Today’s
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OCTOBER 2011 ISSUE 287 SEPT 8-OCT 5
TODAY’S GOLFER OCTOBER 2011 (SEPTEMBER 8-OCTOBER 5) WWW.TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK
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287
◗ AMAZING GEAR DEALS ◗ GREEN FEE BA RGA I N S YOU WO N ’ T B E L I EV E ◗ G O L F H O L I D AY S F R O M A S L I T T L E A S £ 7 9 ◗
NEWS
INSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT
COURSES
FIRST TEE
SIT AND STARE Not only are these the best seats in the house, but they are the best seats in the world of golf!
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T R AV E L
NEWS & INSIGHT
{TIME FOR A MOVE?}
HOUSE VIEWING
Stunning St Andrews’ home is yours for £1.75m
Y
ou could wake up to stunning views of the most famous golf course on the planet every morning if you purchase 14 The Links. The three-bedroom double-level apartment has a bay window and balcony just a stone’s throw from the final hole of the Old Course, which has hosted a record 28 Open Championships and now welcomes the tournament every five years. The last home to be sold on The Links, which runs parallel to the 18th hole, changed hands last year and became the priciest property per square foot in Scotland at more than £1,350 per square foot. With such a rare and wonderful view of arguably the most historic piece of golfing real estate on the planet, there is expected to be an intense interest in this latest sale from all over the world. Dotty Kennedy, current owner of 14 The Links, said: “We’ve watched every Open held here since 1958 but even when there is no championship this apartment offers staggering views.” Dotty’s father, Binks Forster, regularly watched golfers finishing their rounds from the bay window: “Dad knew every nuance of the green. He was known as Binks on the Links and he could see where people were going to go wrong before they even knew it themselves.” The property is being sold by Strutt & Parker, who are inviting offers of £1.75 million upwards. You can contact their Edinburgh office on 0131 226 2500 for more information.
Green scene There is always some action when you take a look out of the window. TODAYSG OLFE R .CO.UK ❘ IS SUE 2 87
{S H O T
1
}
ADDRESS
Driver off the deck Drivers are designed to be used with the ball teed up... but you can hit one from the fairway if you employ the correct technique. This shot
is ideal when you want to keep the ball low into the wind on a long approach, providing there are few obstacles between your ball
and the green. When you're feeling confident with your swing, give it a go using these tips. It's not as hard as you'd think.
ALIGNMENT AID Aim at the left half of the green to allow for the left to right curvature that this shot will promote. This is because there's less loft on the clubface, meaning more sidespin will be imparted when the club is not delivered with a square face and path.
PLAY IT LIKE A 3-WOOD Position the ball much like you would for a 3-wood, two inches inside the left heel. This makes it easier to feel the sole of the club burn a small divot and deliver the clubhead to the ball with a slightly downward blow, catching the ball first.
BACKSWING
ADD CONTROL Choking down on the grip and swinging back slightly shorter than you would do for a driver off the tee provides additional control of the clubhead and ball flight. It also helps with the timing of the more advanced contact point.
STRATEGY
PRACTICE SWING Don't step into the ball until you've brushed the turf correctly in your practice swing. This gives you confidence to replicate this in your actual swing and commit to the shot. Your followthrough will be abbreviated like your backswing.
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{S H O T 2 }
{S H O T 3 }
Putt out of the toe on downhill putts
One leg out downhill bunker shot
Club golfers often struggle to commit to lightning-fast downhill putts in fear of finishing four feet past the hole. A
This unflattering address position in sand will actually help you achieve a stable base and extract the ball from
good way to deaden the strike and take speed out of your roll is to strike the ball deliberately out of the toe...
KEY CHECKPOINTS Adopt all regular points for your putting: Eyes over the ball, ball forward of centre but address the ball in the toe end of the clubface. This area is away from the sweetspot and the ball will come off the face with less speed and give you a softer roll down the hill.
tricky sloping lies in sand. Remember to always swing along the gradient of the slope.
ALL IN THE SET-UP Position the ball closer to the higher leg and the weight in the lower leg. This is for balance and to help you contact the sand in the correct place. Allow the back leg to soften to lower your centre of gravity and accelerate the clubhead through the sand.
{S H O T 4 }
Chip-and-run with a 3-iron With this inventive shot, you don’t need to worry about the strike. Using a 3-iron from just off the green is a good option when the flag is far away. Obviously it requires a bit of practice to work out
the different lengths of swing required to send the ball different distances but once mastered, this shot is a powerful one to have at your disposal from around the fringes.
WHEN TO PLAY IT Remember that this shot is designed to 'pop' the ball over the fringe and the low loft will give you the roll and distance required. A good guide on when to play the shot is when you’re two club-lengths from the edge of the green and have a good lie.
ADDRESS
SET UP TO SWEEP IT With your putting grip, position the shaft vertically. This helps the sole of the club glide over the turf, preventing the leading edge digging into the turf. Stand with your feet close together and 60 per cent of your weight on the left side to create the correct angle of attack.
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{V I E W S
TO THRILL
}
Dreams Fields of
Great courses are made by sensational views. It’s very often what we remember most about a round. Here are 10 in Britain and Ireland that will take your breath away... WOR D S K EV I N BROW N
s w e i VTHRILL
TO ST YOUR FEA N 10 O EYES NERS STUN
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TURNBERRY (AILSA COURSE), AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND
GORGEOUS The 10th on the Ailsa is a wonderful riskreward hole from an awesome tee.
The Ailsa at Turnberry is simply awesome – by far the most jawdropping venue on the Open rota. After a fairly modest opening couple of holes, it simply takes your breath away and there are few – if any – more inspiring places to play. Indeed, it is difficult to know which is the best hole and which is the most iconic site. Is it the first glimpse of the granite dome that is Ailsa Craig? Is it the drive on the 9th with the lighthouse to your left? Is it the views across the sea on a clear day to the Isle of Arran and Mull of Kintyre? Or is it the walk down 18 with the hotel and its unique redtiled roof looking down on you? You have a serious job on your hands to concentrate on your game and not to be too distracted by the sensational surroundings, especially around the turn. High spot: There are so many to pick from but we’ll go for the drive off the fairly new (it was created for the 2009 Open Championship) 10th tee. Perched high on the cliffs, it’s one of the most dramatic risk-reward tee shots in golf – hit it too far left and you’ll end up in the frothy sea, or at best on the sandy beach. But find the right line and it gives you a great angle for your approach. Top tips: “The Ailsa is littered with seriously penal pot bunkers and you’ve got to avoid them at all costs – staying above ground level is definitely the key if you want to produce a good score. “Mind you, you also have to have a hot putter to deal with the large, undulating greens. A good way of achieving this is to concentrate on putting to an imaginary target on the line you’ve picked out.” Head professional Ricky Hall ◗ Try it yourself Green fees: Until the end of Sept: £155 hotel guests & £175 for non-residents. Contact info: 01655 333 991. >> TODAYSG OLFE R .CO.UK ❘ IS SUE 2 87
INSTRUCTION TO THE RESCUE
HELP WITH HYBRIDS Major-winner YE Yang gives some top tips on set-up, impact and varying your trajectory... ● South Korean US PGA winner YE Yang is most known for being the man that ended Tiger Woods’ perfect 14 from 14 record when leading or sharing the lead going into the final round of a Major championship. On the 18th hole at Hazeltine in the 2009 US PGA Championship, Yang sealed his stunning victory with a hybrid from 210 yards to six feet to seal a stunning three-stroke win. Now you can rip your hybrid too with Yang’s top tips… ◗ FREE rescue club video tips at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk
S E T- U P I S K E Y The most important thing when using a hybrid is the ball position. The ball needs to be placed so that the club approaches the ball shallower than an iron and steeper than a driver.
SW E E P I T
YA N G ’ S B A G Yang doesn’t carry any long irons in his bag. Instead he has four hybrids, ranging from 17° to 23 ° of loft. This gives him much more forgiveness and helps hit the ball higher.
VISIT TG WEBSITE F O R L OA D S OF VIDEO TIPS
H IGH HOPE S
TOUR PRO TUITION
STEP ONE BALL POSITION
T WO BALL S INSIDE A good checkpoint for your ball position to improve your strike is to have it two balls’ width inside your left heel. This will help you achieve the correct angle of attack into the ball.
STEP THREE HOW I HIT IT LOW HANDS LEAD To keep my hybrid low into the wind, I feel that my hands lead into impact. This makes the shaft lean forwards more at impact, de-lofting the clubface and sending the ball out lower.
Y E YA N G
STEP TWO ANGLE 0F ATTACK
S W I N G S H A L L OW Unlike with irons, the rescue club requires a sweeping blow where the clubhead brushes the turf. For this to happen, the shaft should almost feel like it leans back slightly at impact.
STEP FOUR HOW I HIT IT HIGH CLUBHEAD LEADS For a high, soft landing hybrid (like the shot I beat Tiger with!) I feel the clubhead leads more in the downswing and my weight stays a little more on my back leg, adding loft.
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EQUIPMENT { N EW M D G O L F L I N E -U P R EV E A L E D}
STRONG AND LONG
The new Superstrong ST2 range meets the MD Golf mandate of more for less We’ve long extolled the virtues of MD Golf, and now they’ve come back with an even more exciting and promising Superstrong ST2 range for the autumn. MD Golf products always seem to perform well in our monthly tests, and the fact that they are so readily-available for a relative snip of the price of some other ‘bigger’ brands makes the gear popular. The range consists of a new driver, fairway woods, hybrids and
PHOTO FINISH A sleek black PVD finish makes the Superstrong ST2’s traditional head a real looker.
irons; and the Northern Irish company has resisted the temptation to change much of what was cosmetically sensational in the previous Superstrong offerings. The ST2 Ti460 driver, which has been engineered with a Proforce 65 shaft, will appeal to the golfing purist who likes a traditional, classic head-shape behind the ball at address. The club looks stunning, due to the PVD finish, but it’s not just
about the looks. The new club has been designed with a low centre of gravity that promotes a higher, more powerful ball flight and results in reduced spin for enhanced distance off the tee. There’s also plenty of forgiveness in the 460cc head which has also been aerodynamically-styled to reduce drag for even faster swing speeds, which again helps in the yardage stakes. The driver, available in either a
9.5°, 10.5° or a 12° loft option, will retail at £109.99. This represents excellent value for money because the product seems very solid. Northern Ireland is enjoying a sensational golfing time of it recently, and if you haven’t tried any of MD’s gear make sure you consider them if you’re in the line for new sticks. ◗ See www.todaysgolfer.co.uk for first hit videos on some of the latest MD offerings.
MD
GOLF SPECIAL
R E S I S TA N C E I S F U T I L E The Superstrong ST2 driver’s head is a forgiving 460cc, but is sculpted to cut through the air, reducing drag and boosting clubhead speed.
HIT ONE, PEARL ONE The traditional-shaped head is weighted low down to promote easy launch and low spin, the perfect distance combination for the driver.
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LATE ST NEWS
5
THINGS
YOU DIDN’ T
KNOW ABOUT
MD GOLF
WOOD BURNERS V E R SAT I L I T Y I S T H E K EY
One of the key reasons many amateurs and a growing number of pros are opting to ditch their long irons for hybrids is that they provide great results from a variety of lies. MD’s new ST2 hybrids certainly do that, providing a reliable service from the tee, the fairway and also the rough. Weight has been positioned towards the back of the clubhead, which gives the golfer a towering ball flight and the confidence to attack the green, safe in the knowledge the ball will land softly and stop quickly. We noticed good distance too off all areas of the face, so even mis-hits
delivered consistently good results. It’s a similar story with the fairway woods. They sit beautifully behind the ball, looking a tad more compact to us than some other models. You can expect a lofty ball flight too. In fact, the new ST2 fairway wood was so straightforward to use, we would go so far as to say that more accomplished players could get it going out of the rough too. ◗THE FACTS The fairway woods and
hybrids retail at £79.99 – the fairways will be available in a 3-wood, 5-wood or 7-wood, with the hybrids on offer in 18°, 21° and 24°.
STEEL FOR A STEAL Quality irons for less than £200 At less than £200 for a 5-SW set with UST Tour Force steel shafts, MD have produced a set of sticks that will appeal to those on a budget but who still want a quality golf product that’ll deliver superb performance. For the game-improver looking for a high, powerful ball flight with oodles of forgiveness, these should be given serious consideration. The thick topline helps to give a confident appearance at address, but it would be misleading to say the irons are overly-muscular. The undercut cavity gives them fantastic playability. We also like the fact that MD are offering the new irons set in a 5-SW option, rather than a more traditional 3 or 4-PW, with hybrids ever more commonplace – even in the bags of the world’s best players. ◗ The new ST2 irons are also available in a graphite shaft option, at the slightly more expensive price-point of £249.
A CUT ABOVE An undercut cavity moves the centre of gravity away from the face, aiding forgiveness.
◗ MD Golf may have its headquarters in Northern Ireland, but the brand has slowly grown since its launch in 1999. In fact, MD Golf clubs are now sold in 49 countries worldwide. The brand featured heavily at the Orlando PGA Show in 2010 and 2011. ◗ If you’re wondering where the company got its name, the initials are the first two letters of the two founders’ Christian names, Michael and David. ◗ MD may not have any presence on the European Tour just yet, but they do work with former Ryder Cup star Norman Drew who has teamed up with the company to produce a range of excellent wedges and putters in the last five years. ◗ Talking of wedges, the NV Drew wedge is actually the company’s bestselling product. As things stand at the time of going to press, MD Golf has sold a whopping 74,000 units. In 2011, there are 34 different wedge options available to golfers, which indicates the depth of the MD empire. ◗ MD Golf is the equipment choice of former British & Irish Lions captain Willie John McBride.
THE TG OPINION MD Golf is a brand you can trust
The likes of TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, Nike and Cobra, have excellent reputations as makers of top-quality gear. These reputations are well deserved, but the majority of the equipment is priced towards the higher end of the market. In these more austere times, we realise a big part of our job is to promote equipment manufacturers that not only make highperforming gear, but at affordable prices. MD Golf is a classic example of how a ‘smaller brand’ can produce the goods without forcing you to break the bank. If you were to go to their website, www.mdgolf.co.uk, and buy all of the stuff we’ve showcased on these pages, you would spend less than £460 – quite an achievement for a driver, fairway wood, hybrid and set of irons. And based on previous MD products, you know they’ll perform. Of course, it would be wrong for us to say that MD always produce the best clubs in our detailed monthly tests, but they are always there or there abouts. And the amount of golfers we see carrying at least one MD club is staggeringly high for a brand many would not consider a heavyweight. In fact, in my four years on Today’s Golfer, I haven’t received one complaint about the company. The new ST2 range looks to be a case of more of the same and the firm can only be congratulated for that.
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EQUIPMENT
25 WOODS
FAIRWAY WOODS TE ST
WOOD WORK
TESTED
A versatile fairway wood can be a key club in the bag. We put 25 through their paces to find the best P I C T U R E S H OWA R D B OY L A N AND TOM CRITCHELL
Whether it is going for a par 5 in two or playing for position off the tee, a good fairway wood is a vital part of your golfing arsenal. But a fairway wood is not just a driver with a smaller head. Each model is designed with a specific job and different playing characteristics in mind. Our four testers hit 25 woods to see which worked best in different situations. THE METHODOLOGY Our team hit as many balls as they wanted with each club then rated them (see Ratings, right). Their distance and dispersion stats were objectively secured via Trackman ball-flight monitor.
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THE TE STE R S (L -R)
THE CLUB S
THE R ATING S
David Connor HCP 10 Places a lot of emphasis on feel and likes a traditional look. Stuart Priestley Belfry Pro A new pro for TG tests. He is very consistent and gives great insight. Michael Gow HCP 7 A good long-game player, eager to assess various club characteristics. Alan Doodson HCP 21 Looking for more height and more distance from his fairway woods.
◗ We asked manufacturers to provide a selection of different specifications for each model of fairway wood submitted. ◗ Each tester used the specifications that would most closely meet his requirements to ensure the best possible results. ◗ The clubs featured are from a range of manufacturers across a range of budgets, so there will definitely be one within your range.
The clubs were marked out of five for looks, feel and feedback plus performance from tee and fairway. We rated each club out of five for distance and dispersion stats then averaged all marks for a final rating.
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Must buy Excellent Good Average Avoid
THE VENUE The PGA National Fitting Academy at The Belfry always proves a terrific base for our monthly club tests and this was again the case as we used one of five state-of-the-art
fitting rooms to test the woods. The practice facilities are great and the condition of the three courses – including Ryder Cup venue The Brabazon – is second-to-none.
There are always great stay-and-play deals at The Belfry so if you want to walk the same fairways as the likes of Seve, Jack and Tiger, visit the website or call the number (right).
The Belfry Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, B76 9PR Tel: 01675 470301 Email: enquiries@thebelfry.com Web: www.thebelfry.com
THE TEST
FA I R WAY W O O D S
PGA COLLECTION EZ3 £32.99
DUNLOP TOUR TI £32
PALM SPRINGS E2i £29.99
FORGAN IWD2 £49.99
JOHN LETTERS T9+ £99.99
Web: www.pgacollection.co.uk Tel: 01452 611 888
Web: european-golf-online.com Tel: 020 7632 4800
Web: www.thesportshq.com Tel: 01527 598 388
Web: www.forgan.co.uk Tel: 01527 598 388
Web: www.johnletters.com Tel: 0845 196 0050
VERDICT: This club didn’t impress our team with each one saying it felt dead off the face. It therefore scored very poorly on the distance front – however it did prove relatively straight and easy to control. It’s not often our team are overly critical but this is one they would recommend you avoid.
VERDICT: Our pro Stuart reckoned this would be a decent buy for a high handicapper or beginner as the performance was reasonable for the small outlay. Our other three testers weren’t as complimentary, saying it felt very dull off the face and didn’t inspire confidence.
VERDICT: Our three lower handicappers on test were quite impressed with the performance of the E2i, particularly given the price. Both Stuart and Michael liked the strong ball flight while David was pleasantly surprised by the feel. Alan, however, found it hard work and struggled for distance.
VERDICT: The testers felt the IWD2 was a better performer off the tee than the fairway because the head looked a little larger at address and was longer from front to back. Off the fairway, Stuart felt the ball flight was weak. The feel off the face also wasn’t great – however the performance was decent.
VERDICT: Both pro Stuart and Michael noted the low profile nature of the head and thought it performed better off the fairway than the tee. Michael also liked how it sat at address while David liked it across the board. Alan, though, preferred it off the tee – even with its shallow face.
Distance: 3.3 Dispersion: 4.5 Looks: 2.4 Feel: 1.3 Forgiveness: 1.8 Tee: 2.0 Fairway: 2.1 RATING HHHHH
Distance: 3.3 Dispersion: 4.2 Looks: 2.9 Feel: 2.3 Forgiveness: 2.9 Tee: 2.8 Fairway: 2.4 RATING HHHHH
Distance: 3.9 Dispersion: 4.0 Looks: 3.0 Feel: 2.8 Forgiveness: 3.0 Tee: 2.8 Fairway: 3.1 RATING HHHHH
Distance: 3.8 Dispersion: 4.2 Looks: 2.3 Feel: 2.9 Forgiveness: 3.0 Tee: 3.8 Fairway: 3.0 RATING HHHHH
Distance: 3.9 Dispersion: 4.3 Looks: 3.6 Feel: 3.0 Forgiveness: 3.0 Tee: 3.0 Fairway: 3.6 RATING HHHHH
NICKLAUS AIR DRAW £99
MD SUPERSTRONG ORKA ST2 GS5 £79.99 £Various
SNAKE EYES 685T £109
YONEX EZONE £199
Web: www.nicklausgolf.eu Tel: 01565 832 521
Web: www.mdgolf.co.uk Tel: 028 9446 0333
Web: www.orkagolf.co.uk Tel: 0845 862 0061
Web: golfsmith-europe.co.uk Tel: 01480 308 800
Web: www.yonex.co.uk Tel: 0208 742 9777
VERDICT: This was the top model in terms of distance – all four hit it a long way. David, Michael and Stuart all noted the offset nature of the club and although this didn’t help their dispersion they admitted this made it very easy to get the ball in the air. Alan also loved the high ball flight it gave him.
VERDICT: This split the group; David and Michael said it was one of the easiest clubs to hit as getting it airborne was very simple. However, Stuart and Alan noticed a flatter ball flight and Alan didn’t think it flew off the face. David also enjoyed the excellent feel and forgiveness.
VERDICT: Michael said this was a good all-round club which gave him a straight ball flight while Stuart liked the compact head, although he felt his ball flight was flatter than he’d like. Alan found it a little difficult to align at address but enjoyed it off the fairway. Orka offers great custom-fit options.
VERDICT: Stuart felt the triangular shape, larger head and deeper face made it good off the tee. Alan agreed, adding he felt it was more difficult than others to get airborne off the deck. David and Michael both got a high ball flight though; Michael said the head size inspired confidence off tee and turf.
VERDICT: Stuart and David loved the performance and look because of its more compact head. Both were surprised how forgiving it was and rated it highly. It was one of David’s favourites. Alan was intimidated by the size of the head, saying it looked more like a hybrid. Michael wasn’t a huge fan.
Distance: 4.9 Dispersion: 3.9 Looks: 3.1 Feel: 3.4 Forgiveness: 3.3 Tee: 3.1 Fairway: 3.5 RATING HHHHH
Distance: 4.5 Dispersion: 4.4 Looks: 3.6 Feel: 3.1 Forgiveness: 3.4 Tee: 3.5 Fairway: 3.5 RATING HHHHH
Distance: 3.6 Dispersion: 4.1 Looks: 3.3 Feel: 3.4 Forgiveness: 3.8 Tee: 4.0 Fairway: 3.9 RATING HHHHH
Distance: 4.1 Dispersion: 4.0 Looks: 3.4 Feel: 3.9 Forgiveness: 3.8 Tee: 3.8 Fairway: 3.8 RATING HHHHH
Distance: 4.1 Dispersion: 4.6 Looks: 3.5 Feel: 4.0 Forgiveness: 3.1 Tee: 3.9 Fairway: 3.5 RATING HHHHH
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COURSES { TOP QUA LITY OFFE RS }
TOP CLASS AT LOWEST COST
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You can play some awesome courses this Autumn at knockdown prices thanks to 2-FORE!-1 and TG’s new Teeofftimes service
T
P L AY M O R E , PAY L E S S
This golf course just outside the pretty, quaint historic North Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby has been entertaining, thrilling and challenging golfers since the end of the 19th century. There’s no point touting this track as anywhere near the leading courses in the county but Whitby offers no-nonsense golf on a challenging course for sensible money. Whitby serves up pure golfing thrills and spills for a green fee that will leave you with a big grin on your face. You can tackle this part-clifftop-part-parkland par-71 layout for a mere £15 on Mondays! Unfortunately, owing to coastal erosion, some sections of this course have had to be altered, although the breathtakingly brilliant 4th, 5th and 6th holes tightly hug the rugged, receding coastline and provide serious golfing tests (specially when the wind is blowing). There are also stunning coastal views of Kettleness headland and the picturesque neighbouring village of Sandsend. The par-4, stroke-index-2 6th is absolutely
2-FORE!-1 TREATS
awesome. From the tee, you have to attempt to find the fairway on the opposite side of a gaping chasm, known as Upgang Ravine. Then you have to hit the green in front of the White House Hotel which was once the clubhouse. You cross the A174 for a slice of parkland action before returning for the big finale, a par-5, 500-yarder where you once again encounter Upgang Ravine. You can reach the final green in two but only if the wind isn’t blowing. Afterwards you can put the icing on the cake by tucking into a portion of Whitby scampi and chips and checking out the town’s glorious past. Whitby is steeped in history and was where Captain James Cook mastered the sea skills which led to his epic voyages of discovery. ◗WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
MORE 2-FORE!-1 THRILLERS
Top treats before weather turns bad...
◗ PLAYERS CLUB
Neat US-style layout with lots of bunkers and water. Green fees: Mon-Thurs: £40 a round & £72 a day. Fri-Sun: £48/£72. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Fri (on day rate in high season). Tel: 01454 311818.
Location: Two miles north of Whitby. Green fees: Mon: £15. Tues-Fri: £27 a day. Sat-Sun: £30 a day. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Fri. Contact: 01947 602719. ◗ TURNBERRY KINTYRE
Plotted next to the highly acclaimed Ailsa and a stunning links in its own right. Green fees: £100 (hotel residents) & £130 (nonresidents). 2-FORE!-1: MonThurs. Tel: 01655 334032. Teeofftimes Guide Price: From £59 (see www241golf.com).
◗ WALMER & KINGSDOWN
A breathtaking clifftop track with awesome views. Green fees: Mon-Fri: £33. SatSun (afternoons): £42. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-Fri. Tel: 01304 373256. Teeofftimes Guide Price: From £15.
‘WHITBY THROWS UP GOLFING THRILLS AND SPILLS FOR A GREEN FEE THAT WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A HUGE GRIN ON YOUR FACE’
◗ PORTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
A classy Cheshire parkland with a great variety of holes. Try to avoid the water! Green fees: All week: £50. 2-FORE!-1: All week. Tel: 01829 734160. Teeofftimes Guide Price: From £20.
TRAVEL { F O C U S O N M U RC I A }
JACK ADDS SOME MAGIC
This month we hit the Nicklaus Trail in sunny Spain and visit an old, well-established favourite… WO R D S PAT R I C K M O O N EY & K EV I N B R OW N
LOCATION MAP The golf courses in Spain’s Murcia region are improving all the time and the region is no longer just about La Manga. The Nicklaus Trail offers four top tracks for starters.
SPOTLIGHT ON
For many years golf in Murcia was all about one place – La Manga. But that is no longer the case. La Manga’s three 18-hole courses are still a big draw but other venues in Murcia are starting to attract attention too. The region’s varied golfing landscape provides superb natural settings for golf courses and many are now getting recognised amongst Europe’s elite. Murcia is home to courses designed by some of the world’s leading architects. And they don’t come much bigger than 18-times Major winner Jack Nicklaus, who in 2002 linked up with property development company Polaris World to take the American idea of a trail of golf courses created by the same architect – the Golden Bear of course – and transplant it into this corner of Spain. It’s early days but so far it’s proving a winning formula and it certainly helps that all the Nicklaus courses are within a short drive of each other and most have both on-site hotel and apartment accommodation. Currently there are four Nicklaus courses
available across Polaris World’s resorts – El Valle, La Torre, Hacienda Riquelme and Las Terrazas (Saurines de La Torre Golf) – and each boasts its own 18-hole Nicklaus layout, along with bars and restaurants. Shuttle buses run you to all the resorts and bring you back later. Indeed, the excellent five-star InterContinental Hotel at La Torre Golf is surrounded by a little village of shops and an assortment of restaurants and bars beside a large lake. It’s easy to reach too. Budget airlines now arrive at Murcia and Alicante airports and allow a year-long flow of golfers from the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia into the region. The Nicklaus Trail provides a uniquely enjoyable golfing experience, offering both beginners and experienced players a taste of the Golden Bear’s impressive handiwork, usually in glorious sunshine and perfect playing conditions – the region boasts 150 miles of coastline, more than 300 days of sunshine per year and an average temperature of 21° Celsius.
S PA I N
1. EL VALLE Par 71, 6,161 yards El Valle sits in a natural desert valley. It is undulating and the ‘Golden Bear’ has plotted several holes adjacent to rocky outcrops and ridges. The course requires accuracy into the greens, which are tough and surrounded by large mowed chipping areas. So it will test your short game and imaginative shot-making will be rewarded. El Valle’s bunkers come in clusters and are small and delicately-shaped. There are also two lakes, two streams and a waterfall! One of the best holes is the 11th, a classy par 4 with the tee perched on top of a rocky outcrop. El Valle hosted the second stage of the European Tour Q School last year and the Spanish PGA event in 2009. ◗ VITAL STATISTICS
Green fees: All week: €65 (£57). Contact: 0034 968 03 3002 or www.nicklausgolftrail.es
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