Innehållsförteckning för May 2019 från Golf Monthly

In golfing circles, The Belfry is most famous as host venue to four Ryder Cups between 1985 and 2002. This is a significant place in the history of the competitive game, and you get a sense of that when visiting. Those memorable matches took place over The Belfry’s Brabazon course. Designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss, it’s one of the UK’s great inland stadium-style courses. With its well-positioned lakes, streams and bunkering, good course management is essential if you’re to score well. The greens are silky smooth and can become lightning-fast in the summer months. With a number of perplexing borrows to take into account, a good short game is required. There are some highly recognisable holes on the Brabazon. The 10th is a beauty; a short par 4…

I was pleased to get the chance to revisit Lumine Mediterránea Beach and Golf Community last year. The resort, which opened 11 years ago, lies about an hour from Barcelona in eastern Spain near the splendid city of Tarragona, where striking Roman remains abound, including a well-preserved amphitheatre. Lumine is no stranger to top-class golf. Plenty of drama has unfolded here over the Hills and Lakes courses. The resort hosted the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School for five years from 2012 before being promoted to a Final Stage venue in 2017. Last year, Alejandro Canizares and Zander Lombard led the field to regain their tour cards, shooting six-round totals of 24-under. The two 18-holers are joined by the Ruins nine-holer, with the Lakes and Ruins designed by…

The number of top-class golf destinations clustered in and around Portugal’s southern region can cause a headache. Let’s make it easier for you. Quinta do Lago has everything you could want in a golf break and more. Surrounded by 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, this luxurious resort offers guests access to its three beautiful and highly regarded courses, as well as a wide range of indoor and outdoor leisure activities. Once you touch down at Faro Airport and hop on board your hotel transport, you’ll be cruising past lush fairways and perfectly manicured greens in under 15 minutes. Alluring as those flashes of green are, keep your eye out for a few restaurants along the way to visit later. TREMENDOUS TRIO First up, the South course…

Thanks to the 2022 Ryder Cup and the rise of Francesco Molinari, Italy and golf have fast become a quality pair. The incredible natural beauty and wonderful weather mean you really should start to think of Italy as a golfing destination. I found this out after visiting Argentario Golf Resort and Spa on my very first press trip for Golf Monthly. The course, which dates from 2006, was designed by architect David Mezzacane and professional golfer Baldovino Dassu. The holes were then shaped by Brian Jorgensen. It has also been awarded the Agri Cert certification for its bio eco-compatibility, and all products used for its maintenance are completely natural. I was excited to get going on this par-71 course measuring 6,800 yards off the back tees, and the 1st offered…

Golf might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Egypt, but all that could be about to change. This ancient land is home to a number of world-class courses, all of which offer the travelling golfer superb value for money. From October to February, ‘winter’ is largely sunny and warm, providing a perfect escape from the grey skies at home. So, if you’ve yet to discover Egypt’s ancient wonders, start making plans to do so. Views of the pyramids from the fairways are to die for. The Allegria, which opened in 2010, is a strong contender for Egypt’s number one golf course. Greg Norman and his team have worked their magic in using the setting’s natural lakes, streams, rock features and undulating topography to…

Sandwiched between the Gulf of Oman and the Hajar Mountains lies the ‘Middle East’s best-kept secret’. You won’t find any swanky skyscrapers here, like those dominating the skyline in many of its extravagant neighbours. Muscat, Oman’s understated capital, offers tourists an altogether different experience, but with its magnificent mosques, golden sands and mesmerising views, it won’t remain a secret much longer. Travelling golfers are spreading the word, too, for Al Mouj Golf is one of the very best courses in the Middle East. Greg Norman’s layout, home of the European Tour’s Oman Open, lies at the heart of a luxury leisure and residential complex, with the course beautifully positioned along a stunning stretch of coastline. It’s tough – any tour player will tell you that – and when the ocean…

Anchors away What do Webb Simpson, Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott and various other tour players have in common? They have all recently used an anchored putting method sanctioned by the game’s governing bodies. When the anchoring ban was introduced, it was intended to prevent players adopting a way of temporarily attaching the putter grip to part of their body. This action was considered to be an illegitimate way of gaining control of the putting stroke. If anchoring to the upper body is unacceptable, surely anchoring against the forearm is as well? We also have the strange situation where certain players continue to use broomhandle putters. Observers are assured that these are never anchored, while the evidence suggests otherwise. A simple solution exists which would make future anchoring to…

Francesco Molinari surged through the field on Sunday at Bay Hill to record a third PGA Tour victory since July 2018 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Italian produced golf of the highest standard and had the “best putting round of his career” as he negotiated the final 18 holes without dropping a shot – much like his Sunday performance at Carnoustie. Another assault on the Majors looks likely for Molinari. BRILLIANCE AT BAY HILL 64 Molinari shot a bogey-free 64 in the final round 3 PGA Tour wins in his last 12 starts 7 The Italian’s new world ranking 55 PGA Tour top-25 finishes in 125 starts $6,950,092 PGA Tour earnings since the start of 2018 17 Nelly Korda’s winning score at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open 3…

Bay La Sun Hotel in King Abdullah Economic City is starting to get busy. It’s tournament week and four of the world’s top five are here for the Saudi International. One of these players ambles into the restaurant in a T-shirt and joggers and weighs up his lunch options. He would not look out of place in a boxing ring. An aura surrounds Brooks Koepka as he sits down with his entourage – no wonder given his recent Major record. In October, he became World No.1 for the first time, before trading the top spot with Justin Rose on several occasions. It came on the back of a vintage year that saw him successfully defend his US Open title at Shinnecock Hills and add Major number three at the USPGA.…

Simon Dyson knows what he’s doing on a golf course. He played for nearly 20 years on the European Tour, collecting six tour titles and nearly £10 million in prize money. In recent seasons, a wrist injury has hindered his chances of a return to the top tier, but the 41-year-old has a new venture which offers the average golfer the chance to tap into his expertise. Dyson is running the Elite Golf Performance programme from Mottram Hall in Cheshire, and I went along to see what difference it could make to someone who has dropped from 6 to a 2.4 handicap in the last year and is trying to reach the promised land of scratch. The blurb tells you that EGP is focused on helping wannabe golfers develop their…

STYLING More understated than Spieth 2 but still modern and athletic, appealing to those with sporty tastes. The all-white colour is very versatile. PERFORMANCE You feel a strong connection with the ground in the swing, the cleats and the rest of the outsole maximising grip without restricting rotation. This shoe is aimed at golfers seeking high levels of comfort, grip and stability. Key technology The Spieth 3 is two ounces lighter than Spieth 2 and features a softer, more flexible RST 2.0 cleat design to improve full-swing grip and stability. The microfibre upper boasts an integrated lacing system, combined with woven jacquard forefoot and heel sections for lightweight support. A strategically placed, carbon-fibre insert on the outsole delivers a stable hitting platform, while Gore-Tex adds breathable waterproof protection. How we…

STAY Coed-y-Mwstwr Hotel, Coychurch This elegant Victorian red-brick four-star country house hotel in Coychurch near Bridgend looks out over the Vale of Glamorgan. It is part of a small group of hotels in this area of Wales called the Town and Country Collective. All 35 rooms are en suite and individually decorated in keeping with the building’s heritage. This is a dog-friendly hotel with plenty to keep you and any canine chums occupied over its 17 acres of woodland. The hotel also has a tennis court, gym, sauna and steam room. W: coed-y-mwstwr.com EAT/DRINK Nant Ddu Lodge, Cwm Taf The Bar & Bistro at this 33-bedroom hotel on the A470 Merthyr to Brecon road, close to Cantref Reservoir, specialises in locally sourced Welsh cuisine. You can eat outside on the…

Think of golf in North Cornwall and the classic links at St Enodoc, Trevose, Bude and Perranporth spring to mind. But there’s now a new destination on the map offering something a little different. The Point at Polzeath opened in the mid-1990s as Roserrow Golf and Country Club, but like many golf clubs, Roserrow felt the squeeze during the recession and fell on hard times. In 2012 it was bought out of administration by Jeremy Davies, a self-confessed golf nut who had enjoyed a successful career in the city and was looking for a project to get his teeth into. The transformation that Jeremy, his wife Eva and the team have achieved is hugely impressive, with both the golf course and the off-course operation, which includes accommodation and a health…

Photography: Kevin Murray Sotogrande, a luxury destination in Andalucia loved by golfers worldwide, is a privately owned residential development dating back to 1962. It stretches from the Mediterranean 15 miles east of Gibraltar to the foothills of Sierra Almenara, midway between Estepona and Algeciras and not far from the point where Europe and Africa are at their closest in the Strait of Gibraltar. Sotogrande has much to offer, with 12km of glorious sandy beaches and watersports for all, from kayaking, diving and snorkelling to kitesurfing and wakeboarding. The elegant marina, created in the 1960s, is the first port for those entering the Mediterranean from the Atlantic and has a real buzz both day and night. Inland, there is plenty to do too, whether mountain biking, trekking, off-roading or, of course,…

In the current climate, it’s not every day that something very special indeed plants itself spectacularly on the golfing map, but that’s exactly what happened two years ago when the highly acclaimed West Cliffs, on Portugal’s Silver Coast not far from Lisbon, opened its gloriously natural fairways for the first time. Created by Cynthia Dye, Pete Dye’s niece, this wonderful course wends its way through more than 200 hectares of dramatic clifftop terrain with ocean views on every hole. The Silver Coast, an area of unspoilt natural beauty, already had a strong reputation with Praia D’El Rey – West Cliffs’ sister course – already firmly on the radar of discerning golf travellers. Now West Cliffs, and its burgeoning reputation, has added the killer blow that appears destined to make the…

I ’ve played several Algarve courses over the years, but my most recent Portugal trips had been to Lisbon, and it was many years since I’d visited the western end of the region. So it was great to do just that as autumn turned to winter last year, especially as it would be to play two courses I’d not previously visited – the 27-hole Robert Trent Jones Junior complex at Onyria Palmares and then Espiche Golf, several miles away. The original Palmares course, midway between Alvor and Lagos, was one of the first on the Algarve, but Trent Jones was brought in not only to extend the layout from 18 to 27 holes, but to take fuller advantage of the potential for near-permanent glorious sea views. He succeeded – with…

Italy’s reputation as a golf destination has grown rapidly in recent years, and the announcement that the 2022 Ryder Cup will be heading to Rome has given its golf facilities a further boost. One such course is the stunning Royal Golf La Bagnaia, part of the La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort in Siena, Tuscany. Surrounded by the beautiful Sienese countryside, La Bagnaia is a tranquil oasis set against a landscape scattered with charming medieval hamlets and towns. The course, designed by the award-winning architect Robert Trent Jones Jnr, opened in 2009. It runs over the rolling Siena hills, offering undulating fairways and sweeping fescue roughs. RELAXING VIEWS Expansive practice facilities include a short game and pitch-and-putt area, and the clubhouse – a painstakingly restored Tuscan farmhouse – overlooks the…

In a world that’s increasingly aware of the impact humanity has made on the environment, golf facilities must adopt a green strategy to redress the harm done and explore all avenues of environmental sustainability. Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore sets a benchmark in this regard. Under the guidance of their general manager Andy Johnston, Sentosa has initiated a raft of measures to ensure that the facility is as green as it can be, and there are more opportunities to explore. Home to two fantastic championship courses – the Serapong and the New Tanjong, Sentosa GC has played host to numerous elite competitions since it was established in the mid 1970s. The club has welcomed the Singapore Open, the HSBC Women’s Championship and, recently the New Tanjong course was used for…

It is places like Mauritius that make you glad to be a golfer. Even if you think you’re unlikely to ever set foot on this sumptuous island, with its growing number of top year-round golf courses, it’s surely reassuring to know that such places really do exist should the opportunity ever arise for you to taste true golfing paradise. If you are exploring long-haul destinations (it’s a 12-hour flight from London), there’s no better time to consider this tropical haven that lies just over 1,000 miles off the south-east coast of Africa. This is because Beachcomber Hotels are now offering some enticing packages at four of their stunning resorts to give guests more choice than ever. Two of their luxurious hotels can be found on the Le Morne Peninsula in…

I’ve been to the UAE every January with Golf Monthly for the past 13 years, sometimes to play a bit of golf, but also to work at the Desert Swing events. Until 2018, these were based in Abu Dhabi, where I’d played the tournament course once, Yas Links a few times and Saadiyat Beach more frequently. Last year, I went to Dubai for the first time, but didn’t play. This year, I was asked to do both, which provided the ideal opportunity between tournaments to pick off Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, the fourth and final grass course in Abu Dhabi, before making my Dubai debut at The Els Club. There was also time to play most of the brand-new Dubai Hills course, which opened last November. The Gary Player…

People always assume that being a commercial pilot is my dream job, but before ever considering flying, I dreamed of being a professional golfer, or at the least a caddie. I loved the game from the moment I picked up a club. Shortly after my third birthday, Dad handed me a cut-down 3-wood which he had made for me, with black duct tape simulating a grip. I swung that club incessantly, morning, noon and night. My passion for the game was ignited and lessons on Saturdays soon followed. Those range sessions carved out a rich love affair with golf that has never faltered. My starting handicap of 24 quickly descended to 17 and then 10, and by the age of 15 I was playing off 4. This culminated in me…

You have three wins in your last 12 PGA Tour starts. What does that say about where you are physically and mentally? It was my first week as a Callaway player, so I’m happy to see that the switch I made wasn’t as crazy as some people thought. I know the clubs are good for me. It’s crazy to get it done at Arnie’s place, knowing that my wife and my kids were watching it back home. It’s just a special, special one. I tried to be aggressive from the start and it was nice to see quite a lot of putts dropping. I think it was the best putting round ever in my career. Photography: Getty Images Did you think you could catch Rory? I didn’t particularly think about…

Bursting to more than 7,300 yards from the championship tees, but with plenty of options for all, the spectacular Greg Norman design at Al Mouj – The Wave – has come a long way in its seven years. Perfectly located between the airport and the Gulf of Oman, it hosted a Challenge Tour event each year until 2017, the last three of which were the season-closing Grand Final. Last year, it stepped up a level and it is now home to the European Tour and the Oman Open. In an area where rainfall is scarce, the club can be proud to have won this year’s IAGTO Sustainability Award. The course itself enjoys a dreamy setting right alongside the Indian Ocean, with inspirational views out to sea and inland to the…

After a troubled, occasionally baffling and often seriously irritating start to things in 2019, professional golf needs an oasis – and here it comes in the shape of Augusta National and The Masters. Rarely, if ever in my lifetime, has it been more welcome. Whatever else it is, no matter how much of it may be very effective smoke and mirrors or how many seemingly petty, arcane rules are there to be broken by the uninformed, this technicolour week is all but guaranteed to deliver fun, excitement and often quite brilliant golf. As an antidote to the latest rules fiasco and super-slow-play (the only thing JB Holmes seems to do quickly is to get dressed, seemingly in the dark), plus Matt Kuchar’s miserly payment to a caddie on top of…

It is almost impossible to be considered the biggest celebrity at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. For the past three years, that title would likely be given to Kelly Slater, Bill Murray and Justin Timberlake – royalty in their own fields. But a 45-year-old South Korean professional golfer who doesn’t speak a word of English? It seems unlikely. Yet there stood Ho-sung Choi on the tee at the par-5 6th at Pebble Beach with a gallery of fans following during Wednesday practice. Practice day crowds at PGA Tour events are typically exclusive to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. But as Choi ripped his drive and performed his famous pirouette during the follow-through, even PGA Tour veteran Charley Hoffman stopped to film ‘the fisherman swing’. Within hours of arriving at the course,…

Photography: Getty Images, Kenny Smith DROPPING Danny Sommerville, R&A Rules manager, discusses the new knee-height drop, one of the headline changes to the 2019 Rules of Golf. So, what happens if you forget and don’t drop the ball from knee height? Rickie Fowler was quick to learn the ramifications of this at the WGC event in Mexico. After shanking his ball out of bounds, Fowler proceeded to drop a ball under stroke and distance, but did so from shoulder height. This went unnoticed by Fowler and his caddie before he went on to play the ball. Had he realised his error, he could have corrected the mistake by dropping the ball again in the right way before playing it. But as he had already played the ball from within the…

LOOKS G410 is noticeably more compact than G400, thanks to a reduction in offset and what appears to be a thinner top edge and shorter blade length. PERFORMANCE Most will experience more distance with G410 over G400, as well as more consistency, thanks to improved clubhead stability. This iron is designed for golfers who want both distance and forgiveness. Key technology The G410 is smaller and yet more forgiving than G400 thanks to a reallocation of weight, including the removal of the Custom Tuning Port in the cavity and tungsten weights being added in the hosel and toe. A top-rail undercut combines with a cascading sole and updated Cor-Eye technology to create a more flexible, free-moving face for increased launch and ball speed. An aluminium and santoprene cavity badge dampens…

Around of golf can lend itself to deep thoughts such as what is the meaning of life, why are so many golf shoes white, how come buildings aren’t called builts? For those who look to ponder the weightier questions of human existence walking through attractive surroundings, Costa Navarino is ideal for golfing and non-golfing philosophers alike. Among the plethora of activities at this resort are philosophy walks, led by classical scholars, whereby you wander and wonder through the countryside discussing “important modern-day issues through the prism of ancient Greek philosophical thinking”. Costa Navarino, which opened in 2010, was the brainchild of Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos, who grew up in Messinia and made a fortune in shipping. Costa Navarino was conceived, in large part, to ensure the people of his home region…

Mallorca has long been a popular holiday destination for Brits thanks to its accessibility, climate, gastronomy and landscape. Now there’s another reason – the newly opened five-star hotel and spa at Carrossa. The resort, an hour’s drive from Palma airport found in the lush hillside, combines modern luxury and rustic charm on a plot that centres around a beautiful manor house. Carrossa sits in splendid isolation in an area of rugged natural beauty, with first-class wining and dining, impressive accommodation options, a state-of-the-art spa and stirring views of the surrounding area – whether Mallorcan hillside strewn with trees and shrubs or the Bay of Alcudia. INNOVATIVE CUISINE The Carrossa restaurant prides itself on innovative Mediterranean cuisine, with subtle Asian notes enhancing a number of dishes. The food and wine list…

Madeira does not immediately spring to mind when talk turns to European golfing destinations, but a growing number of UK tourists are discovering how much this archipelago has to offer. Situated 500km off the African coast, the average winter temperatures are 19-20°C and there are three excellent courses within easy reach of the capital, Funchal. Two of them – Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf – are on Madeira itself, while Porto Santo lies a short hop away on the island of the same name – one of four making up this Portuguese archipelago. Robert Trent Jones Snr’s 1991 redesign of Santo da Serra – which dates originally from 1937 – created a spectacular 27-hole complex in a beautiful natural landscape, with views of Porto Santo and the bay of…

As frosts and snow hit the UK in January, I managed to put a huge smile on the faces of friends and family by heading off to the Caribbean for a week! My mission? To report on the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC), one of the most important events in the golfing calendar. While this was lure enough, the prospect of staying and playing at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic really sealed the deal. Since I topped my first-ever drive and developed a fledgling interest in golf courses, the Teeth of the Dog has been on my radar. The title sticks in the mind, but when you factor in its exotic location and that it’s regularly in the lists of the world’s 100 best courses, it’s even more…

Being a member of a fine golf club with a first-rate golf course and excellent facilities is a desirable thing. But what if there were a way to offer travelling golfers the same calibre of membership experience wherever they travelled, whether on business or for pleasure? Well, that’s precisely what the Dormie Network in America was created for – to provide a national network of exclusive clubs that combine the experience of destination golf with the premier hospitality of private membership. Currently Dormie Network comprises six destinations across six American states that not only offer superb golf courses but also unrivalled off-course experiences, from accommodation and hospitality to exceptional dining. With a course designer namecheck that includes some of the biggest in the game, from Coore and Crenshaw to Palmer…

■ Book for travel by 31 October, 2019 and save up to 25 per cent on your accommodation costs. ■ From £1,550pp sharing: Seven nights at Paradis sharing a Tropical Room on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Includes economy class flights (Air Mauritius) and private hotel transfers. ■ From £1,335pp sharing: Seven nights at Canonnier sharing a standard garden-facing room on an all-inclusive basis. Includes economy class flights (Air Mauritius) and private hotel transfers. ■ Stay at Paradis, Dinarobin, Trou aux Biches or Canonnier Beachcomber Resorts between May 1 and September 30, 2019 and enjoy reduced green fees at Paradis and Mont Choisy golf courses (buggy hire required at Mont Choisy). To book, call Beachcomber Tours on 01483 445618 or visit beachcombertours.uk…

The middle-eastern country of Jordan, and particularly historic Petra, have long been on my to-visit list. I was delighted to escape the British winter for a few days and experience all that’s on offer at Ayla, including the country’s first 18-hole grass golf course. It’s almost entirely landlocked with the only maritime access at the extreme southern end on the Red Sea, at Aqaba. I flew to the King Hussein Airport which is just minutes from the city, though many people choose to arrive via Amman, the nation’s capital. This is around 200 miles to the north and offers the opportunity to visit the Dead Sea before heading down to Aqaba through the beautiful mountains, stopping off at Petra and the otherworldly landscape of Wadi Rum. FIVE-STAR LUXURY The small,…

Over its 108-year history, Golf Monthly has prided itself on bringing you closer to some of the biggest names in the game and introducing you to some new ones that you might not be familiar with, and this issue is no exception. Taking top billing are the second and third best golfers in the world at the time of writing, Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka. Ticking the less-well-known box are South Korea’s Ho-sung Choi – who you may know from his eccentric swing – and young American Kurt Kitayama. We were told he was ‘one to watch’ at the start of the year and barely a month after we spoke to him in Dubai he won the Oman Open. Elsewhere, Fergus Bisset has penned a feature that I think is…

Justin Rose is “on the verge” of making his career a special one. On the face of it, this would seem quite a statement. At 38, he’s a Major Champion, Olympic gold medallist, three-time Ryder Cup winner and, courtesy of last year’s FedExCup triumph, now a Money List winner on both major tours. He’s not trying to fire a warning shot to his rivals, even if it sounds like one. For Rose, there are long-standing targets he’s yet to achieve, with last season almost a stepping stone to greater success. Having spent the last day travelling across 11 time zones to play in the inaugural Saudi International, he could be forgiven for feeling a little weary – grouchy, even. Rose is in a typically buoyant mood, however, no doubt feeling…

1 Who was the first ever Masters winner? 2 On what hole is the Hogan Bridge? 3 What is the Crow’s Nest? 4 How many amateurs have finished runner-up at Augusta National? 5 Only once since the 1950s has a score over-par won The Masters. Which year was that and who won? 6 Which former US president was famously a member of Augusta National? 7 Who are the only two Englishmen to have won The Masters? 8 What are each of the holes named after? 9 On what hole did Gene Sarazen hit the ‘shot heard round the world’? 10 In which consecutive years did a left-handed player win The Masters? 11 In what year did Rory McIlroy have his Masters implosion on the back nine? 12 Who is the…

Photography: Kevin Murray Many stretches of the UK coast are blessed with more than their fair share of first-rate links, with Aberdeenshire one such stretch even before Trump’s fanfared arrival. Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen and Murcar already made up a very strong cast, with the final two backing on to each other over some very fine linksland indeed just ten minutes from Aberdeen city centre. You play down towards Royal Aberdeen on the 1st at Murcar, then head back and forth for a couple of holes before striding purposefully north along the coast for a stretch of particularly fine holes, turning back once on the fiendishly tricky par-3 5th. Murcar combines expansive views out to sea with, at times, more secluded-feeling holes along the dune valleys. A number of elevated…

1 NEWPORT Newport may now be forever part of Ryder Cup folklore, but the town’s original golf club has been around a lot longer than Celtic Manor. The club was founded on a nine-hole course in 1903 before moving to its current home at Rogerstone nine years later, where the parkland course plays around and through Llwyni Wood in two main sections. The opening duo takes you across to the far section via an interesting down-and-up par 4 that doglegs to the right, and a lovely self-contained par 3 ably defended at the front by six bunkers. You may need to make your score in the stretch from the 4th to the 7th, where you’ll face three par 5s in four holes, for the 8th is a fearsomely long par…