Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 12 November 2015
With first tee nerves to contend with, we’re normally happy to walk off with par in the first hole of a golf tournament. Thomas Aiken went two massive strides better, notching a hole-in-one on his first hole of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Starting on the tenth, the longest par 3 on the El Camaleon course in Mexixo, Aiken tamed the...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 12 November 2015
TrackMan launch monitors widely used by golf professionals Able to measure exactly what the ball and club are doing at impact Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose all own one PGA Tour uses TrackMan for its official statistics In 2002, three golf-mad Danes had an idea. One of them was Klaus Eldrup-Jørgensen, a talented golfer who had represented the Danish national...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 12 November 2015
There’s been no shortage of talk about The Open being broadcast exclusively like on Sky and the affect this may have on golf participation in the UK. For those fearing the worst, there is some good news, in the shape of new ticket and pricing options announced by the R&A. A new twilight ticket is being introduced at Troon next year,...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 12 November 2015
Playing golf in central London can be tough. It usually means lugging your clubs to an Underground station, facing angry glares from fellow passengers, and three tubes and two overground trains later you’re at a decidedly average golf club, already dreading the journey home. But it doesn’t have to be this way. From 11th November to 20th December, you can hone...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 11 November 2015
For most people, golf is just a pastime. For some, it’s a genuine life-saver. Take former fusilier Tom James, for instance, injured in Afghanistan in 2009 by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in a tree. Waking from a coma two weeks later, Tom’s journey to recovery would be a long one. The explosion cost him his sight in one eye,...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 11 November 2015
Your 7-iron may be the same as someone else’s 5-iron Lofts keep getting stronger over time Expert club maker Tom Wishon says it’s so manufacturers can say new clubs go further Long irons are now harder to hit It’s a common question on the golf course: “What club did you hit there?” But, unless the person you’re asking is someone you play with regularly,...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 11 November 2015
16th at Hamptworth Golf Club has been lengthened to 666 yards Becomes the only par 6 in the country Anyone making a net birdie receives a certificate A devilish golf hole measuring 666 yards called ‘The Beast’ has been created at Hamptworth Golf and Country Club in Wiltshire. It is believed to be the only par 6 in the country. The mammoth hole was...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 10 November 2015
The PGA Tour is in Mayakoba this week, for Mexico’s only PGA Tour event. The course, El Camaleon, is the home to probably the world’s scariest bunker. Just look at that thing! Yes, that is a whacking great cave in a bunker. If you think they’re just doing work on the bunker, and that it’s probably ground under repair and will be...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 10 November 2015
In an age where people cannot bear to be separated from their mobile for more than 10 minutes, phones on the golf course are a common sight. But before you reach for yours, make sure you know what you can and can’t do with it… YOU CAN… Use the device for matters unrelated to golf Calling home to say you’re stuck in the...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 9 November 2015
87-yard drives are normally cause for ridicule, not celebration, but in the case of Michael Furrh, this one is a record-breaker. The 47-year-old golf professional and entertainer used a 22′ 3/4″ driver to break his own world record for the farthest shot with the longest usable driver, tonking one 87 yards. Furrh, who builds his own clubs using steel-shaft extensions, says: “Last...
Written by Denis Pugh on Monday 9 November 2015
Players failing to shout fore is not a new phenomenon. Professional golfers have been guilty of not giving fans this basic courtesy for some time. The amount of TV coverage these days has simply made it more obvious that this is happening. The fact that this issue is being talked about now should be used to golf’s advantage to herald...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 6 November 2015
Rule 8-1 states that “a player must not give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the course other than his partner or ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or either of their caddies”. This sounds pretty comprehensive, but if you’re playing a monthly medal with your mates, does that mean you’re limited to talking about...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 6 November 2015
Williams caddied for Tiger Woods in 13 of his 14 Major victories Says he felt like a “slave” at times Williams now caddies for Adam Scott Tiger Woods blinked! Tiger Woods sneezed! Tiger Woods watched the new John Lewis advert! Tiger Woods hasn’t played golf for ages! Even when he’s not playing golf, Tiger Woods still makes more than his fair share of golf...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 6 November 2015
44-year-old retiree bought 14-000 acre site on island of Jura Total cost of redevelopment has now hit £55 million It takes four ferries to reach the island from mainland Scotland If we had £450m in the bank, which of us wouldn’t add a putting green to the back garden? Maybe a short game area? Or even a cool par-3 hole? Former hedge fund...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 5 November 2015
Richard Gottfried is travelling Britain to play every single crazy golf course in the country. We caught up with him to find out how he’s getting on… and why he’s doing it. First question – why? I like a challenge! I’m a collector and a completist, so this seems quite normal to me. I’ve always played minigolf, since I was a kid...
Thursday 5 November 2015
It will set you back over £20,000, depending on your specification Made by hand using design from F1, aviation and watchmaking Raphael Jacqueline used one earlier this year “Theoretically, putting should represent half of the strokes played on a golf course, but for average golfers it is actually closer to 68 per cent,” says Gregory Moreau, the man behind ultra-exclusive ValGrine putters. And yet...
Thursday 5 November 2015
Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver Nico Rosberg goes up against two-time Major winner and Mercedes-Benz Golf brand ambassador Martin Kaymer as they test their sporting skills and strive for the perfect drive in a series of exclusive challenges. The pair are put through their paces on the racetrack and golf course for the five-part series: Rosberg, Kaymer & The...
Thursday 5 November 2015
Over 30 UK courses have ditched men’s and ladies tees Tees based on ability can help beginners and the elderly Critics fear it will lead to outrageous scores winning competitions The most thought the majority of men give to the ladies’ tees is hoping they get past them after a particularly poor tee shot. At an increasing number of UK courses, ladies tees...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 5 November 2015
4,921 feet above sea level You have to get a helicopter to the tee £199 green fee buys you five shots at the green Is this the world’s most spectacular hole? It’s perched on a New Zealand mountaintop and only accessible via helicopter, and even renowned course architect Tom Doak says it’s one of the best spots he has ever set foot on. It...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 4 November 2015
Remember when Billy Andrade shot 28-under to win the 2000 Invensys Classic? No, nor do we. But it was a defining moment in golf history. Any idea why? We’ll give you a clue: the answer was small, round and dimply. No, not a rotund child with acne – it was all due to the ball Andrade had in play. That tournament saw...