult golfers up to the age of 45. As an example, in Scotland, ‘the home of golf', there are currently more members in the age bracket of 65 to 74 than there are between the ages of 0 and 45. There are many arguments to explain this, but I'm afraid a main reason younger adults don't feel they can justify club membership is cost. Young adults are struggling to find a foothold in the inflated property market, often having to stretch themselves too far. They are…

When it comes to creating spin, there is an important myth worth dispelling. Amateurs often want to play the low chip shot that spins to a halt on the second bounce – a favourite of the pros – and so they automatically set the ball back in the stance, hinge the wrists in the backswing and drive the club down into the ball through impact. The problem with this technique is that the ball is not in contact with the grooves on your wedge for long enough. To maximise your spin, you need the club to be in contact with the grooves for as long as possible. In order to achieve that, you require a more central ball position and a shallower angle of attack. The ball will come out…

“I NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE THIS LEVEL OF DETAIL AND SO MANY FEATURES ON A PUSH TROLLEY”Joel Tadman, technical editor Motocaddy’s S5 Connect electric trolley, which launched last year, was genuinely one of the most innovative products to hit the golfing world in 2017. It cleverly provided accurate GPS distances on the handle unit in a cost-effective way via Bluetooth from a free smartphone app, which has already been downloaded 45,000 times by golfers. The new Cube Connect looks set to revolutionise the push trolley category in the same way, also offering both GPS distances and smartphone notifications in a category first. Not only that, but it will take up minimal space when stored thanks to its two-step assembly system, which allows it to quickly fold over 45 per…

New wand for Rose TaylorMade created a special Spider Tour Red putter for Justin Rose to test ahead of the WGC-Mexico Championship, but he chose not to put it in play. Trademark celebration We noticed that WGC-Mexico Championship winner Phil Mickelson has his 2004 Masters celebration printed on the bottom of his shoes! Mizuno wins again Paul Casey is only under contract to play TaylorMade woods and his Titleist ball. He chooses to use these Mizuno MP-5 irons, as well as Vokey SM6 wedges and a Scotty Cameron putter.…

Photography: Jon Humphries I was fairly negative about my game in April's column, and then I almost went and won in Oman the following week! That's the nature of this sport. It's funny, you can be so disappointed and frustrated with your game for 12 or 15 months because you're not getting any results. Then you come so close to winning, finish second and you don't focus on the positives, you feel disappointed and pissed off. You're never happy playing golf I think is the bottom line! I was gutted I didn't win in Oman, because whenever you get a sniff, a chance to win a tournament, you want to take it. That was disappointing, but overall it was good to hit some proper shots again. It's been a while,…

Lee John Westwood is now 44 years old and has just embarked on his 25th consecutive European Tour campaign. His very first event was the Madeira Island Open in January 1994, where he finished T19th. He would go on to make 12 consecutive cuts after that, setting an immediate benchmark for the impressive consistency that would become the hallmark of his career. One or two minor blips apart, he's never really looked back. Indeed, over the past quarter of a century, Worksop's finest – one of England's most popular players – has done very well indeed. He has won 23 times in Europe, twice on the PGA Tour and 42 times in total around the world, including four victories in Japan and a perhaps surprising nine elsewhere in Asia. “I…

1982 Jerry Pate Won the first Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass by two shots from Brad Bryant and Scott Simpson. 1987 Sandy Lyle Became the first non-American to triumph at The Players. The Scot beat Jeff Sluman in a play-off. 1999 David Duval Usurped Tiger Woods as World No.1 by winning the Players by two shots from Scott Gump. He picked up a cheque for $900,000. 2001 Tiger Woods His first Players Championship victory. He had won the three previous Majors and went on to win The Masters two weeks later. His birdie on the 17th in round three is one of the stand-out moments in the tournament's history. 2003 Davis Love III Blew away the field to win his second Players Championship by six shots. His final-round 64 in…

It's a cold winter's day when we speak, and rather like the famous song, Bel Wardle is California Dreamin'. This is to say the teenager is longing for the warmth of Los Angeles, the only difference being it's not a cold New York she's looking to escape, but Alderley Edge, Cheshire, where she's made quite a name for herself at Prestbury Golf Club during her seven years playing the game. That dream is about to become a reality, too, with a place at the University of California, Los Angeles, already secured for September. It comes as a result of some fine performances representing both England Girls and England Women, and she heads to the Golden State with some lofty ambitions. “I want to play on the LPGA Tour, 100 per…

1 Perils of a wide stance When it comes to your wedges, the majority of misses are typically fats and thins. One of the main reasons is often too wide a stance, with golfers retaining their normal full-swing stance width all the way down to their wedges. They move away from the ball on to the trail side, but then one of three things happen: they get stuck there coming down and strike the ground first; they try to move back to the lead side, but don't do it enough and still strike the ground first; or they try to help the ball up with the hands and wrists and top the ball. 2 The correct stance For good wedge play, you need good foundations. That starts with a fairly…

Photography: Chris Catchpole GRAHAM ALLSHORN | HANDICAP: 12 | HOME CLUB: GREAT YARMOUTH AND CAISTER GOLF CLUB Andrew’s assessment Initially when I looked at Graham's action his divots were quite deep, which suggested strike issues. His posture was a bit low over the ball, too, and his elbows were splayed out. It meant that when he delivered his club back to the ball at impact and his arms straightened, he had to dig into the ground. He was also gripping at the butt end of the club, which meant he physically couldn't get the club and his arms in the gap between his body and the floor, which enhanced the digging strike. To try and counter this, he'd often try to rise out of his posture through impact, leading to…

CONTROL Levels of spin on a variety of greenside shots were exceptional. Even from iffy lies and bunkers, the ball noticeably checked up on the second bounce. LOOKS Slightly rounded in shape and with a subtle curve to the leading edge, but generally very pleasing on the eye. The darker finish will reduce glare. The MD4 wedges are aimed at golfers looking to be custom fitted for their wedges to get the optimum loft, bounce and grind for their games. Key technology Groove-in-Groove technology comprises three raised micro-ridges along the length of the hitting area. Between these ridges are micro-grooves that help grab the ball’s cover to increase spin. An extra ‘Nip-It’ groove near the leading edge enhances spin on short and/or slightly thin shots. A system of four weight…

PERFORMANCE We didn't see any real increase in distance from M4 over M2. It did spin slightly lower and seemed to create a straighter ball flight on mishits, but it launched the ball similarly. LOOKS The silver matte finish adds a touch of class to what is a confidence-inspiring driver. The large footprint and prominent face angle make you feel like a long, accurate drive is forthcoming. The M4 driver offers similar performance to the M3 on drives struck from the middle, but doesn’t allow you to fine-tune spin and shot shape. Key technology Twist Face improves distance and accuracy on mishits, while a Hammerhead slot increases ball speed. A heavier fixed back weight than on M2 creates a ten-per-cent-higher MOI. The Geocoustic construction has been refined, offering a larger…

Photography: Daniel Gould Words: Jake O’Reilly According to robot research, wedge spin, and therefore stopping power, drops off after around 75 rounds. For those of you who play once a fortnight, you should see around three years of strong performance. But if you play weekly and practice too, that might be nearer a year. As you can probably guess, most club golfers don’t change their wedges as often as they should, and we were keen to explore the benefits of doing so in our latest Tested By You. Step in Mizuno and its fitting expert Matthew McIsaac, who was tasked with fitting two GM readers for its S18 or T7 wedges. He used TrackMan to monitor yardages, the gaps between clubs and each of our readers’ ball flights. With the…

Keep it simple I have just had a look through the proof of the new January 2019 Rules. There are several significant improvements from the original draft, such as knee-height drops and the option to take a two-stroke penalty from back on the fairway for a lost ball or hitting OOB in club golf only. One objective of the new re-write, however, was to simplify things. The Rules have gone up from 134 pages to 150 pages when you include definitions that are an integral part of understanding the meaning. The fact that the number of Rules has dropped from 34 to 24 does not make them easier to understand. They continue to require cross-referencing beyond most club golfers' interest. I found several places where there are two or three…

Illustration: Darren Robinson While there aren't too many island greens in the UK, there are occasions in every round where we absolutely have to hit the green. It could be a pivotal moment in a match; you could be en route to your best score; or there could be danger in the form of grassy swales, deep bunkers, lakes or thick rough. When you reach one of these holes, here's what to do… 1 HIGH-HANDICAPPER Know your yardages Look to embrace the challenge of finding a must-hit green! Do your homework on the hole and practise with the prospective clubs you are likely to need when the moment comes. This will increase your confidence and narrow your focus on the shot, rather than allowing the mind to worry. From a…

PING G700 IRONS Ping is the latest manufacturer to enter the market with a hollow-body super-game-improvement iron designed to offer maximum distance and forgiveness for the mid-to-high handicapper. The Ping G700 iron replaces the G Max model and features a hollow construction, which increases face flexibility for a higher trajectory and more distance. This is assisted by a machined maraging steel face, which has undergone a two-step heat-treatment process to add strength, thus enabling Ping to make it thinner and therefore even more flexible than what came before. In a unique twist, the G700 irons are available in standard spec or ‘power spec', which features 1.5°- to 2°- stronger lofts through the set for even more distance. The standard 7-iron is 29.5°, while the power spec 7-iron is 28 “The…

1 Why did you decide to expand the Connect trolley range? The S5 Connect proved golfers were ready to have key GPS info available ‘at a glance' within the trolley handle, rather than using an external device. Since August, the Cube has been our quickest selling push trolley ever, so it made perfect sense to combine the two. 2 Are you seeing a greater demand for compact-folding trolleys? Yes, in both electric and manual. More golfers are opting for the convenience of a smaller folded size – both in terms of storage and transportation. When we pioneered the compact-fold category in 2013, its success was immediate and we've seen a consistent growth since then. 3 How have push trolleys improved recently? They are almost unrecognisable from their two-wheeled predecessors. One…

Paul Casey won recently with a mix of TaylorMade M1, M3 and M4 woods George Coetzee took the Tshwane Open with a set of Titleist 718 CB irons Michelle Wie won again after switching to the Callaway Rogue driver Phil Mickelson used two Mack Daddy PM-Grind lob wedges in Mexico Eddie Pepperell claimed the Qatar Masters with Mizuno JPX900 Tour irons Matt Wallace won in India with all Ping clubs and the Titleist Pro V1x…

Photography: Kevin Murray Well, the topic on everyone's lips is Tiger Woods and whether he's back. Let me tell you this, folks, the answer is absolutely yes in my book. How could it not be yes? It's been an incredible couple of months. Let's not forget that in September at the Presidents Cup, he still didn't know if he'd be able to play professional golf again. What's been so impressive is the fact that he's only played five professional events since then. A lot of wise and knowledgeable analysts said before the start of the season that an injury-free year, with a sniff of victory in perhaps one tournament, would be considered a genuine success. Well, he's already finished second and it seems clear that his back isn't affecting him.…

3RD / 2008 US OPEN The famous Tiger Woods/Rocco Mediate play-off at Torrey Pines. He played with Tiger in the last group on Sunday, and led outright after the 9th. But three bogeys in the next four set him back, and he was unable to join the play-off. Photography: Getty Images T3RD / 2009 OPEN A nearer miss, really, than his runner-up finish in 2010. Westwood led or co-led for much of Sunday, but three bogeys in the final four holes, including a three-putt on 18, left him one outside the Tom Watson/Stewart Cink play-off. 2ND / 2010 MASTERS He led Phil Mickelson by one on Saturday night, and there was little between them on the final front nine. But Mickelson put his foot down with four birdies – including…

1 Watch the right knee When I'm coaching the short game, a common problem I see in a lot of golfers is a destructive lower-half move that really kills their pitching technique. The right knee moves too much towards the ball in the downswing, throwing the hand path out and making them ‘fish' for the ball. From here, it's very difficult to control the low point of the golf swing and find a decent strike. 2 Crossed-feet drill This simple drill will really help. Cross your feet closely together at set-up. This stabilises the lower half and makes you concentrate far more on using your upper half in your action. You're working on stability here, so don't worry about distance – perhaps a 20-30 yard pitch. This should help prevent…

Photography: Harry O'Reilly This talented Belgian had a great amateur career and played in the same Junior Ryder Cup as Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, so may well follow countrymen Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Pieters into the full squad one day. His handicap was plus-6 when he turned pro! Mechanically this swing is very sound – a good-looking movement with exemplary angles at address. The top of his spine is a lot straighter than in some of the older guard like Nicklaus, who were seemingly more hunched at the top. But I think that is just physicality. They are now doing so much core work and are a lot fitter. I particularly like the way the butt of the club sits away from the body at address. Detry is 6ft…

SHORT GAME As expected, Velocity doesn't offer the same control around the green as Tour Soft or Pro V1, but it still flies high on full wedge shots to aid stopping power. LONG GAME Our data showed that Velocity is the longest Titleist ball off the tee, thanks to a high launch and low spin. With irons, it performs similarly to Tour Soft and Pro V1. The Titleist Velocity is aimed at golfers who prioritise distance over short-game control and soft feel. Key technology The new Titleist Velocity for 2018 has been re-engineered with a softer, high-speed LSX core and Titleist’s fastest cover blend to deliver low spin and fast ball speed off the tee. Advanced aerodynamics stem from a spherically-tiled 328 tetrahedral dimple design, which produces long carries and…

“OPTIMISING EACH WEDGE IN YOUR SET IS THE CURRENT HOT TREND, WITH LOFT-SPECIFIC CGs AND GROOVE DESIGNS MORE ADVANCED THAN EVER”Jake O’Reilly, GM technical writer If you look up the specifications for some of the most popular wedges currently on the market, you’d be forgiven for leaving more confused than when you arrived. With so many loft, bounce, grind and finish options now offered, it’s easy to settle for what you know, rather than search for something new. But before you do that, make sure you read our wedge 101. Let’s start with loft. As with other clubs, this affects how high, and therefore far, each full shot flies, so you’ll want to have even loft gaps between your wedges to avoid any awkward distance gaps. Then there’s the…

VERSATILE TITLEIST VOKEY SM7 Choose between three finishes, 46-62° lofts and six grinds that each suit a different style, so you can find any combination. SPECIALIST TAYLORMADE MG HI-TOE This only comes in lob wedge lofts and has an expanded toe with full-width grooves for more spin on open-face shots. COMPACT CALLAWAY MACK DADDY 4 The choice of Garcia and many more, this boasts a tighter leading-edge radius that aids clean contacts from tight lies. VALUE CLEVELAND RTX-3 Available in three bounce options, this wedge has sharper groove edges and a micro-milled face pattern that increase spin.…

STATS: Par 70, 6,325 yards GF: £35-£60 per round Cowdray Golf Lodge, Cowdray Estate, Cowdray Park, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0AQ T: 01730 812423 W: cowdray.co.uk THE GOLF par 70, 6,325 yards This downland course offers up some magnificent views from the higher holes, most notably from the 5th tee after a steady ascent. The 4th is perhaps the toughest of the opening four, climbing steeply to a green partly hidden by trees, especially if you stray too far left off the tee. The double green on the 8th/16th features some very interesting mounds and contours, while the 9th is then a delightful short par 3 close to the woods with another challenging green. The long par-4 10th may be the toughest test of all, sweeping down and up to…

GET ON BOARD FROM ALL OF THESE AIRPORTS... Aberdeen Belfast - City - International Birmingham Bournemouth Bristol Cardiff Cork Doncaster/Sheffield Dublin Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow - International - Prestwick Kerry Knock Leeds Bradford Liverpool London - City - Gatwick - Heathrow - Luton - Stansted - Southend Manchester Newcastle Newquay Nottingham East Midlands Shannon Southampton visitgolfalgarve visitgolfalgarve visitgolfalgarve.com…

When I first stumbled across golf 40 years ago, I instinctively ticked off where I had played in the index of the Sunday Telegraph Golf Course Guide. As the count rose and technology took over from paper, I transferred to using a spreadsheet. Thanks to Golf Monthly, over the last decade I have been lucky enough to visit and write about courses all over the world. The tally has risen dramatically, up by more than 180 in the last three years alone. The number 1,000 had therefore been looming for some time, and I finished last year with just four to go. I was keen to mark this with a special course that would be memorable and different, but also welcoming to all. Happily, I very occasionally also write for…

A magical time of year I can’t tell you how excited I am at the thought of long evenings, wearing shorts and the first competition off the back tees. Social golf is good for the soul, but there’s nothing quite like the thrill of competition. This will be my fifth season as a member with a handicap and all that goes with it, and while I haven’t played much over the winter, I don’t see that as a waste of my membership fee. To me, membership is about much more than price-per-game. It’s about belonging to a place where I can meet like-minded folk for a few hours of fun and frustration. Sign me up forever. And get those white tees out. David Quinn, via email Editor’s reply: David, I…

POWAKADDY DRI-EDITION CART BAG Uses an even more effective waterproof fabric to keep your gear dry. Also features seven pockets and comes in five colours. MOTOCADDY DRY-SERIES CART BAG Upgrades include a new ‘rip-stop’ nylon fabric with heat-welded seams and thermo-sealed zips for maximum protection. DUCA DEL COSMA KUBA These Italian leather shoes feature a waterproof and breathable microfibre that keeps the foot dry. A soft PU insert sole provides extra comfort during play. FOOTJOY HEATHER PINSTRIPE CHILL-OUT PULLOVER The stretch shell helps keep your core warm while allowing a free range of motion.…

Irons Titleist 718 AP2 (4-iron), Titleist 718 MB (5-9 iron), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. Wedges Titleist Vokey SM5, 52° and 56°, Titleist Vokey SM6, 46° and 60°, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shafts. Fairway woods Titleist 917F2, 15°, Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S+ 80TX shaft, Titleist 915Fd, 18°, Fujikura Motore Speeder X-Flex shaft. Driver Titleist 917D2, 9.5°, Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana BF 60TX shaft. Putter Scotty Cameron Futura X5 prototype. Ball Titleist Pro V1x.…

Photography Tom Miles When it comes to sport what counts as success? Do you have to be a serial winner? What about all the golfers who earn a comfortable living but never have a tournament win to their name? Is that success? What about the one-off, one-time, never-seen-again-apart-from-an-exemption Major winners who managed to have one single weekend to remember? I was having a conversation about this a few weeks ago when short-track speed skater Elise Christie was left in tears at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Christie is a multiple World and European Champion but has failed to pick up a medal of any colour at various Olympic Games despite being the overwhelming favourite. I was reading a newspaper the day after the games finished and the gist of the article…

Photography: Paul Severn Bunker shots can fill club golfers with dread, and one of the key problems is that they haven't worked out how to get the club entering the sand consistently in the same place. The best players on tour consistently enter the sand at the same point, whether they are playing the high shot, the low one or whatever. Many club golfers also believe you have to open everything up, then cut across the ball, but I think that's such a misconception because if you're cutting across it, you'll be hitting the ball out of the toe most of the time. The ball's not going to go forward then, it's just going to glance off to the right. It's probably a result of watching Seve over the years,…

1 Back to basics For many golfers, finding a consistently clean contact on short, delicate chip shots feels almost impossible. If you fall into this category, try adopting a putting technique. Use a less lofted club (an 8-iron is ideal) and employ your putting grip. Stand as if you are holding your putter – closer to the ball and with a narrower stance. Now make a smooth, simple putting stroke. This will help ‘deaden' the strike, allowing you to be more confident with the stroke. The ball should pop up into the air before rolling out towards the hole like a putt. 2 Tempo tip In my experience, the one thing golfers who struggle with their chipping have in common is speed. In particular, they rush back to the ball…

As we all know, chipping is often the bridge between a good and bad round, with many pars and nett birdies relying on our ability to get the ball up and down. For GM reader Graham Allshorn, these opportunities are left wanting all too often. He has got his handicap down to 12, but feels his poor chipping is now holding him back from going lower. Looking to banish his thins and perhaps even create some spin, he applied to take part in one of our reader lessons with GM Top 25 Coach Andrew Jones, a golf professional whose roster includes elite county players. A few weeks later the pair met on the large short-game area at The London Club, where Andrew went to work to see if he could…

"FROM THE FOUR MODELS IN THE RANGE, THE G400 MAX IS NOW THE ONE THAT DELIVERS THE BEST BLEND OF DISTANCE AND ACCURACY"Joel Tadman, technical editor LOOKS The larger head volume gives the G400 Max a bigger footprint at address, which many golfers will prefer. The turbulators also appear larger and the face is lighter in colour too, making it easier to align. FEEL/ SOUND Interestingly, the G400 Max driver has a louder, more hollow sound than the standard G400, but it does feel more stable on off-centre hits. PERFORMANCE Our launch monitor data showed that the G400 Max delivered a touch more spin than the standard G400, but the launch, trajectory, carry distance and ball speeds were all similar. This driver is aimed at golfers who need maximum…

COMFORT There is noticeably more padding around the ankle and under the tongue, making it feel instantly soft and comfortable out of the box. The breathability is impressive, too. SUPPORT The snug heel section and unique outsole elements create a solid base from which to swing, by providing effective grip and a solid connection with the ground. his is designed to offer grip, waterproof protection and tour- proven performance. Key technology A new breathable Gore-Tex upper guarantees to keep water out. A section with TPU fibres reduces weight while adding support and comfort. Rotational Resistance cleats help lock the foot in place and maintain connection with the ground in every direction during the swing. How we tested We wore a pair for multiple rounds in different conditions. It is noticeably…

For those of you lucky enough to follow me on Twitter (@joeltadman), you may have seen I shot a good score recently. A whopping 39 points to be precise, so that's +2 gross. Suffice to say it had been a while, and sadly, it was not a qualifier. Of course, only having 24 putts helped, but I am in no doubt that my wedge play was the most important factor. A precise wedge shot from 98 yards on the 8th led to a birdie (with a shot). Later, I hit an exquisite splash shot from the sand to gimme range on the 13th, and then followed it with a full 54° wedge from 93 yards into the wind on the 14th to six foot for another unlikely par, having already…

Photography: Tom Miles It is one of life's abiding truisms that appearances can be deceptive. It's why the good-looking ones often have a superficially easier life than the rest of us. The fact that the best looking may also turn out to be the most self-absorbed rarely seems to enter the equation when it comes to doors opening or opportunities beckoning. Personality, however, makes up for a lot. This last bit is at least partly the reason why fans root for Phil Mickelson. No tournament he plays in is complete without television showing him patiently signing autographs on hats, programmes, shirts, arms and balls. This is when they are not showing him giving thumbs-ups to anyone and everyone after a birdie or an outrageous recovery shot. This simple interaction is…