Innehållsförteckning för August 2025 från Golf Monthly

Australia GF: approx £130 Stats: par 78, 6,673 yards for 20 holes Tasmania is a ruggedly beautiful island state off the south-eastern coast of Australia, getting on for the size of Scotland but with a total population of fewer than 600,000. Its north coastline is home to the sensational Barnbougle Resort, whose original Dunes course, created by Tom Doak and Mike Clayton, opened just over 20 years ago. Immediately across the Great Forester River, the resort’s second course, Lost Farm, opened in 2010. It is blessed with not 18 but 20 holes of utopian golf from the brilliant and very creative partnership of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Considering its proximity to The Dunes layout, it could hardly be more different. Here, the sand dunes are significantly more dramatic and…

Brad Faxon’s name is synonymous with one of golf’s most crucial skills: putting. The eight-time PGA Tour winner carved out a solid career defined less by prodigiously powerful hitting and more by an unparalleled touch on the greens, which made him a perennial leader in the tour putting stats. Going beyond his impressive competitive record, including two Ryder Cup appearances for Team USA, Faxon’s career has transitioned seamlessly into that of one of the game’s most respected voices and instructors. His insights into the art of putting have become invaluable and sought after by aspiring pros and Major Champions alike, including Rory McIlroy. Indeed, on the Northern Irishman’s victory march from the Butler Cabin to pick up his trophy at Augusta National in April, Faxon was one of the few…

The TaylorMade Spider family of putters has enjoyed resounding success across all professional tours and is widely regarded as one of the best ranges on the market, so how did the new Spider 5K-ZT model stack up against other zero-torque putters? The first thing I noticed when unboxing the club was its electric blue headcover, and, while it may sound odd, I think this sets the tone for the rest of the putter. Peel this headcover off and you’re left with one of the most eye-catching flat-sticks I have tested this year. The reimagined Spider logo looks superb on the sole of this cleverly designed club, while the blue contrasts perfectly with its silver and black body. “IT WILL CERTAINLY TAKE SOME TIME TO ADJUST TO THE LARGER HEAD, BUT…

The Titleist T-Series franchise has been wildly successful and 2025 sees the latest versions hitting the shelves. While some familiar models, such as the T100 and T150, are returning, allow me to introduce you to the new T250, an iron specifically crafted for those seeking serious distance without compromising on looks. As for those looks, the T250 is simply outstanding and may be peerless in this iron category. It presents a genuinely clean, modern, minimalist design that oozes quality, and I believe will appeal to a wide range of discerning golfers. It has a fractionally larger profile than the T100 or T150, but this increase is barely noticeable as the shaping has been beautifully executed. It is genuinely confidence-inspiring at address, with its slightly thicker topline and subtly increased offset…

I know, you know, why most courses have bunkers. Scottish links have a lot to answer for when it comes to these often unnecessary hazards and I’m considering a campaign to get rid of the nasty things unless appropriate. I’m proposing to make it mandatory not to have bunkers on your course unless, at least once, you can see the sea. Otherwise what’s the point? Other types of hazards or challenges are available. The only reason the original Scottish courses had sandy holes was because that’s what nature does when there’s a beach nearby, and so those original bunkers were actually dunes. Those long-ago golfers put up with them because they had no choice. At this point, fans of bunkers – a small group of misguided men and women –…

Rock on, Tommy I’m just back from playing two rounds at Royal Birkdale with its new holes for the 2026 Open. It is still a brilliant course, but the changes may take a little bit of getting used to. This was followed by two rounds at Coxmoor near Nottingham, which I thought was a great test of golf and very fair. Anyway, being away allowed me, between lemonades, to read the July edition of Golf Monthly and I thought Michael Weston’s article about Tommy Fleetwood was absolutely first class. Having read this, I followed Tommy during the four rounds of the Travelers and what a great watch that was. The final round started off badly. He then stabilised things, but coming up the final straight there was so much drama.…

Lottie Woad, one of the most exciting prospects in world golf, has turned professional after a dream fortnight secured her a seat at the female game’s top table. The Englishwoman – formerly the world’s number-one amateur – stormed to victory in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House, completing a staggering six-shot win over a field laden with Solheim Cup stars. She took a seven-stroke lead into the final day and produced a 69 to announce herself on the world stage. A week later, Woad made headlines again at the Evian Championship, the fourth Major of the year in the ladies’ game. After rounds of 68, 69 and 70 at the Evian Resort, she flew out of the blocks on Sunday and was seven-under-par for her round after 15…

Ping has released a new utility iron, the iDi. Seeking to expand on the success of the previous generations of Crossover and iCrossover, the iDi is looking to rival some of the best utility irons in the game in what is fast becoming a very competitive sector for golf equipment. In terms of looks, the iDi represents a big step up for Ping. Its shelf appeal is exceptional thanks to the smooth, satin finish and contemporary contouring. This new club combines a futuristic aesthetic with some subtlety and minimalism and looks great in the bag. With regard to the performance on offer, I was blown away. I started with the 2-iron, and my first shot set off like a scalded cat, carrying 249 yards from the floor, and rolling out…

What are the actual differences between men’s and women’s golf clubs? Oliver Reeder, via email There’s a common misconception that golf clubs that are labelled ‘women’s’ should suit all females. They don’t. Aesthetics aside, there are a few key differences between standardised shop-sold men’s and women’s clubs that are designed and built for Mr and Mrs Average, the stereotypical male and female. The first is length. Clubs are built based on average heights – for men that’s 5’9” and for women it’s 5’7”. As such, women’s clubs are generally about ¾ to one inch shorter than men’s. The next is lie angle. For every half an inch longer, it’s going to play one degree more upright. So, if you’re an average-height woman using men’s clubs, they are probably too upright…

Essentials The Caversham, Mapledurham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 7UT Stats: par 72, 6,445 yards GF: £105 a round; £60-£70 twilight rate Reading Golf Club has undergone many changes since starting life on a nine-hole course at Tilehurst to the west of town in 1898. It then moved to an 18-hole layout at Emmer Green north of town in 1910, at which point it became known as The Caversham and South Oxfordshire Golf Club. But perhaps the biggest change of all came in 2018 when initial plans to extend the course met with opposition, so the club instead went down the route of selling its land for housing and relocating to Caversham Heath Golf Club ten miles away, which was less than 20 years old at the time. Canadian architect Tom McBroom…

There are in the region of 3,000 golf courses in the UK and Ireland and a slightly smaller number of golf clubs. While the norm is a one-to-one ratio, there is still a healthy number of two-course clubs such as Archerfield, Ballybunion and Carden Park. Surprisingly, this is also true in the Golf Monthly UK&I Top 100 where The Berkshire, Saunton, Sunningdale and Walton Heath all have two entries. Far rarer are the clubs that have three 18-hole courses. Some actually have even more, such as the St Andrews Links Trust with six plus a nine-holer, and the Manor and Ashbury Resorts in Devon with their mind-boggling 103 holes. Others, such as Killarney, used to have three but no longer do. For the sake of this article, we are looking…

Scottie, congratulations on becoming the Champion Golfer of the Year. How does that sound? It’s a very special feeling. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point in my career. It was a tough week. It was challenging. The golf course was playing really tough, and I had to focus very hard over the course of the weekend. It got a little close there after the double on 8, but I bounced back with birdie on 9 and was able to keep a pretty sizable lead for most of the day. What’s it like coming up 18 when you know you’ve done enough to secure the Claret Jug? It’s a very cool walk. It’s a very special walk. To be honest with you, walking up 18, I…

“THIS YEAR’S NO JOKE. WE’RE TIRED OF IT. WE’RE TIRED OF LOSING”Bryson DeChambeau sends a Ryder Cup warning to the Europeans after all-but securing a place on the US team “I GOT EVERYTHING I WANTED FROM THE WEEK APART FROM A CLARET JUG”Rory McIlroy reflects on an emotional homecoming at Royal Portrush “HE’S A TOUGH MAN TO BEAT, AND WHEN YOU SEE HIS NAME UP ON THE LEADERBOARD, IT SUCKS FOR US”Xander Schauffele says Scottie Scheffler has been “killing it for over two years now” “I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON OVER HERE, BUT MAYBE MY EUROPEAN BLOOD IN ME HAS COME TO LIFE”Chris Gotterup reflects on a life-changing two weeks at the Scottish Open and The Open Championship 4 Scottie Scheffler became the fourth player to win The Masters,…

Ever since it launched the i210 in 2018, Ping’s i-Series of irons has been found in the bags of every type of player, from the traditional 18-handicap golfer right up to the Viktor Hovlands of this world. The new i240 iron is designed to appeal to a similarly broad range of skill levels, with the emphasis this year on further improving the feel characteristics of this players’-style design. The multi-material badge in the rear of the cavity is 8.5g lighter than on its i230 predecessor. It combines a thin 304 stainless steel cap with a lightweight composite and an injection-moulded thermoplastic. The activated elastomer insert supports the face, sitting in a toaster-style pocket behind it, and helps to provide a more efficient energy transfer and a softer feel at impact.…

The G4D Open Championship, staged by The R&A and DP World Tour, was played for the third time at Woburn Golf Club in May. In a field of the most talented golfers with disabilities, it was Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor who claimed the overall title. Players with various disabilities and impairments were able to compete fairly via specifically modified Rules, depending on a player’s category of disability and eligibility. Rule 25 details specific modifications for players who are categorised as blind or who have certain levels of visual impairment, those who are amputees, those with intellectual disabilities and those who use assistive mobility devices. This Rule ensures that all golfers can play and compete. Graham Freeman of Belgium (main photo) was eligible to use the Rules listed under “players using an…

In my experience, it’s extremely rare for a two-night trip to feel truly relaxing. Whether it’s an early morning start back in the UK, trouble with transfers or settling in, it can feel like the minute you start to unwind it’s time to check out. This was most certainly not the case at Terre Blanche, the five-star hotel, golf and spa resort in Tourrettes, 45 minutes west of Nice. From the moment we drove through the impressive-looking gates, a feeling of calm descended and remained for the duration of the trip. The 750-acre property has a stunningly tranquil setting among the hills of Provence. It opened in 2004, after German Dietmar Hopp purchased the woodland estate from Sean Connery and set about transforming it into the luxury resort we see…

Grange Fell GF: 18 holes: £20wd, £25we Founded not long after World War II and set 400ft above Grange-over-Sands on the Cumbrian coast, Grange Fell is an archetypal feel-good course packed with warmth and charm. Something of a family affair, its current young captain, Daniel, is the great-grandson of founding father AB Davy. There are six par 4s of modest length, with the opening pair playing a little longer due to the early climb. The solitary par 5 is a brute into a southerly breeze, with the 9th the second of two par 3s. Glorious views accompany you every inch of the way. Dunnerholme GF: 18 holes: £35 A few miles west of Grange Fell but remarkably different in nature, the ten holes at Dunnerholme configure to make an 18-hole…