Atlantic Golf & LifeStyle Magazine - issue 3 (Dec 17 /Jan 18)

AG&L ISSUE #3

Local knowledge & inspired writing

Peter Alliss Jeremy Chapman John Hopkins Peter McEvoy

FROM HAYLE TOWANS TO VEGAS, CORNWALL’S COLLEGIATE STAR HARRY HALL IS SHAPING UP TO BE THE GENUINE ARTICLE

BETTER IMPACT, NAILED! Simple cues for solid ball striking with Derek Michell

THE ART OF GOOD GOLF Nick Bradley puts a fresh perspective on your game

Discover the key to a rock-solid putting stroke with David Leadbetter

TRAVEL: Celebrating 20 years of Brittany Ferries’ Golf • Lagos, Portugal • Hilton Head, USA...

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Beautiful 3 & 4 bedroom homes in Cornwall New Redrow homes with Help to Buy available on selected plots* Low deposit and lower monthly mortgage payments bring better memories so much closer at Mellior Park. #bettermemories

Mellior Park

Travenson Road, Pool, Cornwall TR15 3PL

Open daily, 10am - 5.30pm Call: 01209 281467 Visit: redrow.co.uk/mellior *Help to Buy is a Government-backed initiative in partnership with housebuilders. Available on selected plots, subject to status, terms and conditions. Help to Buy cannot be used in conjunction with any other scheme.

Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Redrow offer. Images are indicative only. Details correct at time of going to press. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. CHECK THAT THIS MORTGAGE WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS IF YOU WANT TO MOVE OR SELL YOUR HOME OR YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY TO INHERIT IT. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT, SEEK INDEPENDENT ADVICE. Should you wish, and for a swift, smooth transaction, Redrow Homes can recommend from a panel of highly specialised mortgage advisers and/or solicitors. Ask for details.

Score well with a fabulous new home in Cornwall Famous for its delicious pasties, beautiful coastline and decent weather, it’s no wonder that people flock to Cornwall every year for a slice of relaxation.

You can savour that leisurely lifestyle all year round in one of the fantastic new homes now available at Redrow West Country’s first Cornish development, Mellior Park in Cambourne, Pool.

The area has so much to offer those who enjoy the good things in life. Several high-quality golf courses are within a short distance, so these stylish new homes are ideally positioned for those who grab every opportunity to get out in the great outdoors.

A short drive from these new homes is the Tehidi Golf Club while other desirable golf courses like Radnor Golf and Leisure and Clowance Golf Club are also within easy driving distance.

Homes at Mellior Park have been snapped up quickly and it’s not hard to see why. Set in an idyllic location just three miles from the beach and opposite Heartlands Park Heritage and visitor attraction which brings visitors from all over the world, Mellior Park in Pool offers you a leisurely lifestyle all year round.

The nearby town of Camborne is full of local amenities including supermarkets and handy shops and the train station provides connections to London, Penzance and Plymouth. Newquay airport is also easily accessed from Mellior Park for those further afield trips and holidays.

The next phase of homes at Mellior Park promises to bring house hunters beautiful three and four bedroom homes, perfect for those looking for a spacious home. As part of its celebrated Heritage Collection, Redrow’s latest homes combine traditional build quality and exterior styling with chic interiors designed for modern living, ideal for those who enjoy entertaining at home.

With several golf courses nearby, these homes are in the perfect location for keen golfers.

Louise Frost, Redrow’s Area Sales Manager, commented: “I’d encourage anyone looking for their dream home near the coast to take a closer look at Mellior Park. With several golf courses nearby, these homes are in the perfect location for keen golfers. The next phase is set to be as popular as the first, so I would advise house seekers not to delay but to register their interest as soon as possible.”

Prices at Mellior Park start from £185,000.

For more information, contact the sales centre (open Thursday – Tuesday, 10:00am – 5:30pm) on 01209 281713 or visit www.redrow.co.uk/mellior

ATLANTIC

WELCOME

GOLF

&LIFESTYLE

Much to admire in Harry Hall’s game

Editor Richard Simmons M 07554 427259 richard@atlanticgolf.co.uk Creative Design Tony Seagrave M 07790 374182 tony@atlanticgolf.co.uk Advertising Director Peter Simmons M 07827 995080 peter@atlanticgolf.co.uk For all editorial, production, marketing or design enquiries please call 07554 427259

6 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

There’s much we can all learn from the emphasis Wayne places on balance and stability in the golf swing – not to mention the refreshing absence of technical detail and jargon in his coaching style. And with further great instruction inside from a certain David Leadbetter, Nick Bradley and Derek Michell, there’s plenty here to inspire better golf.

THIS IS the third printed issue of Atlantic Golf & LifeStyle and we are delighted at what has been a positive response from golfers, clubs and advertisers across Cornwall and Devon since our July launch. For 2018 we have six issues on the schedule and we look forward to delivering high quality content with AG&L’s unique mix of editorial – specifically when it comes to coaching and the ‘local knowledge’ of PGA pros who are, literally, on your doorstep here in the West Country.

If you would like to find out more about what’s in store, get in touch via the contacts listed here and we will send you a digital Media Guide.

In the meantime, our thanks to everyone who has supported AG&L in its rookie season...

Richard Simmons

Staff photographer Mike Newman MikeNewmanphotography.com M 07970 887914 Contributing photographers Action Images, Mark Newcombe/Visions in Golf, Matthew Harris/The Golf Picture Library, Phil Inglis, David Cannon Professional Teaching Panel Sir Nick Faldo, Peter Cowen, Nick Bradley, David Leadbetter, Jean-Jaques Rivet, Dr Paul Hurrion, Richard Sadler, Mark Rowe, Darren Gass, Matt Tucknott, Derek Michell, Gary Lenaghan, James Ruth, Chris Gill, Jonathan Yarwood, Jonathan Lamb

Atlantic Golf & LifeStyle Published by Atlantic Golf & LifeStyle Ltd in association with Simmo Golf Media.

Company Number: 10502503 Registered Office: Coy Pond Business Park, Ingworth Road, Poole, Dorset BH12 1JY Loca & insl knowled pir ge

ed wr Peter iting John Alliss Jeremy Hopkins Peter Chapma McEvoy n

Printers Deltor Communications Ltd, Long Acre, Saltash Parkway, Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6LZ Tel: 01752 841717 deltoruk.com

FROM STAR HAYLE TO HARR WANS Y HALL VE IS SHTO APINGGAS, CORN UP TO WALL’ BE TH S COLLE E GENU GIATE INE AR TICLE BETTER IMP

Simple AC strikin cues forT, NAILED! g with sol THE ART Derek id ball TRAV Michel OF GO Nick EL: Ce l lebrati perspeBradley putOD GOLF ng 20 s ctive Discov on youa fresh years of Bri r gam rock-s er the key ttany e olid put to a Ferries with Dav ’ Golf id Leating stroke • Lag dbette os, Po r rtugal • Hilton Head, USA...

AG& L ISSU E #3

BY ANYONE’S standards, West Cornwall’s Harry Hall is living the American dream. Currently in his second year of a four-year scholarship at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), one of the premier US golfing colleges, ‘H’, as he is affectionately known, has landed on his feet: mornings in the classroom (he is studying for a degree in sociology) are followed by golf at any one of the 40-odd Las Vegas courses that lie within the state of Nevada (UNLV team players are welcome to tee it up gratis any time), Harry’s favourite, naturally, being Steve Wynn’s Shadow Creek layout, a stunning Tom Fazio design carved out of the Nevada desert – a habitat ordinarily reserved for high-rollers at Wynn’s MGM hotels & casinos...think Bellagio and Mirage.

Digs? Well, since you ask, Harry’s home-from-home is a detached villa – with obligatory pool – bordering the 5th hole of the Las Vegas County Club: student life, eh? It’s come on a bit.

Our Q&A with Harry, an England International and the current South West Under 21 champion, starts on page 36 while a swing sequence – analysed by Harry’s long-time coach, Wayne Graham – follows on page 42.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE NEWMAN

Regular Contributors Clive Agran, Peter Alliss, Jeremy Chapman, Anthony ffrench Constant, Tom Cox, Richard Gillis, Robert Green, Ed Hodge, John Hopkins, John Huggan, Peter McEvoy, David Purdie, Jayne Storey, Paul Trow

ATLANTIC

GOLF

&LIFESTYLE

DECEMBER/JANUARY ’18

ISSUE NUMBER 3 contents

12

THE FRONT NINE The Famous Nine: Gwel an Mor’s ambitious new par-three course is open for business – editor Richard Simmons was at the launch...Paul Trow on why there’s never been a better time to visit Burnham & Berrow, one of the great championship venues in the South West...2-Minute Lesson with David Leadbetter...Gear & technology: the latest new equipment to tantalize and tease you...Rules Quiz – are you playing it by the book?...NEW the AG&L crossword...

30

COLUMNS

32

Comment: Newly retired referee, Peter McEvoy brings you up to speed

34

Betting: Jeremy Chapman reflects on the many highlights of the 2017 season – and looks ahead to next...

98

36

FEATURES

THE AG&L INTERVIEW From Hayle to Vegas West Cornwall’s Harry Hall has emerged as one of the most talented and likeable golfers of his generation – and is fulfilling a dream at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Editor Richard Simmons teed up the questions

56

Guest speaker: Ben Westgate bids a fond farewell as he & his family prepare for a new life in New Zealand

Saluting Henry At a lavish ceremony in New York ahead of this year’s US Open, golf’s legendary writer and broadcaster Henry Longhurst was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame. John Hopkins was honoured to speak at the induction – and here he shares what he had to say

TRAVEL The Continental Connection: To mark the 20th anniversary of Brittany Ferries’ Golf programme, editor Richard Simmons talks to the man who started the ball rolling, Tavistock’s Graham Ruth

62

MOTORING The cat’s pyjamas: AG&L’s motoring man Anthony ffrench Constant takes to the wheel of the beautifully refined and very capable Jaguar F-Pace SUV

66

TUITION BREAKS A pleasure doing business: it’s a win-win situation – the chance of a little sunshine and R&R while at the same time improving your game. Simon Wood reports on the attraction of a hosted coaching break

68

STAY & PLAY SPOTLIGHT The Perranporth Experience: Ed Hodge posts the verdict following a week-long family stay amid the dunes at Perranporth

74

PRO GEAR, PROQUIP Modern fabric technology has transformed the humble waterproof – and the latest styles from Pro Quip are designed to give you the edge in any weather

On the Air: Peter Alliss rues the lost art of ‘playing the game’ and recalls a first meeting with Henry Longhurst

46

AG&LIFESTYLE

TRAVEL THE FINEST COURSES TO PLAY, GREAT PLACES TO STAY 58

MR BLUE SKY Taking advantage of the Newquay-Faro flight connection (which resumes in March), Steve Bough jetted off to the Boavista Resort in Portugal – and highly recommends it

92

HILTON HEAD: AS GOOD AS IT GETS A recent survey of PGA Tour players revealed Pete Dye’s Harbour Town layout on Hilton Head Island to be the second highest-ranked course on the circuit behind Augusta National. Peter Swain took a swing at Dye’s masterpiece – and found the Lowcountry much to his liking

8 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

The exquisite – and immediately recognisable – 18th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links

For one who wants to drive somewhere different

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000-AG&L03-Contents_AG&L-2017 24/11/2017 16:38 Page 10

ISSUE NUMBER 3 contents

INSTRUCTION

PLAY BETTER GOLF WITH AG&L’S EXPERT PANEL

24

‘Core’ values of putting

28

Chi-Motion golf

42

Harry Hall sequence

76

We are delighted to count the world's No.1 coach David Leadbetter among our teaching panel – and here ‘Lead’ demonstrates one of his favourite drills for a better putting stroke On the basis that the mind cannot control motion, Jayne Storey explains the importance of achieving an altogether more subtle mindbody connection for peak performance

PGA coach Wayne Graham highlights the importance of maintaining dynamic balance in a solid, repeating swing – a quality Harry enjoys via a fantastic lower body action, literally drawing energy out of the ground

Can you feel this?

With a fascination for conceptual art, coach and best-selling author Nick Bradley has forged a reputation as one of golf’s most creative and original thinkers, his avant-garde style guaranteed to give you a fresh perspective on your golf .

Let’s nail it!

When it comes to your power potential, clubhead speed is only part of the equation. In order to maximise your distance, it’s the quality and efficiency of your impact position that counts, as Derek Michell explains...

If you are a West Region PGA professional and would like the opportunity to put forward your coaching ideas in the pages of Atlantic Golf & LifeStyle, drop editor Richard Simmons a line – richard@atlanticgolf.co.uk Stretching a point: best-selling author Nick Bradley offers a unique visual perspective for better golf see page 50

10 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

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50

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ATLANTIC

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&LIFESTYLE

THE FRONT NINE

DESIGNER NINE With the former Ryder Cup player and threetime captain Bernard Gallacher invited to hit the opening tee-shot, the award-winning Gwel an Mor resort in Portreath has unveiled its most ambitious leisure project to date – The Famous Nine, a par-three layout inspired by some of the great short holes and approach shots in golf. AG&L Editor Richard Simmons was at the launch

Anyone up to speed with golf’s twitterati on social media – Sir Nick Faldo among the notables – will be familiar with the campaign that has attracted a lot of interest in recent weeks and months – GoPlayNine.

Hardly a ground-breaking concept and yet this simple tag-line has kicked off a thread that has seen golfers from around the world sharing views on the merits of getting out to play nine holes during the week along with details and images of golf clubs actively encouraging the trend within the over-arching objective of growing the game.

Timing-wise, the recent opening of The Famous Nine layout at the award-winning Gwel an Mor resort 12 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

above the seaside village of Portreath is thus appropriately on point.

Featuring six holes ‘inspired’ by the game’s legendary par threes and three by the approach shots to iconic par fours, the course was christened

by Bernard Gallacher who played the inaugural round in the company of three Cornish champions – junior ace Simon Hobbs, Seniors Champion Simon Harper and Ladies Champion Laura Andrew.

Not only is the layout unique from a pure design perspective but with state-of-the-art all-weather teeing areas and greens, The Famous Nine is the UK’s largest facility of its kind – a genuine trail-blazer in the South West.

“We thought long and hard about how to utilise the area of land that we had available and ultimately it was the vision of PGA pro and course designer David Cooper, along with expertise at European Golf. that persuaded me to build the course,” says Gwel an Mor owner Bill Haslam.

“This has been four years in the making from the original concept and design through to the extensive landscaping – we took out 25,000 tons of earth to create the lakes undulations and brought in 250,000 tons for the shaping. We believe The Famous Nine suits the growing trend of modern golfing of shorter, less time-intensive courses. The aim with the nine hole course is also to attract

Inspired by the ‘Postage Stamp’ at Royal Troon, the 6th is one of the stand-out holes on this unique course

(Opposite): Open for business: the owner of the Gwel an Mor Resort, Bill Haslam, welcomes VIP guest Bernard Gallacher, who enjoyed two loops of nine in Cornish sunshine!

junior golfers, introducing new players to a world-class course and golf at its best, encouraging more young people to play the sport.

The result of quite considerable vision on several fronts is a loop of nine holes that takes you on a tour of some of the iconic holes in major championship golf – St Andrews to Augusta; Pebble Beach to Carnoustie, Royal Troon to TPC Sawgrass – all within sight of the rolling Atlantic on Cornwall’s north coast.

“I think what Bill and his team have achieved here is very interesting,” said Gallacher, towelling down after round one(!) “The late, great John Jacobs always said to me that par-three layouts would be the future of the game – ‘golf without the drive’, he would call it. As one of the great teachers of the game, John liked the idea that such a course challenges ball-striking accuracy over out-and-out distance; it’s a discipline to play a course like this and to focus purely on accuracy. And, of course, these layouts are designed over a relatively small area and so golfers can get round more quickly –

which golf needs right now.

“The intriguing thing, to me, is that they added to the concept of creating these ‘inspired’ holes by installing the latest maintenance-free tees and greens. The fact is this is a layout that will be playable yearround – no wearing out of surfaces on the tees or greens, so it’s great for players of all ages and all standards. Time is a precious commodity for all golfers but especially holidaymakers and their families. Nine holes here in this part of the world, where there is so much to do and explore – I think the idea of a game of golf in a little over an hourwill do very well.”

By universal agreement those who have played the course tip their hat to the 6th hole, inspired by the ‘Postage Stamp’, as being the most authentic – and the view from the tee certainly grabs you. “I recognise a lot of the holes,” adds Gallacher, “even those relating to Pebble Beach and the TPC, which I haven’t actually played. But the ‘Postage Stamp’ really is terrific, they have captured the shape of the green and the positioning of the traps very well here. I also ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 13

ATLANTIC

GOLF

&LIFESTYLE

THE FRONT NINE like the stone Swilcan Bridge on the 8th – a homage to the Home of Golf and a nice touch of theatre. That will provide the photo-opportunity for families who play here.”

With holes ranging from 106-170 yards, The Famous Nine certainly presents a thorough examination of iron play – with arguably the most daunting shot on the course saved for last: inspired by the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, one of the most notorious short holes in golf is cleverly replicated here with slate chippings providing the effect of the all-menacing water hazard between tee and green.

At a time when the game is searching for ways to speed up play and attract newcomers The Famous Nine couldn’t have timed its arrival any better. The only question mark,

Cornwall’s answer to the ‘Road Hole’ bunker lies in wait at the 131-yard 3rd, inspired by the approach shot to one of the game’s most iconic par fours

14 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

perhaps, concerns what golfers (and particularly kids) will be prepared to pay (or can afford to pay) for a little over an hour’s fun playing par-three golf once the initial novelty has worn off. While the summer months guaranteed to be busy, a ‘locals’ pass – i.e. a membership fee of sorts during the off season – might be one way of attracting regular traffic to what is a unique playground.

“I have to say I have enjoyed Cornwall immensely,” said Gallacher, preparing for the drive home to Surrey. “In the past I’ve played at St Enodoc and the Nicklaus Course at St Mellion but I haven’t ventured this far down. We stayed in Padstow, ate at Rick Stein’s and my wife has been exploring the Eden Project while I’ve been out here playing golf – we’ve made the most of it...”

For tee-time reservations call: 01209 842354. Guide: Green fees from £15 for 9 holes, £24 for 18 (adults), £10/£15 (under 16). Open every day except Christmas Day. www.gwelanmor.com

In great company (l-r): Cornwall champions Laura Andrew, Simon Hobbs and Simon Harper line up with Bernard Gallacher for a tee-time at Gwel an Mor

An intriguing concept brilliantly brought to life. For those avid golfers who have spent many years watching golf’s greats tackling the world’s most famous holes the walk on to any tee gives an instantly-recognisable view. Be it the 12th at Augusta, the ‘Postage Stamp’ at Royal Troon or the 17th at TPC Sawgrass you just cannot wait to tee the ball up and take on the challenge.

Don’t be put off by the thought of artificial greens, they receive a shot like a normal green and, whilst not having “Augusta-like” speed, the ball ran straight and true with the subtle breaks a test to read. Each hole is set in its own part of the course between the dunes while the bunkering is so realistic I’m sure the ‘Road Hole’ bunker on the 3rd is even more difficult to escape from than the original. All in all a must play for golfers of all levels. – Simon Harper, Cornwall Seniors Champion

The Famous Nine at Gwel an Mor 1st Hole

155 yards; Inspired by 12th Hole, Augusta, Georgia

3rd Hole

131 yards; Inspired by the approach to the 17th, ‘The Road Hole’ – St Andrews, Scotland

5th Hole

170 yards; Inspired by 16th Hole, Augusta, Georgia

2nd Hole 4th Hole 6th Hole 7th Hole 8th Hole 9th Hole

126 yards; Inspired by the approach shot to the 18th Hole, Carnoustie, Scotland 177 yards; Inspired by 17th Hole, Pebble Beach, California 123 yards; Inspired by 8th Hole, Troon, Scotland

106 yards; Inspired by 7th Hole, Pebble Beach, California

121 yards; Inspired by the approach to the 18th Hole on the Old Course, St Andrews 132 yards; Inspired by 17th Hole, TPC Sawgrass, Florida

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&LIFESTYLE

GEAR & TECHNOLOGY

Engineered with feeling

Ping offers classic Craz-E and eye-catching Tyne H models in extended Sigma G line-up In a move guaranteed to find favour with Ping devotees – while at the same time, no doubt, attracting a slew of converts looking for a sure-touch on the greens, Ping has extended its Sigma G Line with the ever-popular Craz-E model and a contemporary Tyne H design.

Both of these new putters benefit from advancements to PING’s patented ‘True Roll Face Technology’, while a multi-piece face engineered with an innovative material commonly used in the soles of highperformance athletic shoes, delivers significant improvements in feel at impact.

With ease of alignment and full-face forgiveness pretty much a given on these tour-proven designs (courtesy of the ball-

width centre sight and heel-toe back weighting) it is this unique softer feel and satisfying sound that is the real prize here, these qualities achieved via a high-grade elastomer and fully machined aerospacegrade aluminium over the entire face. [For the tech-minded, Sigma G face inserts are made of Pebax Elastomer, a lightweight, high-energy-return compound utilised in the soles of athletic shoes for its elasticity which provides the putters a uniquely soft yet responsive feel.]

The Tyne H is distinguished from the original Tyne model by an Anser-style hosel to fit a slight-arc stroke and create offset, plus a top-rail sight line that is white on a Black Nickel finish for contrast and

Pure Ping: both the Craz-E and Tyne H models are designed for consistency of alignment – and like all in the Sigma G range promise terrific feel

16 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

easy alignment.

The Craz-E and Tyne H join no fewer than 16 previously released blades, midmallets and mallets available to fit any stroke type, preferred look, and alignment style. All are finished in Platinum or Black Nickel and feature a contrasting face tone to further assist in set-up and alignment consistency.

Guide: Craz-E: £175; Tyne H: £175 Sigma G custom-Fit Specifications Craz-E (Platinum): Straight Stroke Type, 370g, Lie angle adjustable +-2° Tyne H (Black Nickel): Slight Arc Stroke Type, 370g, Lie angle adjustable +-4° To learn more visit pinggolf.com

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ATLANTIC

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GEAR & TECHNOLOGY MIZUNO ST180...

THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER Following the launch of its forged MP18 series of irons this year Mizuno is now focused on a brand new driver and fairway metal due to arrive in the UK in February.

The simple message – #flatoutfurther – is ‘high-speed, low-spin’ performance and the ST180 will be the first Mizuno driver to feature Wave Sole technology, committing every available gram of weight low and towards the face, promising lower spin rates for even the fastest, downward ball-strikers.

The Amplified Wave sole – originally engineered in Mizuno’s fairway woods – contracts and expands to increase the energy imparted to the ball for elevated speeds, while also pushing weight forward to vastly reduce spin rates. The striking blue head’s Internal Waffle Crown is a weight-saving design that allows more grams to be relocated low and forward to promote efficient lowspin performance.

“The ST180 comes off so fast, with so lit-

FOOTJOY’S PRO/SL IS SHOE OF THE YEAR FootJoy has been awarded Foremost Golf’s coveted ‘Shoe of the Year’ for the eighth year running at the group’s annual Industry Awards. One in every ten shoes sold within the UK in 2017 was a spikeless Pro/SL as golfers nationwide followed in the footsteps of FJ Brand Ambassadors including Lee Westwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Adam Scott.

Noted for a perimeter weighted outsole for optimum balance and stability in the swing, the Pro/SL also utilises a Fine Tuned Foam for cushioning and all-day-long comfort. The 2018 range will feature additional colourways – White/Silver, and White/Navy/Red. Guide: £140.

FootJoy.co.uk

18 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

tle spin – it’s going to make a lot of good players question what they really need in a driver,” commented Jeff Cook, PGA Tour Manager. “This was the biggest shock we’ve had in testing. “The spin rate and ball speed of this driver caught everybody out.

The ST180 driver will be available in men’s 9.5˚ and 12.5˚ models plus a ladies’ 12.5˚ model.

Sharing the same technology, ST180 Fairway Woods will be available in 15˚ and 18˚ models for both men and ladies.

All ST180 metal woods feature a Quick Switch Adjustable Hosel that allows 4 degrees of loft adjustment and 3 degrees of lie adjustment so the clubs can be finetuned to the unique launch conditions and visual preferences of all golfers. A new expanded line of high-end shafts are also planned at no additional charge.

ST180 woods will be available at retail from February 2018. mizunogolfeurope.com

MACGREGOR OFFERS PACKAGE DEAL One of the oldest and most prestigious brands in the world of golf, MacGregor has revealed a simple onestop solution for juniors and beginners in the shape of a ‘package’ set offering tremendous value for money.

For improving golfers, the premium MacGregor DCT2000 package set covers all bases: a 460cc titanium driver, a stainless steel fairway wood, two hybrids, 431 stainless steel, cavity-back, over-size irons (5-SW for men, 6-SW for ladies) and a high-MOI putter. All this for just £349 – including a bag and four matching headcovers. There’s also a ‘starter’ package (RRP £249) with a titanium matrix driver, low profile fairway wood and hybrid, stainless steel irons with undercut cavity (6-SW for men, 7-SW for ladies) and a mallet style putter.

For junior golfers, the MacGregor Tourney II Junior package sets come in age appropriate categories to ensure the right clubs for size and strength. The package sets start at 3-5 years and go up to 9-12 years in both boys and girls. RRPs are from £89.99 to £129.99. macgregor-golf.co.uk

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Amongst the many leisure facilities close to the hotel, the highlights are the many nature trails to enjoy walking or biking, the water sports at GarrĂŁo Beach and the fantastic selection of restaurants, ranging from the casual beach shack to the most elaborate Michelin starred restaurants, to savour the vast offer of genuine flavours that the region offers.

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VALE DO LOBO . ALGARVE . PORTUGAL

ATLANTIC

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&LIFESTYLE

CROSSWORD With a leaning towards West Country golf, Roderick Easdale presents the first in a new series of crosswords – guaranteed to test & frustrate in equal measure...

1 6

2

3

4

ACROSS 6 Open qualifying course in Southport (8) 8 Bad shot when following captain? (4) 9 Initially Sam King all right in other words at a US Open venue (6) 10 Bridport and West ____ Golf Club (6) 12 Few say so again at Somerset club 15 US Open venue in 1941 could have been part of British Empire (8) 18 Kit etc can show that green fee has been paid (6) 20 Golfer and Open Champion (6) 21 Designer of Trevose's championship course (4) 22 Addition of trousers (4,4)

5

8

7

9

10 11 12 13

14

15 16 18

19

21

22

17

20

ANSWERS: Across: 6 Hillside, 8 Hook, 9 Skokie, 10 Dorset, 12 Fosseway, 15 Colonial, 18 Ticket, 20 Player, 21 Colt, 22 Plus twos. Down: 1 Links, 2 Nine, 3 Herd, 4 Charles, 5 Donegal, 7 Lake, 11 Royal, 13 Honiton, 14 Tom Kite, 16 East, 17 Devon, 19 Tops, 20 Plum.

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The ALIGN Technology activates upon

20 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

installation, with a dedicated raised ridge on the back of the grip allowing for consistent hand placement and an enhanced ability to help square the clubface at impact.

The patent pending innovation also features a unique micro-diamond texture and 50% firmer material compared to the surrounding grip area to amplify its pronounced feel. The flex channel separates the ALIGN Technology ridge from the grip body to maximise elevation lift and lock the grip into fingers, while conforming to the rules of golf. golfpride.com

DOWN 1 Joins West Cornwall or St Enodoc (5) 2 Number of holes at Treloy (4) 3 Reportedly listened to major champions Alex and Fred (4) 4 Duke of Cornwall first lefty to win a major (7) 5 A golden result at Irish course (7) 7 Water hazard (4) 11 Status of North Devon club (5) 13 Devon club established in 1896 14 High flyer who won US Open of 1992 (3, 4) 16 & 17 Course in Budleigh Salterton (4, 5) 19 Heads with bad shots (4) 20 Hollow fruit at previous USPGA venue (4)

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Magnetic therapy is complementary, non-invasive and 100% natural and the Bioflow Sport Wristbands are the latest in a line of product innovations from the leading magnetic therapy company of the last 25 years, designed specifically for the sports market. bioflow.co.uk

ATLANTIC

GOLF

&LIFESTYLE

COURSE SPOTLIGHT

BURNHAM BRIGHT AND BUSHY TAILED The magnificent Somerset links of Burnham & Berrow has this season enjoyed something of a makeover, as Paul Trow reports This Somerset gem is without question one of the finest links courses in southern England, with an infrastructure to match. And given its proximity to Bristol, Weston-superMare, Taunton, the M5, M4 and south Wales, no one could possibly complain if top-level professional golf returned here in the not-toodistant future.

Since 1891, the sand hills and gorse bushes that form the backbone of the course have stood the test of time. The panoramic views of the adjacent Parrett Estuary and Bristol Channel, the constant winds and the tight lies are all features that inspired the club’s forefathers.

At the behest of a local Roman Catholic priest, Canon Kennard, the professional at Royal North Devon 22 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

The majestic and imposing Burnham & Berrow links – captured perfectly in this view of the tumbling parfour 2nd

Golf Club at the time, Charles Gibson, designed nine holes from what Mother Nature provided, setting the template for a challenge that continues to frustrate, perplex and entertain golfers. On both men’s recommendation, 19-year-old J. H. Taylor – destined to win the Open Championship five times – was appointed the club’s first greenkeeper/professional.

In 1897, the Championship Course was stretched to 18 holes and subsequent improvements were overseen by such luminaries of early 20th century course design as Herbert Fowler, Hugh Alison, Harold Hilton, Alister MacKenzie and, most importantly, Harry Colt. Along the way, the three Whitcombe brothers – Ernest, Reg and Charles – learned

their golf at Burnham & Berrow and all went on to play in the Ryder Cup. In 1977, the nine-hole Channel Course was a welcome addition as an academy layout. But nothing stands still, especially at an ambitious and iconic golf destination.

Improvements to the club last winter included a magnificently rebuilt pro shop, one of only six Mizuno clubfitting studios across the UK and a modernised driving range.

Head professional David Haines said: “Practice conditions here are unrecognisable from my days as a junior at the club. Burnham & Berrow has taken rapid strides forward and I’m delighted to be part of it.”

Matching these renovations, major construction work was undertaken across the course – notably on the

6th, 9th and 11th where new back tees were put in, not just to lengthen the holes in question but to enhance the spectacular ocean views.

This par-71 layout now measures nearly 7,000 yards from the very back tees, but is still five yards shy of 6,700 from the tees used by the members, though it seems to play longer.

The prevailing wind at Burnham & Berrow is often out of the southwest, right off the Atlantic.

Therefore, the breeze makes its presence felt from the outset as the 1st – a bunkerless, treeless, uphill par-four – is usually played into it.

Indeed, on an especially windy day at Burnham & Berrow, bogey golf is acceptable and applauded.

For those travelling from afar and seeking overnight accommodation

Major construction work has been undertaken across the course – notably on the 6th, 9th and 11th holes, where new back tees were put in, not just to lengthen the holes in question but to enhance the spectacular ocean views prior to playing Burnham & Berrow, the Dormy House is the ideal port of call. This structure, less than a minute’s walk from the 1st tee, can house eight people in four twin-bedded rooms. The rooms, each with a private bathroom, are clean, quiet, comfortable and spacious. And there’s a TV lounge that serves as a common room.

“It’s a simple and convenient place

to stay when playing here,” says Karen Drake, the club’s managing secretary. “By staying here, it gives you the chance to get fully immersed in the Burnham & Berrow experience.”

More work on the course is currently underway – including a new flight of tees on the 6th hole and some re-contouring of greens. All in all, worthy of closer inspection, if you get my drift...

www.burnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk / Tee times 01278 785 760 ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 23

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2-MINUTE LESSON

The core values of putting Inconsistent in terms of starting the ball on your chosen line and at the desired pace? Chances are you are among the vast majority of amateur players who place too much emphasis on the arms and hands and not enough on the role of the body core when putting. Here's a drill that can take care of all those problems.

Some of you may remember that in the past I used to advocate putting a club or umbrella up under the arms.

But my preference now is to position a club across the core, because studies tell us that the core plays a highly significant role in creating a solid putting stroke. The interesting thing is that when you move your core, your shoulders move…and when your shoulders move your arms move…and so the putter moves.

So, instead of focusing on rocking the shoulders, as many people do, I want you to go out and rehearse this drill and think in terms of the core creating the momentum. You simply rock the shaft and you’ll be amazed at how much energy is generated simply by utilising the core.

Working on your technique is vital for the accuracy of your putting stroke and should be a regular element of your practice regime. As you move further away from the hole, ‘lag’ putting, of course, is all about the ability to roll your ball at a chosen speed, and so you need to find a way to improve the feel that you have in the right hand. And the easiest way to do that is spend some time rolling putts with just your right hand on the grip – it really gets the putter swinging and releasing.

Lag putting is all about rhythm, and if you combine the drill you see illustrated here with a few minutes' rolling putts with just your right hand on the grip you will not only develop better technique but enjoy a much greater sense of feel. davidleadbetter.com 24 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

With David Leadbetter

SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE CONCESSION, SARASOTA, FLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW HARRIS

With a club (or umbrella) held in position like so you will immediately be aware of the ‘connection’ between your arms and torso – all you have to do to create a solid stroke is rock the shoulders....

Maintain a light grip pressure and look for the same shape and structure between the arms and the torso as you complete your stroke

ATLANTIC

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&LIFESTYLE

RULES QUIZ

ARE YOU PLAYING IT BY THE BOOK?

You are playing in an 18-hole singles strokeplay event at a local club. Your playing partners are Jack and Tom and you have a 09.10 tee time. At each hole an incident occurs that may or may not result in a rules infraction and a penalty – your job is to determine what penalty, if any, applies. Good luck!

Devised by European Tour referee Ashley Weller Illustrations by Tony Husband

Hole 1 Unaware of the roadworks on the way to the course you pull into the car-park at 09:09, quickly put your golf shoes on, grab your clubs and rush to the 1st tee, arriving at 09:12. Due to a ball search the group ahead have not cleared the drive zone, so you are able to have a couple of hasty practice swings before teeing off at 09:13.

What's the ruling?

Hole 2 Still a bit rusty having not had time to warm up properly, you hook your tee shot into the rough. Having searched for 4 minutes you decide to go back to the tee to play another ball. However, when you are halfway back Tom finds a ball within the 5 minute period allowed for the search. You jog back and identify the ball as yours, but the identification takes place after 5 minutes has elapsed.

Unsure how to proceed but not wishing to delay play any

further you continue the hole with the original ball. What’s the ruling?

Hole 3 Aware that due to the delay on the previous hole you have fallen behind the match in front you make a concerted effort to speed up. On the green of the 3rd hole you make a good attempt for birdie, coming up just short. To save time you tap in the par putt, standing astride your line of putt to avoid standing on Jack’s line. Is that permissable?

What’s the ruling?

Hole 4 Flushed with success you decide to attack the next hole, but you left your range finder (allowed in the competition rules) in the car, so ask Tom to laser the fairway bunker to establish how far it is to carry it. Tom does so and tells you it’s 255 yards to carry. What’s the ruling?

Hole 5 Having just missed the fairway you quickly find a ball in the light rough. Unable to see your identification mark you call Jack over and tell him you need to identify the ball.

You touch and rotate the ball until you see clearly it is your ball and continue play.

Hole 6 Your tee shot finds a large cross bunker and, unsure which club to use you take 2 into the bunker with you.

Having determined which club to play with you place the other one next to you on the sand in the bunker and play your shot. What’s the ruling?

Hole 7 Once again you find the rough with your tee shot and while searching for it you accidentally kick it and it moves a couple of feet. Unsure how to proceed you play the ball from its new position. What's the ruling?

Hole 8 Slightly rattled, you tee off first on the 8th when Tom should have had the honour.

26 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

Hole 9

Hole 15

Having completed the front 9 you nip to the halfway house to grab a coffee and a sandwich which you take with you to the 10th tee in good time to play.

As you approach your ball in the rough on the 15th you begin to feel it might not be your day. A large branch has fallen off a tree and is behind your ball, impeding your intended backswing. As the branch has broken off the tree you correctly decide the branch is a loose impediment, but it’s so heavy the three of you can’t budge it. Irritated, you snap off the part of the branch impeding your swing and hack the ball back on to the fairway.

Hole 10 You leave yourself a blind second shot into the 10th. You ask Jack to stand at the top of the hill to indicate the line to the green and get him to remain there while you play your shot over his head.

Hole 11

Hole 16

You hit a great putt for birdie but the ball stops, overhanging the hole. You walk to the hole and wait for 15 seconds, at which point the ball falls into the hole.

A wild hook off the tee results in your ball finishing just off the 14th green. You have to stand on the green to play your shot, which you do, hitting a great shot onto the correct green!

Hole 12

Hole 17

Unlike you, Tom is having a great round but hits it into trouble down the 12th into a bad lie. He is debating his options and in an effort to encourage him you say, “You

Having replaced your ball on the tee you realise after your tee shots that you and Tom are now playing the same make and number of ball. As Tom is still playing very well you lift and substitute your ball for a different number to avoid any potential confusion that may potentially penalise Tom.

Hole 18 To add insult to injury you play a great wedge shot onto the front of the final green and watch in horror as the ball spins back towards the water hazard guarding the front of the green. You think for a second it might hit the yellow post and stay dry but it disappears into the water. You drop a ball within two club-lengths of where it last crossed the margin of the hazard, chip up, hole out and leave the green to head for the recording area to return your card.

really have no shot, why don’t you declare it unplayable?”

Hole 13 After your tee shots your ball lies very close to Jack’s on the fairway and he asks that you lift the ball while he plays as it is interfering with his play. You take the opportunity to give your ball a quick wipe before replacing it.

Hole 14 You play your approach into 14 and come up just short of the green. Tom then plays his approach and his ball leaves a pitch mark just off the green and on a line between your ball and the hole. As you wish to putt your ball you repair Tom’s pitchmark before playing.

Answers Hole 1: NO PENALTY – DECISION 6-3a/4; Hole 2: NO PENALTY – DECISION 27/5.5; Hole 3: NO PENALTY – RULE 16-1e (Exception); Hole 4: NO PENALTY – DECISION 8-1/2; Hole 5: 1 STROKE PENALTY – DECISION 12-2/2 (the position of a ball must always be marked before it is touched for identification); Hole 6: NO PENALTY – EXCEPTION TO RULE 13-4; Hole 7: 2 STROKE PENALTY – RULE 18-2; Hole 8: NO PENALTY – RULE 10-2c; Hole 9: NO PENALTY – DECISION 6-8a/2.7 Hole 10: PENALTY – 2 STROKES – RULE 8-2a; Hole 11: PENALTY – 1 STROKE – RULE 16-2; Hole 12: PENALTY 2 STROKES – RULE 8-1a; Hole 13: PENALTY 2 STROKES – RULE 22-2; Hole 14: NO PENALTY – DECISION 13-2/8; Hole 15: NO PENALTY – DECISION 23-1/4; Hole 16: NO PENALTY – RULE 25-3; Hole 17: PENALTY 2 STROKES – DECISION 15/6.5; Hole 18: PENALTY – DISQUALIFICATION – DECISION 26-1/11

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 27

ATLANTIC

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&LIFESTYLE

CHI-MOTION GOLF

Golf: a game of mind-body connection

When it comes to actually playing the game, the fundamental rule you have to remember is that the mind cannot consciously control movement. But a mind that is in sync with the body can lead to extraordinary levels of fluid, effortless performance, writes Jayne Storey Stop press! Golf is not a mental game.

Quite a controversial statement, I think you’ll agree, especially considering that many golfers have bought into the premise that positive thinking, outcome visualization and the re-framing of thoughts in their mind’s eye can have an impact on their on-course performance.

These interventions do work to a large extent but the effects are short-lived and cannot do much to halt the biochemical reaction (nerves, anxiety and adrenaline) which pressure arouses in the nervous-system when standing on the first tee or putting out for the championship.

While I absolutely see the value of achievement psychology, motivational thinking, and neuro linguistic programming as tools to motivate, inspire and prepare you before stepping on to the course, when you are actually playing the game, you need to leave these things in the locker room along with all those swing tips.

Here’s why. The mind cannot control movement. In fact the wrong use of the mind only serves to hinder the flow of motion. But a mind that is connected to the body can and will enable the performance of movement that is fluid, powerful, effortless and precise.

improvement of the sport and for our understanding and development of the athlete golfer. However, my experience and the feedback I’ve had from hundreds of players around the world is that during play, and especially under pressure, another level of attention is required – one that’s not concerned with the realm of the mind alone.

I think Graeme McDowell explained it best, after he holed the winning putt at the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. Fresh from his US Open victory at Pebble Beach, GMac found himself in the deciding singles match with Hunter Mahan, and said he was so nervous before stroking the putt that he literally couldn’t think and could barely feel his hands – the adrenaline was pumping so much. In that moment of absolute pressure, he said it all came down to instinct and intuition.

You can’t think your way to the perfect golf shot; this is something that happens only when the controlling influence of the mind is subdued.

If you follow my work you’ll know I’m a great advocate of traditional Zen meditation, a practice which helps to tame what’s often called the ‘inner chimp’ through the process of focusing on breathing.

This is the easiest and most direct way to activate the so-called mind~body connection. It creates a sensory feedback loop between your attention (mind) and your breathing (body) and so conjoins thinking with feeling, your mental state with your swing.

Conversely, the more the mind tries to take control and organize movement, the more you try to “get it right”, the more tension arises in the body and the less fluid and accurate your motion.

Again, the mind cannot control movement. It’s not fast enough to keep up with the tens of thousands of neurons, slow and fast-twitch muscle fibres and tendons all firing at the right time, and in the right sequence, to create the chain of events that allows for the 1.8 seconds of one of the most complex movements in all of sport…the golf swing.

Yet how often have you tried to think your way through a shot and wondered why it didn’t turn out the way you wanted?

“ The mind cannot control movement. But a mind that is connected to the body can and will enable the performance of movement that is fluid, effortless and precise

Understanding the mind~body Connection Golf, perhaps more than any other sport because the margins are crucial, is a game where your mind and your body really need to connect. To play well, it is vital that your mind and your movement are unified, in sync, seamlessly working together to produce the shot you want. And this just doesn’t happen often enough for the majority of golfers using the mainstream approach that separates the mind from the body, the mental game from the swing, golf psychology from technique.

It’s nobody’s fault, it’s simply where things are in the industry at the moment.

For clarity, I’m not saying there’s anything negative about ‘mental game’ coaching or swing coaching. These things are absolutely necessary for the continual 28 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

You see, as soon as you have a predominant thought, such as a strong swing thought, without linking this mental intent to an equally strong physical awareness (see the 6 keys on how to do this) then that signal about your intended motion gets captured by the analytical part of your mind, which disrupts the timing of the aforementioned chain of events.

The pre-frontal cortex (which you use most of the time in your everyday life and work) is designed only to analyse, evaluate and consider information. If you engage the PFC before striking the golf ball, then the signal to the motor-system (the part of the brain responsible for movement) will be interrupted – if only for a fraction of a second – but it’s enough to hinder the flow of motion and create a disappointing outcome.

Here are six keys to help you get mind and body in sync next time you play: Meditation Research shows that 15 minutes a day sitting quietly, following your breathing with a relaxed attention has multiple benefits for the golfer. Instinct, intuition, creativity and the ability to strategize are all markedly improved – along with the coveted state of being ‘in the present’ which is a conditional requirement for getting ‘in the zone’.

Relaxation Counter-intuitive as it may seem, relaxation is a masterkey to peak performance, especially in pressure situations. The ability to notice tension when it arises in the body and to let it go before taking the shot is crucial.

This is one reason many of the elite players give a loosening shake or waggle before addressing the ball. Step away and/or shake out if you feel tight.

Connecting with nature Opening your peripheral vision to take in the scenery around you will help you access the flow-state of relaxed concentration. Research shows this is the ideal state from which to attempt any complex movement as it bypasses the analytical mind and allows direct access to the motor-system. Standing on the tee looking into the distance while still retaining your attention on your body and breathing is the best way to activate this state.

Slowing down A prerequisite for the effortless golf shot is the feeling of having more than enough time. When you rush your shot preparation there is an immediate disconnection from the body and from the ‘here and now’ as you are overly anticipating the future i.e. getting on with the shot. Slow down by relaxing and connecting with your surroundings.

Gratitude A recent survey I conducted with my students and online community showed that the experience of joy is one of the main reasons players love the game.

However, many golfers are so obsessed with angles, geometry and swing plane they hardly pause to consider what a privilege it is to be able to play a game they love in good company and beautiful surroundings.

Taking a moment to be grateful and bring the joy into your game could help you shoot more birdies.

Singing or humming You may laugh... Many golfers choose to hum or sing quietly to themselves while setting up and taking the shot. This is a great way to keep the ‘inner chimp’ happy as it totally bypasses engagement with the analytical mind and helps you feel relaxed. Finding a tune with a 3-1 tempo/emphasis is especially good to regulate your swing timing. * Next time we’ll look at what Gary Player called “the strongest mind in golf” using the latest research around visualization to understand what made Jack Nicklaus’s pre-shot routine so successful.

Sign up for Jayne’s newsletter at chi-performance.com

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ATLANTIC

GOLF

&LIFESTYLE

PETER ALLISS

The lost art of playing golf...and memories of Henry

A

s I write the 2017 golfing season draws to an end and quite a year it’s been. I’ve never known a period when there have been so many skilful, wonderful strikers of the ball, both men and women throughout the length and breadth of the golfing world. They’ve sprung up like mushrooms over the last 18 months. A number of them managing to win not one, but two or three times but still I fear there is a lack of that extra bit of magic.

Wherever you look at the moment there are young people coming through, showing great promise. China, where golf is a relatively new game on a mass level, is beginning to show signs of providing us with a whole host of players over the next 20 years who could well be major forces in the world of golf. Asian women have swept the board over the last 12 years (I never thought I’d see the day when there were so few American women at the top of the world rankings). On the Continent, I hear stories of young players from Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, all showing a remarkable degree of talent, skill and nerve. Will they emerge? Only if they learn to concentrate the mind.

That there are numerous young players with an incredible ability to strike a golf ball is not in question – but that is not enough, you have to then learn how to play. Some people don’t understand that remark but it is as true in snooker as it is in golf. How many times – if you’re a lover of the game of snooker – do you see someone pondering a key shot when well in charge of the situation, taking on the difficult option, missing and then watching their opponent clear up for the frame and perhaps, the match?

Such is the case with golf.

Once you learn how to hit the ball the mind constitutes at least 85% of sport. Wrap it up in other words if you wish – concentration, application – but it all boils down to what goes on between the ears. In my opinion too many players today follow the edict of an Arnold Palmer or Seve Ballesteros when they should be thinking more of Jack Nicklaus. What does that mean? Simply this. In the 40 years I’ve known Jack Nicklaus, I have never seen him throw away a tournament. If Jack needed to get a four on the final hole to win you could bet your house on the fact that he would work out the perfect strategy to make a cast-iron four; a long iron or perhaps a 4-wood off the tee, leaving a slightly longer shot but he felt, indeed he knew, he would be on the fairway. Once on the green, the middle of the green I hasten to add, two putts would get the job done.

In contrast, too many players are gung-ho now, pulling the driver automatically on the tee and firing at even the craziest of pin positions. They are almost blase about the outcome, as if they think to themselves, “Hey, if this doesn’t work out there’s always another big-money tournament next week...”.

It’s just the way it is but I do wish we’d see the emergence of someone who plays the game – as I say – a little more Nicklaus-like.

30 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

There was so much to admire in Jack’s thinking on the golf course.

And playing the percentages, learning smart golf is a skill you can develop. Remember, just hitting balls is not enough. Play more out on the course when you can. Learn the art of playing the game; go out on your own and play a couple of balls against each other – chip, putt, challenge yourself in bunkers. Don’t just stand on the practice tee hitting ball after ball, it’s not a total waste of time but it doesn’t really at the end of day produce much.

While I’m on my soap box, what is this nonsensical twaddle I hear from certain commentators who say that it’s almost impossible to follow one good week with another, that players need time to refresh and recharge their batteries. Utter rubbish. I always remember the words of the great Dai Rees when he won, I think it was the Dunlop Tournament at Wentworth, well into his mid-forties.

Aren’t you tired, Dai, after 36 holes round the West Course in a day? “No” he replied “when you win you never feel tired.” I know that when I won my three open championships – Italy, Spain and Portugal – in consecutive weeks way back in 1958 I felt as if I could go on and win every week. There was a spring in my step, I was holing putts(!), never missing the fairways, life was wonderful – and it still is if only you think clearly!

JOHN HOPKINS’ memories of Henry Longhurst [Saluting Henry, page 46] brought back many to me. I’d only spoken to him a few times when I found myself visiting his house at Hassocks, just north of Brighton. There stood the two windmills, Jack and Jill, and in between a relatively modern house which Henry had built. I was there with David Thomas, Bernard Hunt and Dai Rees on our way to play an exhibition match in Brighton and had been invited in for a drink. It was the most beautiful day, the sun shone, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the skylarks were singing. We stood on the balcony which ran round the top of the house and I remarked, “Oh Mr Longhurst, this is such a beautiful place but I bet it doesn’t half blow up here". To which he nodded and said very quietly, “Yes, that’s why they put the bloody windmills here”.

Not a great intellectual beginning for the Alliss/Longhurst friendship but it grew and grew, Henry became godfather to son Simon and life for many years with him in tow was a delight.

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ATLANTIC

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&LIFESTYLE

PETER MCEVOY

Tiger & Rory...calling it a day as a ref...Q School...

The last few years were meant to have seen a battle for golfing supremacy between Tiger Woods and the young pretender Rory McIlroy. That’s what was expected and about which the pundits wrote extensively. It started to take a bit of shape with Rory winning at an anticipated rate while Tiger struggled with injury.

Over the past few years the contest has frittered out though with Tiger disappearing and Rory moving gently backwards. It is now about Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson.

At the time of writing Rory is ranked 8th in the world and Tiger is falling off the bottom end of the list – nowhere.

Tiger, not for the first time, talks about coming back all fit and healthy and Rory is in the middle of an extended break, again designed to maximise his effectiveness in the 2018 season. So might the great showdown, anticipated so keenly a few years ago, happen after all?

One would be mad to think that Rory will not contest majors again. There is a question mark there that wasn’t there before however. It is not his talent that is questioned – I think there is pretty much universal acceptance of that – but his desire. I don’t think there is any question that Rory would love to win more but wanting it and being prepared to do what has to be done in order to vault over the quality of players now ahead of him is another thing. Watching, for example, Jordan Spieth playing, one can see the desire coming out of every pore. He will go to whatever place he has to in order to win. Less gifted than Rory, his attitude makes up for any ball striking differential.

As far as Tiger is concerned it seems pretty unlikely that he could come back given how long it is since he competed at this level. At least that is conventional wisdom. Yet there is something that makes you wonder if he could. I certainly would not write him off. One really good tournament and the self belief will come flooding back.

Of course it is possible neither of them will win again at major level and the young men at the top of the game now will move on and dominate. However, if I was a betting man I would gamble on more majors coming from Rory or Tiger. Strangely though I am not sure who will get there first. It seems ridiculous, I know, as it should be Rory, but...

I have retired from refereeing – after just one summer I have realised it is not for me. Despite doing well in the exam I never really felt that I had a complete enough knowledge to impose my opinion on situations that had a real effect on players. I was always uncomfortable.

In addition, I always felt too much on the players side, especially when it came to pace of play. I have always been a quick player. I was once informed by a girl doing some research at a tournament in Sweden that if I took longer than 10 seconds to hit the 32 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

ball from selecting a club then I hit a poor shot! So I should have been a good ref with regards to pace of play but I wasn’t.

There are slow players out there but not that many really. The main cause of delay is when a player gets in trouble or is simply playing a lot of shots through poor play. The pace of play guidelines do not take sufficient account of this in my opinion. They are rather absolute and I found it difficult to enforce them. My sympathies were almost always with the player. I could not turn game-keeper having the perspective of a natural poacher!

I have been following the fortunes of those going through the qualifying schools’ various stages. I know the names of most of the GB&I players as they would have been in contention for International spots while I was a Captain or a Selector. And the over-arching feeling I have is one of slight sadness when I see the names of familiar players falling by the wayside at one of the stages. Over 800 players started this quest this year and just 25 get their cards. Tough odds. Even getting a card, especially a lowly one, does not really guarantee enough starts to gain more traction with a better status the following year. And yet more and more try every year.

To be a professional footballer one has to wait until a club shows an interest and offers you terms. It’s the same with rugby or cricket. A young player cannot just announce that they have turned pro at rugby – they have to wait for a club to offer them a contract and a place in one of their squads. To my mind this introduces an element of realism that simply does not exist in golf. It is quite common for young players to announce that they are “turning pro” with little or no pedigree. There are plenty of friends who tell them that they are just not motivated by the amateur game and that their talents will flourish once they join the pro ranks. The truth, sadly, is that many are turning pro because they can’t make it as an amateur!

Many say that this is a good thing, that ambition should be applauded and dreams followed. I say that the good ones need no urging on, they are going to make it anyway. All that is happening – under the current system – is that those who are not good enough are being encouraged. And the greater problem for the game is that the discarded rarely come back to the competitive amateur fold. They leave disheartened and with the feeling of being vaguely misled.

My solution, in order to bring golf in line with other sports and indeed other walks of life, is to not allow “turning pro”. In order to be a pro one would have to qualify to be a pro. Hold a card or a PGA qualification, draw the line wherever it is deemed appropriate for card holders. Just announcing the change of status is the real problem and leads to unrealistic dreams damaging to the individuals and the wider game alike.

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JEREMY CHAPMAN

Class of ’17 prove fearless in the pursuit of glory

W

It was his pal Justin Thomas’s turn at the USPGA, and at 45-1. For such a prolific winner, subsequent FedEx champion and US Golfer of the Year, this price looks more than generous but hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?

Thomas and Spieth are only 24 and the mind boggles at the thought of how many majors the pair will end up with. There will, of course, be someone even younger hot on their tails, the mighty Jon Rahm, and aren't we lucky...he’s a European!

By the time you read this, the Spaniard will be 23 – his birthday fell on November 10 – and it is the ease and speed with which this former No. 1 amateur joined the pro elite that

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ACTION IMAGES

hat an amazing golfing year 2017 turned out to be, the first time we didn’t have to preface every newspaper column or TV feature with the words “Tiger Woods” – even when he hadn’t a ghost of a chance of playing, never mind winning (will he return though, that’s the question?).

The permanent absence of Woods in the majors was heavily felt by bookmakers whose turnover predictably went down.

Nobody sold the game to the betting public like Tiger did and if that wasn't enough they had to put up with the game's number two draw-card, Rory McIlroy, injured and either not playing or else playing badly.

The gap left by Woods and McIlroy has allowed others to hog the spotlight and three of the four major winners were first-timers, not before time in the case of 37-year-old Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard kicked the major season off at Augusta and was a welcome 45-1 winner for the bookies as, by and large, punters had long since given up on this underachiever.

There was always a chance someone would help him across the line one day and, sure enough, Justin Rose led by two with only a handful of holes to play but choked, much in the way that Sergio had done in the past.

Rose had to wait until November to get his name on a trophy and then, like the number 9 bus, two came along at once, putting him bang in the Race To Dubai picture. He is currently at 25-1 for the Masters and The Open, or twice Rory’s odds. So who would you be backing?

Brooks Koepka came next at the US Open, at an even bigger price, 50-1, but not entirely unexpected as he is Dustin Johnson mark II, an out-andout slugger, with a good major record and a player who is very hard to beat on the right kind of course – which is what the new venue, Erin Hills, turned out to be. He putted like a dream all week and had his name on the trophy from a long way out.

Our Open naturally enough decides whether it's a good or bad year for the bookies – it takes more money than the other three majors put together – and it was there that punters got their own back with the 16-1 success of Jordan Spieth. I’ve still no idea how the petulent Texan was allowed to start at such a tempting price, especially as he had won the Travellers Championship on his previous outing, but after opening with 65 at Royal Birkdale he led wire-to-wire and at no stage did he looked like being defeated.

34 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

US Player of the Year Justin Thomas lifts the FedEx Cup at East Lake, where Xander Schauffele became the first PGA Tour rookie to win the Tour Championship

stamp him as the most exciting talent since Woods.

Already a winner on both sides of the Atlantic, Rahm was 19 under par for his week’s work in Dubai in claiming the European Tour’s Race to Dubai finale and only – DJ, Spieth and Thomas are rated ahead of him in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The feats of Thomas had rather stolen Rahm’s thunder over the late summer before the fireworks in Dubai – and thoughts turn excitedly to Le Golf National and the Ryder Cup with this exceptional golfer in Thomas Bjorn’s side. He is going to be at the top of the game for a long, long time.

Victory in Dubai elevated the big-hitting Jon Rahm to 4th spot in the official world rankings – only DJ, Spieth and Thomas ahead of him on the world stage

So too will Tyrrell Hatton, who, like Rahm, has a bit of temperament problem but if he can stop being so hard on himself, the 26-year-old from High Wycombe is proving to be very special.

The cat’s out of the bag after his back-to-back wins at the Dunhill Links and in Milan, which was great as I’ve been banging on about him for the past year, but those spectacular performances – 45 under par for the eight rounds – mean there will no bargain prices any more.

Still, the 66-1 on offer for the Open is worth taking, given his mastery of links golf was clear to see at Carnoustie, St Andrews and Kingsbarns, not just once but two years in a row.

With the Ryder Cup loomig large on the horizon, it’s good to see so many Brits shaping up, and on top of Hatton I have Paul Dunne, Jordan L Smith and Matt Wallace short-listed as stars of the future.

All three opened their European Tour accounts in 2017 and will win again as long as they don’t let the ferocious competition for Ryder Cup points adversely affect their games.

Aaron Rai is only 22 and will probably have to wait until 2020 to claim a Ryder Cup berth but this Wolverhampton youngster is another one to keep an eye on. He won three times on the Challenge Tour to earn automatic promotion to the big boys’ circuit and quickly made his mark at the higher level by finishing eighth to Sergio at Valderrama.

It is difficult to find any Frenchman good enough for a spot on Thomas Bjorn’s team for Paris and what a shame if that is the case as they have so many good-but-not-great players.

Alex Levy is probably their best chance and yet he’s down at 70th in the world rankings.

Europe are the outsiders in the early Ryder Cup betting –

but only just despite getting hammered last time. Paddy Power calls it 5-6 USA, 6-5 Europe, 10-1 the tie. With the mercurial Paul Casey also expected to be available this time, there should be fewer passengers (no names, no pack-drill as they used to say in the Army).

The USA will field some new names as well. The unpronounceable and almost unspell-able Xander Schauffele, winner of the Tour Championship, is clearly a “find” and it is noticeable that the new generation, the Class of ’17, are fearless when presented with a winning opportunity.

Schauffele apart, you should be putting Wesley Bryan, a flat-stick wizard, and the super-confident Grayson Murray in your notebook. And look for Keegan Bradley and Patrick Cantlay to fight their way into the American squad. Cantlay has been a winner waiting to happen for a long while and finally broke through in Las Vegas.

On the world stage, the Australian Cameron Smith, only 24, looks nailed-on to win in 2018. He has already finished third in the CJ Cup in Korea and fifth at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur on the PGA’s wraparound season.

And the golf-mad Chinese have finally produced a top-class golfer in Haotong Li, only just 22, who shot a final-day 63 to nab third place in the Open.

There is also a new generation of South African golfers.

Dylan Frittelli could be their best bet – he lost a play-off in the China Open, then bounced back to win in Austria – but Dean Burmester, Haydn Porteous and Zander Lombard are worth watching too. The competition has never been tougher.

Regarded as one of the game’s foremost betting analysts and writers, Jeremy Chapman is golf correspondent on the Racing Post ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 35

For those with the game and the dedication, the uber competitive US collegiate system is a breeding ground for the next generation of PGA tour stars, and after only a few minutes’ in conversation with Cornwall’s Harry Hall, you are struck by the maturity, the belief and the introspective mindset of a 20-year-old in the process of morphing from stand-out amateur to model professional. The odds are stacked – it’s a roll of the dice – but in a town where nothing is really what it seems, ‘H’ might just be the genuine article. Editor Richard Simmons talked to him PORTRAITS: MIKE NEWMAN 36 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

So, what does a typical week look like in the life of a scholarship student at University of Nevada, Las Vegas?

Harry: Believe it or not you can actually choose your timetable – the school is pretty flexible. Most of us on the team tend to go to class in the mornings and play golf in the afternoons. We have structured fitness workouts three times a week, from 5.30am in the morning, then it’s school and lectures from 8.30 till 12-45. Most of the other sports teams at UNLV have group practice but golf team doesn’t work like that. Coach Rowe [the former Walker Cup player and fellow West Cornwall native Phillip Rowe] and coach Knight give us the scope to do our own thing, to take advantage of the facilities on offer and focus on the areas of the game that we feel are most important to us.

The main university campus is listed as being in Paradise, Nevada, on the outskirts of Vegas. How is it all set up, where do you go to play and practice?

Facilities-wise, we don’t have a central HQ. The academic side of things all takes place on the main university campus which is about a mile-and-a-half east of the Vegas Strip – I actually drive down the Strip to get there! In January there’s a new building due to open on campus with state-of-the-art simulator and putting lab, which will be really cool. Then there is Las Vegas Golf & Country Club, also about a 5-minute drive, and we also have Southern Highlands and Shadow Creek right here on the doorstep.

Both of them are unbelievable – in fact Shadow Creek is the best golf course I’ve ever seen. You have to be a high roller

He’s local when he’s home! Dusk falls over the line to St Ives...a little piece of heaven

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 37

GRAP

O PHOT

38 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

GES

For all the glitz and glamour I know the academic side of the equation is very real: any dip in grades and golf takes a back seat. Do you feel that pressure?

I honestly work harder on my studies than I do on my golf …no, seriously. I know no-one believes me back home. I’m in class or studying 20 hours a week. But the important thing to remember is that the grades achieved at school are

N IMA

What has been the greatest challenge you have had to face moving to the States and making your life there?

Adjusting to the culture has been tough. You know, I’m from Hayle...Exeter is a big day out and here I am in Vegas!

The university is a diverse mix of cultures and that takes some getting used to. Being one of the top young players in England and then coming over here and playing the best college golfers in the world, you have to accept that you are a small fish in a big pond. I certainly feel that my confidence took a knock in the first year or so – I’m still learning to deal with that. I haven’t won a tournament yet, I’ve had two second places and a third. That’s the area I’m battling right now. I played in the Palmer Cup, which is a hugely prestigious event, I’m an International, I’ve got a great CV, but I’m playing against the best players and I just have to be patient. The key is to take a step up the ladder every year. Stay patient and I know the results will come.

ACTIO

at the casinos to get a sniff of a tee-time and here we are just rocking up to play. It’s insane. Tiger used to practice there when he was with Hank Haney. Hey, a little trivia: Tiger had 147 offers from universities and he narrowed it down to Stanford and UNLV...and UNLV was his first choice. But his mum preferred Stanford.

HY BY

(Clockwise): Lining up with the UNLV team at stunning Shadow Creek; a coveted invitation to compete in the Palmer Cup has been a highlight of the 2017 season; showered in glory as Cornwall celebrate an historic victory in the English County Finals, 2014

Adjusting to the culture has been tough. You know, I’m from Hayle, Exeter is a big day out and here I am in Las Vegas! monitored closely – if it’s a toss-up between two players to make the team, the guy with the best grades gets in.

What was it that attracted you to UNLV? The weather! Actually, there’s some truth in that. Generally speaking it’s tough for European player to go to school on the west coast. Because the west coast attracts all of the best US players who want to be here...for the weather! What is it today, mid November and it’s 31 degrees, perfect. Most internationals from the UK tend to get scholarships at east coast universities – which is where I was looking before Coach Rowe moved from Stanford to UNLV. It was around the signing date that he came to watch me play in a junior tournament in Finland and he offered me a spot. I was lucky. Phil knew a lot about me, we both grew up at West Cornwall and we have that bond. He’s like our manager, really. He takes care of all the little details, the travel, the scheduling, practice regimes and so on. You feel part of something special and to hear Phil talk about players he has seen come through and where they were at certain stages in their careers, it’s inspiring. Adam Scott went to UNLV, so did Charley Hoffman. Chris Riley, Tiger’s partner in the 2004 Ryder Cup, was a UNLV player. He’s now head coach at San Diego State – he actually picked me up at the airport a few weeks ago on a visit to Titleist’s HQ and the Scotty Cameron Studio at Carlsbad. It was surreal, Tiger’s Ryder Cup partner and he’s driving me around California!

(Left): Harry’s Instagram stream offers a glimpse into his Vegas lifestyle, hitting balls at Top Golf, private jets and the odd moments of reflection; (above): The confidence of a young man going places

Just how competitive is it to make the UNLV team?

Very. One of things I’m most proud of is that I’ve travelled on every tournament since I’ve been here, which is pretty rare. The number one player on the team right now, Shintaro Ban, who’s a year above me, didn’t travel at all in his first semester. We’re a small team of 8 players and only five get to travel – so, yes, it’s competitive. Shintaro and myself are pretty well fixed, then there’s a guy called Jack Trent who has just joined us and after that the players are battling it out for the remaining couple of places. The week before a tournament there are qualifying rounds in which we basically all play against each other. Coach Knight allocates two automatic spots – i.e. the two top players in qualifying are guaranteed to travel – and then selects the next three. This gives everyone a chance of getting on board. The stroke averages are closely monitored – right now Shin and I have the lowest stroke averages in the team, 70.8.

You were offered a scholarship at UNLV – does that add to the pressure to perform both on and off the golf course?

I started on quite a low scholarship and had to pay in my first year a little – I still do to an extent. My family have been incredibly supportive – including my Nan and Papa who have contributed to my education out here in America. I know how proud they are and I cannot thank them enough. On top of the tuition there are a lot of other ancillaries that you have to find, basic stuff like buying a car, living expenses.

Even with a scholarship I’m paying – I should say investing! – towards being the best golfer I can be. I do get a stipend for nine months of the year whilst I’m in the US, which goes towards rent and things like that. It’s a cheaper process than going to university in the UK, by a long way, but it’s not a free ride.

How have you developed as an individual over the last two years – are you aware of the way in which you have matured?

I’d say mentally I am stronger. I’ve come a long way.

Adjusting to culture and travelling so much, dealing with mental tiredness to golf and school aspects. You ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 39

are trying to multi-task. When it comes to preparation we are essentially being conditioned for life on tour, with the travel, the agents, learning how to deal with the media and so on...being in college prepares you for all of that. A lot of top amateurs think they are going to be pro golfers but don’t look any further than the golf course. What I know now is that being all by yourself on the other side of the world, that prepares you for life. Which is exactly what you don’t get if you stay at home and just focus on the golf.

And your golf – what’s been the biggest area of improvement under the regime out here?

Let me put it this way, when I returned home last summer, to St Enodoc for the South West Championship, I felt so much more at ease and grown up after just a year in the States. I felt so much more in control of my whole game. My knowledge about my game is so much deeper – and it’s practical knowledge that I use to my advantage. I've had to adapt my game a fair bit – the courses are longer and you need to be fitter, stronger. Which I am. I think my game is getting better in terms of having the skills to play all kinds of golf – I fancy winning the Open and the Masters, not just the Open…

UNLV team players enjoy access to all of the golf courses in the state of Nevada – including this gem, Southern Highlands

Your swing coach, Wayne Graham, says the thing he notices more than anything is the physical stature you have acquired as a golfer.

I have to say this, Ian Luke and his team at Hayle Golf Range have supported me incredibly since I was a kid – I’ve been hitting free buckets of balls since I was 11 years old! At least four nights a week, I’d be up there – Ian saved my family a fortune!

Wayne, who is attached to Hayle, has looked after my swing for the last six years and I like that continuity. He knows my game inside out. I’ve been lucky to have great support team – which includes my mate and mentor Jon Coleman at West Cornwall and Jamie Wilcox, who was my Strength and Conditioning coach at

Truro College. The training element has definitely been a huge factor in my improvement – over here we train three times a week supervised…and if you want to be the best you are training the other four days, too.

While you may not yet have won an individual title you have knocked in some scores – what have been your stand-out performances to date?

The one that stands out the most is the Goodwin Trophy, which is Stanford’s home tournament played at Stanford GC. I had a good first two rounds, we were at the top of the leaderboard. I played with Maverick McNealy, the world No.1, in the final group. Mav grew up in California – this was his backyard. We started the final round on the same score and I remember being four-under through 16 holes and Mav was a couple over.

That was awesome. I finished poorly and a guy on the other side of the course won by a shot. But if it was a PGA Tour event and that was the final group – which is the way I treated it – I would have won. Taking Maverick down on that course was the best feeling. He is world No.1, he’s beaten Tiger’s record at Stanford. He’s just turned pro with contracts worth millions. Deep inside that experience tells me that I have the game for it.

It’s funny, people over here ask all the time what has been my best achievement in golf and most expect it to be something related to the experience we have here at UNLV, but you know what, the best achievement and the best feeling I’ve ever had was winning the English County Finals with Cornwall at Royal North Devon in 2014. I was just 17 and I will never forget it. The team house was amazing and the spirit was unbelievable….that still rates as my most memorable and enjoyable moment.

When I first arrived I would be driving down the Strip every day to school and looking out of every window thinking this is just so cool...now I barely notice

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ACTION IMAGES

It didn’t go unnoticed on your twitter feed that you shot a 10-under-par round of 62 at TPC Summerlin recently...

Yeah, TPC Summerlin’s the home of The Shriners event on the PGA Tour each November. That was a great round but to put things into context it wasn’t the best I’ve shot there.

Last year I shot 9-under in the pre-qualifier which got me in 40 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

(Left to right): With Coach Rowe during a recent UNLV v Rebels match; proud winner of the SW Counties Youth title at Weston in June; hitting the Strip; Harry in full focus on a UNLV training day

to the Monday qualifying event for the tournament proper where I shot four-under to miss by three. Under the circumstances that 9-under round was the best I’ve played.

What have been the highlights of your time as a member of the team and travelling in the colours of the UNLV? In a word, exactly that: travelling. I love it. In the last two years I’ve been all over the states, even to Hawaii. Over the last few months we’re even been flying in private jets. We were coming back from the National Inter-collegiate in Tucson earlier this season, where we finished second, and when we turned up at the airport there was a private jet waiting for us – we flew in right over the Strip. That was the best day of my life. When UNLV start winning, certain alumni are keen to get behind the team. There are plenty of wealthy people with links to the university, they have jets and they allow the team access. As you do.

West Cornwall Golf Club played a huge part in your early career as a junior all the way through to the county golf – how much do you miss that part of your life?

I think about it a lot. Being at home is beautiful but it isn’t the area. Being at home is friends and family. The golf club was my life growing up, I loved being there, even in the rain.

I would get up early to make sure I was the first one there...and I was usually last to leave. Playing golf growing up is just cool for kids – I’m so lucky that my mum and dad provided that opportunity. The members have been incredible, too. They held a golf day and raised a good amount of money to help me play the amateur circuit. To play golf in America costs a lot of money and the fact that we are so privileged has given me a better perspective on life. I think back to the tiny chipping area at West Cornwall, bunkers full of beach sand, and there’s something raw about it. You just go out and learn to play all the different shots, rain or shine…that’s the best thing about my childhood. You are passionate to practice and work hard. Over here, it’s all given to you. I think you lose that little bit of grit.

Our photographer, Mike Newman, said he had a ball shooting the portraits of you on the beach and down by the old steel structure – those pictures mean a lot?

Yeah, I remember when I was 5 years old my dad took me to the golf club and the pro at the time told me I was too young to play. I remember dad getting home and searching the EGU website to find they were promoting golf from the age of 5! Because we couldn’t get on the course dad took me to the beach with a guy called Damien Napp, I think he

might have been one of the assistant pros, and I distinctly remember hitting a 3-wood on the sand just below the 8th, and I pinged it into the wind towards St Ives. I wanted to recreate that shot – even took the same old wood. Dad always mentions that shot to me. I remember seeing the ball piercing through the air. Special memories. I don’t have the career yet to go home and say, ‘This is where it all started...’, but whatever happens in my life those years at Hayle and West Cornwall will always be what shaped me.

Looking forward you have mentioned that your goal is the 2019 Walker Cup which would coincide with your graduation. Do you have a clearly defined timeline in terms of career and the boxes you have to tick?

I have long-term goals and some short-term goals. My goal this year was to make the Walker Cup and that was on track until the summer. After the Palmer Cup I went home and missed the cut in the Amateur Championship and the European Amateur, and that took me out of the hunt. But long term I know that I will graduate and get my degree and then turn pro. Not many golfers on tour these days can say they have a degree. I don't want to turn pro until I am one of the top amateurs in the world. I will graduate in May 2019, with a degree in Sociology, and then hopefully play the Walker Cup at Hoylake in September. Ultimately, I want to turn pro as one of the best amateur golfers in the world.

Is there a plan B? Do you allow yourself to think about what you might do if you don't make it as a player?

Let’s just say I will get my degree but I’m not planning on using it!

What’s day-to-day life like living in Las Vegas?

After Hayle I guess the night life is pretty ordinary….

Day to day living is a lot different to the experience most people enjoy in Vegas when they visit for a weekend. It’s really just a two mile radius of glamour and extravagance.

We’re only 2 miles south of the MGM and the Strip, but if you’re not 21, then the Strip doesn’t really have much of a purpose. We are so busy. I drive through it every day but I don’t get out there at all – on the way to Shadow Creek I go

by Caesar’s Palace and The Bellagio. When I first arrived I would drive through the Strip on my way to school gawking out of every window and thinking that this was all just so cool...now I barely notice.

You can follow Harry on twitter @harryhall_hh ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 41

Weight favours right half of the stance, the hands ‘lag’ just a fraction – a trigger to start the clubhead outside the hands

Just as you would expect of a young golfer studying at a leading US college, Harry takes care of the fundamentals beautifully and sets up in a very athletic position. He creates a good spine angle and with a driver his weight just favours the right half of his stance. Good shape across the shoulders, straight left arm down to the clubhead and the ball here off the left heel, which is where he likes it for his stock shot (a slight fade).

Above all, he is in a position of dynamic balance, his body is relaxed while at the same time geared up to create power – a great starting point.

The hand position (above) is notable; the photographer’s been caught out here as Harry is basically rehearsing what he wants to feel is his first move away from the ball – i.e. the hands ever so slightly dragging the club away. He’s working on making sure the clubhead doesn’t get away too quickly behind him – so he’s leaving his hands behind the ball a fracA ‘ready’ posture – think of the goalie getting ready to face a penalty kick, a springy, athletic position, butt-end of the club under the shoulders

42 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

The hands, arms and chest work together to set the club beautifully – from here the bigger muscles in the upper body take over...

Swing analysis

by Wayne Graham

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE NEWMAN SHOT ON LOCATION AT WEST CORNWALL GOLF CLUB

tion. This is simply a trigger to get his motion started.

The takeaway move itself is a fantastic example of the club, hands and arms moving away together, which is what we look for. [The club can be seen to be on a line parallel to the target as it reaches the horizontal – what we don’t want to see is the clubhead working too much inside and behind the body, hence that hand position at the set up.]

Notice also the way Harry maintains the natural length of his left arm – again, the left arm, left shoulder & chest are all working together. This is something I like

Club is more or less parallel with the target line – you don’t want the club to get inside the line (or ‘behind you’)

As Harry winds it up, just look at the quality of his leg action – the weight shift is absorbed down the inside of the right leg

Simply a huge rotation of the shoulders over a relatively small hip turn – and just look at how ‘grounded’ he remains in the lower body

to see as it creates a natural weight shift towards the inside of the right foot on the way back.

Another interesting point to highlight is that while Harry works his hands, arms and chest to get the club to the halfwayback position the shoulders are yet to get properly involved. He ‘sets’ the club in a great position and then the upper body takes over and rotates the arms and club to the top of the swing.

Blessed with a great pair of hands...

One thing I have to mention is that Harry, as a golfer, is blessed with a truly fantastic hand action. You hear talk of players having “great hands” and it’s true; he has that intuitive feel for where the clubhead is and that rare ability to be able to get it back to the ball from anywhere. As a coach, I am very conscious of not getting in the way of this natural gift – hence the bulk of the work we do together is designed to create the frameThe left arm, left wrist and clubface are in agreement – Harry’s preference for controlling ball flight with a ‘stock shot’ fade

This is just textbook, a smooth transition, arms fall and legs are stable

work within which Harry is free to let his talent take over. A big part of that is finetuning posture and the ‘athletic balance’ in the swing – we talk about the importance of the foot and leg action and the sense of feeling ‘planted’ to the ground – more on this overleaf.

As you can see here, the top of the backswing is not over-extended – Harry works on keeping everything under control. And look at how beautifully he turns into that right hip/right thigh. I really like the way the weight is settled as he reaches the top, it’s inside the right foot, never outside. A lot of amateurs focus on getting their weight back onto their right side and wind up outside the right foot, which causes instability and actually reduces coil. Good players keep it inside the right foot.

The view down the line (below) reveals that the left hand and left wrist are in alignment, and this is the feel that Harry uses to take care of the angle of The transition works from the ground up as Harry ‘settles’ into the downswing

Bang! Harry doesn’t take his eyes off the ball until it’s gone – long gone!

Right shoulder drives through as left shoulder climbs – a great release and extension

the clubface at the top of the swing.

Naturally enough, in what is a chainreaction of good moves, the backswing leads in to a fabulous change of direction as Harry reverses momentum in the lower body, allowing his weight to shift naturally to the left side.

With the subtle and beautifully coordinated action in the feet, knees and hips, Harry re-rotates in the direction of the target while at the same time maintaining terrific width, holding that wrist angle as he starts down. Just look at the left arm – still ‘long’ as he falls into the delivery position, the arms/hands nicely in front of the chest.

The speed and quality of Harry’s hip turn through the impact area allows the arms and chest to deliver the full treatment on the ball. Since he was a young junior he has always had this wonderful ‘connection’ between the chest and the arms at impact – it’s a position he can repeat all day long.

Arms, hands and club nicely in front of the body – plenty of room for the delivery

Beautifully balanced at the finish, up on toe of the right shoe, into the heel of the left

We’ve all heard about the importance of keeping the head still, staying behind the ball, and this motion through impact is an object lesson in doing that. Harry feels he has all the room in the world as his left side clears allowing the right side to power through the strike. There is no excessive hand action through the ball, either, the hands and club remain in line with the centre of his chest. Great timing. All amateur golfers can learn from this – he’s letting the grip-end of the club swing through the ball, whereas a lot of golfers pull the grip up, trying to overcontrol the release.

Much of the gym work Harry does is geared to the legs and the core muscles, and the stronger and fitter he becomes, the better and more reliable this swing will be. Harry doesn’t really try and hit it dead straight – this is a fairly neutral swing in terms of the spin he generates – the club staying in front of the chest all the time. So natural to him.

Head remains steady as body clears and Harry releases the clubhead through the ball

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 43

44 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

Gear up your lower body for a better sense of balance, and enjoy a natural weight shift in unhurried, sequential motion

Go bare foot, and heighten your sense of balance One of the over-riding factors I look for in a solid golf swing is the dynamic balance of the body as it winds and unwinds to create speed – and the quality of your foot and leg action is key. This constant interaction with the ground is something Harry works hard to achieve, literally drawing energy out of the ground beneath his feet and engaging the muscles in his lower body to maintain balance and stability throughout is motion.

Taking off your shoes is a terrific way to work on improving these qualities in your golf swing – as Harry demonstrates here on Hayle Sands. Golf shoes can disguise balance issues, so now and again take them off and feel the way your feet and legs work as you settle into posture and prepare to wind and unwind your body.

In bare feet you will get a heightened sense of where your weight is positioned and the key is making sure that you have the balance in the middle of your feet,

allowing you to engage the core muscles in your body to create and maintain good posture. Knees gently flexed and with a nice angle created at the hips, you should be aware of some athletic tension in your glutes and quads; wiggle your toes while hovering the clubhead just up off the ground and feel that burn!

When you then make your swing, where do you feel your weight is going? Where do you feel the pressure?

Harry feels it moving nicely into the inside of the right thigh as he winds up, then onto the ball of the left foot as he starts down, rotating all the way into left heel at the finish.

The more often you rehearse this bare-foot exercise the more likely it is that creating good athletic posture will become habit out on the course, rewarding you with a set-up position that inspires a chain-reaction of good moves – a sequence of positive motion.

– Wayne Graham

Wayne Graham is available for coaching at Hayle Golf Range, where facilities include 19 covered bays, an indoor studio with simulator & ball-flight analysis suite and a 12-hole golf course. Tel: 01736 753655 haylegolf.co.uk ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 45

His admirers were legion. At breakfast on a Sunday morning in the Hopkins household my mother would read Longhurst with relish and then toss the paper across the table to my father, whizzing it over the butter and making sure it missed the marmalade. “Henry’s on form today” she would say.

Henry himself attributed his success to the fact that his column appeared in the same position in the paper every week – below the fold on the back page – and that it was of a size suitable to be read in the place that gentlemen retire to after breakfast each morning.

Golf has been graced by outstanding writers but few, if any, made as great a mark as he did in another medium, namely television. For years he would lug his slightly rotund frame up a rickety ladder there to commentate on golf, first for the BBC and then on American television.

Longhurst with pen in hand was quite a sight. Longhurst with microphone pressed against his lips was a delight. His exquisite command of English meant that he rarely misspoke and rarely said too many words. Who can forget: “oh, what a corker!” as Tony Jacklin’s drive pierced the 72nd fairway on his way to victory in the 1969 Open.

Or his command of the situation at St Andrews when Doug Sanders missed that short putt on the 72nd green that would have won him he 1970 Open? Longhurst gave a sharp intake of breath, paused and then intoned solemnly: “and there it is. There but for the grace of God….”

PHOTO: ACTION IMAGES

...At breakfast on a Sunday morning in the Hopkins household my mother would read Longhurst with relish and then toss the paper across the table to my father, whizzing it over the butter and making sure it missed the marmalade. “Henry’s on form today” she would say....

48 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

So here we have a legendary golf writer, a much loved broadcaster, a genial companion at the bar. This talented man was also a Member of Parliament during the war. He won the seat of Acton, in west London, against competition from another candidate, a man named Sparks. Longhurst’s witty campaign slogan was: “vote Longhurst and see Sparks fly.”

In 1972, with his popularity on both sides of the Atlantic at a peak, he was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen. A CBE is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, shortened – thank God – to Commander of the British Empire. It doesn’t do him justice. He commanded the hearts and minds of far more than just those in the British Empire.

I should make an admission here. I was the spotty-faced boy who wrote to Henry Longhurst all those years ago and I can’t tell you how proud I am that I became a successor of his, albeit a lesser one, as golf correspondent of The Sunday Times.

On behalf of the millions of readers who relished his writing, and all those who luxuriated in his rich, fruity voice of his commentaries, I thank Henry Carpenter Longhurst CBE for all that he did for golf and for being an all-round good egg, wondrously gifted in so many fields.

As a Briton speaking on behalf of another Briton, I am going to ask you to indulge me as I do something very British. I am going to give three cheers for Henry Longhurst for his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. If you would like to join me then you will be most welcome.

Hip, hip……hooray Hip, hip……hooray Hip, hip……hooray And with that 800 voices were raised to cheer Longhurst to the rafters of a building on Wall Street. As the cheering died down his grand daughter, Ginny Hudson, came on stage, blew a kiss to the photo of her grandfather mounted at the back of the stage and accepted a handsome piece of crystal on his behalf.

It was a good night for golf with nearly 40 Hall of Famers present from Jack Nicklaus to Nancy Lopez, Tony Jacklin to

Gary Player, Tom Kite to Beth Daniel, Holly Stacey to Annika Sorenstam, and it went a long way towards making up for the delay in electing Longhurst to golf’s pantheon in which he clearly belonged.

He was the most conventional-looking unconventional man you could hope to meet. He usually wore a tweed jacket and an old school or a club tie and this impression of traditional Britishness was heightened by the way he plastered his hair and cultivated a parting as wide as a fairway.

Yet he yet was an iconoclast who delighted in the humour of many situations, a man more likely to prefer the irregular to the regular. He was a quiet man by nature, shy even, yet owned a flashy American convertible sports car and took pleasure in roaring around the Sussex lanes in it. He carried a copy of Wind in the Willows wherever he went, was good enough as a player to have won the amateur championship of Germany, later became so afflicted by illness that he tried to commit suicide by taking a bottle of whisky and dozens of pills to bed and hoping to drink himself into a

stupor. Fortunately, he failed.

Gary Player was one player who always knew how important Longhurst was to golf. “We would not be the well known players we are today if it hadn’t been for Henry and his colleagues writing and broadcasting about us” Player said. “I will always remember him for what he said about the putting yips. He it was who coined the phrase “if you’ve had ‘em, you’ve got ‘em.” And believe me, he was right.”

It has often been said that Longhurst was Alliss’s mentor, teaching him many of the trademark comments that distinguish an Alliss commentary. “From Henry I learned never to take one’s eyes off the screen,” Alliss said. “I can’t stand the way commentators turn round now and look at the camera.

You watch the screen all the time – at least you should do.

You observe. You comment. Out of the corner of your eye you see a lady unwrapping an egg sandwich and that gives you something to say or a little child falls over and you can say something about him. From Henry I learned how to entertain the viewer, how to keep them interested.”

Tony Jacklin, who emerged as Britain’s leading golfer towards the end of Longhurst’s years of writing and commentaries, enjoyed their conversations. “At Augusta one year I had played nicely except for taking a 9 on the 13th” Jacklin recalled. “Henry was waiting for me outside the scorer’s tent, sitting on his shooting stick as always.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I hit my second into the bunker over the green, my third back down into Rae’s Creek and eventually had to hole a two-footer for my 9.”

“Remarkable” Henry said. “Remarkable.”

“What do you mean remarkable?”

“Remarkable that you holed the two footer and didn’t take a 10.”

“Henry did not say many words because he didn’t need to” Alliss said. “He set the standard for others to try and reach. He was a pioneer who enjoyed life, a bon viveur. He looked the most pompous man in the world but in fact he was the least pompous. I enjoyed his company enormously and I miss him still.”

The most conventional-looking unconventional man you could ever hope to meet – pictured alongside another of Britian’s great golfing legends, Henry Cotton

(Far left): A fine golfer in his day, Longhurst was good enough to win the German Amateur Championship; grand daughter Ginny Hudson, was in New York to accept Henry’s election on behalf of the Longhurst family

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 49

YOU

CAN

FEEL

THIS?

By Nick Bradley ILLUSTRATIONS BY LEE J. ROUSE

Nick Bradley is the best-selling author of the award-winning The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing and Kinetic Golf.

Residing in North Carolina, the Devon native (Nick grew up playing junior golf at St Mellion and Bigbury golf clubs) instructs and mentors tournament professionals and business executives in peak performance strategies.

Nick has coached players to European Order of Merit, PGA Tour victories, seven national amateur titles and consults directly with the former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley. Look out for a cover-story Q&A with Nick in early 2018 – but before then sit back and enjoy these mind-blowing visuals...

50 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

QUICK SWING FIX

THREE POINTS OF RESISTANCE Minimise movement in the head and knees When you work with tour players you often encounter a balance issue – and I’m not talking about anything to do with the actual golf swing. When I write this, Padraig Harrington springs to mind; a player who always has to monitor the balance between being too technical and too flowing.

Too technical and the player loses all feel for the shot, distance control and the ability to outwardly strategise. Too flowing and the discipline of motion goes out the window. We have to accept that great golf demands both of these qualities in equal measure – in other words you have to be the mechanic and the driver.

The image here is created for the golfer who has lost discipline in the first, the body, and, subsequently, the club. Since the master of the club is the body, it is the body we must look to first if things are going haywire. The three points I refer to are the head (spine), and the two knees. Look at any great player over the years and you will not see a lot of movement in these areas, they have always held court and let everything else work around them and their disciplined movement.

So, when you are looking for a starting point, either for a regular check up or to correct something niggling you in your swing, go back to these fundamentals and focus on the discipline of motion a steady head and two steady knees are giving you…they hold more authority in your swing than you know!

If you look at the great golf swings over the years – take your pick from Hogan, Nicklaus, Faldo, McIlroy – you can identify what biomechanics gurus would describe as ‘disassociation’ between the lower and upper body as the player reaches the top of his backswing. What do I mean by that?

Well, the graphics on the illustration explains the principle: the rotation of the torso (maintaining those three points of resistance) creates this wedge-shape between the left hip and the upper body as the coil is created; the swing is loaded up and the rotation of the torso has been made against the resistance of the hips, thighs and knees.

USE A RESISTANCE BAND (OR A SNAKE..!)

Feel the dynamics of swing & create a controlling left arm radius The message I want to get across – particularly to those of you prone to the ‘reverse pivot’, raising the right hip and falling onto the left side – is that you want the feeling of the upper body being pulled to the right while the lower body is pulled to the left.

You need that dis-association between your mid-thigh and mid-rib – that will improve your backswing pivot and coil.

This snake image is a bit of fun...but there’s a serious point to be made here in regard to creating coil and the importance of getting the radius of your arm-swing to work with the rotation of your body – and to do that you have to get the butt-end of the club working away from that left foot.

A great drill here is to get a resistance band, hook one end under the toe of your left foot, hold the other under your left hand grip and stretch to this position as you rehearse your backswing. To wind up correctly you simply have to engage the lateral muscles in your body – and if you hold this position momentarily you’ll feel the burn down the left side of your torso.

Regular training with a resistance band will accelerate your improvement and give you a better, stronger and more consistent backswing position.

Get yourself a good elastic resistance band and use this exercise to engage the lateral muscles in your core as you wind up, creating this swing radius with your left arm

THE STRIKE

Understand how to release the right arm The right arm can be a nemesis for both the good player and the weekend slicer. For the hooker and pusher of the ball the right arm gets stuck behind the body turn on the way down causing it to approach the ball from a path that is too far from the inside. For the slicer the right arm becomes tight and immobile during the downswing and as the body unwinds left so does the trailing and out-of-sync right arm. In both cases the right arm needs to be trained to release better.

As you can see from the image, to promote this essential release to the swing, you must visualise that the right arm is at its maximum length as the clubhead meets the ball. This isn’t to say the right wrist has fully released but certainly the arm should have felt that it’s done so. Liken this to a bow and arrow: once you have stretched the bow back what do you then do? You release it fully. You wouldn’t draw back the arrow, release the bow and then suddenly restrict it from catapulting the arrow forwards. Your swing works in exactly the same way....draw it back....let it go.

DRILL: SIDEHILL LIE

Think baseball swing for a shallow, round-the-body action The illustration you see here is one that I designed to help golfers get a good mental image for playing a sidehill lie with the ball positioned several inches above the level of the feet (and practising from this sort of position is highly recommended for all golfers with a tendency to slice...).

Here, the mentality is that you have to shallow out your swing plane in order to nip the ball off the turf – you don’t want to be playing these shots with anything resembling a steep swing.

The baseball analogy helps a golfer to visualise this rounded motion. In fact, when you encounter a sidehill lie I advise making practice swings holding the club out like a baseball bat and making that around-the-body swing.

Keep your lower body action as ‘quiet’ as you possibly can and focus on rotating your shoulders and torso back and through, back and through.

The more you shallow your swing the better you will get at picking the ball off the grass and flighting it with a lovely right-to-left draw shape. To further improve the quality of that strike, picture the ball sitting on top of a cluster of eggs in a basket and make it your goal to pick it off cleanly.

Practising with the ball a few inches above the level of your feet is a really great exercise for everyone prone to a slice, as it very quickly improves the rotary motion of your body to which you can blend this compact and complementary arm-swing. I know a lot of tour players who practice this way – it will do your game good, too.

52 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

Imagine you are swinging a baseball bat...and guess what? You make a shallow, rotary motion with the club – perfect for dealing with a ball above your feet

HANG BACK AND HIT IT!

For solid strike, head stays behind the ball as you release driver When I did the picture you see here for my book Kinetic Golf, so fed up was I with the rubbish talked about in ‘stack and tilt’ I wanted to make a point. It’s very dangerous, to my mind, to think about every golf swing as being ‘on top of the ball’. Fine when you’re hitting the short irons, but as you move through the scale towards the driver you want to create the situation where as you rotate you stay behind the ball and ‘fire’.

Think about the great drivers of the ball – Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman being two of the all-time greats. Their launch angle wasn’t 13 degrees, it seemed like 45 degrees! I remember watching them go head-to-head in the World Match Play at Wentworth back in the mid 1980s and I was blown away by the launch of the ball and the distance these guys hit it – and we’re talking persimmon and balata here, not titanium and a bullet.

For 99.9% of the golfing population, I would say that keeping this visual in mind will help performance off the tee. Create this spine tilt at the set-up, wind up your swing and then keep your head behind the ball as you unwind and release the club at maximum speed. Send that ball into orbit. Rickie Fowler is a good role model here – he has the movement going on and he really stays behind it well, allowing the right shoulder to power through and around to the finish.

A feeling of staying behind the ball as you unwind and release the club through impact will help you to improve your launch angle and hit longer drives

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 53

SPIN THE WHEEL

The satisfying art of pitching No, not the dreaded spinning spectrum you see on your Mac when you are about to lose an important file…though we’ve all been there! This is simply a visual to use when it comes to striking your pitch shots with a style and conviction that generates backspin, enabling you to control trajectory and dance the ball around the pin.

I remember talking to Nick Faldo about the way he would imagine there was a small piece of sand-paper on the face of his wedges, and how he would then go after the sensation of ripping the paper under the ball with his wedge shots to generate spin. That’s a great visual to have in mind, well worth a try.

This one will also help you: imagine you are setting up to one of those multi-coloured beach balls, and that you are going to impart a spin to get the strike it in such a way that it is going to set spinning the moment it leaves the clubface.

There are a few critical factors to consider whenever you're looking to spin the ball with loft – the most important being speed.

I want you to consider two technical elements here: The first is that I always like to see elite golfers play these shots with a fairly shallow angle of attack through the ball. I’m not a fan of

Experiment with different release ‘feels’ to create the spin and flight of pitch shots to suit any given situation...

54 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

swinging down steeply and gouging huge divots. The second is the exclusion of a pronounced wrist cock on the way back.

Most amateurs would be better off playing the spinning wedge shot with a wider and less ‘hingey’ backswing, thus eliminating a number of variables which lead to inconsistency of strike. So I want you to sense that you have ‘dead’ hands when playing this shot.

If you were to spin the colours of the beach ball quickly, which is what we want to with a spinning wedge, you wouldn’t bash into the equator of the ball hitting directly into its core – no, you’d aim to clip the underside of the ball with speed and have those colours blur with velocity.

For the more advanced players among you, go out there and feel that you zip your hands and the clubhead at speed, working from a wide backswing position to a narrow finish.

Spin the cover, not the core. Start from wide to wide and then when you get that down start to experiment a little with release feels and patterns through the ball to work shots with varying spin and trajectory.

You can follow Nick Bradley on twitter @thenickbradley

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travel BRITTANY FERRIES GOLF / GRAHAM RUTH Q&A

THE CONTINENTAL CONNECTION

With an ever-expanding menu of stay-and-play breaks throughout France and Northern Spain, Brittany Ferries caters for over 12,000 golfers a year – and with the eyes of the sporting world on Le Golf National, on the outskirts of Versailles, for the 2018 Ryder Cup, interest in Brittany Ferries’ slick operation is set to swell over the next 12 months. Editor Richard Simmons talked to Tavistock’s Graham Ruth, the man whose entrepreneurial vision has translated into one of golf travel's great success stories

This year has marked the 20th anniversary of Brittany Ferries’ golf programme – which you effectively founded. How did that originally come about?

It came in totally blindside as far as I was concerned. After a career in financial services I had been looking for a change of pace and set up a small company operating corporate golf days. I worked from home in Tavistock and utilised the contacts I had to take clients to places like St Mellion and Woodbury Park, aiming at premium brands, BMW, Mercedes, Carlton, ITV. We built up 40-odd events a year and a local solicitor approached me and asked if I would do some work for the Lord’s Taverners, the youth sports charity.

Within 12 months we were tasked with raising £50k and that’s what really started me thinking on a much larger scale. We came up with a plan designed to raise the lot in one go, and on March 10th 1996 1,200 golfers sailed out of Portsmouth to Caen. The overnight trip was gener56 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

ously sponsored by Mizuno, the Normandy Tourist Board, Waterford Crystal and, of course, Brittany Ferries, and the upshot – after a riotous 48 hours – was a total of £48,500 raised for the Taverners.

Effectively the prototype event for Brittany Ferries' golf operation as we know it today?

Absolutely. Tickets were £99 and golfers entered in teams of four – we could have sold it out twice over.

The Goody Bag alone was worth more than that! The Taverners is a London-based charity and the event attracted a lot of big corporates – that’s what enabled us to raise our target in one hit. A few weeks later I received a call from the managing director of Brittany Ferries who told me that the two channel crossings were the best the company had ever had financially – they had never seen money spent quite like it…the food, the champagne, fine wines.

On the strength of that success he asked if we could put together a

dedicated golf programme – and that’s how Brittany Ferries’ golf operation came about. The agreement was settled on a handshake and it took 12 months of negotiations and hard work to get up and running. We distributed details of the packages through travel agents and golf clubs and the original agreement remains to this day, 20 years later. All on a handshake.

The original packages were built around easy access to courses in Brittany and Normandy?

Naturally, the courses we looked at initially were based within striking distance of the landing port’s on the west coast – be it Roscoff, Caen, St Malo. So, yes, we were targeting Normandy and Brittany and gradually expanded operations into the Loire. Funnily enough, a year or so previously I had taken a couple of groups from my club, Tavistock, to Brest, in Brittany. We played at Brest Iroise, a top-20 ranked course in France, and the whole experience

(Above): The glorious seaside setting of Golf Pleneuf-Val Andre, rated as one of the prettiest courses in Brittany; (Right): the magnificent Domaine de la Bretesche near La Baule

had been hugely impressive, with accommodation on-site. It’s just so easy – pack the car onto the ferry, a 35-minute drive on the other side.

Sorted. Then, as you begin to explore the region, you discover just how good a destination this is for golf. We went to Golf de Pleneuf Val Andre, a Challenge Tour venue for the last 12 years and a truly stunning golf course. The first nine reminds me of the Nicklaus Course at St Mellion, then you reach a spectacular run of holes from the turn.

The 11th tee sits some 200 metres above a beach that stretches as far as the eye can see and provides a

fantastic view of a sweeping par five. Just spectacular. Then there’s Dinard, the second-oldest course in France (behind Pau in Aquitaine), a wonderful links and much more of a handful than it first appears. Golfers take a look at the scorecard and think, ‘Um, 6000 yards, this should be pretty straightforward …’ Think again! The clubhouse at Dinard is stunning, too, one of the finest in France, an Art Deco building with views of the Emerald Coast. Handy, also, for the port at St Malo. I could go on and on… there are so many first-class courses. One of the first places I visited – and still one of my ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 57

France is so refreshing for the golfer. Golf clubs are ultra-relaxed and social.

On the course there are no restrictions as to which tees you play from – you want to test yourself from the back tee, you crack on! Here in the UK there is still this tee-box snobbery, “Tees of the day”, etc. So outdated. Pre-booked tee times and hassle-free travel – that’s our goal. all-time favourites – is Champ de Bataille, which was described to me as ‘the Wentworth of Normandy’. It is situated in the grounds of a magnificent Louis XIV chateau and you don’t see another golfer from the moment you leave the first tee to the final green.

And the ‘cruise’ element is an integral part of the package.

Very much so. As the concept has developed so we have made more of the ferry element and the channel crossing, especially when it comes to the longer routes as we expanded into Northern Spain. There’s a real

58 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

holiday feel as you cruise down to Santander on what is our flagship – dinner on board, entertainment, a good night’s sleep. These are luxury vessels, not ferry boats as people remember them. They are geared up with cinemas and bars, restaurants and shopping. And when you roll off the ferry into the old town of Santander there’s a feeling of having stepped back in time – I love this area of Spain, around Pedrena and Bilbao. We initially focused on Sevedesigned courses, and I was lucky enough to spend some time with the great man, which was a special highlight in my career, and the courses here are not only spectacular but offer incredible value. And, of course, from Northern Spain you are just a couple of hour’s drive to the Aquitaine region of France, where you discover a raft of quality courses from the Robert Von Haggedesigned Seignosse – one of the finest courses you will play anywhere in Europe – to Golf de Established in 1887, the fabulous links of Dinard, at Saint Briac-sur-mer, the second oldest club in France behind Pau (in Aquitaine). The Art Deco clubhouse adds a certain je ne sais quoi

Moliets, another stunning seaside layout within a century-old pine forest on the Atlantic. Join the areas up and you have more classic golf at Royanne, St Jean du Mont, La Baule, and the whole thing is suddenly a big business. We can feed the thirst for people to go and play in what was never previously regarded as a golfing destination – not in the same way as the Algarve or Costa del Sol. And now we are pushing further into the Paris region, the Loire valley, and it’s an open book.

I notice that Robert Von Hagge’s sublime creation at Les Bordes – Continental Europe’s No.1 ranked course – is also now back on the ‘specials’ menu?

Yes, after several years being off limits Les Bordes is accessible to visitors and, I have to say, it really is one of those ‘Bucket List’ courses that every serious golfer should play. An hour and a bit south of Paris and you really are in a differ-

Brittany Ferries’ flagship vessel glides into the port of Santander (left), where golfers disembark with the promise of superb golf at Seve’s home club of Pedrena (above) and the likes of Seignosse and Moliets (below) easily accessible

BRITTANY FERRIES GOLF

To give you an idea of the all-inclusive cost of return trip by ferry, accommodation and golf, here are three typical packages available in 2018 PACKAGE ONE • St Malo • Sail from Plymouth to Roscoff overnight • 2 nights in the Univers in the Old Walled City of St Malo twin rooms B&B • 3 rounds of golf Dinard, Des Ormes and Val Andre • Return afternoon sailing from Roscoff to Plymouth • Based on 4 in a car with overnight cabins travelling in April • From £303pp PACKAGE TWO • Deauville • Sail from Portsmouth to Caen overnight • 3 nights in Hotel du Golf Lucien Barriere in twin rooms B&B • 3 rounds of golf Omaha Beach, New Golf Deauville and Champ de Bataille • Return overnight crossing from Caen to Portsmouth • Based on 4 in a car travelling in April • From £380pp PACKAGE THREE • Versailles • Sail from Portsmouth to Caen overnight • 2 nights in Hotel le Versailles in twin rooms B&B • 3 rounds of golf at Golf National, Golf de Bethemont and Golf de Courson • Return overnight sailing from Caen to Portsmouth • Based on 4 in a car with overnight cabins travellig in April • From £575pp NOTE: Members of golf clubs in Cornwall & Devon receive a 10% discount to quoted prices. For more detailed information call the Brittany Ferries Golf Desk on 0330 159 5418 brittany-ferries.co.uk/golf

ent world here. The conditioning of the layout is incredible (the course doesn’t see a lot of traffic!) and it’s one of the most challenging tests of its kind. Not to mention one of the finest clubhouse restaurants anywhere in the world. With the Ryder Cup in Paris next year we are putting together bespoke tours to the region with Les Bordes just one of several exclusive venues that we include on the itinerary.

You have the flexibility to offer bespoke tours according to budget?

Absolutely. We have over 100 courses contracted and the expertise and local knowledge on the ground to include many other terrific courses.

France is a big place and so we design tours and itineraries based on travel time and flexibility. It’s all down to planning. Most are two or three nights, 2/3 rounds. Overnight

crossing with cabin and you’re fit and ready to go the following morning. We can have you on the golf course within an hour of leaving the ferry. So your first game is when you arrive – you’re up and running.

By travelling overnight you maximise your time on holiday playing golf or sightseeing.

What’s the Brittany Ferries/ Ryder Cup connection for 2018?

We have an approved tie-up with European Tour and Ryder Cup Travel Services and Brittany Ferries will be heavily involved. We will operate packages for those who wish to book and purchase a ticket and we will also offer a service for those who hold a ticket and want hassle-free travel and accommodation. Some of the packages are very special, with access to some of the private exclusive golf clubs around ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 59

Paris. France is a funny destination in many respects, it’s not widely regarded as a great golfing country and yet some of these private members clubs are extraordinary and the golf courses are among the finest in the world. There's a price to pay, obviously, but an unbelievable experience. Just getting access to some is very difficult but when you do get on the experience is memorable.

Golf National has been purposebuilt for the Ryder Cup, looks a little undressed without a tournament but it’s a cracking test of golf.

I’ve just returned from a European Tour inspection visit. The course is polished. The speed of the greens is up there at 13+ on the Stimp....a lot of people are surprised not only by the quality of the design but by the way the course can be set up to really turn the screw. The fairways are well defined, narrow in places, and so it’s all about position off the tee to give yourself a shot and an angle into firm, undulating greens. Throw in a bit of water – actually quite a lot of water! – and you get a sense of the drama Le Golf National is going to produce at a Ryder Cup. The real triumph here is that it has all been created on reclaimed land, there's nothing pretty around it, and with fine-tuning over the coming months 60 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

(Inset top): Chic doesn’t even begin to describe the set up at Club de Biarritz; (main): Golf de Granville at Beville, a links gem on the Bay of Mont St Michel (of particular interest to romantics from the West Country!)

the course will be in great shape.

If you had to put together the perfect package where would you be headed?

That’s a tough question. I think I’d have to break it down into regions.

If I was headed to South West France/Aquitaine, I’d have Seignosse and Moliets at the top of the list – simply fabulous golf. I would also plan a day at Biarritz Le Phare, an old English resort with a great feel about it. When it comes to Brittany you simply cannot go there without playing Dinard and, for my money Golf de Pleneuf Val Andre. Then you have a selection of lovely resorts, St Malo Country Club, Golf Des Ormes.

Southern Brittany St Laurent, Golf de Baden. Normandy you have Golf de Granville on the Cherbourg peninsular. But if you really want to treat yourself then you would head to Les Bordes and add on Les Aisses – a course that evokes comparison with some of our great heathland layouts – and you could easily bring the Albatross Course at Le Golf National into that grouping. Motoring enthusiasts will also spot Le Mans and Golf de 24 Heures, located near the legendary Hanauddieres straight of Le Mans, a wonderful course cut through a pine forest. You actually drive on part of the race circuit to

get to the golf club – that's quite an experience.

Simply put, golfers get a better deal booking with you than going direct?

Absolutely. We buy for less than the public can buy for. Hotel, golf and that really is it we take all the hassle and aggro out of the organisation.

When people try to do it all themselves they might get one or two elements right but after that it all becomes time consuming and they often walk away from what would have been a great trip…we deal with all of these elements on a day-to-day basis. The clubs sometimes don’t recognise the efforts we make to get golfers to the front door. We deliver a lot of valuable business – and that doesn't happen overnight. Because we are bespoke we are focused on individual itineraries. Our focus is not necessarily on resorts, we are trying to give groups a true golfing experience based on our in-depth knowledge – believe me, there are a lot of great golf courses out there few have heard about.

The bottom line is that our clients are going on holiday and it’s our job to ensure that they enjoy the whole experience, start to finish. Nothing is more stressful than arriving somewhere and you’re not expected.

That simply doesn’t happen – everything is prepaid and clients receive a travel pack containing tickets, vouchers, etc. We also keep up to date with any maintenance – nothing worse than finding the greens have just been hollow-tined! My golf team is experienced enough to act immediately and there have been instances where we have switched courses on the day to guarantee the best playing conditions.

And the flip-side of the coin is the uplift in the number of Europeans visiting the South West, benefitting courses across Devon and Cornwall?

Absolutely, the channel crossing works both ways and nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing French golfers arrive into Plymouth and experience the golf we have to offer. The feedback in recent years has been phenomenal. In Brittany they have very few links courses so they rave about places like West Cornwall and Perranporth as well as loving the experience at the courses everyone's heard of at Saunton, Trevose & St Enodoc. The inbound part of our business is growing at an alarming rate at the moment – of course the exchange rate is helping them. The bookings for 2018 are something like 20% up on numbers this year.

You were in London recently at a function to mark the official countdown to the Ryder Cup – this is going to be some event – and transformational for golf in France.

Yes, this have been very exciting and I have been quite involved with Atout France attending several planning meetings and having some positive input. Naturally the Ryder Cup has been the main focus however our longer term view is how this exposure is going to draw attention to France as a golfing destination.

We expect to see a healthy increase in visiting golfers in the years after 2018 and this is really why we have become so involved, as the number one operator into Brittany and a major player in the French golf market we recognise this is a wonderful opportunity to continue to grow our business.

(Top and left above): Pictures really cannot do justice to the magic of Les Bordes, consistently voted the No.1 course in Europe and now happily back on the rota for golfers in search of the ultimate experience; (Below): The countdown is well and truly on to what promises to be a fabulous Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, a purpose-built stadium course on the outskirts of Versailles

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 61

motoring JAGUAR F-PACE

THE CAT’S PYJAMAS

In the purposeful, gratifying shape of the F-Pace, Jaguar has delivered a stunning luxury SUV bearing the hallmarks of the much-vaunted F-Type – with agility and performance to match. A deserving winner, then, of the 2017 World Car of the Year award, writes Anthony ffrench Constant

With rivals such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes already offering customers their second generation SUVs and crossovers, it could be argued that Jaguar is somewhat late to the party with the F-Pace.

However, one clear advantage to being such a latecomer is that the company has been able to take a long, hard look at the competition, and separate the wheat from the chaff at the development stage rather than waiting to put things right with the second generation model, as is all too often the norm. The upshot being that there’s precious little here with which to find fault...

Larger than most of its rivals, the F-Pace elegantly bestrides the no man’s land between two SUV segments. It’s larger, and perceptibly more rear legroom beneficient, than Audi’s Q5 or a Mercedes GLC, and is only a mite smaller than the likes of BMW’s X5 and the Mercedes GLE. It’s a good looking thing, combining a whiff of Bramley apple plumpness with some deliciously sharp detailing – such as the slender, FType-inspired tail lights, and the ability to wear big wheels; up to 22-inch-

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es in diameter. This £41,330 R-Sport specification model squats on 20inch split-spoke alloys – filling the arches sufficiently to avoid that bigcar-tiny-wheels horror show.

Within the cabin, appropriate opulence abounds in the shape of perforated leather, etched aluminium and satisfactory levels of standard equipment. Nonetheless, the car I drove did somehow manage to shoehorn another £15,000 worth of extras on board, over three grand of which may be attributed to a larger, 10.2inch touch screen, a high-end navigation system and 825 Watts of Meridian sound system that’ll readily set the wax from your left and right ears on a collision course in the middle of your brain.

Happily, with sluggishness being a repeated criticism in the past, touch screen control of the multimedia systems is now much quicker (once the technology has woken up).

Intuitive operation was never a problem, users previously tying themselves in knots simply by treating the screen like Julius Caesar on the Ides of March when nothing happened immediately.

Abetted by power operated seat adjustment, the driving position’s first class, and I can’t see anyone ever tiring of watching the rotary gear shift knob oozing from its piano black lagoon on start up. Great automotive theatre.

There are seven engines available in the F-Pace; three petrol and four diesel, with a V6 topping the power scales in both fuel types.

Recognising that diesel still rules the roost, for now, the new ‘Ingenium’ 2.0 litre unit comes with a choice of three power outputs. The 177bhp middle option is undoubtedly the one to plump for, though, combining a surprisingly sprightly 062mph dash of 8.7 seconds with the availability of an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. If ever a car lent itself to automatic transmission, this is it.

Besides, you can always resort to the steering wheel-mounted flappy paddles if the mood takes you...

Under the skin, the F-Pace’s aluminium platform is a development of that found in the XE and XF saloons, and, again like those saloons, it has been painstakingly ministered unto

Aggressive stance: with that big front grille and svelte, coupe-like profile, the brooding looks are pure Jaguar – enhanced further in R-Sport guise on 22 inch rims

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 63

Arguably one of the best looking SUVs on the market, Ian Callum’s original design has been brought to life with aplomb. Under the skin, the F-Pace shares much of the architecture found on the XF and XF saloon models – hence the superior levels of handling with oodles of grip

by Jaguar’s handling sign-off wizard Mike Cross, who has imbued the FPace with delightfully engaging handling characteristics.

On the move, there’s very little road or wind noise, and the ride is remarkably supple and fluent. Huge wheels with low profile rubber will add lumps to the blancmange, though, so unless you’re armed with one of those V6s and are hellbent on maximum velocity everywhere, stick to a lesser wheel size and taller tyre profiles for greater comfort without real detriment to cornering ability.

Yes, it does roll through the bends more than any Jaguar before it, but that's the nature of the SUV beast, and there's no harm in being reminded of the size of the car you're driving as speeds rise. Especially since body control is excellent and reserves of grip impressive.

You’d think a 2.0 litre diesel might struggle a tad to propel a car of this size with sufficient alacrity to appeal, but it never feels sluggish, and the 4cylinder unit actually scores over the V6s in making the F-Pace lighter in the bows, promoting sharper turn-in and less of a desire to push wide when driven quickly through corners.

V6 grunt is a glorious thing, but it the real world even a 2.0 litre F-Pace is more rewarding to drive quickly that any SUV has right to be...

Oh, and, as a bonus, though the four-wheel drive system is set up to 64 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

make the F-Pace a predominately rear-wheel drive experience on road, with all the handling benefits that brings, it is worth mentioning that the system will tackle the sort of terrain that most owners wouldn’t dream of subjecting their Jags to. Chelsea pavement kerbs and wet gymkhana grass excepted, of course.

To book a test drive or get further details on any Jaguar/Landrover cars please contact: Carrs Jaguar/Land Rover Truro, Cornwall Tel: 01872 263377

JAGUAR F-PACE R-SPORT 2.0D AWD Price

£41,330

As tested

£56,235

Engine

1999cc 16v 4-cylinder turbodiesel, 177bhp @ 4000 rpm, 318 lb ft @ 1720-2500 rpm

Transmission

8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive

Performance

8.7 sec 0-62mph, 129mph, 53.3 mpg, 139 g/km CO2

On Sale Now

JAGUAR F-PACE

BEAUTY AND THE BEST

JAGUAR F-PACE ENJOYS DOUBLE SUCCESS AT THE 2017 WORLD CAR AWARDS 75 influential motoring journalists from 24 countries have spoken: the Jaguar F-PACE is officially the best and most beautiful car in the world. At this year’s World Car Awards, the F-PACE scooped both the prestigious World Car of Year and World Car Design of the Year titles – only the second car ever to do so.

Accolades aside, it’s the combination of exceptional dynamics, everyday usability and bold design that makes F-PACE the luxury performance SUV of choice.

Contact us today to book your test drive.

Carrs Jaguar Threemilestone Industrial Estate, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9LD 01872 263377 carrs.truro.jaguar.co.uk

Official fuel consumption figures for the New Jaguar F-PACE range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 23.2-49.1 (12.2-5.8); Extra Urban 39.867.2 (7.1-4.2); Combined 31.7-59.2 (8.9-4.8). CO2 Emissions 209-126 g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only.

Real world figures may differ.

coaching HOSTED COACHING HOLIDAYS

A PLEASURE DOING BUSINESS

Hosted coaching holidays not only provide PGA professionals the opportunity to spend quality time with their membership but offer golfers of all levels a relaxing environment to focus on improving their game, as Simon Wood reports

FOR gOLFER and pro alike it’s a pure win-win: the promise of a few days away at a quality resort, [virtually] nailed-on sunshine and all of the facilities you could wish for to work on honing the swing and sharpening the short-game before taking to the golf course. Little wonder, then, that the hosted tuition break is a burgeoning business spanning dozens of notable European destinations.

Here in the West Country an increasing number of PgA pros have built a sizeable clientele of members who have enjoyed repeat bookings during our ‘off season’, with the

66 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

Discover the sunshine of Almeria at the Valle Del Este resort, where facilities are perfect for a relaxing tuitionoriented holiday

promise of some winter sun – not to mention the banter and camaraderie on tour – making the hosted tuition break an unmissable event for many.

Spain and Portugal tend to be the most popular destinations with yearround easy access from Newquay, Exeter and Bristol airports. As for the length of stay and finer details of the package, well that’s down to individual preferences and budget. Suffice to say there are options to suit everyone, from a 3-night B&B arrangement to 7 nights in 5-star luxury with championship-style golf on tap.

You pays your money you takes

your choice.

Phil Brooks, head professional at The Point at Polzeath, organised his first trip away with members in 2011, opting for the charms of Montecastillo, near Jerez, in Spain.

“I originally planned the trip as a means of increasing my income during the quieter winter months,” says Brooks. “I was already taking a group away once a year for a week’s golf in Portugal and also running the occasional residential school at Carlyon Bay, and I just decided it would be great to combine the two. I found it surprisingly easy to interest clients in the trips simply by putting the word out to my regular students.

“The key for me is that being on site at the resort you have everything on hand – you don't need to worry about transfers to and from the golf course or the range and so there is more time for coaching and playing.”

Brooks lists La Manga and La Cala as being highlights among the many he has visited in Spain and Portugal.

“It’s hard to separate them – both are terrific with 5-star practice facilities and three superb golf courses. You can't go wrong.”

Teignmouth teaching pro Jon Axford is another who favours La Manga and has a trip planned in March taking a group of 20 members to sample the delights of what is rightly regarded as one of Europe's premier golfing facilities. Fellow Teignmouth pro Billy Hemstock – a notable performer on the Challenge and EuroPro tours this season – will also be on hand to help members fine-tune their skills for the memorable Championship layout.

“Over the last few years we have had members regularly asking about hosted trips abroad and Billy and myself decided the time was right to organise a joint trip with a larger group. March is a great time for a tuition break as it gets players ready for the golfing season ahead. The La Manga Resort is perfect for clients, the hotel is superb, there is a choice of nine restaurants, three excellent

18-hole courses all onsite and some of the best practice facilities you could wish for!”

Another popular venue is Mar Menor – literally a stone’s throw from La Manga – and Woodbury Park pro Gary Milne is a regular visitor.

“After visiting the resort a few years ago with the Devon Men’s first team, Mar Menor is my first choice for a coaching trip. It is just 15 minutes from Murcia airport and there are six excellent courses within the Mar Menor chain. There are a number of bars and restaurants on-site and the group can’t wait to get out there for some sun in the golf whilst it is cold and wet back home in Devon!”

Trethorne professional Andrew Milton has organised hosted trips for the last seven years and in a former role as the manager at Duchy College organised trips with the golf students to the Pestana Gramacho Resort and also Amendoeiro in Portugal. Andrew is taking a group of members to El Rompido Resort, Spain, this January.

“I have heard great things about El Rompido and can’t wait to get there,”

he says. “I first announced this particular trip back in June and it was fully booked within six weeks!”

Boringdon Park professional Ian Marshall organises two tuition trips a year after a successful first outing to Valle Del Este in 2014. “After moving to Boringdon three years ago I decided to organise a couple of trips each year to get golfers mixing together – the plan is to book-end our summer season here at home with a couple of schools. This way, people can warm up for the spring and summer golf in style and on the winter trip, have a week’s golf in the sun and it shorts the long winter months!

“So far, we have stayed on site and at Valle Del Este this has worked out well. The members quickly gel as a team and the great thing is many of them have become close friends and now play regularly at the club. This is not rocket science. People are looking for good value for money, a quality hotel, good golf and good food. Put that all together with some constructive coaching and convivial company and you’re on to a winner.”

(Top): The fivestar oasis of pleasure that is the La Manga Club, boasting extensive practice facilities and three superb courses; (inset): Group therapy!

Boringdon pro Ian Marshall and his crew at Valle del Este

WeDoGolf offers a full tuition break service including expert advice on selecting the right venue for your group and a full organisation package including accommodation, airport and golf transfers, tee times and use of the practice facilities. They also offer a bespoke flight booking service and can design and supply marketing and promotional material.

To find out more contact Simon Wood at swood@wedogolf.com ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 67

spotlight

The whole in one: classic links golf, a friendly clubhouse and fabulous beach – all within just a few minutes’ walk of the lodges

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STAY & PLAY: PERRANPORTH

THE PERRANPORTH EXPERIENCE

As the Head of Communications at Scottish Golf, Ed Hodge is more than familiar than most with the attraction of quirky links golf – so much so that he treated his family to a 547-mile road-trip to spend their summer holiday at Perranporth…

M

y daughter gave me that inquisitive look, as six-yearolds so often do, before putting hands on hips. ‘Daddy, are you serious?’ came the expected question. “Of course, I am,” I replied with a smile. “You’ll love it.” Cue another look and a little more thinking from little Miss. “Ok, so we’re going on holiday and staying in the middle of a golf course? Is that right? The map actually says between the 7th and 17th holes.”

Before I can confirm, she has shot upstairs. “Mummy, Daddy says our summer holiday this year is on a golf course...”

Fast forward a few weeks later and the questioning has turned to feverish excitement for our family of four. The car is packed with military precision, a fact my late dad would be more than proud of after many a road trip in my youth, and we’re soon off on a Hodge holiday like no other – just the 547 miles from Linlithgow, West Lothian to Perranporth, Cornwall. Ice creams, sand castles, surfing and a little golf (son and daughter are both showing a passion for the game after all) are on the menu for the kids, while Mrs Hodge is looking forward to rest and relaxation on the region’s beautiful north coast.

For me, I’m like a kid at Christmas. And I’m not letting the

long drive north to south, eased by an overnight motorway stay, put me off. The Perranporth website and associated reading had this golfing aficionado drooling – “one of Cornwall’s finest links courses,” “an idyllic site in the heart of the course provides the perfect setting for a self-catering holiday” and “a secluded spot nestled in the dunes within a 10-minute walk of three miles of stunning golden sands and busy shops and restaurants.” Tying in the trip with an overdue visit to my sister, this was too good to be true.

Another factor had pricked my consciousness for Perranporth. That man James Braid. It almost seems like wherever I pitch up with my clubs I’m at another Braid gem. Brora in the Highlands, Glencruitten up the west coast and Gleneagles in the heart of Scotland immediately spring to mind. The great Scot – a five-time Open champion and expert designer – has fascinated me for so long, I once tracked down his granddaughter, Marjorie Mackie, for further insight.

"He travelled by train anywhere,” recalled Marjorie. “He always like to walk the ground, measuring with his stride – he never used a tape or anything like that. He strode the course on foot and then got the train home, pencilling his initial plans for the course on his way. It was just like ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 69

that, quite often. That was it.”

As we eased our way into Cornwall by road, you could picture Braid snaking his way south-west on his favoured trains, seeking another perfect plot for a layout. On arrival at cliff-top Perranporth, it’s easy to see why his work saw the club founded in 1929. With stunning views over the sand, sea and quaint little town, few courses are better placed than this. Indeed, the Budnic Hill site is thought to be the highest links course in the UK. Taking advantage of the natural contours of the landscape, Braid was successful in creating each hole by pick and shovel with its own individual demands and character. It’s a sentence you can accurately write about so many of his 200-plus course designs across the UK. “Perranporth is on a brilliant piece of land, and that’s what any course

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designer needs in the first place – the raw materials they can mould into a great golf course,” confirms highly-acclaimed PGA Pro Derek Michell, whose love for the club is confirmed by his 36 years on the payroll. “It’s a course everyone should play. You’ve got to play these unique courses to really experience the diversity of golf, I think.”

He’s not wrong. If the scenic opening tee shot lulls you into a false sense, such is the wide landing area, as early as the second hole you realise you are on ‘a Braid’. Here is a test regarded as one of the top 100 links holes in the UK. It’s unique Pure Perran’ – it that’s for sure, an uphill, dog-legged, is for panoramas blind par five. Having Derek for comsuch as this that pany soon proves an extra club in Braid’s quirky but the bag. The course weaves its way wonderful links through the dunes, the spectacular playground will have you coming view from the fourth one to particuback for more... larly savour, with the phrase ‘strate-

gy rather than length’ typical of Braid, especially given the number of blind shots. “We’ve only got nine bunkers on the whole of the course,” states Derek, a native Cornishman.

“We are relying on real natural trouble as our defence... and wind.”

The little uphill sixth, only 128 yards, is a case in point. ‘Subtle Stroke’ might appear a flick with a wedge, but misjudge to the right and you’re in the ‘pit’ seeking Seve-esque powers of recovery. On a course actually created from a windswept, desolate mine dump, Braid’s handiwork is impressive. At 6,296 yards, it’s a fun par-72 challenge, one suitable for any level of golfer. Indeed, the longest par-four is just 394 yards. At the marker post on the seventh on what proved a glorious July evening in Derek’s company, I take a breath and savour the vista behind me – the cool breeze gently teasing

Surf’s up!: and what spectacular surf along this stretch of the north coast, looking from Perranporth to Penhale Sands and Ligger Point; the modern and well-equipped Fairways lodges make for a perfect base in the thick of the action

the long grass, the sun shining on the glistening water and the waves lapping up against the sand. It’s picture perfect.

Further up the hole, we wave to my family on the left, sitting out on the balcony at our Fairways selfcatering accommodation. While Perranporth has had caravans on site for over 40 years, the addition of modern, luxury lodges from early 2015 has added a new dimension to their sales pitch. All are fully insulated, centrally heated and double glazed, making them the perfect hideaway for home-from-home breaks. They are also located only five minutes walk from the clubhouse, with its bar, varied restaurant menu, putting green, snooker table... and free Wi-Fi. Refreshingly, the dress code is also a delight – “tidy, clean and not extreme”. With various stay, play and dine options on offer,

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 71

CONTACT Perranporth Golf Club, Budnic Hill, Perranporth

The raised two-tier green at the par-four 3rd sits majestically above the beach; (below): there are just nine bunkers on the entire course – this one guarding the green at the quirky 8th

there are substantial green fee concessions for those staying in the onsite accommodation.

“The club has always done quite well with its caravan rentals, but obviously things move on and the idea is to replace the caravans and put in more luxury lodges,” explains Derek, who also runs his own stateof-the-art academy on site complete with simulator, lessons and club fittings. “The lodges are popular and they give us a longer season as well.”

Staying at Perranporth also provides the perfect base to explore, not least via the footpaths across the course to the sands and shops below. We ventured further afield on the tourist trail to Lands End, enjoyed the stunning cliff-top train journey from Lelant into scenic St Ives, explored the Eden Project on a rainy day and had a ball at Holywell Bay Fun Park when the sun returned.

The fishing port at Padstow, the cathedral city of Truro and the famous surfing beaches of Newquay await our next visit.

Back on the course, and Perranporth’s back nine doesn’t disappoint either. The view at the 14th is another beauty, before the fantastic 211-yard par-three 16th could literally be at home on any Open Championship layout. If the 18th perhaps disappoints as a finishing hole, simply don’t miss the green front right with your approach – 72 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

there is little chance of saving par!

While the 320-member club has grown in reputation over the years, hosting county championships and reaching out to a younger audience with junior tees on the front nine to make the course more playable, Perranporth could even bolster its appeal. Given modern equipment, there is the potential to lengthen some of the holes and reshape within the natural contours. It literally could be spectacularly good.

Braid would be pleased with the Scottish link, with Perranporth twinned with Hilton Park GC after both clubs celebrated their 75th anniversaries together. While the Glasgow visitors were arriving later in the year, our stay coincided with the appearance of a TV star.

Cornwall favourite Martin Clunes (Doc Martin himself) joined Matt Baker and Alex Jones on The One Show to celebrate Britain’s beaches live from Perranporth. As I enjoyed a few final late night holes with the children, I realised the BBC’s visit perhaps said it all. Perranporth is a must-visit destination on the British holiday map, just like its golf course.

“So class, where did you go on your summer holiday?” asked my daughter’s teacher on the resumption of the school term. Up went an excited hand. “We stayed in the middle of a golf course in Cornwall – and it was great.”

Tel: 01872 572454 perranporthgolfclub.co.uk THE GOLF COURSE: Pure, old-fashioned links, an 18-hole James Braid original design – 6,296 yards, par 72 GREEN FEES: From £38 per round, £50 per day. Twilight rates available on request; 5-day ticket £120 (not including weekends). Call for society, group rates and other seasonal discounts * Check out the ‘Winter Warmer’ package available for 4+ players, £36 to include bacon roll on arrival, 18 holes and lunch from the Winter Warmer menu ACCOMMODATION: Fairway Lodges are located within the golf course – call or email for details and bookings: secretary @perranporthgolfclub.co.uk

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INSTRUCTION

While it’s easy to get hung up on swing speed per se it is the quality of impact that ultimately determines your ball-speed and distance – the all-important ‘smash factor’ quotient in this world of launch monitors and digital analysis. So, the real issue when it comes to maximising the distance you hit the ball is not how fast you are able to get the clubhead moving but how efficiently you return the face to the ball at impact

with Derek Michell

PGA Professional attached to Perranporth Golf Club

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE NEWMAN • SHOT ON LOCATION AT PERRANPORTH

76 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

ON THE LESSON TEE

ENERGY TRANSFER

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE WITH ANGLE OF STRIKE The quickest and easiest way for me to translate what might otherwise be a complicated explanation of what’s referred to as ‘smash factor’ in swing analysis is to use the everyday analogy of hammering a nail into a piece of wood. However strong and athletic you might be, the secret to driving that nail into the wood comes down to the quality of the strike you make each time you return the hammer to the nail. Deliver the hammer on the correct path and meet the nail square-on and your energy is rewarded; lunge at the nail with an ill-timed strike that is (typically) too steep (over the top) and the glancing blow fails to produce the purchase necessary to drive the nail squarely home.

You see the similarity with golf? How many of you are aware of the fact that your swing delivers the club on a path and angle that is – simply put – out of kilter with your objective: i.e. to meet the ball squarely and efficiently at the maximum controllable speed.

Those of you who have experienced a coaching session using a launch monitor will recognise the ‘smash factor' reading as one of the most important – and it’s certainly something I draw to the attention of my students in my studio here at Perranporth Golf Club. This is not an exact science but a high quality strike with a driver would result in a smash factor of around 1.48 - 1.5. In other words, a clubhead speed of 100mph would produce ball speed of 148-150mph. Tour players are looking for that sort of factor but with a tour average of 113mph clubhead speed and 168mph ball speed.

Of course there are other factors that contribute to the quality of the strike and the resulting trajectory and distance, chiefly the loft of the clubface at impact and the angle of attack – both of which we'll touch on as we run through lessons that I hope will enable you to go out and rehearse drills that encourage a much better delivery of the club and the sensation of ‘staying with the shot’ through impact and releasing energy more efficiently.

While a high smash factor is desirable, just as important is your ability to find the sweet-spot and achieve the correct spin to launch ratio from tee to green.

Think about driving a nail into a block of wood: using a hammer with zero degrees of loft you need to hit the nail absolutely square on to drive it home.

With a golf club in your hands you have the benefit of loft with which to flight shots to your desired trajectory – but the key is that you make square contact!

Hold onto this thought the next time you go out to hit balls...

Over she goes! The classic ‘overthe-top’ fault that plagues so many club golfers see in golf is essentially the same fault as throwing the right hand/forearm/shoulder forward at the start of the downswing and creating a steep angle of attack – the glancing blow fails to get any real purchase on the nail and it either bends in the wood or flies off at an angle. Either way, energy has been wasted

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 77

With a mid iron, set up with the club against a firm object and then feel your way to a dynamic impact position. Utilise the rotation of your core muscles, opening up your hips and thighs to the target as you increase pressure

RESISTANCE DRILL ROTATION, PRESSURE & THE FEELING OF IMPACT

Let’s kick off with a quick exercise that will immediately give you the sensation and understanding of the feelings we are looking for in a good impact position. Used as a rehearsal drill in between hitting shots on the range this can quickly improve your body awareness and help you to achieve a better impact position.

Using a mid iron, set up to a solid object, the leading edge of the clubface square to your target, and then engage the core muscles in your body as you rotate your hips/torso in the direction of the target and apply pressure through the arms to the clubshaft. You should get a nice flexing of the shaft as you hold that dynamic position for several seconds. Notice the gentle kickin of the right knee, head behind the ball, the left side of the body nicely braced (to absorb the hit) while the arms are nicely together to maintain that pressure line on the back of the ball.

The more you rehearse this position the better you will get at returning to it at speed as your arms and body work together in the swing, allowing you to channel energy down through the clubshaft and into the ball.

78 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

ON THE LESSON TEE

RIGHT-FOOT-BACK DRILL

HELPS YOU TO ‘LOAD’ AND ‘RELEASE’

The right-foot back drill quickly encourages a better body rotation away from the target in the backswing – with the promise of then shallowing onto the desired delivery plane on the way back to the ball

The rotation of the body away from and then towards the target is the key to producing centrifugal force in a golf swing and, ultimately, clubhead speed as you free-wheel through the ball. And this simple drill scores on a number of levels – not least in that it encourages a positive turn and weight shift behind the ball on the way back, setting you up for an online delivery of the club through impact.

To get into position, take your set-up position with a 7-iron (the ball teed-up invitingly!) and then simply draw your right foot back from the play-line until the toe of the right shoe is level with the heel of the left.

Now, before actually hitting a shot, rehearse the sensation of the backswing with just your right hand on the club, and focus on rotating your right hip pocket behind you as you swing to the top. Thanks to that right foot position you have all the room in the world to swing the club on the inside path and shift your weight into that right hip.

Anyone guilty of ‘picking the club up’ steeply in the backswing will be aware of a very different sensation here – i.e. swinging around the body as opposed to lifting the club outside the play line.

With two hands on the club go ahead and hit some shots. Use that exaggerated stance to full effect, turning the right hip and right shoulder behind the ball and then enjoy the sensation of delivering the club on the desired inside track. This is a great exercise for all golfers but especially those who tend to slice across the ball and create cut spin. As you become more proficient, identify a starting line and challenge yourself to fire the ball over it with right-toleft draw spin. The improvement you will experience in terms of consistency of flight and the distance you hit the ball simply indicates a better ‘smash factor’ coefficient – i.e. your ball striking is more efficient.

The ‘right-footback drill’ rewards you with a great sensation of ‘covering the ball’ with your torso as you unwind and apply power through the hitting area. In helping you to properly load into the right side on the way back it also encourages you to deliver the club on the desired inside path for that solid, satisfying strike at impact

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 79

INSTRUCTION

Settle in the transition: as the lower body initiates the downswing sequence so the arms shallow in towards the torso while the wrists remain cocked, ready to deliver a final burst of speed on the ball at impact

HOW TO DELIVER THE PERFECT HITTING POSITION

THE TRANSITION HOLDS THE KEY

On the basis that feelings are generally much easier to understand than verbal conceptualisation of the golf swing, the baseball drill is one of the best there when it comes to negotiating the transition and finding the 'slot' en route to a sound hitting position.

When I ask a student to grip a baseball bat make as if you strike a home run, nine times out of ten the player makes a very natural movement into the downswing in readiness to hit the ball. The lower body engages with the ground, and the natural shift in momentum sees this wonderful 'lag' as the 80 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

arms and the bat fall into the desired hitting position – which is exactly the sequence we are looking for in the golf swing.

Of course the biggest threat to this kinetic chain of events is the dreaded 'over the top' move – i.e. throwing the right shoulder out and forward at the start of the downswing and producing an out-to-in path (cutting across the ball) through the impact area. A few minutes swinging the baseball bat is a highly recommended antidote to that – an exercise that will help you to train an altogether more coherent and dynamic downswing sequence.

COVER STORY

PERFECT HITTING POSITION

VISUALISE & FEEL A BETTER ANGLE OF ATTACK

Taking on board the quality of the athletic baseball-style swing – and the smooth transition that can help you to develop – you can see here in the sequence above the way the arms and body work together to swing the clubhead on the desired path back to the ball. Any time you can find to work on this action – hitting balls baseball-style on the beach with your kids or simply rehearsing this swing in the back garden during the week can quickly improve your golf.

I created this hammer-headed teaching club you see me using here to illustrate the concept of swing angle and plane to my students – and I'm hoping these images further consolidate in your mind your understanding of the desired swing shape and the optimum delivery path of the club for the most efficient strike.

Specifically, having negotiated the transition, focus on the role of the wrists and forearms as the downswing unfolds: as the momentum of the swing is reversed in the lower body, the arms and body are in unison approaching the impact zone and it’s here that the quality of the forearm and wrist action comes to the fore as the energy that is stored within is finally released with perfect timing for impact.

In contrast, look at what happens when the downswing sequence unwinds from the shoulders down (right); in this classic over-the-top scenario the right shoulder and right arm are seen to move out and away from the body, the club itself thrown onto a steep out-to-in path.

Working from the ground up, a synchronised downswing sees the arms/body unwind together and creates room to deliver the strike

When you see the ‘over the top’ fault pictured alongside a good transition sequence and the correct path into the ball you get a very real sense of where the problem lies in the swing: the change of direction.

This is where you need to focus your attention...and the base-ball drill is a great way to train for a more athletic, repeating action

Steep, choppy = loss of power and poor angle of clubface at impact

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 81

INSTRUCTION

Find a good lie on a downslope and get into position, using a 6- or 7iron. Go with the slope – don’t fight it – and settle the majority of your weight on your lower foot. Keep it there as you then make a compact swing and chase the ball down the slope – stay with the shot as you swing down the slope

82 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

COVER STORY

‘Chase’ the ball down the slope with a commited release of the clubhead....

...and walk after it, Gary Player style!

GO WITH THE SLOPE, STAY WITH THE SHOT....

COMMIT TO THE STRIKE AND THE RELEASE...AND WALK! Has the modern game seen a better striker of irons than Nick Faldo in his prime? Tough to list many players who had such control of trajectory and distance – and one of Sir Nick’s favoured practice drills was hitting irons off a downhill lie in a bid to discipline himself to ‘stay with the shot’ and get the clubface squarely through the ball.

No shortage of sloping lies here at Perran’!

The key element to this drill is that you don’t fight the slope; as you create your set up you want to feel that the majority of your weight settles naturally on the lower foot – and that’s where it remains. Flex your knees to provide a stable suspension unit and make a conscious effort to swing within yourself as you then play the shot (another of Faldo’s characteristic traits!). To have any chance at all of striking the ball solidly you simply have to ‘stay with the shot’ as you chase the clubhead down the slope – with the result that you release the club fully through the ball. Any attempt to ‘lift’ the ball into the air with the hands and you succeed only in falling back on the shot and mis-cue, failing to create any real compression on the ball.

To reinforce thoughts of staying with the shot, think Gary Player. Anyone familiar with the style of the great South African will know that walking through the shot was a trademark whenever he wanted to be 100% certain of fully committing to a shot. Taking a few steps after the ball into the follow through will serve the same purpose here – a sure sign that you’ve committed to releasing the club and rotating your body to the target.

How to nail it...a summary I hope the content of this article has gone some way to

helping you understand the dynamics of a solid impact position and left you with a better visual in your mind’s eye of the desired angle of attack for solid ball striking.

A couple of final points to make. In order to maximise your Smash Factor rating, the ball position between your feet is extremely important. With a driver – the longest and least lofted of clubs – the angle of attack should be slightly on the upswing, so the ball needs to be played opposite the left shoulder, the hands will be slightly behind the ball at address and not more than level with the ball at impact. The left armpit is a more desirable position for fairway woods and hybrids, whereas the left cheek/ear is best for standard trajectory iron shots. Here the hands will be slightly ahead of the ball at both address and impact. You can check this in a mirror and I cannot stress how important this is as it directly affects your angle of attack. The more lofted your club the more your hands need to be forwards at impact to compress the ball correctly.

As your clubs increase in loft so the strike gets evermore oblique (you are – increasingly so as you work down through the irons – ‘trapping’ the ball between club and turf to create the desired trajectory and spin), which decreases the smash factor. Rory McIlroy, for example, achieves a smash factor of around 1.5 with his driver decreasing to 1.35 with a 7 iron and just over 1.00 with a wedge.

Food for thought!

Fully released...

Remember, any attempt to help the ball up into the air is futile on a slope like this – which is why this drill is so effective. To make solid contact and compress the ball you have to commit to staying with it...

Derek Michel coaches at Perranporth Golf Club where his studio is equipped with the latest in ball-flight analysis technology. To book a lesson visit Derek’s online booking link derekmichell.acultscheduling.com // m 07943970447 ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 83

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r MBluSe ky 86 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

The promise of sun-kissed days on the golf course is a good enough reason to plan an escape – at least it was for Steve Bough and his family, taking advantage of the Newquay-Faro connection for a short hop to Portugal

J

ust 45 minutes by super-quick taxi from Faro Airport, Lagos is the largest town before the coast road to Sagres. Evidence of tourism gives way the further west you travel. Keep driving and you’ll discover a national park. The Parque Natural Do Sudoeste Alentejano E Costa Vicentina, to give it its full and rather lengthy name, covers 60 miles of coastline and is virtually untouched by tourism. The Parque is replete with native fauna and flora and miles upon miles of pristine beaches. If you’re a surfer, alongside a golfer, this is heaven. Golf is at a minimum, but if you’re staying for longer than a week, it’s a trip that should be experienced, plus you get a real taste of Portugal off the beaten track.

Lagos sits on the doorstep of the Parque and it’s only 15 minutes drive to Sagres. Between the two towns you could have a round at Santo Antonio, in Budens. This is in a tranquil spot and each of the 18 holes offers a hardy and stimulating test, like all of the courses in the area.

Golf plays a big factor in the growing success of Lagos. With such beautiful courses and beaches and generally ten months of the year of warm, playable weather, you can see the attraction.

Our stay was at the Boavista Golf Resort. With just a two-hour flight from Newquay and no time change, we left Newquay at 20.50 and we’re in the apartment in Lagos by 23.40. Pretty good going and virtually stress free as we’d ordered a taxi in advance. It was 60 Euros each way for four of us and the driver was waiting as we came through Arrivals. Next time, we will hire a car, but for a week’s stay, the fact that we didn’t have a car didn’t affect our holiday, it was actually less stress free for me.

The welcoming – and immaculately presented – Boavista Resort. Self-catering apartments provide a perfect base to enjoy the golf with easy access into Lagos and Sagres

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 87

Designed

by Howard Swann, Boavista is a playful layout featuring a mix of hazards – palmfringed all the way!

I’m used to playing my golf in Cornwall from Falmouth to Newquay and a recent trip to misty Bowood. Our foursome, on that occasion, was played in typical Cornish mizzle and we could barely see 50 yards in front of our eyes. We’re used to it in this country.

Contrast that with Lagos where I only saw clouds on one day and they were wispy and disappeared by lunch.

Every other day was clear blue sky and warm gentle winds. It does of course rain and they have a fair share of bad weather, but it’s kept to around three months from November to February and then the sun comes...and it doesn't disappear.

The courses in and around Lagos are what you expect from the Algarve. Manicured fairways splay across each course, with testing greens and frustrating bunkers waiting for the errant shot; which there were many from me.

They really do look after their golf courses and the holes like the driving range and the clubhouse, are all immaculate, welcoming and relaxed.

One of my favourite aspects about Boavista was that it was all so easy going. The staff were friendly and helpful,

Elegant Espiche is a recent addition to Algarve’s golfing menu – an eco-friendly course that has been built to showcase the natural environment

88 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

and the out-of-town location gives you an escape from the bustle of Lagos. The course surrounds the complex and when you're not playing, you can sit in your apartment with a cold one watching the second shot over the water on the 17th.

Buggys make life easier, though personally I like a good walk around the course and it's easy to book and play – even if you don't have your own clubs, a decent set can be provided.

The golf courses, like the town and its lovely beaches (almost as good as Cornish beaches!) make Lagos, somewhere to consider. It’s that little bit further from the airport so it’s not as busy and, dare I say it, a bit more Portuguese. There’s a wealth of restaurants and bars and Lagos is full of meandering alleys which lead to tempting bars and restaurants. The food is good, though not always cheap – around the same you would pay at home – but a glass of wine and some local fish or octopus and it’s a life I could get used to.

With flights from Newquay due to recommence in March and flights from Exeter scheduled throughout the

Many rate Onyria Palmares as the most beautiful course on the Algarve, a mix of parkland and links-style holes making up three intriguing loops of nine

year, a golf break in Lagos is highly recommended. The courses mentioned below are all within 15 minutes of Lagos town and packages are available, which keep the cost down.

Boavista Prices fluctuate for playing at Boavista and you can get some great deals off season. Designed by Howard Swann in 2001, the course has been carefully created which is evident from the strategically placed water hazards and bunkers. The views from many holes take in vistas of the sea with Lagos in the foreground with azaleas, date palms and almond trees scattered across the course, which give a bounty of aromas. It’s challenging but not a nightmare, even for the average golfer. The fairways are crisp and regularly mown and the greens offer enough undulation to consider even short putts. The facilities on hand are superb and the whole place is spotlessly clean, expertly cared for and very friendly. It’s popular and you can see why.

Green fees: from 49 Euros Espiche Located just to the east of Lagos and 15 minutes’ drive, Espiche is a new addition to the Algarve’s range of worldclass courses. There are plenty of up and downs as this course has been designed to blend in with the landscape.

Errant shots will find lakes and streams and the abundance of water features on many holes. Native plants are in abundance, the rough is challenging and tight fairways dictate that your accuracy is paramount – and your iron play will need to be in good shape; it can be tough if it gets windy. Views of the surrounding countryside and vineyards encompass each hole and the accompanying clubhouse and excellent food on offer make this a treat of a day out. Green fees: from 44 Euros Onyria Palmares Situated right by the beach, you’ll find 27 holes on offer at this beauty just outside Lagos. The course is a blend of parkland and links and all of the holes overlook the Bay of Lagos so even if you hit a few wayward ones, the views will make up for the golf. Many claim that Palmares is the most attractive course on the Algarve and there’s no denying its beauty.

The 27 holes comprise of three, nine-hole challenges each offering something a bit different. From the Alvor course which runs through woodland to the panoramic Lagos course and down to the beach with the Praia course which is practically on the beach. Despite its proximity to the ocean, the course is in great shape and the 90 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

fairways and greens are lush and receptive. The middle holes, from four to 15 are where the course stands out and the test gets harder. A tad more expensive but well worth it. Green fees: from 72 Euros Santo Antonio Just ten minutes from Lagos, this unique course is demanding and will be a sterling test for all handicappers. It’s picturesque, hilly and with a few blind tee shots to test your mettle – terrific fun. Each hole has been designed to show the best of the Portuguese countryside with rolling hills and glimpses of the sea in the distance and it doesn’t disappoint. Like most courses, the world over, accuracy is imperative as drift left or right at Santa Antonio and you could find yourself as the bottom of a valley. The clubhouse ambience and delicious food on offer really does showcase the Algarve at its best, and with daily fees here – from 44 euros – among the cheapest in the Lagos area, this is one not to be missed.

WE DO GOLF BOAVISTA RESORT / SAMPLE PACKAGES * 3 night’s bed and breakfast staying at the Boavista Golf Resort and 3 rounds of golf at Boavista – from £199 per person (based on 4 people sharing a 2-bedroom apartment) * 5 night’s bed and breakfast staying at the Boavista Golf Resort including 4 rounds of golf at Boavsita, Palmares, Santo Antonio and Espiche – from £349 per person (based on 4 people sharing a 2-bedroom apartment) Note: flights are not included in the above prices and need to be booked separately. For further details please call WeDoGolf on 01752 710073 / hello@wedogolf.com / www.wedogolf.com

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TAILORMADE GOLFING PACKAGES TO IRELAND

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CLUB CHOICE IRELAND ARE THE ExPERTS AT PERSONALISED GOLFING BREAKS TO THE EAST & SOUTH EAST OF IRELAND. All our golf breaks are custom designed to our clients requests and can include Accommodation, Food, Golf, Heritage Tours, Transportation and Return Ferry. We specialise in groups travelling via ferry or flying into Dublin or Waterford Airport

TEL: (0800) 285 1490 | info@clubchoiceireland.com | www.clubchoiceireland.com

CHARMING ESCAPES

WHERE TO TR AVEL FOR CHARM, CULTURE & CUISINE

There is something special, something alluring, about Charleston, South Carolina. Surrounded by pristine barrier islands and five distinctive beach towns, Charleston is a city & sea destination like no other. For a list of award-winning hotels & resorts, insider tips on where to dine, and a calendar of cultural events, visit CharlestonEscapes.com.

@ E X PLO RE C HAR L ES TO N @ E X PLO R E C H S

Charleston, SOUTH CAROLINA THE PENINSUL A From the upbeat vibe of upper King Street to the rarefied scenery tucked south of Broad Street, Charleston’s fascinating juxtaposition of new and old exudes a sense of joie de vivre that makes it a “must visit” destination. Awardwinning boutique hotels and internationally acclaimed restaurants abound.

Spend a day wandering amid Charleston’s colonial mansions and crepe myrtle trees to discover what inspired noted artist Alfred Hutty in 1920 to telegram his wife, “Come quickly, have found heaven.”

THE PL ANTATIONS Like the dazzling plumage of a peacock, sprawling 17th-century plantations surround the Charleston peninsula. The delicate scents of tea olive trees, Carolina Jessamine, climbing roses, and wisteria perfume the air throughout the year.

BEGUILING BEAUT Y

Old World Charm in the New World

Full of picturesque scenery, sunny weather, and cuisine that delights, Charleston offers something special to travellers. And our favourite holiday spot has a secret: It is really one beloved destination offering three different getaways. The famed peninsula city is surrounded by pristine barrier islands and beach towns, as well as sprawling plantation estates—say hello to your new favourite holiday spot.

THE PICTURESQUE ISL ANDS With a rare combination of geography, latitude and attitude, the area’s nearly 90 miles of coastline has considerable eco appeal. Five distinctive beach towns and acclaimed seaside resorts such as Kiawah Island Golf Resort and Wild Dunes Resort offer tennis, golf, and breezy relaxation.

FOR INSIDER TIPS ON WHERE TO STAY, EAT & PL AY: CHARLESTONESCAPES.COM

AS GOOD AS IT GETS The gloriously unspoilt island of Hilton Head, South Carolina, is renowned as one of the Lowcountry’s great golfing playgrounds – with Harbour Town Links its star attraction.

Peter Swain took a swing at Pete Dye’s iconic creation PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY SEA PINES RESORT/ROB TIPTON

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A

merican PGA Tour players recently voted Harbour Town, venue of the annual RBC Heritage, their second-favourite course after Augusta. That’s ahead of Pebble Beach, Congressional, Muirfield Village and Riviera. Comments included: “You don’t need length for a great course” and “My favourite Pete Dye design”.

“But,” I hear you say, “can anyone play it, and as a mid-handicapper, will I enjoy it?”

Answer: yes, and yes. On a recent visit with friends I discovered that not only is this track eminently playable, but with 18 public and resort courses, lashings of southern charm and some fine ocean-side hostelries, the island of Hilton Head – on which it sits – is quite simply golfing nirvana.

By modern standards, Harbour Town is an unusual course. It’s only 7,099 yards from the tips, and 6,681

yards off the Dye tee from which most of us play, so it’s a course for shot-makers rather than bombers. The greens are small, averaging just 3,700 square feet, about half the size of most PGA Tour venues, and something like those at Valderrama.

And as anyone who has watched the annual RBC Heritage on TV, usually scheduled a week after the Masters, will know, there are many trees, mostly loblolly pines and live oaks festooned in Spanish moss.

Introducing us to the course, head pro John Farrell suggested that 70% of players hit a tree on the first hole. In fact, I missed them but made up for it later.

But, and here’s the surprise, trees on this narrow course are actually your friends! Of the five times I clattered into them, four times my ball ricocheted back onto the fairway. The pine straw beneath them is quite forgiving anyway, so a shot may be lost but not the ball.

Our four-ball set off in mid-morning with a forecaddie – sensible on such a strategic course. Locals say the first six holes are a warm-up, the middle six tricky, and the last six seriously challenging. The par-threes define the set-up with, on the front nine, the scenic 4th over water, and the 7th protected by two trees on the front apron either side, both delightful. Anyway, I got through 12 holes before the fun really began.

The 13th, reputedly designed by Pete Dye’s wife Alice, features a raised green surrounded by his signature wooden bulkheads. As we began putting, the heavens opened accompanied by lightning and thunder, so we retreated to a nearby shelter. Over an inch of rain fell in 20 minutes – the 13th green became a lake, and caddies started muttering darkly about this being the end of the day’s golf.

Then a miracle. We set off past the 14th tee. Now, this is an infamous par-three with a lake running diagonally

The unmistakable view of the 18th at Pete Dye-designed Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 95

The par-three 4th hole at Heron Point, another of Pete Dye’s creations on Hilton Head Island

all the way from left of the slightly raised tee to the right of the small green – it’s been rated the third-hardest par-3 on the PGA Tour. We had to have a go – could we, I asked the caddie? “There’s no standing water on the green, so go ahead.”

Helped by the sodden green, I nailed a 7iron to 20-feet. OK, so I missed the birdie putt, but a par was still a fist-bumping triumph.

The real marvel was that we were playing at all: I have never seen a course drain so quickly. Magnificent.

Now playing preferred lies, I scrambled a par on the long par-five 15th, and bogeyed the 16th. Then, another revelation. This is the Lowcountry, where scenery is defined by acres of brilliant green seagrass, semi-submerged at high tide. So far, all we’d seen was trees, trees and more trees. As you walk out towards the 17th tee, for the first time in the round, you’re in a magical Lowcountry landscape.

The downside of this is, er, more water. The 17th is protected by bunkers right and long left, with tidal water short left. My 5-iron left me 12 slippery feet above the hole and I sank the only putt of consequence all day for a birdie. As a modest golfer, I choose to remember my triumphs and forget the disasters. This was the former.

(Above): The uncompromising challenge that greets you on the 17th tee of Harbour Town Links; (right): the warm and welcoming Sea Pines clubhouse; (opposite page): Palmetto Dunes is another of the island’s famed resorts, home to three superb courses

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The iconic 18th, a long par-four towards that famous red-and-white-striped lighthouse was a blur. The green hangs over the left edge of the marsh/water, so most lay up right with a rescue and come on with a wedge. What a blast.

So, Harbour Town is a real treat for scratch players and hugely enjoyable for us average golfers. Needless to say, as with all top-ranked US courses, it’s kept in magnificent condition. It isn’t as visually intimidating as some Dye courses like, for instance, the Ocean at Kiawah Island, just up the coast, and while the small greens are closely guarded by white sand bunkers, most fairways encourage ambition off the tee.

Arnold Palmer put Harbour Town on the map by winning the very first Heritage Classic in 1969, at age 40, but the Sea Pines Resort, of which it’s part, has two other courses almost as good: Atlantic Dunes, designed by Davis Love, and Pete Dye’s Heron Point, both substantially remodelled in recent years.

As a five-time winner of the Heritage Classic and a native of the Carolinas, Love is something of a local hero.

A year ago, all Heron Point’s greens were rebuilt and several fairways reshaped. “We wanted to open the course up, make it more user friendly, easier to stay out of the water and the palmettos,” he says. It’s the ideal first course of a trip. Dye’s Heron Point is a sea of mounds,

swales and bunker-filled doglegs snaking through the forest with water in play on seven holes. Tough.

After the round, the new Harbour Town plantationstyle clubhouse, opened in 2015, is an oasis of southern comfort. For post-round sustenance, Links American Grill has a full-on menu offering the likes of Fried Oysters Rockefeller, New York Strip and even meatloaf, plus – and this is a big improvement in recent years – a refreshing selection of local craft beers. Service is exemplary.

Elsewhere on Sea Pines, you can enjoy Lowcountry delicacies like Shrimp and Cheesy Grits at Live Oak, or She Crab Soup with sherry at the waterfront Quarterdeck eaterie. There’s also a bakery, yacht basin, beach club and that legendary lighthouse. The Inn and Club is the luxury hotel on site and there’s also a huge choice of villas for small groups and families.

Another resort with three fine but rather less expensive Lowcountry courses is nearby Palmetto Dunes.

Looking to the future, players on their Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio and Arthur Hills courses can use golf bikes and even connect their iPhones to the USB port in the cart to facilitate a little musical accompaniment on their round.

All in all, Hilton Head, and Harbour Town in particular, is golfing heaven. And what’s good enough for Rory, Jordan and Davis is ‘mighty fine for y’all’ as well.

EXPERIENCE HILTON HEAD WITH GOLFBREAKS.COM

Peter Swain travelled to Hilton Head Island as a guest of golfbreaks.com. Seven nights, room only at Harbour Town Villas with 4 rounds of golf – including one on Harbour Town – costs from £815 per person, not including flights.

For details visit: golfbreaks.com/sea-pines-resort or call: 0845 678 2400

ISSUE #3 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE 97

ATLANTIC

GOLF

&LIFESTYLE

BEN WESTGATE

From the South West to the Southern Hemisphere

By the time you read this I will have packing up the winter coats and hats and jetted off to the warmer climes of New Zealand with my wife and young son. ‘The end of an era’ sounds overly dramatic, but essentially this move marks the end of a 25-year period of active involvement in South West golf, which the editor has kindly given me the opportunity to write about.

I arrived in Cornwall in 1997 to study at the Camborne School of Mines (which is attached to Exeter University) after playing for Gloucestershire juniors representing Forest Hills and Forest of Dean golf clubs. Up until this time, I was a pretty average golfer shooting in the 80’s with the odd round in the 70’s. But on joining Perranporth my journey to improvement and international golf began proper.

Perranporth is a course that really tests golfers – howling winds, firm fast fairways, knee-high rough and lightning-fast greens with huge slopes [see The Perranporth Experience, page 68]. This was a course that highlighted my weaknesses and I quickly realised I needed to sort these out. To help me do this, I sought the coaching services of Richard Sadler who took my handicap from scratch to +2 in about 6 months. Alongside this, my putting and short-game improved significantly from watching the almost weekly master-classes of Chris Llewelyn in club competitions. This all culminated in me reaching the final of the Cornwall County Championship in 2002...where I was well and truly thrashed by Ian Veale (he’s been running from a re-match ever since!) which gave me an even better understanding on where I wanted to take my golf and what could be achieved.

Playing and representing Cornwall since the early 2000s was a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding time (though many captains probably thought differently!). Cornwall was then a very competitive place to play with Richard Ackland, Steve Chapman, Josh Greenaway, Jon Coleman, with England Boy Internationals Alex and Rob MacGregor, and Grant Slater to name a few. One of the highlights was representing Cornwall alongside these ‘giants of the game’ at numerous South West Weeks – 36-holes-a-day for six days mixing it up with golfers from Devon, Wiltshire, Dorset, Gloucester and Somerset, a real physical and mental test, which could’ve made you hate the game had it not been for such fantastic company.

The South West provided further competition through university golf with Exeter. We won the University Team 98 ATLANTIC GOLF & LIFESTYLE ISSUE #3

Championships at Lindrick with a very competitive team led by Wiltshire’s Ali James (Cumberwell Park). This gave me the confidence – along with Cornwall competition over the next few years – to compete at higher levels. In early 2004 I played in the Duncan Putter at Southerndown and following a good result the Golf Union of Wales asked if I could play a few more ranking events. The next one I played was the Clwyd in North Wales which I won. Following this win I was selected to represent Wales, which I continued to do for the following 12 years.

In 2006 I moved to Bath and joined Cumberwell Park to take advantage of their magnificent practice facilities. I still played for Cornwall, through my attachment at Trevose, a club I am proud to be a member of today. Trevose and Nick Gammon have supported my golfing career throughout this time, for which I am truly grateful. I’m sure the hours spent on the magnificent Trevose links played a huge part in me winning the Welsh Amateur in 2008 at Royal Porthcawl.

Over the next few years, Cornwall had developed a great bunch of up and coming young golfers, notably Rhys and Ben Enoch, Billy Downing and Tom Murtagh. In 2008 Rhys, Ben and myself played in the European’s in Italy, the Home Internationals at Muirfield, and then travelled to the Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur) in Adelaide, Australia.

These were fantastic opportunities and provided the experience of playing at the highest level. Rhys and myself continued to represent Wales until 2011 (following which Rhys turned pro) and I’m sure Ben, who died tragically in 2009, at the age of just 19, would have eclipsed both of our achievements.

I would like to thank the people involved in South West golf, who have helped me get to where I am today. I could not have achieved many of the things I have without the grounding, help, support and advice I have received from Perranporth, Trevose, and Cumberwell Park golf clubs, and the Cornwall team. In addition, I would like to thank the officials and committees who give their time to organise events, which are fundamental to South West golf.

I developed great friendships through my involvement in South West golf, and I’m sure many of the friendships made playing golf will last into the future and games will be organised as paths – hopefully – cross again in the future.

Good luck and best wishes One & All!

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Mauritius Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa

The best choice of Golf hotels on the island

PARADIS GOLF COURSE Set on the stunning Le Morne Peninsula the course is home to Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa and Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa. Luxury accommodation, fine dining and one of the islands most scenic locations. Golf on your doorstep does not get much better than this.

MONT CHOISY GOLF COURSE The newest golf course in Mauritius and the only course on the North West coast of the island.

Two Beachcomber hotels, Trou Aux Biches & Canonnier Resorts, both located just 5 minutes away (free shuttles are provided) enjoy reduced green fees and preferred tee-times at this superb new club.

For the best Mauritius Golf holidays Speak to your Travel Agent or call Beachcomber on 01483 445 618

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