Worldwide Golf September 2017

Worldwide Golf The Middle East’s No.1 Golf Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2017, ISSUE 195

RYDER CUP FLYING HIGH WITH EMIRATES Emirates becomes Official Partner of the

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Executive Editor

Gary Player Golf and Giving at the Gary Player Invitational

W

E had a wonderful event at Wentworth Club, just outside London, for our recent Gary Player Invitational, which was another overwhelming success.

I continue to be touched by the generosity and support of the players and sponsors and was thrilled by the funds we have been able to raise this year.

Through our banner of ‘Golf and Giving’ and with the help of Berenberg, Rolex, SAP, Lavazza, UPS and Porsche, we generated more than $166,000, taking our total raised by The Player Foundation to more than $63 million for charitable causes worldwide, bringing us closer to our target of $100 million by 2025.

Depaul, the youth homelessness charity, benefitted from the event and having visited Depaul recently and seen the situation where young people are sleeping on the streets, I can testify to the significant difference the money raised during the event makes, and the positive impact it continues to have on so many young lives.

It was good to play the Edinburgh course I designed at Wentworth Club and to greet so many friends, including Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer and Sir Bob Charles. The team led by Padraig Harrington and Ladies European Tour star Alex Peters, claimed overall victory on the day, with a combined team score of 86 points. It was good to see 21-year-old Georgia Hall play

so well and wonderful to have her as my partner. Having finished third in the Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns and playing in all five sessions of the Solheim Cup, I’ve got to say what wonderful potential she has. As long as she retains her natural talent and stays away from those who would seek to coach her ability away from her, I think she has an outstanding future ahead of her.

In addition to the United Kingdom event, our Gary Player Invitationals are played annually in Abu Dhabi, Japan, USA, China and South Africa.

Americans Dominated Looking back on this year’s Solheim Cup it was a great disappointment to see the American Team win so easily 16½– 11½ to successfully retain the cup.

The Americans dominated both of the fourball sessions on Friday and Saturday, winning seven of the eight matches to set up a 10½–5½ lead heading into the singles, which they duly converted. The Solheim Cup has had a resurgence in its competitiveness in recent years with Europe winning backto-back cups in 2011 and 2013.

That victory four years ago was an historic first win on American soil, but the events from 2005 – 2009 were all won by the Americans, thanks to convincing, decisive wins in the Sunday singles, and the event had threatened to slip into relative obscurity. I hope that it never does

because I can recall early editions of The Ryder Cup before the resurgence of the European Team in the 1980s. Prior to those days the tournament was little more than a set of exhibition displays by the dominant American teams.

Today it’s a different matter altogether.

Compulsive viewing For any sport to become compulsive viewing for a worldwide audience it has to be competitive. If it’s not competitive it’s of no interest. There’s a global thirst for sport across all media platforms but viewers will only watch evenlymatched opponents battling to win.

The next Solheim Cup, at Gleneagles, needs to produce a great fightback from the Europeans, otherwise it will be three wins in a row for the United States and that’s when the viewers may lose interest. I believe there is a market for a Solheim Cup-style event between the United States

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and the rest of the world team or one from Asia. Can you imagine how much interest that would attract?

South Korea is currently dominating ladies golf with China and Japan also making their mark.

The impact of such an event would be huge, especially if it were to be held in a city like Seoul.

With the Men’s Majors over for another year the PGA of America have announced that they are moving the PGA Championship earlier in the year to create a run of all four Majors over a four-month period from April to July, in 2019.

That can only be good for the game. Having won the PGA twice I think that it will elevate the tournament if it follows The Masters by being staged in May. It requires switching the BMW PGA Championship from May to September but with the British weather being so unpredictable it shouldn’t matter much either way.

Change is the price of survival in all walks of life. ■

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September 2017

CONTENTS

32

Cover feature: Jordan Smith

From the satellite tours, to Challenge Tour Road to Oman winner to European Tour winner, Worldwide Golf talks to Jordan Smith about his meteoric rise up the ranks.

38

Rayhan Thomas feature

Worldwide Golf talks exclusively to the UAE’s No.1 amateur Rayhan Thomas about what has been a huge summer in the 17 year old’s development and one that has seen him prove his ability against the very best players of his age on the world stage.

Ryan Fox feature

The big-hitting Kiwi is having a rookie campaign to remember and is set for a DP World Tour Championship debut in November. We caught up with the 30-year-old to assess his year so far and look back on his journey to the European Tour.

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The Starter

24

Tour News

This month’s focus is the rejuvenated British Masters on the European Tour, which this month is hosted by Lee Westwood. Masters Champion Sergio Garcia is confirmed to play at Close House while Alex Noren is set to defend the title he won at The Grove 12 months ago.

We get the lowdown on the news that Emirates are announced as an Official Partner of next year’s Ryder Cup in Paris.

Columns

19 21

22

43

Pete Cowen

PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen talks about his split from Danny Willett and Henrik Stenson’s win at the Wyndham.

David Howell

European Tour veteran David Howell looks back on this year’s Majors and wonders if the US Open and US PGA were played on the right courses.

Rafa Cabrera Bello

Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello reflects on his Scottish Open victory, his top five finish at The Open and the terrible terrorist attack in Barcelona that puts success on the golf course into perspective.

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September 2017

CONTENTS INSTRUCTION

56

GRAVITYFIT – ELEVATE YOUR GAME

Stephen Deane, Head Professional at Emirates Golf Club, talks us through a simple exercise that will develop the correct hand, arm and club movement and focuses on correct posture.

DISCOVER CONSISTENCY FROM THE SAND

PGA Professional Michael Bolt from Trump International Golf Club, Dubai, showcases an approach to bunker play that will lead to greater consistency.

CORRECT BALL POSITION

PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen talks us through the fundamentals when it comes to addressing the ball in your stance.

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ARABIAN GOLF

All the latest goings on around the region.

73

EXPLORE THE MORAY SPEYSIDE IN SCOTLAND

WWG takes a look at all the golfing delights that the Moray Speyside in the north of Scotland has to offer.

76 THE DUTCH

The latest in our series of European Tour Destinations, The Dutch is stunning course in a prime location within The Netherlands and a world class venue for golf.

79

K WEST HOTEL & SPA

This modern and achingly cool hotel in London is the perfect home-from-home if you’re planning a golf or business trip to England’s capital city.

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46

PING G400

New Irons have been launched by Cleveland Golf for the first time in two years and Jason Ashley at eGolf Megastore gets a first hand look.

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SHAFTS – SETTLING THE SCORE

There’s a lot to know about the shaft choice on offer when it comes to fitting clubs. The guys at eGolf Megastore have got all the answers.

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Engineered to enjoy, the new Ping G400 series features drivers, hybrids, irons and crossovers, so whatever your level – there is a club for you.

A new version of a much loved classic, Callaway’s steelhead XR fairway woods will hit the spot with players of all levels.

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Editor’s Letter

By Alex Gallemore

Major changes across the Tours – but who benefits?

T

he decision to move the US PGA Championship to May in 2019 has been well received by the players, but was the decision made with the players’ best interests at heart or was it to prevent the PGA Tour from clashing with the start of the NFL season?

The Northern Trust began this year’s FedExCup Playoffs on the 24th August, with the season-ending Tour Championship concluding on the 24th of September. The 2017/2018 NFL season kicks off on the 7th September, meaning the last two events on the FedExCup series will have to compete with the start of highly-viewed NFL games across the country, where there are three games broadcast on a Sunday, from noon until the evening.

In the past, the PGA Tour had the Tiger Woods factor, but without their star man, golf in the States always struggles to compete against American Football, so it’s a wise move that also gives the PGA Tour players a break from September through to January.

This is where the European Tour have a huge advantage.

They don’t have to compete with the NFL market and with the DP World Tour Championship, the Turkish Airlines Open, the WGC-HSBC Champions and the NedBank Golf Challenge historically in place, and with huge prize money on offer, it will tempt more global players to tee it up on both tours.

The European Tour has already announced that they will move their flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, from May to September and with the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, the Omega European Masters, the Dunhill Links Championship and the Italian

Open, which is a Rolex Series event, also scheduled during the months of September and October there is scope for a very strong end to the European Tour’s season.

It could be a win-win situation for both Tours and with the news that the European Tour and the LPGA Tour are putting their heads together to help out the flailing Ladies European Tour, it seems that all the Tours are working together to figure out the best way forward for all concerned.

The significance of The Ryder Cup being in France in September, followed by those big-money events as the lead up to the DP World Tour Championship on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November means that Dubai will be the centre of attraction as the climax to the season.

With the Middle East Swing starting the season in the New Year the Middle East will be taking centre stage at both the beginning and ending of the campaign.

The announcement last month that Emirates will become an Official Partner of The 2018 Ryder Cup as part of a four-year renewal of the airline’s existing agreement with the European Tour to 2021 is a huge boost for Dubai, the UAE and the Middle East region in general.

The Ryder Cup has grown to become one of the greatest events on the global sports calendar and is one of the most popular sporting occasions worldwide. The European Team, captained by Thomas Bjorn, can’t wait to avenge their defeat by the Americans at Hazeltine last year and win back the Cup at Le Golf National in Paris in September 2018. ■

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ISSUE No.195 SEPTEMBER 2017.

Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd. Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE. (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore Executive Editor: Gary Player Editor: Alex Gallemore alex@wspglobal.com Publisher: Mike Gallemore mike@wspglobal.com General Manager Dubai: Richard Bevan: rick@wspglobal.com Editors: Todd Staszko, Scott Grayston, Ashraf Ahmed Production/Design Editor: Thameem Rayyan Editorial Panel: Gary Player, Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Todd Staszko Photography: Getty Images June 2009 SSN 1- 46805671 Approval UAE National Media Council: Ref.816 30/5/2007 Trade Licence No. 1/104375/15280

Printed by: Raidy, Dubai Distributed by: Al Nisr Distribution LLC PO Box 6519, Dubai, UAE Worldwide Golf specifies that post-press changes may occur to any information given in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised

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The Course

Close House This year the British Masters heads to the North East

O

NE of the remits of the British Masters when it was reintroduced to the European Tour’s schedule with the support of Sky Sports two years ago was to move the event around the UK, with a homeplayer acting as tournament host for the week.

After Ian Poulter’s week at Woburn Golf Club in 2015 and last year’s Luke Donald-hosted event at The Grove, this year it is Lee Westwood’s turn and he picked Close House on the outskirts of Newcastle as the venue. It seemed an obvious choice as the former World No.1 is attached to the facility and of the two 18-hole courses on the property it will be the Lee Westwood Colt Course (opened by the man himself in 2011) which will welcome Europe’s finest players.

The design tips its hat to the legendary architect Harry Colt in the form of rectangular tee boxes, variations in the par-3 holes and the shape of the bunkers. The course is set in a Northumberland valley on the banks of the River Tyne and remnants of historic Hadrian’s Wall can be seen in the nearby town of Heddon-on-theWall.

Alex Noren is set to defend the title he won so expertly at The Grove while Sergio Garcia has also confirmed he'll be tee-ing it up, hoping to emulate his hero Seve Ballesteros as a winner of the British Masters. local hero Alan Shearer will play in the Hero Pro-Am along with his long-time Newcastle United teammate, Les Ferdinand.

The Masters winner Garcia is looking forward to locking horns with Ryder Cup colleague Westwood and getting to grips with a new course. “I’m excited about it,” said the Spaniard. “I played the event as an amateur a couple of times and I have good memories. It should be fun to go back there and it seems like the last couple of years the event has taken a big step forward and it looks really fun, so we will try to have a great weekend at Close House.” ■

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STARTER Solheim showdown:

Europe outclassed but heads held high

THE ODDS were stacked against them and with the last-minute withdrawal of star player Suzann Pettersen, the European Solheim Cup Team fell to a 16½-11½ loss in Des Moines, USA. European Captain Annika Sorentstam was also dealt a blow when Charley Hull was forced to miss all of Saturday's action. The victory for the United States is their tenth overall in the biennial competition and Juli Inkster (left) becomes the first Captain to successfully retain the Cup since Judy Rankin in 1998.

Hot Streak

Cold Snap Rory McIlroy. It's been a difficult year which has been punctuated by a recurring injury and the end of his relationship with caddie J.P. Fitzgerald. He needs to get his body right if he is to hit the heights again.

Bernhard Langer. The irrepressible German is the dominant player in Senior Golf. He won the Senior Grand Slam earlier this year and is an incredible 179 strokes better than any other player in the Majors since 2008.

Ian Poulter. The Englishman has enjoyed a renaissance this summer. After thinking he'd lost his PGA Tour card in May he's now in the middle of his best season since 2012. A victory remains elusive, though.

English Ryder Cuppers. Hazeltine rookies Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan have had disappointing seasons so far. Qualification for Paris 2018 begins this month. Time for action.

Justin Thomas. A real contender for the PGA Tour's Player of the Year. His PGA Championship triumph was his fourth win of the campaign. The future looks bright for the Kentuckian. He makes his Presidents Cup debut later this month.

That's how many yards four rounds at Quail Hollow measured at this year’s US PGA Championship.

Roughly 17.3 miles.

Jeunghun Wang. Put himself in with a chance of a Presidents Cup debut with victory in Qatar earlier this year but has struggled in the big Summer events on Tour. Still only 21, the Korean is set for big things.

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BY THE NUMBERS

30,400

Cristie Kerr became the alltime leading scorer for the United States with 19 points, overtaking Juli Inkster, who earned 17.5 points in her career.

Eight of the last nine Major championships have been won by first-time winners, with Justin Thomas the latest to join the party.

Quail Hollow was playing long and tough at the US PGA – there were only 6 bogey-free rounds all week.

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124,426 A new record was set for the attendance at a Solheim Cup as nearly 125,000 people entered the grounds at Des Moines Golf & Country Club last month to watch the best female players from both sides of the Atlantic go head to head.

MONTH-BY-MONTH ANALYSIS AS ANDREW ‘BEEF’ JOHNSTON TACKLES THE US PGA TOUR It's been a tough summer for Beef. His results have taken a nose dive and he's back on the European Tour to try and salvage something from the year. His world ranking has dropped from 86 to 108 and he withdrew after an opening round 78 at the US PGA with a shoulder injury.

Beef meets a fan at Quail Hollow.

BEEF

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Columnist

Pete Cowen Danny Should Make A Clean Sweep Without Playing the Blame Game

I

t’s been an interesting few weeks in the world of golf, on and off the course. The situation with Danny Willett had been coming for a while and we agreed he does need a fresh pair of eyes on his game.

But not just that – he needs a fresh approach throughout everything he’s connected with. So, rather than pick us out as being the problem, it’s really everybody and everything that’s the problem.

In reality, everybody should have gone. Not just me and Mike Walker.

It should have been the physio, the putting coach, the management, everyone involved. Danny should have made a totally clean break from it all. His caddy parted ways with Danny earlier this year and then, all of a sudden, he wanted a fresh opinion on his game from ours, which is understandable. But if it’s everybody’s fault that Danny’s game is disappointing, then everybody should go. There’s no point picking out individuals to blame.

Logically, if everything is going wrong, then everything needs to change.

His putting has not been not up to scratch, his fitness hasn’t been where it should be and it’s hard to coach any player when outside influences are affecting the player’s mind. That situation can be traced back to The Ryder Cup last year.

He had never hit shots as badly as he did in The Ryder Cup, and it was all after his brother wrote that ill-judged article criticising the American Ryder Cup supporters. Yes, Danny needed a fresh pair of eyes, but he really needed a clean break from everything.

‘Stenson’s return to form on the greens’ On the course there was a happy return to winning ways for Henrik Stenson. His win at the Wyndham Championship was a result of a return to form on the greens. He was playing well in the run-up, hitting the ball as well as ever, but not sinking enough putts to put himself in contention.

He was very, very good tee-to-green at the US PGA Championship, the week before the Wyndham. His Driving Accuracy was at 69.6% (ranked 19th) and Greens in Regulation (GIR) was 68% (8th) but it’s all got to come together to win and you need a bit of luck as well.

At the Wyndham he was 8th on Driving Accuracy and third in GIR, but the key statistic was that he was second in Strokes Gained-Putting – and that made all the difference as he held off young Ollie Schniederjans to win by one.

All the elements of your game have to be right to enable you to win. You need either somebody to fall by the wayside or you need a bit of luck.

Justin Thomas had a bit of luck and now he’s a Major winner. Unfortunately, Hideki Matsuyama played poorly on Saturday and Sunday at Quail Hollow, otherwise he could have won by three or four shots, like he did the week before at the Bridgestone Invitational.

Technically, I quite like his pause at the top of his backswing. I help him

with his short game and he does all our drills in the gym and on the range.

If he’s in trouble he comes to me and we sort it out. He was struggling with his short game at Bay Hill in March and we had a short bunker and chipping session to straighten it out. I’ve told him he’s got to come to Dubai but we’ll see about that.

Louis Oosthuizen’s performance at Quail Hollow was encouraging. He’s getting there, slowly. He had a second-place finish at The Players Championship and a second at the US PGA Championship, so his game is getting back to where it should be.

‘Expectations that get in the way’ Matt Fitzpatrick has had a quiet year so far. It’s almost a reaction to a great year which happens to a lot of players. Expectations went up after last year – he made his Ryder Cup debut and won the season-ending DP World Tour Championship – and when the results aren’t coming in, it’s the expectations that get in the way. It can be a problem when he sees players like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, who are a similar age, winning Majors. It can have an adverse effect.

On a wider issue, I think the US PGA Championship moving to May is a good idea. It seems to be out on its own at the end of the run of Majors and is always seen as the weakest of the four Majors. It makes good sense to try to resurrect it a little bit.

For me, I would look at swapping the status of The Players Championship and the PGA, making The Players a Major. I know there are arguments for and against, but to be fair, the PGA is a weak tournament – although, obviously, people still want to win it.

The PGA always say that they’ve got the top 100 players competing there, but when you’ve got to give tee times to about 20 club professionals it’s never going to be the greatest field and it dilutes its stature somewhat.

With all this shuffling around and the US PGA Tour moving their FedExCup events earlier in 2019 to avoid the American Football season, the European Tour could strengthen their schedule at the back end of the season and entice more of the big names to play.

Moving the BMW PGA Championship to September will make it a better event because the course at Wentworth will be better conditioned.

The European Tour have an advantage at the start of the season with the Middle East Swing because a lot of the Americans don’t like playing on the West Coast of America where they’re on poa annua greens. So, going forward, the European Tour could bookend the start and end of the season very nicely with some big events and more top players. ■

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Columnist

David Howell Strange choices for Major venues

S

o there we have it, the four Major winners have been decided: Sergio Garcia at The Masters pouring out all that emotion; Brooks Koepka at the US Open with his blistering last nine holes to finally show his true class; Jordan Spieth amazing everyone with one of the all-time great surges to victory at Royal Birkdale and, finally, Justin Thomas pulverising the ball around Quail Hollow on his way to his first Major at the US PGA Championship.

Four great winners, undoubtedly, but for me the US Open and the US PGA lacked a little something this year in terms of venue. Quail Hollow is a superb golf course with an enthusiastic crowd to boot, but taking a regular Tour venue and then rebadging it as a Major venue just didn’t work all that well. It didn’t get me excited.

I missed the traditional war of attrition that the US Open usually presents to the players. Erin Hills looked like a US PGA venue, strangely, a bold new course for sure on which Koepka’s 16-under-par total tied the US Open scoring record. This should have been a PGA venue, it certainly had US PGA scoring. Don’t get me wrong it produced a really strong champion but it strayed from its roots as the toughest of the four Majors.

Erin Hills played at 7,800 yards long and the cut was one over. In 2013 at Merion, Justin Rose won at one over par on a course that measured under 7,000 yards and the cut was +8. Spot the difference – short and narrow versus long and wide. Merion, in my opinion, is a US Open course. Absolutely brutal rough, a course so hard that every single par seems like a triumph.

‘The toughest test in golf’ Every tee shot that finds the fairway is over half a shot gained, and every score in the 60s is something to write home about. When it’s like that you know you are at the US Open, the toughest test in golf. I played at Merion, and I made the cut. I ended the week 22 over par and it was miserable. But do you know what? That’s what it’s supposed to be, in my eyes. I missed the fairway far too often, I didn’t play brilliant golf, my iron play was certainly not superb, my patience levels weren’t high enough.

So I suffered, just like so many others out there. Justin did all those things better than anyone else for all 72 holes and he scored +1. The course beat him, but he beat everyone else.

When I look back in history at all the US PGA Championships that have gone to new, up-and-coming venues, generally big courses with scoring in the mid-teens, like normal events only bigger and better,

showcasing the game in a completely different way from the other three Majors, I wonder why it felt the need to go to a regular Tour stop.

By doing that, it lost something of its flavour, which was a shame. Justin Thomas was an accident waiting to happen in terms of winning a Major.

He’s a brutal driver of the ball, the epitome of the modern golfer in many ways and a deserved top-quality champion, but I hope they find a way to return to its modus operandi of new exciting venues in the future.

‘An eternity to enjoy the moment’ In 2019 the US PGA is moving to May, which will feel strange to say the least. With all four Majors played within four months – April to July – I’m happy that The Open Championship will be in last spot, with a whole eight months to go before another Major. The Open winner will feel like he has an eternity to enjoy the moment, just how the R&A will be feeling, I would imagine. It will mean our BMW PGA Championship will move to September and a date with a higher probability of good weather. It also has the potential to attract the strongest-ever field at Wentworth. This could well be a very positive reshuffle for our Tour’s biggest event, not that it has needed much help in recent years with bumper crowds each and every year.

Ready Golf is on the way in 2019, along with a change in the rules which should make rounds slightly quicker, which is no bad thing. But I always say golf is not a race. We have to understand that it takes around four hours to play 18 holes. That’s OK, four hours of fun can be better than three hours, but golf isn’t always fun. Sometimes it’s just frustrating and annoying and when it’s like that, getting a move on is no bad thing.

With that in mind, how about a change in the ‘honour’ system. Instead of the player with the lowest score having the honour to tee off first, how about 1st in the hole having the honour, 2nd in goes 2nd and so forth. On Tour this would shave minutes off our rounds. It would fit in well with the Ready Golf mantra and might just create a little bit of needle amongst some players when you find someone marking from 6 inches to lose the honour on purpose. This is the only downside I can see. If we are going to continue moaning about slow play then we need to admit that the old ‘honour’ system is way out of date. ■

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Columnist

Rafa Cabrera Bello

Scottish Open win was long overdue

I

’ve been fairly busy since my last column and I’m delighted to be writing this having ended a five year wait for a third European Tour title after winning the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July.

I’ve been in contention to win several times over the past few seasons and I felt that I didn’t do much wrong, it’s just that things did not go the way I wanted them to. But I still believed that I could do it – I’d done it before and I knew it was going to happen again, it was just taking a little bit more time than I desired! In the end, all you can do is to keep trying and to stay focused on your routine. Winning the Scottish Open was meant to be, it was my day. I played great golf, got the lucky breaks that I needed, ended up getting into a play-off, which I didn’t think I would make, and then I played well in the play-off and luckily that birdie was enough for me to get the win.

The introduction of the Rolex Series to the European Tour is extraordinary. We are very grateful and happy with how the events are going and to be part of the winner’s circle in the first year is very special.

I’m getting married at the end of this year so of course it’s a nice time to win, but I think it’s always a good time to win a Rolex Series winner’s cheque!

On the course, I was fighting and trying to catch the leaders in the final round, I think I was playing very well and I was keeping an eye on the leaderboard but I really wanted to focus on my game. But I honestly felt that it wasn’t going to be enough. Callum Shinkwin was playing great and he showed no signs of making any bogeys. However, he did bogey the 18th. In a play-off you have a 50-50 chance – some people said that I had the advantage and I agree because I was the one who was happy because I really did not expect to be there.

I do sympathise with Callum because I was in his shoes before and I know how it is when you do well throughout the tournament and yet don’t come out on top. I don’t think he should be regretting anything, it is easy to get down on yourself when you are so close to win but fail to clinch it in the end without doing much wrong.

I tried to keep the celebration simple as of course I had The Open the following week. We rented a house near Royal Birkdale and I enjoyed several nice dinners with my finance, family, friends and manager with

the lovely replica trophy they give you sitting next to us on the table! Back in the days when the Scottish Open was played at Loch Lomond Golf Club, the media often talked about the ‘curse of the Bonnie Banks’ which referred to players who won the Scottish Open suffering from a ‘hangover’ in The Open the following week, but I think Phil Mickelson proved it doesn’t exist anymore in 2013 when he won at Castle Stuart and then backed it up by lifting the Claret Jug at Muirfield!

In my case I do admit it was a different feeling because when a player approaches a Major the only thing they usually think about is the Major itself. But after winning a title after such a long time I was simply ecstatic!

I was too excited to sleep the first few nights after my victory.

Preparing for The Open was not easy as the practice rounds felt different for me with my emotions running high. But I managed to focus and I forgot the Scottish Open win as soon as I teed up on Thursday morning and I was very pleased that I finished in the top five for my highest finish in a Major.

After a great summer I’m now in the top five of the Race to Dubai rankings but I’m not thinking too far ahead at the moment. There is still a lot of golf to play both in the US and Europe, including the final Rolex Series events leading up to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. It would be nice to arrive at Jumeirah Golf Estates with a chance to fight for the Race to Dubai crown, but I will need to be on my game for the reminder of the season. The guys ahead of me – Tommy (Fleetwood), Sergio (Garcia) and Jon (Rahm) are playing great so we’ll see what happens!

On a more somber note I want to touch on the terror attack in Barcelona. It’s a huge tragedy and it’s not only my home country of Spain that has been affected as similar incidents have been happening all over Europe for the last decade. It is definitely something that worries all of us and it is an ongoing global problem. As players, golf is our livelihood but, in the end, it is only a game and when people have lost their lives like this it puts everything into perspective. ■ RAFA CABRERA BELLO IS A JA RESORTS & HOTELS AMBASSADOR.

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19

events

Emirates: A leading supporter of golf tournaments around the globe, Emirates is the Official Airline of 19 events on the European Tour International Schedule.

Tour News

Emirates Becomes Official Partner of The 2018 Ryder Cup

graphics on our global Tour Productions TV platform, enhanced social media and digital platform on a shared and collaborative reciprocal basis, engagement with players, stakeholders and fans through our collective worldwide platform plus other local, regional and global programmes that involve a network introduction model so we are all on the same page.”

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates THE European Tour last month announced that Emirates has Airline said: “We’re pleased to announce our continued partnership with the become an Official Partner of The 2018 Ryder Cup as European Tour. Golf is one of part of the four-year renewal of the Airline’s existing the world’s most popular Agreement with the Tour which will run until 2021. sports and Emirates proudly links golfers and fans alike to top HE 42nd edition of The Ryder Cup, that the airline is back golfing events and to be held at Le Golf National, Paris, on board for next year’s destinations around France, will host 24 of the top golfers event. “The renewal of the the globe. from Europe and the USA. Partnership Agreement “As the Official The agreement renewal means that between Emirates and Partner of The 2018 Emirates will continue to be a sponsor for the European Tour until Ryder Cup in France the existing nine European Tour events 2021 is exciting news for next year, we look forward which culminate in the prestigious DP World Dubai, the UAE and the Middle to further strengthening our Tour Championship on the Earth course at East. This long-term agreement relationship with the European Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai. enables us all to properly plan and 2018 European Ryder Cup Tour as well as engaging with They include the BMW PGA Championship, collaborate in a visionary and mutually Captain millions of golf fans around the the Nordea Masters, the D+D Real Czech beneficial partnership. These longThomas Bjørn world.’’

Masters, the Aberdeen Asset Management term projects can include some of the Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the Scottish Open, the Portugal Masters, the following initiatives: Toptracer and enhanced European Tour, said: “We are delighted to Italian Open, the Joburg Open, the South Africa continue our partnership with Emirates on Open Championship and the Nedbank Golf "Emirates partnering The the European Tour until 2021 and we also Challenge.

2018 Ryder Cup in Paris is welcome them on board as an Official Partner “Emirates partnering The 2018 Ryder huge news for the region. of The 2018 Ryder Cup. Cup in Paris is huge news for the region,” It’s a wonderful local story “I have no doubt our continued partnership said Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour that will resonate around with such a well-established and iconic global International Dubai Office. “It’s a wonderful the world and have an brand, and one which has vast experience in local story that will resonate around the enormous global impact." the sports sponsorship market, will be hugely world and have an enormous global impact. beneficial not just to the European Tour but Emirates last sponsored The Ryder Cup in – Nick Tarratt, Director also to The Ryder Cup.” 2010 at Celtic Manor when the European European Tour International Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of the Team triumphed over the Americans by just Dubai Office European Tour, commented: “This extension one point, 14.5-13.5, and it is significant

T

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"We are delighted to continue our partnership with Emirates on the European Tour until 2021 and we also welcome them on board as an Official Partner of The 2018 Ryder Cup." – Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour

cements the relationship between the Tour, Emirates Airlines and the region for a further four years. The European Tour values its relationship with the UAE and the end of season tournament, the DP World Tour Championship, is the climax of The Race to Dubai which continues to grow in stature year-on-year.

“This announcement and the successful

staging of many great tournaments in the region creates confidence which both parties can build upon and we fully expect to develop more tournaments in the Middle East over the next three years leading up to Expo 2020 in Dubai.

“Both the Challenge Tour and the Senior Tour have added tournaments staged in the UAE to their respective schedules in the last two years.

“The addition of Emirates as Partners of The 2018 Ryder Cup to this success story will create more interest in the region as it is one of the largest and most eagerly anticipated golf events in the world. Emirates’ support of golf, The Ryder Cup and the Race to Dubai continues to promote Dubai as a tourist destination with many great sporting events taking place every year.”

Emirates currently supports 19 events on the European Tour International Schedule, as well as the Race to Dubai. The 2017 European Tour features the ninth edition of the Race to Dubai, the winner of which is crowned European Number One at the end of the season. The reigning Race to Dubai champion is Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, while other players to have held the honour include former World Number Ones Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy. ■

Graeme McDowell (above) and Martin Kaymer (right) are both past champions at the Open de France at Le Golf National and both have had the honour of sealing the winning point at The Ryder Cup, McDowell at Celtic Manor in 2010 and Kaymer at Medinah in 2012.

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Pictured below: The 2010 European Ryder Cup Team celebrate their victory at Celtic Manor

Among the 19 events that Emirates continue to support as the Official Airline are the BMW PGA Championship, won this year by Alex Noren (pictured above), and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation, won

by Jon Rahm (pictured immediately above).

Race to Dubai movers and shakers THE European Tour is hurtling towards the finishing stretch at great pace and plenty of big moves have been made over a busy summer period of Major Championships, World Golf Championships and Rolex Series events.

Spain's Jon Rahm began the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation in third place on the Race to Dubai, and, after a stunning six-stroke victory that's where he stayed. However, the youngster was 1,019,362 points better off and closed the gap on compatriot Sergio Garcia in second place and leader Tommy Fleetwood. England's Fleetwood is set to take some time off to welcome the birth of his first child so he is in jeopardy of losing his grip on the top spot in the coming weeks.

Three Spaniards are positioned in the top four spots as Rafa Cabrera Bello moved up to fourth after his superb victory at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in July. England's Callum Shinkwin finished runner-up to Cabrera Bello and he made a huge move from 152nd up to 19th thanks to his second place finish, while France's Matthieu Pavon – a Challenge Tour graduate from last year – virtually sealed another year on the European Tour with his third place finish, moving up to 33rd on the ranking from 101st.

ENGLAND'S Jordan Smith, last year's winner on the Challenge Tour's Road to Oman, collected his first title on the European Tour at the Porsche European Open to move inside the top 20 on the Race to Dubai. Two weeks later he continued his fine form with a ninth place finish at the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow to move up to 16th on the ranking and pass the 1,000,000 point mark. Smith wasn't the only success story in North Carolina as Italian Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari signed off on his career-best finish in a Major with a second place finish to move from 17th to sixth on the Race to Dubai.

The man from Turin earned 662,733 points to move into contention on the season-long race.

American Patrick Reed moved into the top 60 for the first time this season as he shared second place with Molinari to take home the same number of points as the Italian.

The Race to Dubai trophy

Rafa Cabrera Bello

Francesco Molinari secures second place at the US PGA Championship.

WHILE Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar were facing off for the Claret Jug there was plenty of movement behind them for players looking to make a statement on the Race to Dubai. One player who did that was China's Haotong Li after he shot a stunning final round 63 to clinch third place outright and move from 35th to tenth on the ranking. England's Matthew Southgate signed off on his best performance in a Major (6th) to jump to 17th on the Race to Dubai. Three weeks earlier he had been as low as 146th but a runner-up finish in France saw him take a huge leap into the top 25. Cabrera Bello solidified his standing in the top ten as he followed his win in Scotland with a share of fourth place at Royal Birkdale.

Haotang Li

Callum Shinkwin

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COME FOR THE TOURNAMENT STAY FOr A HOLIDAY Come to enjoy the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge from 25th-28th October 2017.

The penultimate tournament of the 2017 European Challenge Tour at the spectacular, lagoon-wrapped Al Hamra Golf Club. Stay to discover the Emirate's rich culture, historical sites and natural vistas.

Make the most out of your ultimate golf staycation in Ras Al Khaimah.

• • • •

Stay + Play hotel packages Activities for children of all ages Several Food & Beverage options Entrance to the tournament is free of charge

Road to Oman heats up

Aaron Rai graudates after third win, to lead Road to Oman This year’s Road to Oman had its first Major success story after Aaron Rai earned an automatic promotion to the European Tour, while players behind him jostle for position to climb into the top 15 on the ranking.

Robin Sciot-Siegrist broke through with his first victory on the Challenge Tour with a two-stroke win over Alessandro Tadini in the Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open presented by Modest!

Golf. On a dramatic final day, coined ‘Shootout Sunday’ players played a series of six hole headto-head stroke play matches, with Sciot-Siegrist coming through five matches to take the trophy.

“It’s amazing,” said the 23 year old. “It’s my first full season as a pro. I am so happy because I’ve been working really hard this winter and holding this trophy, I don’t know how to describe it, it’s just pure joy,” said the Frenchman, who moved up to eighth on the Road to Oman. The format is great. Six holes, you have to be really in it from the very beginning, you don’t have a chance to make any mistakes.”

Aaron Rai earned an automatic promotion to the European Tour thanks to his third win of 2017 at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge. A superb five-stroke win over Morten Ørum Madsen was sealed with a stunning final round 66 and after re-taking the lead in the Road to Oman rankings the 22-year-old will now split his time between the Challenge and European Tours to the end of the season before taking his place among the elite next season. “It’s certainly the accomplishment of a life goal, earning a European Tour card,” said Rai. “In terms of the Number One Ranking, it’s obviously a nice thing to be able to say come the end of the year but you have to just play your golf and if that’s a by-product of it, it would be another amazing achievement. It’s been an amazing season so far, I certainly couldn’t have dreamed it going better at the start of the year, and it’s quite hard to put it into words.

Joel Sjoholm stormed up to fifth place on the Road to Oman rankings with the first Challenge Tour victory of his career at the Italian Challenge Open by Lyoness. Runner-up Bradley Neil moved up to seventh place.

On a cold and wet final round, England’s Paul Howard shot a 66 to win the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge by two strokes and vault up the Road to Oman rankings from 94th to 20th. Finishing in second place was Sweden’s Simon Forsstöm and he too made a meteoric jump from 85th to 33rd. Denmark’s Jeff Winther, who finished 11th on the 2015 Road to Oman and played on the European Tour last year but lost his card, finished third for his best result of the season.

Garrick Porteous clinched his first title since turning professional three years ago with a superb five-stroke win at the Prague Golf Challenge and with it he moved up to 16th on the Road to Oman rankings.

A superb final round 65 – the lowest of the tournament – helped Estanislao Goya clinch his first title in eight years at the Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson. The Argentine moved up to 11th place on the Road to Oman while runner-up Sihwan Kim of the United States moved up to 50th on the ranking in what was his seventh start of the year

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Tour News

World Round-Ups

The summer stretch saw the cream rise to the top as two Rolex Series events took place in Ireland and Scotland and a Challenge Tour graduate clinched his first European Tour title in superb fashion in Germany

JON RAHM BLITZES THE FIELD TO WIN AT ROYAL PORTRUSH

Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation

JON RAHM underlined his status as one of the hottest new players in world golf with a commanding six-stroke win at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.

The Spaniard posted rounds of 65-67-67-65 to sign for a 24-under-par 264 total and win ahead of Richie Ramsay and Matthew Southgate. "It's such a great honour now just to be part of the history of this event," said Rahm, who joined his heroes Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazábal and Sergio Garcia as winners of the event.

Richie Ramsay (left) shared second place behind Jon Rahm with England's Matthew Southgate

Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open

CABRERA BELLO GETS IT DONE AT DUNDONALD HE DID it the hard way, but Rafa Cabrera Bello finally won his first title in five and a half years with a play-off victory over Callum Shinkwin at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald Links. The Spaniard posted a final round 64 to set the clubhouse target and Shinkwin's late stumble saw him fall into a play-off with the Ryder Cup star. Cabrera Bello hit a superb second shot to the par-5 18th on their first play-off hole and a two-putt birdie gave him the title and a first win since the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

It was the 29-year-old's third win on Tour after he clinched his first at the 2009 Austrian Golf Open.

Jordan Smith – "I had a really good start to the year and my first aim was just to secure my European Tour card, which I managed to do. And then my second goal was to win an event, which I've also managed to do. It's all a bit surreal. Obviously, I won the Challenge Porsche European Open Tour last year and the EuroPro the year before that. It's been a fun ride."

SMITH HITS NEW HEIGHTS IN GERMANY LAST YEAR'S Road to Oman champion Jordan Smith highlighted his huge potential with a breakthrough win on the European Tour with a play-off win over defending champion Alex Levy at the Porsche European Open. The Englishman held the overnight lead and was involved in a tussle with the Frenchman with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions. Eventually, they signed for the same total but it is Smith who left with the trophy after winning with a birdie on the second play-off hole.

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US PGA Tour News

As the FedExCup draws to a conclusion and heads towards the Tour Championship at East Lake, let's take a look at who's been stepping into the winner's circle on the PGA Tour

Kyle Stanley takes the trophy in Washtingon DC (Above) as Charles Howell III reacts to a missed putt (left)

Xander Schauffele celebrates (above) while Robert Streb (right) leaves Greenbrier empty handed.

Bryson DeChambeau wins his first title at the John Deere Classic (above) with Patrick Rodgers (left) runner-up.

Grayson Murray wins for the first time at the Barbasol Championship.

Kyle Stanley claimed the second PGA Tour title of his career with a win in the Quicken Loans National in Maryland, beating Charles Howell III on the first hole of a play-off. Howell III had a chance to clinch the title in regulation and hit a superb-looking putt only to see it to slide narrowly past the cup.

Stanley, 29, clinched his first title since 2012 and as a result will tee it up in next year’s Masters Tournament for the first time since he made his breakthrough five years ago. Howell III’s play-off defeat was his fourth on Tour. The 38-year-old has two victories to his name and a staggering 16 runner-up finishes. His last win came ten years ago at the Nissan Open.

The following week it was rookie Xander Schauffele who tasted success as he wrapped up a maiden win with a oneshot triumph over Robert Streb at The Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia.

The 27-year-old, who shared fifth place at the US Open, closed with a 67 to finish on 14-under-par and he, like Stanley, also punched his ticket to Augusta National next April. F For Streb it was the second time he had finished runner-up at The Greenbrier, having lost out to Danny Lee in a four-man play-off two years ago. Jamie Lovemark finished third for his fourth top-ten of the campaign and a much needed boost up the FedExCup standing.

The Tour headed west to Illinois for the John Deere Classic at the Old White TPC and coming out on top was the self-proclaimed Golf Scientist, Bryson DeChambeau. The 23-year-old Californian, whose shaft lengths are all the same, shot a final round 6-under 66 to come out on top by one, ahead of Patrick Rodgers and earn a spot in the following week’s Open Championship.

Rodgers started the day with a twostroke lead but a late bogey halted his attempt to seal a maiden Tour victory.

DeChambeau became the tenth first-time winner of this year’s PGA Tour season.

“I’ve just been working so hard my whole life to try and do this,” said an ecstatic DeChambeau. “ To finally have it happen at the John Deere is just incredible."

The following week down in Alabama it was Grayson Murray’s turn to add his name to the list of first-time winners as he wrapped up a nervy one-stroke win over Chad Collins at the Barbasol Championship. Overnight leader Scott Stallings stalled to a level par 71 and Murray’s 68 was good enough to finish on 21-under-par, clear of Collins with Stallings in a share of third place.

History was made North of the border seven days later as Jhonattan Vegas

became the sixth player to successfully defend the RBC Canadian Open, following the likes of Sam Snead and Jim Furyk, with a play-off victory over Charley Hoffman. Vegas got up and down for birdie on the first hole of sudden-death and when Hoffman’s birdie splash from the bunker skirted past the hole Vegas was left to celebrate a third PGA Tour title.

“I would say this has to be the sweetest victory out of the three,” said Vegas.

“Having my wife and daughter here, and especially my daughter, it's hard to compare that." Hoffman had to settle for his sixth top ten of the season while Ian Poulter finished third after moving up 13 places with a final round 64.

The Tour headed West again, to Nevada, where Chris Stroud became the newest member of the first-timer club with a play-off win over Richy Werenski and Greg Owen at the Barracuda Championship.

Played in a Stableford format, the trio all returned 44 points after four rounds but it was Stroud who came out on top in the play-off with a birdie on the second extra hole.

"I played beautifully,” said Stroud. “I had some really nice little bounces that I hadn’t been getting in the last few weeks and capitalised on them and made some good birdies.”

The Barracuda Championship was played alongside the WGCBridgestone Invitational for those who couldn’t get into the field at Firestone. Those who did qualify for the third WGC of the year were the best of the best, as Hideki Matsuyama proved with a stunning final round 61 to romp to a five-stroke win over Zach Johnson.

Belgian Thomas Pieters was the top European, in fourth place, but his 1-over par 71 in the final round saw him fall out of contention.

Paul Casey finished in a share of fifth alongside Rory McIlroy, Russell Knox and Candian Adam Hadwin, while there were also top tens for Rickie Fowler, Thorbjørn Olesen and Scott Hend.

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Jhonattan Vegas celebrates after successfully defending in Canada (above) while Charley Hoffman (above left) continues his hunt for a sixth Tour title...

Chris Stroud comes out on top at the Barracuda Championship (above) ahead of England's Greg Owen (above right inset).

Hideki Matsuyama won the WGCBridgestone with a final round 61 but Thomas Pieters (above left inset) shot ten shots more to finish in fourth place.

Rory McIlroy won the 2016 FedExCup with his win at the Tour Championship, but uncertainty hangs over his participation in the Play-Offs due to injury. Matsuyama leads the points list narrowly ahead of Justin Thomas with Jordan Spieth third and Dustin Johnson fourth.

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JORDAN SMITH

ROAD TO OUTSTANDING SUCCESS Worldwide GOLF 33

WORDS: SCOTT GRAYSTON

T

HE FINE LINE THAT SPLITS SUCCESS FROM FAILURE MAKES GOLF THE MOST EXCITING YET FRUSTRATING SPORT THERE IS. FOR AN EMERGING TALENT IT’S A HARD SLOG TO FULFIL THE HOPES OF COMPLETING THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY THROUGH THE VARIOUS TIERS ALL THE WAY TO THE PINNACLE OF THE ELITE LEVEL OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR. HAVING SECURED YOUR TOUR CARD, THE NEXT MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB IS TO KEEP IT! THAT WAS THE ORDEAL FACING ONE OF THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL STARS, 24-YEAR-OLD JORDAN SMITH. HAVING MADE THE GRADE IN INSPIRING STYLE, SMITH, AS HE TELLS SCOTT GRAYSTON IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, IS ENJOYING A FAIRYTALE ROOKIE SEASON ON THE TOUR.

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JORDAN SMITH

H

is outstanding performances thus far have proved convincingly that the hype is totally justified. With an impressive debut victory in the Porsche European Tour Open in July followed by a majestic Major performance in finishing tied-ninth as the best-placed Brit in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, he has hit the ground running.

For a likeable, modest young man Smith has taken the transition in his stride.

Did he think his meteoric success would occur so soon? “What can I say, this season’s gone completely above and beyond my expectations,” he says after surging into the world’s top 70.

“I came into the year with a lot of confidence for finishing top on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Oman. I had set myself the goal of keeping

my card the following year which I have managed to do surprisingly quickly. I merely reset the goals and made winning an event my main objective – and now that’s been achieved, too!”

Smith sealed his maiden European Tour title in dramatic fashion defeating the reigning champion, Alexander Levy, in a playoff to lift the 2017 Porsche European Open, shooting a flawless third round when the pressure was on. It required immense composure and ability for Smith to overcome his highly experienced well-established opponent to reach the pinnacle of his burgeoning career.

The Bath-born Smith faced a career-defining situation with a play-off against one of France’s finest. But it was his family who were struggling to handle the heat of the moment. “My dad had to get out of the house to take his mind off things,” says Smith who earned a staggering €333,334 for his victory.

“He could only bear to watch the last two holes in regulation and the play-off holes. He just couldn’t take

"MY SUCCESS THIS SEASON HAS PROVEN THAT THE CHALLENGE TOUR IS THE IDEAL PREPARATION FOR THE TOP FLIGHT."

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JORDAN SMITH POSES WITH HIS all the tension.

FIRST EVER EUROPERAN TOUR “I knew I only TROPHY AFTER BEING TRIUMPHANT IN THE 2017 PORSCHE EUROPEAN had one guy OPEN. left to beat,” he continues. “I was has teed it up alongside Rory full of confidence with my and Co. enjoying the finest game so I wasn’t as nervous hospitality imaginable. So he as I thought I’d be in the appreciates all aspects of the situation.” professional game.

Having a vast amount “The big difference of aptitude and the right between the EuroPro and attitude isn’t enough in the European Tour is the professional golf. Success standard of players, the demands consistency, course set-up and everything patience and the ability that goes on behind the to strive under pressure scenes that make the which Smith has constantly tournaments so special. displayed in abundance “My success this throughout his brief career. season has proven that the Challenge Tour is the Route to the top ideal preparation for the He took the conventional top flight. It got me used to route on his journey to the travelling around the world, European Tour. Having turned living out of a suitcase for professional in 2014, he weeks on end and being won both the EuroPro Tour, away from home for over a the third tier of European month at a time. It was good golf, and then, 12 months experience because it didn’t later, topped the fiercely have large sums of money, competitive Challenge Tour’s big crowds and TV cameras, Road to Oman, to secure his so this season hasn’t been full playing rights on the main as daunting as it might have Tour for the 2017 season. been.”

It was only a couple of Smith's ability to remain seasons ago when he had to relaxed and confident in front lead a frugal lifestyle in order of the cameras and colossal to survive and this year he crowds was put to the test

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JORDAN SMITH

last month when he competed in the US PGA Championship, the first Major of his career. Many rookies might have quivered at the thought of competing at the highest level but that’s not Smith’s mindset, which was evident in his one-under-par performance, finishing a stroke ahead of both world No.1 Dustin Johnson and the Iceman Henrik Stenson. “Getting my first win and then appearing in my first Major are definitely the best two weeks I’ve ever known,” says Smith.

“Just to compete in a Major was an unbelievable experience. When I landed in the States they had a car there waiting for me to have all week and drive where I want. The hospitality was incredible with everything being much bigger and better than I had been used to. The crowds were louder as well, which I really enjoyed.”

It was another young golfer who won the final Major of the season, Justin Thomas, who ironically pitched up against Smith and 2016 DP World Tour Championship winner Matthew Fitzpatrick four years ago in the Walker Cup. Very few would have predicted the success these three would go on to achieve. It’s baffling to believe that they are all aged only 24 or younger.

JORDAN (R) LIFTS HIS ROAD TO OMAN TITLE ALONGSIDE With the way the BERND RITTHAMMER (L) WITH HIS NBO GOLF CLASSIC GRAND FINAL TROPHY. European Tour and PGA Tour schedules are set up, many top players like Stenson, Smith has enjoyed phenomenal McIlroy, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and success in such a short stint as a Patrick Reed compete on both Tours. professional golfer but he’s quick to The newly introduced Rolex Series has acknowledge the enormous support helped to entice several stars to play he has received from his family and European Tour events but Smith would friends, including members at his local like to mix the two Tours into his roster golf club. in the forthcoming years.

“I’m eternally grateful for the number of people who have sacrificed Golfing idol so much to help and support me in my “I could definitely see myself playing career. My dad didn't want me to get in the States in the future. There’s no a job, just so I could play golf full time doubt I want to still be based in Europe and my mum even had two jobs. There but I'd definitely like to have a card on were also around a dozen members both Tours at some point.” of Bowood Golf Club who helped me The temptation of playing in the out so I had the chance to play in big States doesn’t come as a huge surprise amateur events and go to Tour School. to those who know Smith. It was his Without these people I wouldn’t be idol Tiger Woods who convinced him where I am today so I owe a lot to them to pick up a golf club in the first place and their generosity.” when Smith was aged 12.

This season Smith has only missed “I remember my Dad and I watching two cuts in 22 tournaments played The Masters on TV when Tiger won in and, more importantly, has one title, groundbreaking style. At the time, we five top 10s and lies 16th in the Race had just moved to Wiltshire with the to Dubai. His spot in the prestigious Bowood Golf Resort and Spa right on season-ending DP World Tour our doorstep about a 100-yards away Championship on the Earth course so I thought I’d give it a go! I would walk at Jumeirah Golf Estates is already up to the Golf Club after school and at secured, which is testament to his weekends and practice as much as I imperious form. could, hoping that one day I’d hit it like “At the start of the year I had Tiger.” achieving a spot at the DP World

“I’M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO HELP AND SUPPORT ME IN MY CAREER”

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SMITH SIGNS AUTOGRAPHS FOR FANS DURING THE US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHAT TOURNAMENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO WIN IF YOU COULD PICK ONE?

It would have to be The Open Championship because it’s the biggest golf tournament in the world and would be in front of a home crowd.

BEST PALS PLAYING AT US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

It was nice having Brandon Stone, Ryan Fox and Tyrrell Hatton out at the US PGA as I managed to play some practice rounds with them and it was good to have some familiar faces around.

Tour Championship in the back of my mind because you know you’ve had a good year if you get into the event.

Now I can’t wait for it. It’s the biggest tournament of the year, apart from the Majors, so it will be a massive week for me. But I’ll go into it without any expectations and hope to enjoy myself and round off a great year in style.”

Local flavour Playing tournaments and practicing in the UAE is something Smith enjoys and his game has flourished as a result, becoming the inaugural champion of the Ras Al Khaimah 2016 Golf Challenge on the Challenge Tour.

“My victory in RAK was massive,” says Smith, “and it secured my spot as the leader of the Road to Oman which was a huge confidence booster for me. The tournament was absolutely awesome. I loved playing on the course, situated on the seafront in perfect weather conditions. The facilities in the UAE are the best in the world and there are so many excellent courses in such a small area.”

It may seem preposterous, given his rapid rise to fame, but with the way Smith is performing, a rookie Ryder Cup berth in Thomas Bjorn’s European team isn’t out of the question. “There’s definitely a chance of me making the squad, that’s for sure,” says Smith. “It’s every golfer’s dream to play in that tournament.”

With the speed at which his career has progressed so far, he could well add another chapter to this astonishing fairytale story by featuring in the 2018 or 2020 Ryder Cup and perhaps including a Major trophy to put on his mantelpiece at some point as well.

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RYAN FOX

FOXY IN THE HUNT FOR EUROPEAN TOUR SUCCESS Ryan Fox has been making steady progress in his golfing career since turning professional in 2012. The son of All Black rugby union legend Grant Fox, Ryan is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour of Australia and a two-time winner on the Challenge Tour. In 2015 he missed out on a European Tour card by one place in the Road to Oman rankings but put that right last year by finishing fourth, thanks to victory in Northern Ireland and seven additional top tens.

This year on the European Tour he started steadily and three top-ten finishes in Rolex Series events in France, Ireland and Scotland have all-but guaranteed him a spot in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship to compete in a field with the 60 best players on the European Tour. Worldwide Golf’s Todd Statzsko spoke to the likeable young Kiwi about his career so far and what it takes to mix it with the elite out on Tour.

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WWG: A er two years on the Challenge Tour, how are you adjusting to life on the European Tour and how has your game changed during those two years?

Ryan Fox: I'm really enjoying life on the European Tour. It took a little more time than I expected to feel comfortable out there but I’m really loving it now. My game has got more consistent over the last couple of years, everything is just a bit tighter. It’s certainly been a help to be able to play a full schedule the last couple of years.

WWG: What are the most noticeable differences between European Tour and Challenge Tour events?

RF: The two most noticeable differences are the set up of the golf courses and the number of quality players. We played some great courses on the Challenge Tour but they generally played alot easier than the European Tour courses. The European Tour courses generally are longer, firmer and have a bit more rough which means you have to be sharper with everything to score. There are some brilliant players on the Challenge Tour and it’s getting stronger every year but the depth of players is obvously much greater on the European Tour. On top of that there are always some of the biggest names in golf playing every week. It’s awesome to be able to test your game against the guys you grew up watching on TV. WWG: The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Oman has been touted as a European Tour event-in-waiting by some in the game, what are your thoughts on the event and the course?

RF: It’s a great event and a super golf course.

I think it was one of the best, if not the best, course we played on the Challenge Tour and it’s a good test of golf. It would be a great fit to take the step up to the European Tour.

WWG: You had a strong summer which propelled you up the Race to Dubai, but what were your goals heading into this season and have they changed at all a er that threeweek blitz of top tens in France, Ireland and Scotland?

RF: The first goal heading into the season was to keep my card and then to push into that top 60 on the Race to Dubai. It was a great three weeks in the Rolex Series events, to be in contention and to be able to tick off a couple of goals so early in the season. It’s all happened so fast I haven’t had a chance to reassess the goals yet but the obvious one is to win a European Tour event. It was great to get into contention those three weeks in a row and I would love to put myself in that situation again going into the final part of the season.

WWG: You had a great week at St Andrews two years ago in your debut at a Major Championship – what can you take away from your week there and at Quail Hollow this year?

RF: I really enjoyed the week at Quail Hollow.

RYAN HOLDS THE TROPHY ALOFT AFTER WINNING THE TAYTO NORTHERN IRELAND OPEN ON LAST SEASON'S CHALLENGE TOUR.

"The first goal heading into the season was to keep my card and then to push into that top 60 on the Race to Dubai. It was a great three weeks in the Rolex Series events."

The last round wasn't quite what I wanted but to have an afternoon tee time on the Sunday of a Major was a pretty cool experience and one I can learn a lot from. I played some great golf throughout the week and to be able to compete with the world’s best and to hold a course record at a Major (if only for a few hours) will be something I will never forget.

WWG: What are your thoughts on the US PGA Championship moving to May and the European Tour’s BMW Championship moving to September?

RF: I think it’s good for golf. Having only played each event once it’s hard to make an educated comment on it, but I think it will de-clutter the schedule a bit and will be great for the condition of the courses. Late summer/early autumn in London will be a bit more settled weather-wise I think and May should be a bit cooler and less susceptible to storms in the US. WWG: You’re currently sixth on the Tour’s

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Driving Distance with an average of 319.3 yards. What are the key things to ge ing the most out of your driver?

RF: The biggest key is having a driver that works for you. Getting fitted with the right shaft, and club specs makes a massive difference.

The club manufacturers spend a lot of time fine tuning players’ clubs for them and you can see the results. In terms of swinging it, rhythm is key. You want the speed there when you make contact with the ball, not on the way back or in the transition. You see that a lot with amateurs when they try to hit it hard.

WWG: Given your length off the tee, are you looking forward to the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates and have you played the Earth course before? Plus what are your thoughts on Dubai holding the season ending event?

RF: I haven’t played it before and I am very much looking forward to it. I've heard the course is fantastic and suits long hitters so that works

RYAN FOX

well for me. It’s great that Dubai holds the end of season event. The weather is always great, the golf courses are in fantastic condition, it’s a fun city to play in and they know how to put on a great event.

WWG: You played the three events in the Middle East swing this year. Do you have a favourite event or course out of the three?

How essential are these events in preparing you for the season.

RF: It’s a good start to the year in the Middle East. They are three good golf courses and they get great fields every year. All the guys look forward to those events and they were some of the tournaments I was excited about playing after I got my card. It’s hard to pick a favourite but I really enjoyed the Abu Dhabi course. That also might have something to do with playing well there and a Saturday pairing with Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler!

WWG: What did it mean to you to represent your country in the Olympics to become a golfing ‘All Black”?

RF: It was one of my proudest moments to be selected for the Olympics. I grew up playing team sports and to be selected for your country was always the pinnacle. There aren’t too many opportunities to do it in golf and to be able to do it in the biggest sporting event in the world and to be part of a New Zealand team encompassing so many other top athletes was a huge honour.

WWG: Sport obviously runs in the family

hit plastic balls around with and got into it playing with dad at around 10. I joined a local club at 13 and still have good mates at that club I play golf with when I’m at home. I never had any pressure to play rugby although I enjoyed playing it growing up. Mum and Dad were always supportive in whatever I wanted to do.

RYAN'S FAMOUS RUGBY PLAYING DAD, GRANT FOX IN ACTION.

"I always had a club growing up just to hit plastic balls around with and got into it playing with dad at around 10."

– were there any pressures on you to follow your father into rugby and how were you introduced into the game of golf?

RF: I always had a club growing up just to

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WWG: How many shots these days do you give your dad and who wins?

RF: I give dad a few these days. He plays some decent golf off four but doesn't play that often anymore. He takes 10 off me when he plays now and he’s pretty competitive so it’s always a good battle when we play! I would like to say I get the better of him but when he’s on he has soundly beaten me a few times.

WWG: What’s the best piece of advice he’s given you when it comes to golf?

RF: It’s not so much golfing advice but life advice. He’s always said to me to work as hard as I can to be the best that i can be. If you become the best you can be and it doesn't work out you can still be proud of yourself.

WWG: Best piece of advice you could give a young pro looking to make a career on Tour?

RF: The best advice I could give is to learn what works for you and don’t mess with it.

There are so many different swings on Tour, different routines, different practice habits and they all work for each individual. You just need to find out what works for you.

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RAYHAN THOMAS

RICHARD BEVAN TALKS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE UAE’S NO.1 AMATEUR RAYHAN THOMAS ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN A HUGE SUMMER IN THE 17 YEAR OLD’S DEVELOPMENT WHICH HAS SEEN HIM PROVE HIS ABILITY AGAINST THE VERY BEST PLAYERS OF HIS AGE ON THE WORLD STAGE.

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RAYHAN ENJOYED A PRACTICE ROUND WITH AMERICAN STAR, DEFENDING CHAMPION RICKIE FOWLER AHEAD OF THIS YEAR'S ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

TO

say that Rayhan Thomas has had an eventful summer would be something of an understatement. As a follow-up to last year’s heroics, when the 17-year-old, who is Dubai’s great golfing hope, became the first amateur to win a MENA Tour event at the Dubai Creek Open, the talented young prodigy has raised the bar yet further, with a string of new milestones reached and breached.

Invited to play in such prestigious global events like the Junior Invitational and the British Amateur, he then made the field for the biggest junior event in the world, the US Junior Amateur – a tournament won previously by the likes of Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth – where he became the first Indian player to reach the semi-final stage. But biggest of all, Thomas finished as the highest ranked International player in the inaugural Junior Presidents Cup Rankings – giving him top billing on 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman’s team for the newly instated biennial contest against the USA, this year led by David Toms, when the event gets underway at Plainfield Country Club New Jersey on September 25-26.

One of Thomas’ greatest attributes, outside of his unerring talent, is his maturity and ability to keep his feet on the ground despite the accolades and global media attention

"ALL THE MILESTONES THAT I’VE REACHED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS INCREASE MY CONFIDENCE" increasing in direct correlation with his everincreasing upward trajectory in the game. But he’s now risen to 51st in the World Amateur Golf Rankings – and he’s still a junior – and even he must be starting to get excited about what the future holds.

“In the future, you never know, anything could happen,” says Thomas who teed it up alongside Rickie Fowler in a practice round ahead of this year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and played with 2016 Masters Champion Danny Willett in the final round of the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic. “I just keep doing my best and if I continue like this, in an upward graph, hopefully I’ll be able to get onto the Tour and become one of the best players in the world.

“Finishing No.1 on the Presidents Cup Rankings is huge for me. To be the No.1 seed for the International side, means a lot. To know that all the years of hard work have paid off and

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allowed me to become one of the best juniors in the world gives me a lot of confidence and will hopefully translate into a lot of good play for the rest of this year and into next year.”

When Thomas gets his first taste of a worldclass team event alongside the best players in his age group outside of Europe, not only will he gain invaluable insight from his Major-winning team captain, he will also enjoy the inspiring experience of having two of the game’s most revered players to draw from as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player are acting as Honorary Captains for the respective teams.

“To rub shoulders with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will be awesome,” he says. “They are two of the greatest players ever to play the game. To pick the brains of two multiple Major championship winners will be invaluable. It will be brilliant to learn how they worked around their swing on the golf course, coped with the

RAYHAN THOMAS

mental side of the game – on and off the golf course – dealt with media, etc. These are things that hopefully one day I will have to deal with and to be able to talk to two guys who achieved so much as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will mean a lot.”

The Junior Presidents Cup will be another opportunity for Thomas to show what he can do on the world stage. For followers of golf in the UAE, the potential of the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club member, who is coached at the Butch Harmon School of Golf, has long been known. From graduating the Emirates Golf Federation’s Junior Development Programme, then dominating the EGF’s Order of Merit to become the region’s No.1 amateur, to spreading his wings internationally, winning the prestigious Scottish Boys and last year’s monumental achievement of winning on the MENA Tour and topping the amateur Order of Merit.

But 2017 has been the year that Thomas has proven he can truly mix it with the best of his peers around the world. Only the best players in the world are invited to play in the Junior Invitational. In April this year Thomas was one of them and from a top-class field of 54 at Sage Valley Golf Club in Georgia, a mere 9-iron from the famous Augusta National and bearing many similarities, he finished tied 13th.

WORLD-BEATING POTENTIAL “The Junior Invitational is a fantastic event, it was probably the best hospitality I’ve ever experienced,” says Thomas. “The welcome they give you and the way they treat you is very prestigious and makes you want to go back every year. I’d recommend any junior to put in a lot of hard work to try to get into that event.

I played well and shot 4-under on the last day which was great. I obviously wish I’d done even better but at the end of the day, tied 13th in such a high-ranking junior event is good and I learned a lot from it.”

In July Thomas tested his mettle against the best ‘any age group’ amateurs in the world at the British Amateur and equipped himself admirably, narrowly missing the cut by a stroke after a missed four-footer led to a bogey at the last at Royal St Georges. But it was in the world’s premier junior event – the US Junior Amateur at Flint Hills National Golf Club, Kansas that the Shaikh Maktoum Foundationbacked youngster really served noticed on his world-beating potential. After enjoying a glorious run to the semi-finals – a feat no Indian player has ever achieved – there was no shame in being beaten 5 and 4 by eventual champion, Noah Goodwin.

“The US Junior Amateur was unbelievable,” he says. “The USGA does a fantastic job in the way it runs the tournament and the condition of the course at Flint Hills was incredible. To reach the semi-finals and to finish third in the biggest junior event in the world means a lot and shows that I have what it takes to play at the highest junior level. But at the same time, I would have loved to have made the finals and possibly got a US Amateur spot but it is what it is and I know what have to work on. Noah had the game from the start. He just played much better than I did

RAYHAN IS EYEING FURTHER SUCCESS AFTER A SUMMER TO REMEMBER.

"THE USGA DOES A FANTASTIC JOB IN THE WAY IT RUNS THE TOURNAMENT AND THE CONDITION OF THE COURSE AT FLINT HILLS WAS INCREDIBLE" that day so hats off to him but I can’t wait to get at it again next year.

HUGE MILESTONE “All the milestones that I’ve reached over the past few years increase my confidence," he continues. "It works both ways – reaching each milestone gives me confidence but at the same time I wouldn’t reach them if I didn’t have it in me in the first place. But I keep gaining in experience and confidence which will hopefully lead me into a professional career where I can lean back on what I’ve achieved and learn from my amateur and junior days and use that to have a successful professional career. All of this stuff is very important and trying to tick off all of my goals over the next few years is essential for my future and my growth.”

Another huge milestone will be reached when Thomas represents the International Team in the inaugural Junior Presidents Cup later this month and then it’s on to New Zealand for the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in October and the All India Amateur Championship in Bangalore in December. All this against the backdrop of completing the 11th grade in high school and getting the required S.A.T. scores

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before he begins talking to colleges in America ahead of the next stage of his golfing adventure begins Stateside.

That’s the scary thing about this outrageously talented product of the Dubai golf system. It’s easy to forget he’s still just a schoolboy. And he may be the epitome of cool, calm and collectedness but make no mistake, this boy is full of quiet confidence in his ability.

With a good few years as an amateur still ahead of him before stepping up to the pro ranks, he’s aiming right at the top.

“100% I’ve got my eyes set on the No.1 spot,” he smiles. “Who doesn’t think about trying to become World No.1 – this is what we play for, to try to be the best at what we do. If, over the next three or four years, I can try to get into that No.1 spot and solidify a position there, it would be fantastic for me and my game. Because we all know, if you can be the best amateur, you probably have a chance of being a very good professional as well.

“So, I definitely have my eye on the No.1 spot, in both the amateur and the professional game!”

Everything he’s achieved so far points to him having more than a fighting chance at both.

EQUIPMENT IR ONS

CLEVELAND’S

BACK! T

HE objective is simple but compelling for Cleveland: “We’re trying to make easyto-hit long irons blending into easy-to-control short irons,” said Cleveland’s Senior Product Manager Brian Schielke.

This statement will excite golfers as Cleveland launch their first iron sets in over two years.

This month, eGolf Megastore’s technical whiz kid, Jason Ashley, reviews the Cleveland CBX which has a classic

shape, but blends forgiveness and performance through combining some of their wedge technology into an iron, and the Cleveland Launcher HB iron which is an ultra-forgiving alternative. Here’s what he had to say…

“I’ve got many fond memories of Cleveland irons. I had a set of TA3s when I first started out as a youngster and played some pretty good golf with them.

“Cleveland haven’t released a set of irons for a while so I’m intrigued to see how the CBX and the HB irons perform.”

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WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

WWGolfMag

GOLF GEAR

CLEVELAND CBX IRONS WITH this club, they’ve taken what they have learned with their new wedges and moved that technology into a set of irons.

This is unique and interesting.

It’s got the V-shaped sole as you can see in the RTX wedges to help with turf interaction and launch.

In addition, if you catch the ball slightly heavier, the V-sole will help the club maintain speed through impact as well as maintaining speed through a variety of lies.

It’s a progressive V-sole, with the longer irons the V-sole is not as pronounced, having a slightly flatter, more traditional sole to match the shallower

angle of attack for those clubs. It progresses to a more pronounced V -shape in the sole, for the short irons that match the steeper angle of attack for those clubs.

Cleveland have also used the same groove pattern as the RTX 3 wedges, which are the Tour Zip Grooves. This, combined with the double laser milling in the CBX irons, will help you achieve consistent spin from a variety of different lies, promoting good distance control and flight.

Furthermore, weight is saved in the hosel and is moved towards the impact zone for better feel and distance control. This is called Feel Balancing Technology.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS • Nice looking golf club with thicker top line at address which inspires confidence.

• It’s so easy to hit straight even on off-centred hits.

• Unbelievable results with consistent spin rates.

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER HB IRONS The Launcher is all about forgiveness and without being too cliché, the launch! It’s got a distinctive look about it with a hollow body construction in a large head size that allows Cleveland to shift the centre of gravity as far back from the face as possible. This will assist with your launch and forgiveness.

Weight is also distributed

into the perimeter of the golf club to stabilise the club on off-centered hits, increasing the MOI of the club. Higher MOI means more forgiveness.

The Launcher also has a High Strength Steel face to maximise ball speed. This club is all about forgiveness and high launch and aimed at the golfer who needs help in those areas.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS • It’s got a thick top line and you can really notice that HiBore crown sticking out at the back.

• Feels and performs well and is incredibly forgiving.

• Surprising how good it felt off the face.

ALL IN ALL I’m really impressed by both of these new Cleveland clubs. The CBX is ideal for a midhandicapper to a low handicapper and you’ll soon notice that when you test it out. The performance is exceptional and it’s very easy to hit. It has consistent spin rates and goes very straight so I see it doing particularly well in the market. The HB is a club that lots of players should be using because of the amount of forgiveness it has. If you are struggling with consistency, hit it low or use two or three hybrids, theses may well be the irons your game needs and it will make your game much easier. Don’t be put off trying them just because they don’t look classical. If you’re interested, come down and give these clubs a hit – head to eGolf Megastore where you can test them out and compare them to your own set.

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EQUIPMENT

FAIR WAY WOODS

FA I R WAY

WO O D S

ICONIC VERSATILITY WITH MODERN POWER

The new Steelhead XR Fairway woods from Callaway are a joy to behold and sure to hit the spot with higher handicappers as well as better players.

The original Steelhead was one of the most popular fairway woods of all time because of its uniquely beautiful shape and innovative Hawkeye Sole, which enhanced versatility by encouraging smooth turf interaction to promote solid contact from almost any lie.

With the new Steelhead XR Fairway Woods, Callaway has improved that iconic shape, made the head more forgiving and easy to launch, and refined the sole to make it even more versatile and playable than the

original Steelhead Fairway. It has also been improved with modern, powerproducing technologies to promote more distance, both off the turf and from the tee.

“With these new clubs and the modern technology they incorporate, you’re going to see a real innovation again from Callaway of how easy it is to hit from any type of lie,” says Brendan O’Leary, Custom Fit Specialist for Golf House.

Steelhead XR head combines a steel face and body with a J-36 carbon crown, weighing just 6 grams, which is at least 20 grams lighter than the previous XR Fairway crowns.

The weight saved by the crown allows more weight distribution in strategic

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GOLF GEAR

locations within the head to position the CG lower and more forward, making Steelhead XR easy to launch with low spin – another way it resembles the original.

The modern Hawkeye Sole has been re-contoured to increase versatility by reducing friction with the turf to promote clean, square contact more often, even from tall grass.

Next-generation Hyper Speed Face Cup technology incorporates an extremely thin and flexible boundary area to encourage fast ball speed across a larger area of the face for long distance, even on mishits.

Callaway’s Speed Step technology, developed from a unique collaboration with aerospace experts, improves the head’s aerodynamics to promote faster head speed for more distance while the premium stock shaft, Mitsubishi Tensei CK, is engineered to deliver the optimum balance of power and control.

Jason Eilerd, also a Custom Fit Specialist for Golf House, adds: “A new J-36 carbon is being used on the crown which takes roughly 20 grams of weight and distributes it around the club face for easier launch, more forgiveness and more power. The use of Speed Step helps with the aerodynamics of the shot and increases swing speed.”

So, if you’re looking a highly modern club, which delivers versatility and power in equal measures, the XR Fairway Wood could be just the ticket.

THE LOWDOWN:

Easy Launch from Classic Steelhead Shape + Modern Hawkeye Sole New improved version of the iconic Steelhead shape and a refined Hawkeye Sole to create a versatile, confidencebuilding head that’s super-easy to launch.

Fast Ball Speed from Next-Generation Face Cup Technology Next-generation Hyper Speed Face Cup is exceptionally efficient at delivering fast ball speed and distance across the entire face, especially on mishits.

Extreme Forgiveness from a J-36 Carbon Crown and Shorter Hosel Lightweight J-36 carbon crown saves substantial weight that’s repositioned in the perimeter for more forgiveness, easier launch, lower spin and added power. The shorter hosel frees up even more weight in the head and looks appealing too.

Fast Head Speed from Speed Step Technology Developed with direct input from aerospace experts, the proprietary Speed Step improves aerodynamics for fast swing speed and distance.

Premium Stock Shaft for Power and Control Stock Mitsubishi Tensei CK shaft delivers a nice balance of power and control.

Tech Specs:

Mitsubishi Tensei CK Shaft available in 3+ (13.5°), 3 (15°), 4+ (16°), 5 (18°), 7 (21°), 9-wood (24°) and Heavenwood (20.5°) Women’s available in 3, 5, 7, 9 and Heavenwood.

Women’s left hand available through custom only

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GOLF HOUSE CUSTOM FITTERS BRENDAN O’LEARY (L) AND JASON EILERD (R) SHOW OFF THE NEW CALLAWAY STEELHEAD XR.

EQUIPMENT SHAFTS

S E T T L I N G T H E SCO R E

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GOLF GEAR

T

HE fascination with investing in the latest golf clubs is evident all the time but people often forget about other pivotal components that affect your swing and performance on the course – like your shaft. eGolf Megastore’s technical expert Jason Ashley explains the importance of having the correct shaft that has been specifically fitted to suit your swing and delves into the impact a shaft has on your swing speed, trajectory and ball-striking.

IMPORTANCE OF SHAFTS THERE are a variety of different opinions when it comes to golf shafts. Some people believe they are important and make a huge difference but some golfers don’t think they are as important as made out.

I believe that shafts are incredibly important. Over the years that I’ve been custom-fitting I’ve seen the differences that shafts make to a player’s ball flight, spin and dispersion. Time and time again I see the value of shafts and finding the right shaft for a player is crucial.

I remember once reading an article that used an analogy showing the shaft’s function at impact by picturing a truck having a headon collision. Basically, it explained that the shaft would be like the aerial of a truck at impact to prove that the shaft has no affect at the moment of impact.

Although I agree in some respects, the analogy falls short because if there were no shaft there would be no impact. Hence it might be better to picture the shaft as the wheels on the truck, delivering the truck to its collision.

FUNCTIONALITY THE shaft plays a role in how you get the clubhead back to the ball from a horizontal and vertical perspective. Your face angle is affected by the shaft and the loft and angle of attack is influenced by the shaft. Each shaft has its own unique profile – that’s why you’ll see so many different brands in eGolf Megastore.

From an engineering viewpoint, this is called an EI Profile and many manufacturers give you this information in charts so you can see that, or in terms of kick-points to help understand a complex topic.

When we swing a golf club one of the most important areas when trying to find out what shaft suits you is the transition of your swing. Your changeover from backswing to downswing is going to influence what pressure you put on the shaft or how you load it (store energy or lose energy).

Whatever type of transition you have, whether it’s a cast, aggressive pull down with the arms or aggressive body transition, there are certain types of shaft profiles that will work better for you. The shaft moves in so many different ways so we have to find the right shaft that allows the player to be consistent in delivering the clubhead at impact both vertically and horizontally.

AFTERMARKET SHAFTS – WHY ARE THEY SO EXPENSIVE? THE quality of materials used in a shaft are crucial and are the major difference between cheap and expensive. In a high quality premium shaft, you’ll find that the strands of graphite are much thinner, lighter and stronger, with less resin used, giving a better feel, consistency and energy transfer.

Many people don’t realise that not all shafts are round, because of the process used when making them. They are made by roll-wrapping the shaft around a steel mandrel. The radial consistency will be much better on most aftermarket shafts. This will help in the way the shaft performs because of the rotation of the club throughout a swing, which effects dispersion and ball-striking consistency.

Torque and hoop stiffness are most often the difference between the premium shafts and the budget shafts. The lower cost heavier fibres used in the budget shafts create similar profiles. But there are not enough layers of prepreg in the thicker sheets to allow for adequate bias and hoop plies to create adequate torque and hoop strength.

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DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE GRIPS A SHAFT would not be complete without a grip. eGolf stock all the major brands like GolfPride, Lamkin and Winn as well as some more unique options like Iomic and Pure grips.

We have a variety of different grips sizes, textures and colours so there are options that will appeal to all types of golfers WHAT WE STOCK AT EGOLF MEGASTORE WE stock all the major and premium brands like: Project X (True Temper), Fujikura, Mitsubishi Chemical, Graphite Design, Accra, Oban, TPT Golf, Veylix, UST Mamiya Aldila, Graffaloy (that is just our wood and hybrid offerings) to give our customers the complete choice.

We also stock a variety of different weights, flexes and profiles in order to get the perfect match for each individual. Each player has a unique swing in terms of transition and tempo which influences what they do to the shaft. It’s integral they are fitted properly for the right shaft to match their unique swing characteristics to improve consistency in their game.

If you’re still unsure about shafts or want to find out more before visiting eGolf Megastore, I’d recommend browsing on the website www.golfshaftreviews.info/ because that delves into the engineering aspects of a shaft in more detail to understand its importance. ■

EQUIPMENT PING G400

Engineered to

ENJOY N

OT only is it a good-looking beast, the G400 is the fastest and most forgiving driver PING has delivered to date. The irons also hit the spot with tour-level distance and ball flight. The full line of custom-fit, custom-built drivers, irons, fairway woods, hybrids and crossovers are engineered to help golfers lower their scores and increase their enjoyment of the game.

“The G400 driver is a prime example of how our engineering team looks at every single detail of a club to ensure we are optimising each design variable so golfers can improve performance,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO. “In this case, we’ve gone slightly smaller in volume (445cc) to improve aerodynamics for faster clubhead speeds while

actually raising the MOI higher than any previous PING driver. We also employed a thinner, forged face to deliver increased ball speeds. This commitment to performance enabled impressive distance gains and tighter dispersion – the ultimate driving combination.

PING’s tour staff, including Lee Westwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Mackenzie Hughes, David Lingmerth and Daniel Summerhays, have been quick to switch to the new G400 driver with more than 45 currently in play around the world.

Worldwide GOLF 52

GOLF GEAR

DRIVERS STD, SFT AND LST THREE head options are available to match a G400 driver to a golfer’s desired ball flight. The standard version is engineered to fit most golfers. The SFT (Straight Flight) is designed to correct a left-to-right ball flight (for right-handed golfers) and features heel-side tungsten weighting and a lighter swing weight to help square the face. The LST (Low Spin) version positions the tungsten weight closer to the face to reduce spin approximately 300 rpm for a stronger ball flight.

G400 IRONS THE new G400 iron is engineered to give golfers Tour-level distance and towering height, combined with the forgiveness and control they need to hit more greens. Its COR-Eye Technology combines with a new top rail undercut to increase face flexing in a catapult-like fashion for faster ball speeds that launch shots higher and further with low spin for a strong flight. A unique heat-treating process produces Hyper 17-4 stainless steel, which makes the face 40% stronger than traditional 17-4 stainless steel and allows for a thinner face and 18% more face flexing.

▶ ▶ ▶ ▶

Tungsten and High Density Back weight Engineered Acoustics T9S+ Forged Face G400 has the same drag equivalence of 295 CC Same as the G30 head ▶ Textured Face Reducing Spin

G400 FW THE G400 fairway wood has expanded fitting options with the addition of a 9-wood and three SFT (Straight Flight) choices (3, 5, 7) to help golfers bring their shots back on line. The Stretch 3-wood is also available as a highperformance option off the tee to deliver distance and accuracy or when going for par-5s in two. ▶ Maraging Steel Face offering 30% more flex giving the golfer +2 MPH ball speed

▶ 18% tighter dispersion on shots ▶ Distance with stopping power ▶ Hydro Pearl finish which gives the golfer 40% less friction through the turf

G400 HYBRIDS PROGRESSIVE CG locations in the G400 hybrid offer versatility in helping golfers properly gap their sets. The 2- and 3-hybrids are engineered with a CG more toe side to minimise a left bias while the 4-, 5-, and 6-hybrids are designed help golfers launch the ball higher with added forgiveness. ▶ Maraging Steel Face offering 35% more flex giving the golfer +1.5 MPH ball speed ▶ 5 Yards longer ▶ 14% tigher dispersion on shots into the green ▶ Lie Angle can be adjusted

G400 CROSSOVER

THE second generation of the crossover, which combines the precision and control of an iron with the ball speed and forgiveness of a hybrid, has been improved to make it a versatile option for golfers of all skill levels. It also relies on a maraging steel face, which improves the sound and delivers higher launch, producing 30% more stopping power. The addition of a 20-gram tungsten toe weight increases forgiveness, resulting in 17% tighter dispersion. The turf interaction is greatly improved with a thinner sole and Hydropearl Chrome finish, which reduces friction 40%. ▶ 20% Higher launch ▶ 17% Tighter Dispersion ▶ 30% more stopping power on shots into the green

STUART TAYLOR,

PGA PROFESSIONAL AT PROSPORTS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRIBUTORS OF PING IN THE GCC, SAID: Since working with PING I have seen the development of the PING engineering excellence throughout its product lines. This, however, is a game-changer for the golfer – offering the ultimate forgiveness and incredible distance gains. G400 will make the game so much more enjoyable for many golfers in the region.”

For more information and to find out the nearest locations to book in your fitting, please contact: Stuart@prosports.ae

Worldwide GOLF 53

DAILY PACKAGES Thursday 16 November

AED 2,250

Friday 17 November

AED 2,750

Saturday 18 November

AED 2,750

Sunday 19 November

AED 3,250

CORPORATE PACKAGE Thursday and Sunday

AED 5,250

SEASON PACKAGE Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

AED 10,250

Overlooking the 18th green of the magnificent Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the exclusive Hospitality Pavilion offers an unrivalled setting to watch the action unfold.

Guests enjoy first-class catering in a relaxed environment in the comfort of the Pavilion or outside on the shaded viewing terrace. Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and standard house beverages are available as well as a ‘Grab & Go’ option to take refreshments onto the course.

For hospitality enquiries call +971 (0) 567 359 852 or email JLetherby@europeantour.com Worldwide GOLF 55

COMPETITION

EGOLF ACCURACY CHALLENGE IR ONS

WIN a set of custom fit 2017 TaylorMade irons!

FANCY a chance to win a new set of TaylorMade Irons?

Well here’s your chance! This month we’ve teamed up with our friends from the eGolf Megastore Al Wasl Sports Club branch who are hosting an Accuracy Challenge until October 31 on their X-Golf Simulator. We caught up with eGolf Al Wasl Sports Club Senior Custom Fit Specialist Jason Ashley to get the low-down.

WWG: The prize is a set of TaylorMade irons, what are your thoughts on the current TaylorMade iron set line-up?

JA: It’s no secret that TaylorMade’s 2017 iron set line-up is impressive, especially when you consider they have a product for every level of golfer, whether they need the extra forgiveness and distance from the M2 irons or the look, feel and playability of the P770/750 clubs. So, we are giving all our customers the chance to win a set of TaylorMade irons of their choice and we will custom fit them.

WWG: That sounds like an amazing prize, how can our readers enter?

JA: To enter, all they have to do is visit our Al Wasl Sports Club Branch where we have the most advanced indoor simulator –the X-Golf simulator. We will be running a ‘Nearest the Pin’ competition on the iconic seventh hole at Pebble Beach, which will be playing just

under 100 yards. Each competitor can have two attempts at the shot. The competition is free to enter and open to men, women and juniors. It’s a great opportunity for anyone to win a brand-new set of custom-fit TaylorMade irons.

WWG: How long will the competition be running?

JA: It will run until October 31. Once we have our winner, we will then be able to fit them for their new clubs on the X- Golf simulator, which is the next level for all round experience.

WWG: We’re sure you’ll be seeing a number of our readers at the store eager to enter.

JA: We look forward to welcoming your readers and we are excited to be running this competition at our Al Wasl Sports Club branch, which will be the first of many.

Worldwide GOLF 55

HEAD DOWN TO EGOLF MEGASTORE’S AL WASL SPORTS CLUB BRANCH FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN.

INSTRUCTION

ELEVATE YOUR GAME

WITH GRAVITYFIT

BY STEPHEN DEANE, HEAD PROFESSIONAL, EMIRATES GOLF CLUB FOLLOWI NG ON FROM THE LAST ISSUE, WE AGAI N LOOK AT A SI M PLE EXERCISE THAT NOT ON LY HELPS DEVELOP THE CORRECT HAN D, ARM AN D CLUB MOVEMENT BUT FOCUSES ON Juniors New.pdf 2 27/08/2017 8:12 pm DEVELOPI NG TH E CORRECT POSTURE WH I LST DOING SO.

The Dubai Golf Junior Programme Worldwide GOLF 56

YOU’LL realise once the GravityFit TPro has been positioned correctly because the spikes and paddles at the back will let you know when your spine and shoulders are in good posture. Then you simply place a club of your choice between the elastics.

FROM HERE WE SET THE WRISTS AND FOLD THE RIGHT ELBOW AS TALKED ABOUT IN PREVIOUS ARTICLES AND DRILLS.

With the TPro attached, it forces you to make these movements within good posture and you can clearly sense the muscles working internally during the exercise. This is an exceptional drill for developing solid hand and arm mechanics whilst creating great posture.

Here at The Academy at Emirates Golf Club, we use an excellent training aid called GravityFit TPro which promotes the sensory feedback required to develop great posture as a constant within your game. It strengthens the muscles from within and has been beneficial for all our students.

THE TPRO IS BEING USED ON A DAILY BASIS BY PGA TOUR PROFESSIONALS: CAMERON SMITH, JONAS BLIXT, AND HARRIS ENGLISH, AMONGST OTHERS, WHICH PROVES THE BENEFITS IT CAN HAVE ON YOUR GAME AT ALL LEVELS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO ATTACHED TO SEE ME USING THE EQUIPMENT AND CHECK IN AT THE ACADEMY AND TRY IT OUT FOR YOURSELF WITH OUR TEAM OF EXCELLENT PROFESSIONALS.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

Registration is now open for term one which

#emiratesgc

Worldwide GOLF 57

INSTRUCTION

DISCOVER CONSISTENCY ESCAPE SAND TRAPS EASILY WITH THE CORRECT APPROACH WITH PGA PROFESSIONAL MICHAEL BOLT, TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

A

MATEUR golfers often over-complicate the greenside bunker shot, concentrating heavily on technique, which frequently results in a flustered and unsuccessful attempt to get the ball onto the green.

When discussing bunker play with my clients we start with the set-up and overall approach

prior to the golf shot. Far too many players position themselves over the ball with no direction or routine, with alignment and the setup varying from shot to shot. This has a domino effect resulting in the player’s impact position and strike pattern becoming inconsistent and compromised.

Worldwide GOLF 58

BELOW: I demonstrate a simple drill that will help you adjust alignment, ball position and the amount of loft presented during impact, whilst gaining a level of consistency with your bunker shot routine.

For this article I have used a hoop, but this can be easily replicated by drawing a circle in the sand when practicing. Contact: golfacademy@trumpgolf.com to improve your game.

Initially take your stance aiming parallel to the target with the club square and aiming at the flag.

From here, open the clubface to present the loft necessary for the length of shot and trajectory needed in the scenario.

Then re-grip the golf club with the new clubface position.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

WWGolfMag

By adding this loft the clubface will now be aiming along way right of target.

Shuffle around the hoop (circle) until the clubface is aiming toward the target. By changing your alignment in this way the ball position will not be compromised as it usually would

have been by ‘guessing’ on the clubface and feet alignment. This set-up method will also improve strike quality by giving the player the tools to manipulate loft and ball position on a consistent basis, depending on the amount of height and distance required for the given shot.

For a longer bunker shot with a smaller lip, the clubface would be opened less, presenting a lower loft on the club. As a result the alignment change would not be drastic and there would be very little movement around the ‘circle’.

For a shot shown in the pictures above with a high lip and a pin only just on the green, a high trajectory is required.

Here the player would open the clubface more dramatically, presenting a large amount of

loft at address. The player would then move around the circle the appropriate amount until the clubface is aiming at the target.

Approaching the set-up in this manner will aid you in building a repeatable method in aligning and adding loft, depending on the shot faced. This wil,l in turn, improve strike quality and technique whilst having a positive impact on how consistently you get the ball onto the green and close to the hole from the greenside bunkers.

NEW 2018 MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL. CALL 04 245 3939 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Worldwide GOLF 59

INSTRUCTION

THE IMPORTANCE OF

CORRECT

BALL POSITION

BY PGA MASTER PROFESSIONAL PETE COWEN DRIVER IN HAND WHEN teeing off with a driver, most people want to tee it up and give the ball some height, with a good flight for good carry distance.

So the best ball position would be just off your left heel, with some players sometimes moving it to be in line with your instep. However, one thing to note is that the further forward you position the ball in your stance, the more the ball is likely to move further left, so make sure you’re aiming slightly to the right. If you’re aiming right and hit the ball on the up, which, when the face is in the correct position, will square up the clubface and offset the fact that you’re aiming right.

IRON IN HAND

With an iron, I tend to have the ball approximately a clubhead’s width in from my left heel – the reason for that is due to the position of my sternum being over the aiming sticks that I’m using in this demonstration. I don’t want my sternum too far left or too far right because that’s where you want the bottom of the arc of the swing to be – under your sternum and creating the correct pressure.

WEDGE IN HAND For a wedge, I prefer the ball to be more central but not with my hands too far ahead.

I like the hands to hang a little bit and then to control the ball flight with my body. So when the ball position is in the middle I can control it with my sternum. It’s about the balance, the path and the clubface determining the flight and direction of the ball.

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ARABIAN GOLF NEWS FROM THE LEADING CLUBS IN THE REGION

L

IVERPOOL FC AND LEEDS UNITED LEGEND GARY MCALLISTER WILL BE THE STAR ATTRACTION WHEN THE PENULTIMATE EVENT IN THE SWING AGAINST CANCER GOLF SERIES, THE DSA OPEN, GETS UNDERWAY ON THE MAJLIS COURSE AT EMIRATES GOLF CLUB ON SEPTEMBER 14TH. THE CHARITY SERIES, ORGANISED BY WORLDWIDE

GOLF AND SIXTEEN10, WHICH IS RAISING MONEY FOR FRIENDS OF CANCER PATIENTS AND PINK CARAVAN, HAS BEEN GAINING MOMENTUM SINCE LAUNCHING IN APRIL WITH EACH EVENT RAISING THE BAR AND THE REGION’S GOLFERS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY SUPPORTING IN INCREASING NUMBERS TO HELP FIGHT BACK AGAINST ONE OF THE WORLD’S DEADLIEST DISEASES.

CoxGomyl are a global engineering business with a passion for defending the beauty and value of architectural wonders by providing external building access solutions.

www.coxgomyl.com.au Worldwide GOLF 63

WO R D S: R I C HA RD B E VA N

FOOTBALL LEGEND MCALLISTER SET TO SWING AGAINST CANCER AT DSA OPEN

Gary McAllister will be supporting the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series on September 14th.

A

s well as offering the final opportunity for local amateurs and pros to qualify for the Grand Final, the star-studded Mike Clark Golf Day which takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates on October 26th, the DSA Open at Emirates Golf Club on September 14th promises to be an unforgettable day of golf, fun and football chat.

McAllister, who carved a reputation as one of the finest midfielders in the game and enjoyed spells at Motherwell, Leicester and Coventry as well as Leeds and Liverpool has a very personal reason for wanting to support the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series.

“My wife Denise had breast cancer which she sadly passed away from in 2006 so it’s a cause very close to my heart,” he says. “It was a really tough time in my life and whenever there is an opportunity to raise some money and awareness for cancer charities I always try to support.

“My manager Simon Hurd is an old friend of Steve Kelshaw, the managing director of DSA Architects who are the title sponsor of the event,

who I’ve got to know myself and when I heard about the DSA Open, I wanted to get involved.”

The Scotsman was known as one of the game’s classiest midfielders in a glorious career spanning over 23 years. But golf was actually his first love, and at one stage it looked like he might make a career out of the game.

SCOTTISH BOYS “I started playing golf even before I started playing football,” he says. “All my family played golf and were members at the local club, Bellshill, just outside Motherwell in Scotland. I practiced all the time - used to hit 300-400 balls every day on the range and got down to a decent handicap fairly early on as a youngster playing off 1 at age 12 or 13.

“I was beaten in a play-off for the Scottish Boys title which was a bit of a blow and I was a reserve cap for the Scotland Boys Golf Team but over the years football became my real passion.

“The thing that really hit it home for me was when I went and played in the British Boys. I was

pretty good in my own little area of Lanarkshire in Scotland but once I went out further afield, I saw how good some of the other boys were.

“Jose Maria Olazabal and another Spanish player called Jesus Lopez played in the event and they were just on another level completely. I think I made the right decision to concentrate more on football but I’m still a frustrated golfer.”

While Olazabal went on to win two Masters Tournament titles and forged a fine reputation as a Ryder Cup player and Captain, McAllister scooped more than his fair share of silverware in football.

He was part of the same Leeds United team as Eric Cantona that won the old English First Division title in 1991 and played a key role in Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool side of 2000-2001 that scooped five trophies – the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Charity Shield. But it is the accomplishment in leading his country as Captain that stands out as the highlight of his glittering career.

“There were a lot of great moments but I would

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Insurance Solution Boyd Edmondson Group General Manager Corporate Insurance Service Mobile: +971 50 718 5127 Email: boyd@prosperity.ae | www.prosperity.ae

ARABIAN GOLF SWING AGAINST CANCER P65 say that becoming captain of Scotland was the most special moment, because that’s something that your friends back home can be proud of as well. Getting my first cap was also a proud moment – I always say that representing your country is the pinnacle of any player’s career.”

Now that he’s hung up his boots, McAllister, a member at Moortown Golf Club in Leeds playing off the nonetoo-shabby handicap of five, is able to spend a little more time playing golf and he’s relishing a return to Dubai where he believes some of the finest courses in the world, outside of his beloved home country, can be found.

“As a Scotsman, I’m obviously biased in thinking the best courses in the world are in Scotland, but as a golf destination, I think Dubai is second to none,” he says. “The quality of the courses, especially when you consider the dry hot weather, and the investment in the game over there is phenomenal. I’ve played pretty much all of the courses and they’re all fantastic, the clubhouses are all pretty spectacular as well.

fun games such as giant inflatable darts-golf and table football. “The body is not as willing as it used to be but it can still manage to kick a ball around.

I’ve played footgolf and its good fun so I’m looking forward to that. There’s a footgolf course near to where I live so better get some practice in.”

“I was very fortunate to play with some great players over the years and enjoyed some fantastic moments during my playing days,” continues McAllister who is urging any fans of his former clubs to come along for the evening event. “It’ll be a very relaxed evening and people are welcome to ask me any questions they like.”

Steve Kelshaw, Managing Director of title sponsors, DSA Architect is over the moon that the Liverpool FC ambassador is giving up his time to fly to Dubai for the Gary McAllister event “Gary’s a great guy, he’s obviously a legend in football terms but as all footballers do, he loves his golf,” says Kelshaw. “I was fortunate enough to meet him through golf and the poignant thing is that tragically he lost his wife to cancer at a young age which has touched Gary in ways I can’t imagine. When we asked him to come to support the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series, he was there in a heartbeat, which is testament to the guy he is. We’re absolutely thrilled and delighted that he’ll be joining us.

“He’s a very personable guy and he’ll interact a lot with the players on the day before sharing some fascinating stories of his days playing for Leeds United – hopefully not so much Liverpool as I’m a Leeds fan!”

As well as DSA Architects, the DSA Open and the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series, has attracted phenomenal support from the local business community with DHL, Multiplex, Mediclinic, PING, Titleist, Pro-Sports International, Anantara, Al Tayer Stocks, Hertz, Al Futtaim Automall, WATG, WME Consultants, Afridi & Angell, Cox Gomyl, Prosperity, Clarke Samadhin, Nikki Beach Resort, Fairmont The Palm, Movenpick, ASG Engineering Consultants, Trump International Golf Club, Atlantis The Palm and Seawings all signing up as sponsors.

“My wife Denise had breast cancer which she sadly passed away from in 2006 so it’s a cause very close to my heart.”

ICONIC COURSE “The Majlis is a brilliant course and is very iconic with its history of hosting the Dubai Desert Classic. When you play a course like that you tend to recognise a lot of the holes from the TV and some of the great shots you’ve seen over the years. I always find it interesting to look at some of the lines you’ve seen the pros take on certain holes and wonder how on earth they manage to get the ball to land where they did!

“The 18th is a wonderful hole and we’ve seen many great players hit amazing shots to win the tournament there, and a few fall victim to it too, so it will be a lot of fun playing the course in the DSA Open.”

As well as playing a hole with each and every group that tees it up in the DSA Open, Gary will also be getting involved in an entertaining footgolf challenge out on course before sharing more stories from his football days in a Q&A session in the evening, which will also feature a sumptuous BBQ, free-flowing drinks, raffle, auction and other

The winning pro and amateur from the DSA Open will gain a spot in the Mike Clark Golf Day at Jumeirah Golf Estates on October 26th, where they will play alongside the likes of former England rugby captain Mike Tindall and 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell. The winning amateur of the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series Grand Final will gain a spot in the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am, hospitality and players’ party tickets to the European Tour’s seasonending tournament, a two-night stay at Atlantis The Palm and a golf lesson with coach to the stars, Pete Cowen.

“I’m really looking forward to the event,” says McAllister, “it should be a lot of fun and we’ll all have a good laugh while raising money for a great cause so come along and join me at Emirates Golf Club on September 14th!”

All day golf and evening tickets for the DSA Open are available for AED 795 (AED 745 EGF members). Emirates Golf Club members and pros: AED 345. Price includes evening BBQ, free flow drinks, prizes and Q&A. EVENING ONLY TICKETS: AED 350 INCLUSIVE OF BBQ, Q&A AND FREE FLOW DRINKS. TO BOOK PLEASE EMAIL: INFO@SIXTEEN-10.COM

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Jordan Garnish (below left), won last year’s qualifier while pal Craig Hinton (below right) scraped through in a play-off but went on to win big in Mongomo (bottom right).

Luke Joy (top right) was among the first MENA Tour players to make the trip to Mongomo in 2015 before spreading the word among his fellow pros.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

ROAD TO MONGOMO PRESENTED BY DSA BECKONS FOR LOCAL PROS

E

ntries are coming in thick and fast from the professional golfing community with the region’s club pros and a host of MENA Tour players looking to book their spot on the plane for a golfing adventure of a lifetime when the Road to Mongomo Qualifier presented by DSA gets underway at Emirates Golf Club on September 21st.

Taking place on the Faldo course, which is currently in pristine condition, the event - one of six qualifiers taking place around the world - will see the top three finishers win through to the Equatorial Guinea Golf Championship, 3e Actuaries Open in

Mongomo. There they will be joined by some of the best players from Africa as well as a host of top players from tours around the world including the LPGA, the Ladies European Tour and even the PGA Tour.

Not only will the qualifiers enjoy an allexpenses paid trip to a fascinating and little known part of the world, where they will stay in five-star luxury at the Grand Hotel Djibloho, there will also be a sizeable prize fund of US$150,000 for men and US$100,000 for ladies.

England’s Jordan Garnish came out on top of last year’s Road to Mongomo Qualifier at Al Badia and enjoyed a trip to remember in

sub-Saharan Africa. “Winning the qualifier last year was great,” says Garnish. “It was a really well organised event and the victory helped give me a lot of confidence for the end of the season on the MENA Tour.

“The week in Equatorial Guinea was fantastic. The field has some really strong players such as Charlie Wi from the PGA and the Presidential Course, where the event in Mongomo is played, is a really nice layout.”

Garnish’s fellow countryman Craig Hinton grabbed the fifth and final spot that was up for grabs at Al Badia last year after a tense four-man play-off. Shortly afterwards, he was crowned MENA Tour Order of Merit

ARABIAN GOLF

The Road to Mongomo qualifier presented

by DSA will take place on the Faldo course at Emirates Golf Club.

Champion and he capped off a wonderful 2016 by going to Mongomo and taking top spot in the men’s competition, scooping the US$24,000 winner’s cheque in the process.

“I really enjoyed the qualifier last year, having an 18-hole shootout with live scoring really made it interesting with all players keeping one eye on the leaderboard the whole way round, which added to the pressure,” says Hinton. “I can remember keeping a close eye on (MENA Tour player) Lee Corfield’s score in the closing holes and his late bogey resulted in the four-man play-off.

“I managed to squeeze my way through the play-off and then to go on to win in the main event which truly was a great way to close out the year. One of my friends on the MENA Tour, Luke Joy, had told me great things about the event, and I’ve always enjoyed seeing new places. It was certainly a very different experience to any event I had competed in before. We normally travel alone or in a small group, whereas this felt like all the players were brought together.

“The event host Olawale Opayinka’s hospitality during the week was outstanding. What a genuine, kind and giving person he is. We had a few travel hiccups on the way but his positive attitude the whole time allowed for such a great trip.

“The golf course is an outstanding layout

“We at Emirates Golf Club naturally have a strong affinity with the professional game through our proud hosting of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters” and one that I would certainly not get bored of playing day in day out and one moment in my life I will never forget and I’m truly thankful to have experienced was the closing ceremony. I was surrounded by local boys and girls that were cheering and chanting. It was so humbling and really gave a meaning to the tournament. I can’t wait to get back and defend my title this year.”

This year’s Road to Mongomo Qualifier presented by DSA at Emirates Golf Club will feature a new element as the club’s members will gain an opportunity to compete alongside the pros with a betterball medal running alongside the individual competition.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

ROAD TO MONGOMO

UAE QUALIFIER Date: Thursday September 21, 2017 Venue: Emirates Golf Club, Faldo course Time: 1pm shotgun

PRESENTED BY DSA

To register your interest for the Road to Mongomo UAE qualifier presented by DSA please contact info@worldwidegolfme.com / Tel: +971 (0) 4 340 3785 (Worldwide Golf).

Entry fee is AED 195. All entrants must be registered professionals.

ROAD TO MONGOMO P67

Club Manager Barney Coleman said: “We at Emirates Golf Club naturally have a strong affinity with the professional game through our proud hosting of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. It has always been high on our agenda for our members to experience the Pro-Am format and a member benefit over the past season was the introduction of a Pro-Am series where over 200 of our members competed in the Pro-Am’s.

“We’re thankful for the support of the UAE PGA Professionals along with the MENA Tour members who participate in our events and the Road to Mongomo UAE Qualifier presented by DSA is another fantastic opportunity for our members to play with the best professionals in the region.

“We’re delighted to be hosting such a unique event and it would be fitting if at least one of the three qualifying professionals is a regular from our Club Pro-am Series. The prize on offer for the top three pros is fantastic and we wish all competitors the best of luck over our Faldo course for a place in the Equatorial Guinea Golf Championship, the 3e Actuaries Open in Mongomo.”

Professionals wishing to enter should please email: info@worldwidegolfme.com

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

RAJINDER RAZDAN RUNS AWAY WITH A 6-UNDER PAR NET 66 TO WIN THE DG OMA EMIRATES JULY MEDAL

WAITE AND CARTER ON FORM TO WIN BMW US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT TERRY Waite and Rhys Carter were victorious at the US PGA Championship Members & Guests event Sponsored by BMW AGMC on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates with an impressive score of 43 points. Graeme Doy and Mike Measey were runners-up a point adrift. Tony Nortcott and Jeorg Mueller finished third.

POINTS GALORE AS REYNEKE AND MAN SNATCH THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

CHRIS Reyneke and Greg Man won The Open Championship trophy at Jumeirah Golf Estates played on the Fire course after producing a stunning front nine of 20 and back nine 38 to amass 58 points.

The runner-up spot went to Chris Flemming and Murray Davidson as the pair carded a front nine 19 and back nine 38 to score a total of 57 points.

Carl Downham and Evelyn Sword secured third place with a back nine 35 and front nine 20 to accumulate 55 points.

RAJINDER Razdan carded an excellent six under par net 66 to win the OMA Emirates July Medal, played on the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club.

Christian Klynge scored a level par net 72 to finish runner-up while Dalip Tripathi came home in third place, just

one shot behind. Pradeep Havaldar won the ‘B’ Division title with a score of 71 net, with a better back nine countback.

Zoff Khan carded a net 71 to snatch the runner-up spot from playing partner Patrick Mulligan, who scored a net 74 to finish third.

KYLE TAGGART WINS DUBAI GOLF SUMMER SERIES FIXTURE 2 KYLE Taggart scored 41 points to win the second fixture of the popular Dubai Golf Summer Series on the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club.

Soren Dam was runner-up one point behind while Rajinder Razdan claimed third place with a better back nine Stableford score.

DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB

ARJUN SINGH SCOOPS A GOLDEN BALL

ABHINAVA CHANDRA BOOKS GOLDEN BALL TICKET AFTER DUBAI GOLF OMA WIN

Arjun Singh claimed a much-coveted spot in the Golden Ball Grand Final after winning the qualifying event held at Jumeirah Golf Estates last month.

Singh put on a fine performance to top the pile with a net score of 3-under 69, beating Ornella Parigi on a countback. Singh will now join the rest of the finalists at Al Hamra Golf Club on October 5th where he will play for the chance to take part in the Challenge Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge Pro-Am.

ABHINAVA Chandra carded a net 68 to win the Dubai Golf OMA Emirates Championship’s top prize, in association with Genesis, at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. The victory not only gained him vital Order of Merit (OoM) points it also sealed his place in the Golden Ball Grand Final at Al Hamra Golf Club in October where he will compete for a once in a lifetime chance to tee it up alongside the stars of the European Challenge Tour in the Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge Pro-Am. “What a great feeling to have won the Dubai Golf OMA

Emirates Medal,” said Chandra. “Hopefully, I can play just as well at the Golden Ball Grand Final at Al Hamra Golf Club in October.”

In the Men’s Division A, Ashok Kumar carded a net 69 to claim top spot by one shot over Graeme Sears who was the division’s runner-up.

Dinesh Sharma won the Division B title after carding a net 68, losing the overall medal on a countback while Jim Dickinson had to settle for the runner-spot after shooting 70.

DREAMLAND GOLF CLUB, BAKU

CLEO IN DREAMLAND AFTER WINNING WORLDWIDE GOLF COMPETITION ONE of Worldwide Golf’s lucky readers enjoyed a much needed break from the UAE heat last month when she and her partner visited the wonderful Dreamland Golf Club in Baku, Azerbaijan for an unforgettable ‘stay and play’ weekend after winning the competition we ran in our June 2017 issue.

“We were delighted to host the Worldwide Golf competition-winners Cleopatra Ong Mei Yee and Taka Makita,” says Dreamland Golf Club General Manager Phil Jones. “The competition attracted the attention of hundreds of keen golfers in the UAE, all hoping to be the lucky winners to visit Baku where the temperature is perfect for golf at this time of year and much cooler than the UAE despite being just a 2½ hour flight away.”

The couple arrived courtesy of Fly Dubai and enjoyed a two night luxury stay at the iconic Fairmont Flame Towers, with a visit to play a round of golf on Baku’s only golf course – Dreamland.

“We are pleased to say that the winners had a great time in Azerbaijan, taking in the mix of cultural, sporting and excellent dining venues that can be found in Baku,” continued Jones. “If you are looking for a new place to visit – we are the perfect choice”.

Cleopatra commented: “This was my first time in Baku. I was impressed with the wonderful Fairmont Hotel, the beautiful old town, the peaceful waterfront, the friendly people and, of course, the stunning Dreamland golf course, where I made my debut on an 18-hole course. I’ve already told my family and friends what a wonderful place Baku is and recommended the Fairmont Hotel as the place to stay. For golfers the Dreamland course was an enjoyable and relaxing venue to play.

Keep reading Worldwide Golf in print and online at worldwide.golf and follow us on social media for more great competitions!

ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS P69 EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION KIRKHAM & RYAN TEAM UP TO WIN SUMMER SWING

PUTTING together a fantastic round and a solid back nine under the Paris Better Ball Stableford format, Nathan Kirkham and Greg Ryan won the EGF Summer Swing Sponsored by StayPrime at Al Zorah Golf Club with 42 Stableford points with a back nine of 22 points on a countback. Father and son George and Fiz Fitchet finished runners-up with a back nine of 20 points. Finishing in third place with 39 points were Sam McDowell and Adam Ruegg.

UAE NATIONAL JUNIORS HONG KONG BOUND FOR APGC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR United Arab Emirates (UAE) Junior National Golf Team members will compete in the 2017 Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Junior Championship at the Hong Kong Golf Club. Reema Al Heloo, Tara Al Marzooqi, Mohammed Al Hajeri and Rashid Al Emadi will represent the UAE. Over three days (72-holes) teams will be made up of one male and one female player from each country and will be grouped with a different country each day except for the seeded draw for round 3.

ISMAIL & HESHAM SHARIF WIN THE FINAL EGF SUMMER SWING EVENT FATHER and son duo Ismail and Hesham Sharif came out on top in the final EGF Summer Swing of 2017 at the Trump International Golf Club with 42 Stableford points. Runners-up were Christina Lerchedahl and Christian Klynge, scoring 41 Stableford points, while brothers Hisham and Ahmed Sultan finished in third place, just one point adrift

SHARJAH GOLF AND SHOOTING CLUB M.Y. CHO COMES OUT ON TOP IN JULY R HOLDINGS HOTELS STABLEFORD WITH 32 players in the field it was Korea’s M. Y. Cho who came out on top to win the inaugural July R Holdings Hotels – Ibis Styles Jumeirah Midweek Stableford held at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club with 19 Stableford points, while Addil Khan finished runner-up just one point adrift.

RAVI TAKES IT DOWN TO THE WIRE IN THE R HOTELS SUMMER STABLEFORD

YAZDI & THOMSON CLAIM 3RD X5 BMW SERIES EVENT

IN JULY’S second edition of the R Hotels Stableford, Ravi AE took home the first prize with a steady 18 Stableford points. Ravi fought off tough competition from Tuesday night regular Faizeen Bhyat who also scored 18 Stableford points but lost out on a back six scorecard playoff.

NON-STOP SUNNY SHINES THROUGH SUNNY Ramadas shone through the July Orient Travel – Malaysia Truly Asia Monthly Stableford at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, scoring 34 points with a better back nine to win the event. Nathan Fisher had to settle for the runner-up spot while third place went to George Liu with 32 points.

THE PAIRING of Hassan Yazdi and Rory Thomson produced a virtuoso performance to win the July edition of the BMW Open Social, the third event in the series of five.

The duo teed off in the afternoon shotgun knowing that Nathan Fisher and Rene Sarmiento had already shot a net 64, but Yazdi and Thomson dovetailed beautifully to secure the title with a stunning 63.

There was a different format played on each nine – betterball for the front nine and a shambles for the back – and the Iranian and Englishman exploded out the blocks with an opening 30, and a clutch 5-footer for a net 4 on the final hole saw them come home in 33 to take the spoils.

RAMLI RESURGENCE IN MIDWEEK CENTRO

SUPER SEMBI SEALS SENIOR CROWN SATWINDER Sembi won the Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club Summer Senior Open supported

by Altitude Physiotherapy, scoring 38 Stableford points. Shaheen Butt took the runner up-spot with 36 points and Ramli Sulaiman completed the podium with 35 points.

RAMLI Sulaiman claimed victory in the Midweek Centro with 19 Stableford points while No Ma Yeou finished runner-up with 17 Stableford points.

AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB RICHARD CUDDIHY COLLECTS RENOVATION CHALLENGE RICHARD Cuddihy claimed the Renovation Challenge with a score of 39 points. Simon Dunn ended the event as runner-up with 38 points while John Cassoni came agonisingly close but had to settle for third place just one point behind.

TIM BIRD TAKES SUMMER SIZZLER HEAT TO WIN BY 2 PLAYER of the Year Tim Bird clinched the Al Hamra Cellar Summer Sizzler title with 39 points. John Cassoni was two points behind the winner and settled for the runner-up spot while third place went to Ian Clysdale with 36 points.

CALLUM BIRD FLIES AWAY WITH FLOODLIT CHALLENGE TITLE CALLUM Bird claimed the Floodlit Challenge utilising his Powerplay holes perfectly to record 27 points. Both Michelle Im and Nick Forte converted two Powerplay holes, but Im’s better back 6 score of 20 points saw her take the runner-up prize, with Forte finishing in third place.

ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS P70 AL AIN EQUESTRIAN, SHOOTING & GOLF CLUB

AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

SAM McDOWELL SEALS CAPTAIN’S TEAM TRIUMPH THE INAUGURAL Captain Vs Vice Captain Challenge proved to be a great success as the Captain’s team overcame the Vice Captain’s side with 13 pairs. The Vice Captain’s team at one point had a sixhole lead but the Captain’s side performed an heroic comeback to seal victory. The performance of the day belonged to Sam McDowell who, on his own, took on the pair of Stuart Bell and David Purcell. Sam covered the front nine holes in a -4 gross score to build a lead that he would never lose to claim a superb 1-up victory.

ALISTAIR PRICE BACK NINE SEALS OPEN CHALLENGE VICTORY A SUPERB back nine of 21 points took Alistair Price to victory at the Open Challenge at Al Hamra Golf Club after battling Mi Sun Im in a play-off after both had tied on 41 points.

Chris Fraser claimed third place after beating Keir Miller and Roy Pirie on a countback with a better back six.

AL AIN EQUESTRIAN, SHOOTING & GOLF CLUB ROBERT BAIN WASTES NO TIME IN GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE AESGC LAYOUT NEW MEMBER Robert Bain familiarised himself well with the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club course as he carded a net 63 to claim first place in Division A. Harry Van Wky was the runner-up with a net 70 while Jimmy Shanahan snatched third place by having a better back nine with a net 72 to take the June Medal.

Frederic Rouyer won Division B with a net 64, Dan

Whittaker carded a net 66 to finish runner-up and Jose Miguel Santos claimed third place with a net 68.

Jana Shaw was the standout player in Division C after scoring a net 66 to claim a five-shot victory.

Todd Stelck’s better back nine won him the runnerup-spot as Amir Al Barki finished in third place after they were both tied on net 71.

AYLA GOLF CLUB SNOW AND MURRAY TEAM UP TO TAKE MOVENPICK RESORT PRO-AM ROB SNOW (Hcp 20) and professional Grayson Murray teamed up to dominate the USPGA Modified Pro-Am, sponsored by the Movenpick Resort & Residences, Aqaba, held at Ayla Golf Club with a total of 73 points.

The runner-up spot was taken by Arthur Hodges (Hcp 20) and Adam Scott who scored a total of 70 points while Jamal Abu Elsamid (Hcp 25) and Tommy Fleetwood combined forces to score 68 points and secure third place.

DOHA GOLF CLUB BEN COLEMAN SNATCHES INFINITI OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MEN’S DIVISION 1 was won by Ben Coleman after scoring 40 points to claim victory by just one point over runner-up Arnav Jain at Doha Golf Club’s Infiniti Open Championship.

Men’s Division 2 produced the score of the day as Englishman Michael Tryer took a three-point victory with a stunning

haul of 45 points. Kevin Thomas Keane recovered from a 10 on his opening hole to record a score of 39 points in Men’s Division 3 to take a one-point victory over runner-up Stephen John Evans.

The Ladies Division was won by Brenda Hill who scored 36 points while Uzma Mir finished runner-up one point behind.

T: 44 (0)1382 662200 E: infodundee@hial.co.uk

YOUR GATEWAY

to the home of golf

Conveniently connecting you to the Gateway to Golf in Scotland, including St Andrews, Gleneagles and Carnoustie.

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PLAY GOLF IN SCOTLAND ADVERTORIAL

Explore Moray Speyside

Hidden gems to the north of the Home of Golf

S

with its two classic 18 hole courses at COTLAND is justifiably renowned for Lossiemouth, to the grand panoramic being the ‘Home of Golf.’ Over many course at Ballindolloch Castle Golf Course decades the country has established Moray Speyside has the right blend to itself for its spectacular links and its suit all tastes. For inland courses, Elgin picturesque parkland courses. It is famous Golf Club is widely regarded as among for its fascinating and varied courses the finest in the north of throughout the land.

Scotland with views over Not only does it have some The region also has the Moray coast to the of the greatest golf courses north to the Cairngorm in the game, it also has 35 miles of golden Mountains to the south. countless country layouts sandy beaches and is Another parkland gem is which are a sheer joy to play. one of the sunniest the Maverston Golf Club It’s not just the courses located off the Invernessthat attract golf tourists from and driest climates in Aberdeen road. all over the world. It’s the the United Kingdom Cullen Golf Club runs atmosphere and the attitude along the spectacular to the game that so many shores of the Moray Firth golfers enjoy. The friendly and although it is one of the shortest welcome from the golf clubs is par for the courses it presents a challenge at every course in Scotland and the green fees are hole. The great thing about playing often a fraction of those in England and Moray Speyside’s fabulous courses is the elsewhere. wonderful welcome you receive wherever Moray Speyside has something for everyone. Situated between the wide open farmland of Aberdeenshire and the mountains and glens of the Scottish Highlands there are 18 golf courses, including one with the highest tee in Scotland.

The region also has 35 miles of golden sandy beaches and is one of the sunniest and driest climates in the United Kingdom, which means the courses are playable virtually all year round.

From the classic coastal links at Covesea and Strathlene and the Moray New Links

you may be. For those who wish to vary their visit between playing and watching golf, next season promises to be a showcase for Scottish golf.

Dundee Airport is perfectly placed as the Gateway to Golf with The Open Championship returning to nearby Carnoustie on the East coast; the Senior Open Championship being staged at St Andrews and the Aberdine Asset Management Scottish Open being played at Gullane on Scotland’s Golf Coast. ■

Buckpool Golf Club

For further information visit www.morayspeyside.com Ballindalloch Castle Golf Course

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ADVERTORIAL

THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A DRIVING HOLIDAY Moray Golf Club (credit Tony Sanderson)

Nestling between the Scottish Highlands, the Cairngorms National Park and Aberdeenshire, Moray Speyside is home to dramatic mountain scenery, an award-winning coastline, incredible food, world-famous Speyside flavours, luxury cashmere and a host of world-class golf courses.

Sunset on the Moray Coast (credit Liam McBride)

Designers such as James Braid, Sir Henry Cotton and Tom Morris have made their mark in the region, and famously, former British Prime Ministers Ramsay MacDonald and Herbert Asquith counted Lossiemouth’s Moray Golf Club among their favourites.

Moray’s low rainfall, warm sunshine and mild coastal airs make our courses playable practically all year round. From classic coastal links at Covesea and Strathlene to courses with grand views of the hills, such as the course at Ballindalloch Castle, Moray Speyside is the perfect holiday destination for golf-loving visitors.

Covesea Links

We don’t just want you to merely visit Moray Speyside. We want you to explore and discover here, relax in our serene environment or indulge your adventurous nature; but whatever you choose to do, our only ask is that you create and share precious memories in Moray Speyside.

For more details,visit www.morayspeyside.com and share your visit with us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter @MoraySpeyside #morayspeyside

Maverston Golf Course

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Forres Golf Course

Ballindalloch Castle

ENJOY A QUICK TOUR OF

S O M E O F O U R C LU B S B E LO W. . .

Cullen

BALLINDALLOCH CASTLE GOLF COURSE is a championship length golf course designed by internationally renowned golf course architects, Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie. Designed with alternate tees, the nine hole and eighteen tee experience is a naturally beautiful course to play. Located in the heart of Speyside, right next to the Ballindalloch Distillery, this enchanting course awaits golfers of all abilities.

COVESEA LINKS nestling in a cove on the spectacular Moray coast, and surrounded by spectacular views overlooking the Moray Firth, this 9-hole course promises a unique golfing experience.

While Covesea provides beginners with a fantastic opportunity to test out the sport, deep bunkers, sea grass and gorse will challenge even the most experienced of players.

ELGIN GOLF CLUB is widely regarded as one of the finest inland courses in the North of Scotland. Boasting stunning views over the Moray coast to the north and stretching hills to the distant Cairngorm Mountains southwards, this challenging but fair course is a true test of low and high handicap players alike.

MAVERSTON GOLF CLUB is Moray Speyside’s newest golf course – teeing off in 2014 and located off the Aberdeen-Inverness road, Maverston exudes the traditions of a warm Scottish welcome and offers an 18-hole, 6335 yard parkland course presenting an enjoyable challenge to golfers of all abilities.

CULLEN LINKS GOLF COURSE Originally designed as a 9-hole course by renowned golf course architect ‘Old Tom Morris’, then later developed into an 18-hole by Charlie Neaves, Cullen is an enchanting course - perfectly located along the stunning shores of the Moray Firth. On the noted 7th tee, keep one eye on the ball and another to the shore to survey for Bottlenose Dolphins.

As one of the world’s 264 true links courses, Cullen is known as the shortest of all these. While the course may be short, it packs a plentiful punch with an exciting mix of straightforward and challenging holes – to accommodate golfers of any ability.

MORAY GOLF CLUB in Lossiemouth is perhaps the region’s most well-known course; boasting two classic 18-hole links courses, each offering a distinct golfing experience. The old Tom Morris Moray Old links have played host to a long line of Amateur and Professional tournaments since 1901. The signature 18th hole, playing to the arena of the final green and the imposing club house, was recently merited “second finest finishing hole in the country,” by Visit Scotland. The Moray New links carries the stamp of Henry Cotton, with the signature 10th running along West beach toward the lighthouse, playing to a green hewn from the dunes, and not a single bunker in sight.

That’s just a taste of what Moray Speyside’s golf courses have to offer … follow #morayspeysidegolf for more…

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The Dutch A stunning course in a prime location within The Netherlands, The Dutch is a world class venue for world-class golf.

Host of the KLM Open on the European Tour

Sept 14 - 17

Host of the Dutch Senior Masters on the Senior Tour

Oct 6 - 8

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www.europeantour.com/destinations

Destinations

Courses

LE GOLF NATIONAL FRANCE

THE DUTCH THE NETHERLANDS

LINNA GOLF FINLAND

MAXX ROYAL BELEK GOLF RESORT TURKEY

BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB & RESORT THAILAND

QUINTA DO LAGO PORTUGAL

DIAMOND COUNTRY CLUB AUSTRIA

MOUNT JULIET ESTATE IRELAND

PGA CATALUNYA RESORT SPAIN

ALBATROSS GOLF RESORT CZECH REPUBLIC

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

BOM SUCESSO PORTUGAL

LIGHTHOUSE GOLF & SPA RESORT BULGARIA

TROIA RESORT PORTUGAL

SAUJANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB MALAYSIA

CONSTANCE BELLE MARE PLAGE, MAURITIUS

LONDON GOLF CLUB UNITED KINGDOM

MARCO SIMONE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, ITALY

TERRE BLANCHE HOTEL SPA GOLF RESORT***** FRANCE

VERDURA RESORT ITALY

GOLF CLUB ST.LEON-ROT GERMANY

ESTONIAN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ESTONIA KUNGSÄNGEN GOLF CLUB SWEDEN

Destination Under Development ROSSINGTON HALL UNITED KINGDOM

FINCA CORTESIN HOTEL, GOLF & SPA, SPAIN

About European Tour Properties EUROPEAN TOUR PROPERTIES is a network of world class golf venues, all of which have a close relationship with the European Tour, one of the game’s leading global sporting organisations.

Our internationally-recognised network currently spans Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia.

We are proud to present a collection of Member Venues that all boast the hallmark of tournament quality and which offer extensive off-course facilities guaranteed to provide a memorable golfing experience for members and visitors alike.

Many of them are close to famous cities and all offer a wealth of golf, leisure and accommodation choices. For those seeking the ultimate golfing lifestyle, a number of our Member Venues offer elegant and secluded real-estate opportunities.

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www.europeantour.com/destinations

T

he Dutch is a Colin Montgomerie Signature Design golf course, created in association with European Golf Design, with the original client brief being to create a high-end members’ course that would also meet the demanding, international standards required to host major professional tournaments.

That objective has most certainly been achieved, with The Dutch not only becoming The Netherlands’ candidate venue for the country’s 2018 Ryder Cup Bid, but as the confirmed venue of the KLM Open from 2016 to 2018, one of the European Tour’s oldest and most prestigious events, dating back over 100 years.

Opened for play in May 2011, the course, clubhouse and practice facilities, as well as member service and hospitality, are world class.

The Dutch is an 18-hole inland links-style golf course situated in the rural area of Doornspijk in the municipality of Lingewaal, which features links-style bunkers, heavily contoured green complexes and a significant number of water hazards in the form of lakes and burns.

The chosen site presented a number of challenging issues, which were ultimately addressed by both clever thinking and new design technologies. The plot was flat, lying several metres below sea level, with the soil a combination of silt and clay over a deeper layer of peat. Not only did this present drainage challenges, it also meant that the terrain had poor weight-bearing capacity, which could potentially impact on the proposed green complexes and mounds.

Among the ground-breaking solutions employed were a light foundation of air-filled concrete under the green complexes, and then polystyrene blocks within the mounds to reduce the amount of weight bearing down on the sub-soil. Further soil was also imported to help raise low-lying ground levels.

The end result is just the kind of superb links-style layout that

both the owners and Colin Montgomerie envisaged. The Dutch’s charming clubhouse offers five tastefully furnished and functional meeting rooms, locker rooms with bar service and sauna, a whisky and cigar room, a brasserie and a restaurant. The Dutch enjoys a central location in the heart of The Netherlands, not far from the country’s most prominent cities and airports. ■

www.thedutch.nl

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Travel

West is best

I

F you’re looking for a modern, groovy, hotel with a Rock ‘n Roll heritage to die for, the K West Hotel & Spa in Shepherd’s Bush will be a big hit for you. The hotel had a dramatic interior redesign in 2014, inspired by the cult West London hotel’s history of legendary musicians who stayed and played there.

It’s a popular, busy place that was frequented

by Rock Royalty like Bob Marley and the Wailers, David Bowie, The Kinks and Roxy Music. The hotel seems to have struck a chord with musicians, who often stay whilst playing at nearby music venues, O2, Shepherd’s Bush Empire and the Apollo.

Its vibrant ambience, combined with a relaxing, easy-going atmosphere in a prime location, makes K West Hotel & Spa a fun place to stay. Situated in one of London’s most sought-after districts, the hotel is on the doorstep of Westfield London shopping centre, one of Europe’s largest retail destinations.

Shepherd’s Bush underground station is a five minute walk away, and around the corner are fashionable areas such as Notting Hill, Portobello Road and Kensington.

The spacious 219 guestrooms are a key feature of the hotel, along with the luxurious oversized beds. Modern flourishes including sandblasted glass, and original music-inspired artwork give the rooms a distinctive K West character.

The six spectacular K Suites offer the ultimate experience. Dramatic walls of glass divide the bedrooms from the lounge areas, which are fitted with Bose surround-sound entertainment systems, a 42” plasma screen

television and ultra-comfy sofas. Two-metresquare beds and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries are available in the suites, and the bathrooms have been fitted with designer Philippe Starck double-ended baths and fixtures.

Studio Bar on the ground floor has a moody, music-infused atmosphere in the evenings.

The polished dark walnut wood flooring brings warmth to the area, which has floor-to-ceiling mirrored pillars and relaxed seating.

High-backed booth seating along the back wall, separated by silver and black voile curtains, provides intimate VIP-style corners.

Light and Airy Even the drinks menu has been injected with some Rock ‘N’ Roll swagger, with six signature Bourbon Whiskey Cocktails available, plus the quirky K West special ‘Pickleback’ shot of Jack Daniels whiskey accompanied with a shot of pickle juice. Every Friday and Saturday top DJs play exclusive sets from 10.00pm until 2.00am.

By day Studio Bar is a light and airy space for creative business meetings over coffee and laptops. Plugs are fitted conveniently ensuring laptops never run out of charge, and a ‘Geek Hub’ laptop bar with complimentary iMacs for guests to use can be found around the corner from the bar.

On the mezzanine floor above the Bar, Studio Kitchen is an informal eatery with an urban New York vibe. This is reflected in the menu which offers a range of market salads, steaks and fillets of fish off the grill and freshly stacked burgers.

For reservations, please call: 0044 (0) 20 8008 6600 or visit www.k-west.co.uk

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5

FIVE THINGS

THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME… NAME: JORDAN SMITH AGE: 24 FROM: BATH, ENGLAND TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 2014 PROFESSIONAL TOUR WINS: 5

I am a big Liverpool supporter.

Some people will probably not like that!

My favourite film is Gladiator. It is the first film I properly ever saw and loved.

The National Golf Links of America in my favourite golf course in the world.

My favourite meal is Spaghetti Bolognese but it has to have sweetcorn in it.

I come from a small village called Derry Hill in Wiltshire.

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GRAPES

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