JULY EVENTS 2024

JULY EVENTS 2024

LOFOTEN, NORWAY. Situated inside the Arctic Circle there is a ”Cool golf links with the hottest light show on earth.” Summer visitors come to stay in lodges and play 24 hr. golf in a spectacular setting on the Norwegian Sea, and from August to October they get the Northern Lights thrown in.

GOLFERS WHO COMPETE in the Macmillan Longest Day Challenge should tip their caps to H.Lumsden, of the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, who set a formidable record for the most golf played in 24 hours on a light summer night in 1910. Starting at 2.20. a.m. he proceeded to play 12 rounds of golf, or 216 holes, a distance of around 40 miles, averaging 82.5 shots per round, and finishing at 9.00 p.m. I wonder if his wife greeted him with ”And what time do you call this, H.Lumsden?”

THE STAYSURE PGA Seniors Championship will be staged at Trump International Golf Links July 31^st to August 4th.  The par-72 championship course, opened in 2012, features 2 loops of nine holes nestled in amongst the Great Dunes with views of the Aberdeenshire coastline.

Host Colin Montgomerie says: “To be hosting the oldest Senior Championship in Europe is a distinct privilege. I will be doing my best to be a good host, while also focussing on competing against a very strong field.”  Phil Harrison, CEO of the Legends Tour, said: “Colin Montgomerie is a name synonymous with European golf and it's success. We are delighted to have Colin on board and can think of no better host for this fantastic tournament.” Unfortunately, Monty is also famous for being one of the world's grumpiest golfers. A man who could be put off his stroke by the sound of butterfly wings, his temper tantrums were legendary. He argued with fans, he argued with cameramen, he even argued with his long-suffering caddie Alastair McLean. Let's hope he's mellowed with age, and there aren't too many butterflies on the Trump course.

IT'S ALL HAPPENING north of the border this month. The Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club Nth. Berwick, July 11-14^th, will be followed by The Open at Royal Troon from July 18^th to 21^st, then the Senior Open at Carnoustie Golf Links, July 25-28^th followed by Monty's lot at Trump International on the 31^st. Hardly gives the players time for a wee dram between Championships. Hope the weather is kind, especially for the seniors, or hot toddys and Vick vapour rub will be the order of the day.

To counter complaints of favouritism towards the land of heather and porridge, Sir Nick Faldo will be hosting the Betfred British Masters at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, from 29^th August to 1^stSeptember.

The Saturday will be “Retro day” with the fans encouraged to wear their traditional golf outfits, a chance for Sir Nick to dig out one of his diamond jumpers.

HYBRID CLUBS make scoring easier and, as a result, provide more enjoymenT especially if you're a senior player.  The Cobra Darkspeed hybrid impressed testers this spring, with it's suspended PWR-BRIDGE design helping deliver long, straight shots, and an AI-designed H.O.T. Face which provides consistently fast ball speeds. The 12g weight positioned low in the sole helps to promote a high, towering ball flight. In addition, the combination of black and grey tones and matte dark grey crown make this one of the best looking hybrids. Impressed? A snip at around £229.. 

WINNERS OF THE OPEN receive a replica Claret Jug while the original resides at St. Andrews. Tom Watson, however, was given the original Claret Jug in error after his 1982 Open victory and accidentally knocked it off a table at home while practising his swing. He put it in the vice in his workroom and removed the dent. Luckily Henrik Stenson didn't drop the (replica) Claret jug after his win in 2016, as he went waterskiing with the trophy afterwards. Let's hope the next Open winner doesn't do free cliff climbing in his spare time.

JUNE 2024 EVENTS

 JUNE 2024 EVENTS

DOGS WERE NOT POPULAR at my old golf club, Barton on Sea in Hampshire. Having heard some hair-raising anecdotes I can understand why. One chap used to tie his fox terrier Harry to the trolley. Harry always behaved impeccably until one day on reaching the 14^th hole near the clifftop car park a car door opened and out jumped the Hound of the Baskervilles. It made straight for Harry, and Harry, neither up for a fight nor a romantic encounter, took off. Fear lent wings to his little ginger legs and the trolley swayed behind him, shedding clubs over the fairway, with Harry’s owner and partner both running behind waving their irons and the Hound’s owner bringing up the rear in a scene reminiscent of a Benny Hill chase. On another occasion, an excitable pup on an extending lead promptly ran round and round a foursomes, tying them up in a neat, almost oven-ready parcel. Never a dull minute. 

Suggestions before taking Fido for a round:

1) No barking. An ill-timed bark at the top of your opponent's backswing could result in Rover's immediate demise. 2) Teach him to understand “drop it”, especially your opponent's ball. 3) Don't forget the poo bag. 

THE U.S. OPEN will be played on Pinehurst No. 2 course, Nth. Carolina, June 13-16^th. Designed in 1907 by Donald Ross, Pinehurst has 9 18 hole courses, each named simply by a number.  Pinehurst 2 is said to be fiendishly difficult.  Many of the greens are crowned and short shots tend to roll off, leaving a difficult chip shot.  Johnny Miller once compared trying to land a ball on a Pinehurst green to trying to land it on top of a VW Beetle. Payne Stewart, who's statue is behind the 18^th green, won the US Open there in 1999 after holing a 15ft par putt for a one-stroke victory before losing his life in October of that year. Pinehurst had no long rough in 1907 but in 1974 thick Bermuda rough was introduced throughout the course. In 2010 it was removed and fairways and bunkers were restored to the original Ross design with fine sand and native scrub. The good news is it’s very difficult to lose a ball on No. 2. course, there’s just one water hazard and OB rarely comes into play. Defending champion Wyndham Clark's putting last year was said to be outstanding. Perhaps he'd bought a VW Beetle.

A BRAND NEW GOLF CLUB is set to open "Within sight of central London.” The Inspiration Club is located just 10 miles from the West End and about seven miles from Heathrow airport. The third golf course owned by the Bridgedown Golf Group, following on from The Shire London and The West London Golf Centre, the 6,610-yard course is opening on 1^stJune. Director Tony Menai-Davis said: "The Inspiration Club is unlike anything London has ever seen - a modern style links, featuring run-offs familiar to coastal layouts. To experience what we have designed here you would normally have to travel to the coast. The club will be perfectly positioned for golf enthusiasts looking to indulge in a round after work in the City." Oh yeah! Just try getting out to Northolt at 5.00pm.

PING SAY the G430 MAX 10K is their most forgiving driver yet, overtaking last year's G430 MAX.  It practically comes with an automatic pardon from the pope. In addition, the lower spin rate of the G430 Max 10K leads to a vastly improved carry distance. The fixed Tungsten back weight drives mass down and back to increase forgiveness and optimise the centre of gravity position.
Even more noticeable, apparently, is the consistency. On more wayward strikes direction, speed and spin stay remarkably solid. The driver's large confidence-inspiring head helps square the golfer to the target. 

It's a tad expensive, coming in at a whopping £599. I'd better start saving up. Like Bob Hope I've got a great short game, unfortunately it’s off the tee. 

MAY 2024 EVENTS

MAY 2024 EVENTS 

Apes Hill

THE LEGENDS TOUR 2024 starts on 3rd May and features 20 tournaments across four continents with a prize fund of over €18 million. The over 50's first tournament, hosted by Ian Woosnam, will be at Apes Hill golf course, on the blissful island of Barbados.

Set on the site of an old sugar plantation, Apes Hill occupies the island's highest usable terrain, with wonderful views and cool breezes from both the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Bearded fig trees line the fairways and green monkeys swing through the trees. Designer Ron Kirby also oversaw the creation of a par-3 course to be played by families and serious golfers alike, with replica holes from around the word, like the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon or the 17^th at TPC Sawgrass. 

The course first opened in 2009 but fell into financial difficulty and disrepair before being bought by a Canadian businessman who invested $24 million and brought in Kirby, who designed the celebrated Old Head Links in Ireland. Luxury villas, a state-of-the-art driving range, fitness centre and health club, hiking and nature trails, floodlit paddle and tennis courts and a world-class spa resulted in Apes Hill Barbados receiving an impressive four wins at the 2023 World Golf Awards in Abu Dhabi. The golf course was also named the best in both Barbados and the Caribbean. Ron Kirby, who died in 2022 shortly after the completion of his masterpiece, would have been proud.

THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP is returning to Nicklaus-designed Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky from May 13-19^th. The course has played host to some of golf’s greatest events, including the 2014 PGA Championship and the 2008 Ryder Cup. For a memorable trip the Kentucky Derby (May 4th) on Churchill Downs would be recommended, if only for the opportunity of cheering on the winner with a drop of bourbon.  Both Kentucky and Ireland produce world-beating racehorses, the limestone in the soil is said to provide calcium which strengthens the bones of their world famous thoroughbreds. A visit to the historic building where the Louisville Lip began his boxing career, and then a tour of the bluegrass country followed by the PGA at Valhalla. Perfect. Kentucky is rightly renowned for both racing and golf. Don't know if it's the limestone but their whisky's not bad either.

Rory McIlroy’s victory in near darkness at the 2014 PGA Championship in a rain-delayed final round, was his last win in a major. It's time he sank a celebratory bourbon again.  

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER started the year with a reasonable T5 at the Sentry and T17 at the American Express. Things quickly moved up a gear with three top 10's in a row, the At&T Pebble Beach, WM Phoenix Open, and the Genesis Invitational. After that his form really improved, starting with the Arnold Palmer Invitational then the Players Championship followed by a T2 in the Houston Open. To compensate for that disappointment he proceeded to win the Masters and the RBC at HiIton Head. In the space of 44 days he earned $16,253,735 in prize money, of which he gave $1,608,761 to his caddie, Ted Scott. So far this season Scott has earned just under $1,800,000. more than Rory McIlroy and Tony Finau, to name just two. And it's only May.

MUSTN'T FORGET the ladies. Well done to Nelly Korda for winning the Chevron Championship by two shots in Texas to secure her second major title and a fifth straight tournament win, earning her over $2 million so far. Does she need a caddie?

A RECENT medical study says the death rate for golfers is 40% lower than that for non-golfers, and on a par with athletes and gymnasts. That’s as long as players walk the course, burning off some 900 calories during an average round. (Meaning you can still drop in the 19^th afterwards and put 700 back on.) For those of you familiar with the old Stanley Holloway song: “My word, I do feel well!”

APRIL 2024 EVENTS 

The Devils Bridge

WHEN THE EDELWEISS emerges from it's snowy blanket in spring so too does the Andermatt Golf course. Over 1,400m above sea level, the fairways echo to the tinkle of cowbells and glacier-water tumbles down the slopes into clear streams. Every shot on this 18-hole par 72 championship course provides enchanting views of the valleys and encircling Alps. Some holes test the lungs, but the ball soars unbelievably far through the thin air.

Up until 1818 Andermatt was virtually inaccessible, prone to rockfalls and avalanches . Benedictine monks from the abbey across the pass called it “The Valley of the Devil.” In the ‘Flight Of The Earls’ from Ulster in 1608, the last Gaelic Chieftans lost a fortune when their gold fell into the ravine as they attempted to cross the treacherous ‘Devil’s Bridge’ on St Patrick’s Day. ‘The Lost Treasure Of The St Gotthard Pass’ has never been recovered.

When the St Gotthard railway tunnel was finished in 1881 Andermatt was bypassed completely, the line went underneath it. In the 20^th century the Swiss army Alpine unit trained there, afterwards it became an alternative ski resort to its more expensive neighbours St Moritz and Gstaad. Egyptian billionaire, Samih Sawiris committed £1.2billion to it's regeneration and it has now become one of the most prestigious resorts in the Alps, with the Chedi Andermatt and Radisson Blu hotels providing 5* accommodation never dreamed of by the shivering monks. Consistently winner of Switzerland's Top Course award, Andermatt is open on a pay and play basis. Holidaymakers can combine it with a treasure hunt for the lost gold.

AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL Rae's Creek flows behind the 11th green and in front of the 12th in what is known as Amen Corner. The creek is named after Irish landowner John Rae, who built a fortress home there in 1734.  Rae’s house was the farthest up the Savannah River from Fort Augusta, and neighbours would use it as a safe haven during Indian (sorry, Native American) attacks.

SIX OF THE LAST 13 winners of the Masters (three of them Phil Mickelson) have been left-handed.Apparently if you naturally hit a draw you have more success at Augusta, because several holes require right-to-left tee shots. Lefties can hit a cut where right-handed players have to hit a draw, although the way Mickelson played when he won his three Masters, it probably wouldn’t have mattered which hand he used.

One of the most miraculous shots ever seen at Augusta was by lefty Bubba Watson, who was looking to be in deep trouble when he drove his tee shot into the trees on the sudden-death playoff with Louis Oosthuizen. Standing at almost a right-angle to the pin, and using a wedge, he punched the ball through a narrow opening between the pines then bent it on a seemingly impossible trajectory 162 yds down the fairway and on to the centre of the green. He admitted it helped playing left-handed. Perhaps Rory should try it.

A CHIPPING TIP from Pitch Perfect: Good chippers start with the shaft forward at address. This hinges the wrists and creates the angle required for a solid downward strike. After that they just have to maintain the angle through the swing. Do the same and you’ll make smooth, solid contact every time. (Oh yeah!)

SINCE THE FIRST Masters dinner was arranged by Ben Hogan in 1952 some pretty exotic meals have been served, like sushi (Matsuyama, 2022) or wild boar and elk (Mike Weir, 2004.) Tiger did go for cheeseburgers after his first win in 1998, but his choice went more upmarket with every Masters victory. The Brits went for more homely fare. Nick Faldo chose fish and chips and tomato soup and Danny Willett Sunday roast and crumble and custard. Bubba Watson said he wanted plain food, his idea of plain food is apparently chicken/peanut/banana wraps. Not sure what the yanks made of Sandy Lyle's choice which was of course, haggis.

CATCHING UP ON 2024 GOLF NEWS

 MARCH TO AUGUST NEWS AND EVENTS

The Corsican town of Bonifacio 

NOT FAR FROM Sperone golf course, on the southern tip of Corsica, lies the little town of Bonifacio, with it's winding streets and spectacular views.  If Sperone Golf Course had existed back in 1769 when Napoleon was born he would probably never have left Corsica but taken up golf instead. The Robert Trent Jones course is said to resemble Pebble Beach but with heady aromas of rosemary and thyme from the maquis. (scrub) The tee shot heading over the turquoise sea on the par-five 16th is terrifying, and on a windy day you will be buffeted from all directions on the back nine.  A relatively short 6680 yards and par 72 off the tiger tees Sperone provides a challenging experience. Afterwards you could take a boat trip from Bonifacio to Santa Teresa in Sardinia, passing through the dreaded “Straights of Bonifacio,” which, like the 16^th at Sperone, is not for the faint-hearted. Corsica has no intention of becoming another Ibiza, it is expensive and unless you bring sacks of doubloons the natives are not much friendlier than Napoleon. But it does have amazing little towns, great beaches, and one gorgeous 18-hole golf course.

THE WASTE MANAGEMENT Phoenix Open has a rival. The Puerto Rico Open (Grand Reserve Country Club, 7-10^th March) is heralded as “The most fun-filled golf tournament on the PGA Tour!” Not quite sure why it has earned this title, but if it means people falling off stands, slanging matches between fans and players and punch-ups all over the course then the Tour could probably do without another fun-filled tournament.

TIGER AND RORY are both using the Taylor Made Qi10 LS driver. We don't know Tigers's opinion as he had to dash for the loo mid-round at Riviera and Rory probably chucked his in the lake, but testers have given the driver the thumbs up. Qi stands for 'quest for inertia,' the quest to produce the least twisting head for off centre shots. The less a club twists the better, your bad shots will go further and stay closer to the fairway, giving consistency off the tee. The Qi10 LS driver features an Infinity Crown, characterised by a continuous carbon construction from the rear of the head to the face, which reduces weight and enables redistribution to better strategic positions for optimising launch and spin. The driver retains the twist face technology and incorporates a sliding weight providing additional options for fine-tuning and customisation. Testers conclusion: The Qi 10 LS driver will give the better players an advantage, provided they don't have flu or a putting meltdown.

HICKORY GOLF is enjoying a renaissance as players restore old clubs and wear golf outfits of the period.  Gt. Britain and Ireland will take on Europe in a three-day hickory golf tournament at the Royal Blackheath Golf Club in July. Why play with hickory clubs? Why play with a driver with a sweetspot the size of a pin-head? Why carry only six clubs in a pencil bag when you could have 14 on a remote-controlled trolley? A passionate convert explains: “People play hickory because of the overall experience. it makes you appreciate just how good these guys were in the past. Hickory has life, steel doesn't. You learn to manufacture shots, you can't just bash at the ball. Hickories twist more than steel shafts, you need to swing slower. It's actually very good for your swing, you have to have a lighter grip. I never touch a modern club now, hickory is just so much more fun.” Even so, I can't see the attraction out here of plus fours in August.

I'm back working after my hernia op. In Torrevieja hospital the lady surgeon said to me “Don't worry you'll be playing golf in four weeks, and I replied “Well that's great, I couldn't play before.”