Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2015 i Golf Monthly

My name is Michael Harris and I'm addicted to golf shoes. At last count, I am the owner of 38 pairs. From classic styles with wing tips and brogues to modern sporty designs and plenty of the popular spikeless shoes that I wear both on course and around the GM office, it would be fair to say I'm somewhat of an enthusiast. Fortunately I know I'm not alone. From meeting lots of golfers over the years and reading discussion threads on the Golf Monthly forum, I know there are many others out there who share the same interest as me. I think I inherited my passion from my uncle, the person who got me into the game some 30 years ago. He kept all his golf paraphernalia in his study…

Letters The Editor, Golf Monthly, 7th floor, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0SU Email golfmonthly@timeinc.com Twitter @GolfMonthly Facebook facebook.com/  golfmonthlymagazine Golf Monthly forum golf-monthly.co.uk/forums Google+ +golfmonthly YouTube youtube.com/GolfMonthly Vine vine.co/Golf.Monthly Instagram instagram.com/  golfmonthly All contributions must be original, not copies or duplicated to other publications. The editor reserves the right to edit letters. Time Inc. (UK) Ltd or its associated companies reserve the right to reuse any submission sent to these pages of Golf Monthly, in any format or medium.…

A Coore and Crenshaw masterpiece Old Sandwich / Massachusetts Ben Crenshaw, the two-time Masters Champion who bade Augusta farewell this year, needs no introduction; Bill Coore, a former Pete Dye understudy, has been a course designer for 43 years. Together they have collaborated on a string of courses since 1986, many of which have been heralded ‘instant classics'. Old Sandwich, playing over terrain in Plymouth, Massachusetts laid down for the sole purpose of golf by the Almighty, is no exception. Little earth has been moved, save on the 1st, and the wonderfully natural layout is a magnificent blend of styles. Standout holes include the 5th, a short par-4 across a ravine, and the 7th, whose green is encircled by sand. The quintet of par 3s is as strong as you'll…

Wood played in the 2008 Open Championship as an amateur and finished in a tie for fifth place at Royal Birkdale, winning the Silver Medal. Later that year, he also finished fifth at Qualifying School to earn a European Tour card for the following season. The following year, he made 13 of 17 cuts and finished in a tie for third in the Open Championship at Turnberry. He bogeyed the 72nd hole, when a par would have seen him contest a play-off with Tom Watson and eventual champion Stewart Cink. He was named European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2009. Wood won his first professional event at the 2012 Thailand Open and secured a maiden European Tour triumph the following year at the Qatar Masters. Needing a birdie to…

Photography Mark Newcombe My approach shot has leaked off to the right and I've found myself in quite a deep greenside trap. In this situation, you need to be explosive with the shot and swing the club at what feels like driver pace with plenty of acceleration through the ball. Of course, you need to strike the sand before the ball. This means the depth of divot and the point at which the club strikes the sand need to be the same every time. The key to this is mastering the two areas of stability in the swing – horizontal and vertical. Make sure you don't sway away from or towards the target during the swing as this will create fat and thin contacts. Equally, you must ensure your upper…

Photography Kevin Murray Well, we almost got what we've been waiting for: Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth going head to head in a Major Championship. When the Irishman made that impressive charge on Sunday at 'Torture' Chambers Bay, I though he was going to post a score that they'd all have to catch. It wasn't to be, but full marks for the effort you put in, Rory. The next challenge came from the South Africans, namely Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen. Grace looked so composed on that Sunday I honestly believed he was the man to beat. His driving looked fantastic, he was holing-out so well on the short putts and his tee-to-green game was on point. But then, he got to the risk/reward 16th and pushed his 3-wood straight…

Photography Duncan Nicholls For the last two years, Benross has put on a unique amateur event open to golfers of all standards. In recognition of the fact that amateur golfers are the British manufacturer’s version of tour professionals, Benross arranged for 15 golfers to experience the life of a tour professional. This included transport by helicopter, top-quality coaching, five-star accommodation, caddies, scoreboards and a world-class golf course – Be Our Tour Pro has been an unforgettable event. Last year, the experience culminated in an 18-hole strokeplay event at the stunning West Hill Golf Club in Surrey. It was Liz Freeman who was crowned 2014 champion with Henrik Ahm, Neil Kitchen and Rick Garg picking up the team prize but all 15 competitors left with some long-lasting memories. And the experience…

At one point it looked like the weather would ruin Tom Watson's last Open goodbye, but he battled on under increasingly gloomy skies to finish his final round just before 10pm on Friday. The five-time winner made his final putt in near darkness but the Scottish crowd, who he's had such a close bond with over the years, stayed on in their thousands to wish him well. He received lengthy ovations at each grandstand he passed, as spectators showed their appreciation for a man who's name will always be synonymous with the Claret Jug. It was a fitting tribute to one of the game's greats, who has given so much joy to the galleries during his 40-year love affair with the championship. The knowledgeable St Andrews crowd knew the significance…

“Even after the success of D.N.A. we felt we were missing the younger golfer in his 20s and 30s after the latest look. Its original name was Vortex as we wanted it to exude energy. But we knew older golfers who were young at heart would jump on board too. Yes, it has a modern look, but it still has the comfort and lightweight properties that appeal to every golfer. “The design was a collaborative effort. We took inspiration from outside golf too – the brighter colours used in the athletic footwear market for that ‘pop’ at retail, and the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston that designer Daren Weddle used to study when stuck in traffic. “The working name then changed from Vortex to 2030, which included…

While the main office area at the Brockton headquarters has been recently renovated, much of the property remains relatively untouched from the days when shoe production was at its peak. From the ultra-chic central area, we walk down a dark, wooden-walled corridor for at least five minutes before reaching the testing room. You know when you're there, as you're greeted with a wave of heat and a mixture of loud noises as you open the door. It's clear something more physical is going on in here. Inside the laboratory It is here we meet Ludie Kavka. She has been at the helm of FJ's shoe quality control testing lab for nearly 25 years. Under her watch, FootJoy boasts an impressive shoe return rate of less than one per cent. She…

Golf Monthly has teamed up with Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, to offer one lucky entrant the chance to win a fourball at the prestigious venue. Since opening its doors in 2012, the Aberdeen resort has received a host of accolades for the quality of its golf course, its outstanding facilities and its truly welcoming environment. The course itself is in pristine condition, with tremendous variation and some spectacular views. All the holes are memorable in their own right and numerous teeing options mean it's a course that's fit for all standards of golfer. The layout has matured over the last three years to the point where areas of rough have bedded in, the fairways have knitted seamlessly and the greens are just about perfect. Trump International Golf…

1 Aim check It's a fairly obvious place to start, but if you have been pulling your irons, you must examine your alignment. Take a look at the two positions above. The differences are minimal, but one set-up position will result in a good shot, while the other is likely to cause pulls or even slices. It's easy to make mistakes at set-up without noticing, so lay down some alignment sticks when practising. Make sure your clubface is pointing at your target and that your feet, hips and shoulders are parallel to the ball-to-target line (photo above right). Photography Mark Newcombe 2 Ball position check The most common reason for consistently pulled iron shots is poor ball position at address. In the photo here, I've laid seven balls on the…

Copyright ©2015 TI Golf Holdings, Inc, reprinted with permission The logo on the back of your glove should point to the target at impact – this tells you that the clubface is square Keep most of your weight on your front leg throughout the swing The leading edge of the clubhead should hit the ball first, then the turf Power hitter You hit the ball a long way, but your game needs control and consistency. How to hammer it from hardpan With summer heat comes dry course conditions, and that means more tight lies, including hardpan. A few easy tweaks, however, can make these shots a lot easier. First, play the ball back, about halfway between the centre of your stance and your back foot. Keep most of your weight…

Thankfully, I've not yet had to experience the pressure cauldron that is trying to hit a Sunday-best drive in front of an audience in excess of 100 people that includes three European Tour winners, Sky Sports golf pundits, a former world long-drive champion and a full complement of Golf Monthly staff. But I imagine it wasn't an overly pleasurable experience! In total, 16 golfers faced this test of nerves, having qualified for the long-drive final at our recent Kings of Distance event with Callaway at the London Club. As if this wasn't daunting enough, they also had the added responsibility of attempting to win a complimentary Callaway driver for the rest of their team. Most made a decent fist of the challenge considering the intimidating environment – some better than…

Key technology Debuted by Rory McIlroy at the start of the year, the Engage wedges feature the same modern-muscle design used in the Nike Vapor iron range, which shifts the centre of gravity towards the centre of the clubface to aid stability and offer consistent turf interaction. They come in three different grind options – Dual Sole, Square Sole and second generation Toe Sweep. Precision-milled X3X grooves help impart maximum spin. The finish is authentic and raw to reduce glare and increase surface roughness, which improves spin and control. Will suit Golfers seeking versatility from their higher-lofted wedges as well as tour-level feel and control around the green. GM verdict A very impressive offering for under £100, the Nike Engage wedges have a host of stand-out features. The raw finish…

Photography Tom Miles As Mark Twain found out, it is good to get your obituaries in before you actually die. Well, it is if you are loved or at least held in some warm affection. And so the BBC came up with their An Evening With Alliss programme on the eve of The Open Championship. Timing, as ever, is everything in this befuddled world and here the BBC managed to get the timing spot on. The Open would still be an often-glorious evocation of the old game even if Peter had never uttered a word about it, but the fact he has uttered millions over the last several decades and that many of these words have been either astute, humorous or whimsical has added wonderfully to this already special part…

In Tips from the Tour - the third in our Ultimate Sport Series of instruction manuals designed to get you playing your best golf - we have collated the views of 24 of the world's best players from the past two decades. The 148-page guide offers practical recommendations from those who have reached the pinnacle of the game, ranging from swing fundamentals and coping with pressure to driving and putting. It is on sale now from all good newsagents, and available to download for a number of digital devices at golf-monthly.co.uk/the-ultimate-sport-series…

On the road Ireland is renowned for its links but is also home to some rather splendid parkland courses. Twelve members of the forum embarked on a voyage of discovery playing six rounds in four days covering Druids Glen, Carton House O'Meara and Montgomerie and K Club Smurfit and Palmer. The format caused confusion for some with a team event blended with an individual competition, match play running alongside stroke play and a Russian Stableford pairs competition thrown in for good measure. Although there were a large number of opportunities for mini victories on offer, the main event was clearly the team competition with bragging rights neatly aligned to a requirement for the losers to buy the winners' lunch on the last day. Despite playing up their chances as the…

Photography Getty Images What happened… Zach Johnson defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a four-hole play-off at the famous Old Course to conclude a pulsating final day at the Home of Golf. At least 20 players were still in contention heading into the final round, which took place on Monday after rain and strong winds ensured the third round couldn't start until Sunday morning. With such a stellar pack chasing Jason Day, Oosthuizen and Irish amateur Paul Dunne, who sensationally held a share of the 54-hole lead following a sublime third-round 66, Johnson wasn't given much of a chance. Neither was Leishman, for that matter. But the 39-year-old American surged out of the blocks and went seven-under-par for the day with a birdie at the par-4 12th. He dropped…

Photography Paul Severn Tough! That would be the word to sum up my US Open debut, but the whole thing was a great experience. The American crowds are so animated, and it's very different to what we do every week, from the big crowds on practice days to the tournament itself. It's a great experience playing in the biggest tournaments in the world, and it helps when you play well, of course! To make the cut and finish top 30 in my first US Open – and I know it wasn't playing like a normal US Open – was a good achievement. As for the course, it wasn't really like a British links at all. Kingsbarns, but on a completely different scale, perhaps, but there were lots of elevation changes,…

On 21 July 1991, Ian Baker-Finch triumphed in The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The Australian joined Ian Woosnam and Payne Stewart as the Major Champions for the year; that pair having won The Masters and US Open respectively. Finishing in the top ten at Birkdale were other players from the world's top ten: Fred Couples, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Greg Norman. Together with Nick Faldo and Jose Maria Olazabal, these were the star players of the day. These were the men who would, surely, three weeks after Birkdale, be battling down the stretch for the USPGA Championship at Crooked Stick Country Club, Indiana… or perhaps not. The same week that Baker-Finch lofted the Claret Jug, PGA Tour players not qualified for, or unwilling to travel to, The Open…

How has the perception of the brand changed? Many people have tried to pigeonhole us as the traditional company. They feel that puts us at a disadvantage as a has-been company. Yes, it has a 100-year history, but FJ is as young today as it was when it was created. So it’s not so much the age of the brand, it’s how the brand acts. Every day, we re-invent ourselves. We create new, imaginative products and do everything that people think we wouldn’t do. With a product like HyperFlex, I imagine that golfers and competitors alike are scratching their heads wondering what we’re going to do next. By leading, we’re a target. But by constantly moving, you’re unpredictable – you can be difficult to follow and exciting for the end…

Copyright opyrigh © ©2015 2015 TI TI Golf Golf Holdings Holdings,, Inc Inc,, reprin reprinted ed with with permission permission I've been driving it past most girls (and some boys) since I was 13. I'm 25 now, and my tee game has got better as I've grown older. I'm lucky. I'm six feet tall with long arms and legs – built to create swing speed. But you have to be long and straight to make it as a pro. I've worked hard on improving my accuracy without sacrificing much distance. A 26 per cent increase in fairways hit since 2012, and a US Women's Open trophy, prove I'm where I need to be. My big secret to straight drives that soar over 250 yards? Leg power. I'm in the gym…

Photography Kevin Murray The only mystery in this great golf swing is how it didn't get Jamie Donaldson to the top of the world game sooner! He sets classic lines at address with great alignment of his feet, knees, hips and shoulders. Additionally, he has a strong posture, which means his swing is destined to start on a good line. He makes a nice connected takeaway – by this I mean his arms and body work together as he takes the club away. I also really like the way his lower half is offering resistance without appearing rigid. This is crucial to create power from the body rotation. Jamie has the club in a great position at the top of his swing – it is nicely set, ready to make…

Photography Kim Porritt Specs tested V-Line and Blade models with SuperStroke grips (£20 upcharge) Replacing Rather than replacing a family of putters, the Big T range extends the Odyssey Works line, which is the number-one putter used on the European Tour 10 Point Test Report Tester: Golf Monthly technical editor Joel Tadman Aesthetics 1 Address View The return to having black sections on the crown contrasting with white, rather than silver, to help alignment is a welcome sight. It highlights face angle more prominently and when combined with the Marxman sightlines running from front-to-back, golfers are naturally encouraged to strike the ball from the sweetspot. 2 Shelf Appeal The combination of the Versa alignment, White Hot insert and Fusion RX technology alone make this an appealing product. But with the…

Key technology Puma has labelled this model the ‘coolest shoe in golf' thanks to its use of temperature-regulating Outlast Technology originally developed for NASA. It is strategically placed on the memory foam insole to manage heat while controlling the production of moisture. An ultra-thin TPR frame encases the midsole for lightweight strength, as well as providing durability, flexibility and traction, while an external TPU Heel Support provides greater stability. The upper is constructed from full-grain, premium leather. Will suit Golfers seeking modern styling and the extra traction cleated shoes provide at a mid-to-high price point. GM verdict Right out of the box, the TitanTour offers an immediate feeling of comfort thanks to the soft cushioning that moulds to the shape of your foot and supple leather that forms the upper.…

Photography Getty Images West Lancashire The 530-yard 16th hole The renowned course at West Lancs is among a concentrated cluster making up one of the UK's finest stretches of links golf from The Wirral up to Southport. It is the oldest club in Lancashire, and one of the ten oldest in England, boasting a history inextricably intertwined with Royal Liverpool's. The club started out in 1873, when seven Royal Liverpool members decided golf should cross the Mersey, with the two clubs sharing memberships early on. West Lancs was among 24 clubs to contribute to the cost of the Amateur Championship trophy in 1885, with club member, Allan MacFie, running out the inaugural champion. Since then, West Lancs has staged many top events, co-hosting the Amateur Championship in 2009 with Formby…

BEST DEAL Pavilion Suites start from £185 per night, including in-room larder and breakfast in the clubhouse. Four-bedroom lodges start from £550 per night on a room-only basis. Green fees are then £85 per person for those staying at Archerfield. WHERE Archerfield lies a couple of miles east of Gullane off the A198 road to North Berwick in East Lothian. CHECKLIST  Green fees: either course: £85 per round if staying; £200 per round on Archerfield’s ‘Visitor Experience’ Buggy hire: £40 Power trolley hire: £20 Trolley hire: £5 Club hire: £30 Driving range: Yes Putting green: Yes - three Short-game area: Yes - two Pro shop: Yes Changing rooms: Yes Sky TV: Yes, in clubhouse and accommodation Wi-Fi: Free throughout Price of a pint: from £4.20 CONTACT Archerfield Links, Golf Clubhouse,…

Photography Getty Images Letter of the Month will receive a year’s supply (six dozen) of the best Titleist golf ball for their game Outdated coverage Many congratulations to Zach Johnson for winning a pulsating Open Championship. St Andrews provided us with the most intriguing final day and, for once, the event was truly ‘open' with amateurs and the shorter hitters having as much chance as the ‘big bombers'. My only complaint was the TV coverage. At any given time we had 18 holes to choose from, but the coverage seemed to focus on a player and his caddie pondering for what seemed an age over the yardage. We read all the time about slow play – viewers should be watching shots being hit, not a five-minute discussion. Finally, while I…

Foliage Finder I'm all for it. As a new player I'd like to have a handicap that means something. Pin-seeker If I couldn't get down from a 28-handicap reasonably quickly I'd have thought that maybe golf wasn't for me. jamielaing I know my frustrations when I had a net 63 only to be beaten by a net 59. I couldn't imagine how I would feel losing to net 49s! ArnoldArmChewer Male golfers should not receive more than one shot per hole. drew83 As a 28-handicap I would like it to be higher to give me more of a chance but there would be no incentive to get better… duncan mackie There is a huge issue with seniors dropping out because they can't enjoy even slightly competitive golf, except small closed…

Photography Getty Images If you could change one area of your game for someone else’s on tour, what would it be? I'd have to say my driving and I'd swap it with Rory McIlroy or Lee Westwood, because they're probably the two best drivers of the golf ball I've played with. It'd be great if I could drive the ball like them because I don't really feel the rest of my game is too far behind theirs. Driving the ball 330 yards straight down the middle will get it done! Has driving always been a struggle? It has, yes. Sometimes I force myself into hitting long irons or fairway woods off tees when I'd love to be able to bomb a driver and flick a wedge into the green. My…

What happened… Paul Dunne, Jordan Niebrugge and Oliver Schniederjans put in phenomenal performances at The Open Championship to prove the gap between the amateur and professional game is narrowing all the time. Irishman Dunne, 22, held the 54-hole lead – the first time an amateur had done so since 1927 – before falling away on Monday. Niebrugge shot a final-round 70 to finish in a tie for 6th and win the coveted Silver Medal. Schniederjans, meanwhile, posted a Monday 67 to land a top-12 finish. Both him and Dunne have now turned professional. What they said… “To get the Silver Medal at St Andrews is a dream come true.” Jordan Niebrugge “It extremely special watching my name go up the leaderboard on Sunday.” Oliver Schniederjans “Everything just kind of exploded.…

People sometimes ask if my Major successes paved the way for what followed for British and European players, and I think they probably contributed. When I won my Majors, Nick Faldo was 11 years old. He didn't even play the game until 1971, when he was inspired to take it up by Jack Nicklaus' win at Augusta. But some of the other Europeans are a similar age and were maybe inspired by me a little bit. “If he can do it, I can too,” that sort of thing. Sandy Lyle, for example, was a precocious talent. I saw Sandy come on the scene, and went to Shropshire to play exhibitions with him before he got on tour. Peter Alliss summed it up best – his was a nonchalant power. Just…

In August 2008, Padraig Harrington was flying. He'd just carded successive 66s in the third and fourth rounds of the USPGA to land his third Major in 13 months, maintaining his position as the world's third-best player. The world of top-tier professional golf, though, is intrinsically unpredictable and sometimes painfully capricious. In 2009, the popular Irishman suffered his first winless year for a decade – the catalyst for an unprecedented run of poor form that saw him tumble down the world rankings. “I actually had my best ever ball-striking year as a professional in 2012, but I had the yips,” explains Harrington. “A big part of my trough, my slump, was the fact I was hitting the ball well, but my short game was letting me down for the first…

There is something about the feeling you get lacing up a fresh, perfectly fitting pair of golf shoes. It signifies that you're ready. Ready to play, ready to perform, ready to take on the golf course and all that both it, and the weather, may throw at you. After all, they're with you every step of the way, whether playing shots, walking from green to tee, or sometimes even having a drink in the bar afterwards. Golf shoe performance and style used to come in fairly limited forms, but with the game now a much more athletic sport, and fashion moving fast, golfers want golf shoes that tick a lot of boxes. They have to look good, feel comfortable over 18 holes or more, help maximise a player's capabilities and,…

Although now filled with boxes of apparel and barrels of wooden lasts, it’s impossible not to get goosebumps walking around the old factory knowing how many pairs of Classics were made down the years, stitched by the hands of some of the world’s finest shoemakers. Step into the refurbished offices and the feel is very different. Just by looking around at the hundreds of prototype shoes that never made the cut, it’s clear that creativity and a ‘give-it-a-go’ attitude is encouraged from the top down. Only with this attitude have the cutting-edge designs we have seen come to fruition in recent years been possible. What is clear is that the heartbeat of the FJ brand is the people. Without the skill, knowledge and passion every FJ employee possesses, it wouldn’t…

1 Keys to good posture As golf coaches, we often find ourselves talking about posture. It is one of those inescapable fundamentals that lie at the heart of good golf. Set a strong athletic posture then maintain it during the swing, and you'll be a solid ball-striker with every club in the bag. However, the problems that stem from poor posture are most readily seen in the fairway wood game. If your spine angle is rounded and scrunched up, your rotation, swing path and strike will all be affected. To set a good posture, stand upright with the club out in front of you (below left). Then flex your knees and, importantly, tilt your upper body over the ball by bending at the hips (below right). Keep your back as…

A closer comparison The depth of the women's game has never been greater, with so many good young players coming up. I remember when I was the youngest and now I'm more like the oldest! That's another great thing about golf – the longevity of it if you can stay healthy. I think people can relate more readily to our game because the men's game is outrageous – they hit it so far and are so powerful. From what we see and experience in our Pro-Ams, good male amateurs are very similar to us. You just can't compare yourself to what the guys are doing – it's insane at times. Keeping up with the girls The men in Pro-Ams try to outdrive us all the time! Once in a while…

Each month, the readers whose queries are featured will receive a copy of The R&A’s Golf Rules in Action DVD, which covers the fundamental Rules of golf by showing actual incidents that have occurred during play at the highest levels of the game. Q I was playing in a monthly Stableford yesterday and faded my ball into a water hazard. It had just trickled in and the top half of the ball was exposed. I decided to play it and paid careful attention not to ground the club or touch the water, but on the backswing I apparently brushed the water. I completed the stroke and my ball made the green. My fellow competitor then approached me and said, “Sorry, but you touched the water on your backswing – that's…

Motocaddy C-TECH electric trolley At a glance Motocaddy introduces super-lightweight premium trolley Carbon fibre trolley will retail at £1,800 and will be available this winter A constant innovator in the trolley sector, Motocaddy has again pushed the boundaries with the unveiling of its upcoming C-TECH model, which will hit the shops this winter. The super-lightweight, carbon fibre model marks the tenth anniversary of the brand and weighs in at just 8.9kg with its compact lithium battery. Specialists drawn from several sectors, including Formula One, were involved in its production, offering advice on the carbon fibre frame, hi-tech electronics and futuristic glide-dial control mechanism that offers ten speed settings. At £1,800, it’s aimed more at the discerning golfer, but includes a host of cutting-edge features, such as its ultra-lightweight Limited Slip…

Key technology The J815 can be found in the bag of Matt Kuchar and is the more forgiving model from two recent Bridgestone launches. It features a Power Milled Face, which reduces the amount the ball slips on the face at impact, lowering spin. A more rigid sole design than the J715 helps achieve a higher ball flight and reduces spin further, with distance optimised through a low and deep CG. The head is also shaped with extra volume in the heel to improve forgiveness, while the Variable Adjust System lets the user adjust the clubface and lie angle. Will suit A wide variety of players who would benefit from low-spin performance with an element of forgiveness. GM verdict Arguably the most radical-looking driver on the market in the last…

Stoke Park Stats: par 71, 6,751 yards W: stokepark.com GF: £155wd per round, £225we per round Even those who have never before visited will often recognise the iconic white 18th-century mansion that serves as the clubhouse. It dominates the landscape and forms a striking backdrop to a number of Stoke Park's 27 holes. The original course, comprising what are now the Colt and Allison nines, arrived in 1909, with the Lane Jackson nine, set around the boating lake, a later addition. Indeed, it was Nick Lane Jackson who purchased the property in 1908 with a view to transforming it into a luxury golf club and hotel. The Colt nine opens with a fairly friendly par 5 but quickly comes alive on the par-3 3rd across a valley to…