Today’s Golfer Magazine Issue 369
Rid your game of those card-wrecking shots with our latest issue of TG
Do you struggle to keep your handicap down due to a few bad holes on the course? Whether it’s bad drives, shanks, duffed chips, terrible putts or havoc in the sand, we’ve got you covered. With tips from our TG Top 50 coaches, make 2018 the best year yet and play better more often.
As well as instruction, we’ve got plenty of new gear tests, course features and some incredible stories – from what happened when we went on a fake club police raid to the darker side of Tour life as we hear from Anton Haig, a once tipped to be superstar golfer that ended up in rehab and is now getting his career back on track.
Here’s our guide to what else is in this issue and why you should buy the newest edition of Today’s Golfer.
➤ Buy Print Issue
➤ Buy Digital Issue
➤ Buy Subscriptions
Make 2018 your best year ever
In our new-look play-better section, there’s plenty to help you get the most out of your game next year. We break down the three keys to hitting better iron shots, how to chunk it but still knock it close from the bunker, how to upper-cut your tee shots for extra yards and how to master the scary pitch into the green.
More Gear Tests
In this issue, we put the Cleveland CBX and Ping G400 head to head in our latest crossover irons test and have a look at whether vertical grooves make a difference as we test the new quirky Vertical Groove Golf driver. Plus we also look at the new models that blur the lines between better player and game improvement sets, with TaylorMade, Mizuno, Wilson and Titleist all producing new models – and we thought it was time to see if they deliver.
You vs Rory McIlroy
We all know we don’t quite swing like our heroes on tour. What are the fundamental differences between an elite action and well, ours And what can we do about it? This new series is designed to provide some answers.
“Here, we pitch nine-handicapper John Dudley against Rory McIlroy, a player of similar build,” says former European Tour winner and TG Top 50 Coach Andrew Murray.
“John is a decent player and in isolation his swing looks pretty sound. But when you compare to an elite action, his issues with stability are laid bare. Stability is a key part of a great action, and seeking where these actions diverge will help you improve yours.”
Fake Club Cops: We go on a raid
Counterfeit golf gear is a booming business in the UK, so you cannot blame manufactueres and distributors for wanting to bust the people responsible. We joined Staffordshire Trading Standards on a raid to uncover the dark side of the golf industry… where we found £35,000 worth of fake goods from a single house.
2017 Player Awards
If you haven’t realised it yet, Tour stars have pretty high standards. What they consider to be a bad shot is actually bloody brilliant for many of us. Which got us thinking; who do they think played the best round of golf this year and do they agree with the European tour crowning tommy Fleetwood the best player of the 2017?
Everyone knows it takes a lot for Tyrrell Hatton to be impressed, which is why he led our panel of pros, pundits and coaches to review the last 12 months on the PGA and European Tour. And luckily for us, they didn’t hold back in the naming and shaming of the worst dressers on the Tour, and were only to happy to spill the beans on some of the things you may have missed on TV…
Back from the brink: Anton Haig
Remember Anton Haig? It’s been 10 years since he won a European Tour event and became the youngest player – at 20 – in the world’s top 100. What followed was a downward spiral of poor form, injuries and substance abuse which almost cost him his life. He’s now reformed, fit and back winning tournaments…
12 Great Escapes…
… Starting at £79 to £400 and they’re dotted all over the UK so there’s bound to be one near you. From Drumoig Golf Hotel & GC in Fife to Slaley Hall in Northumberland and Luton Hoo in Bedforshire, there’s plenty of stay and play golf break ideas scattered across the country.
Big Interview: Eddie Pepperell
Eddie Pepperell is one of golf’s most compelling characters. Penniless at 21, his rags to riches tale has been documented in his blog, and taken him from the top of The Open leaderboard to the depths of Q-school. Fresh from surviving the yips, he’s now trying to make up for lost time, starting with a European Tour victory and a place in the Ryder Cup.
Mizuno ST180 Woods
Mizuno’s ST180 woods are designed for high-speed, low spin performance. Mizuno have been making headlines in 2017 after numerous out-of-contract tour stars, including US Open champion Brooks Koepka and Mr Consistent Paul Casey, put their irons in play.
Persuading out-of-contract tour stas to use a Mizuno driver will be a tougher challenge, but the company’s newest launch could be the model that makes people take a second look. Find out why!
TG Columnists: Nick Dougherty & Andrew Cotter
In this month’s issue, our TG Columnists are all about the big comebacks of 2017. Dougherty focuses on why Tiger’s performance at The Hero World Challenge makes him think he could still win at Augusta, while Andrew Cotter focuses on a different, and slightly lesser anticipated comeback to golf: His own. Both are must reads!
The Golf Test: Paul Casey
How much do you have in common with the World’s top golfers? In this month’s golf test, we put 13-time European Tour winner Paul Casey on the tee. From missing two-feet puts to shanking it in a big tournament and shooting a 59, Casey tells us everything we need to know.
