Innehållsförteckning för January 2015 från Golf Australia

THIS is the issue in which we biennially announce and celebrate the leading hundred courses in the land that any golfer can play.It’s a natural and important progression from the also-biennial Top-100 Courses ranking that Golf Australia publishes in the January issue of even-numbered years. Yet while the ‘full’Top-100 might stir most debate, in many ways it’s our Public Access ranking that should determine your playing schedule for the coming 12 or 24 months.The accessibility element cannot be overstated during a period when attracting golfers to our sport seems to be both a constant theme and perplexing mystery. But just like our Top-100 Courses ranking highlights the best places to play and our Top-100 Public Access list outlines the best and most accessible, there’s something awry…

I KNOW this will surprise everyone,but my favourite hole has always been the 9th on the Old Course.Yes,I know many people think it’s the easiest hole on the course, maybe one of the easiest anywhere. But I still love it. Everyone thinks they should hit driver. Then they imagine the worst-case scenario, which is driving into one of the two pot bunkers in the fairway. From either one you’re looking at a bogey. On the easiest hole in the world, remember. That thought process is a big part of why I enjoy this hole so much. It brings its own pressure, because you feel like a wimp if you don’t “go for it” from the tee. Too many holes are so difficult you can’t go for anything out of the…

THERE is no question golf around the world is losing players.The millennial generation has not taken to the game quite like everyone was hoping they would and this stirs up a sense of concern for the industry and the future of golf. The millennial generation moves at a pace in life much faster than their predecessors, while golf has been categorically recognised as a slower game and one that can take five hours to complete.This creates a disconnect, and therefore a solution needs to be established that captures the attention of the younger generations. Naturally this is a hot topic of conversation throughout the golf industry. It is a challenge that has not been seen quite to this extent before.As a champion of the game and one who not only…

Australia is blessed with hundreds of quality courses, which not only offer a terrific golf experience but are affordable and fun to play. At last count there were approximately 1,500 courses spread throughout the land, ranging from the ultra-exclusive city layouts down to the nine-hole ‘sand-scrapes’ commonly found in rural and outback towns. Within that large number of courses there are private, semi-private and restricted-access layouts that are not readily playable for the average golfer. However, the vast majority of courses welcome visiting golfers – they are public accessible. By our definition, a public access course is one that sets aside tee-times for visiting golfers for a minimum of four days a week. As you follow our ranking through, you will note some highly-regarded resort courses, like Magenta Shores, Sanctuary…

Every golfer misses greens. Even the average Tour pro hits only about 12 greens in regulation per round. Yet, thanks to superb short-game ability, they still score well under par. The typical club golfer, who hits fewer greens, is even more reliant on the short game to make a score. That’s why learning from the experts can have such a profound and immediate effect on our scores. Over the next few pages, the world’s best short-game exponents share the secrets that set them apart. We’ve got tips from Jamie Donaldson, Billy Horschel, Freddie Jacobson, George Coetzee and Alex Noren. It’s a wealth of great advice, designed to get you saving par more often. BY JAMIE DONALDSON Inside the top-ten on the European Tour for scrambling. Master the low, running chip…

HIGH FASHION From polos, to pants, skorts, skirts and outerwear, Callaway Apparel offers a combination of the style you want and the features you need to play well and stay comfortable in any conditions. Callaway’s summer range for women includes a cap sleeve polo, which features an embossed logo print and a self-collar with a narrow, six-button placket. It is available in white and fuchsia. There’s also a pleat inverted skort (high rise) that offers increased breathability through its 17-inch double inverted pleat. The skort also features a contrast-exposed zipper at the back, a logo ball marker and contrasting heat seal on the front left hem. NEVER LOSE A MOMENT Seiko’s Kinetic Perpetual is powered by the movement of the wearer; the watch features a four-year power storage capacity.The watch…

‘Americans are like a bag of prawns on a hot Sunday,” Stuart Appleby once joked, “they don’t travel well.” But in recalling sandy craters, majestic fairways and raw coastal landscapes, Billy Horschel differs from his American counterparts, standing tall as golf’s quintessential global player, or, at the very least, that’s what he wants to be. Now he has the freedom of picking and choosing where and when he can play, the world is his oyster and Australia figures high on the bucket list. The FedEx Cup champion holds fond memories of playing in Australia that stem from representing his country in the Eisenhower Trophy at Royal Adelaide Golf Club in 2008. “I love playing golf Down Under,” says Horschel, who snatched the lucrative US$10 million jackpot from the clutches of…

• A Tour player will post a mildly offensive tweet that is misconstrued by the masses. The same player will apologise profusely then not touch Twitter again … or at least not for a week or two.• Tiger Woods will be asked about his: new coach, swing, majors drought and favourite colour. Woods will respond with answers that include, at least in part, the words, “It is what it is”, “Just doin’ my reps” and “explosiveness”.• Bubba Watson will insist he’s, “Just trying to be a better person.”• Ian Poulter will reveal a new line of clothing that makes the previous range look subdued.• Poulter, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald will remain major-less.• Pace of play will continue to plague amateur and Tour golf, yet no one will come up with or, more to the point,…

PATTERSON RIVER GC Bonbeach,Victoria Phil Ryan was commissioned to create a masterplan for the complete redesign of the course in the late 1990s. Major earthworks were carried out to extract the heavy topsoil, exposing sand beneath. On this, some very good holes were created around a 15-hectare lake system. Big greens and expansive bunker schemes are a feature of the layout. BLACK MOUNTAIN GC Hua Hin,Thailand Black Mountain has been widely acclaimed since it opened for play in 2007. Since then it has hosted three Asian Tour events and will open its doors to the European Tour in 2015. Laid across stunning terrain, the layout features interconnected waterways, undulating fairways and greens in a breathtaking natural landscape.…

SUITABILITY: The Alpha 815 is suited to all golfers; the Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond model is aimed at better players with faster swing speeds. SHAFTS: The Fujikura Speeder 565 is the standard offering; or Aldila Rogue Silver for the Double Black Diamond model. LOFTS: 9°, 10.5° and 12° (12° not available in Double Black Diamond). LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes. HOW MUCH?: $550, or $620 for the Double Black Diamond version. CALLAWAY SAYS: “Previously, distance gains have come from low driver spin and at the expense of forgiveness.The new Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver eliminates the need to choose between the two, delivering maximum distance from low spin along with forgiveness through a lighter, more stable face.The new twist is Callaway’s RMOTO Technology, which provides the structure to save weight and…

For the purposes of ranking truly public-access courses we have decided to eliminate any grey areas that have affected previous public-access ranking lists. Firstly, resorts that only grant access to their course if you stay at the resort are now excluded from our ranking.These include: Magenta Shores, Sanctuary Cove (Pines course) and The Sands Torquay. Secondly, for a course to qualify for our Public Access ranking, it must meet one standard in that tee-times are made available for visiting golfers for a minimum of four days a week. DESIGN (50%):When ranking a course judges were instructed to ask the following questions to themselves to determine where a course stands in the list: • Is there a good balance of par-3s, 4s and 5s? Is there good variety?• Is risk-and-reward a factor on…

WHAT OUR TESTER SAID: MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Nike Vapor Pro 4-iron to pitching wedge, fitted with stiff-flex steel shafts. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The toplines are terrific to look at and to set-up with at address. I haven’t used forged irons for a long time and while these clubheads are a little smaller than I am used to, they feel great to line up with. VERDICT: Contact with the Vapor Pros felt fantastic. Having used more forgiving irons for the past five or six years, when you connect solidly with these you know you’ve hit a good one.They lowered my ball flight, which is really good. It could be due to the shafts, the clubhead design or both, but I liked the trajectory I hit all the irons on.That was the…

When you look at good putters, what often impresses most is their ability to control the speed of the putt to perfection. The ball either ‘drops’ into the hole or finishes so close you felt it just couldn’t miss. Regardless of the preferred style of putting, good speed control allows you to start the ball on the intended target line and have it take the break you expected – two keys to better feel and consistency. Now compare that with your own putting. How often do you leave putts several feet short or race them past? So what’s the secret to being able to judge speed accurately? It basically comes down to three things: 1. A quality set-up and posture; 2. The correct eyeline; and 3. Correct swing length. By…

KEY FEATURES: The Sureshot GPS launch monitor has three modes: practice, target/ random and stats. Practice mode provides immediate feedback on ball distance and speed, swing speed and ‘smash factor’, club by club. Smash factor is an algorithm used to rate how well you impact the ball. Make a small change to your grip pressure, stance or tee height and watch how your stats change.Target/random mode allows you to test your accuracy by setting your own distance to achieve or let the launch monitor randomly challenge you while keeping score. Check out your stats at the press of a button in stats mode, including shot distance stats for each club by average or for the past 100 shots. TECHNOLOGY & SPECIFICATIONS: The highly portable unit measures 149 x 81 x…

WHERE TO PLAY Narin & Portnoo Golf Club: www.narinportnoogolfclub.ie Donegal Golf Club (Murvagh): www.donegalgolfclub.ie County Sligo Golf Club: www.countysligogolfclub.ie Enniscrone Golf Club: www.enniscronegolf.com Carne Golf Links (Belmullet): www.carnegolflinks.com Connemara Championship Golf Links: www.connemaragolflinks.com WHERE TO STAY Harvey’s Point Hotel (Donegal): www.harveyspoint.com Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa (Sligo): www.radissonblu.ie/hotel-sligo Mount Falcon (Ballina/County Mayo): www.mountfalcon.com Foyles Hotel (Clifden/Connemara): www.foyleshotel.com Glenlo Abbey Hotel (Galway): www.glenloabbeyhotel.com FURTHER INFORMATION North & West Coast Links: www.northandwestcoastlinks.com…

EVERY golfer can be a better putter.The only thing holding a lot of average players back from holing more putts is their set-up. A poor set-up with no spine angle and level shoulders (pic 1), in turn, leads to a poor stroke where the hands fall behind the putterhead at impact (pic 2) and this leads to putts hit offline and poor distance control on longer putts because the ball is not coming off the centre of the putterface. If you can improve you putting impact position, you will get the ball rolling on the correct line and, with the ball coming out of the sweet spot of the putter, you will be able to judge distance far better. Here’s a drill that will help you set-up correctly but it…

THE COURSE LOCATION: High St, Fremantle,Western Australia.About 25 minutes’ drive south-west of the Perth CBD. CONTACT: (08) 9335 3866. WEBSITE: www.royalfremantlegolf.com.au DESIGNER: Arthur Oliphant & Peter Anderson (1906); Michael Coate (2004), Richard Chamberlain (ongoing). SLOPE RATINGS: Men: 130/125; women: 128. PLAYING SURFACES: Bentgrass (greens), kikuyu (fairways and tees). GENERAL MANAGER: Bruce Mead. COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Jason Kelly. PGA PROFESSIONALS: Ross Kirby (director of golf); Andy Mowatt (teaching pro). GREEN FEES: Royal Fremantle is a private club but visitors can apply for a tee-time by contacting the office; $80 (interstate visitors), $50 (member’s guest). THE CLUB MEMBERSHIPS: There are more than 30 categories of membership at Royal Fremantle, with many of the membership categories for younger players incrementally increased based on age. Full memberships are currently open and are priced at $2,755…

30 YEARS AGO Lanny Wadkins won two of the first three events of the 1985 PGA Tour, winning the Bob Hope Classic at 27-under-par and in a playoff, and the Los Angeles Open with 20-under, which remains a tournament record. 20 YEARS AGO Steve Elkington kicked off his year on the right note with a victory at the season-opening Mercedes Championships played in California where he beat Bruce Lietzke in a playoff after both finished 10-under. 10 YEARS AGO The season-opening Tournament of Champions has been a happy hunting ground for Aussies, none more so than Stuart Appleby, who won the title three years in a row on Hawaii’s Plantation course with his second trophy coming in 2005.…

ANY golfer who watched the conclusion of the Australian Masters would have marvelled at the bunker shot Nick Cullen played on the 18th hole to seal his victory. It was a difficult shot that was extremely well played by the left-hander. He needed to get the ball up but it also needed to carry most of the 20 metres to the flag. For many club and casual golfers, facing that shot would have sent shivers down their spine simply because they don’t possess the right technique to get the ball out of deep bunkers. By far the biggest mistake average golfers make when faced with a shot like this is that they are afraid to take a big swing at the ball for fear of hitting the ball over the…

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond 9° driver,fitted with a stiff-flex graphite shaft.The Gravity Core, weight ports and loft and lie settings were retained in neutral configurations. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: It looks great.This driver has a smaller head shape than a lot of Callaway’s other drivers and I like that more compact look.The changeable parts of modern drivers aren’t really my thing, so I’m leaving everything configured to neutral.With more time you might adjust certain parts but I’m inclined to change my swing, not the club. VERDICT: The Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond produced a much lower ball flight than I am used to and I hit the ball straighter with it, too. I don’t think I missed a fairway with it all…

All golf swing techniques and theories have one thing in common; they all accept the ball will only do what the clubface tells it. But until recently, impact – golf’s moment of truth – has been mostly left alone by golf tuition, which has followed the slightly hopeful premise that if you take care of the rest of your swing, impact looks after itself. Now, however, thanks to modern technology like high-speed cameras and launch monitors, impact has finally yielded its secrets. This better understanding of impact has created a new set of five ball-flight laws – golf’s true fundamentals. These revelations have allowed us to flip tuition on its head; instead of treating impact as something that happens as a result of other factors, we can go straight in…

SUITABILITY: The Vapor line includes three models, covering all levels of golfer. Higher handicappers will lean towards the forgiveness of the Speed line and mid-handicappers the mixed Pro Combo set, while better players will favour the musclebackblade Pro irons. SHAFTS: True Temper is the standard offering, with the exact shaft depending on the Vapor model. Pro irons are fitted with True Temper Dynamic Gold, in regular, stiff and extra-stiff flexes, Pro Combo have Dynamic Gold Pro shafts and Speed the Dynalite 105.A graphite option also exists in the Speed line: MRC Fubuki Z, in R, A and W flexes. SET COMPOSITION: The Pro and Pro Combo lines come in 3-iron to pitching wedge, the Speed in 4-iron to pitching wedge or 5-iron to sand wedge in women’s. LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes,…

WHAT OUR TESTER SAID: It was an advantage to not just feel and see a good shot but to have data showing it was a good shot. MODEL USED: Sureshot GPS launch monitor set in practice mode and tested first with a pitching wedge before switching to a 4-iron. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I’ve never had lessons but like every golfer I am always interested in how far I’m hitting the ball, so this is the sort of technology I would be interested in. VERDICT: Sometimes I know I’m trying to hit the ball too hard but it was nice to achieve consistent numbers for club speed and ‘smash factor’ with both clubs I used with the Sureshot GPS launch monitor. I could feel myself getting the optimum swing and tempo here…

Predictions can be like opinions, which are like a certain region of the anatomy in that everybody has one but some make more noise than others. Compiling predictions for golf might seem as potentially fruitless as insisting your opponent hole a six-inch putt, but we aren’t shying away from the opportunity to put on our fortune-teller’s scarf, crack out the crystal ball and forecast outcomes for tournaments, players and issues in the game in 2015. How will new US Open venue Chambers Bay play? Can Rory or Phil complete their Grand Slams? Who will be the new year’s version of Martin Kaymer? Is Lydia Ko just toying with her LPGA colleagues? What will Tiger do? The next 12 months stand to be the most intriguing time in golf for years.…

La Paz GC, Bolivia Debate suggests this is the highest course in the world (pictured above), not the Himalayas GC.www.lapazgolfclub.com Amazon GC, Iquitos, Peru Play among the palms, piranhas and tarantulas of the rainforest. Contact: 0011 51 965 943267; www.amazongolfcourse.com Ushuaia GC, Ushuaia, Argentina The world’s most southerly golf course cuts through glacial rivers and forests in the Tierra del Fuego, 55º south. Contact: 0011 54 2901 432946; www.tierradelfuego.org.ar Lofoten GC, Norway Golf in the midnight sun in the Arctic Circle, at 68º north. Contact: 0011 47 7607 2002; www.lofoten-golf.no Jade Dragon GC, Yunnan, China Bionic 8,500-yard course in the southern Himalayas, 10,000 feet above sea level. Contact: 0011 86 871 6352 5331; www.yunnangolf.com Ko’olau, Hawaii, US Carts are compulsory which is recognised as the toughest in the world based…

Down the phone line, I could tell Keith Pepper was more than a bit concerned. Even though we’ve known each other for many years, he was instantly nervous about our interview after I clarified we’d be doing this ‘by phone’, not ‘in person’ at his home or down at his beloved Wollongong Golf Club, where this amazing 93-year old has been a member since 1962. “It’s going to be awkward with my ears, I’m going a bit deaf. Let’s see how we go,” he said anxiously, as wife Hazel could be heard in the background clearing up the dishes from dinner. “She’s 91 and quite well, although she hates it when I have to talk about what I’ve done,” Pepper said. Potentially more confronting was the request to have some…

BETEASY AUSTRALIAN MASTERS CHAMPION WINNING SCORE: Nine-under-par, 279. DEFEATED: World No.2 Adam Scott,Victoria’s Josh Younger and NSW’s James Nitties by one stroke. DEFINING MOMENT: The South Australian walked onto the 18th tee with a one-stroke lead and needing to make par to win.After hitting his drive just off the fairway, he found it was not sitting in a great lie and, as a result, his approach to the green skewed left and into a deep greenside bunker. With 25 metres left to the flag, and another bunker lurking closely behind it, Cullen hit the bunker shot of his career to leave a short putt for the win, which he duly converted. WITH THIS VICTORY: He is now exempt on the Australasian Tour for five years. He held no playing status…