Written by Michael Catling on Friday 27 May 2016
When it comes to the most elusive accomplishment in golf, the UK performs better than any other country in the world. That’s according to data compiled over three millions rounds of golf by Hole19 – the GPS and scoring app – which found that the UK is responsible for the most aces on the golf course. Between April 2014 and January 2016,...
Written by Michael Catling on Friday 27 May 2016
We all appreciate the art in designing a truly great golf course. But seeing one exhibited at a gallery or museum has always seemed beyond the realms of possibility. Until now. Visitors to the New Art Exchange in Nottingham are being offered the chance to immerse themselves in some artistic culture by navigating a miniature golf course, designed and made by...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 25 May 2016
Previous articles: Part One – How hard can it be to go from 10 to scratch? Part Two – I’m trying to get from 10 to scratch, and now I’m off… eleven?! Two feet. It’s not a lot, is it? It’s the height of a slightly above average newborn baby boy. It’s the length of a baguette. It’s the length of two putts...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 24 May 2016
A worrying number of tour pros have elected not to play in this year’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, but when it comes to the Celebrity Pro-Am, the organisers had no shortage of willing participants. Watching famous faces chop their way around Wentworth is a lovely appetiser before the real action starts on Thursday, and the start sheet also allows us...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 23 May 2016
You can’t expect to stroll straight from your car to the first tee and play your best golf. The world’s best golfers arrive 50 to 90 minutes ahead of their tee time and undergo a comprehensive warm-up routine before starting their round. If you want to play your best, you should follow their example and make sure every aspect of...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 20 May 2016
Most golf clubs want more members and visitors. They bring in money that lets the club invest in the course, keeping it in top condition and attracting even more people to visit or join. But not all of them are doing enough to help themselves. Branston Golf and Country Club in Burton upon Trent is doing its bit to get more...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 19 May 2016
The worst part of Muirfield’s decision not to allow female members, from our point of view, is that we weren’t even surprised. One pleasant surprise was the immediacy and certitude of the R&A’s response to the decision, announcing that Muirfield would no longer be considered as an Open venue until its policy on women is readdressed. “The Open is one of the...
Written by Ronan Keating on Wednesday 18 May 2016
Irish pop star Ronan Keating, an ultra-keen golfer, is still on cloud nine following his first-ever visit to the US Masters accompanied by his wife Storm. Here’s the full story – and photos – of one of the best weeks of the Boyzone singer’s life. So much so that he cried tears of joy…. “I am a lucky man, no doubt...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 18 May 2016
Many of golf’s big names will be teeing it up at Wentworth next week for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth (although the likes of Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia will not). Many of the world’s best golfers will battle it out from Thursday to Sunday, in front of a live audience likely to exceed 100,000, with...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 18 May 2016
After the excitement of deciding I was going to become brilliant at golf had died down (thanks for all the supportive messages, by the way), I realised something. It is going to be bloody difficult. I’ve been trying to be brilliant at golf from the moment I first picked up a club. I’ve tried everything I can think of, and yet the...
Written by Courses & Travel Editor Kevin Brown on Friday 13 May 2016
One Direction star Niall Horan and his new Modest! Golf Management company are the official golf management partner for the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle GC in July. Director Niall said: “The next generation of golfers is a huge focus for us as a business. You only need to look at the history of the Challenge Tour to see the...
Written by Karl Morris, mind coach to multiple major winners, including Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen on Friday 13 May 2016
The club golfer is a notoriously poor starter. Analyse your last 10 rounds and chances are you’ll find you drop a disproportionate number of shots on holes 1-3. With competition season upon us, it’s a good time to take a look at why this happens, and what you can do about it. For most golfers, the start of the round...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 12 May 2016
The dust has barely settled on Danny Willett’s surprise Masters victory, but if you want to be at Augusta National to watch the Yorkshireman defend the title next year, you’d better get your application in quick. The application process for 2017 Masters tickets is already open and closes at the end of May. If you want to be in with a...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 11 May 2016
I love golf, but I’m sick and tired of being rubbish at it. As a 10-handicapper, I realise that I am technically “above average” – the average handicap is around 14, I believe – meaning more than half of golfers are worse off than me. But that doesn’t make me feel any better whatsoever. I’m able-bodied, physically fit, and can, on occasion,...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 10 May 2016
What’s the most you’ve ever paid for a round of golf? £20? £50? Maybe £100 or more for somewhere really special? One thing’s for certain, we’d give almost anything for the chance to play Augusta National. Four weeks’ wages? Absolutely. £60,000? Ah, we might have a problem here. That was the sum West Bromwich Albion midfielder James Morrison bid for a round at Augusta...
Written by Today's Golfer on Friday 6 May 2016
When a robot named LDRIC made a hole-in-one at the Waste Management Phoenix Open earlier this year, we all cheered and laughed in amazement as a bunch of nuts and bolts had managed to hit the perfect golf shot. But would you let him teach you how to swing? It might sound a bit unusual, but there’s every chance that one...
Written by Karl Morris, mind coach to over 100 tour pros including six major champions on Friday 6 May 2016
To cure your slice, you have to go against all your instincts and deliberately hit bad shots. This is because the slice – despite being Public Enemy No.1 to golfers everywhere – is actually the result of your brain trying to hit a good shot. Your brain is very clever; it can sense when there is a kink in your swing, and...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 4 May 2016
Graham DeLaet has had a mixed year so far. Consecutive missed cuts saw him drop to 173rd in the world in February, before he bounced back with a T-5 at the Valspar Championship and followed that up with a T-11 at the Puerto Rico Open. As Canada’s top-ranked golfer, DeLaet looks very likely to secure a place in the Olympics –...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 4 May 2016
Would you rather hit the ball further or straighter? Sure, hitting the ball miles is good for the ego, but is hitting it straight more important for your score? It’s an age-old debate. For years, we were taught “drive for show, putt for dough”. The theory being that it didn’t matter how far you could launch it off the tee if you...
Written by Karl Morris, mind coach to tour pros including Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen on Thursday 28 April 2016
Back in 2008, Graeme McDowell was leading the Scottish Open by four shots with just four holes to play. It was the first time he had been in a position of having a healthy lead going into the final few holes. But at this moment – on the brink of success, and playing the best golf of his career –...