Golf Digest Middle East - December 2023

THE #1 GOLF PUBLICATION

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IRELAND’S ANCIENT EAST The ultimate golf trip

RORY REIGNS IN DUBAI

A fifth Race to Dubai title trophy

DECEMBER 2023 AED20 KD1.7 OR2.1 SR20 BD2.1

NOVEMBER 2023

TOP SCORING

The K Club’s Palmer North is consistently on golfer’s must play list - we show you why.

14 Lucky Break How a superintendent transforms flags into usable keepsakes.

16 First-class Arm Twister Tim Finchem lost to Thurgood Marshall but won big for golf.

8 Ultimate Golf Tour Irish culture and championship golf in this once in a lifetime trip.

BY JERRY TARDE

26 Club Lab Golf State-of-the-art club fitting and building.

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

Mind / Body 10 Undercover Caddie We make plenty of mistakes, but some are worse than others.

WITH KEELY LEVINS

BY MATTHEW RUDY

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

The Starter

64 What’s in My Bag LPGA Tour winner Ally Ewing

60 Swing Sequence Davis Thompson’s key move.

COVER STORY

20 My Way Back How Butch helped me find my swing again.

BY RICKIE FOWLER

66 The Loop What your golf gift says about your relationship.

BY COLEMAN BENTLEY

Features 18 LIV Lands in Abu Dhabi LIV Golf Promotions will see the final three slots fought out for the upcoming LIV season.

28 Ireland’s Ancient East Experience We tick off Jameson Golf Links, The K Club and County Louth.

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

32 Tales From High Up When golfers fly private, things happen.

BY THE EDITORS

12 Journeys Eric Cole

62 Cover It for Better Accuracy Find more fairways with this controlled tee shot.

18 Quick 9 with Colm To celebrate 40 years of Dubai Duty Free we exclusively spoke to Colm McLoughlin.

44 Fantastic Five For McIlroy A record-breaking week saw Rory top the Race to Dubai (again) and Nicolai Højgaard tames the Earth Course.

WITH KEELY LEVINS

BY TAYLOR MOORE

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

WITH JOEL BEALL

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BY HARRY GRIMSHAW

BY DAVE ALLEN

december 2023

cover photograph by sam kweskin

50 The New ShortGame Fundamentals Get better around the greens with some tips you’ve probably never heard before.

BY JAMES SIECKMANN

k club: kevin markham • mcilroy: andrew redington/getty images

6 Editor’s Letter A look back on the past 12 months in what has been another whirlwind year for global golf.

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EDITOR’S LE TTER

2023 a year of European dominance Hovland and McIlroy top money lists, plus Team Europe victories in Italy and Spain

By Harry Grimshaw

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S WE REACH THE END of the global golfing season, a new and exciting chapter begins for me as Golf Editor of Golf Digest Middle East.

Being an avid golfer myself, I count myself extremely fortunate to have worked within the golf media industry for over 15 years. Now with this new venture I hope to continue the great story telling of all things golf in the Middle East that Robbie, Kent and Matt have done so successfully before me.

As first weeks in a new job go, witnessing Rory become the Race to Dubai Champion for a fifth time, has to be up there. Now with everyone’s ‘holiday mode’ on the horizon, let’s take a brief look back at what another rousing year it has been across the world of golf.

The first thing that springs to mind is the unforgettable double Team Europe victories at the Ryder Cup in Italy and Spain for the Solheim Cup. Both teams riding off into the sunset with their respective trophies.

Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg seems to of made a bit of name for himself in 2023! He only turned professional in the summer and he already has a DP World Tour and PGA Tour victory under his belt to go alongside his Ryder Cup win. He deserves a well-earned rest!

Viktor Hovland secured back-to-back wins to claim his first FedExCup when he cruised to a five-stroke victory at the TOUR Championship at East Lake, oh and that’s together with his Ryder Cup win as well.

As briefly mentioned, Rory McIlroy etched his name once more on the Harry Vardon Trophy for an impressive fifth time at Jumeirah Golf Estates. And yes, a fifth Ryder Cup. Lilia Vu earned her spot as the 2023 Rolex Player of the Year award following her recent fourth-place finish at the CME Group Tour

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Championship. Her incredible 2023 season included four tournament victories, with major wins at The Chevron Championship and the AIG Women’s Open.

Talor Gooch dominated the 2023 LIV Golf League with his three wins and ran away with the Individual points list. While Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC team of Patrick Reed, Peter Uihlein and Pat Perez, topped the team standings.

Staying with LIV, Andy Ogletree secured his return to LIV Golf for the 2024 season by locking up the Asian Tour’s International Series Order of Merit.

December always seems to come and go in a blink and it’s the same in the professional game. The PGA Tour have started to wind down over the holiday season with just the Grant Thornton Invitational to be played with the LPGA Tour.

The DP World Tour is well into it’s new season already, and we don’t have long to wait until they are in the Middle East for their ‘International Swing’ in January. Rory is returning for the inaugural Dubai Invitational at the Creek, followed by the first Rolex Series event of the campaign at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. The tour then heads up the coast to Al Hamra Golf Club for the Ras Al Khaimah Championship before a welcomed return to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the Bahrain Championship at Royal Golf Club.

In the local scene here we have LIV Golf Promotions to look forward to at Abu Dhabi Golf Club at the start of December as we see who will fill the final three spots in LIV Golf 2024. While across the same week the Asian Tour are visiting Riyadh Golf Club for their season ending tournament in the PIF Saudi Open between 7th – 10th December.

I think that’s about it really. Hopefully you can enjoy some time off work and more time on the golf course over the holidays. Fingers crossed you’ve got a few golf related stocking fillers coming your way, and we will see you for more of the same in 2024!

editor-in- chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer managing partner & group editor Ian Fairservice editor Harry Grimshaw art director Clarkwin Cruz editorial assistant Londresa Flores instruction editors Conor Thornton, Scott Edwards, Alex Riggs chief commercial officer Anthony Milne publisher David Burke gener al manager - production S. Sunil Kumar production manager Binu Purandaran T H E G O L F D I G E S T P U B L I C AT I O N S editor-in- chief Jerry Tarde senior director, business development & partnerships Greg Chatzinoff international editor Ju Kuang Tan GOLF DIGEST USA editor-in- chief Jerry Tarde gener al manager Chris Reynolds editorial director Max Adler executive editor Peter Morrice art directors Chloe Weiss Galkin managing editors Alan P. Pittman, Ryan Herrington pl aying editors Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson

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GOLF DIGEST and HOW TO PLAY, WHAT TO PLAY, WHERE TO PLAY are registered trademarks of Discovery Golf, Inc. Copyright © 2021 Discovery Golf, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Volume 72, Issue 2. GOLF DIGEST (ISSN 0017-176X) is published eight times a year by Discovery Golf, Inc. Principal office: Golf Digest, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y., 10036. Discovery Golf, Inc.: Alex Kaplan, President & GM; Gunnar Wiedenfels, Chief Financial Officer. Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y., and at additional mailing offices.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES

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Co. Louth Golf Club

Ireland

The K Club

Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links

Ireland’s Ultimate Golf Tour

Flights, transfers, accomodation and first class golf - we’ve got you covered

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ctor Bill Murray once said “My favourite place to play golf is in Ireland. It’s the most beautiful country to play golf in, and when you come as a guest, you’re treated like a king.”

Bill could not have said it better and it’s no wonder that every year over 240,000 golfers from all over the world come to the island of Ireland for that very reason.

And yes, we have got your next trip planned down to a tee. This all-in golfing experience will see you not only play the world-class Jameson Golf Links (pictured), The K Club and County Louth Golf Club, but there’s even still time for some of the cultural and historical spots Ireland has to offer at the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Experience.

You’ll be staying at the Portmarnock Resort for the entirety of the stay, during this trip to the Emerald Isle which is without doubt a once in a lifetime experience.

Thanks to dnata Travel, we can assure you that this four-day golfing extravaganza will be mighty craic! –harry grimshaw Turn to page 28 to find out all the details ▶▶

photograph courtesy from jameson golf links

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MIND / ON TOUR

Undercover Caddie We make plenty of mistakes, but some are worse than others

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ome with me as I travel back to one of the biggest Uh oh! moments of my career. My player was heading to a sponsor event after a Wednesday practice round during a tournament week. Usually this is something he’ll do by himself, but this time he invited me. As part of the event, he did a short clinic, so we

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brought his clubs. The night went well, but as we were leaving, we had trouble with the courtesy car. It was late, so I volunteered to exchange the car, and my player hitched a ride with another player at the event. I switched rental cars and headed to my hotel, looking forward to sleeping in for the next day’s afternoon tee time.

One problem: In the middle of the night, I woke up in a panic because I had left my player’s clubs in the banged-up rental car. In the hours from realisation until I recovered them, I thought my career might be over. When I eventually got to the course with the bag (on time, I should add), my player took one look at me ILLUSTRATION BY REMIE GEOFFROI

and said, “You start doing underground fight clubs? Because you look dreadful.”

I couldn’t tell him . . . and I still haven’t.

Like any profession, mistakes happen in our line of work. If your player is a reasonable person, he or she will understand that. The key is making sure the mistakes are not catastrophic.

One time, I was with a player I’d only been with for a few weeks, and we were at the old playoff event at Liberty National. During a practice round my player had some betting action going with a friend. We got to a drivable par 4, and my guy wanted to give it a rip, but I talked him out of it. I told him the last time I worked at the event I saw a ridge on the green ricochet everything long and left, which is dead. I told him it was better to try to make birdie by laying up, and he listened. His opponent then hit a wood onto the green to 25 feet. The ball hadn’t even stopped rolling before the opponent and his caddie were laughing at us. It turned out that “ridge” had been removed in between the tour’s visits to Liberty National. I didn’t lose my player the match, but he made me buy dinner.

In a U.S. Open qualifier, I once saw a caddie (who, in this person’s defense, was not a full-time caddie) knock over the entire bag into a pond. Balls fell out, and the player had to try to fish out as many as he could. At one World Golf Championship, a caddie took an iron out of his player’s bag to stretch his back only to accidentally snap the club. Another time, a prank went awry.

On the then Nationwide Tour, a caddie attempted to “ice” his player. This was during the national craze of hiding a beverage in the hopes an unsuspecting victim would find the sugary drink and be forced to chug it on the spot. Well, the player found the drink . . . right in front of his girlfriend and her parents.

Word eventually got back to tournament officials that a player had pulled out said drink on a tee box. Amazingly, the caddie did not get fired. I do not know if the same could be said of the player and his girlfriend.

The best story, however, comes from a former roommate I had on the road.

Early one Sunday morning, the player and caddie were going to be done well before the final group went off. It had been a rough few weeks for the player.

I woke up in a panic because I had left my player’s clubs in the banged-up rental car.

After they finished, the player pulled the caddie aside and told him, “You know, I think we need some time off to get right. Why don’t you go home, then we’ll get back after it fresh.” The caddie thought his guy was taking a week off, especially with a major championship coming up, so he flew home to Florida rather than to the next tour stop in Texas. When the caddie got off the plane, he got a text from his player to meet at the course on Monday afternoon. The caddie then realised his player meant take Sunday afternoon off, not the week.

Other mistakes are more common, like giving a bad yardage. This happens for a few reasons. Sometimes we have the wrong pin sheet for the day. Luckily, we’re usually able to figure this out by the first green, although I had a buddy go nine holes before realising his mistake— and his player still was under par for the round! We can also give a bad yardage if we get flipped around. At the Players Championship one year, I told my player on our opening hole the number to clear the bunker on the right side of the green.

Any moron could have looked up and realised there was no number on the right side of the green. I was looking at the 10th hole, and we were on No. 1.

A third reason we occasionally give a bad number? Well, the seasons can be long, the days can be hot, and suddenly two plus two equals five. It happens to me at least once a year. Most of the time my player catches on. A few times he hasn’t, including once when a shot with a 5-iron that should have been a 7-iron hit a spectator in the kneecap.

Somehow we still saved par, although I’m sure my player would not say “we.”

Another mistake that happens frequently is handing the player the wrong club. Lots of players have irons that are essentially the same clubhead but bent to different degrees. Some guys switch out wedges quite a bit, so we accidentally pull the wrong one all the time.

Another common faux pas is leaving rain gear out of the bag. You leave it out only if you’re 100 percent sure it’s not going to rain. The problem is, it’s amazing how often it rains when the forecast says there’s little chance.

Aside from getting your player soaked, you can occasionally run into trouble because a lot of sponsors pay to have their names on a player’s clothing, rain gear included. To see those logos soaked, or worse, covered in a jacket provided by the tournament, can get a player in trouble with his backers.

We also need to be careful with how we frame a putt. If a putt is going to be slow, we can’t say, “Don’t leave it short” because the player could then blow it by the hole. Instead, we might say, “This one is a bit uphill.” The details matter.

Only a handful of mistakes are unforgivable, like having 15 clubs in the bag, not packing enough balls or accidentally causing a rules issue (such as lining up a player when the player is taking a stance). While we’re here, no, Brooks Koepka shouldn’t have been penalized for caddie Ricky Elliott mouthing the word “five” to Gary Woodland and Woodland’s caddie, Brennan Little, at the 2023 Masters. While soliciting advice is a clear violation of the rules, it happens all the time.

One rules issue caddies do cause, especially on the LPGA Tour and minitours, is accidentally putting the bag next to the wrong ball. Unlike the PGA Tour, these circuits don’t have as many marshals, so we can get mixed up. I’ve seen this at least half a dozen times, usually when pitching out of deep rough by the green. You might think that’s the player’s mistake, but the player is thinking about the next shot. It’s our job to know which ball is the right one.

As you can see, caddies make plenty of mistakes—but not all are equal.

Anytime I give a bad yardage, I always think, Well, at least I’m here. Apparently, for some of us, that’s half the battle. —WITH JOEL BEALL Undercover Caddie says if you tip down for mistakes, you should tip up for a flawless job, too.

december 2023

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MIND / JOURNEYS

‘Both of My Parents Were Pro Golfers’

I’ve overcome disease, a broken back and 13 years of playing mini-tours for peanuts

By Eric Cole with Keely Levins

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y six siblings and I took up most of the LPGA Tour’s daycare room in the 1990s. My mom, Laura Baugh, would pile my siblings and me into a van, and we’d go from LPGA tournament to LPGA tournament all summer.

My dad, Bobby Cole, was a pro golfer, too.

All of us kids learned to play golf, me a letter of intent. It’s a Division II but I had the most passion for it. program in Fort Lauderdale. I wanted I played a lot of golf with my mom as a to stay in Florida; I signed it. ●●● kid because we hit it about the same distance. Mom I played well as a freshERIC COLE was the LPGA Rookie of the man, but during my PGA TOUR Year in 1973 and played the second year, I felt inAGE 35 tour for 25 years. The best credibly lethargic. My LIVES TEQUESTA, FLORIDA thing she taught me was to body ached, and I lost a work hard when you’re at bunch of weight. I went the course and leave it there. If you only home, thinking rest would fix me, but think about golf, you’ll get fatigued. My I got worse. I weighed 117 pounds when dad, a PGA Tour winner, worked with my mom took me to the ER. I was diagme on my swing. He taught me to own nosed with two autoimmune diseases: my swing and be aware if it changes. type 1 diabetes and Addison’s disease. ●●●

●●●

I spent junior golf learning about the game instead of playing a ton of tournaments. My mom remarried when I was a teenager, and we had a membership at Bay Hill. One of my best friends is Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer’s grandson. We played with a bunch of pros: Lee Janzen, Robert Damron and Dicky Pride. They helped our games develop faster than other juniors. We went to the range with a plan, practiced wedges more than other juniors and had pre-shot routines before other kids did.

I wear an insulin pump and blood glucose monitor. In my golf bag, I carry sugar-free protein bars for when my blood sugar is stable, and I have Sour Patch Kids and Starbursts for when it dips. To treat Addison’s, I take a few pills in the morning to replace the hormones my body doesn’t create, and I don’t have symptoms. As long as I have my medication, gear and supplies, I feel good.

●●●

When it came time for college, I wasn’t focused on school. I wanted to be a professional golfer. Neither of my parents went to college, but they told me to try it. Nova Southeastern University was the first school to send 12

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●●●

After a couple of months, I got healthy. I didn’t return to school and turned pro instead. Why prolong the inevitable? I didn’t have any sponsors.

My mom paid for Q school that first year; I didn’t get through. I played mini-tours in Florida, figuring I’d save on travel costs by playing events I could drive to.

I played the Moonlight Golf Tour, where

I would pay a $90 entry fee and the winner got $300. The one-day events on the Minor League Golf Tour were $150 to $200 to get in, and the winner got just under $1,000. Over the years, I won 56 times on the Minor League Golf Tour. ●●●

I was able to pay my bills and go to Q school every year, but I wasn’t getting through. I was frustrated, but my parents reassured me: If you’re good enough, it can start to happen quickly.

I believed in myself, so I kept going. In 2015, a group of guys at my club, Tequesta Country Club, raised some money so I could travel to play in tournaments outside of Florida. It was hard for me to take the money, but I realized it’s OK to accept help. Getting out of Florida and playing new courses helped my game.

After going to Q school six times, I finally got through in 2016 and earned status on the Korn Ferry Tour. The dream of reaching the PGA Tour felt new again. ●●●

Just when I was closer to the tour than ever, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in my back. I don’t know what caused it, but I had to stop playing. I spent 2018 teaching golf at Abacoa, a course in Jupiter. The juniors I taught were so excited about the game, and I could help them like the pros helped me when I was young. I wasn’t pursuing my dream, but I was still happy. I realised that if I never make it to the tour, I’ll be OK. When I started competing again, I felt less pressure. ●●●

I came back to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020. I made about half the cuts that season. In 2022, I settled in. I had five top 10s and finished inside the top 25 to get my PGA Tour card. It felt like a reward for all the hard work and validation for everyone who had helped me. ●●●

I got off to a rough start during my rookie season: I had COVID-19 at the Fortinet, my clubs were stolen at the Shriners, and I missed several cuts in a row, but I trusted my game. I saw enough guys get to the tour, change their games and struggle even more. After 13 years of mini-tours, I have a lot of patience. In February 2023, I almost won the Honda Classic. My dad won on the PGA Tour. It would be cool to share that with him.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JENSEN LARSON

ISSUE X 2022

GOLF DIGEST

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MIND / LUCKY BREAK

The PinSeeker

How a golf-course superintendent transforms flags from top clubs into usable keepsakes

By Matthew Rudy

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HE WORK OF a golf-course superintendent is as much about artistry as it is agronomy, so Josh Smith’s hobby isn’t that far out there. When he isn’t spending 60 hours a week keeping Orinda Country Club looking proper in the San Francisco Bay area, Smith creates his handmade FlagBags, giving golfers a tangible—and durable—way to commemorate the most important courses in their lives.

Smith repurposes “experienced” pin flags that have flown over some of the most iconic courses in the world into golf bags that take advantage of the flags’ virtually indestructible nylon. It’s a usable keepsake that you don’t have to worry about shrinking in the dryer or staining with some wayward mustard at the halfway house.

It started in 2019, when Smith got a box of tournament flags. “They were near new, and my head pro said he couldn’t give them out to members because some would feel left out,” Smith says. “I thought I’d make a quiver for my daughters. I’d use the flags to put together a tiny little golf bag and learn how to sew it myself.”

Smith struggled with the needlework, so he reached out to Macdonald Leathergoods founder Todd Rohrer, who makes premium leather carry bags at his shop in Portland, Ore. Smith mapped out his idea for building bags from a mosaic of flags, and Rohrer’s team built a prototype. Seven months later, Smith went to Portland to pick it up. “The second I saw it, I knew it would be a hit,” Smith says.

Smith brought in his brother Matt to help with the business side, and the two reached out to famous courses across the country to solicit flags to build a first round of bags. “We talked to the super14

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intendents at the best clubs—National Golf Links of America, Pasatiempo, Bandon Dunes, Cal Club, San Francisco Golf Club,” Josh says. “All these cool places thought it was a great idea, and we had the flags within a week. We got 12 of them done, and we got a website up and started showing the world.”

The bags were an immediate hit, and the company has been profitable since day one. When the chairman of the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am noticed that golf writer Alan Shipnuck had commissioned a FlagBag from his favorite Monterey Peninsula courses, he ordered 175 of the $895 bags for the 2021 Pro-Am participants.

FlagBag got a shout-out from Jim Nantz on the CBS telecast.

Smith spends more than 30 hours per week laying out bag designs before Rohrer’s team builds them. Customers can purchase the bags directly from FlagBag’s website or through the network of private clubs and resorts that offer bags for order in their shops. The

company repurposes used flags or purchases new ones from clubs. Customers can also submit their own flags.

“It could be a group of flags from your home club, or maybe you went on a golf trip and want to commemorate all the places you visited,” Smith says about the designs, which usually require four to seven flags to go with the leather and metal trim pieces.

Though Smith can get flags from many top clubs, there are a few restrictions. “The only way you can get a Pine Valley flag is to make a hole-in-one,” he says. “They protect those very carefully, and we certainly respect that tradition.

We’re hoping someday somebody makes three holes-in-one so we can make them a free Pine Valley bag.”

Matthew Rudy’s first bag was a brown Hot-Z hand-me-down made from vinylcovered lead.

ILLUSTRATION BY AMBER DAY

E X P E R I E N C E L U X U RY E V E RY D AY W I T H O U R GOLF MEMBERSHIPS

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MIND / THE NEXT ONE'S GOOD

Firstclass Arm Twister

Tim Finchem lost to Thurgood Marshall but won big for golf

By Jerry Tarde

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he last time I was in Louisville, birthplace of The Greatest, I went to the Muhammad CHANGE LEADER Ali Centre for a meeting of The Finchem made a First Tee Trustees, and he was there. positive difference for people of Sports’ most eloquent speaker couldn’t colour during his speak. Ali smiled and had his picture time as PGA Tour taken with each of us, as one by one we commissioner. said a few words of respect and shared an awkward moment with the heavyweight champion in the final days of have been impacted positively through his Parkinson’s syndrome. There was The First Tee in the past 25 years, and 50 a flicker of understanding in his eyes, percent are kids from under-representbut that might just be the sportswriter ed communities. Of the 11,000 schools in me knowing courage when I saw it. where The First Tee programming is I was back in Louisville this summer, taught, 60 percent are Title One schools, around the corner from the Ali Centre, meaning low-income students go there. this time for the third annual African “When we launched The First Tee, American Golf Expo and Forum, where I was approached by some people who hundreds of Black golfers and entrepre- said to me privately, ‘You know, we want neurs gathered to talk hopefully about golf to get bigger, but there are certain their future in the game. I was there kinds of people we don’t need in the to introduce former PGA Tour com- game,’ ” Finchem said in his remarks. missioner Tim Finchem who won the “I knew what they meant, and I said Courage & Commitment [pausing], ‘No way!’ ” Award for, in the words of His first success was conThe Jerry Tarde expo founder James Beatvincing Jack Stephens, chairCourage & Comty, “his quiet effectiveness man of Augusta National, to mitment Award in making a difference donate $5 million of his own was named by the among people of color in money to get The First Tee off African American golf and motivating others the ground. He got the other Golf Expo for Golf in leadership positions to governing bodies on board Digest’s editortake courageous stands.” and then signed up President in-chief’s efforts Granted, I’m a white guy George H.W. Bush as honorin diversity and and Tim’s a white guy, but ary chairman, succeeded inclusion. the Expo’s view is that it later by George W. Bush. takes majority leaders to I witnessed up-close Finchem afflict the comfortable in twisting enough arms to raise the cause of change. hundreds of millions and creFinchem earned the inate golf’s No. 1 charity. As the augural award for his work PGA Tour benefited from in in founding The First Tee so many ways, he’s a firstand relentlessly pushing class arm-twister. the youth-development organization The presidencies of the Bushes look that focuses on building character. increasingly better as time goes by, and More than 15 million young people the same is true of Finchem as com-

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missioner. I always thought the secrets to his longevity in the job, 1994-2016, were a thick skin, the stoic belief that all bad news has only a 48-hour lifecycle, and an Irish sense of humor.

“Did you know,” he asked me recently, “I’ve learned in retirement, women get smarter as they get older, and men get dumber?” I know, I said. We have five daughters between us.

Finchem’s humor once cost him the highest prize while attending the University of Virginia Law School, a twoyear competition called the Lile Moot Court, losing in the final decided by a Supreme Court justice. Fittingly, his judge was the giant of civil rights law, Thurgood Marshall. “I made a joke, and he didn’t like anybody being funnier than him,” says Finchem, who learned to keep his humor under wraps while the courage of his convictions grew.

When people of color come together to talk about sports and golf, the conversation inevitably starts with Muhammad Ali, a fighter who refused to fight.

They might talk about Earl Woods, an Army lieutenant colonel who did two tours of duty in Vietnam before becoming a golf coach. Charlie Sifford and Lee Elder and Renee Powell—they all showed courage and commitment every day in their careers. For the impact he has had in making golf more accessible for generations to come, Finchem belongs in that conversation.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DOM FURORE

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LIV lands in Abu Dhabi

LIV Golf Hong Kong MARCH 8-10

Hong Kong Golf Club LIV Golf (USA) APRIL 5-7

To Be Announced LIV Golf Adelaide APRIL 26-28

The Grange Golf Club LIV Golf Singapore MAY 3-5

The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club

LIV Golf Promotions set to finalise player roster for 2024 season

LIV Golf Houston

By Harry Grimshaw

LIV Golf Nashville

JUNE 7-9

Golf Club of Houston JUNE 21-23

The Grove

A

couple of months have passed from Talor Gooch’s dominating three-win season in the 2023 LIV Golf League, where he ran away with the Individual points list and Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC topped the Team standings.

But before LIV gets underway for their 2024 season at LIV Golf Mayakoba February 2-4, there’s a few pieces of the puzzle still to sort.

LIV Golf has announced that ‘Phase One’ of the league’s off season is complete and the ‘Phase Two’ - Free Agency, has begun. In addition to the Top 24 (Lock Zone) players who chose to become free agents and the players who finished 25th to 44th (Open Zone) whose contracts have expired, are officially free agents.

These free agents can be re-signed by their previous team or can even negotiate a contract with another team that has an open spot.

The four relegated players who failed to earn enough dollar to keep their spots in LIV Golf were Jediah Morgan, James Piot, Chase Koepka and Sihwan Kim as they finished outside the top 45 in the rankings.

So much so, LIV Golf is coming to Abu Dhabi in December with LIV Golf Promotions to fill those places.

The LIV Golf Promotions 72-hole tournament will complete the player roster for the 2024 LIV Golf League. With the three top qualifiers from Abu Dhabi Golf Club being joined by, Andy Ogletree, the winner of The International Series 2023 Rankings.

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LIV Golf Andalucía

With a prize purse of $1.5 million JULY 12-14 Real Club Valderrama being battled over at the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club LIV Golf UK from December 8-10 2023. The four JULY 26-28 JCB Golf and Country Club round tournament will be played over three days with 36 holes on LIV Golf Greenbrier the final day.

AUGUST 16-18 The Old White at After round one, those who finish The Greenbrier in the top 20 and ties, will advance to round two, where scores will be INDIVIDUAL reset and the field will be joined CHAMPIONSHIP To Be Announced by a category of players who automatically qualified for round two of TEAM the competition.

CHAMPIONSHIP To Be Announced The top 20 players following round two will advance to the final day of competition, where scores will be reset once again for the 36-hole shootout.

The top three finishers at the end of day three will earn prize money of $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000 alongside their places on LIV Golf 2024. Players who finish in fourth to 10th place will receive full exemption for all 2024 events on the Asian Tour’s International Series.

One thing is for sure, with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour having given permission to their current members to be allowed to compete in Abu Dhabi, it will be fascinating to see who rocks up to the National Course at the beginning of December. Popcorn at the ready!

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY BY THE CLUB

QUICK

WITH

Colm McLoughlin “Dubai Duty Free is a success story that mirrors the trajectory of the emirate itself”

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orn in Ireland, but made in Dubai.

The Godfather of Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin, spoke exclusively to Golf Digest Middle East as he celebrates an illustrious 40 years in the emirate of Dubai.

provide a wide range of quality products and offer value for money, all within a customer-focused environment.

●●●

●●●

Colm, your career has been one of many tales I’m sure. From growing up in Ballinasloe to here now in Dubai, it’s been quite a journey!

What in your view have been the key ingredients? Several factors

Indeed, it has been quite a voyage. My duty-free journey began in Ireland in 1969, at Shannon Duty Free, the birthplace of the industry. In July 1983, I moved to Dubai as part of the 10-man team from Aer Rianta (the Irish Airport Authority) at the request of the Dubai Government to set up the duty-free operation. I imagined it as a six-month project but here I am still, 40 years on. ●●●

The face of Dubai must be a complete contrast from 40 years ago? Dubai was a very dif-

ferent place back then. There was only a handful of buildings, a big roundabout, and not a great deal else. It was a tightknit community revolving around boat trips on the Creek, piloting small planes to Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and playing golf on sand at Dubai Country Club. Look at it all now! Now we have some of the world’s best golf courses here in the UAE. ●●●

dubai duty free

How has the company evolved against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Dubai?

Dubai Duty Free is a success story that mirrors the trajectory of the emirate itself. From the early days we were tasked by the ruling family and in particular H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make it the biggest and the best in the world. To this day the core objectives have remained the same; to provide world class customer service,

have been led by the tremendous support and encouragement that we have received from the Government of Dubai and in particular from H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free. But the biggest ingredients for Dubai Duty Free is the dedication and effort of all our staff who I believe are the best in the world and of course our customers who are made up of travellers from all over the globe.

●●●

With your vast contribution into golf here in Dubai, what would some of those highlights be? Firstly, I would say the privilege I

was given to be captain of the Emirates Golf Club (1995/1996) and the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club (2007) I’m the only person to have held both captaincies. We are also extremely proud to be supporting major golf events in Dubai since their inception, the Dubai Desert Classic, the Dubai Moonlight Classic, the Race to Dubai and of course now into it’s 30th year, the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup. ●●●

How special was it previously be to be title sponsor for the Irish Open on the then European Tour? We are proud that our support

as the title sponsor of the tournament for seven years has greatly helped restore the status of this major sporting event. And while it is currently under a new title sponsor, Horizon Irish Open,

we are still here, continuing to support the event as an official partner. ●●●

There are the many other activities that Dubai Duty Free reach beyond the shops though.

The promotion of ‘Dubai Inc.’ was a core platform of our strategy from the beginning. One of the things we’ve done very well is support so many events at the highest level and all around the globe, Dubai Duty Free is effectively promoting Dubai’s sporting, leisure, and business facilities, which are second to none. ●●●

What has your time in Dubai with Dubai Duty Free taught you? So far, I am most proud

of the fact that Dubai Duty Free has developed a reputation for looking after its people. What is important in any work you do is to recognise the people who work for you. Wherever you are in life, do not lose touch with reality.

●●●

What will drive the next phase as the company moves into its fifth decade? I’m very

happy that Dubai Duty Free has grown to become the single biggest duty-free operation at an airport anywhere in the world. We are going to do in excess of US$2 billion this year in sales, which surpasses our pre-pandemic sales in 2019. So, if I were to forecast ten years ahead, I would be talking about US$3 billion in sales, with larger retail areas, more shops and boutiques, and around 7–8,000 staff members. december 2023

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GATEWAY AT PORTO AL ZORAH Exquisite Marina Lifestyle in the Lap of Nature Al Zorah Development Company, a joint venture between the Government of Ajman and Solidere International, is set to unveil its highly anticipated luxury marina-front residential project, Gateway at Porto Al Zorah.

Nestled in a pristine neighborhood bordered by the Al Zorah Golf Club, a natural mangrove forest and picturesque creek, this distinguished residential building comprises 157 simplex and duplex apartments, promising a lifestyle that seamlessly blends modern living with a profound connection to the environment. The development offers residents the privilege of living in close proximity to the Al Zorah Mangrove Natural Reserve Forest.

Gateway at Porto Al Zorah caters to diverse living needs, featuring studios, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.

Starting from a spacious 685 square feet, these residences offer breathtaking panoramic views of the creek, marina, and lush internal courtyards. Moreover, residents gain access to an array of exclusive amenities designed to elevate their lifestyle.

These exclusive privileges include unlimited golfing through membership at Al Zorah Golf Club, a two-year membership at the forthcoming Beach Club, a worldwide Oberoi Resorts silver-tier membership, preferential berthing rates at Al Zorah Marina and the coveted Al Zorah City Residents Card, entailing special discounts across all Al Zorah-owned hospitality venues.

The Gateway at Porto Al Zorah is equipped with top-tier facilities that cater to the highest standards. These include a cutting-edge fitness centre, pool and playground, all set amid an inspiring landscape that ensures the tranquility of creekside living with sophisticated finishing touches that culminate in an extraordinary experience.

What makes Al Zorah a breathtaking destination and a compelling investment opportunity are its privileges and characteristics.

FREEHOLD AND FREE ZONE STATUS Special privileges allow foreign and local residents and investors full ownership of businesses, land and property, which can be sold or rented.

GOLDEN VISA OPPORTUNITY An opportunity for investors to obtain a long-term Golden Visa, for up to ten years, and a pathway to citizenship in the UAE. TAX RESIDENCY CERTIFICATE Benefit from the Double Tax Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) on income signed by the UAE. HIGH RETURNS WITH NON-REPATRIATION ON CAPITAL GAINS A high demand for upcoming developments and fast paced interest in available plots and concepts.

A SPECTACULAR BEACHFRONT DESTINATION Leveraging on its prime location along the unblemished shoreline of the emirate of Ajman and the natural wonders of a preserved mangrove forest.

THE PREMIER ALL-INCLUSIVE LANDMARK Perfect amalgamation of beautiful homes, world-class resorts, commercial spaces, and leisure facilities within a natural setting.

FIRST-CLASS INTERNATIONAL GOLFING EXPERIENCE A Nicklaus Design 18-hole championship course hailed as one of the best courses of the region.

HOW BUTCH HELPED ME FIND MY SWING AGAIN, AND THE LESSONS YOU CAN LEARN

BY RICKIE FOWLER

with Peter Morrice Photographs by Sam Kweskin

T The standard advice when things aren’t going your way is to keep looking forward, but for me, I had to look back. Back to my old coach, Butch Harmon, and back to the things that worked when I was playing my best. Once I figured that out, everything started to click.

When Butch stopped traveling on tour in 2019, I asked another teacher, John Tillery, to help me. John showed me things in a new way. But every player has their journey and mine led me back to Butch— just not how you might expect.

For the better part of three years, I was fighting my swing, and I would wear out the range at the Medalist, my home club in Florida. I always seemed to run into one member there, Butch’s brother Craig, who’d recently retired as the longtime pro at Oak Hill in New York.

One day in September of 2022, I saw Craig on the range and got an idea, so I called Butch.

What if we started working together again, but this time, Craig could be his eyes? Butch and I could send swing videos back and forth, and Craig could keep me on track when I practiced. Butch loved it, and that’s how we reunited.

Butch saw right away that I had slipped into some old habits, so the fixes he mapped out were things we’d worked on years ago.

The results came fast. I went from missing five of eight majors in 2021-’22 to finishing top10 twice in the first month with Butch. Then, I got a win this year and made the Ryder Cup. I’ll show you what we did, but my big message is this: What worked once will probably work again.

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SETTING UP MORE CONNECTED One thing about the golf swing—it’s a chain reaction. It’s not so much isolated positions, but what you did to cause those positions to happen. My takeaway was getting off-track (hands going inside, clubhead staying outside), but we could correct some of that in my setup.

We focused on setting my shoulders square, parallel to my target line, not to the right, which was my tendency. I also like to feel the upper part of my right arm pressed against my rib cage (above). Butch calls this “screwing in the right elbow.” That connection helps the arms and body start back together and keeps my hands from getting inside too fast.

GETTING OFF TO A BETTER START Most of the changes we made were to my backswing, and it started right off the ball. As I said, I had a tendency to pull my hands in and leave the clubhead out. You can see in this photo (below) that the clubhead is just inside my hands, which is where I want it. In my old swing, the clubhead would have been well outside my hands.

That’s always been a problem for me and requires re-routing the backswing to set the club in a good position at the top. Nothing beats starting the club on line and letting the swing flow from there.

Knowing that, we worked on getting my hands and the club tracking to the inside in sync. A good image for me is that the clubhead moves first, getting a little head start before the handle moves—after all, the clubhead has farther to go. It’s also important that my upper body is beginning to turn at the same time so that I feel some pinch pressure in my right armpit, which keeps my arm swing and body turn connected. A lot of times I rehearse my takeaway before I swing, making sure my hands and the clubhead are lined up.

BUTCH SAYS

COPY THIS!

“Rickie was getting out of position right away, which put him on a recovery mission. A good checkpoint for any golfer is when the shaft gets parallel to the ground. Make it line up with your stance line, which means the club is starting on the correct plane. Some golfers practice with a club across their toes and match up the shaft they’re swinging to the one on the ground. I prefer to lay the club across the heels, because some golfers flare one or both feet. Getting started right can’t be overstated.”

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SWINGING MORE UPRIGHT GOING BACK Now we’re getting to the crux of the changes, so Butch often steps in and puts me in the right position. In my old swing, my left arm was very flat at halfway back. I had to literally flip the club over to continue the backswing.

To avoid having to do that, I needed to get into a more vertical position with my left arm, as Butch is helping me feel here (right). A good image I developed is my left arm sliding up my chest as opposed to stretching across it. To me, it feels more up and down.

Of course, it’s a matter of degrees, so be careful not to simply lift the club to the top—a common fault I see in amateur swings.

I needed to exaggerate the vertical feel; you might need to do the opposite.

I’m still moving the club to the inside, which comes from keeping my upper body turning. There’s multiple moves happening at the same time. In short, my body turns back while my arms swing up.

REACHING THE TOP ON PLANE Butch is hands-on again here because this is where I need to set the club at the top so that I can just swing down and let it go. I don’t want to have to manipulate the club on the downswing. As Butch says, the function of the backswing is to set up the downswing to where you can easily get back to the ball. If I nail this set position, I don’t have to steer the club coming down. It feels like a direct path.

Even though we got my left arm more vertical halfway back, I was still a little laid off at the top, meaning the club was too far behind me and pointing left of my target. To set the club more on plane, I need a little more hip turn. When Butch nudges my right hip back, the club slots in the perfect position—pointing directly at the target (below). When no one is around to eyeball what I’m doing and make sure I don’t revert back to my flatter backswing, I use an old swing thought Butch got from Greg Norman back in the day: Greg used to think, R.P.B., or Right pocket back.

When I turn my right hip deeper, my backswing is spot-on.

BUTCH SAYS

COPY THIS!

“Unless you have exceptional mobility, the popular idea to restrict your hips on the backswing to create resistance as you turn your shoulders is bogus. Most players, Rickie included, need to turn their hips fully to complete the backswing. For less-flexible players, I even recommend a closed stance (drop the right foot back) to give the trail hip a head start. So go ahead and turn your hips as much as possible.

You’ll make a bigger move behind the ball and have more to hit with on the downswing.”

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KEEPING THE TRANSITION SMOOTH

BUTCH SAYS

COPY THIS!

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“If you don’t have the range of motion to make a full backswing, you probably rush the club down from the top. That tends to be all arms and upper body. Instead, focus on starting the downswing from the ground up, with the club whipping through last. No matter how short your backswing, that sequence works best. As Rickie says, stop-and-go swings are great training, and I like full swings in slow motion to really feel that good, ground-up sequence coming down.”

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gutter credit tk

With my backswing in a better place, we needed to confirm the changes by seeing improvements in my downswing (remember the chain-reaction concept). The first step was making sure my arms and body were staying connected at the top. When my body stops turning, I don’t want my arms to run on at all. They should stop swinging at the same time. When I focus on this, my backswing can feel shorter, so I have to guard against getting quick at the change of direction, trying to subconsciously make up for a shorter swing.

Butch likes me to make some stop-and-go swings when we practice. Swing to the top and stop, then swing down and through. I even hit balls this way. It really helps me feel that connected backswing position, then I can transfer my weight to my front side and let the club drop before turning on the speed (below). When my transition from backswing to downswing is smooth, I always hit better shots.

STAYING DOWN LONGER As I said, I just want to be an athlete and fire through the ball, but we do keep an eye on one thing through impact—my posture. Sometimes I stand up and out of my forward bend too soon. That raises the handle of the club and usually leads to a right miss. My simple thought—another Butch favorite—is to cover the ball through impact. In other words, keep my chest pointing down as I extend my arms out toward the target (left).

One more thing about Butch: My time with him always has been so fulfilling. He’s helped my technique, of course, but half of what he does for me is self-belief. There’s nothing like having someone on your side who helps you see that the work is worth it and you can get where you want to go. I really believe my best golf is ahead of me.

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BY H A R RY G R I M S H AW

IRELAND’S ANCIENT EAST EXPERIENCE JAMESON GOLF LINKS, THE K CLUB AND CO. LOUTH ARE ALL IN THIS DREAM TRIP reland is home to over 400 golf clubs, including a third of the world’s natural links and numerous championship courses.

Golf Digest Middle East have singled out three of the best that 28

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Ireland has to offer, in this once in a lifetime golf trip available for you, the eager golfer!

You might already be looking ahead to that European getaway with your golfing buddies to escape the toasty temperatures in the UAE, so how about a golf tour to Ireland in this failsafe unforgettable experience?

Having lived in Galway, on the west coast of Ireland, I can safely say it’s hard

to find a bad golf course anywhere on the island or Ireland! The landscapes, world-famous hospitality and quality of golf planned into this trip is a perfect blend of exceptional golfing with wonderful off-the-course-experiences.

We have you covered with the help of dnata Travel.

After landing into Dublin Airport, yes – your flights are covered. You’ll be met by your VIP private transfer who will whisk you 15 minutes up the coast to The Portmarnock Resort, (your base for the three nights) a hidden gem often described as a high quality 4* hotel, with a 5* feel.

FRESH FACED The Jameson Links has undergone a multi-millioneuro renovation of Bernhard Langer’s original 1995 design

The Jameson Links par 71

tee blue 6,475 yards

tee white 6,063 yards tee green 5,672 yards tee red 5,024 yards

O

verlooking Dublin Bay and situated along the ‘Velvet Strand’, this is one of Ireland’s most stunning stretches of uninterrupted coastline. A perfect mix of old-world charm combined with modern facilities.

This award-winning links course and spa is the perfect costal retreat for you.

After you have checked in, there’s time for a quick freshen up before your tee time. And don’t worry you only have about 150 yards to walk to the first tee, as you will be playing the recently rebranded Jameson Golf Links on site at the Portmarnock Resort. Perfect!

This 18-hole championship links course has played host to numerous amateur and professional events including the 2008 and 2009 Ladies Irish Open and the 2021 Irish Challenge, won by now DP World Tour player Daan Huizing.

Overlooked by Irelands Eye, the 203-acre site is on the grounds of the old Jameson Estate of St. Marnocks, hence the new name.

This Bernhard Langer designed course has five new green complexes and four new tee areas which ensures a first-class test while also remaining fair and playable for all levels of golfer.

The Jameson Links makes full use of the dunes and natural terrain to provide a layout that will please even the most experienced of links specialists.

With an abundance of elevated tees and greens, blind approaches and doglegs, not to mention the typical links Irish

sea breeze, it will keep you thinking throughout the round.

You’re likely to be a touch jaded after the excitement of the opening day on the links, so your first evening is left open to your own devices, but who knows, you are only 15 minutes from Dublin City center, a trip into Temple Bar might be on the cards...

PADRAIG HARRINGTON, DARREN CLARKE, RORY MCILROY, SHANE LOWRY, AND LEONA MAGUIRE HAVE GRACED THE UNDULATING FAIRWAYS IN PORTMARNOCK PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY BY THE CLUB

TOP PEDIGREE The K Club was host to Team Europe’s victory in the 2006 Ryder Cup

Keep an eye out for these holes • 4th – Arnold’s Pick • 7th – Michael’s Favourite • 16th – Inis Mor • 17th – Half Moon

The K Club par 72

tee blue 7350 yards

tee white 6815 yards

tee green 6240 yards tee red 5131 yards

R

ise and shine it’s time for day two. Time for a quick traditional Irish fry-up for breakfast to set you up for the day and it’s an 8am departure for your next round.

Well, this course oozes in history and is ranked in the top three parkland golf courses in the whole of Ireland, remember there are over 400 in the country! This golfer’s haven is a must-play course that has previously hosted the top golfers in the world, any guesses?

It’s The K Club Palmer North.

After your 45-minute VIP transfer, you’ll arrive at the Arnold Palmer designed treasure. Previously host to the 2006 Ryder Cup where Team Europe claimed an emotional victory over the USA. This stadium-style resort course, measures over 7,300 yards from the tips, and has many TV commentators describe it as the most difficult inland

layout in the country as well as one of the best around Dublin.

You don’t have to look far for even more pedigree on the Palmer North, Rory McIlroy claimed the 2016 DP World Tour Shot of the Year here on the 18th hole on his way to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and it also has been venue to eleven European Opens which affirms the importance of the Palmer North to European Golf.

If you do decide to play from the tips, good luck! But don’t be fooled by its charm as challenges still do lurk as the mature trees and water features force players to bring out the very best in their game.

Having survived the Palmer North, hopefully without too many lost balls, it’s time to jump back in your transfer and head back towards Dublin, but we aren’t going straight back to the hotel just quite yet. It’s time for a quick pitstop in the capital to try some of the culture that Ireland has to offer and experience the history, heart and soul of Ireland’s most iconic beer – Guinness.

At the Guinness Storehouse you’ll be able to savour the sights, sounds, tastes,

MANY TV COMMENTATORS DESCRIBE IT AS THE MOST DIFFICULT INLAND LAYOUT IN THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS ONE OF THE BEST AROUND DUBLIN 30

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and aromas of Guinness as this experience goes beyond the gates at the home of the world’s most popular stout. The tour finishes at the Gravity Bar which has breathtaking views over Dublin city where you will enjoy a pint and a photo opportunity.

After sampling your well-earned creamy Guinness, its back on the bus for the short journey up to the Portmarnock Resort where once again you have the evening to yourself, remember if you feel a bit peckish there’s three top dining outlets available at the resort.

County Louth Golf Club par 72

tee blue 7031 yards

tee white 6716 yards

tee green 6338 yards tee red 5873 yards

D

on’t worry, you’ve got yourself a slight lie in on Saturday morning, as your transfer doesn’t leave until 10:30am. This time you are heading north up Ireland’s east coast to Louth and County Louth Golf Club (below).

Founded in 1892, the course was redesigned in 1938 by architects, Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay. Now boasting a par 72 course that measures 7,031 yards from the back tees, this championship links is known for providing one of the purest and fairest tests of links golf in the world.

Surrounded by sand dunes and an unforgettable coastline, along with undulating greens and fairways, professional golfer and former Ryder Cup Europe Captain Paul McGinley remarks on his favourite links course in Ireland, “It’s just a great test. All the holes run in different directions, so you have a different exam paper on each hole”.

Known also as ‘Baltray’ this course is of the highest ranked and previous host to the DP World Tour’s Irish Open in 2004 and 2009, on the latter occasion, the club was etched into Irish golfing history when it famously PICTURE PERFECT Surrounded by sand dunes and an unforgettable coastline

became the venue where 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry won the Irish Open as an Amateur.

County Louth also holds the East of Ireland championship each year which is considered a “Major” on the elite Irish amateur golf scene.

Upon returning to the Portmarnock Resort the fun filled weekend doesn’t stop there, we have one more treat for you lined up. The Jameson Experience.

The long association between the Jameson family and Portmarnock Resort began when John Jameson III, moved to St. Marnocks in 1847. Since then, the resort has taken precious care of the history and legacy of the famous family.

You’ll begin this unique experience with a guided tour of the original Jameson family home and grounds including the final resting place of members of the dynasty. Following this, you’ll

“IT’S JUST A GREAT TEST. ALL THE HOLES RUN IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, SO YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT EXAM PAPER ON EACH HOLE” –PAUL MCGINLEY, FORMER RYDER CUP CAPTAIN head into the cosy Jameson Bar to enjoy a stunning three-course meal, curated by the head chef, surrounded by the artwork and historic articles of the Jameson Family.

Then to top off an unforgettable trip, you’ll finish your evening with a tasting of three of the Jameson family’s famous whiskeys.

When you depart from Dublin airport, make sure you have a seat overlooking the ‘Velvet Strand’ and the Portmarnock Resort as you’ll be dreaming of this memorable weekend all the way back to Dubai.

So next time you’re planning to tee off somewhere (that’s a bit more than) special, I think the island of Ireland should be at the top of your list… I just wish I was going!

ITINERARY Thursday, 16 May 2024 ◼ Arrive Dublin airport (12:15pm) ◼ Transfer to Hotel ◼ Play Jameson Links (3pm) ◼ Free evening Friday, 17 May 2024 ◼ Depart hotel (8am) ◼ Play The K Club, Palmer North (9:30am) ◼ Guinness Storehouse (4pm) ◼ Return transfer to hotel (5:30pm) ◼ Free evening Saturday, 18 May 2024 ◼ Depart hotel (10:30am) ◼ Play Co. Louth (12:20pm) ◼ Return transfer to hotel (6pm) ◼ Jameson Experience at hotel (8pm) ◼ (Dinner + Whiskey tasting) Sunday, 19 May 2024 ◼ Check out and depart hotel (10:30am) ◼ Depart Dublin airport (2:15pm)

PRICING From AED11,735 ◼ 3 nights per person ◼ Double occupancy From AED13,820 ◼ 3 nights per person ◼ Single occupancy Note: Price is subject to the exact travel dates, numbers travelling and the final itinerary

WhatsApp 800 DNATA (800 36282) or email sports.leisure@dnata.com to find out more

W H E N G O L F E R S F LY P R I VAT E , T H I N G S H A P P E N

BY THE EDITORS

ILLUSTRATIONS BY JACQUIE BOYD

Golf and private aviation have grown up together. As early as the 1950s, West Virginia businessman and legendary amateur Bill Campbell piloted his Cessna “taildragger” to tournaments with Sam Snead as a regular passenger. When Arnold Palmer hung up his wings after a final flight from Palm Springs, California, to Orlando in 2011, at age 81, airtraffic controllers along the way radioed in to pay tribute.

They also cleared the airspace, allowing tail number N1AP (November One Alpha Papa) to set a speed record.  Today most of the top-50 pros are regularly skipping the regular terminal. With money transforming the professional game, even caddies are hitching rides.  Unless you can afford to fly private until the day you die, you can’t afford to fly private.

However, with the greatest new courses being built in ever more remote destinations, good luck dissuading any eager middle-handicapper with access to a PJ. In this moment of outsize executive compensation, meaningless commercial airline points and conspicuous consumption, it seems more people are realising how perfectly the number of golfers on a buddies trip matches the capacity of a private aircraft.

What follows are the stories from these lucky guys.

Must be nice. —MAX ADLER

POLICE ESCORT

The most luxurious accommodations I’ve ever experienced were on Herb Kohler’s jet — my wife had her own “bedroom” but was too excited to sleep on the overnight flight to Leuchars, Scotland. The biggest private jet I’ve ever been on, of course, was Donald Trump’s, long before he was president. It was a fullsize 757 with gold-plated everything. I remember he showed me his bedroom, and it had an oil painting on one wall. He insisted I sit in the cockpit as the pilot landed at LaGuardia, where Trump said his was the only private jet ever allowed and promised that we would receive an NYPD escort off the runway, which, sure enough, we did.

—JERRY TARDE

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Pizza on the Tarmac with Couples We were flying back from the Canadian Skins Game: Quebec City to Phoenix. It was going to take more than nine hours, so a re-fuelling stop was built into the itinerary. Fred Couples was on the plane, as was my best mate, Ben, from Australia. Ben was having the time of his life hanging out with Fred, who had always been one of

Ben’s heroes. We were about to land in Tulsa, at which point someone said they were hungry. We quickly ordered pizza to be delivered to the airfield.

The timing was perfect. Moments after we touched down, the two of us stood on the runway eating pizza off a wing of the plane with Fred Couples.

It doesn’t get more random than that, but Ben thought those few minutes were the best time ever.

—GEOFF OGILVY

FLYING WITH JACK I flew a few times on Jack Nicklaus’ Gulfstream IV jet — I think the call letters were N1JN — but my most memorable flight with him was in the North Carolina mountains on a helicopter that nearly crash-landed. Clearly, there was some mechanical failure. We went up and up and then straight back down with all the aerodynamics of a shopping trolley. When the skids hit the ground and bounced, Jack was the first one to jump. “Let’s get outta here,” he said. I always thought that would have been an ignominious end, the headline reading: “Golf Greatest Jack Nicklaus and One Other Killed in Chopper Crash.” Jack said that the difference between a plane and a helicopter is that the plane wants to fly. —JT

A CLOSE CALL For a while, Arnold Palmer never tried any overseas trips on his Citation III because it didn’t have a great deal of range. Once he flew commercially to Asia on a business trip, but for the return he decided to have his friend and copilot Lee Lauderback fly the Citation III to Hawaii to meet him in Honolulu halfway. The computations looked fine flying from the West Coast to Hawaii, and it was fine going there. But on the way back to San Francisco they encountered strong headwinds and began to get concerned with the fuel supply. It got so serious that they rerouted to Monterey Airport near Pebble Beach, which was the nearest airport on dry land. Luckily, they landed without delay. When they looked at what fuel was left, they realised they wouldn’t have had enough fuel for a goaround. That’s how tight it was and the closest call he ever had.

—DOC GIFFIN

TRICK OF THE KING As his assistant for more than 50 years, I flew a lot with Arnold Palmer. In the early days, I had a habit of going to the cockpit and kneeling in the aisle right behind the pilot and copilot to watch what was going on. During one occasion in his first plane, the Jet Commander, Palmer played a trick on me.

He was in the left seat, flying the plane, and without warning pulled the controls fully and did a 360. Whoop — I never moved off the floor. That’s how fast it happened. Then he just looked back at me and smiled. I think all I said was: “Whoa.”

I got a real kick out of that, but I think he loved it more. He once pulled the same trick on his manager, Alastair Johnston.

As Johnston recalls: “I was sitting in the back reading the Wall Street Journal, and I saw Palmer sort of lean over and say something to the co-pilot, so I knew something was up. Over we go, and I never looked up from the newspaper. I pretended like nothing had happened. I wasn’t going to react for him.” —DG december 2023

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AIR SICKNESS

THE GREATEST DAY

When a kind veteran pro found out a promising young player had a coach ticket booked from a tour stop to a major championship, he invited the young player to “ride with me”. When he got to the plane, the young player discovered there were just three other pros on the flight, with executives from an apparel company filling out the cabin. No issue, right? Well, majorchampionship weeks are like spring break for the C-Suite, and these executives got the party started early. One exec went too hard too fast and regurgitated everything he had just consumed on to the shirt of the young player. This story has a happy ending, though: The young player landed a multi-year deal with that apparel company. We’re guessing that endorsement wasn’t based strictly on the quality of his play.

—JOEL BEALL

They said it couldn’t be done. Even the fastest jet cannot eclipse the speed of the Earth’s rotation. Yet on May 16, 2020, arguably the greatest day in golf was consummated: Pine Valley, Augusta National, Cypress Point Club in a single day. Two foursomes (most titans of their occupations, some merely very successful) teed off at Pine Valley at 5.09am, some with glow-in-the-dark balls. The sunrise in purplish glory above the ridgeline at the ninth was an unfamiliar sight. They walked off the 18th green at 7.15am, and the wheels of the van were in motion by 7.20. Each transition of the day needed to be seamless, and as anyone who has flown privately will attest, it’s the avoidance of rental-car returns, checkin lines, security and other common travel hassles that is the true luxury. On the flight from New Jersey to Georgia they had breakfast and changed their shirts and socks. At 10.29am, they teed off at the home of the Masters for swift yet splendid rounds of three hours and 20 minutes. Back in the air, this assemblage of mostly senior golfers had lunch and indulged in massage guns and heating pads. Fighting headwinds but gaining time all the way to California, golf at Cypress Point commenced at 5pm The final putts dropped at 8.12 p.m., precisely sunset, though 10 to 15 dusky minutes remained had they needed it. For dinner in the clubhouse, everyone had the burger. If all the rushing disturbs one’s sense that the game in great places should be savoured, know the feat was bookended by unhurried rounds the evening before at PV and the morning after at CPC. —MA 36

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PHOTOGRAPH BY NAME SOMEONE

Spot the Newbie A magnanimous plane owner invited seven golf buddies to his private Florida club for two nights. We were to leave frigid New York at a civil hour on Wednesday morning, play 18-36-18, and be home for dinner Friday — as far as work and family were concerned, the ultimate sleight of hand! At least this is how it felt to someone accustomed as I was to predawn security slogs and midnight

TURNING DOWN PHIL

oversize-baggage-claim stakeouts to play half as much golf. Private aviation is a time warp. The tail number and vague parking instructions were sent via group text on Tuesday evening. A reply-all round of emojis and blasé one-word affirmations followed but no questions. This was an experienced group, and apparently this was all the requisite information.

I arrived at 7.10am for our 7.30am takeoff, walked the 50 yards from my car to the terminal and discovered I was the first one there. After the man

On a February Sunday in 2012, Phil Mickelson produced a triumph that likely ranks in soul-deep satisfaction behind only his six major wins. He entered the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am paired with his forever rival, Tiger Woods.

Both have legitimate claims to being the king of the Monterey Peninsula, and their rare head-to-head match-up figured to make for high theatre. However, Mickelson stifled the drama by shooting 64, smoking an error-prone Tiger by 11 shots to win the fourth of his five AT&T titles.

Lefty was giddy, seeping with euphoria. How much so? After his press conference, I walked to the podium to offer a handshake and congratulations, to which Phil replied: “Are you going home tonight? You want to fly with us?”

“Home” for both of us was San Diego and where I started covering his career in the early 1990s. We were professionally cordial but hardly close, and that’s why the offer caught me by surprise. A dozen complicated scenarios rolled through my head in seconds, involving filing my story, returning my rental car, journalistic ethics and whether anybody on the plane would talk to me besides Amy. What eventually came out of my mouth was a mumbled: “Tha-, thanks Phil, but I’ve got to work.” He offered his familiar smile and said: “Cool.” He might have even given me a thumbs up.

I wandered back to my desk in the media centre in a daze.

The only other writer who heard the offer, Alan Shipnuck, needled me about turning Phil down. I kind of felt like an idiot.

I’d never been on a private jet and didn’t know if I’d ever have the chance again. This was Phil’s jet. But I did have the rare opportunity to write about one of the greatest days in a famous athlete’s life. When I hit “send” on the story, I knew I’d made the right call, and my own giddiness carried me and the rental car through the darkness north to San Jose.

Wouldn’t you know it, in my post-offer haze and effort to write a special piece from a special day, I’d taken too long and missed my Southwest flight. The irony made me grin. —TOD LEONARD

who would turn out to be our pilot wheeled away my golf-travel case, I brewed a complimentary coffee and attempted to wait casually. Everyone else appeared between 7.20 and 7.25, clubs slung on their shoulders. A round of smiles, greetings and fistbumps ensued as the clubs and duffels were whisked away. As we walked on to the tarmac, there by the wing of our friend’s plane stood seven golf bags like cadets and one black Club Glove travel case on its belly. No hiding who was the first-timer. —MA

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE At the 1997 Greater Vancouver Open, Mark Calcavecchia finished first, and I finished second. After we did interviews, the sponsors wanted us to visit with the volunteers and say a few words. Calc says: “Yeah, no problem, but you gotta get us a plane to get home to Phoenix.” Unbelievably, they agreed. Well, this plane was well stocked, and we stayed up the whole flight home. By the time we landed, we weren’t in our seats; we’re lying on the floor.

The pilot had to step over us to open the door, and our wives were there to scrape us off the floor. I haven’t flown private a lot, but I have to think that was a pretty epic flight.”

—ANDREW MAGEE

december 2023

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BUSTING CHOPS CAVIAR, SPARKLING AND THE CLARET JUG

We owned a plane for about 15 years, and we didn’t look at it so much as just transportation but more of an extension of our home. When the kids got on the plane with all their things, it was always a very fun time for us, but nothing topped the ride home after the Open Championship in 1994. Sue and I were by ourselves that year, and we took a daytime flight back to the United States.

We decided we were going to splurge. We got sparkling and caviar, and we set the claret jug on a table and just stared at it. We spent a good deal of time really studying it. We looked at all the names and all the little design features. We were really kind of in awe of it.

I can’t think of another trip where we didn’t talk a whole lot or do anything.

We just sat there drinking sparkling and sort of keeping it company. But no, we didn’t drink out of it. We didn’t think that was right.

—NICK PRICE

As a staff photographer for Golf Digest, one plum assignment was accompanying Jack Nicklaus and his sons, Steve, Gary and Michael, on a fishing trip to Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Jack was known as an intimidating subject on photo shoots, so I was nervous about spending almost two weeks with him.

Aboard his Gulfstream 5, we all fell asleep shortly after take-off, but a few hours later as we were cruising over the top of the globe, I was awakened by a smell. Ronnie, our pilot, was cooking lamb chops in the galley and asked if I was hungry. I declined, not wanting to be a bother, but he said he was making them for Jack anyway.

Just then Jack wandered back and started discussing with Ronnie the different methods for grilling meat. He said he wanted his chops medium rare and asked Ronnie how he determined doneness. Jack was dissatisfied with Ronnie’s answer and started to give him a cooking lesson when Ronnie stopped him.

“How many times have I cooked chops for you?” Ronnie said.

“A lot,” Jack said.

“Have I ever not cooked them properly?”

“No.” Ronnie then said sternly: “Then cook your own friggin’ chops,” and walked briskly to the cockpit.

After a long, awkward pause, Jack smiled at me and said: “How do you like your chops, Dom?” It wasn’t long before Jack and Ronnie were back to joking with each other, and it was easy to see that they enjoyed a great friendship. —DOM FURORE

No Cars In 1999, Wayne Huizenga, the South Florida billionaire businessman who owned the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins and Florida Panthers, bought the course where “Caddyshack” was filmed, Rolling Hills in Fort Lauderdale, and turned it into Grande Oaks.

He hired me as the director of instruction and sometimes would drop in for a quick lesson. Wayne was a huge personality, but he was as down-to-Earth as anyone I’ve ever met.

In 2000, Wayne invited me on a golf trip to Ireland: four guys, leaving on Thursday, and this was Tuesday!

We flew over on his Gulfstream G4,

and before we deplaned at Shannon airport, he handed out cash. As his guests, whoever you were, he didn’t want you to spend your own money.

From Shannon, a helicopter took us to Dooks Golf Club, and after 18 and a quick lunch, the chopper flew us to our next course, then to our hotel. The next day, same routine: chopper to the first course, chopper to the second, chopper to the hotel. Third day: chopper to course, chopper to airport, G4 to Florida, back home for dinner. Over three days, we played five courses in southwest Ireland and never got in a car! It was a whirlwind for this humble golf pro to experience the air-to-tee lifestyle. —MARK WOOD

MCDONALD’S PITSTOP One aspect of tour life that’s always amusing are flights to the United States from Asia or Australia. Most of the time, the smaller jets can’t make it directly to the United States or Europe without a refuelling stop. Often, that stop is Juneau, Alaska. The airport is small and ideal for a quick 30-minute refuel. The only food available is McDonald’s. Picture this scene: Late on a Sunday night after a tournament somewhere west of the United States, a teenage McDonald’s server is bewildered as plane after plane comes in to refuel, as some of the best golfers in the world line up for Big Macs to go. —JAMIE KENNEDY 38

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TEACHERS ON CALL

One form of conspicuous consumption for ultra-wealthy middlehandicappers is having a top coach on duty for house calls. One such billionaire made a deal with a coach who has worked with major champions to be able to text a lesson request 24 hours in advance. If the coach was free (and, unless he was with a tour player, he always was), the billionaire would send his jet to ferry the coach to one of his various homes for a threehour lesson block and then fly the coach back to where he needed to be. Once this involved a round trip from New York to Texas and a third leg to London — a circuit of more than 12,000 miles. Conservatively, that makes for a $100,000 golf lesson.

“In the private jet world, getting picked up when somebody is on the way somewhere isn’t that big a deal,” says one top coach with a similar working arrangement.

“But when they send the plane, and you’re the only passenger, that’s wild.”

—Matthew Rudy

HEY, WHO INVITED YOU? There are countless ways professional golf mirrors the dynamic of high school: assorted cliques, whisper campaigns, varying degrees of envy and resentment. Then there’s transportation.

The guys who have their own rides hold leverage over those eying a lift home.

That we’re talking about wings versus wheels and a few more zeroes on the gas bill only tilts the power balance further.

Although there have been reports of Ian Poulter irritating Tiger Woods on occasion — such as a clash over Masters attire and Poulter famously suggesting he and Woods were primary rivals — a defining moment was tied to a flight originating in Pittsburgh.

As Woods’ former coach Hank Haney outlines in his book The Big Miss, Poulter secured a ride home to Orlando on Woods’ plane at the conclusion of the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont. One problem: Woods didn’t offer.

According to Haney, Woods secluded himself by putting on headphones in his seat at the front of the plane, leaving Haney to talk to Poulter. That’s when a text message appeared on the coach’s phone. It was Woods, who asked: “Can you believe this guy mooched a ride on my plane?” —SAM WEINMAN december 2023

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A NEAR MISS

FLYIN’ AND FIGHTIN’ A flight back from a tour event in Japan featured two golfers. One was Ernie Els, the plane’s owner, four-time major champion, doting father and champion of autism awareness. The other was journeyman pro Steve Marino who had met Els only days earlier but had struck enough of a rapport with him that Els invited Marino to enjoy a lively — and liquid — flight home to Florida.

Laughter roared through the cabin for the first few hours until, abruptly, it didn’t.

Els asked Marino if he was having a good time. Marino nodded that he was. Then Els pounced. What followed was a series of head butts and punches, the two large men tangling across the centre aisle and back. The flight crew was disappointed but not surprised. This was apparently a thing with Els. The scuffle went on for a time until exhaustion set in. Eventually they slept, and then remarkably, when they touched down, they shook hands and parted ways.

The story circulated for several years on podcasts and message boards. Was it true? Eventually, the question was put to the source, and Els confirmed it was.

“We had a lot to drink,” Els said on a 2018 episode of the No Laying Up podcast.

“There was a lot to talk about, and we kind of hugged each other. It was a lovefest on the airplane.” Els laughed when referencing his “hug” with Marino. “Nobody got seriously injured. It was all in good fun. It’s just what guys do when there’s a lot of testosterone running.” —SW 40

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Ernie Els has had a few close calls in his life in the air, including a flight with Scott Hoch on the way to Augusta, Georgia, for a Masters practice round in which the cockpit windscreen shattered in their Learjet. They diverted to Savannah, Georgia, and made it in on another plane. However, nothing compared to the near collision on the way to Kohler, Wisconsin, for the 1996 Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf. Els was one of eight players competing in the International bracket at Blackwolf Run, and he and Michael Campbell were flying together from Florida.

“We were coming in on approach, and there was no one in the tower or on the ground,” Els says. “All of a sudden, the plane’s collision alarm went off. We pulled up hard, and I heard the pilot yelling: ‘Divert, divert!’ I don’t know how close we came, but there was a small plane taking off in the wrong direction and heading straight for us.

Something like 1,000 yards is considered a near miss, and I don’t know if we were that close, but it was crazy.

They wouldn’t tell us exactly what happened, but you knew looking at the pilots that it wasn’t routine.”

—DAVE SHEDLOSKI

MALTBIE AND THE GAMBLER

THE BEST KIND OF FRIEND

I’ve had the pleasure of a great friendship with Eddie DeBartolo Jr, the owner of the San Francisco 49ers. I’ve flown with him on many occasions. It’s quite nice, as you can imagine. We’ve had some great times on those flights.

Once he invited me to go with him to a road playoff game, and it killed me to tell him I couldn’t make it. I had to be in Endicott, New York, early the next morning for a meeting. Eddie wouldn’t take no for an answer. I guess he felt like I must be good luck. He promised to get me to New York that evening.

I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing this, but we went to the game, and then he arranged for another private plane to take me to New York. I’m like, You’ve got to be kidding me. The kicker is that I get off the plane, and there is a car waiting for me on the tarmac.

The plane next to me belongs to Kenny Rogers, the late country music singer. He sees me getting into a car, and he’s yelling to whoever will listen, why he doesn’t have a car. That was a pretty good deal. —ROGER MALTBIE

The Wrong Seat I was just 17 when my agent, Steve Loy, brought me an unbelievable invitation: a free ride with his client Phil Mickelson on Phil’s private jet from the United States to a European Tour event in Saudi Arabia. Phil’s brother, Tim, and Dave Phillips, co-founder of Titleist Performance Institute, were also on the flight. I had no idea what I was doing. I looked for a security line to go through, but obviously there wasn’t one. I thought I could walk right up to the plane but was sent back to the waiting area.

Once I got on the plane, which was huge, I was most concerned with not bothering Phil, but he was happy to

I was a member at Caves Valley, and we were to play in a one-day member-guest with Barry Hyde. It was a miserable rainy August day. Nothing was going to happen. I had a friend at Caves and he called me and said: “OK, what are we going to do today?” We didn’t want to waste the day. He said: “I’ve got the plane; you organise the golf.” Barry and I sat in the grillroom at Caves and looked at the weather map, and it was green all the way to Chicago and down to Tennessee and to the East Coast. We looked at a variety of places, and eventually, Barry said: “You know what? It’s clear down in Florida.” We got in a Lear and took off for Sawgrass, played the Stadium Course, and then flew back to Caves that night. It’s worth noting that this guy is the kind of friend who if he arranged something and couldn’t go, he’d still send the plane. A lot of other guys, if they can’t go, the plane doesn’t go. One time, when I was living in Atlanta, my friend was going to fly from Washington, pick me up in Atlanta, and a few of us were going to play Sutton Bay in South Dakota, then stay at Sand Hills for an overnight, play Sand Hills and then go to Merion. He called me the night before and said he couldn’t make it, but there was never a question that the plane wasn’t going to show up. Sure enough, we played Sutton Bay, we played Sand Hills and then he joined us at Merion.

These are the friends you want to have.

— GORDON DALGLEISH

talk to me. We bonded over being lefties, and he told so many great stories, like the time he won the Tucson Open as an amateur after skipping a 3-iron across the water and making birdie on the back nine when his then-caddie, Loy — who was sitting within earshot — had urged him to play it safe.

After a while the crew said they could convert our seats into beds so that we could sleep. I happened to be sitting in the chair that turned into the biggest bed. Steve was quick to tell me: “Let Phil take that bed.” Of course, I immediately gave the bed to Phil, who laughed and didn’t make me feel bad about my faux pas.

Phil finished T-3 in the tournament, and afterward we took the jet

back to San Diego. Steve had secured another private jet for the two of us to get back to his office in Arizona.

By this point, I was getting accustomed to travelling on private jets, sitting in comfortable seats, eating great food and being able to walk around whenever I wanted. However, I had to take another flight to get home to North Carolina. I flew Southwest.

That was a buzzkill.

My flight with Phil was the start of a real friendship. Although we play on different tours, we play practice rounds together whenever we can, and we always have a little money game going on. Our stakes wouldn’t buy much jet fuel, of course.

—AKSHAY BHATIA

december 2023

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SPONSORED CONTENT

New roots Club Lab adds to the growing ‘alternative’ golf scene in the UAE Golf Digest Middle East caught up with the brains behind Club Lab Golf, the latest addition to the UAE’s golf portfolio

REG VAN ROOYEN

Club Lab Golf Co-Founder Can you provide an overview of Club Lab Golf and its core philosophy? What sets it apart from traditional golf experiences?

Club Lab Golf is the first-of-its-kind indoor facility in the Middle East that redefines the golfing experience. Our core philosophy revolves around providing year-round practice, personalised coaching, and custom club fitting all under one roof. Led by PGA professionals, our cutting-edge training module utilises the Swing Catalyst software for one-on-one coaching. Our in-house lab, tailors golf clubs based on individual playing styles, goals, and preferences. This comprehensive approach, combining fitting, building, coaching and retail, aims to elevate golf culture in the UAE and the region, making us stand out within the industry.

What was your drive/inspiration for launching Club Lab Golf? It was fuelled by a profound passion for golf and a keen awareness of a gap in the market. My background as a PGA professional, master fitter, and club builder provided me with the expertise needed to recognise the absence of expert fittings and assessments in Dubai. Witnessing the 42

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transformative impact of data-driven club fitting on players over a decade, I saw the immense potential to elevate the golfing scene in the UAE. This passion, combined with a partnership with Rohan, ultimately led to the establishment of Club Lab Golf, driven by our commitment to offering elite coaching and an unparalleled club-fitting experience to golfers in the region.

What is your vision for Club Lab Golf? It is rooted in providing golfers the right tools, equipment, and guidance, encapsulated within a technologically advanced and personalised experience. There isn’t a solitary prototype for an ideal player — rather, it’s about embracing the diversity and individuality of each golfer, nurturing their growth, and enabling them to realise their full potential through their distinct journey, a philosophy that forms the core of Club Lab Golf.

Who is your core target market, and how has the clientele evolved since the launch?

Our core target market encompasses UAE golf players and enthusiasts of all skill levels, from amateurs to seasoned professionals. This inclusive approach has attracted a diverse clientele, with women, children, and even international customers from Saudi Arabia and India. Notably, we’ve witnessed a growing influx of junior golfers aged 12 to 17, with many performing well in local tournaments, reflecting our increasing appeal to young players.

What makes Club Lab Golf different from what is already available in the market?

Club Lab Golf stands out by providing an all-encompassing golf experience, offering expert club-fitting and building, elite coaching, and retail services within a 2,550 sq ft facility. Our use of cutting-edge sports technology, two practice bays equipped with large launch monitors, and real feel mats enhance the learning experience. By combining these elements, we’re dedicated to elevating the golf culture and understanding in the UAE and the wider region.

What is the sports technology used at Club Lab Golf? We employ a comprehensive array of cutting-edge sports technology to elevate the quality of our coaching and fitting services. The centre-piece is the Foresight Sports GCQuad, a leading indoor

Club Lab Co-founders Reg van Rooyen and Rohan Mehta, with Head of Instruction and Coach Marno Vorster

simulation system renowned for its unparalleled precision in coaching, ball tracking, and club data analysis. This camera-based device ensures accuracy by eliminating assumptions, enabling us to provide real-time, reliable insights. We also utilise Swing Catalyst, a high-speed camera software operating at 600 frames per second.

How do you and the coach at Club Lab Golf leverage technology and data to improve players’ skills? Club Lab Golf excels at leveraging technology and data to enhance players’ skills by combining cuttingedge equipment with human expertise. In the world of golf, technology offers invaluable insights, but it’s the human understanding and proficiency that unlock its true potential.

While AI software and advanced equipment provide data and suggestions, it’s our skilled custom fitters and coaches who interpret this information and craft personalised solutions.

The synergy between technology and human expertise is pivotal in transforming data into tangible improvements for golf enthusiasts.

What are the benefits of using such high technology in sports? The benefits of integrating technology in sports, as exemplified

by Club Lab Golf, are significant. By combining cutting-edge technology with personalised one-on-one training and fitting, players can experience a tailored approach that optimises their game. Technology provides valuable insights and data, but it’s the human expertise that interprets and applies this information effectively, ensuring that advancements enhance rather than replace the invaluable touch of skilled professionals. This balance is pivotal in elevating the sports experience and optimising performance

ROHAN MEHTA

Club Lab Golf Co-Founder Can you describe the landscape of golf in the region and its impact on the economy?

The golf landscape in the region, particularly in the UAE, has undergone remarkable growth over the past few decades. The country’s investment in world-class courses and luxurious accommodations has had a substantial impact on the economy, with reports in January stating that the Dubai sports sector contributed approximately $2.5 billion. Hosting over 100 international sporting events annually has

significantly boosted the economy through increased tourism and hospitality expenditures.

How has Golf evolved as a sport in the region? Golf in the UAE has evolved into a popular and dynamic sport, with significant growth in golf tourism, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger generations are increasingly drawn to golf as a means of athleticism, fitness, and social interaction. The country’s global hub status and effective use of social media have made golf more accessible and appealing to the youth.

Hosting major international tours like the DP World Tour has further increased the sport’s visibility and allure. Upcoming events like the Dubai Invitational underline the UAE’s rising importance in global golf. Club Lab Golf plays a pivotal role in attracting youngsters to the sport through educational initiatives and engaging social content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, fostering a new wave of golf enthusiasts in the region.

How do you see the sport evolving further in the region? Golf in the UAE is poised for further evolution with tournaments like the Dubai Invitational, Dubai Desert Classic, and DP World Tour Championship solidifying the country’s status as a golf hub. Dubai’s investments have not only attracted golf enthusiasts but also families, enriching the sport’s appeal and contributing to its continued growth and popularity in the region. The region’s commitment to golf is evident in the opening of more golf courses, ensuring an exciting and promising future for the sport.

When did you notice a change in perspective for the sport? The change in perspective on golf in Dubai became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it was among the first sports to open up to the public, with tee time during the day in high demand. Additionally, venues like Top Golf have played a crucial role in changing the perception of golf, offering a fun and exploratory experience that has made the sport more popular. The increasing attraction of junior players further underscores this shift in perspective.

What is your vision for Club Lab Golf? Our vision revolves around education, empowerment, and innovation in the world of golf. We’re dedicated to equipping golfers in the UAE,

“Younger generations are drawn to golf as a means of athleticism, fitness and social interaction. The global hub status and effective use of social media have made golf more accessible and appealing to youth”–rohan mehta

Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and beyond with knowledge, personalised approaches, and top-notch equipment. Our goal is to become an integral part of the region’s golfing landscape, contributing to the industry’s growth and the broader economy, tourism, and hospitality. With the support of visionary leadership, we aim to be a key player in prestigious events like the Dubai Invitational, catering to the global golfing community, and advancing the sport’s positive impact.

How do you see Club Lab Golf evolving?

In the next five years, Club Lab Golf envisions an expansion of its reach, catering to professionals, amateurs, and beginners in the golfing community. Our primary goals include raising awareness, forging partnerships, and delivering transformative, personalised golf experiences. We aim to become an integral part of the golfing landscape across the region, contributing to the sport’s growth and aligning with the global trajectory of golf. We also aspire to play a pivotal role in international events taking place in the region, offering our fitting, coaching, and indoor practice solutions to elite participants, while also contributing to Dubai’s prominence as a global golfing hub. december 2023

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FANTASTIC FIVE FOR MCILROY

RORY COLLECTS HIS FIFTH RACE TO DUBAI RANKINGS, AS NICOLAI HØJGAARD HOLDS ON FOR SEASON ENDING DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP BY HARRY GRIMSHAW 44

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LEFT: Nicolai breaks Rolex Series duck BOTTOM: Luke Willett burns up the Fire Course BELOW: Atherton,

Lombard & Locksmith partnered in Pro-Am OPPOSITE PAGE:

mcilroy-am: andrew redington/getty images • højgaard: giuseppe cacace/getty images • willett: dp world • lombard: dp world

McIlroy with his fifth Harry Vardon trophy

BEFORE A SINGLE GOLF BALL

was hit at the start of the DP World Tour Championship week, Rory McIlroy, had already claimed his fifth Race to Dubai Rankings title as it wasn’t mathematically possible for anyone to catch the World Number Two. McIlroy now only has six-time winner Seve Ballesteros and record eight-time rankings winner Colin Montgomerie ahead of him on the all-time list of Harry Vardon Trophy winners.

“I think I’ve still got a good eight to ten years left in me where I can play at the top, top level,” McIlroy said.

“I’d like to think that I’m going to challenge, at least try to get past Seve and then sort of try to get past Monty as well. It’s certainly a goal of mine for the rest of my career to do something like that. It would mean a lot to me.”

Back to the other target of who would claim the 15th edition of the DP World Tour Championship, in what was a record-breaking week, in more ways than one at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Before proceedings got underway, earlier in the week, Luke Willett (right), who was renowned as the world’ fastest golfer, achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new Guinness World Record for the fastest nine-hole round of golf by an individual.

With just the use of a three wood, six iron, a pitching wedge and a decent pair

of lungs on him, Luke legged it round the Fire Course in a jaw dropping time of 20 minutes and 12 seconds, oh and he still managed to score nine over par!

Plenty of celebrities were spotted prior to the tournament, Indian cricketing legend and DP World Global Cricket Ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar, swapped the crease for the course as he had the opportunity to meet with various DP World Tour players.

First up was Rory, where upon meeting Sachin presented Rory with a signed Indian cricket shirt and stump, with McIlroy then offering some golfing tips and a signed DP World Tour Championship pin flag in return.

In the ever-popular DP World Tour Championship Rolex Pro-Am playing alongside the professionals were plenty of familiar names away from the world of golf. Irish rugby legend and Grand

Slam-winning captain Johnny Sexton, partnered with Rory, Leon “Locksmith” Rolle from multiple award-winning British drum and bass band Rudimental and Michelin starred chef Jason Atherton, were teamed up with South African Zander Lombard as they took on the infamous Earth Course.

A special mention must also go to the three winners of this year’s DP World Tour Championship Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final – David Warham, Misun Kim and Hashem Shana’ah played alongside Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg.

The morning shotgun was won by Team Hero with Kiwi Daniel Hillier at the helm with amateurs Abhimanyu Munjal, Samvit Chopra and Kunal Seth, while the afternoon shotgun was won

by Team DP World consisting of England’s Tyrrell Hatton who had amateurs Hardeep Singh, Waseem Trumboo and Sachin Mahajan. december 2023

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“WHAT AN AMAZING DAY, I JUST TRIED MY HARDEST TO GET MYSELF BACK INTO THE TOURNAMENT” — MATT WALLACE

At 08:30 local time on Thursday morning, Daniel Brown got the DP World Tour Championship off and running as the players went off in reverse ranking order. The Englishman was handily placed after the opening round at one under par, placing him in a tie for 15th spot.

By the end of the day’s play on Thursday a back-nine birdie bonanza from Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard had him join the French duo of Julien Guerrier and Matthieu Pavon at the top of the leaderboard, all on five under par.

The weather then surprisingly decided to play it’s part in proceedings.

With inclement weather forecasted for Thursday night and Friday morning, tee times were ammended slightly.

Players still in re-draw order after their scores on day one, but a two-tee start was required.

Friday 17th November – Round Two

Nicolai arrived at the Earth Course on Friday in a share of the lead but early back-to-back bogeys saw him stumble and he was still a long way behind despite fighting back to turn in level par.

A birdie on the tenth signaled the start of better things as he added two more before finishing birdie-eagle to come home in 30 and sign for a 66 that left him at 11 under. Leading by two strokes heading into the weekend.

“I feel like (a win is) the only thing I missed this season but there’s two rounds to go,” said Højgaard. “There’s a lot of really good players in this field I know that they are going to be in the hunt the next few days and I’m going to keep grinding as much as I can and put myself around, hopefully, and we’ll see on Sunday.”

Saturday 18th November – Round Three

With moving day upon us, it was Englishman Matt Wallace who got heads turning. Seven shots off the lead at the start of play but after turning in 33 on his front nine on the Earth Course, he picked up a shot on every hole from the tenth onwards to sign for a stunning career-best 60.

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He was even two feet from holing his bunker shot for an eagle and a 59 on the 18th but had to settle for the lowest round of the season, a 16 under total. Wallace was now the one to catch being two shots clear from Norway’s Viktor Hovland, Jumeirah Golf Estates resident Tommy Fleetwood and three clear from overnight leader Højgaard who signed for a two under 70.

“What a day, an amazing day,” said Wallace. “I just tried my hardest to get myself back into the tournament. I’m really happy that I’ve been able to do that.”

The season-ending DP World Tour Championship was also coincided with the final event of the 2023 G4D Tour, as the world’s best golfers with a disability showed their talent in Dubai.

As a result of the disruptive weather on Friday, the scheduled first round of play was cancelled, and the G4D Tour Season Finale was reduced to 18 holes.

A one-under-par 71 by England’s Mike Brown proved the winning total as he finished three shots better off than Golf Saudi ambassador and World No.1 Kipp Popert, inaugural G4D Open winner Brendan Lawlor and Canada’s Kurtis Barkley.

RIGHT: Mike Browne’s

emotional G4D Tour Season Finale win BELOW: Kipp Popert is the newest Golf Saudi ambassador BOTTOM: Wallace

birdied all of his holes on the back nine on Saturday

browne: dp world • popert: golf saudi • wallace: andrew redington/getty images

Thursday 16th November – Round One

G4D Tour Season Finale @ DP World Tour Championship

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Sunday 19th November – Round Four

It wasn’t the final day that overnight leader Matt Wallace had expected after his record-breaking Saturday. A three under 69 was all the he could manage after his previous day’s fireworks on the Earth Course. Maybe the heat from the Ryder Cup team-mates of Fleetwood, Hovland and Højgaard circling was enough to unsettle him.

A fast start from Højgaard was just what the doctor ordered as he opened up with three birdies in his opening six holes to get in the mix with Fleetwood and Hovland in what was looking like a three-way battle around the halfway stage.

The Dane came good down the stretch with five birdies in the final six holes on Sunday to set the clubhouse score at 21 under. Højgaard left the 18th green with a despairing expression (below)

after missing a short birdie opportunity on the final green to have one hand on the trophy, but his victory was confirmed shortly later when neither Fleetwood or Hovland could register an eagle at the par-five closing hole.

Højgaard, at just 22-years-old, therefore claimed his maiden Rolex Series title at the world-class 15th edition of the DP World Tour Championship.

A third DP World Tour title for Højgaard, having previously lifted the trophy at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome at the Italian Open in 2021 and the Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club in 2022.

“This feels amazing. This one is for family. Everything they put in over the years, there’s so much hard work going into this. For it to happen like this is unbelievable.”

“THIS FEELS AMAZING. FOR IT TO HAPPEN LIKE THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE” — NICOLAI HØJGAARD 48

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With Rory now hunting down his sixth order of merit on the DP World Tour we won’t have to wait long to see him get that campaign underway as he is returning to the desert for the opening two weeks on the DP World Tour’s International Swing in January. First up for him is the inaugural Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, followed by the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club as he goes in search of his fourth Dallah Trophy in the opening Rolex Series event of the 2024 season.

(2) david cannon/gettyimages

PGA Tour Membership As part of the Strategic Alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, a direct and formal pathway was established for players to earn dual membership status.

Following the season finale, and as the top ten players not otherwise exempt on the 2023 Race to Dubai Rankings, Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox, Victor Perez, Thorbjørn Olesen, Alexander Björk, Sami Välimäki, Robert MacIntyre, Matthieu Pavon, Jorge Campillo and Ryo Hisatsune are set for PGA TOUR exemptions.

Dubai-based Meronk will also be exempt into THE PLAYERS Championship and the Charles Schwab Challenge in 2024, while also being exempt from re-ranks on the PGA TOUR.

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THE SHORT-GAME FUNDAMENTALS GET BETTER AROUND THE GREENS WITH SOME TIPS YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD BEFORE

BY JAMES SIECKMANN WITH RON KASPRISKE • PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOM FURORE

AS

a teacher who has worked with amateurs and tour pros for 30 years, I can tell you that short-game fundamentals have evolved quite a bit over time. This is especially true as technology has advanced in ways that make it easy to study and analyse what good players do. I used to have to video the best players and try to spot the commonalities that led to their successes. Now I have the technology to confirm what was previously, to some degree, guesswork.

What has become apparent is that the techniques, movement patterns and strategies high performers use around the greens are not at all what they’re doing in their long game. In fact, it’s almost the complete opposite! If you think finesse wedge shots are a mini full swing or that putting comes down to focusing on the length of your stroke, you’re probably not scoring your best—maybe not even close.

The first step toward developing a great short game is to change your thinking. Here I’m going to help you throw out the old fundamentals that have proven to be less effective and give you some new ones that will make you dangerous when you grab a wedge or a putter. I’ll get you moving in the right direction.

JAMES SIECKMANN, a Golf Digest 50 Best Teacher in America, has worked with 101 tour pros, including 21 winners. His academy is at Shadow Ridge Country Club in Omaha.

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DISTANCE WEDGES OLD FUNDAMENTAL: Slow down your arm swing NEW FUNDAMENTAL: Shorten your backswing and rotate through

When I speak of distance wedges, I mean a less-than-full shot into a green that flies lower and is designed to one hop and stop close to the pin. Highly skilled players rarely hit their wedges full—and neither should you. When you go all out, you make contact less predictable, the ball flies too high and accuracy becomes more of a challenge.

The key to executing a distance wedge is to make a slower, shorter backswing and use good full-swing body dynamics to deliver the club into the ball. You want a short enough backswing so that you are inclined to get your body shifting and turning into your lead side as you approach the ball. When I’m working with tour pros, the average amount of forward shaft lean at impact is 13 degrees. They produce this with the proper movement of the pelvis and sequencing rather than trying to lean the shaft forward with their hands. Here are two drills to help you copy what the pros do.

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DOWNSWING: GIVE THE BALL A PUNCH WITH YOUR PELVIS Forward shaft lean at impact is key to getting the right contact and trajectory on your distance-wedge shots. You produce it by first shifting laterally into your lead leg as you start down. You then use the ground to rotate your body toward the target as the club moves through the bottom of the swing. The common mistakes are too big of a backswing and decelerating in the downswing with minimal lowerbody movement. To help you get a feel for the correct action, set an alignment rod in front of your lead hip (or imagine one) at address. The goal is to bump that rod as you swing down (below) and then rotate toward the target with your body. That’s what I call a “pelvic punch,” and it’s the engine of your distance-wedge game.

BACKSWING: REGULATE THE MOVE As I mentioned, your backswing should be short enough that it prompts you to rotate your body toward the target in the downswing. How short? I’ll give you two backswing lengths to practice so that you’ll have two distances you carry the ball with each wedge.

Set up square to a ball positioned evenly between your feet in a slightly narrow stance.

Take the club back slowly and pivot away from the target with your weight remaining fairly even from one side to the other.

Rotate back until your lead arm is parallel with the ground and the butt end of the club is pointing directly down behind the ball on its target line (photo, opposite page). That shortened backswing will encourage you to use your body to deliver the strike. The second backswing is even shorter. The butt end of the club should be pointing at the ball upon its completion. december 2023

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FINESSE WEDGES OLD FUNDAMENTAL: Lean left and keep your hands

ahead NEW FUNDAMENTAL: Set up open and swing weak—

on purpose Around the greens, what I call finesse wedge shots, you almost always want the face of your club to be open to the path it swings on. You should also swing in control through the ball. This isn’t a full-out 5-iron swing.

Essentially, you’re trying to swing “weak” on purpose to create consistency, max forgiveness, spin and touch.

The late, great short-game coach Phil Rodgers passed on his observations about how to set up and swing for these shots, and technology has since confirmed his teaching was spot on. The days of trying to lean the shaft forward with your hands and hit down on a chip are over.

Instead, let me show you how to execute these shots in two parts: the setup and the swing.

ADDRESS: LEAN THE SHAFT, BUT ALSO OPEN THE FACE This is the pro move you are likely missing. Set up in a very narrow stance, slightly open to your target with the ball positioned just inside your trail foot. Now, here’s the key: Lean the shaft slightly forward (5 to 7 degrees) and open the clubface the same amount (left). If you’ve been chunking or skulling your wedges, the combination of an open face and forward shaft lean will do wonders for you.

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SWING: LEAD WITH THE CLUB’S TOE AND FINISH IT SKYWARD The path of your backswing is crucial to keeping the club in position to do its job at impact. The face should stay open to its path. The most common mistake is to pull the club low and inside the target line at the start. Instead, let the toe of the club win the race, so to speak, by keeping it ahead of the heel in the initial phase of the backswing.

The clubhead should stay outside of your hands and remain that way until the shaft gets parallel to the ground. You can work on this by grabbing a golf-ball sleeve and placing it on your target line behind the ball (below). You know your takeaway is good if you avoid hitting the box when you start back.

On the downswing, retrace the club’s path. To help with technique, visualize how a pitcher would field a grounder and underhand toss it to first. In other words, you don’t lead with your hips like you would for a distance wedge. Instead, your club and arms move slowly and smoothly toward the ball. Your chest should naturally turn with them.

Maintain the radius of the club’s “circle,” reproducing at impact the shaft lean and open clubface you set up at address. Finally, finish with the butt of the club pointing at your belly button, chest to the target and the wedge’s face skyward (below, right).

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BUNKER SHOTS OLD FUNDAMENTAL: Open the face and cut across

the ball NEW FUNDAMENTAL: Cup your lead wrist and release

the club later There has never been a great bunker player with a bad setup, so I’ll help you get into a good position in a moment. First, I want to address what most people think 56

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is the correct bunker swing. It’s true that you can set up way open to the hole, swing down on a severe out-to-in path in relation to your target and produce bunker shots that get the ball somewhere on the green. But why settle for average when you can hit sand shots that stop by the hole on command? I’m talking about those high, spinning bunker shots that the pros make look so easy.

Follow my advice and they’ll be easy for you, too.

SWING: FOCUS ON GOOD WRIST ACTION

ADDRESS: PUT YOUR HIPS ON LOCKDOWN The new setup for bunker play restricts hip action, which is exactly what you want when you play from the sand.

Keeping the lower body quiet is key to making consistent contact behind the ball.

First, align your body with where you want the ball to land and keep your weight in the balls of your feet.

Second, from a widerthan-normal stance, turn both feet outward.

That’s what restricts the hips. Next, feel like you’re sitting down.

Your hands will be in a lower position than they typically are, and you’ll notice there’s a cup in the back of your lead wrist (left). This is the secret to great bunker shots. You’ll want to maintain that wrist cup all the way through impact, and I’ll talk about that more in a second. Finally, before you swing, feel a bit more pressure in your lead leg.

That cup in your wrist is going to make you a great bunker player, and so will the rest of this new fundamental technique.

Keeping pressure in your lead thigh, make nearly a full backswing maintaining that cup. Instead of starting down with your hips, I want you to pull the butt end of the handle in front of your trail thigh (below) before you release the clubhead into the bunker. You’re adding speed and loft to the shot while exposing the club’s bounce. That allows the wedge to skim through the sand and pop the ball up with a ton of spin. Keep swinging well past the ball, letting your hand path trace a small circle around your body. You can rehearse this move by holding the club with your lead hand only, swinging above a path you trace in the sand. Note the cupped look of that wrist, and that the clubhead is outside of that hand (above, left).

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PUTTING

STROKE: NAIL IT IN

OLD FUNDAMENTAL:

So what is object permanence? Psychologist Jean Piaget recognised that a skill we acquire early—after the peek-a-boo phase—is understanding things exist even when we can’t see them. In golf, you can’t see the hole on most putts, but you know it’s there. The more you focus on that picture, instead of worrying about your stroke, the better your putting will become. Here I can see the hole in my mind and point at it without peeking (left).

I’ve got a drill to help get you thinking solely about your target. It’s inspired by your mind-set when you hammer a nail. You’re not worried about how to hammer it; you’re just focused on striking it. In my “hammer the nail” drill, find a straight, short putt and stick a tee in the back of the cup on your line. Stare at the tee (the nail) until that’s all you see. Then hit the ball (the hammer) trying to strike the nail (left). Next, stare at the tee, then close your eyes and don’t hit the putt until you clearly see it in your mind. Finally, stare at the tee and then look down at the ball with the image of the tee still in your mind. Your eyes are open but the picture you see is the target. You’ll be surprised how much this frees up your stroke.

Work on this and the other new fundamentals, and I bet you get up and down a lot more often!

Accelerate into the ball NEW FUNDAMENTAL: Think only about the target Ever miss a crucial putt and then, without thinking, try again and knock it in dead center? That second guy is a great putter, right?

With my tour clients, I frequently use technology and neural feedback to teach putting.

What science has proven is that an overactive brain hurts you on the greens.

If you’re thinking about grip pressure, backstroke length, rocking your shoulders, whatever, it detracts from your natural ability to see a target and hit it.

I’m going to teach you about something called “object permanence” and its role in successful putting. I’ve got a few drills to refocus your brain on what matters most—putting it in the hole.

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BODY / SWING ANALYSIS

HOLD YOUR HANDS HIGH Davis Thompson’s key move invokes another Davis

By Dave Allen

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as it turns out, pga tour rookie Davis Thompson shares more in common with Davis Love III than just his first name. Both are tall—Thompson is 6-foot-4, and World Golf Hall of Famer Love stands 6-foot-3—and both reside in St. Simons Island, Georgia. In fact, Thompson’s father, Todd, is tournament director for The RSM Classic, which is hosted by Love and his foundation.

Both players can also crush it, largely because of the ultra-wide swing arc and leverage they create at the top of their

backswings, says Eric Eshleman, who has been coaching Thompson since he was 12 years old. The height of the clubhead and the distance between Thompson’s hands and left toe (above, fourth image), Eshleman says, is reminiscent of Love, one of the game’s longest hitters in the late 1980s and ’90s.

“We always work on using that big body frame to his advantage,” says Eshleman, one of Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Alabama. “We have this saying: If I move a little, it’s a little; if he moves a little, it’s a lot. We try to keep PHOTOGRAPHS BY J.D. CUBAN

his body action very simple and let all that leverage do the work.”

Thompson averaged a robust 310.7 yards in 2023, good for 19th in driving distance on the PGA Tour. The former two-time, first-team All-American at the University of Georgia also ranked fifth on tour in par-5 scoring (4.47 average).

At The American Express in January, in which Thompson finished runner-up to Jon Rahm, he eagled the par 5s five times in the first two rounds.

The key to establishing all that width on the backswing, says Eshleman, is

making sure that he extends his arms away from his body before he begins his turn (above, second image). If he rotates too soon, the arms get sucked inside and the plane of the club gets too vertical, leading to a pull or flare to the right.

“We want his arms working slightly out on the takeaway to slightly deeper at the top, instead of working in and up,” says Eshleman, the director of golf at the Country Club of Birmingham. “The feeling that he has is that he’s throwing a bucket full of water over his trail shoulder at the top of the backswing.”

Thompson describes it as “keeping his left arm more connected to his chest at the top.” When he stays “connected,” the amount of width he creates is significant. From there, he drops his trail arm in front of his right hip (above, fifth image), which shallows out the club so that it can approach the ball from the inside. At impact, his left leg is posted, and he’s pushing hard off the ground, which allows his arms to go into full extension and unleash all that leverage.

“His swing just screams athleticism and effortless power,” Eshleman says. december 2023

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BODY / TOUR TECHNIQUE

COVER IT FOR BETTER ACCURACY Find more fairways with this controlled tee shot

By Taylor Moore

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there are times when just getting a drive in the short grass is the priority. Windy days come to mind, or tight landing areas. Even super-long par 3s. When you need a tee shot you can rely on, try my go-to technique to produce a lower ball flight that stays in play.

Think of this as a “blanket drive,” because when you swing, you should feel like you’re “covering” the ball (above). I want my chest to stay over the top of the ball through the hitting area. Honestly, it’s more like an iron shot than a standard drive. You play the ball a touch farther back than normal in your stance, tee it a little lower, and grip

down for more control. When you swing, commit to it. Don’t try to steer the ball in play by holding off your through-swing.

You’re not trying to blister the ball, but you’re still making a full backswing and follow-through.

If you hit this shot right, the ball will fly low and fairly straight with a little peel off from left to right. If you allow for that, you should be playing your next shot from a great spot with the chance to score on a tough hole.

—with ron KasprisKe TAYLOR MOORE won the PGA Tour’s

Valspar Championship in March and had three other top-five finishes in 2023.

PHOTOGRAPH BY J.D. CUBAN

Discover more mmgsocial.com

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BODY / EQUIPMENT

WHAT'S IN MY BAG : ALLY EWING DRIVER SPECS Ping G430 LST, 10.5 degrees, 45½ inches, Ping Tour 2.0 Black 65 S, tipped ½ inch, D-1 swingweight

AGE 31 LIVES

Fulton, Missouri

Before the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach, I went from a 45¾-inch shaft to 45¼ because I wanted more control to stay out of the rough. I lost only a few yards, but I hit more quality drives. I stayed with the shorter shaft.

STORY

Three-time LPGA Tour winner and three-time member of USA’s Solheim Cup team.

KEEP AN OPEN MIND

FAIRWAY WOOD/HYBRID

When testing, I wait a few days to make a decision.

I take the club from the range to the course and have my swing coach join me.

He watches my swing and makes sure I’m not changing anything to make a certain club work. The club should be working for you and not the other way around.

SPECS Ping G425 LST, 14.5 degrees, 43 inches, Project X Evenflow Blue 65, 6.0, tipped ½ inch, D-1; Ping G430 Hybrid, 19 degree, Ping Alta CB Black 70 S, D-1, Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R.

For anyone who produces less clubhead speed, female golfers especially, the hybrid helps get the ball off the ground and land a little softer.

IRONS

CONTRABAND SAND

DRIVER

235

I have a graphite shaft in my 4-iron because it gives me a higher launch. We play a lot of par 4s and par 3s where we hit 4-irons in. Being able to trust the ball will hold the green is important.

3-WOOD

218

WEDGES

HYBRID

198

4-IRON

185

5-IRON

175

SPECS Ping Glide 4.0, 50 and 54 degrees, Ping AWT 2.0 wedge shaft; Ping Glide 4.0, 58 degrees, Nippon Modus 105 wedge shaft, Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R

6-IRON

162

7-IRON

150

8-IRON

140

9-IRON

128

PW

115

50˚WEDGE

108

54˚WEDGE

95

58˚WEDGE

75

YARDS*

I used to carry a 5-wood, but I got stronger, and the gapping no longer made sense. I replaced it with a 54-degree wedge. It gives me another full-swing shot to lay up to, and I have more options around the greens.

PUTTER SPECS Custom Ping Anser, 32.5 inches, 19-degree lie angle, 3 degrees loft

I’ve played my entire professional career with a blade. Once, in college, I switched to a counterbalance mallet putter, but it didn’t last long. The look of the blade gives me confidence.

* CARRY DISTANCE

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Before the 2010 U.S. Girls Junior, my swing coach gave me this tin for luck. It’s full of sand he scooped from a bunker at St. Andrews.

I made it to the semis and have carried it since.

NECESSARY PROVISIONS

In 2017, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

I carry a bloodglucose monitor and keep a sugary drink with me, often apple juice, in case my blood sugar gets low.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL MOORE

EWING : DONALD MIRALLE / GETTY IMAGES

SPECS Ping i210 (4-iron) Alta CB Slate S; Ping i210 (5-PW) AWT 2.0 R, Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R

—WITH KEELY LEVINS

CLUB

COLOR ME BLUE

I like that I can flight my Titleist Pro V1x high.

I started marking my ball like this in junior golf.

I didn’t want anything distracting, and I love blue.

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THE LOOP

What Your Golf Gift Says About Your Relationship ’Tis the season of giving, so make sure your present sends the right message

By Coleman Bentley

NOVELTY GOLF TIE I GOT YOU IN THE OFFICE SECRET SANTA AND RECALL HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT GOLF ONE TIME.

BALL MARKERS, DIVOT-REPAIR TOOLS, SPARE GLOVES I FORGOT TO GET YOU ANYTHING BUT FOUND THIS IN MY BAG.

LOGOED GOLF SHIRT FROM BUDDIES TRIP WE MISSED YOU OUT THERE. MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

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TRAINING AIDS, PUTTING MATS, INSTRUCTION SUBSCRIPTIONS WE CARE ABOUT YOU, AND IT’S TIME YOU GET HELP.

THAT NEW DRIVER I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH . . .

AND I’M VERY SORRY.

A DOZEN PRO V1S YOU’RE LIKE A BROTHER TO ME . . .

NOW STOP ASKING TO BORROW BALLS.

GOLF-THEMED BABY ONESIE BELOVED SPOUSE, THIS IS A REMINDER THAT YOU WILL SOON BE PLAYING A LOT LESS GOLF.

FLAGS, POSTERS, PRO-SHOP GLASSWARE IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO MOVE OUT AND DECORATE YOUR OWN PLACE.

MASTERS TICKETS THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, DAD.

PHOTOGRAPH BY J.D. CUBAN