Innehållsförteckning för April 2016 från Golf Australia

DO YOU remember where you were on the morning of April 15, 1996? If the sands of time have left your memory a little hazy, here’s four words that will put that day sharply back into focus: Greg Norman Masters collapse. Yes, it is 20 years this month since Norman lost the seemingly unlosable Masters while a nation sat transfixed in front of their televisions, unable to look away as his game slowly unravelled. The evening before, every Australian golf fan put their head on the pillow confident that the demons of Norman near misses at Augusta – the Larry Mize chip-in in 1987, Jack Nicklaus’ Sunday afternoon charge in 1986 and his own costly poor starts in 1988 and ’89 – were about to be buried deep into the…

KARMA WELLNESS WATER  This vitamin water contains 90 percent less sugar than other vitamin drinks and provides up to 100 percent of RDI of daily nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Only 40 percent of vitamins are absorbed from a multivitamin pill, whereas 90 to 95 percent of vitamins are consumed when dissolved in liquid. KarmaCap solves this problem by storing the formulated powdered vitamin and nutrient mix to maximise freshness, quality and performance. Just peel, push and shake the vitamins into the water. Includes orange & mango, passionfruit green tea, acai pomberry flavours. For more details visit www.drinkkarma.com  and www.drinkme.com.au. AQUAHYDRATE  From the acidic foods that we consume, to loss of electrolytes through daily activity, our bodies are constantly being challenged to remain balanced, perform effectively and stay hydrated.This…

I KNOW this summer has been particularly hot; I don’t think any of the capital cities have escaped the heat during recent months. So keeping this in mind, I can understand why almost every course I have played since Christmas has had really soft, pitchmark-riddled greens after been watered by greens staff. I know that here in Sydney, course supers are always wary of losing their greens on those really hot days, but is the answer soaking greens and the fringes with so much water that balls plug and rip the surfaces? Perhaps it is time to rethink the type of grass that is used on putting surfaces in Sydney. Most use bentgrass but would a strain of Bermuda be better suited? I hope a course superintendent reads this and…

WHEN they pitch up in Augusta for the Masters “Toonamint” this month, it is safe to assume neither man will be the centre of attention. Not now that the next “Big Three” of Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth has apparently arrived. So, while each has finished first at a major championship within the past four years, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson are no longer viewed as the likeliest of winners at the highest level of the game. It has ever been thus, of course. Both are in their mid-40s, the traditional ‘black hole’ for professionals simultaneously struggling to stay competitive on the main Tours and waiting their lucrative turns on the over-50 Champions circuit. Hang on, though. We’re talking about Ernie and Phil here. Don’t the next two…

Bonville is referred to by many as Australia’s Augusta due to the undulating, private fairways, elevation changes, natural flowing waterways and its sheer beauty. The Azaleas flanking the opening and closing holes only add to the similarities between the two layouts. Voted as ‘Australia’s most beautiful mainland golf course’ 14 years in a row by the Golf Course Guide, Bonville Golf Resort at Coffs Harbour (just 10 minutes away from the airport) is a par 72 championship golf course that rises and dips through the serene and beautiful layout with each fairway isolating and private from the next. Bonville Golf Resort is located only 3kms away from the beautiful surf beaches of Sawtell and Coffs harbour. Bonville have great expertise in planning Golf Group visits. Allow our experienced onsite Golf…

HOLE 1 TEA OLIVE | PAR 4, 445 YARDS SWATTON: Over the past three years it has averaged to be the third toughest hole on the course and if you can get through the week in par you’re traditionally setting yourself up for a good tournament. The opening tee shot can be tough as the bunker on the right can be acceptable if you are in the first half of it but if you’re a longer hitter and end up in the back half of it, the lip is so severe you are just chipping out. Strategically you have to be very precise with driver on the left side or, as a longer hitter, take 3-wood down the left. Of course if you are too far left you’re in the…

Six years ago, I was a rules official on the 5th hole during the Masters. I sat there all day and watched the whole field come through. The pin was back-right; most of the players had a hook lie and tried to hit this big fade to get close to the flag, and ended up about 30 feet away. Tom Watson (right) – who was 60 at the time – played his approach all along the ground, using the slopes and mounds, and finished close to the flag. It was one of the best shots I’ve witnessed in championship golf, and a great example of how the strategic challenge has remained largely unaltered, despite technology. Augusta National hasn’t stayed true to the original design by chance. The credit must go…

Some guys like to use a clockface method for the backswing but I regulate my distance through practice and feel because I don’t like to get too technical. I visualise the shot and then I inherently know how to swing to hit that flight and yardage based on experimentation on the range. It’s very important to practise, especially yardages that aren’t comfortable. I’m always varying the distance and never hit too many shots from the same spot – even moving as little as three yards between shots. Every time you do that you’re dialing in your feel. BONUS TIP HINGE FROM ROUGH The exception to minimal wrist hinge in pitching is when you’re playing from a bad lie in the rough. When the ball is sitting down or there’s likely…

A lot of fat and thin chips come from too much hand action in the swing. If you keep the hands passive then you’re more likely to swing smoothly rather than jerk at the ball. This will produce a crisp strike that clips the ball off the turf rather than creating a divot. It also consistently presents the true loft at impact so the ball launches on the trajectory you want – and the square face sends it on the correct line. Hitting this impact position is the key to building confidence and gaining the consistency and control that all good chippers have.…

Adelaide’s most prestigious golf clubs have partnered with four of South Australia’s best wineries, as well as golf holiday specialists Golf Explorer, to offer the ultimate golf and wine getaway packages. Play at Royal Adelaide, Kooyonga, Glenelg or either of the courses at Grange Golf Club, and at the end of each 18 holes enjoy a bottle of specially paired premium wine – each bottle valued at more than $100 – along with a tasting plate sourced from a selection of South Australia’s finest gourmet producers. It’s all part of a unique promotion known as ‘Four Reds’. And given the private nature of these clubs, Four Reds presents the key to getting a tee-time on some or all of these outstanding layouts. After your round at Royal Adelaide, you will…

THE memories created at Augusta National and the Masters will stay with you forever. It is a truly remarkable place. Plan your trip with an experienced tour operator so that you get the best experience possible. Here are some tips to get you started: • Travel with a proven team. One that has many years of experience taking people to the Masters. Ticketing for the event is complex and subject to risk. Work with someone you can trust and who has a track record with strong client testimonials • Don’t miss out on the total experience – don’t just go for the weekend. This may well be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so make sure that you book in for the four days of the Tournament as well as the Par-3 Contest.…

“I’m on the right path anyway. I feel like I’m getting more and more confident each time I play.”– Adam Scott WGC–CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER WINNING SCORE: 12-under-par, 276 DEFEATED: American Bubba Watson by one stroke. DEFINING MOMENTS: Scott opened his final round with a birdie but disaster struck two holes later when his approach to the 3rd green found water and resulted in a double-bogey. A second double-bogey followed two holes later and Scott was seemingly playing his way out of the tournament. But never write off a champion. He bounced back with a birdie at the 6th hole, and more followed. Further birdies dropped at the 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th holes and Scott was back in the lead. A superb up and down for par from the…

For a golf club to host the Victorian Open four years in a row and be used as a regular practice facility for the Victorian Institute of Sport, it must be doing something right. But ask interstate or international visitors to list Melbourne’s great sandbelt courses and they’ll reel off the ones they’ve seen on magazine covers and on TV, usually without having set foot anywhere near them. Spring Valley, sculpted out of the same rich golf terrain, is equally deserving of their attention and affection. In January, Golf Australia magazine rated the Clayton South course, in the city’s south-east, as the 43rd best course in Australia, up from 50th position in 2014. Originally created by Vern Morcom but remodelled in recent times by the Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Clayton, Mike…

FEBRUARY PHOTO CAPTION COMPETITION We had some clever entries to our photo of Jason Day teeing up during an eventful NBA game.The best entry, according to our judges, came from Anthony Grassa of Bundoora, Victoria, with: “So all I have to do for some plum courtside seats is hit a giant novelty golf ball into the crowd? Deal! What could possibly go wrong?” Congratulations, Anthony.You win a pair of adidas Tour 360X shoes worth $149. SUBSCRIPTION GIVEAWAY New and renewing subscribers to Golf Australia throughout December, January and February were entered into a draw to win a seven-night trip for two to Bali, worth $9,000.The lucky subscriber drawn was Mrs K.Wilson, of Huntley’s Cove, NSW.…

• Five nights’ accommodation in a luxury room at The Mirage, Las Vegas,• Three rounds of golf (Rio Secco, Cascata, DragonRidge) including green fees and carts,• Two hours’ coaching at the Butch Harmon Academy,• Daily breakfasts,• Lunches when playing golf,• Welcome dinner and drinks plus presentation dinner and drinks,• Event polo shirt and cap,• Limousine airport and golf transfers,• Compete for the opportunity to win a share of 400,000 Qantas Points,• A chance to win a trip to return to Las Vegas to participate in the 2017 US$1 Million Hole Main Event at Rio Secco with the chance to win US$1 million.  For more details or to book,visit www.qantasgolfclub.com/2016-las-vegas-tournament…

DID YOU KNOW? • Water makes up 50 to 80 percent of our body weight, and as we can’t store it, we need fresh supplies to recoup daily losses from sweat and urine. • Men are recommended 2.6 litres, and women 2.1 litres of fluid per day. • When our water content in the body gets too low, the fluid in our brain tissue decreases and our blood gets thicker and more concentrated. • Dehydration triggers our kidneys to retain fluid, and our heart has to work harder to maintain blood pressure. • Rehydration easily restores the body’s water levels but if we can’t replace it, our kidneys can fail and, in extreme cases, we can die from dehydration.…

I’M SURE it comes as no surprise to hear that life for professional golfers doesn’t always revolve around playing and practising. Chat, gossip, talk – call it what you will – has forever been a big part of the day-to-day existence on Tour. It certainly has been lately, with three topics dominating conversations in locker rooms and dining areas. I’m referring to a) the wearing of shorts during tournaments, b) the perennial issue of slow play, and c) the recent resolution of the lawsuit brought by the Caddies Association against the PGA Tour. Let’s take a look at each in turn. WEARING SHORTS I must admit to being a bit torn when it comes to us wearing shorts. I can go both ways with it. But speaking, I suspect, for…

Luke Donald is one of the best wedge players on the planet. His ability with a wedge helped him top the world rankings in 2011 and 2012 and he’s still just as hot from 100 yards and in today. He’s been inside the top two for scrambling on the European Tour in three of the past six seasons, including second in 2015. He’s also been inside the top-ten for scrambling proximity to the hole in four of the past six years on the US PGA Tour. “Understanding the way the club should be delivered to the ball to produce different short-game shots is vital,” reveals Donald.“Many amateurs don’t understand the fundamentals and get the set-up wrong, which makes it almost impossible to execute the shot with success. If you understand…

The movement and momentum in your pitching swing should all come from upper body rotation. The hands and wrists and your lower half should stay very quiet – you don’t need the legs to help you generate power as it’s a finesse swing. This keeps the club in front of you throughout the swing so you naturally finish in this position, without the right arm wrapping over the left and closing the face. This helps create a feeling of holding the face open through impact to maintain the true loft of the club for a high flight and soft landing.…

Branden Grace Alfred Dunhill Championship, Qatar Masters “Chipping is a very natural thing and you need to visualise the shot. Opening your stance will help you swing the clubhead to the target and picking a spot on the green where you want to land the ball will improve your accuracy and distance control.” Andy Sullivan South African Open, Joburg Open, Portugal›Masters “The flop shot is really useful if you know how to play it. Set up with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart, extra flex in your knees, ball in the middle and an open clubface. Maintain this body position through the swing, attack the ball from a shallow angle and allow the clubhead to overtake the hands through impact.” Gary Stal Abu Dhabi Championship “Put two clubs either side…

FAIRWAY FREEDOM Golf Skate Caddy 2016 V2 is here, but it comes with a warning: this modern mode of personal golf transport is highly addictive! Having been overwhelmed (and overworked) filling unprecedented demand in the USA for the Aussie-designed and developed Golf Skate Caddy, the company is now committed to focusing on local demand.And it couldn’t have come at a better time, with the arrival of the sensational V2. The V2 was tweaked to now come with the option to accelerate and brake using either a thumb slide or the remote control – you choose which feels best for you. It loves hilly courses and the braking system means the V2 is now even easier to ride. Four preprogrammed speed settings allow golfers to decide whether to ride it like…

If the winter ski trip is too much these days, pack your clubs and hit the green slopes of Barwon Heads Golf Club instead. Situated only metres from Victoria’s roaring Surf Coast, this highly rated, beautiful links course is a delight to play any time of the year. But in winter the open air experience with Mother Nature by your side can be even more memorable. And without the mountain-high prices. During winter, guests who book a midweek, stay-and-play B&B package in the iconic clubhouse receive complimentary golf. Prices start at $240 per room, which includes accommodation for up to two guests, full cooked breakfast, golf, free undercover parking and complimentary Wi-Fi. Green fees at the club are usually up to $85 per person. Dress appropriately and test yourself on…

TOUR players, rightly or wrongly, are always looking at different parts of their game they can change in order to get better. After missing the cut at the Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy made a change to his putting technique by going to a cross-handed grip in time for the Cadillac Championship. He said he always practises with the left-hand-low putting stroke to ensure he keeps the right hand from influencing the putting stroke. “It’s a drill that I’ve always done,” McIlroy said.“And I’ve putted a lot just with my left hand. It’s one of those things where the drill started to feel a little bit better than the real thing, so I’m just going to stick with it.” And it worked well for the four-time major champion, especially in the…

GOLF AUSTRALIA PHOTO CAPTION COMPETITION LEXI Thompson, Lydia Ko, Inbee Park and Shanshan Feng recently teamed up to promote the HSBC Women’s Champions by acting as a rock band. What would their band name be, or what is your caption to go with this photo? Submit your caption on the entry form found on our website (not in the comment box) for the accompanying photo and the best entry, judged by Golf Australia’s editors, will win a pair of 2015 adidas Tour 360X shoes, worth $149. The new Tour 360X shoes continue the evolution of the Tour 360 family. With its Tour-proven performance and stability unquestioned, the new model features increased cushioning and comfort. For more information visit www.adidasgolf.com  or call 1800 700 011 WIN! TO ENTER: Visit…

WHAT A JOKE! Professional golf is a joke. It’s ridiculous that the world’s best golfers need a caddie to babysit them around a golf course. For example, can’t Lydia Ko play a shot without her caddie checking her alignment? What is even more farcical is when the player’s caddie is also their coach, as in the case of Jason Day. They should have to make every decision completely on their own, just like the rest of us. C.A Ciastkowski Rosebud West,Victoria READY TO ROLL I would like to second the thoughts of Graham Stewart’s letter last month,‘Lawn bowls beckons’. Unlike Graham I turned to the long putter because I had/have a severe case of the yips. After trying various putting techniques, which ultimately failed, I turned to the long putter…

IT IS difficult to conceive of two players capable of playing the game more simply or elegantly than Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen. Scott makes the game look very easy and the South African makes it look even easier. Geoff Ogilvy recalls the first time he played with the 2010 Open champion. “I had teed off and my caddie and I were getting something out of the bottom of the golf bag when Louis hit,” Ogilvy says.“We both had the same reaction. It was a special sound off the face of his driver, one you hardly ever hear, even on the Tour. I’ve been a huge fan ever since and I really think if Louis wanted to be the best player in the world he could easily be.” At the…

YOU have to admire the tenacity of David Worley,who has just released his sixth book, ‘Golf in the Heather and Gorse’. It is the result of travelling through England and Scotland with wife Irene (herself Scottish), playing and photographing 71 non-links courses and self-publishing an elegant, coffee table volume of more than 200 pages. For a former investment consultant with a commerce degree from Melbourne University, Worley is an unlikely performer in serious golf writing.This is not to say his work is boring, because it is far from that, just that he is very well informed and able to convey what he wants to say in a style seldom seen in the world of finance. He attributes this to his uni days when he majored in arts because he loved…

The opening hole is a traditionally tough start to the round. MacKenzie designed the hole so players must skirt trouble on the right to leave a favourable approach. Originally designed to receive a running shot up the hollow short of the green; but the addition of bunkers at the front means it now needs a flighted approach. The easier drive to the centre or right of the fairway brings the water into play on the approach but a bold and long drive down the left opens up the green. A long drive skirting the trees on the right leaves a visible shot to the green, but it’s a semi-blind approach from the middle or left-hand side of the fairway. This is another hole originally designed to receive a run-up shot.…

Accurate pitching is all about a consistent strike. This is vital for controlling the trajectory and spin that ultimately dictates the carry and total distance of the shot. To become more consistent, you should use the bounce on the sole of the clubhead rather than the leading edge to contact the turf. This simple, neutral address position will help you do this and create a repeatable swing, clean strike and predictable flight. It will also help you tailor your swing to the situation, helping you add grip or release to get the ball to finish close to the hole.…

The easiest way to chip the ball tight to the hole is to let it release like a putt. A lot of amateurs see the pros stopping it dead on the second or third bounce and want to emulate that, but we only do that if it’s absolutely necessary because the extra spin is harder to control and adds a degree of uncertainty to how the ball releases. When there’s green to play with, I want to see the ball land reasonably softly and then roll end over end. It’s easier to chip it close like this, and your bad shots will finish a lot closer than if you try ti go aerial or spin it. BONUS TIP CLUB OUTSIDE HANDS My feet are quite close together and slightly open…

WHAT OUR TESTER SAID: “The Vapor Fly Pros are a players’ club that remain forgiving. I’ve never used Nike irons before but these were absolutely beautiful clubs to hit.” MODEL AND SHAFTS PLAYED: Nike Vapor Fly Pro 4-iron to pitching wedge, fitted with stiff-flex steel shafts. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I love the look of these irons, they’re really pretty-looking clubs. I like how the clubheads have enough ‘meat’ in them to be forgiving but aren’t so big as to appear like high-handicappers’ irons. VERDICT: My first strike with the Nike Vapor Fly Pros was an attempted lay-up with a 5-iron that travelled about 220 metres, reached the green and almost went in the hole, so they had my full attention pretty quickly! I haven’t seen such a perfect trajectory in a…

Aces a plenty, an albatross and a desperately close finish highlighted the Meriton Sydney Invitational’s return to its spiritual home in late February. After a one-off staging on the Gold Coast in August 2014, the tournament skipped a year in 2015 to re-align with its conventional late-summer date and return to a trio of top-notch Sydney courses. In hot, windy weather at three past and present PGA Tour of Australasia venues in Terrey Hills, Stonecutters Ridge and The Lakes, it was Queensland professional Adam Blyth who grafted a one-point victory. “One point?” you ask. Yes, here’s a professional tournament where even the pros take wipes and score Stableford points for 54 holes. Blyth tallied 113 points to edge out Darren Beck and perennial contenders Peter Shaw and Leigh McKechnie, who…

Brand new courses in Sydney have been rare beasts indeed in recent years, yet when they have emerged the new tracks have certainly been attention-grabbers. Nearly four years old, Stonecutters Ridge just west of the quasi-CBD of Blacktown, energised the western Sydney golf scene and added a premium public-access offering that set it apart from the rest. Part of a now sold-out residential estate and buoyed by an instant influx of members courtesy of a land-swap arrangement with nearby (and now defunct) Ashlar Golf Club, Stonecutters’ infancy was exceptionally short as the club enjoyed fast-paced activity almost instantly. The course took almost a decade from conception to reality, with the broader project taking on several guises before the development had an end date and took on a final look. It…