Today's Golfer Issue 285 preview

USE EXTRA DAYLIGHT HOURS TO SHOOT LOWER SCORESTIME TO IMPROVE

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TAYL ORMADE PUTTERS

PLAY BETTERTOP TIP S ON HOW TO

BEAT FAIRWAY BUNKERS

CHOOSE BETTERTG UNDERCOVER CREW

PUTS BELFRY TO THE TEST

GET A WARM FEELING OUTSIDE!

WIN A TOP TRIP & FITTED CLUBS

SUNNY DELIGHTS

HOT COMPS

FEEL THE HEAT AT UK’S BEST SUMMER COURSES

LUXURY ITALY BREAK & SNAKE EYES SET UP FOR GRABS

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Golfer RESCUES TEST2 9 S C O R E -S A V E R S D O

B A T T L E

RORY MCILROY MASTERCLASS

DRIVING, IRONS AND CHIPPING.

PLUS: TURN YOUR PUTTING ROUND!

22 DRILLS: FROM 5 MINS TO 2 HOURS

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INSTRUCTION SPECIAL

N E W S I N S T R U C T I O N E Q U I P M E N T C O U R S E S T R A V E L

FIRST TEE

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HELPING HANDMcIlroy admits his trip to Haiti gave him a new perspective with regards to the pressures of golf.

N E W S & I N S I G H T

CHILD’S PLAY...UNICEF Haiti trip gives Rory new perspective

{McILROY IN HAITI}

Most golfers spent the Monday before the US Open travelling to Congressional or fine-tuning

their games on the course, but runaway winner Rory McIlroy was in Haiti with children who are still feeling the effects of last year’s horrific earthquake.

The Northern Irishman was there as an ambassador for UNICEF and spent part of his day in a school teaching pupils how to protect themselves against the cholera epidemic that has claimed 5,000 lives in the country since October 2010.

He also visited a nutrition and health clinic and joined in knitting, sketching and singing sessions with almost 200 youngsters at a ‘child friendly space’ set up by UNICEF in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

“Nothing could prepare me for meeting the children in Haiti and I am truly amazed by how happy they are,” said the 22-year-old.

“I thought I had perspective before going to Haiti, but actually seeing it gives you a different view on the world and the game you play. It makes you feel so lucky to be able to just sit here and drink a bottle of water; it’s the normal things that everyone does that you take for granted.

“The chance that these children are getting to be kids and enjoy themselves is so important for their well-being. Being here at this child friendly space gives them the chance to play with their friends and enjoy themselves – helping them escape for a little while every day from the difficult situations they are growing up in.”

TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ❘ IS SUE 2 8 5

McIlroy was helping Haitian children just six days before winning the US Open by eight shots.

R O R Y

M C I L R O Y

S P E C I A L

S E E I N S T R U C T I O N

F R O M P A G E 7 6


Get a feel for the pace

BUILD CONFIDENCEUse a tee rather than a hole as your target as this builds your confidence. Using a tee lowers your expectations and also makes the hole appear bigger on the course. Missing 20-footers to a hole does nothing for your confidence.

Use the five minutes before you tee off wisely...You’ve snuck out of work early and have decided to squeeze in a few holes before going home. So in the five minutes before you tee off while your playing partner’s buying a drink and generally faffing about, get on the putting green and carry out these two

key drills. Research has shown the average length of the first putt on the first green during a round is about 20 feet, so this is the distance you must practise before you play to get a feel for the speed of the greens and groove the rhythm of your stroke.

DRILL

The last thing you should do before stepping on the first tee is hole some putts from a foot away. Ask any golfer how they feel while doing this; they’ll say they were confident they'd hole it, that they felt relaxed, free of tension. The goal then is to replicate these same feelings on slightly longer putts.

MIX UP SLOPESPutt three balls to a tee 20 feet away. Try this drill three times, once on a downhill slope, once putting uphill and once with a sideslope. This gives you a better overall awareness of how the ball rolls on the day.

Add strings to your bow

L O G O N T O T H E T G

W E B S I T E F O R M O R E P R A C T I C E

D R I L L S

DRILL BENEFITSNot only will you clear your head; you will create a better understanding of how different swings create different trajectories, and learn new shots you can apply on the golf course that may just get you out of trouble.


This amount of practice time is a great opportunity to add some variety to your game. Club golfers often go to the range with their mind muddled, full of technical thoughts; it’s like a glass being full of water – you can’t put any more in. So a new approach is to empty the glass and stand on the

range without any technical thoughts and just try to shape different shots you wouldn’t normally play – a high 7-iron, a punched 9-iron, a 30-yard hook and so on. Successful tennis players don’t have just one shot in their locker, they have a variety – and the same applies to golf.

Use your 15 minutes to be creative on the range

OP TION 2

Alternatively, spend your 15 minutes on the chipping green. Choose four clubs from your bag: a sand wedge, pitching wedge, 8-iron and 6-iron, and chip to one target. This drill creates an awareness of what different clubs do, what trajectory they create and how much they spin on landing. By experimenting with different clubs, you’ve immediately added to your short-game repertoire.

72 HOLES4 NATIONS17 HOURSSummer solstice is a dream for golfers, but challenged to play a round in all of the United Kingdom's countries in just one day, would it be TG's nightmare? WORDS J O E L T A D M A N P ICTURE S J A M E S C H E A D L E


T ake one TG Instruction Editor, one summer solstice (the year’s longest day), add in golf courses

in the four countries of the UK, an aeroplane, a car and a photographer and what have you got? The ultimate summer golf challenge.

All golfers love the summer months because they mean more time to play the game we love. Rounds before or after work, 36 holes in a day, courses in pristine condition, a cold pint in the sunshine at the 19th – it's what golf dreams are made of.

But TG wanted to set a summer golf benchmark – something that was feasible but had the potential to go comically wrong. A mad challenge that would represent that ‘get out there and play’ attitude instilled deep down in every golfer.

Four rounds in a day is undoubtedly an achievement in itself, but we wanted to go one better... or four better as it turned out.

The challenge took some serious planning. Helicopters, hovercrafts, ferries, speedboats, private jets and supercars were all suggested to get me from course-to-course on time. But I wanted to make this a challenge all golfers could replicate... if they really wanted to! So with a transport budget of less than £200, millionaire travel was not an option for the 376-mile round trip.

The plan, therefore, was a cheap flight out to Belfast City Airport the night before from Liverpool. That way, I could return early the next morning after my first round, pick up a car and drive the rest of the way, going to Wales first then scooting across the border to England and finally up to Scotland. Each golf course was aware of our intended arrival time and all but the first course (due to the early start time) had a buggy on standby. The stage was set and the mad dash began.

TG Editor Andy Calton swears by early morning rounds. He claims that by starting at 6am he can whizz round all 18 holes in less than three hours and still make it to the office by 9am. I tried it once and while the peace and tranquility on the first tee was a pleasurable experience, no amount of serenity (or coffee) could energise me sufficiently for outdoor activity at such a silly hour of the day. >>

{ U K I N A D A Y }

It may be the high season for UK golf, but that doesn’t mean the prices are high too. Here is a host of top venues and resorts to help you set a sizzling summer schedule... without breaking the bank

{S U M M E R G O L F S P E C I A L }

WORDS K E V I N B R O W N

SummerHits of the

Save

£££sWITH THESE

SUPERB

SUMMER

DEALS

BEST FOR COUPLESTHE CARRICK & CAMERON HOUSE, DUNBARTONSHIREBeing on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, one of Scotland’s most breathtaking natural attractions, you’re bound to have a wonderful time – on and off the course.

The five-star Cameron House is De Vere’s flagship hotel and boasts world-class facilities, including a sumptuous spa, and spectacular views over the magical Loch.

The par-71 Carrick course is just down the road and sits next door to the legendary, exclusive Loch Lomond golf course. It’s a superb course in its own right and features several memorable holes, especially on the back nine starting from the sensational par-3 14th, and at this time of year is sure to be in pristine condition.◗ Location: Banks of Loch Lomond, about 30 minutes from Glasgow.◗ Normal green fees: All week: £125.◗ Summer Special: One night’s dinner, B&B at Cameron House plus 36 holes at The Carrick for £169 (based on two sharing a standard room). Available until September 4. To book call 0845 3752 802, quoting ‘EMD.’◗ Contact: 01465 811471 or www.cameronhouse.co.uk/cameron-house/golf/the-carrick

BOVEY CASTLE, DEVONA sumptuous five-star resort and the perfect place to get away from it all, being wonderfully located on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. It’s as romantic as it gets.

Off-course facilities are sheer class and include a stunning spa where you can unwind in style after tackling the

outstanding on-site par-70 course which boasts a great variety of holes, making the best possible use of the exquisite rolling terrain with the meandering River Bovey coming into play on several holes. A truly memorable experience all round.◗ Location: 15 miles south west of Exeter on B3212.◗ Normal green fees: All week: £70.◗ Summer Special: Two nights’ B&B accommodation and two rounds of golf per person. Prices start from £330 per person, valid until Oct 31 and based on a Classic room with two people sharing. Quote ‘Today’s Golfer’ and receive a complimentary upgrade to the next room type.◗ Contact: 01647 445009, www.boveycastle.com

PICK OF THE RESTSTOKE PARK, BUCKSIt’s steeped in history and pedigree and has famously been the location of several blockbuster movies including Goldfinger and romantic comedy Bridget Jones’ Diary. Plus there’s 27 holes of majestic Harry Colt parkland golf to enjoy together.◗ Normal green fees: Mon-Fri: £145. Sat-Sun: £205.◗ Summer special: The golf: Mon-Fri after 4.30pm: £75 (and £25 for a buggy). Sat-Sun after 4.30pm: £125.◗ Contact: 01753 717171,

www.stokeparkclub.com

OULTON HALL, WEST YORKSIt’s the only five-star hotel in Yorkshire, has a first-class spa and has 27 holes of quality parkland golf and impressive practice facilities. ◗ Normal green fees: Mon-Fri: £60. Sat-Sun: £65.

◗ Summer Special: One night’s dinner, B&B and 36 holes of golf for £95 per person (was £119pp) until Aug 31 (Sun-Thurs only). Price is per person and based on twin sharing. To book call 0845 375 2808, quoting TGSUM◗ Contact: 0113 282 3152, www.devere.co.uk/our-locations/oulton-hall

THE WELCOMBE, WARWICKSA striking Jacobean mansion hotel and thrilling rollercoaster of a parkland course literally just down the road from the home of Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon.◗ Normal green fees: Mon-Fri: £50. Sat-Sun: £65.◗ Summer Special: £25 after 3pm and £115 per person for Sunday Driver package which includes Sunday night accommodation, two rounds of golf and use of the spa facilities.◗ Contact: 01789 413800, www.welcombehotelstratford.co.uk

BEST FOR SMALL GROUPS/FOURBALLSMANOR HOUSE, WILTSHIREApart from a pub and a few shops, you won’t find a great deal in the tiny, scenic Cotswold village of Castle Combe but you will come across one of the best parkland courses around.

Created by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark nearly two decades ago, Manor House is a wonderful place to play. Plotted on exquisite undulating terrain, it’s a real rip-roaring rollercoaster of a track capable of causing much golfing drama.

There are a number of spectacular elevated tees and par 3s – the 127-yard penultimate hole fits the bill on both counts as you must take careful aim to find a well-guarded green 120ft below. ◗ Location: Near Chippenham, four >>

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{S U M M E R G O L F S P E C I A L }

Trethorne, CornwallBoasts a fast-maturing undulating par-71 parkland layout, several on-site accommodation options, a two-tier driving range, welcoming large clubhouse and a ten pin bowling complex.◗ Location: On the A395 three miles from Launceston, minutes from the main A30 into Cornwall.◗ Normal green fees: Mon-Fri: £25 a round & £35 a day. Sat-Sun: £36/£46.◗ Summer Special: Two nights’ dinner, B&B and unlimited golf for £153 (midweek) and £159 (weekends) plus the Summer Breakfast Special which includes 18 holes and full English breakfast and coffee for £26 per person.◗ Contact: 01566 86903 or www.trethornegolfclub.com

ALL-ROUND QUALITY (2)Try out this Cornish treat

Knock the pins out,

then over, at Trethorne.

LOCH NICEEnjoy the golf and the stunning Loch Lomond scenery at the Carrick and Cameron House.

MOOR IS MOREIt’s quality all the way at romantic Bovey Castle, nestled in stunning Dartmoor terrain.

INSTRUCTION

PATH TO GLORYNever underestimate the effect your ball position has on the accuracy of your shots, says TG Pro Noel Rousseau

STR A IGH TER SHO TS

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WHAT IS ‘CORRECT’? It’s only natural to try and achieve an ‘orthadox’ set-up by aligning the feet parallel to the ball-to-target line and then placing the ball in the ‘correct’ position for the club in hand. The downside to this is that we don’t hit the ball with our set-up positions! The set-up, in fact, needs to reflect the face angle and club path characteristics of our own swing.

A SIMPLE FIX...If you struggle with a slice or pull due to an out-to-in swing path with your woods, try aiming your feet, hips and shoulders a little right. This will give the club a better chance of swinging in a straight line through the ball. The club is still exiting to the left but because of your ‘closed’ set-up you will have approached the ball from the inside hitting the ball straighter.

POWER GAINER Make sure when you adjust your stance the ball position remains the same (opposite the front heel). Having a consistent ball position is crucial in hitting shots straight time after time. This closed stance should also encourage a much more powerful release with a freer movement of the wrists as you won’t be fighting a pull hook and guiding the ball.

HORIZONTAL PLANE As well as arcing vertically, the club swings in a circular motion around our bodies. Notice how with the ball position in line with the front heel (correct) the driver head will be starting to move left after it bottoms out in front of the centre point, the sternum. Couple this with poor body movement through impact and you have a recipe for very wayward shots!

INSTRUCTION B A L L P O S I T I O N I N G

MORESWING DRILLS

ON THE T G WEB SITE

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TRY AIMING LEFT A lot of great ball-strikers align their feet and body fractionally left of target with their shorter irons. This increases the chance of the club approaching the ball on a more ‘neutral’ path, reducing the amount of sidespin created on the ball. Try this on the range, keeping the ball position the same – just in front of centre for a mid iron, central for a short iron.

THE FACTS SAY... With an iron, the ball is positioned much further back compared to a driver. It’s much more likely that the club, therefore, will be striking the ball open to the target. In fact, recent Trackman data has shown us that to hit a draw that starts right of the target and finishes on the target, the clubface needs to be open to the target line at the point of impact!

IN CONCLUSION... You can see how the club still exits left as it does on every swing but this is after the ball is struck. The next time you are on the range don’t be restricted by what would be considered an ‘orthodox’ set-up but experiment to find your optimum feet alignment and ball position. You will need to watch your ball flight carefully and bare our principles in mind.

HOW IT WORKS...The ideal draw shot requires the club to approach the ball from the inside with a slightly closed face relative to the path. Since the ball is further back in the arc with the irons you are more likely to strike the ball as it is still travelling from the inside. This and the loft on the club are the main reasons why people who slice their woods can hit their short irons straighter or even with draw.

EQUIPMENT

CUSTOMISED CADDY We’ve long championed the benefits of using an electric trolley on the course and now Motocaddy have made that option even more attractive by offering the chance to customise your trolley with a few unique touches – and all for the equivalent price of a new wedge.

By using the manufacturer’s super-easy-to-use new MyCaddy online service, you can now personalise your trolley for the very first time by selecting from a number of custom frame and wheel colours. You can also add a name or message to the frame to make sure they stand out from the crowd.

Golfers can either have their name, a nickname or even their favourite sports team scribed on the product – there's even a choice of three different fonts.

The service, which has its own unique URL, guides the golfer wishing to buy a new Motocaddy trolley through six simple stages until the desired combination of model, frame colour, wheels, battery option, cart bag and text is achieved.

And you can see exactly what your trolley will look like at each stage of the design, giving you the option to change and tinker with different parts of it to suit your taste.

In addition to the three standard colours of black, titanium and alpine white, Motocaddy have also introduced a new colour unique to their two electric trolley models. Golfers wishing to purchase the S1 Digital can opt for a special edition red frame, while S3 Digital fans can choose a swanky blue colour.

The maximum cost of personalising your new Motocaddy trolley through the MyCaddy system is £80 – about the cost of a decent new wedge, but golfers can choose to only personalise various parts of the trolley, which makes it considerably cheaper.

The S1 Digital starts at £299.99 and the S3 Digital at £399.99, both of which represent excellent value as the product has proven to perform in the toughest of conditions.◗ For more details on the new MyCaddy service simply visit the website www.motocaddy.com/mycaddy

{ TROLLEY REVOLUTION!}

Trolley specialists Motocaddy launch new online personalisation service

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JUST SOME OF YOUR MYCADDY OPTIONS

FINAL PREVIEWThe best aspect of the MyCaddy is that you can see an image of what you have created before you buy – so you'll get no nasty surprises when you have your new trolley delivered.

1. You can customise both the S1 Digital and the S3 Digital. 2. The Club-Series Cart Bag is Motocaddy's lightest yet. It looks stylish – so why not pair it with red wheel spokes? 3. The Pro-Series Cart bag in alpine/blue looks classy when combined with a blue framed trolley and white wheels.

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Personal touch You could have your name on your trolley, like this...

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EQUIPMENT L A T E S T N E W S

THE TGOPINION

Jon Greathead on why progress should always be applauded

This month, I'd like to celebrate the growing individuality of golf, an aspect of the game which hasn't always been present.

Even 10 years ago, if you turned up on the tee with a bit of kit that was just a tad different, you were ridiculed. Now, Nike, TaylorMade et al continually push the boundaries of innovation, and are happy to produce a different-looking club as long as it performs well.

Apparel brands also need a mention here – 10 years ago, if you didn’t wear a cotton shirt (complete with collar and club crest) you were cast down as an oik. Then, David Duval won The Open wearing a skin tight Nike performance polo (minus collar) and other manufacturers took notice. Now, Galvin Green, Nike, adidas and Under Armour produce garments that not only look good, but also work to improve your golf.

There is still a place for a good old cotton polo shirt, but we should all enjoy the amount of choice we have.

Motocaddy’s foray into the world of product personalisation might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but here is another successful brand saying 'it’s OK to be a bit different and stand out from the crowd'. Golf needs individuality, and the range of equipment now available (in a wide price range) allows more people to start golf feeling comfortable in their new surroundings. ◗ Any thoughts? Email [email protected]

Big Max IQ launch new easy-to-use push trolley Following the successful launch last year of the Big Max IQ, the company has launched their new Smart Cart push trolley, designed with ease of use in mind.

It’s also a winner when it comes to storage and transportation, because it folds up to an incredibly small size and easily fits in even the smallest car boots.

The Smart Cart is very simple to assemble – once the front wheel is clicked into position, the cart simply unfolds and you’re ready to put the bag on. The three wheels make it pretty stable too, on even the roughest of terrain and it also comes with a handbrake. ◗ The £199.99 trolley is available in white, black, red or silver. Visit www.bigmaxgolf.co.uk

SMART OPTION

◗ It wasn’t just Rory McIlroy toasting a brilliant US Open, as Golf Pride also celebrated a sensational week with the news 81 per cent of the field used their grips. In fact, 81 golfers in the field also used the new Tour Velvet product.

◗ Golfers flying into Edinburgh can now escape the excess baggage charge that many airlines make golfers pay to carry clubs, by renting bats at the airport through clubstohire.com. Golfers can hire top gear from the likes of TaylorMade, Wilson, Callaway and MD Golf from just £35 a week.

◗ The putter used by Rory McIlroy to such brilliant effect at the US Open was a "chromatic bronze" version of the Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport. It is a "Tour-only" version and is not available to general consumers.

◗ Golfers can now get their wedges fully customised with Titleist’s new Vokey Wedgeworks Exclusives. As well as wedge grinds and different designs, golfers can also have touches such as initials added. Visit www.titleist.co.uk

◗ There are still places available at our FREE TG Demo Day at The Belfry on Bank Holiday Monday, August 29. Book on 0300 500 0401 quoting TG1.

5UNDER THE RADAR

The very first Ping club was the 1A putter that company founder Karsten Solheim engineered in his own garage. Over half a century later, Ping have launched the Iping putter app to help you improve your stroke.

The new technology is free to download from the iTunes App Store and it identifies a golfer’s stroke type, looks at their impact angle and measures their tempo.

Once the app is downloaded to either the iPhone 4 or iPod Touch (4th generation) the Apple device can be clipped onto the putter shift using a specially-designed cradle (RRP £25). After a series of putts, the software records consistency in each area and establishes a Putting Handicap which gets lower as the golfer raises consistency in the various criteria.

The iPhone 4 and iPod Touch are the only mobile devices that contain both accelerometers and gyroscopes, which are the key technologies that allows the iPing to work correctly.

The app also features a Compare Mode, where you can compare your results with previous sessions or friends – or indeed some of Ping's Tour pros – who have also downloaded the software.

◗THE FACTS The new product is available now. Go to www.ping.com

P I N G ' S A P P C A N H E L P Y O U R P U T T I N G

HILL STOPThe Smart Cart's handbrake allows you to park it on slopes without fear of a chase!

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BEAT THE PROYou can compare your putting against that of a Tour pro like Hunter Mahan.

DOWNLOAD... UPBEAT!

EQUIPMENT

PING K15 £146

FORGAN PROBRID £29.99

BENROSS QUAD £69.99

NIKE VR PRO £150

MIZUNO MP CLK £139

TAYLORMADE BURNER SUPERFAST 2.0 £129

YONEX VMS £89

CLEVELAND MASHIE £129

Web: www.ping.comTel: 01427 619 224

Web: www.forgan.co.ukTel: 01527 598 388

Web: www.benrossgolf.comTel: 01932 821 200

Web: www.nikegolf.euTel: 0800 056 1640

Web: www.mizuno.euTel: 0800 328 0180

Web: www.taylormadegolf.euTel: 08000 728 624

Web: www.yonex.co.ukTel: 0208 742 9777

Web: www.clevelandgolf.comTel: 01420 541 709

Distance: 2.9 Dispersion: 3.6 Looks: 1.8 Feel: 3.8 Forgiveness: 3.6 Fairway: 3.5 Tee: 3.4 Rough: 2.9 RATING HHHHH








VERDICT: It’s hard to doubt a manufacturer of Ping’s reputation but the K15 didn’t win many admirers, mainly due to the looks which pro Chris and Leon described as more of a driving iron. It’s designed to stop a slice, which it certainly did, but overall our team didn’t suffer from this problem and were therefore put off by the bulbous toe which seemed to affect performance. On the plus side, all the testers said the feel off the face was very good, as expected from Ping.

VERDICT: Leon said this club felt surprisingly good in his hands and he rated it quite highly, as did Dave and Ben. Dave liked the versatility in different situations but pro Chris wasn’t keen saying it didn’t feel solid or forgiving and wouldn’t inspire confidence. He noticed a big difference in feel between centre and off-centre strikes but in pure performance terms this was one of his best on test. In fact, this performed pretty well across the board for everyone.

VERDICT: The initial impression of pro Chris was that this would deliver a very high ball flight because the shape of the head means you see a lot of loft at address. He said this would really help golfers who try to help the ball in the air and is perfect for attacking greens but not so good off the tee. Ben agreed with this and particularly liked the feel off the face. Dave said he found the club extremely forgiving, but didn’t like the way the leading edge sat so far in front of the hosel.

VERDICT: The team thought it looked like an old-fashioned driving iron, hence the high marks off the tee. Chris really liked the strong ball flight and said it almost negated the need for a fairway wood although he did admit it is a small percentage of better golfers this would be aimed at. That didn’t put Ben off though who said he liked the looks, even with the smaller head, and found it more forgiving than he expected. It also performed well in Leon’s hands being one of his longest and straightest.

VERDICT: Surprisingly for a Mizuno club our team said this felt harsh off the face but despite this it was a top performer for each of our testers and consistently one of the longest on test. Ben said it was more forgiving than he expected while both Leon and pro Chris said this would be a great option off the tee thanks to a powerful ball flight and slightly smaller head. Dave said he felt the CLK performed really well out of the rough thanks to the smaller head and rounded sole; only Ben agreed.

VERDICT: This was a good performer for distance, being among the longest on test for Dave and Leon but both Dave and Ben struggled to control the Superfast, recording pretty high dispersion stats. Dave said it looked to him more like a small fairway wood and Chris agreed, though he said the shallow face would prevent him using it off the tee. He said it was a confidence-inspiring club and also commented on the weight, which he said was much lighter than others on test.

VERDICT: Both Dave and Chris said this was one of the best all-rounders on test as it just did everything well. Chris said it ticked a lot of boxes by being a good size and a nice weight and he reckoned it would appeal to a very broad spectrum of players – although if it had one weakness he thought the ball flight would be a little high to use regularly off the tee. Ben also rated this highly across the board but Leon wasn’t as big a fan, saying it felt too light with nothing in particular jumping out at him.

VERDICT: Cleveland know the raw finish on the Mashie will be a hit or a miss. It was exactly that on test with Dave liking it while Chris, Leon and Ben weren’t as taken. But in terms of performance it did well across the board. Chris said the shaft was light, which would suit some amateurs and he loved the glide rails on the sole and the deeper face. The generous head size gave Ben confidence and he said it was forgiving, although Leon felt he was a little prone to hitting it left.


EQUIPMENT

NIKE SQ MACHSPEED £120

MD SUPERSTRONG £69.99

WILSON DXi£129

SNAKE EYES QS4 £99

MD SEVE £89.99

MIZUNO JPX 800 £119

COBRA BAFFLER £120

PING i15 £167

Web: www.nikegolf.euTel: 0800 056 1640

Web: www.mdgolf.co.ukTel: 02894 460 333

Web: www.wilsonstaff.comTel: 01294 316 720

Web: www.golfsmith-europe.co.ukTel: 01480 308 800

Web: www.mdgolf.co.ukTel: 02894 460 333

Web: www.mizuno.euTel: 0800 328 0180

Web: www.cobragolf.co.ukTel: 01372 364 933

Web: www.ping.comTel: 01427 619 224









VERDICT: This has a square head which meant three of our four testers marked it down on looks. But when it came to performance our team were quite taken. Ben said once he hit the first ball and got over the looks he loved it while Dave said he doubted there was a more forgiving hybrid on the market. Leon, Dave and Ben all rated the feel highly while Chris said that other than the head shape there was nothing to dislike. Had we been able to blindfold testers this would have scored higher!

VERDICT: All our testers said they would happily put the Superstrong into play. Chris said he liked the way it sat tight behind the ball and the shallow face would really inspire confidence from the fairway and the rough although he admitted this could be a disadvantage off the tee. Ben said this was one of the most forgiving clubs on test while Dave also rated it extremely highly from the fairway. Leon thought it lacked a little in feel but his performance stats with the Superstrong were excellent.

VERDICT: Dave, Ben and Chris all rated the DXi pretty highly, with Dave saying he thought it was one of the best and most versatile clubs Wilson had produced in recent times. Chris liked the stronger ball flight and said he’d be really comfortable using this off the tee and Ben agreed. Even as a higher handicapper Ben liked the more compact head profile but unusually this really put Leon off, even as a better player. But although he didn’t like the head profile it still performed very well for him.

VERDICT: Chris said he could happily go out and put it into play straight away. He said it felt very easy to hit but gave great feedback as well, something he doesn’t always associate with game improver clubs. Dave said it felt fast off the face and was one of the most forgiving clubs on test but admitted he wouldn’t feel that confident using it off the tee due to the high flight. Ben agreed with this and noticed how the high flight affected his distance although he said it was extremely forgiving.

VERDICT: Leon was a big fan, saying he felt he could really 'go after the ball'. Chris agreed it was an extremely stable club though he likened the shape more to a 7-wood. Like the Superstrong he felt the face was a little shallow to use regularly off the tee and admitted he would go for the stronger-lofted 18° option. Dave said the performance and forgiveness was excellent but thought it lacked a little in terms of feedback. Ben liked the head shape and got excellent results.

VERDICT: This is one for bombing off the tee according to Leon while Chris felt it was better from the fairway and the rough, commenting on the high flight and ease of use. He also said the head shape and two-tone crown didn't appeal, but he felt it would help higher handicappers frame the ball and position it in their stance. Ben liked the head profile, insisting it gave him confidence over the ball. Dave doubted it could be any more forgiving on mishits and thought it was brilliant from the fairway.

VERDICT: Both Dave and Leon felt the head profile didn’t immediately catch their eye but said the feel off the face was sensational and the forgiveness was second-to-none. Leon said the ball flight was a little higher than he expected but claimed it would be ideal from the fairway and the rough. Chris actually has one of these in his bag and said he loves the railed sole design because it makes it usable from a number of situations and the deeper face means it can be used off the tee.

VERDICT: This is aimed at the better player and as it sits slightly open is not one for the slicer but our three amateur testers loved the i15. Both Leon and Ben commented on the simple, clean looks while Dave said it was brilliant from all situations. Chris wasn’t as convinced saying that it was a little long heel-to-toe for his liking and the strong flight meant he wouldn’t feel as comfortable attacking greens. However, he praised the feel and said it was perfect off the tee.


T H E T E S T H Y B R I D S

COURSES

BRAID’S BARGAINSWherever you are in the country you’ll not be far from a James Braid-designed course… and they’re not as pricey as you think

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‘IT MAY BE SHORT OF TODAY’SMARATHON COURSES BUT THE

K ING’S CONTINUES TO REIGN SUPREME, SPECIALLY IF

THE WIND IS BLOWING’

MORE 2-FORE!-1

BRAID GEMSFive more of the Scot’s

masterpieces…

◗ MERE G&CCSuperb Cheshire parkland track.Green fees: Mon, Tues & Thurs: £75. Weds, Fri-Sun: Members only. 2-FORE!-1: Mon, Tues & Thurs. Contact: 01565 830155.

◗ THORPENESSHeathland near Suffolk coast.Green fees: Mon-Thurs: £42. Fri-Sun: £47. 2-FORE!-1: Available all week after 11.30am. Contact: 01728 452176.

◗ GLENEAGLESQueen’s course is stunning par 68 with excellent set of par 3s.Green fees: All week: £155. 2-FORE!-1: Sun-Thurs after 2pm. Contact: 01764 694343.

◗ DALMAHOY (EAST)One of Braid’s toughest tracks. Green fees: Mon-Fri: £65. Sat-Sun: £80. 2-FORE!-1: Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri. Contact: 0131 335 8010.

◗ CHURCH STRETTONThis Shropshire stunner is one of the course maestro’s most scenic layouts.Green fees: Mon-Fri: £20. Sat-Sun: £25. 2-FORE!-1: All week.Contact: 01694 722281.

COURSES P L A Y M O R E , P A Y L E S S B R A I D B E A U T I E S

The King’s course at Gleneagles is pure golfing heaven and arguably the pick of the legendary Braid’s classy crop. It’s a masterpiece of design which has been thrilling and entertaining golfers since opening nearly a century ago and was in play well before the luxury, world-famous on-site hotel’s arrival.

Just two years after opening, the course hosted the first unofficial Ryder Cup between Great Britain and America in 1921, with five-times Open victor Braid leading GB to a resounding victory. The current Ryder Cup format is scheduled to take place in Scotland for the first time at Gleneagles in 2014, albeit on the neighbouring PGA Centenary layout.

The King’s lacks the yardage to seriously examine today’s superstars but it provides an unforgettable golfing experience and the fact that the par-68, 6,066 yards (from daily yellow tees) is plotted on undulating moorland terrain with breathtaking panoramic vistas is an added bonus.

It may be short by today’s standards but the King’s continues to reign supreme, especially if the wind is blowing. Braid’s

plan for the King’s was to examine even the best players’ shot-making qualities and that’s evident from the word go at the opening par-4 hole. In truth you can’t fail to find one of the widest fairways around but the really hard part comes with your approach shot as you try to find an elevated green sitting pretty on a hillside. Miss it and you’ll almost certainly be playing your next shot from a gaping crater bunker 20ft below.

You’ll also discover a ‘blind’ green perched on another hill at the quirky par-4 3rd. The opening few holes are a signal of the thinking and plotting that needs to be carried out if any sort of score is to be achieved.

Among the back nine star holes is ‘Braid’s Brawest’ (or best), a rip-roaring rollercoaster of a par 4. Braid usually signed his name to the hole he considered the best at each of his designs and the 423-yard 13th was his personal favourite here. However, with the King’s he certainly had plenty of choice.

◗ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWLocation: 16 miles south west of Perth on A9.Green fees: All week: £155. 2-FORE!-1: Sun-Thurs after 2pm. Contact: 01764 694343.

{ AL GARVE VALUE}

WORDS K E V I N B R O W N

BEST WESTERN

TRAVEL

Some regard the Algarve as a top quality and high-cost golfing holiday – but think again because as little as £400 could get you a wonderful week away

BEST WESTERN

TRAVEL

FRANCETwo nights and two rounds of golf at Golf d’Hardelot, Northern France, until October 30 including Eurotunnel crossing for just £205pp.Contact: 0800 043 6644.

ITALYThree nights’ B&B at the four-star Savoia Hotel Regency, Emilia Romagna, and three rounds (Le Fonti & Bologna GC) from Jul 1-Aug 31 from £249pp. Contact: 0845 543 6675.

SPAINThree nights and three rounds at Hotel Almenara, Costa del Sol, from June 5 to July 29 for £149pp. Contact: 0800 043 6644.

FRANCETwo nights’ B&B at Hotel du Golf d’Arras, Pas-de-Calais, and unlimited golf, with Eurotunnel crossing from £189pp. Valid July 1 to August 31. Contact: Golfbreaks.com, 0845 543 6675.

MORE SHORT BREAKS

Enjoy great long golfing weekends for little cost

PORTUGALThree nights at the Dona Filipa Resort, Algarve, and two rounds of golf at San Lorenzo between November 19 and January 18, 2012 for £155pp.Contact: 0800 043 6644.

Boavista Golf and Spa Resort in the Western Algarve is a great place to stay and play.

The main attraction will be the Howard Swan-designed par-71, 5,742-yard course (daily tees), which next year celebrates its 10th anniversary. Occupying a dramatic clifftop location overlooking Luz Bay and the sweeping Meia Praia beach beyond Lagos, it’s maturing beautifully.

The layout has two distinctly different nines with several water features, but it’s not too demanding or intimidating and has four sets of tees to play from.

There’s a terrific variety of holes but the ace in the pack is the breathtaking par-3 6th, played over a gaping chasm and one of the most thrilling holes in the Algarve!

The following par 4 – set against a glorious Atlantic Ocean backdrop – is pretty tasty too.

The 260-acre resort offers a wide variety of accommodation and eating options, world-class facilities and top practice amenities, plus it’s just 45 minutes from Faro airport.

Off-course unwind in the spa with heated

pools, sauna, steam rooms and Jacuzzi. Tennis courts and football pitches are also available.

Green fees range from €60 (£52) to €82 (£72) with a three-round package (September-November) costing €210 (£184).

◗ TRY IT YOURSELFDeal 1: Lagos golf package: Seven nights in luxury self-catering apartment, two rounds at Boavista and two at Palmares (plus fifth round subject to availability) and complimentary use of spa & health club from €404pp (£355). Deal 2: Four-night golf package at Boavista Golf & Spa Resort (during Sept) with three rounds of golf (at Boavista or Parque da Floresta, including shared buggy) from €310pp (£273 - four sharing), from €369pp (£325 - three sharing) and from €433pp (£382 - two sharing). Prices based on two-bedroom accommodation. To book either package call 00351 282 000160, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.boavistaholidays.com

B A R G A I N B R E A K S P O R T U G A L

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