Innehållsförteckning för April 2022 från Golf Monthly

Developed by The R&A and USGA, the World Handicap System (WHS) has represented a major shift in handicapping and unites six bodies across the globe under one standardised method. Its aim is to make for a fairer and more equitable system of calculating a golfer’s current playing ability. A few months before the implementation of the WHS in this country, England Golf launched ‘Know the Score’ – a campaign to help clubs provide members the information they needed before its launch. Scottish Golf, Wales Golf and the Golfing Union of Ireland also attempted to educate clubs and players on the system. Here, we give the lowdown on some of the key things you may need to refresh yourself with. Why was the WHS adopted? The principal aim was to make…

It is a question many golfers ask themselves, especially as the turnover of new products promising even more performance than the previous generation seems so rapid. But how much of a tangible difference do these technical developments make, and if you choose not to invest in a new driver for a few years, what exactly are you giving up? Here, we cover the key areas of the bag to provide some food for thought if you are sitting on the fence. Driver A general rule is that if you skip two generations, you will see a noticeable gain in performance with a new driver. If you buy one every year, the performance enhancements are usually very minor and less obvious, although ifyougothroughafittingthis will help uncover more. Often, a new driver…

1 Play the percentages Golf is often a game of managing mistakes. If you can minimise the damage when you don’t hit the ball exactly where you are aiming, your handicap will quickly improve. A great way to approach this is when you pick your target, imagine the centre circle of a football pitch around that target. If that circle comes into contact with any trouble (sand, water, thick rough), move your aim until it doesn’t. This means that often you are aiming slightly away from the flag or the perfect spot on the fairway. That’s fine - this is the smart way to build a score. 2 Knowing your distances Every golfer needs to develop a clear understanding for how far they hit each club. The mistake that often…

Pros outweigh the cons In response to Neil Downie’s letter ‘The jury’s still out’ [March issue], the World Handicap System may appear complicated at first, but I do believe it is good for the game. Yes, you do need to play a number of rounds before you receive a handicap, but if you play on a regular basis then it’s not a problem. It’s also a true representation of how a person is playing at any given moment and their past scores can be tracked. I would trust an unknown golfer’s WHS handicap more than a handicap under the old system. John Robinson, via email Shake up the status quo While Saudi Arabia has its flaws, why shouldn’t it throw its money into golf tours? The PGA Tour has done…

England GF: round: £130wd, £150we Stats: par 71, 6,442 yards There are many fine Surrey heathland courses, some already with a global reputation and others perhaps warranting one. Hankley Common has surely made that transition over the past 12 years as it has risen from 64th to 32nd in our UK&I course rankings. It occupies a gloriously peaceful expanse of west Surrey heathland not far from Farnham. This year the club celebrates its 125th anniversary, having started out as a nine-holer in 1897 before growing to 18 under James Braid’s guidance. Harry Colt was called in to make further improvements in the 1930s. The club has worked tirelessly and invested heavily in recent years to upgrade the bunkering and restore the course’s true heathland nature, opening up long-lost vistas. Work…

It was late in the evening of Sunday April 13, 1997 when Earl and Kutilda Woods noticed their son was missing from the merry action to celebrate his Masters victory. Upstairs in their Augusta rental that week, they opened the door to his bedroom. And there he was, sprawled on the bed, fast asleep, still wearing his red shirt and black pants, his arms cuddling the Green Jacket Nick Faldo had handed him a few hours earlier as though it was his favourite teddy bear and he was just a big kid. At 21 years and 104 days, Tiger Woods was, of course, no longer a kid, but he was the youngest ever winner at Augusta. As his parents looked at him, they must have realised this was the end…

How do I hit a lob shot off a tight lie? Loft is key Keep things square at address. Use your most lofted wedge so you don’t need to open the face too much, as that brings the bounce in. By Top 50 Coach John Jacobs People think this is going to be a very difficult shot so start radically changing their set-up and using their hands more, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Push the ball a little further forward at address – not too much though – and focus on very soft hands and lots of hinge in the backswing. This is quite a soft impact shot, so just let the weight of the arms swing past you for a really soft release as the hands…

GM verdict It’s fair to say the looks of Callaway’s two most recent driver ranges – Mavrik and then Epic 21 – haven’t set the world on fire, despite the performance being more than competitive. For 2022, Callaway’s new driver range is the Rogue ST, and while there are four models to choose from, this review will centre mainly around the Rogue ST Max and Max LS drivers as they will have the broadest appeal. Down at address, the Rogue ST Max has a premium new matte crown which is certainly an improvement, although we didn’t care much for the clock-style graphics at the rear. The Rogue ST Max also has a long profile from front to back to inspire maximum confidence, while the Rogue ST Max LS has a…

Tyneside Set above the Tyne at Ryton, Tyneside Golf Club is one of the oldest in the north-east, having started out in 1879. Today’s course was laid out by Harry Colt in 1911, with much of the front nine playing over the higher ground a little further from the river before you drop down early on the back nine. The 4th is a great hole playing over a crest and then down quite steeply to a green set very close to the putting surface of the par-5 7th coming back the other way. The 10th is then a cracker of a par 5, plunging down precipitously from an elevated tee before climbing steeply to the green. The run for home starts in earnest on the 13th, a narrow hole that…

1 Picking your ball up to identify it without first marking its position Yes, the Rules have been relaxed so you no longer have to have someone observe the lifting, but you do still have to mark the ball’s position first and you may only lift it if it is reasonably necessary to be able to identify it. Many people didn’t first mark its position before the 2019 Rules changes and still don’t now. If you need to lift your ball to be able to identify it positively, always remember to mark its position first and only clean it to the extent necessary to identify it before replacing it in its original spot. Rule 7.3: one-stroke penalty 2 Slope facility on rangefinders These are great for practice rounds and social…

We all like to treat ourselves to a new toy for the course, but there are some pitfalls many golfers fall into when choosing and using new equipment that could get you into trouble. To stop that from happening so you can get the most out of your investment, familiarise yourself with these common mistakes so you don’t fall foul of them in 2022. 1 Forgetting to disable laser rangefinder slope function The majority of laser rangefinders will have slope functionality available – a feature that provides an adjusted distance based on the change in elevation for greater accuracy. But remember that this function is not legal for official competition play. Therefore, whatever model you have, be sure to check how to turn slope functionality off before your first medal or…

Scheffler breaks PGA Tour duck in Phoenix Many congratulations on your first PGA Tour victory. How does that feel? It’s definitely nice to get my first win under the belt, and I think the first one is probably the hardest. I made it pretty difficult on myself, and going into the play-off and having to beat a player like Patrick Cantlay is pretty tough. I’m just very pleased that I was able to do it. It took a little while to get the first win despite a number of strong performances in big events over the last couple of years. Did that play on your mind? To be honest with you, I didn’t really think about it too often. For me, I just like trying to improve. I like trying…

SOUND BITES “I DO ENJOY PLAYING HERE. IT DOES GET A LITTLE RAUCOUS AND IT DOES GET A LITTLE CRAZY. YOU DO HAVE SOME FANS THAT AREN’T JUST IDIOTS BUT ABSOLUTE COMPLETE IDIOTS, SAYING THE DUMBEST THINGS IN THE WORLD”Billy Horschel weighs in on the topic of fan behaviour at the Phoenix Open “IT’S EMBARRASSING”Brooks Koepka was not happy to find out he had fallen to 20th in the world rankings “YOU WONDER WHY GUYS ARE WANTING TO JUMP SHIP AND GO PLAY ON ANOTHER TOUR”Charley Hoffman was left furious after a ruling and lashed out at the PGA Tour and USGA “YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MULTI-MILLIONAIRES GOING, ‘I’M JUST TRYING TO FEED MY CHILDREN’ WHEN PEOPLE OVER HERE ARE ENTERING FUEL POVERTY, INFLATION IS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF AND…

Worst start by a champion He shot 40 on the front nine on Thursday. His opening 40 out and 30 in (four birdies and an eagle) is the biggest turnaround in Masters history Amen Corner for the week -7 0 three-putts all week 323 Average driving distance off the tee for the week – 23 yards more than the only other player to average more than 300 16-under Most strokes under par on back nine 12 The widest margin of victory in all Majors until he broke his own record at the 2000 US Open 26 Most threes by a champion Fourth win in only seven months as a professional Tom Kite’s six-under-par (second place) would have won 34 of the previous 60 Masters 21 years, 104 days Youngest player to win…

In late 2021, Bernhard Langer recorded a sixth Charles Schwab Cup title on the Champions Tour. No other player has won the honour more than once. At 64 he’s the oldest to ever win on the tour, and he continues to chase Hale Irwin’s 45–win total with his tally now sitting at 42. Given what the German has achieved through his long and illustrious career, him breaking more records at the age of 64 should come as no surprise. Every year he seems to feature on the leaderboard at The Masters, despite the course not really suiting his game at this point of his career. That said, he has more experience than virtually anyone else at Augusta and a lust for competition few can match. His two Major titles both…

GM verdict Rarely do game–improvement irons provide an elegant, aspirational look, but this is clearly the route TaylorMade went down in creating the Stealth. It replaces both the SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max OS in becoming the single game-improvement iron option in 2022, which simplifies the range nicely for golfers who want even more distance and forgiveness than what is on offer in the P790. From the rear, Stealth’s shelf appeal is through the roof. With its mix of satin and chrome sections and the carbon fibre-effect detailing, it looks like a premium iron from the future. Looks Down at address, the Stealth still has noticeable offset, a thick topline and generous length from heel to toe, but in a marginally more refined package than the SIM2 Max. We tested…

How do you find using hollow irons? Ethan, GM Forum Having had TaylorMade P770 and Ping i59 irons in the bag recently, I enjoy the extra speed and forgiveness they provide over shallow cavity backs, especially out of the rough. The only problem can come in the short-irons, where they’re not as good at finessing a soft fade into a tight right flag. I went for the P7MC in the 8-iron down, which is a one-piece head and requires a proper strike to hit the desired distance. In hindsight, I probably should have gone hollow through the whole set. Do driver fittings work? Phillarrow, GM Forum If by ‘work’ you mean you will leave a fitting with confidence that the driver you’ve just been fitted for is the best thing…

The New Forest is a beautiful and largely unspoiled area of woodland, heathland and open pasture that covers the south-west of Hampshire and eastern edge of Wiltshire. It was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror and features in the Domesday Book. Designated as a national park in 2005, it makes for an excellent destination for nature lovers and golfers. Entering the New Forest just west of Southampton, you will find the charming village of Bramshaw, at the heart of which is its golf club. Nearby, in the hamlet of Brook, lies the Bell Inn. The Forest course The Forest course at Bramshaw Golf Club is believed to be the oldest in the county. While still a nine-holer in the 1890s, an alliance was formed with a similar layout…

You’re never too far away from a golf course in the UK, but what do you do when it’s dark, or if the weather is so bad that nowhere is open? As well as the driving range – and some of the more modern facilities are fantastic – there are plenty of other options where you can enjoy the game under a roof. Indoor golf venues are on the rise, and they aren’t just a good place to keep your game sharp when courses are shut. True, many are actually top-class practice facilities, but others, with music playing, entertainment and bars, offer a very different experience. When talking about indoor golf, this is the sort of buzzing venue that immediately comes to mind. You can play a world-famous golf course…

Where to save Balls Premium balls like Titleist Pro V1 are incredibly consistent, but there are some excellent mid-priced options too: the Srixon Q-Star Tour or TaylorMade Tour Response come with a urethane cover so you don’t lose out on feel or excellent spin control around the green. Putters Nearly any putter at any price point will do a good job, and arguably it’s the category where technology has the least effect on user error. While not everyone will agree, buying a less-expensive putter is one way to save money. Laser rangefinders The difference between a laser that costs £150 and one that costs £350 is often superfluous features. If you want it to show hole maps you’re going to need to pay more but a rangefinder doesn’t need to…

It’s hard to believe 25 years have passed since Tiger’s first Masters, and Major, triumph in 1997. It was a seminal moment in golf and Bill Elliott recounts it so brilliantly within our comprehensive Masters preview section on page 48. As Bill states, it certainly wasn’t the first that golf fans had seen of Tiger, but it was the catalyst that turned his burgeoning celebrity into a fame that would transcend the game and captivate a wider audience within and without the sporting world. That is what Tiger has done for golf over the last quarter of a century. His athleticism, determination, competitive zeal and box-office appeal have made people outside of golf sit up and take note that ours is a thrilling and challenging sport. He may not have…

The golf world continues to mourn former Scottish Open champion Eduardo Romero, who died at the age of 67 on February 13 after a long battle with cancer. The cat, or ‘El Gato’ as he was affectionately known, passed away at his home in Argentina. Born in Cordoba, Argentina, Romero is considered one of the greatest South American players of all time. He was renowned for his ball-striking prowess and magic touch around the greens, a combination that saw him rack up more than 80 wins worldwide. Romero won eight times on the European Tour, while as a senior, his seven victories included two Champions Tour Majors. Thomas Bjorn tweeted: “This really hurts… Eduardo was the nicest man. A great friend that always was a pleasure to be around. He…

We’re all different Everyone has their own natural pace in how they do things. If you naturally walk quite quickly, your rhythm will be faster than someone who goes about things at a gentler pace. You can be quick and still be smooth. Rhythm is more about smoothness than it is about speed, especially in the transition from the top. Sequencing All the top players have always had great rhythm. The more modern, scientific way of talking about it is ‘sequencing’, but rhythm and sequencing are the same thing. If your rhythm is right, all your body parts are doing the right things at the right time. If it’s off, they’ll be doing things out of sequence. Conveyor belt drill Stand behind the ball and picture not only your shot…

There can be little doubt the Phoenix Open has become one of the great spectacles in golf – not only on the PGA Tour but the game as a whole. The combination of a star-studded field and the risk-reward nature of TPC Scottsdale creates a tournament that delivers non-stop entertainment. When you throw in the rowdy and, let’s face it, often unruly and drunken nature of the massive galleries, it only adds to the significant allure of the event. Pretty much all of its attraction is based around the 16th hole, a short par 3 surrounded entirely by grandstands, 20,000 punters and enormous quantities of alcohol. But is this the route professional golf wants to go down and the image it wishes to portray? Or are we happy to accept…

There’s a picture that does the rounds at the start of every year. You’ve probably seen it – that Dubai one, Emirates Golf Club then and now. In 1990, it was just a course surrounded by baron desert. Today, the skyscrapers of this thriving metropolis make for one of the most iconic backdrops in golf. A lot can happen in the space of 30 years, and a lot more will – certainly in the Middle East, where neighbouring Saudi Arabia has huge plans for golf. Fours years ago, the European Tour (now DP World Tour) announced that it would visit Saudi Arabia for the first time. For the Kingdom itself, hosting the Saudi International was seen as one of the key ingredients in delivering the country’s much-lauded ‘Vision 2030’ –…

The 14-club maximum Some equipment regulations can be quite complex to follow, but this month, Chris Wallace, Rules manager at The R&A, looks at one of the easier-to-understand equipment Rules – how many clubs you are entitled to use during a round. The limit is made clear in Rule 4.1b, which states that you must not start a round with more than 14 clubs or have more than 14 clubs during the round. Famously, Ian Woosnam found himself on the wrong side of this Rule while tied for the lead in the final round of the 2001 Open Championship, but more recently, and in slightly more bizarre circumstances, LPGA player Rachel Rohanna found herself in a similar situation during play of the Copper Rock Championship on the Symetra Tour. During…

This year, there are some eyecatching new drivers that promise a combination of extra distance, forgiveness and consistency. Here, we test a broad spectrum of the market in 2022. A note on the data table (above right): it features the driver from each brand we felt offered the best overall performance (not necessarily the longest). The PXG 0211, Cleveland Launcher XL and Ping G425 Max LS models were not available during our launch monitor group testing session, but have been tested either prior or subsequently. Looks The trend here is towards dialling back the address view with darker, matte black finishes and subtle alignment aids. In the case of the TaylorMade Stealth, this makes the head look more compact, but we like how the red carbon face contrasts with the…

When playing courses to review them, how important is conditioning? Michael Hale, Leicester My take on this may be different from most golfers as I am lucky enough to get paid to write about courses. This means I play a great deal. This includes times of the year when many courses are not really match-fit. I therefore try to look beyond the skin-deep and imagine how things will be when the time is right. I have relatively little greenkeeping knowledge, but I have played a vast number of courses, which has hopefully enabled me to understand what is temporary and what is not. It’s fairly easy to recognise a course that is unloved, but fortunately these are few and far between. Conditioning is of course very important, but happily the…

Ashford Manor Running over an easy-walking and compact plot of land just five miles south of Heathrow airport, the free-draining and tree-lined par-70 course dates back to 1902. Positioning from the tee is key, and there are some particularly strong two-shotters. Unusually, three of the par 3s come in the space of four holes on the back nine. In 1905, Harold Hilton, two-time Open Champion, joined the club. He was a member for ten years and it was during this time, in 1911, that he become the founding editor of Golf Monthly. GF: 18 holes: £75 all week, after 2pm w/e Looking back from beyond the short par-4 16th; there are bunkers left, right and centre that protect the tricky putting surface. Highgate The club was founded in 1904 and…