Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2020 från Golf Monthly

1 It always makes sense to look at the course planner before a round and have a strategy for each hole. Crucially, be strong and stick to that plan. If you make a mess of the hole before, it can be tempting to reach for driver, but more often than not you won’t achieve the results you want if you deviate from a strategy that best suits your game. 2 Clearly, you need to avoid the trees in the middle of the fairway. If you’re laying up, there’s more space and therefore more margin for error to the left. If you’re going for it, the trees could serve as a nice alignment pointer. If you have a fade, aim over the middle of the trees. The shape of the green…

Many of us spend countless hours on the range each year in an effort to improve our swings and play our best. But what if the secret to success lay away from the practice ground and a little closer to home? The mental side of the game is something we can all work on, and may be the route to the most tangible improvements amateur golfers can make. That is why we’ve put together this supplement, to show you how a different mindset can lead to different outcomes. We’ve assembled the thoughts of some of the biggest names in sport psychology, including Dr Bob Rotella, Gary Leboff and Karl Morris, as well as speaking to Ian Poulter and long-time European Tour caddie Peter Newby to help you think about the…

If I were to ask you to make a guess as to the highest single-hole score in professional golf, what would you say? If you only managed early double figures, then you’re still miles away. The great Tommy Armour, playing in the Shawnee Open in 1927 a month after he won the US Open, managed to rack up a staggering 23 blows. On that fateful day, a term was used that has haunted golfers ever since. Armour explained away his misfortune as having a severe case of the “yips”. Since then, some of the greatest names in golf have fallen foul of this affliction. If he could have banned putting from the game, the great Ben Hogan would have probably done so, too. Towards the end of his career, his…

1 Make sure you have realistic expectations when you stand on the tee of a challenging par 4 like this. There’s so much potential for disaster that a bogey is a very good result for most. Think about this on the tee and form your strategy accordingly. 2 It’s imperative you know how far it is to certain parts of the water, and how far bad, average and good drives go. A good drive might be enough to carry the water or bunkers at a certain angle but a bad drive may not, so it’s wise to adapt your strategy and play safer because of this. Also, don’t forget to consider other factors like how downhill the drive is, or the wind. 3 Lay up down the right-hand side to…

Your club needs you It has been well documented over recent years that participation in the game we all love has dwindled. The current Covid-19 epidemic could sadly be the final nail in the coffin for some clubs, but perhaps there is a glimmer of hope. The upside of being placed on furlough is I am playing more golf than ever. Last week, I encouraged three lapsed golfers to dust off their sticks and return to the links on three separate occasions, all paying green fees. Out of this horrendous situation, we can all do our bit to actively encourage former golfers to get back into this beautiful game for the social, mental and physical benefits. This will get our local courses some much-needed income and could well lead to…

No says Fergus Bisset Yes says Jeremy Ellwood If a lone visitor turns up at your club and pays a single green fee, would you be happy to see them out on the fairways hitting multiple balls? I definitely wouldn’t. Firstly, they’ve only shelled out for one round, so why should they get two or three times as much for their outlay? And secondly, they’re causing more damage to my course than they should as a result. But should members be allowed that right? I would also say no: it’s selfish and unnecessary. If someone wants to practise, almost all clubs have designated areas for that and there are driving ranges across the country. If a club were to allow members to practise on the course, how would that be…

Said to possess the “sweetest face in golf”, Evnroll has expanded its putter offering in 2020 with fresh shapes and stunning new finishes. Created by putting guru Guerin Rife, each model is 100 per cent milled and features a unique mill pattern. This is engineered to deliver uniform performance across the entire hitting area by altering the amount of contact surface that imparts energy into the ball at impact. The parabolic, subtle V-shape of the grooves, which re-direct the ball inwards, helps ensure the ball stays on line and doesn’t lose speed. The line is spearheaded by the new ER10 Outback, a high-MOI mallet that features a lightweight 6061 aluminium body secured to a 303 stainless steel boomerang-shaped weight at the rear. The aluminium section is coated with a scratch-resistant,…

Illustration: Peter Strain It’s been a very odd period, but my home life has gone pretty much back to normal now I’m able to play and practise again. It’s still slightly strange in the sense that golf on the European Tour is a decent way away, but I’m sure I’ll start getting more excited as the return edges closer. I’m trying to see my coach every week until we get going again, just to try and keep on top of things and put some structure in place. The swing actually felt quite good the first few sessions back. When I went on the course, I wouldn’t say it was entirely perfect – some of the fiddly, more technical aspects I’d lost a bit, but I moved pretty well. The thing…

Matthew Jordan, 24 The Hoylake star hit the headlines at Hillside last year when he fired a course-record 63 in the opening round of the British Masters. A former Walker Cupper, he also won the Lytham Trophy by nine shots. The Wirral man claimed his first Challenge Tour title in only his seventh start. Aaron Rai, 25 Aged 15, Wolverhampton-born Rai beat the ‘Lee Westwood World Puttmaster Record’ by holing 207 consecutive ten-foot putts. Eight years later, the three-time Challenge Tour winner held off a strong field to grab his first victory on the European Tour at the Hong Kong Open in 2018. Sam Horsfield, 23 A product of the American college system, Horsfield earned his European Tour card via Q-School at the first attempt, eventually winning the Final Stage…

“I felt a little sick in my stomach. I’ve been nervous before, but this was a little more than usual.” Annika Sorenstam had just completed a first-round 71 (one-over), yet she’d never been so pleased – or so relieved. At Colonial, in 2003, she was the talk of the tournament – a men’s tournament. No female golfer had competed in a PGA Tour event since the great ‘Babe’ Didrikson Zaharias in 1945. It was a landmark moment. Prior to the event, Vijay Singh had threatened to pull out if paired with Sorenstam. “What is she going to prove by playing?” he rambled. “She doesn’t belong out here. It’s ridiculous.” It was not a point of view shared by the majority, but it was an opinion that was out there nonetheless.…

Shot on location at La Cala Resort, Spain 1 A lot of the time, I see golfers suffer with a pull because they unwind the upper body too quickly. This drill gives you all the room to swing out to the right. Hit ten balls in the position pictured, before squaring up and hitting ten more. Then, hit another ten opened up. This process will also help you appreciate the correct sequencing – lower body first from the top of the downswing, followed by the shoulders and then the arms. 2 Many golfers aren’t aware of the direction they’re actually swinging the club. Thinking of a clock face can really help. A pull player tends to swing out to in – or in at 2 o’clock and out at 8…

1 This is a young man’s posture – athletic and perfectly square. He has a straight back with his hands just hanging nicely. The ball position is just inside the left heel with his right shoulder slightly lower than the left, which helps promote an upward strike. 2 All the best drivers of the ball look to get good width in the first part of the swing. You can see that the Spaniard’s body is in charge and the arms extend away beautifully. A lot of people fan the club in the first stage, but his is slightly closed. 3 Look how he rotates the upper body while keeping his lower half quiet. Another example of that great width is evident with his high hands. Note how the butt of…

GM Verdict Performance-wise, last year’s Under Armour Spieth 3 was as good as anything on the market, and aside from some minor issues around the styling and being able to keep it clean, we really enjoyed playing in it. Tangible performance gains remain at the heart of the new Spieth 4 GTX. Gore-Tex has been added, while a new plastic heel section really helps to lock the foot in place. This means the weight has increased to just under 400g, so it might not offer that super-lightweight feel some golfers desire, but we didn’t think it felt overly cumbersome. Under Armour has gone to great lengths in terms of design and testing to ensure this shoe performs while also being comfortable. The soft feeling from the Dual Durometer EVA footbed…

GM Verdict With its latest golf shoe, Puma continues to blend style with substance. This shoe has a sporty, sneaker-style look to it which we really like. The first job with any shoe is to slide your foot in and we found the one-piece, slip-on-style entry design around the ankle made this more tricky. It definitely offers a more roomy fit in the forefoot area, yet the design of the caged area ensures your feet are secure when you pull the laces tight, presuming you have the correct size. You’ll then notice the underfoot cushioning from the Ignite foam providing a spring in your step while also letting you feel relatively low to the ground. Despite being a shoe billed as offering stability, the sole is fairly flexible in all…

We all acknowledge it is important to do our bit to help reduce our impact on the environment. Clothing is a big contributor to plastic pollution – it is estimated that 35 per cent of all microplastics entering the ocean come from synthetic textile waste. In golf apparel, we are at the behest of the manufacturers, but more environmentally friendly options are becoming available. Adidas has really grasped the opportunity for positive change, partnering with Parley for the Oceans in creating polo shirts and footwear made from discarded plastic collected from beaches. Its efforts to end plastic waste continued into 2020 with the Primeblue range, and it aims to convert all of its virgin polyester to recycled in every application where a solution exists by 2024. Elsewhere, Galvin Green has…

One of the lesser but still notable side-effects of this year’s pandemic has been the difficulty with which we can fully celebrate important events such as VE Day. Golf clearly has its own milestones and achievements, and you can only feel for those clubs such as Eaton, Hawkstone Park, Prestonfield and Thorndon Park who are this year reaching their centenary but unable to mark it properly. Also on hold for now are events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Harry Vardon on the island of Jersey. Along with JH Taylor and James Braid, Vardon was one of the Great Triumvirate – three over-achieving pioneers of the game who between them won The Open Championship on no fewer than 16 occasions. With six to his credit, Vardon still…

1 Many people expect to make birdie at a reachable par 5, but remember par is still a very good score – work towards that and see anything else as a bonus. If you don’t get a good drive away, get it back in play and aim to find the green with your third shot. 2 You have to see a golf course as a changing entity. If the wind is into and the fairways are soft, the bunkers may be in play. If it’s downwind and the fairways are firm, you might be playing your second from way past them. Don’t get hung up on what you’ve done in the past and adapt when conditions require it. 3 If you’re a short hitter, there’s no shame in laying up…

The European Tour has come up with an innovative solution to the schedule crisis and we can’t wait to see so much golf at UK courses on our screens soon. Tour chief Keith Pelley has promised to use these events to try a few new ideas, with one of the proposals being to mic up the players. Recent charity events such as The Match II have proved a huge hit using innovations like this, but should it be employed at the top level? These matches relied on the players being relaxed and buying into the ‘trash talk’ they were being asked to take part in, and the banter did seem a little forced at times. Photography: Getty Images, Tom Miles With players’ livelihoods at stake, is it fair to add…

Photography: Kevin Murray FIND YOUR AUTHENTIC SPOT Tour average is more or less over the hosel of the putter, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Some players are actually past the ball. It’s about finding the authentic spot that works for you. Move your eyes back and forth until you find your ideal calibrated spot. EYES RIGHT OVER THE BALL? The eyes are mostly inside the ball, although for some people they may be directly over it if that’s where they see a straight line between the markings on their putter and a line on the ball. That’s what we’re looking for – when things are lined up, that’s the time to pull the trigger. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT If you’re not seeing the line correctly, chances are you…

It takes something extra special to impress Sir Nick Faldo. This is no great surprise given his achievements as a player: six Majors, over 40 tournament wins, 98 weeks as World No.1 and 11 Ryder Cups. Then there’s the 15 years he’s spent in the commentary box. He’s seen it all – and pretty much done it all, too. The modern player hitting the ball 300 yards plus through the air is nothing to get too excited about. “Back in my day, with persimmon drivers, there were only six to ten of us who were really good drivers of the ball,” says Faldo, whose three Masters titles and three Open Championship victories came between 1987 and 1996. He’d like to see the size of the driver face throttled back, which…

How did the relationship with Mizuno start and what was it that made you sign? Growing up as a young kid, one of my idols was Nick Faldo. He played Mizuno for a long time and was synonymous with the brand. I just loved the style of his game and his work ethic. I felt like he would be someone who went to great lengths to try to make sure he had the best equipment and I think I fell in love with the brand because of Nick Faldo playing it. There’s a picture of me playing in Spain aged nine with a Mizuno golf bag so clearly I liked the brand from a young age. I think for a long time Mizuno has been known as a great iron…

1 Chipping I have a different chipping style to a lot of people. Rather than a body motion, I use my wrists more. I like to keep myself feeling free and flowing. If my wrists are too stiff, I find there’s too much tension and I get a bit mechanical – and then I lose my feel. 2 Increasing power It’s important to make a big wind-up to the right side, then a good body coil on the way through to unleash all your power going forward. The SuperSpeed Golf training aids are great. The more weight you have in the bottom, the more you get used to swinging faster. 3 Reading greens I use AimPoint. I use my feet to find the slope and my fingers to work out…

Never mind Mary, there really is Something About Rory. Beyond the outrageous talent, the breathtaking swing or the way he makes golf look so ridiculously easy, Rory McIlroy has a mercurial quality that transcends sporting achievement. Whether he wins or not is almost irrelevant. Rory has a unique ability to transport onlookers. Bouncing along the fairways with fearlessness, he plays with a sense of abandon that reminds spectators why they loved sport in the first place. There is something else about Rory, too. The Holy Grail of sports psychology is a state of mind called ‘The Zone’. It is a place in which sportsmen and women attain a level of ability far beyond previous limitations, in which everything is accomplished with ease. But The Zone is elusive. No matter how…

Peter Newby, who spent half a lifetime on tour, looks back on some of the highlights of his caddying career and reflects on how the job has changed over the years. He was a caddie on the European Tour for 33 years between 1982 and 2015. He worked with David Gilford for ten years and with Jose María Canizares and Peter Baker, among others. Peter was chairman of the European Tour Caddies Association between 2009 and 2011. He is now the European Tour representative for Bushnell Golf. What memories most stand out from your time on tour? I have some great memories, but I guess the wins are the things that stick out. My favourite winning memory is probably with Peter Baker in the 1988 Benson & Hedges International. Wow,…

Photography: Tom Miles, Getty Images Over the last 25 years, Ian Poulter has won 17 times in 13 countries and played a crucial role on four victorious Ryder Cup teams. Knowing his game and how to manage it lies at the heart of his ability to contend, and his position at the top table of world golf is a testament to the work ethic and smart strategy that have become his trademark. In this exclusive instruction feature, the Englishman offers five essential lessons to help golfers of all abilities. From unlocking your power potential to pitching it close and practising better, what follows is a rare insight into the mindset of one of the game’s most experienced campaigners. His simple advice could help you shoot lower scores this weekend! 1…

It’s good to be back! “Where is your first drive back after the coronavirus lockdown going?” This was the question we posed on social media back in April, with an image of a golfer about to tee off and users being able to pick one of 11 options. Choices ranged from a long fairway splitter to a duck hook and even the dreaded Scottish shot. Thousands posted comments on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, with a sizeable percentage opting for an outcome that would have had them reaching into the bag for a provisional! I mention this as it was an image I just couldn’t get out of my head when I stood on the 10th tee at my home club on the first day the course was open for play.…

Bag maker Sun Mountain has introduced another industry first with its new Eco-Lite stand and cart bags. The highly durable fine threads that form the fabric are made from between 25 and 30 recycled plastic bottles. These water-resistant golf bags aim to reduce harmful waste and offer golfers peace of mind, knowing that the fabric used in the design is made in a more sustainable way. Weighing less than 2kg, the Eco-Lite stand bag features a contoured Dual Strap system to guarantee comfort and ease of use, while the four-way top provides plenty of club space and easy access. It also includes a comfort-grip handle to assist in picking up and setting down the bag. The lightweight design incorporates six pockets, including a roomy apparel pocket, a velour-lined valuables pocket…

Illustration: Peter Strain Well, after a couple of months of heavy lockdown, things are starting to ease a little bit, and that means by the time you read this the PGA Tour should be up and running again. I say ‘should’ because nothing is a given in these strange times, but fingers crossed we’ll have some pro golf to discuss in this column next month. It was good to hear the announcement from the European Tour with regards its six-event UK swing starting in late July. Logistically, it must be so hard with its membership comprised of players from a host of different nations, so I’m glad they’ve managed to put a plan in place for the rest of the season. I’m also happy to see some events that used…

6 Major titles. Masters: ‘89, ‘90, ‘96; Open Championship: ‘87, ‘90, ‘92 63 Lowest round in a Major (1993 Open, second round, Royal St George’s, par 70) 98 Total number of weeks as World No.1, over four separate periods between Sep 1990 and Feb 1994 9 PGA Tour wins* 33 European Tour wins* 11 Successive Ryder Cup appearances between 1977 and 1997 2 Times a European Tour Order of Merit winner (1983, 1992) 25 Ryder Cup points 46 RC matches played (W23-L19-H4) 1989 BBC Sports Personality of the Year * includes six Majors…

It’s hard to believe, but Annika Sorenstam once feared winning. For a ten-year period starting from the mid-90s, she was the dominant force in women’s golf, the face of the game. The fiercest of competitors, she amassed 72 LPGA Tour titles, including ten Major Championships. There was a time, however, when she would intentionally finish second. “Painfully shy” is how she describes her old self during her years playing junior events, which is why she’d do anything to avoid giving an acceptance speech. In the end, her desire to be the best proved too powerful. Coming second wasn’t going to work. How many speeches she’s now given is anyone’s guess – a great many, let’s say. Victory ones, award ones, captain’s ones – they come with the territory when you’re…

Remember Gary Evans? Of course you do. The Englishman played on tour for 15 years without winning despite going close several times, most famously in the 2002 Open at Muirfield, when he came within a hair’s breadth of claiming golf’s greatest prize. Who can forget Evans mouthing “That one’s for you, mum!” into the TV camera after holing a 40-footer on the 71st for an unlikely par that kept him in front heading down the last? Sadly, it wasn’t to be, with Evans zig-zagging to bogey down 18 as he struggled to suppress the adrenalin surge of the previous hole, finishing one shy of the four-man play-off won by Ernie Els. Four years later, his main tour career was over, with Evans only returning to serious competitive action last year…

Which TaylorMade clubs do you remember from your early days? Back in the day I played the Bubble Burner woods, the ones that Ernie played. I switched to all TaylorMade clubs and the golf ball right after the Walker Cup at County Down [2007]. That was when I signed with TaylorMade. I didn’t have a single TaylorMade club or golf ball in my bag at the time. The transition was very easy for me – the golf ball was great, I really liked it. I had no issues finding clubs; the driver and fairway woods were really good. I’m pretty sure at that time it was the V-Steel fairway woods and the driver was the SuperQuad. How did the relationship with TaylorMade begin? For me it started with Dave Cunningham…

Lee Westwood was a freshfaced 23-year-old when he won his first European Tour title at the Volvo Scandinavian Masters in 1996. Twenty-four years on and the man from Worksop has amassed an incredible 44 victories around the world, the most recent of which was the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January. That was European Tour title number 25, and it made him a winner in four different decades. Few players have performed so consistently well at the top of the game over such a long period – and he’s far from finished. “He knows what works and he knows he can be consistent,” says Top 25 Coach John Jacobs, who, over the following pages, analyses one of the game’s most reliable swings. There’s much we can learn from the former…

GM Verdict Given the strategic placement of tungsten throughout the perimeter of the putter head, it is clear the focus with the Spider S is stability. Make no mistake, this is one solid-feeling putter. It performs from every distance, but really excels when it comes to feel and distance control. The impact of a slightly offcentre strike is almost negated by the resistance to twist, which makes it easier to become more consistent from long range. There’s still a fairly loud ‘pop’ sound at impact, which contributes to a firm feel. The black KBS Stepless CT Tour shaft improves the appeal aesthetically, but also helps minimise vibration and any kicking of the shaft on collision, which can affect speed and roll. There isn’t a huge amount of alignment assistance on…

While there are still a few golfers who rely on yardage posts and good old-fashioned eyesight for their distances, the majority now use some sort of distance-measuring device. With launch monitors now more prevalent than ever, golfers are increasingly aware of how far they hit each club. So out on the course, it pays to know exactly how far you need to hit the ball at any given time. There are lots of options out there, and it can be confusing. GPS devices provide screen-based access to distances, as well as aerial views of holes, to help you see clearly what lies ahead. Meanwhile, laser rangefinders pick out distances to targets you can see, but do so promptly and with precision to at least the nearest yard. There are pros…

How can I adjust my driver to fix my slice? Phil York, via email Firstly, the best way to beat a slice is to have a lesson from a PGA professional. But if you’re looking for a faster fix, you could add some weight to the heel. Some drivers will have either a sliding weight you can reposition or a port in which you can insert a heavier weight. Adjusting the clubface to a more closed position or making the lie angle more upright via the hosel settings will encourage more of a draw shape. Alternatively, switching to a shaft with a softer tip will allow the clubhead to release more through impact, but this won’t work for everyone. How many wedges should I carry? Tim Wilson, via Twitter If…

Do clubs ask you for feedback on their exclusion from the Top/Next 100? Mike Chapman, Swanage We do provide feedback, and when it’s because something they’ve done hasn’t worked, or something has gone wrong, both of which are rare, we say exactly what it is. Most ranking changes are due to improvements to design and conditioning. As our brilliant greenkeepers and their methods and equipment get ever better, so too are the standards throughout our Top 100 and Next 100. You once wrote there is no such thing as a bad golf course. Do you stick by that? Joe Frame, Milton Keynes I may have been wearing green-tinted glasses on this, but I will stick by it! If you love golf and you love golf courses – and these are…

Illustration: Peter Strain Did you see it on TV? I’m not sure what club it was, but in one of the first shots after lockdown, this bloke stepped up, took a couple of practice swings, sucked in some air and, with the air of a man who has done this before, shanked his drive straight right into a waiting hedge. Wonderful, simply wonderful – that moment of anticipated bliss followed immediately by short, deep spasms of despair was the old game in a nutshell. It’s why golf is fun; why we play it even if it’s our turn to be the victim of much sniggering. Failure is the happy virus that bonds us together, not success, never success. Dai Davies was for many years the erudite golf correspondent for The…