Intro Editor:
Phil Nicholas
Euan Stubbs
Managing Director editor@staffordshiregolfer.co.uk T: 07772086951
Phillip Nicholas
Managing Editor editor@staffordshiregolfer.co.uk T: 07929613199
Jane Stubbs
Its all been happening in the golf world since our last release, Tiger’s return to competitive golf, Lefty’s win at The Masters and Rory Mcllroy’s amazing final 36 holes at The Quail Hollow Championship. That warmed the hearts of European golf fans for sure, Celtic Manor in October can’t come soon enough with form like that. Our own Road to the Ryder Cup moves further south this issue, six more quality courses in Mid-Wales are featured and everywhere we go in the principality excitement is growing, good to see too are tales of the Welsh clubs benefitting from the legacy fund in providing new facilities for junior and starter golf in the region. Closer to home we have no less than 14 local course reviews this edition, with a Shropshire feature and a special spotlight on South Staffordshire, the host course for the Midlands PGA’s flagship event, the PTS invitational in early June. Our pro’s are just about to embark on another Order of Merit summer season, we wish them all well for a successful year and will cover all the main highlights here in The Golfer Magazine. A special mention to and
our good wishes to 2009 champion Craig Shave who will soon be rubbing shoulders with Ernie, Lee and Rory at the PGA Championship at Wentworth. This is the last ever Golfer Magazine for Staffordshire and The West Midlands, in July our next issue will simply be the Golfer Magazine, Midlands as we will be including Notts, Derbys, Northants, Leics and Lincs too, giving our clubs even more coverage and many more clubhouse lounges to appear in. We’d like to thank all of the clubs and organisations in the West Midlands who have supported us in the past year and made it possible for us to expand further, we look forward to continuing those relationships and making new ones this summer. Now Most of you will be aware that the football world cup is happening this year, well we are also giving our readers the chance to take part in our very own Par 3 world cup at Nailcote hall on June 20th. It promises to be a very exciting tournament and we hope you can join us. Phil Nicholas
Business Development Director editor@staffordshiregolfer.co.uk
Ange Cooke
Photographer editor@staffordshiregolfer.co.uk
Bill Eagles
Competition and Marketing manager editor@staffordshiregolfer.co.uk
Alexander Baras
Art Director editor@staffordshiregolfer.co.uk
The Golfer Magazine 16 Bluebell Close Leek Staffordshire ST13 7AW
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MARCH • 2010
Historic Haven One of Staffordshire’s best known and highly regarded golfing establishments, one that seems like and looks like it’s been around a lot longer that it has. Designed in 1969 and run by its members Ingestre is a busy, sociable club with a mature woodland 18 hole treat awaiting.
Location/Directions Six miles outside Stafford near the village of Great Haywood, Ingestre with its 17th Century Jacobean Hall and the Christopher Wren designed church is well signposted down winding country lanes, from Stafford via the A513, from Stoke-on-Trent and Lichfield via the A51. From start to finish, the layout is scenic, beautifully manicured and very tree lined. The mature oaks, evergreen spruces, and firs resident here for years have been joined more recently by newer additions, all maturing quickly and giving Ingestre a look that belies its reasonably young years as a golf course. In full bloom it makes a classically delightful sight, obviously though the trees prove to be obdurate hazards, some encroach onto the fairways in places inspiring the skilled golfer to fade or draw expertly around them. Cleverly placed bunkering features strongly here too, encouraging accuracy and good placement from the tees to find the right spots to attack the greens
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from. With a few raised targets some of which have severe run off areas, the putting surfaces can be tough to find and the key to success at Ingestre will in all likelihood be your greens in regulation stats , good approach work equals good score. A smartly designed layout too, impressive in our opinion because it can seriously test you on one or two holes to threaten your card and morale, then turn a corner and it’ll give you something back. The 6th hole is a Par 3, downhill all the way to an upturned saucer of a green that demands you find it or a devilishly tough up and down awaits on all sides. Then an uphill long Par 4, 7th, which really should be a Par 5 to all but the very longest hitters and very much deserves its stroke one index. After that relief is at hand with a delightful downhill short 8th a little tight from the tee, but on a dry day avoid the fairway, bunkers and you may only be left with a chip and run for your second and a good birdie chance. There may JUNE • 2010
INGESTRE Signature Hole 18th
The Golfer Magazine Pick 1st
No trickery here for a closing hole, straight ahead and gently downhill, keep it straight and two big hits will see you safely on Ingestre’s two tiered and largest green, just the place to finish with a couple of solid putts to yield a morale boosting birdie under the watchful eyes of the members on the 19th hole balcony, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine, hopefully.
Most courses tend to start quite modestly, Ingestre’s opener bucks the trend and is quite lovely, the brook that runs across this hole and leads to the pond on the right is really the only time water threatens here and deters a long hit from the tee, the approach shot to a sideways facing and slightly raised green is typical of the challenge that awaits at Ingestre for the next 3½ hours.
be the odd feathered spectator around for this stretch, a resident group of pheasants peck away around these fairways.
been associated with the club for over 40 years and genuinely knows every blade of grass. The newly extended and air-conditioned clubroom plus its balcony area caters for large occasions comfortably. There’s also a spike bar and the quality of food and service is first class. Ingestre is a popular venue for societies, with a good choice of menus and packages.
517 Yards, Par 5 (White Tees)
Ingestre isn’t the longest of courses but one that demands the utmost respect for success coupled with the ability to put the ball in the right places. The quality and conditioning of those tricky to reach greens though will inspire confidence in good putters.
Facilities Certainly worth turning up a little earlier than normal for your round to take advantage of the fine practice ground over 250 yards in length , chipping and bunker areas and a large, undulating putting green that stretches the length of the clubhouse above it. The Professional here Danny Scullion has THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
351 Yards, Par 4 (White Tees)
Summary Ingestre Park is pure quality and true English splendour through and through. A sparkling and pristine layout that always seems to be in great condition is reason enough for a visit, the great facilities and little extras including the guarantee of a friendly Staffordshire welcome ensure a lofty position for Ingestre in any golfers must play list.
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NEWS THE TWENTY-ONE COUNTY CHARITY GOLF CHALLENGE
Starting on June 21st Patshull Park professional Richard Bissett and his friend Wes Sheldon will be undertaking an epic seven day golfing challenge, taking in 21 courses in 21 counties and all in just 7 days. The pair are hoping to raise £21,000, all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support , an organisation close to the heart of Wes whose wife Sarah recovered from cancer twice in 2005 and 2009. Their journey starts in Cheshire and ends at home club Patshull on the evening of June 27th. Richard said “We’ll be starting around 6am each day and we’re determined to play 18 at each course- we’ve even got some glow-in-the-dark golf balls for the last few holes!” The two marathon men have different personal goals for their adventure, pro Richard has set himself a target of 80 birdies while 18 handicapper Wes will happily settle just to make it through the week. “I’m most looking forward to the final hole (number 378) and a very well earned pint” he said. The trip includes rounds at South Staffordshire, The Worcestershire and Celtic Manor, a full course list can be found by clicking on www.justgiving.co.uk/ golf4macmillan. Patshull Park are also running a Charity Golf Day on Friday 9th July for the same cause. The July issue of The Golfer Magazine will report on how Wes and Richard got on during their week of golfing travels.
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Shropshire’s first two-tier driving range opens at Oswestry Shropshire’s first two-tier, 16 bay driving range is now open at Mile End Golf Club near Oswestry. The range is the first part of a half million pound development scheme for the 20 year old golf club situated just off the A5. The completed range will link perfectly to a soon-to-be-completed state of the art custom club fitting and teaching studio in the new clubhouse section of the complex.
great timing to some, but we have to continue to drive the business forward and improve the facilities regardless of the current state of the economy. We owe that much to our members and I can only thank them for their patience during the upheaval that has taken place at Mile End during the worst winter that many of us can remember,” he added.
“We decided to reinvest in the range and clubhouse in order to allow us to give the best possible service to our members and customers in the coming years,” said the proprietor Richard Thompson. “Planning such a major expansion during the recent economic downturn might not seem like
The driving range which welcomes all, opens from 8am until dusk during spring and summer months with floodlighting available during the darker months. For more details contact the club on 01691 671246 or e-mail info@mileendgolfclub.co.uk
New course open in bid to attract young players at Llanymynech A NEW six hole junior golf course, built with funding from the Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Fund, was formally opened at Llanymynech Golf Club by Carl Sargeant, Minister for Justice & Local Government on Monday, May 10. The £75,000 course has been developed with the aid of nearly £50,000 grant money from the £2 million Legacy Fund in a bid to encourage people of all ages to get into the game and it stands alongside a new three bay covered driving area. “The emphasis is to inspire a new generation to experience golf as it should be, fun, healthy, absorbing and accessible,” said Llanymynech secretary Howard Jones. “Llanymynech has a deep rooted golfing tradition, but this is where the future of the game lies – in well equipped and welcoming facilities.”
Prior to the official opening club professional Andy Humphreys visited local schools to develop young players before taking them back for on-course tuition. The club took part in a special Golf Awareness Week during April offering beginner events for ladies, men and juniors followed by a Junior Coaching Day for schools organised by the Mid Wales Junior Golf Development. Junior lessons will be held at the club on Monday evenings when all junior and parents are invited to attend. “This is a very exciting time for Llanymynech Golf Club,” added Howard Jones. “We are indebted to the Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Fund for enabling us to proceed with this scheme and the development of a valuable asset which should introduce a new generation of golfers.” A full review of Llanymynech appears in this issues Shropshire feature. JUNE • 2010
NEWS CHASE THE ACE
(X2)
JAMIE BRITTAIN
Sam Torrance recently attended a special golf clinic for wounded members of the British Armed Forces. The event, held in association with the Battle Back scheme was hosted by the National Golf Club Challenge team and The Belfry. Sam was joined by Match of The Day pundit Alan Hansen, Sky TV commentator Tim Barter and European Tour players Richard Finch and Oliver Fisher. As well as receiving expert hints and tips to improve their golf, the wounded Servicemen participating in the Battle Back scheme also enjoyed Dave Edwards’ amazing trick shot show. The Battle Back scheme – partly funded by Help for Heroes – is run by the British Armed Forces and encourages wounded Servicemen and women to participate in adaptive adventure training and sports, including golf, as part of their rehabilitation. Mne Aaron Moon, a member of the Battle Back scheme from Bolton in Lancashire commented, “It’s been an amazing day, it’s an honour to come to The Belfry with the likes of Sam Torrance, Richard Finch and Oliver Fisher.” The purpose of the Battle Back Clinic event was to help raise the profile of the National Golf Club Challenge, which will take place on the 24th and 25th of July this year, and aims to raise £1 million for the Help for Heroes charity.
THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
Commenting on his role as a National Golf Club Challenge patron, Torrance said “Joining these brave soldiers for a golf clinic has been a moving and rewarding experience. We may not be able to stop our service personnel from getting injured, but we can try to make sure they receive all they need when they arrive back from active duty.” The National Golf Club Challenge is a nationwide charity golf event in aid of the Help for Heroes charity. On 24th and 25th July, golfers throughout the UK will play for some fantastic prizes, including playing the Challenge Final at The Belfry and a chance to win an all expenses paid golfing holiday to Egypt. The Challenge is an opportunity for Britain’s golfing community to come together on the same weekend to compete, have fun and demonstrate their support to the wounded Servicemen and women of the British Armed Forces. For more information on the National Golf Club Challenge, go to www.nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk
Whatever he achieves in the world of golf in the future, rising Shropshire star 19 year old Jamie Brittain will never forget the events of Wednesday 17th March. Playing at his local club Wrekin Jamie holed in one at the 165 yard 12th hole with a 7 iron. Exciting enough that was, but he wasn’t finished there, amazingly at the 130 yard 17th hole Jamie repeated the feat with a wedge and achieved something that not even Tiger Woods could boast about. Apparently the odds of two holes-in-one in the same round are something like 67,000,000 to 1, Jamie, who plays off plus 1 and is featured in this issues ‘The Futures Bright’ had two slight causes for regret, firstly that both holes were uphill challenges and he didn’t see either ball drop. Secondly one of his playing partners, his grandad played 11 holes and then retired to the clubhouse just before the fireworks started. Jamie has been playing since he was 13 and had never had an ace before until the afternoon at Wrekin, looking back at his exploits he admitted feeling more shocked than elated at his feat. “It was a weird feeling just getting one, then when the second one dropped too I was more stunned than anything else, my playing partner was the one who celebrated the most” Jamie’s playing partner Neil Milton actually secured a half on the 17th as his 40 footer rolled in for a birdie to equalize Jamie’s ace, it was the very hole that Jamie had to give a shot back, you can’t win em all!
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2010
realise your potential In the last issue we visited St Thomas’s Priory and the European Golf Performance Institute (EGPI) to have a physiological profile and a last desperate attempt to put our golf games back in shape for the new season. We were observed swinging, analysed, physically tested and finally given exercises and drills designed to get our bodies in the right shape to play some proper golf.
Sadly Euan was an injured golfer when returning for our re-assessment and was unable to take much of a part leaving just myself to face the music. In the previous 8 weeks since the initial tests I had stuck to my exercise plan faithfully, performing a series of hamstring stretches, bridges and pelvic turns on the living room carpet much to the amusement of my 4 year old, who insisted I stuck to the ritual on a daily basis, if only for her titillation as much as anything else. I was quietly confident of some success, my golf had shown signs of progression and in general my overall state was significantly looser and less creaky than normal. Meeting up with Head Professional Michael Beaumont again we were soon at the range, 25 or so 7 irons later and the improvement was confirmed. A new and more consistent upright posture was producing promising results although when switching to my traditionally more erratic driver it was clear there is still some way to go. Nevertheless, nods of approval all round as we headed indoors for part two. The 15 point physical profile I
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GET CARTER
call 01889 580000 to book your assessments www.egpi.eu
COMPETITION WINNER The winner of the last issue’s EGPI competition is
Charlie Thompson from Coventry who wins a free player assessment at the centre.
performed last time was repeated to test my new found suppleness and ability to swing the golf club better. Strength and conditioning coach Cara Percival clearly expected results, revealing to me early doors what she wasn’t prepared to the first time, i.e the findings first time out were just about as bad as it was possible to get! Eight weeks down the line though and the homework had paid off, if not quite an Olympic athlete just yet, I was clearly on the way to greater flexibility and golfing performance. Across the board the results improved and I left certainly encouraged to continue the programme. Surprising how a few simple stretches and a bit of discipline can work wonders for a golf game, my initial mild scepticism long gone and the results spoke for themselves, a couple of shots have gone off the handicap without even the slightest hint from Michael about changing anything about my golf swing. That’s me told then! Seriously, I will definitely be continuing the exercises and the results look promising for my game. Mine was just the basic stuff but a real eye opener in the way a simple scientific approach changed my golf game for the better. The EGPI offers help for golfers of all standards wishing for something a little different in their coaching regimes. Its not always the nuts and bolts of a golf swing to be put under scrutiny, physiology and what lies underneath could provide a solution to your golfing problems in 2010.
Michael. Phil’s all round posture has improved without doubt, promoting greater swing efficiency, a more natural and less awkward position at address has produced consistently better results. He looks less technical now and doesn’t need to hit too many balls at the range, these improvements will benefit him in all walks of life.
Cara. Good progress has been made in all of the elements we wanted Phil to concentrate on. Thanks to the hamstring and pelvic exercises he has better posture and less lateral movement in his swing. He must continue the stretches, all of the bad habits would return due to a loss of flexibility if he stops doing them. JUNE • 2010
LITTLE LAKES Location/Directions
2 miles outside the town of Bewdley, just off the A456 Kidderminster/Leominster Road. The River Severn, West Midlands Safari Park and Severn Valley Railway are all close by.
Course
Little Lakes -
more than just golf
Set close to the Shropshire border on the edge of the Wyre Forest and part of a large Leisure Park, there’s plenty going on at Little Lakes and never a dull moment on its golf course either, one of the more interesting layouts in Worcestershire.
Little Lakes mixes mature and new in its ever changing and improving track. Only an 18 holer since 2000, traditional parkland in looks but the lie of the land encourages much creativity in shot making for success, links like and deliberately so in places. A heady succession of ups and downs, blind shots and exciting dogleg holes await plus of course, a fair bit of water as the name suggests. An early warning of the perils at Little Lakes and its unique nature comes with a demanding approach to a tiny green at the Par 5, 2nd. Set way below your feet and out of sight from mid iron range you’ll require skill and probably a bit of luck to find the putting surface fiercely guarded by a pond, trees and steep banking. Tests like these are not untypical of this course, the more dramatic challenges exist on the newer holes; designers resisted the temptation to reshape the undulating terrain, preferring to simply build golf holes on it. Three demanding doglegs run in succession at 4, 5 and 6, and will test everything about your game. The tee shot at the 6th is about as mouthwatering a sight as you can see on a golf course. Up on high a vast expanse of fairway ahead, if you can find the length and the ideal landing spot, the natural contours will bound your ball around the corner of the dogleg, missing the hazard that’s there to deter the direct route. A tee shot to inspire, and the approach is a typical one at Little Lakes, the green set well below your feet, needing a skilled bump and run type shot for success. The challenges continue on the back nine, notably at the 10th and 14th before culminating in a tight and fairly short closing stretch where accuracy is a must.
Favourite Hole:
3rd, 192 Yards, Par 3 (White Tees) Many holes here to consider, but this Par Three caught our eye. It’s all about the view from the tee, perched up high in a swirling hard to read breeze with a chasm and water hazard below. Cross that to reach a large green naturally well guarded by sand traps. A wonderful hole where it’s probably not recommended to have the honour.
Facilities Little Lakes has a completely refurbished Golf Bar, bright and airy with all day menus and the adjoining restaurant comfortably seats over 50 golfers. The clubs teaching and custom fit side shares facilities with its sister course at Gaudet Luce Golf Club. The holiday park set around the golf course comprises over 350 plots for both new and used caravans and chalets available to rent or buy. Family friendly with swimming pool, tennis courts, lots of entertainment and many tourist attractions within the local area. Certainly, a club and course a little bit out of the norm where hard work and vision has created a layout worth checking out for its quirky and always challenging nature. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
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the futures
Our Shropshire feature this issue gave us an opportunity to look too at the young talent coming out of the county. It soon became clear that the region doesn’t just have some great golf courses it also has an impressive all round junior coaching set up with a wealth of young stars making their way in amateur golf. Three of Shropshire’s most promising, we feature here.
jamie brittain
A bit of a late starter, Jamie didn’t pick up a club in earnest until he was 13 years old, and was coached in his early career by David Thorpe at Horsehay Village. His development was rapid, within a year Jamie’s handicap was down to just 7 and he won the Shropshire U16 and U18 championships. Now 19 years old he plays out of Wrekin Golf Club, visits Shifnal for regular rounds, works at Horsehay Village GC and is now coached by Michael Welch at Hawkstone Park. His handicap is now +1.3 and his list of achievements grows year by year.
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Jamie finished 3rd in the Mcevoy Trophy in 2008, represented England schoolboys in the same year and last year produced his biggest win in the Shropshire Amateur Championships. When all the champions of each county gathered at Woodhall Spa later in 2009 Jamie finished a creditable 6th. He puts his success down to a solid short game which he’s always concentrated heavily on, and now feels just a little more length from
the tee may just set him apart from the rest in 2010, a year where he hopes to shine at the English Amateur championships at Little Aston and at Open qualifying too. Jamie naturally hopes his game will take him all the way to the pro ranks in the next two or three years yet knows it’s a long road ahead and the competition will be fierce. However if he can continue the progress of his first six years as a golfer the future’s bright might just be a spot on statement for Jamie Brittain. JUNE • 2010
bright
THE FUTURES BRIGHT
lucy evans Lucy aged 15 who plays off a handicap of 4.6, is a member of Wrekin Golf Club and has been playing since the age of 8. Lucy has been coached from an early age by Kevin Short (PGA Professional) who is based at Aqualate Golf Centre, Newport. In 2005 Lucy was first selected for the EWGA Emerging England Training Programme, which was established to support the development of young golfers who show exceptional promise. Her first three years was as a member of the EWGA Birdie Group, based at Stratford Oaks Golf Club, where she was coached by Andy Dunbar. During the last two years Lucy has progressed to the Super Birdie group and will be coached by Steve Cooper, Head Professional at Gainsborough Golf Club, Lincolnshire. Lucy’s ambition is to follow a career in golf, in some capacity, when she completes her education.
Notable achievements to date include: • In 2007 won the Midland Regional Finals of HSBC and finished 4th in the Grand Finals played at St. Andrews. • 2007 and 2008 - Shropshire Under 16’s champion • 2009 - was Runner Up in the Shropshire County Ladies Championship • Leading Qualifier Trophy winner at the 2009 Shropshire County Ladies Championship. (Lowest Gross Score – 36 Holes) This year Lucy will be competing at many County and National events. She’ll be hoping to go one better in the Shropshire Ladies Championships in May. The English Girls this year will be held at Seacroft Golf Club Lincolnshire, with the British Girls at Royal Belfast also in her sights.
edward tranter Edward first picked up a golf club at the tender age of three and joined Lilleshall Golf Club as a junior member when he was eight. He now lists Shifnal and Costa Esuri in Spain as his other member clubs. Edward, now 16 has been a precocious talent from an early age, he has represented Shropshire and Herefordshire in every age group since he was just 11 years old. An age when he first appeared on the mens major honours board at Lilleshall. He has been coached by Rob Bluck at Lilleshall throughout the past 5 years and also by Michael Welch at county level. Last year was a THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
particularly successful one, winning 5 honours board competitions at his home club and becoming the Midlands Boys U16 champion. For 2010 Edward is working hard with coach Rob to get his handicap down to scratch from its current 1.5, progress he hopes will see him called up for the England School Boys team. A good all rounder with no real weakness to his game Edward is striving for a bit of extra consistency that he hopes will set him apart from the rest on the way towards a successful amateur career leading to the professional ranks.
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In something of a joint feature, we focus on the charms of two affiliated clubs situated just 8 miles apart from each other in the countryside, either side of Wolverhampton. For 2010 in a unique scheme, Perton Park and Swindon are offering golfing groups the chance to play both courses in a 36-hole society day sure to be something a little bit different. We took on that challenge ourselves, starting at Perton Park.
Course
Measuring in at 6,560 yards from the white tees and 6,206 from the yellows, Perton Park offers a varied challenge to golfers of all abilities. There’s some length to attract the big hitters yet some subtleties also to demand good course management skills in places. Handily placed bunkers, the occasional water hazard and penal patches of rough are all around to add elements of danger. The main hazard however is likely to appear via the elements. Perton Park is set on a high plateau and unlikely to offer much protection on a windy day, this friendly in nature looking layout is capable of playing very difficult at times. Always though there is the constant standard of fine course conditioning and especially on the greens, which are always smooth running and in great nick. It’s an enjoyable trip round a still maturing course with much to admire.
Established in 1990 and situated just a ten-minute drive from Wolverhampton, Perton Park is a modern looking venue with a picturesque setting in the south Staffordshire countryside and has the reputation of being one of the friendliest clubs in the area.
Facilities
The bright, modern single level clubhouse is a venue for all occasions, weddings, family gatherings, and party nights all on the agenda at a club with a growing social side. Perton Park’s society packages are varied and can be tailor made for any groups. Practice facilities are first class with putting and short game areas plus an 18 bay-floodlit range with power tees. The club also offers excellent tennis facilities as an extra sporting activity.
Summary
Whether as a stand-alone golf course or as one half of a society day, Perton Park has all round charms to suit players of all ages and abilities. A warm Black Country welcome is guaranteed at a venue growing in reputation on and off course. Perton Park Tel: 01902 380073, www.pertongolfclub.co.uk
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Favourite Hole: 8th 496 yards, Par 5, White Tees On the card, this shortish Par 5 looks like a birdie opportunity. Don’t be fooled, a stream meanders all the way down this delightful hole starting on the right to punish a pulled tee shot, out of bounds on the left too. The stream cuts across the middle of the fairway 150 yards from the green making its way to the pond that hugs the left of the putting surface. This hole can prove key to a good round at Perton. JUNE • 2010
Societies electing to choose the option of a 36 hole day at both of these Black Country lay outs will find two very different courses with two pleasantly similar 19th hole charms to follow them. Perton Park with its open land and stand out putting surfaces is probably the easier track, although you can scrub that claim if the wind blows. Swindon gets shelter but is a true examination of your course management skills and straight hitting. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome with great food and service at both, hardest decision for the society organiser is which one to play first, either way it’ll be a day to remember.
SOCIETY SPECIAL
Course
A fairly new design (1976), Swindon’s length is modest, its challenge certainly isn’t, don’t be deceived by the lack of yardage at just under 6,000 yards. It’s all about good strategy, straight hitting and doing your best to avoid rows and avenues of pines, firs and rhododendrons. The trees make for some very tight tee shots and approaches, get used to the regular sound of balls cannoning off wooded hazards all over the course, it’s a special golfer that can manoeuvre his/her way around Swindon without disturbing a branch or two. The layout is pretty hilly too, a fair few raised greens as targets that are especially tight on the short holes. A tough test it proves to be, yet also a very nice looking one which reaches its peak halfway through the back nine, holes 13 to 15 have stunning rows of fir trees lining the fairways, the dog leg Par 5, 14th is a special treat. So too a closing hole more open in nature that offers a decent birdie chance right underneath the clubhouse and patio.
Facilities
The clubhouse is newly refurbished, very roomy and similar to Perton Park in establishing a healthy social side. Swindon’s club room caters for all occasions and can accommodate 120 guests. The club has a driving range, putting green and a brand new short game area.
Summary
A truly enjoyable walk through the woodland where around every corner there’s yet another tight tee shot demanding of your accuracy and good club selection. Those who take Swindon lightly do so at their peril, the hard work in progress to improve practice and 19th hole facilities can only raise Swindon’s profile higher in years to come. Perton Park Tel: 01902 380073, www.pertongolfclub.co.uk THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
Just 8 miles away from its sister course, Swindon is set on undulating and wooded land just off the B4176 Bridgnorth Road on the way out of the Black Country towards Shropshire. The long uphill lane takes you up to the clubhouse, the highest point, which boasts stunning and panoramic views of the surrounding rural area.
Favourite Hole: 5th 290 yards, Par 4 An up and over potentially driveable Par 4, with a blind tee shot and two awkwardly placed little pot bunkers at the top of the hill right in the average golfers landing zone. Avoid those and it all falls nicely down bank towards a wellcontoured and large green, a good birdie chance here.
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GET CARTER
Staffordshire Winter Pro-am Series The close of the winter season saw us visit 3 of the Top courses in Staffordshire. After a long lay off over the Xmas and New year period the professionals kick started the 2010 season with the South Staffs Pro-am, with host Professional Peter Baker taking home the winners cheque. Next stop Penn G.C, this always provides a tough test for the Professionals. But up to the challenge was Jeremy Nicholls (Reg the Wedge) from the Ledene Golf Centre who took home
the money. I missed the first 2 alliances as i was paddling through puddles on the Portuguese Algarve but managed to dry off in time to play at the Whittington Heath Pro-am Thursday 18th March. The course was presented in excellent condition and the golf certainly matched it (not mine however). I shot a disappointing 71, while young Alec Smith from Trentham Park strolled round in 66, Great score, Alec is one to watch this season.
PTS INVITATIONAL SOUTH STAFFS JUNE 2ND - 4TH
EXECUTE THE SHOT NOT YOUR SCORE
GET PRACTISING! Now that the weather has improved so should your golf. You need to make sure that every shot you face out on the course is one which has been practiced on the range, therefore making it an easier shot to EXECUTE. Too many golfers jump straight onto the Driving Range or Practice area and straight away practice the shots they can already play well, this gives them confidence but when faced with an unrehearsed shot it is total guess work. Like playing a shot with your eyes closed. My advice for this month is find your weakness whether it be driving, iron play, pitching, putting or BUNKER PLAY and practice it. Even try practicing a different department of the game each week, you will become a more consistent and better golfer.
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With the new season here we are now eagerly awaiting the main event of the year which will not only have the largest prize fund but will be featured on Sky Sports. The event involves the top Professionals and also a few useful amateur golfers who also compete for prizes over the first two days. Carters tip for the Pros and Amateurs. The key to any round of golf is to get off to a good start, but at South Staffs it is even more important. With a par 5 to start which is comfortably in range for all the Pros, a couple of short par 3’s and par 4’s the first 6 are where you make your score. The run of holes from 7 - 14 offer very few chances and in my opinion if you play that stretch of holes in level par you have picked up 2 shots on the rest of the field. If you drop a couple of shots in the middle of your round then a birdie chance should be available on each of the last 4 holes but with out of bounds on each hole don’t get too aggressive. Myself and defending champion Craig Shave have stuck our necks out and come up with the names we think will be up there at the top of the leaderboard on the Friday afternoon (apart from ourselves of course!) CRAIGS TIPS - PAUL WESSELINGH, LEE CLARKE & SIMON LILLY. CARTERS TIPS - MATT MORRIS, JASON POWELL & CAMERON CLARK.
US OPEN TIP The second major is fast approaching at Pebble Beach, a course where the elements will play a big part. You need to look at the better drivers on tour, also the guys with maybe more experience of playing those windy conditions. I think for that reason Lee Westwood is one to watch. Also the guys with sharp short games and good imagination so maybe Phil Mickleson. But my prediction is slightly different, a guy who has been a steady performer for a while now and I feel that Camilo Villegas is ready to become a major winner, he is my bet for the US Open.
Shaun Ball, assistant pro here with us at South Staffs has played a little safer with his prediction, going for Phil Mickleson but also fancies the big hitting Dustin Johnson as an each way bet. Next month we’ll let you know who will win The Open Championship at St Andrews, with any luck I might even predict myself to win! The qualifiers are coming up soon.
JUNE • 2010
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une 2nd-4th and the South Staffordshire Club is again the venue for the PGA Midlands Region’s most prestigious tournament of the season. The Three day, 54 hole PTS Invitational boasts a prize fund of £17,000, is covered by Sky TV and is the one title most coveted by the region’s Pros. Last year’s winner Craig Shave prevailed in a tense three way play off after a week of sunshine and great conditions had produced a tightly packed leaderboard right up until its climax. Close tussles are commonplace at the PTS, South Staffordshire is a course that doesn’t yield a low score too easily. Our preview takes us around this highly regarded layout, highlighting a few of the stand out holes and the pros give us their opinions on what they need to focus on for success in early June.
Flying the Flag
THE QUOTES Craig Shave
“The PTS is a big event for the Midland players and it is always one I look forward to. The course is in excellent condition each year and i feel it suits my game well. I will be competing in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth the week before so my game should be in good order for the defence of my title.”
Paul Wesselingh “It’s the one that really kicks off the season for me. We enjoy the mixed format which is a little bit different to the norm. South Staffs is a course always in great condition and I feel it suits my style of play, all about accuracy and good course management.”
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Location The South Staffordshire Club is situated in the village of Tettenhall, just 3 miles outside Wolverhampton off the A41.
The format Always a popular pro-am, the PTS sees two days of highly competitive amateur golf, a pro and amateur play as a betterball team in a 36 hole event boasting some fine prizes. The pro also plays in the separate strokeplay event. On the Friday it’s left to the top 30 pros and ties to compete for the major prize money.
The course From the professional point of view there’s a clear recipe for success here. A reasonably generous opening six holes needs to result in a few birdies before taking on a very tough stretch around the turn where preservation is the name of the game. Then the closing holes, despite never being easy could offer some late relief and a chance to move up the leaderboard. When you consider that the winning score here after 54 holes last year in good conditions was a mere 6 under par, its clear that the challenge is a tricky one.
For the amateurs and mid to high handicappers just playing here and relishing the superb surroundings is enough of a winning formula. From the very first hole, a sweeping gentle dog leg of a Par 5, just about reachable in two, to the 18th, an uphill short Par 4 with its green fiercely protected by penal pot bunkers there can be nothing but admiration and total respect for this layout. Resembling a classic English country park in looks, the manicured rolling fairways tree lined with rows of mature oaks, pines and conifers. Not as much as a puddle in sight for a water hazard but the bunkers are well placed, out of bounds is a frequent consideration and it’s certainly a place to test your short game. A few raised and contoured putting surfaces feature banks and subtle slopes designed to lead your ball toward nasty spots where rescuing pars will be tough. A bit of course knowledge is a useful thing to have, South Staffs specialises in unheralded teasing hazards as opposed to the full in your face effect. The Pros know all about that and adopt a conservative approach for the 8 hole stretch between 7 and 14 where only a short 11th offers any relief from a gruelling spell of 400 JUNE • 2010
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE yard plus Par 4’s. Birdies are rare occurrences, the fairways can get tight and frequently you can find yourself a little wrong sided for your approach, beautiful but deadly golf holes that play very long and each capable of damaging anybody’s scorecard. An exciting finish is always a likely prospect at South Staffs, anyone emerging unscathed after the 15th can use that boost in confidence to attack the final three greens. Mercifully just that little bit shorter than what’s gone before although you may find that these could test your putting skills a little more severely, South Staffordshire will never give anything away too easily. What a setting for a finishing hole too, playing your final approach to the undulating 18th green, with the distinctive clubhouse behind is truly one of the most stunning profiles in West Midlands golf.
One to respect 12th 444 yards Par 4 (White Tees) The Amateur - Probably wise to forget a bold go for it in two approach, tricky and tight from the tee and the green is tough to reach, it might have to be a good up and down or accept a bogey and move on. The Pro - Craig Shave - “Its all about the tee shot, I like to cut it from left to right with driver which should turn it nicely around the corner. Hopefully it may only be a short iron remaining, but the yardage needs to be spot on, the bottom of the flagstick is hidden from view”
One to fancy 16th 504 yards Par 5 The Amateur - Fairly wide open, miss the bunkers on the left and there’s a chance to go for the green in two, keep it left if you’re laying up and the putting surface is very undulating. The Pro - Ian Walley - “Not the longest, but the drive needs to be well placed to take advantage of taking on the green in two. For us it’s a long iron second, but we’re very mindful of the out of bounds tight to the right of the green. Most of us feel that anything other than a birdie on this hole will feel like a dropped shot.”
Summary The class and conditioning of South Staffordshire is undeniable, similar is the toughness of the challenge. Yet pros and amateurs of all standards relish the week of the PTS and see it as the highlight of their golfing calendars. Any other time of the year is a great time to play this enduring treat too, simply one of the West Midlands’ finest golf courses. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
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The Winter Series Order of Merit
The Titliest PGA Midlands Winter Series came to a conclusion in April with the final two events in the 7 tournament rota.
6th April 2010 following the Forest Pines Pro Am
FOREST OF ARDEN PRO-AM March 24th
The Penultimate event at the famous Arden course saw joint order of merit leader Adrian Ambler take a decisive step towards his second winter title as his impressive 5 under par 67 gave him a one shot victory over Matt Morris and Ian Lyner. Ambler’s nearest rival for the title, Midland’s tour captain Cameron Clark finished joint 5th meaning only a win in the final event would give him any chance of winning the order of merit
FOREST PINES PRO-AM April 6th
The final event saw a home victory as Forest Pines pro Daniel Greenwood’s superb 68 was more than enough to prevail over a high quality field. Ambler’s consistency shone through again though, a 71 was more than enough to clinch the order of merit title ahead of Clark and Morris. In the 7 events, Ambler won three and never finished outside the top 12 making it another successful winter foray into the Midlands for the Yorkshire based pro. “Winning the winter series for the second time was well worth the extra mileage” said Adrian, “the quality of the competition and first class venues made it extra special, I look forward to defending my title next winter.”
Attention now turns towards the main summer season and another Order of Merit campaign. 7 tournaments make up the schedule , starting with the Glazerite Trophy as we go to print and culminating at Cold Ashby in late September for the Tour Championships. The main dates are listed here, and to save the Pros getting a little rusty there are over 30 Pro Ams too at the Midlands’ finest venues, boosting the prize fund to over £250,000. All the best moments of this years tour will be documented here, we look forward to an exciting season ahead.
ORDER OF MERIT EVENTS May 27 • Glazerite Trophy • Wellingborough GC June 2nd - 4th • PTS Invitational • The South Staffordshire Club July 8th • PDF Midland Masters • Kedleston Park GC August 5th - 6th • Midland Open (supported by The Mark Group) • Birstall GC August 11th - 12th • Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship • Nailcote Hall August 25th - 26th • Fineturf Midland Pros Championships • De Vere Belton Woods September 23rd • Cold Ashby Tour Championships • Cold Ashby GC
All of these events include the seasons best Pro-Ams as well, in which anyone can enter to get a flavour of some real tournament golf. If you wish to take part in any of these events contact Midlands Tour Secretary Jon Sewell on 01455 824393.
CRAIG SHAVE AT THE PGA As we go to print 2009 Midlands Champion Craig Shave from Whetstone GC is rubbing shoulders with European Golf’s elite in the biggest challenge of his career to date. Our Order of Merit winner each season gets an automatic invite into the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the opportunity to compete alongside stars like Lee Westwood and Rory Mcllroy a major reason why the regional PGA summer tours are so competitive. Now its Craig’s turn to make the
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step up, “I’ve been looking forward to getting to Wentworth and playing alongside the top European stars, it’s the highlight of my season.” Craig will be documenting his experiences at the PGA Championship for a one page special in the next issue, we wish him well and look forward to hopefully seeing his name sandwiched between some European superstars on the leaderboard.
JUNE • 2010
Staffordshire’s Best Kept A North Staffordshire location that’s a little off the beaten track, quiet, peaceful and beautiful to look at this time of year. The Manor near Uttoxeter fits effortlessly into the category marked hidden gem.
Secret
History Ex-farmland, originally designed in 1991 as a nine-holer, then extended to 18 three years later. The subsequent years have seen some new USPGA standard greens constructed and holes extended in length, the course currently measures 6,206 yards from the white tees.
awaits all around, splash landings are guaranteed for wayward blows. Look out too for the 4th, ‘ Ivor’s island ’ , this time it’s a small lake to negotiate on approach shots where you can ill afford to underclub.
The Manor is situated 3 miles outside Uttoxeter at Kingstone and can be reached via country lanes that lead off the A518 Stafford road. The club is signposted from that road.
The Manor also has some little gems as its short holes, at the 13th and 16th you’re unlikely to need much more than a 9 iron yet both present very testing putting challenges. This layout has a bit of everything in summing up, big driving holes, delicious short ones, and those dangerous yet opportunistic driveable Par 4s. Fairly undulating but never too lung bursting, and picturesque in its entirety, the highest points present stunning views across miles of North Staffordshire countryside.
The Course
Facilities
Location
Long Par 5s, risk and reward challenges and scenic stunners all forge a nice mix of holes that will ask questions of your whole game. The River Blythe flows attractively through its heart and poses questions of your nerve, wooded thickets and tall mature trees are dotted around, yet there’s some generosity too, a few wide fairways especially on the two monster holes, the 3rd and the 17th. Both measure in at a whopping 570 yards yet despite a few areas you’d be advised to stay away from, on the whole the short grass and its width present nice opportunities to open your shoulders a bit. In between there’s an enjoyable mix of holes highlighted by the rivers influence on four holes where accuracy and club selection will be put to the test. The long par 4, 7th, is perhaps the trickiest hole of the lot, tall trees to carry from the tee then even the slightest of pulls to the right may lead to a watery grave on second shots. The others may tease you into a bold approach, short Par 4 tempters where a high straight and long drive can potentially yield some birdies or even better. Margins for error are small though, as the winding Blythe
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The clubhouse is set at the highest point of the course with views extending over the whole lay out and far beyond including the Welsh mountains. Bar and catering facilities in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere are enjoyed by all, The Manor stocks the fastest growing premium cask ale in the UK, Pedigree. Their newly appointed chef, Dale Wright is also an award winner with titles of “ Global Gourmet Award ” and winner of “ The Margarita Cup ” . The Manor members take great pride in the overall friendliness and value for money that you get at the club.
Summary Staffordshire’s best-kept secret is also truly one of its best value ones too. The club participates in the two-for-one voucher schemes making a summer round here not much more than a tenner. Its friendly nature, beautiful surroundings combined with a fun and fluctuating golfing examination make The Manor an easy decision to make. Set the Sat-Nav on a voyage of discovery for summer 2010, just take a few extra balls.
JUNE • 2010
MANOR GOLF CLUB
Signature Hole: 14th
294 Yards, Par 4 Named ‘Enigma’ it isn’t hard to see why from its raised tee looking down this challenge where the river twists, turns, and narrows your margins for error. You have room to take a conservative iron from the tee, but good faders of a ball may just find this irresistible to have a go at with the driver. A fine test of skill and nerve.
The Golfer Magazine pick: 18th
278 Yards, Par 4 The final test is yet another tempter, this time though minus any water hazards. A slight dogleg and all uphill, the fairway is wide but out of bounds all over the place means you need control as well as length to get anywhere near a raised green well defended by some little pot bunkers. An attractive looking hole, and if played right a good chance of a finishing flourish.
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HAWKSTONE PARK
HAWKSTONE PARK Two contrasting 18 hole challenges, an academy course, extensive practice facilities, clubhouse and a 65 bedroom hotel all set on a vast 400 acre site steeped in history with Grade One listed landmarks, Hawkstone Park is one busy North Shropshire golfing hotspot.
has a large shop, restaurant with balcony and lots of society space. The hotel, a listed historical building, is fully modernised, and acts as the ideal base not just for golfing breaks but to explore the remarkable follies and further afield Shrewsbury, Cheshire and the Welsh Borders, all not far away.
Location/Directions
Summary
At Weston-under-Redcastle, equally in between the towns of Whitchurch, Market Drayton and Shrewsbury and reached via either the A49 or A53 roads, well signposted from both.
For golfers there’s an extra 6 hole academy course for juniors and beginners, or for a useful warm up exercise before taking on the other layouts . Extensive practice facilities exist including a driving range, short game area, putting green and an up to date indoor teaching academy. The golf centre
Hawkstone Park has been voted one of the top 20 golf holiday destinations in the world. High praise indeed, but is not hard to see why when considering everything that is packed into this 400 acres of delightful and historic Shropshire countryside. The two courses are both delights in their very separate ways, similarities exist though in their superb conditioning and fabulous greens. Comparisons can be made too in the way both ease you in, give you an exciting and memorable middle stretch, then offer friendship and a chance to repair a damaged card at the end. The many off course charms are the icing on the cake; reserve some time this summer, it would be sheer follie to avoid visiting here in 2010!
The Hawkstone Course:
The Windmill Course:
Facilities
6,491 Yards 6,132 Yards 5,726 Yards
Whites Yellows Reds
A mid length layout designed in 1920 that winds its way around the more dramatic aspects of Hawkstone Park’s landscape. Many of the fairways are lined by mature Oaks and Birches; the fairly friendly width is balanced out by some ingeniously placed fairway bunkers. Fairly flat to start with but the lie of the land gets increasingly undulating the further it goes on making club selections trickier propositions. The opening half presents a fine challenge highlighted by its two short holes and an exciting 4th named Ravine where a dangerous fate awaits a mishit approach. Nothing can quite compare though to the start of the back nine with its stretch of three holes that thanks to their stunning setting are amongst the most photographed in Britain. The route takes you in between the sheer rock faces and cliff tops of the Hawkstone Follies, the historical THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
park up above has walkways, hidden caves and monuments, birds of prey glide the currents and walking up the 11th fairway your voices will echo, an inspiring setting for golf. The short and downhill 12th with its moat surrounded green is a picture book hole with The Follies as a backdrop but proves more than capable of providing some nervy moments before you embark on a closing stretch that has some decent birdie prospects. The climax however is a tougher 18th with out of bounds on the right hand side and a bunker surrounded green.
Favourite Hole: 16th, 256 Yards, Par 4 (White Tees)
A tempting proposition from the tee, a basin green awaits for an accurate drive, eminently reachable and the lie of the land will help but stray offline a touch and the steep banks that surround the putting surface will cling on to your ball and ensure some very testing up and downs. Nevertheless, comfortably this track’s best birdie chance.
6,764 Yards 6,476 Yards 6,253 Yards 5,766 Yards
Championship Whites Yellows Reds
Exactly 75 years to the day that the Hawkstone Course was opened, the first balls were struck at Hawkstone’s second layout in 1995. The Championship Windmill Course was designed to offer variety and contrast to its neighbour with many American style features, fairways lined with uniform mounds and larger greens with gentle undulations. The bunkers increase in size too notably on a Par 4 13th hole named Sahara which won’t need too much of an explanation. Yet despite its hilly tree lined parkland style beginning it’s the middle part of the course set around the large sprawling lake, that is the memorable part. The water is in play for the majority of these holes and the wide-open nature of the terrain likely to add some wind to your cocktail of hazards
during this stretch. Three Par 5’s exist here designed to tease you into bold strategies, which may depend on the strength and direction of the breezes about, plus a couple of tight short holes with little room for errors. Keep your ball dry during this loop of exciting challenges and you can feel very satisfied, and similar to the Hawkstone Course there are a few shorter and drier holes to finish that offer good opportunities for a closing flourish.
Favourite Hole: 10th, 530 Yards, Par 5 (White Tees)
Undoubtedly, the most spectacular test at the Windmill Course, the lake a permanent feature to the right of this long dogleg, which can be played safely by bailing out via the roomy left hand side, the more adventurous however can attack the green by carrying the corner of the lake and flying over the greenside bunker, so vast its more like a beach.
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Quality at Telford
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JUNE • 2010
TELFORD HOTEL & GOLF RESORT
The Telford Hotel and Golf Resort is a leading golf resort situated in Shropshire within the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Ironbridge Gorge. This hidden gem boasts a 18 hole course with tree-lined fairways, open greens and strategic water hazards. The hotel has 114 spacious, comfortable rooms for you to rest your head after an energetic day on the greens. Or to make your stay completely unique why not stay in the adjourning Darby House Manor House where you can have exclusive use of this nine bedroom property? Accompanying your golf partner on a short break? No problem, there is a heavenly spa where you can unwind, relax and rest your tired limbs or just simply indulge yourself. Therapists are on hand to give you a relaxing massage and ease you into a sense of contentment whilst preparing you for your next round of golf. A fully equipped leisure club is available for use during your stay where you can work out in the state of the art gym or take a dip in the swimming pool. Choose from a selection of dining opportunities, The Gorge bar and restaurant has recently been unveiled as the new ‘19th hole’. Enjoy the views of the 18th green whilst sitting on the large patio area sipping a drink and dining al fresco should the weather allow. Or if you prefer why not visit the 1779 restaurant which has superb panoramic views of the spectacular Ironbridge Gorge. An imaginative and innovative menu is on offer and a selection of fine wines to enjoy.
LOCATION In the heart of the Midlands, only 40 minutes away from Birmingham and located just off the M54 at Junction 4. Follow the A442 signposted to Bridgnorth. The club is well signposted and is situated on Great Hay Drive.
COURSE The course was designed by John Harris and Brian Griffiths, both renowned architects in 1973. Over the years further developments and enhancements to the course have been made, with the current owners QHotels investing heavily in ensuring that the greens, tees, fairways, hazards and roughs meet the needs and challenges of even the most exacting of golfers. Telford’s course is attractively lined throughout with mature Oaks and Pines and the delightful looking Blue Canadian Spruce
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contributes to its parkland profile. Set in 170 acres of picturesque Shropshire parkland overlooking the Severn Valley and Ironbridge Gorge, this challenging course measures over 6,700 yards from the whites and not a lot shorter from the yellows. Fairly generous in width and an ideal driver track, however be aware of the fairway bunkers that may catch you out with a wayward ball! Frequent water hazards come into play especially at the 8th and 15th and watch you keep to the line or risk facing the challenge of the foliage The additional aeration and top dressing works carried out over the last two years have resulted in firmer, smoother expansive greens that even when we visited in May were already pretty special and will only improve as the season gets underway.
Signature Hole 8th – 382 yards Par 4 (White Tees) Good distance is the key to this signature hole in order to ease the difficulty for your second shot. The approach needs to be precise across the pond in front of the green which slopes downhill back towards the water. Those adopting a safety first tactic by overclubbing will be left with a slippery long downhill putt.
Favourite Hole 18th – 396 yards Par 4 (White Tees) An aesthetically pleasing finish, a par should be achieved on this gently rolling challenge to the green which is dominated by a large nicely formed bunker to the right and a plethora of attractive trees and shrubs. Telford’s nicest looking hole and a fitting climax in front of the hotel and terrace bar.
Summary A well rounded golf resort that has benefited from huge investment by QHotels the Telford Hotel & Golf Resort is the place to stay and play golf in Shropshire. The surrounding area is full of attractions to visit and explore and the hotel is a relaxing haven with great facilities. The golf course is challenging yet potentially fruitful for those who drive and putt well. To find out the latest golf offers or to book a visit to Telford Hotel & Golf Resort please visit www.qhotels.co.uk/golf.aspx or call 0845 074 0050.
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countries for the price of
JUNE • 2010
LLANYMYNECH A golf club responsible this issue for some serious debate. With the Road to the Ryder Cup and a Shropshire feature just which one does Llanymynech fit into? A dilemma completely unique to Europe’s only dual nationality venue, 15 holes in Wales and 3 in England, a dramatic landscape and the place where Woosie learned his golf, those yearning for something a little different in 2010 need look no further. Llanymynech is perched on top of a prominent Welsh border hill and surrounded by sheer cliff faces, some areas exist where you just don’t look for your ball should it stray offline. Its not like its too far from civilisation, only 5 miles away from Oswestry and nothing much more than an hours drive from the centre of our region. The course will test your skills and your stamina in equal measures, a real rollercoaster ride of a game lies in wait , always quality and punctuated with some real stand out holes. After a gentle climb to begin with two short ones in the first 3 holes, comes the brief English section.
Hole 4
340 yards Par 4 (White Tees) Drive in Wales, Putt in England goes the saying, which is true except in our case it was hook in Wales, lose ball in England! Nevertheless this hole with its claim to fame is a lovely tree lined dog leg where good placement is key in making a tight approach to a bunker-clad two tiered green just that little bit easier. Returning to Wales in time for an attractive pair of Par 4’s, the 6th and 7th which are rare for Llanymynech in that both are entirely in view from the tees, both though share the same brook running down the side of the fairways. Despite its lofty position the course is very much parkland in appearance and playability, and just keeps on climbing in preparation for an exciting back nine. There’s some tough challenges around the turn, a long Par 5 9th followed by a trek up the bank to a short 10th with 140 yards needed at least to carry the ravine in front of its green, throw some wind into the mix and it’s a potential card wrecker, and then Llanymynech sympathetically gives you something back.
Hole 11
255 yards Par 4 (White Tees) Pretty much a blind tee shot with just the marker post up the bank to aim for but hit it straight and the downwards slope on the other side will do the work, provided you miss the pair of traps guarding the green there may just be a putt for eagle awaiting. The awesome surroundings reach a peak on the 12th tee with panoramic views of 7 Welsh and English counties on a clear day, no time for a lack of concentration, this is one of two Par Fours on the back nine that prove very hard to reach in regulation for the average golfer. Uphill late challenges at the 16th and 17th will prove tricky too before you reach what is surely the highlight.
Hole 18
382 yards Par 4 (White Tees) Doubtful this tee shot view, perched as you are on a cliff face can be matched by too many other golf courses, the landing zone is a good 100 feet below you and inspires one last big driver effort. Yet there’s one last climb to the green ahead too, and place your approach too far right and there’s a craggy end guaranteed for your golf ball. A great way to finish what proves to be an exhilarating round, the course is in lovely condition, greens are fast and testing in places, great pride should be taken in a handicap equalling round here, yet even a poor one won’t bug you as much at Llanymynech as it may do somewhere else. Practice facilities at the club have received a boost lately thanks to The Ryder Cup legacy fund, a new six hole academy course constructed aimed at juniors increases the clubs appeal. The clubhouse is the social epicentre of the club, a strong membership and visitors can relax in a pub like atmosphere with a busy programme of events. Llanymynech also shares reciprocal green fee arrangements with notable clubs including Conwy, Vale of Llangollen and Beau Desert. A dual nationality and a unique experience guaranteed then at the club that spawned a major winner and Ryder Cup Captain, and thanks to its three holes another example of the great variety of golf in Shropshire.
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Shifnal Golf Club a beautiful and challenging parkland layout In a secluded location down winding country lanes, there is a Shropshire treat in store for fans of traditional tree lined parkland golf. A trip up the long driveway tells you all you need to know about the challenge ahead at Shifnal Golf Club.
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JUNE • 2010
SHIFNAL Location Just 3 miles outside Telford, the club can be reached via either the M54 and/or the A5 and is situated at Decker Hill just north of Shifnal village on the B4379.
Course
SIGNATURE HOLE:
13TH, 188 YARDS, WHITE TEES, PAR 3 Shifnal is a gorgeous looking golf course, which reaches its peak here; the layouts only major water hazard dominates the view from the tee and demands quite a carry to reach the undulating putting surface that has bunkers on either side. The back of the green has an array of tall fir trees to add a bit more trouble, the scenic look of this challenge is complimented by the clubhouse in full view from the tee.
At close to 6,500 yards and including some uphill tests towards its conclusion, Shifnal has length and demands some consistency with your driver for starters. The lush green fairways make inviting targets; the width of them varies throughout, attributed wholly to the mature trees that dominate the landscape. In full bloom, the many varied types make this a stunning looking summer course similar to a classic English country park. They also present rather stubborn hazards too, stray offline just a little and low hanging branches will block the route to the green. Around the putting surfaces there are plenty of well placed sand traps and some smart greenside design ensures a tricky time recovering from mishit approaches, some of the run off areas can be quite severe, steep contours and banks can lead you into bogey territory. There’s a four hole stretch around the turn that encapsulates what Shifnal is all about, generosity from the tee at the 8th yet beware the steep bank in front of the green. Then two very difficult challenges, firstly at the long stroke index 1 9th, two long and straight hits required to reach the stand out punchbowl green . An equally testing long Par 3 10th follows with comfortably the toughest tee shot, over 200 yards to a tight green well protected by sand, close too are a cluster of trees at the back and on the right. After that a welcome opportunity to open your shoulders and let rip at the straight ahead short Par 4 11th, potentially driveable for very long hitters with some real width to relish from the tee. Impressive variety then here when it comes to difficulty, from start to finish this layout will strictly examine you on one hole then offer you some potential birdie joy on the next. The final holes take you to highest part of the course up Decker Hill before returning back to the clubhouse via a sweeping downhill long Par 4 dog leg 18th where par will be something of a proud achievement. Much to admire on this mature layout, the standout feature has to be the greens, beautifully conditioned and smooth running from 1 to 18 they have gathered a reputation over the years as being some of the best in the region, we’re not going to argue with that.
Facilities The very distinctive clubhouse is better known as Decker Hill Hall built in the early 19th century. Its size makes it ideal for large functions and society days, there’s also an impressive patio area looking over the golf course. Under new stewardship the food is excellent with lots of choice, worth mentioning too is a summer 2010 twilight golf offer that will see you play here for just £17.50 per golfer, Monday to Friday. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE PIC:
4TH, 309 YARDS, PAR 4 A bit of a risk and reward here on a short Par 4 that from the tee looks shorter than it is. An accurate fader required to get anywhere near the green, which is surrounded by sand. There’s also a couple of little traps placed cunningly across the fairway to guarantee this as a typically testing Shifnal tee shot whichever way you play it. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
Summary A fine example of a classic parkland challenge, beautifully manicured throughout and it would be difficult to find a nicer spot to play golf in the summertime. Patience is the key for success, survive the tougher holes and there’s promise of a good score. Shifnal will test your game, yet charm your senses too, one of Shropshire’s finest.
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CHASE THE ACE When this column was introduced earlier this year we highlighted the achievements of Wharton Park member, Kevin Booth and his two aces on the same hole during the same week, now the club are at it again. Pictured below from left to right are 16 year old Nick Duddin, Martin Billingham and Ben Yeomans (16) who all had hole in ones at the course within four days
of each other in Mid-April. Once again Kevin’s lucky hole, the 8th, ‘Fieldfare’ was responsible for two of the feats. The 132 yard hole must now comfortably rank as the luckiest hole in the West Midlands, this magazine throws a gauntlet down for other clubs to equal the success of ‘Fieldfare’ and Wharton Park, THE hole in one capital of the region.
Oswestry GC member Mike Hammond achieved a unique hole-in-one feat of his own at the clubs recent Charity Mixed Open. Having performed one in both 1970 and 1990 at the club, this year he was under pressure to maintain the symmetry and duly obliged. A 7 wood at the 167 ninth hole disappeared into the cup and continued his amazing sequence, now for 2030!
In early May Katie Brown, a member of Fulford Heath’s ladies team played in the Worcestershire County Championships at Stourbridge GC and aced the 143 yard 10th. Katie’s Titliest ProV1 flew straight in the hole without touching the sides!
Others this month are as follows: Tony Slater George Pullin Nick Flower Gloria Bullock Scott Harris
Brandon Wood Brandon Wood Rugby Cleobury Mortimer Church Stretton
6th hole – 139 yards 2nd hole – 151 yards 12th hole – 188 yards 8th hole ( Foxes Run ) – 125 yards 2nd hole – 111 yards
Please let us know of your hole-in-one achievements for inclusion in this column in future issues.
Girl Power A brand new 6 week coaching plan set up by St Thomas’s Priory Golf Club and delivered by the European Golf Performance Institute saw 30 Ladies take up the game from scratch on Wednesdays and Sunday mornings. The course was sponsored by the E.G.U and E.W.G.A.
By the end of the sessions, all the Ladies were confident enough to play at least one hole of golf. The conclusive evening saw existing St Thomas’s Ladies including the Lady Captain join the thirty attendees who were treated to Wine, Champagne, Canapes, presentations from Club Director of Golf Phil Gibson and members of the EGPI and a short motivational video from the 2005 Solhiem Cup. The success of the initial sessions has encouraged St Thomas’s into offering the Ladies a second, more advance set of lessons. Any new Ladies interested can phone the club on 01543 491 911.
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The Vardon
Bowl
Sunday 4th July sees the highlight of the club calendar at South Staffordshire GC as The Vardon Bowl is competed for. This year sees the third playing of the event, which players from all over the Midlands and the North-West take part in. The amateur 18 hole strokeplay event has both gross and handicap prizes with a total purse of over £1,000 in PGA golf shop Vouchers. Entry forms for this very popular event can be downloaded from the web site at www.southstaffordshiregolfclub.co.uk
Powerplay golf at Halfpenny Green Halfpenny Green, a developing venue on the outskirts of Wolverhampton is to be holding Powerplay golf competitions every Wednesday at 6pm throughout summer 2010. Members and visitors are all invited to compete for just a £2 entry fee and £8 for the green fee. Curry and rice is on the menu at close of play where cash prizes will be awarded for the leading players. The top three players in the season will get a chance to compete at the national championships in September. World rankings are also involved, visit www.powerplay-golf.com for more details.
THE BELFRY FLIES HIGH WITH CHARITY LAUNCH Four-time Ryder Cup venue The Belfry is taking to the skies, having announced its charity of the year – Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA). Staff at The Belfry put forward their suggestions to nominate a regional and national charity for the resort to support during 2010. Macmillan was voted as the national charity, with the WNAA receiving the most votes as their chosen local charity. “This is a fantastic opportunity for the staff here at The Belfry to witness first hand what their fundraising efforts are supporting” said David Touslon-Burke, General Manager of The Belfry. “The WNAA attends 100 callouts per month. It gives us a great sense of pride knowing that The Belfry can contribute towards keeping this wonderful service in operation.”
The state of the art WNAA helicopter touches down in front of the Belfry’s famous putting green JUNE • 2010
CLEOBURY MORTIMER
27 holes special One of the newest golfing venues in the region. Located on the Shropshire and Worcestershire border and bordering the Wyre Forest, Cleobury Mortimer is a club with a modern attitude growing rapidly in popularity. Founded in 1993 and family run, the club boasts 27 holes in three loops of nine, all designed at separate times and each one offering a different type of challenge
Deer Park
1993, 3167 yards (White Tees), Par 35 Lots of tests packed into Cleobury’s original loop, room off the tees yet good placement is key to take on a number of challenging approach shots to well-guarded putting surfaces, a couple of which have steep banks at the back, added peril and certain bogey territory if you’re not precise enough. Highlights include a tricky 2nd where you’ll need to thread your second shot around a number of trees as well as avoiding the pond at the rear of the green. Then perhaps the toughest hole at Cleobury Mortimer, the 8th is a 220 yard Par 3 with a glorious view from its tee yet it’s a daunting prospect too with a 170-yard carry over water to reach dry land. Deer Park proves to be a clever examination of your skills.
Badgers Sett
1996, 3271 Yards (White Tees) Par 36 Situated closest to the Wyre Forest, Badgers Sett is not only the longest of the three loops it’s also the most picturesque. The middle part is tree lined and quite spectacular with a stadium feel in places. Certainly the place to chase some birdies, inviting and receptive greens encourage a bit of target golf. There’s two shortish Par 5s, both will ask questions of your nerve in going for them in two, there’s water at the 4th and running through the back of the pine surrounded 7th green will leave you with a treacherous looking up and down. The 8th too demands some accuracy to stay out of trouble as the closing holes see you return to more open ground as a prelude to Foxes Run.
Foxes Run
1998, 2980 Yards (White Tees), Par 34 Many members rate Foxes Run as the toughest loop, good course management skills are crucial here, regular risks of watery graves and out of bounds present themselves in addition to the threat the elements can provide on this exposed ground. The putting surfaces are excellent throughout at Cleobury, on this stretch they are at their most impressive, still receptive yet more in the way of undulations, the highlight being a threetiered raised green at the Par 4, 3rd. Mid round there’s a very difficult 6th hole before it all climaxes with a spectacular risk and reward Par 4 around two lakes, a show stealing signature hole if ever there was one, except at Cleobury Mortimer where it’s merely the runner up.
28th Hole
Signature Hole 6th
Badgers Sett, 150 Yards, Par 3 The tee is situated 100 feet above the level of the green. The green is guarded back and sides by a horseshoe shaped lake. The forest provides a stunning backdrop. The swirling winds can cause havoc, you might need a wedge, you may have to take a wood, whatever fate the elements have in store this is an unforgettable hole up there with the very finest in our region. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
The clubhouse has everything for all golfers and all sizes of golfing groups looking for after round relaxation. A friendly spike bar, lounge area, conservatory plus a match room with a snooker table next door. Upstairs is the Wyre Suite, catering up to 100 for large golf days with its balcony overlooking the course. The club has a very active social side, practice facilities are excellent and you can find Cleobury Mortimer and its latest goings on by visiting its pages on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.
Summary
Never a dull moment at Cleobury Mortimer, the golfing side busy enough with its 27 challenges of variety punctuated with show stopping holes on each of its three courses which when all played together give you an all-round fabulous test of your game. You’ll be glad of the rest when you come in and the off course facilities won’t disappoint either.
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The Midland`s
Hidden Gem
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MARCH • 2010
BROCTON HALL Location/Directions
Very easily reached via the A34, either travelling Northbound from Cannock, or from the opposite direction the golf club is just three miles outside Stafford and clearly signposted once you reach Brocton.
The Course
English golfing legend Harry Vardon designed Brocton Hall in 1923, when it moved to its present location. The beautiful parkland layout remains pretty much how he planned it, arranged around the very distinctive and distinguished 18th century country house, a grade ll listed building. Brocton is not a particularly long track at only just over 6,000 yards from the white tees. Unusually it doesn’t contain any Par 5’s although the long 6th and 12th holes almost reach the mark. Yet length has never guaranteed the hallmark of a great course and there are still plenty of opportunities to let rip with the driver at Brocton Hall. 15 Par 4’s here and what is apparent and enticing is that there’s not much in medium range. A long one demanding your best golf to secure par is quickly followed by something much shorter, friendlier holes like the 7th and 10th are potentially driveable for long hitters, yet precision is required to avoid a network of sand traps and to conquer the threat of sloping ground near to the greens.
Staffordshire’s Brocton Hall is a well-established members club, full of rich history and tradition. The care and attention that this establishment receives is immediately evident the moment you turn into the driveway. With the final two holes either side of the road, the instant impression that won’t leave you is that this is one nice looking golf club. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
Brocton won’t yield a low score too easily, frequent changes of elevation will test, as will the understated contours on the very impressive putting surfaces. Appreciators of the finest countryside surroundings will have their senses charmed at Brocton, a bad round of golf can be soothed in a setting such as this. Nature lovers are well catered for too, rabbits, squirrels and cuckoos all spotted, and in addition one wayward drive at the 12th led to us disturbing a couple of grazing deer expecting to be safe well away from the fairway. The beauty of Brocton comes to a stunning climax for the last two holes set around the clubhouse. The 17th is a long tricky Par 3 with lake and fountain on the left with
hazards virtually guaranteed for anything coming up short. Then the closing hole is one final short Par 4 with a glorious tree lined look and well positioned sand traps, a fitting conclusion to a massively enjoyable round.
Signature Hole:
9th, 186 yards, Par 3 (White Tees) This is simply outstanding; a short hole with few equals anywhere. The lake on the left dominates the view but look closely enough from the tee and there’s a ditch too with a tiny stream running all the way round the front of the green. Trees and bushes garnish its profile, it’s not easy, especially when the wind blows but it is an absolute delight.
The Golfer Magazine Pick: 16th, 385 Yards, Par 4 A potential card wrecker with two streams to cross, one of which trickles along the right side encouraging you to aim left where a cluster of traps await for under hit approaches. A very cleverly designed hole that commands respect.
Facilities
Take a step into traditional English history with the Old Hall/clubhouse, which retains its grand old feel whilst being a fully functional 19th hole. Three lounges including a spike bar and renowned dining facilities with room for over 100 golfers. The changing rooms have had a makeover and are quite unique in looks. Brocton Hall with its picture postcard look is becoming a popular wedding venue, the lawn overlooking the lake and 9th green is a perfect place for photos. In changing times, the committee and management have worked hard to open Brocton Hall’s doors a little wider for visitors, corporate groups and societies alike to sample a club that has always been a very private members venue. More accessible than ever before, Harry Vardon’s enduring Staffordshire gem has remained unspoilt to ensure a truly great golfing experience.
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INGON MANOR
Lord Location
On Ingon Lane which is just off the A439 road that links Stratford Upon Avon with Warwick.
The Course
A good location and the right terrain for growth has ensured Ingon Manor’s rolling parkland lay out is maturing at a good rate. Designed in 1993 this course is full of potential and already features some signature challenges to compare favourably with Warwickshire’s finest. Length is not the main issue here, the accent firmly on your accuracy and placement. The opening stretch contains some narrow fairways with patches of thick, clingy rough around that you are well advised to avoid. The open nature of the course will guarantee that the elements play a part too, highlighted by the first short hole. The 6th sees you on an elevated tee at Ingon Manor’s highest point, the wind likely to swirl around as you wrestle with a tricky club selection dilemma on a downhill 210 yard Par 3. The greens represent a good challenge, true and even paced, they offer varying degrees of undulations and trickery, typifying the diversity that Ingon Manor offers as a whole. An always compelling course reaches a spectacular climax with its closing stretch of three holes, much admired but far from straight forward.
of the Manor
Golf shares the spotlight at this very attractive neck of the woods in the heart of Shakespeare country. Set in 130 acres of Warwickshire countryside around the Welcombe Hills, Ingon Manor is a 14th century country house with a highly regarded hotel acting as the centre point, plus an up and coming championship challenge to relish.
Favourite Hole:
17th, 220 yards, Par 3 (White Tees)
The aforementioned penultimate hole is about as tough a test as it is possible to find. The green is framed at the front and right by water demanding a huge carry to reach its sanctity. A challenge made even trickier by the likelihood of some wind interference. A Par 3 to truly inspire your very best golf.
The 16th is an attractive and reachable Par 5 ,your birdie prospects though will be severely tested by a sloping putting surface. The 17th is a long Par 3 and the final hole presents an exceptionally tight task with hazards, including a lake either side of a narrow fairway frequently affected by a left to right breeze. Shoot level Par for the closing trio and you’ll thoroughly enjoy your 19th hole refreshment.
Facilities
The country house and hotel has an area serving as the golf clubhouse, old looking from the outside but bright and contemporary indoors with society space and innovative menus. Attractive courtyards and patios add to the charm, Ingon Manor is a popular venue for conferences and weddings. Play and stay deals are very much worth checking out at the present time.
Summary
A rapidly developing course that seeks your attention, hangs onto it and then provides a memorable climax. The planting of 50,000 trees and the use of lakes has also made Ingon Manor very eco friendly. Good value for money and great facilities add more for an all round attractive package, to play or not to play? There is no question.
THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
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An up and coming golfing facility right in the corner of The West Midlands that is proving to be a big hit to all ages, mixing good golfing with a highly enjoyable family oriented social side. Privately run with an ambitious owner, loyal members and a pub for its clubhouse welcome to The Craythorne, a secret to many but a club that doesn’t intend to be for too much longer.
The
Craythorne The Craythorne Craythorne Road Rolleston-on-Dove Staffordshire DE13 0AZ
01283 564329 www.craythorne.co.uk admin@craythorne.co.uk
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JUNE • 2010
THE CRAYTHORNE Location/Directions
Course
Set in a beautiful location on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border with views of the Dove and Trent Valleys. Near Burton-upon-Trent and close to the A38 dual carriageway from where it is very well signposted. Just a Ten minute drive from Derby and only a short distance away from Nottingham and Birmingham.
The Craythorne was originally designed in 1972 as just nine holes and a driving range. Steady growth has enabled it to become a full 18 hole challenge, popular with members and visitors alike. Its relatively short length proves to be no weakness at all. A simple look at the scorecard before play may give you pre-conceptions of an easy ride, nothing though should be taken for granted. There’s a steady run ahead of tight and varied examinations demanding some pinpoint accuracy and good club selection. The Craythorne will rarely reward a big hitter, the margins for error are slight and outweigh any advantage gained by a little extra yardage. Finding the centre of these tree lined fairways is crucial to gain the control needed for approach shots. Hazardous spots await around the greens, some with very little room at the rear. The irony here is that your longer clubs may well see more action at the Par Three’s. There’s five in total, with all but one measuring over 180 yards. If the frequent breezes blow unfavourably at two exposed ones in particular, the 5th and 17th, only a wood will suffice. The layout is a bit more open planned during its back nine with some significant feature holes. Some lovely and scenic challenges await as the closing holes carve their way around an undulating landscape. The short 11th with its raised tee and narrow putting surface surrounded by banking has a real stadium feel about it. Following that is an eminently driveable short Par 4 12th, a blind target from the tee but that shouldn’t deter a shot at the green. The 18th is a longer test, this time driver will be required if your aim is to reach the corner of the dog leg. A downhill approach to a bush surrounded putting surface with precious little room at the back is the final act of The Craythorne test. The recent changes and investment to the course including a new irrigation system and the planting of over 4,000 trees could understandably make The Craythorne look a little short of maturity. Yet the design team and course staff have successfully married young and old to give the lay out a look way beyond its tender years. The challenge is thorough, accuracy the key for success plus a good touch around the greens. Also, if you can shoot level par on the short holes that’s quite an achievement too.
Facilities
Signature Hole: 17th; 215 Yards; Par 3 (White Tees)
The Golfer Magazine Pick: 15th; 352 yards; Par 4
You may need a driver or at least a likely three wood, this plays long and uphill. You’ll need height too to carry the cross bunkers which sit 170 yards from the tee. A soft landing on or just in front of the green is vital or the very real out of bounds threat at the back of the putting surface comes into play. Considering everything, a bogey isn’t such a bad result!
A typically tight Craythorne test, out of bounds all the way down the left and tree lined on the opposite side. Yet it’s a tempter too, from its raised tee it all runs downhill and if you can draw a driver around the corner of the dogleg and find the fairway you could well end up closer to the green than you might have thought possible.
THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
First class practice facilities at The Craythorne, the original range is now floodlit with power tees. There’s a practice ground, a bunker and chipping green, plus a separate putting area and driving net. Since 2004, the clubhouse has been remodelled and transformed into one of the largest and most distinctive in the area. It now has function and conference facilities for up to 250 people and members and visitors enjoy the space and atmosphere in the pub/restaurant downstairs complete with pool table, carvery, children’s menus and theme nights. Very untraditional in golf club terms but crucially very successful for the modern thinking ownership at The Craythorne. As an additional bonus the website contains an innovative 360 degree virtual tour of course and facilities, a unique feature for a golfing website.
Summary It’s not all about the golf anymore at The Craythorne. This is now an all-round golfing and social facility, a family friendly location and great for juniors taking up the game. Course improvements have played a big part in raising the profile of the layout, which still has further to go but is already a fun examination capable of denting the egos of players who dare to take it lightly. Great value for money (including at the present time a 2 play for £20 voucher offer ), and lots going on make this a venue well worth checking out this summer.
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THE FARMFOODS BRITISH PAR THREE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY W
Did You Know?
hen European Tour Pros, our Midland stars and senior golfing legends clean the grooves on their wedges ready for another crack at The British Par Three Championship at Nailcote Hall in August they will be adding another chapter to the long history of the event, one which thanks to recent times has become the leading tournament in our region. It all started back in 1930 down on the English Riviera where a Birmingham industrialist designed a short nine hole course on the grounds of the hotel he owned, The Palace in Torquay. A 36 hole strokeplay event was born, became an official tournament in 1933 and in the subsequent years attracted Open Champions and Ryder Cup players among its competitors. An impressive list of golfing legends including Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, Max Faulkner and Peter Alliss all took part attempting to win the famous wheelbarrow of coppers, the first prize which is still competed for today. The tournament stayed in Torquay until 1973 when it disappeared off the schedule for a lengthy 25 years. Revival and a new venue was at hand in 1998 largely thanks to the inspiration of Sid Mouland and the vision of Rick Cressman. Sid, the father of European Tour stalwart Mark Mouland competed in the event and won it twice at the Palace, Rick owns Nailcote Hall and also designed its Par 3 nine hole Cromwell Course, aided by Head Professional Mark. The reinstated event took place in June of that year, ex champions at Torquay returned to play at the new venue, the winner was local European Tour player Peter Baker who won with what seemed to be a modest total of 3 under par after 36 holes. The more the years went by the more it became clear that 3 under wasn’t so bad after all, Rick had designed a little devil of a course that has claimed
many well known victims. Only Carl Mason in 1999 came close to taming it, his 7 under winning total still stands to this day, and his 21 for nine holes in the same year is also a record. Subsequent winners have included Pga tour stars Jeremy Robinson and Robert Rock and two years ago Mark Mouland finally followed in his fathers footsteps. Recent times have seen the event grow further in stature, a memorable course change in 2007 saw the final hole take on real signature status as its green became practically surrounded by water in true Sawgrass style. In 2008 Tony Jacklin finally agreed to take part in the championship, now he’s a regular and this year Nailcote Hall will mark the 40th anniversary of Jacklin’s US Open Championship triumph in 1970. With continued sponsors Farmfoods, and a vast array of celebrities turning up year after year for the Pro-am events , The British Par Three Championship holds a special place in the diaries of many a famous golfer, past and present plus other sporting luminaries and stars of stage and screen. This year Rick’s been at it again, subtle changes to three of the holes will no doubt stiffen the test of The Cromwell Course further and with no major European Tour event to clash with it, expect a high quality field. Our columnist and Midlands Tour regular Steve Carter defends his title he won in the rain last year, no one will win it easily, but great golf, fun and friendliness are guaranteed at Nailcote Hall. The British Par Three Championship has come a long way in its 77 year history, a short challenge it may be, a huge event it has truly become. For more information on this great tournament, to be held this year from August 10th13th visit the website www.britishpar3championship.co.uk, or to enter the event call Champions (UK) plc on 0845 331 3031.
Max Faulkner & Dave Thomas
Peter Baker 1998 Champion
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Carl Mason 1999 Champion
David Lynn
JUNE • 2010
GAUDET LUCE
A True Golf Club Location/Directions
Just 10 minutes away from junction 5 of the M5, skirting the town of Droitwich via the A38 then the B4065 and B4090.
The Courses
One of the regions newest venues, one that combines all forms and standards of golf in a busy and very friendly facility, two courses, state of the art teaching and practice facilities and a wealth of starter golf and membership packages, Gaudet Luce is the home of family golf in Worcestershire.
Gaudet’s main layout was opened in 1995, extended to a full 18 two years later. Set out in two contrasting loops of nine, the first half gently undulating parkland with mature and newly planted trees making it a little tight in places. The back nine is set on more wide-open ground; slightly longer in length and more susceptible to the elements. Water hazards are common to both halves and very much in play, especially from the tee where a network of winding streams present themselves right in driver landing zones on at least five holes. One of those challenges is at a delightful Par 5, 8th where should you negotiate the brook successfully it opens out to a good birdie chance with a sting in its tail by way of its narrow sideways facing green placed to make reaching it and staying on it in two very difficult. On the whole though, Gaudet Luce is a course that you can attack and score well on, the rough can be clingy and the back nine toughens up considerably when the wind blows but low and mid handicappers should find it to their liking. A few more years of maturing and further tweaks to increase length and trickiness may ensure it’s a different proposition in the future. Consistently impressive is the superb conditioning, beautifully manicured fairways leading to the greens at Gaudet which are some of the very best around, quick and evenly paced and full of subtle borrows; real tests for all abilities, even those low handicappers may come to grief if they don’t putt well.
An Extra Nine
The Par 3, Hadzor Course was designed in 2004 especially with junior and family friendly starter golf in mind, set around three small ponds and built to USPGA specifications, The Hadzor has proved invaluable in the steady progress and reputation of Gaudet Luce and its young players.
Facilities
A modern clubhouse on two floors with a separate function room upstairs, plus new changing facilties. As well as the academy course there’s a 12 bay driving range and short game areas. A gym, therapy salon and nursery also exist onsite, even kids from the crèche as young as three are encouraged to take up golf with free lessons. The club has been running the ‘New2Golf Beginner Programme’ for the last ten years, aimed to introduce the game to groups of friends, work colleagues etc. Gaudet Luce shares close links with sister course, Little Lakes, situated just half an hours drive to the West. Gaudet Luce and its impressive commitment to junior and golf for beginners plus a fresh gem of a course has already made a significant mark in its short existence, thanks to its hard working and very friendly atmosphere its just a lovely place to learn, play and socialise.
Favourite Hole: 12th, 209 yards, Par 3 (White Tees) Long, tree lined and with a significant water hazard to avoid, Gaudet’s picture book 12th is one of its tougher challenges. Many may aim left to take the pond out of the equation but may leave themselves with a tricky up and down across a typically slippery green. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
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BUILTH WELLS Location/Directions
A Hidden Gem in The Heart Of Wales Arriving at Builth Wells Golf Club you have truly reached the heart of Wales. This picturesque riverside location mixes old and new for a quality parkland challenge.
To reach Builth Wells join the A44 from Worcester, continue through Leominster and Kington, take the A481 for the final 5 miles into the town, the golf course is situated one mile outside the town. Builth Wells is 85 miles from the centre of our region.
The Course
Designed as a 9 hole track in 1923, the newer closing nine hole stretch was added in 1986. Separately they couldn’t differ more greatly in their profile and difficulty, combined you get the complete examination, a nice mixture of holes that may bestow golfing gifts for your scorecard and others that may repossess them in a flick of an ill directed mid iron. The first and older half is a place to make your score, offering width and generosity, the fast running fairways are garnished attractively with lush green foliage. The friendly nature of these opening holes, compromised somewhat by a 240 Yard, Par 3, 7th hole that proves to be a seriously stern test. Scoring opportunities diminish as you enter the back nine, the meandering River Chewfri presents a picturesque diversion. Yet it also proves to be a redoubtable hazard notably at the 10th where it demands you to cross it twice on the way toward a tight, two tiered green tucked away in the corner with out of bounds lurking. The remainder of the layout takes you through increasingly undulating terrain full of feature holes, ensuring a stiff test is maintained all the way to the closing hole. The 18th turns you full circle, climaxing as it does with a straight ahead long Par 4 back to the clubhouse, a hole very similar to how it all began.
Take care with
Three tight little terrors of Par 3’s on the back nine, all on the short side but your angles on approach need to be spot on, there is little room for error.
Look forward to
First class conditioning of the course in general, from fast running fairways to smooth, evenly paced and consistent putting surfaces.
Signature Hole: 16th, Par 4, 307 Yards (White Tees)
Classic risk and reward. The courageous will fire a driver over tall trees that block your view of the real hazard, the river that flows through the heart of this hole. Taking the conservative approach and laying up in front of the water will require precision, too long off the tee and more trees will block your approach to a well bunkered green.
The Golfer Magazine Pick: 13th, 450 Yards, Par 4 (White Tees)
No Par 5’s at Builth Wells yet this is the closest to one. An undulating test featuring a fairly tight tee shot with out of bounds threatening on the right, then its downhill all the way with a gorgeous looking approach shot to a green surrounded by banking, beware the pond on the left.
The 19th Hole
The clubhouse is a Grade II listed building being a converted 15th century Welsh Long House, featuring oak beams, some of which are original. A large bar area and a new dining room, seating up to 50.
Summary
Classic parkland in a stunning setting, on a bright summers day there is no finer place to be in the heart of Wales. Enjoy the chance to score well at the start, and cling on to it on the closing stretch. Efficiently run and splendidly kept, Builth Wells is pure and simply a really enjoyable golf course. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
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Genuinely beautiful and natural classic links courses are nicely spaced out in the principality. The Road to the Ryder Cup therefore is never too far away from a renowned seaside track, the irresistible mix of sea breezes and rough terrain should always be on the menu for a golfing trip. Aberdovey Golf Club is this issues prime example, a course always popular with West Midlanders willing to make the cross-country trek on a regular basis to sample its raw charms.
Aber-Gold Location/Directions
Course
Situated on the edge of the Dyfi Estuary, regarded as the borderline between North and South Wales. From the Midlands, take the M54 to Shrewsbury. Follow the A458 west to Welshpool, Machynlleth and then the A493 coastal road to Aberdovey. The club couldn’t be better placed for taking the train; The Cambrian Coastline runs directly past the course and goes directly to Shrewsbury and on to Birmingham. Aberdovey Golf Club is 116 miles from the centre of our region.
Designed in 1892 the famous English trio of Colt, Braid and Fowler all played their parts in creating a traditional links challenge, its formidability placed in the hands of the inconsistent elements, no hiding place in breezy conditions rather like its neighbours on the Llyn Peninsula further up the Cambrian Coast line.
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A narrow strip of land situates Aberdovey Golf Club, nestled in between the railway and the tall sand dunes that in all but one exception block your view of the sparkling blue Cardigan Bay. It’s a classic ‘out and back’ layout, the furthest point at the ninth sits some considerable
distance from the clubhouse. The shorter length front nine tends to face a prevailing breeze, the extra yardage that the second half possesses is balanced out by the fact that they normally play downwind. It’s not always the case, trickery is often in the air, and things can change quite rapidly at the edge of the Irish Sea. The layout’s modest length ensures that aggression isn’t specifically required; course management is, plus an intuitive sense of the powers of nature. A delightful quirk at Aberdovey is that all of the courses short holes face in a different direction. A superb challenge awaits trying to cover the Par 3’s somewhere near
your handicap. Blind targets, large dunes, little pot bunkers, crosswinds, all are lined up to give you a thorough examination, four holes that collectively are as good a series of short uns that it’s possible to find anywhere. Not that the other holes let the side down either. The archetypal seaside layout presents all of the qualities that links golf is renowned for. A wild, wonderful expanse of land with just the railway line marking a boundary on its eastern edge, a network of winding ditches as almost invisible hazards around thick wispy rough and indigenous plants. The fairways offer fluctuating width and as is to be expected, good fortune JUNE • 2010
ABERDOVEY GOLF CLUB
Signature Hole:
12th, 149 Yards, Par 3 (White Tees) This is the one hole whose green is carved out up on high between the sand dunes and affords a beachside view. Gorgeous that it is on the green, from the tee below and looking up it’s a formidable target, made much more frightening if the sea breezes are bending the flagstick. Absolutely nowhere to go as a safe landing spot save for the putting surface, and its unpredictable nature could leave you with anything from a wedge to a driver in your hands. Enjoy.
Favourite Hole:
16th, 288 Yards, Par 4 (White Tees) True risk and reward of a spectacular nature, the railway line marks the out of bounds to the left, a right to left sloping fairway narrowing as it gets closer to the green with hazardous spots all around doesn’t make things too easy on the opposite side either. Safest bet is for a mid-iron leaving just a wedge to the tight little green, but the temptation to take driver and hope for a favourable bounce may prove irresistible.
plays a part in a successful round. Yet if the bounces don’t quite go your way, the large generally flat and friendly greens will give you a chance to claw something back.
where only the top of the flagstick is in view from the tee; control is the key for early joy at Aberdovey.
Take Care With…
The bunkering, an unusual thing to relish on a golf course, but thanks to a transformation in recent times that has seen major reconstructions , restoring them to their original raw and natural state, they are attractive features throughout. Best to be avoided of course, some of the more tiny traps may demand you to adopt stances more akin to a ballet dancer to escape them, but their shape and the way they’ve blended into the contours of the land have won Aberdovey an ecology award.
Off the tee on the opening holes, there’s a demanding start in store especially if the elements whip up a lively welcome. Close to the beach, the first two see you deep in sand dune country, there is much obscured from view. As soon as that ball of yours hits orbit it faces an uncertain and fickle fate landing on undulating ground prone to deflecting it towards an undeservedly sticky spot. The 3rd is a Par 3 THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
Look forward to…
19th Hole The clubhouse was rebuilt after a fire in 1998. Large and spacious, two lounges and a sit down restaurant accommodate groups of all sizes. Both bar snack and A La Carte menus are superb with fresh locally sourced ingredients. The club has a modern dormy bungalow onsite for an ideal play and stay option with 4 en-suite twin rooms.
Around and About The Cambrian Coast railway line is an attractive way to explore this stunning part of West Wales; it also reaches northbound to many other equally inspiring links locations including Royal St David’s, just 50 miles up the line.
Aberdovey itself has a lovely harbour, with the estuary and surrounding Cambrian Mountains making it a busy tourist location. 4 miles of fine sandy beaches attract sun-worshippers and water sports enthusiasts too.
Summary Voted 70th in Golf World’s Top 100 courses in the UK and 5th best in Wales, the quality of Aberdovey is never in doubt. It’s the work that’s taken place during the last 5 years in restoring its natural look, preserving nature and the brand new facilities complete with a friendly welcome that gives it superb all around appeal. These days, Aberdovey is more than just a great golf course.
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ABERGELE GOLF CLUB
Abergele
Golf Club Abergele Golf Club celebrates its centenary this year, beautifully timed for Ryder Cup in Wales year, a popular and vibrant members club situated nicely in the busy corridor of North Wales’ golfing hotspots.
Location/Directions
Just off the A55, junction 24 and one mile through the town towards the castle, left turn after the police station on Tan-y-gopa road.
The Course
Established in its present position in 1968 underneath the large and historic Gwyrch Castle, on the opposite side there’s the occasional glimpse of the Irish Sea. This is an easy walking parkland course that genuinely caters for all abilities with 5 tee locations. In general Abergele offers some generosity from the tee, the trees and bushes lining the fairways should really be just attractive features rather than genuine hazards, things tend to narrow and get tougher the closer you get to the business end , most putting surfaces are well guarded by bunkers and there’s some banks and hollows in places to be wary of. The new USGA standard greens are very impressive, large and varied in shape and undulations, it may well be your skill with the putter that determines success here. The round closes with a little climb up to the edge of the woodland that marks its border on the inland side for a two hole closing stretch that prove to be a little bit different to what’s gone before.
Take care with
The dilemma you’ll face on second shots to the Par 5’s, reaching them in two is always possible for big hitters, hazardous spots though will make you wonder if its worth the risk.
Look forward to
The sea view from the green at the 17th, on a clear day you can see Rhyl in the distance and even Blackpool Pleasure Beach! THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
Signature Hole
18th 480 yards Par 5 (White Tees) A unusually tight and demanding tee shot for Abergele, out of bounds on the right with trees around the fairway to negotiate around, the fairway runs downhill and to the left, to go for the green in two from a likely hanging lie is a brave move across the ditch to the raised green. Probably a lay up and a short wedge is the safer option, the putting surface is three tiered and pretty undulating. Not a hole likely to be forgotten in a hurry.
The Golfer Magazine Pick
14th 382 yards Par 4 (White tees) Named Devil’s elbow, a gentle dog leg all about good tee shot placement in order to find the right angle from which to attack the pin, an attractive looking hole.
19th hole
A large clubhouse with an upstairs bar and restaurant boasting fine views of the course and surrounding area. Abergele’s practice facilities are very good and recently boosted by the Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Fund enabling the construction of a new short game area and 4 bay driving range
Out and about
The nearby Gwyrch castle is the notable landmark, and is currently one of the largest building preservation trusts in the UK. The seaside towns of Conwy, Rhyl and Llandudno are all no more than 15 minutes away by car.
Summary
Very friendly and popular with its members, mainly due to its flexible golf course which will suit all. Just simply a very pleasant playing experience, another worthwhile stop off on The Road to the Ryder Cup.
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The Vale
of Llangollen Inland layouts in Mid and North Wales are all pretty much guaranteed some spectacular scenery as part of the package. None more special than the Vale of Llangollen, nestled on the banks of a fast flowing River Dee with the Welsh hills on both sides, this championship course has enviable qualities even before you’ve placed a ball on first tee.
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JUNE • 2010
LLANGOLLEN The Course
Signature Hole:
9th, 439 Yards, Par 4 (White Tees) One of the most highly regarded golf holes in Wales. A long sweeping dogleg by the riverside where, despite the threat of out of bounds, you really need to take a little risk in placing your tee shot fairly close to the water in order to have the best possible chance of finding the very tight target that is the green. Fortune favours the brave here, go left with your drive and you cut yourself off, there’s also one or two very challenging pin positions on a putting surface with a ridge running through it. Enjoy!
The Vale of Llangollen is one of only a handful of Welsh courses that holds the coveted HSBC Gold Medal ranking and is regarded as the top inland course in North Wales. It’s certainly a course to test a reliable long game, over 6,500 yards with only three short holes and not a great deal of difference in length between the whites and yellows. Mature trees and bushes garnish the nicely manicured fairways, when the colours come out this becomes a floral feast on the eyes, if a little dense in some penal spots for slices and hooks. The rough can be a little nasty in places too, it’s a straight ahead kind of track that demands just that sort of accuracy for success, not a great deal of hidden perils to worry about, the extra length though places a high emphasis on finding the short stuff on a regular basis. All three short holes defy that description and can play much longer especially if it gets a little windy, it took a 5 iron every time to reach all three greens, each equally well protected by bunkers. In general the greens are large, sometimes epic affairs with a smooth and consistent roll and tricky to read in places. A great layout has a really wonderful finishing stretch too. Both the Par 5, 15th and long Par 4, 16th, run alongside the riverbank, the shorter penultimate hole with a fast running fairway offers a late birdie chance, and the Par 3 18th is a fitting closing hole, its large putting surface sitting underneath the clubhouse’s outdoor decking.
Take care with The baptism of fire that is the very first hole. A dogleg Par 5 with a water hazard guarding the right hand side of the green, no place for any early swing stiffness.
Look forward to The warm Welsh welcome and the friendliness of staff and members, proud of their course and facilities, and justifiably so.
Location/Directions Very easy to find, right on the side of the main A5 road that spans the North Wales inland, 2 miles before reaching the town of Llangollen.
The Golfer Magazine Pick: 18th, 168 Yards, Par 3 (White Tees)
A superb closing hole up the bank and back to the clubhouse. Take an extra club to negotiate the brook and bunker and find the green placed under the watchful eyes of the members from above. The putting surface is very taxing, many find the green and end up with a bogey. The colourful plants and flowers on the banking make this a gorgeous looking hole from the tee. Sipping a cool drink at the end of your round and looking back down the full length of this delightful Par 3 looks pretty good too.
THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
19th Hole The clubhouse seats up to 95 for society occasions, pray for a nice day to sit out on the large decking area with panoramic views of the course and the hills as a backdrop. A busy competition venue with a variety of open events where visitors are welcomed. The club shares reciprocal green fee arrangements with the likes of Beau Desert, Llanymynech and Conwy Golf Clubs amongst others.
Around and About Llangollen town is well known as the home of the ‘International Music Eisteddfod’ held in July. The Llangollen Canal flows close by over the world heritage Pontycyslite Viaduct. The river is a popular venue for fishing and white water rafting. Just 90 minutes from the centre of our region, Vale of Llangollen Golf Club is the ideal place to relax in peaceful, fabulous surroundings and enjoy your golf. An on form driver is a definite must for success but even if you struggle a little, this club and course is too nice for frustration to linger. If there is a finer inland course on The Road to the Ryder Cup, we truly can’t wait to play it.
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Aberystwyth Golf Club One of Harry Vardon’s Welsh designs, the legendary golfer described it as “Although not a seaside links, it is the next best thing to it”. A beautiful location greets you at the club, situated on the edge of the popular Mid-Wales seaside resort.
Location/Directions
Perched above the town, close to the Cliff railway, reached from the North via the A487 and from the East it’s the A44. 3 hours from the centre of our region.
The course
Be prepared for a spot of exertion at the outset, the first three holes take you on a fairly steep climb upwards, worth the effort though, spectacular views of the town and Cardigan Bay greet you and confirm Aberystwyth as a special venue to play golf. The layout takes you on a mixture of generous and tough challenges, growing in stature as it proceeds. Fair to say the majority of the highlights
Welshpool Golf Club Just across the border into Mid-Wales off the A458, 2 miles outside the town is a James Braid design that once played you won’t forget in a hurry. Sitting on top of Golfa Hill are18 holes that make up a magnificent golf course. The views are simply spectacular, panoramic vistas of miles and miles of Welsh rolling farmland with the Mountains of Snowdonia as a backdrop . Not that you’ll need a distraction, this course is remarkable enough as it is, never a dull moment during an endless run of unique undulating holes. The fairways are soft and spongy, gorse bushes are plentiful, sand traps aren’t, in truth Welshpool doesn’t need any. The greens are in great condition throughout - it’s reaching them that’s the biggest challenge here as you may find yourself underclubbing a bit on approaches as the course plays longer than the actual yardage. A thrilling 4 hours of golfing adventure.
reside on the back nine which contains a symmetrical three of each Pars and there’s a very thrilling finish in store. The final 5 holes offer a full sypnosis of the complete golfing challenge, in short they are tight and full of hazards, you’ll need to be precision personified and not prone to distractions, the views from the 17th are simply awesome. Aberystwyth’s unique upland terrain guarantees all year round play, and quality putting surfaces.
guaranteed over the pond that encroaches onto the fairway to a sideways facing green.
Favourite Hole
The back nine gets off to a bang with the longest hole on the course, an undulating dog leg that plays significantly longer. A very tough approach is
Mid-Wales’s best loved seaside resort has a notable golfing hotspot too. Not easy, it plays longer than the card suggests and the wind can be a major factor but there’s much to admire in Vardon’s design that will want you to take up the challenge. A rewarding experience.
Signature Hole
Summary
10th 536 yards Par 5 (White Tees)
18th 447 yards Par 4 (White Tees) You think you’ve seen it all until you reach this incredible climax. The fairway snakes into the distance several hundred feet below the tee box, difficult to judge just what club to use, too much and gorse lies in wait. It all goes uphill to a final raised green surrounded by more gorse and ferns. Stunning.
19th Hole
The clubhouse has room for large societies with home cooked Welsh fare and a warm welcome guaranteed.
Facilities
Home cooked meals and bar snacks in the well appointed clubhouse. There is now a Par 3 pay and play course and a range onsite too.
Summary
The renowned golfing writer Bernard Darwin CBE sums up Welshpool beautifully, “The fact is that it is almost as impossible to describe the course as to describe the view, it is so unexpected, so unlike anything else, so perched on the roof of the world. It is a truly beautiful place and I realised how incomplete had been my golfing education until I had seen it”. For those of us desiring some variety in our golfing schedules it doesn’t come any more exciting than this. The golfing packages on offer at present for a day here have to be seen to be believed, rather like the layout that is Welshpool Golf Course.
LLANDRINDOD WELLS
Golf with a view A turn of the century hill top classic, designed by Harry Vardon, improved by James Braid, regarded as being one of Mid Wales finest inland layouts.
Location/Direction
Llandrindod Wells is situated just off the A44 road from Worcester and reached via Leominster and Kington. The Club is on the left hand side of the town and is 77 miles from the centre of our region.
Course
Llandrindod Wells grabs your attention at the very beginning and holds onto it throughout 18 holes of wild and wonderful golfing adventure. Through links like terrain, governed by the fickle elements, your creativity will be tested, your stance could be compromised at any point and you run the gauntlet of fortune with inconsistent bounces that can either send a gloriously struck shot into an undeserved hazard or a bad one into comparative safety. No bunkers at Llandrindod Wells, it doesn’t really need them, around the greens there are plenty of humps, hollows and grassy knolls that act as adequate substitutes. The constant feature though is its spectacular setting, beware of a fair old trek up to the green
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at the very first hole, but once there marvel at the panoramic views of the spa town and the surrounding Welsh Hills, more than worth the extra effort. Very attractive copses of fir trees segment the fairways in places, offering occasional shelter from the wind. The course proves to be tough to start with and mostly uphill. The best scoring opportunities arise around the turn with the notable exception being a 236 yard Par 3 10thhole. Then towards the finish two successive Par 5’s mark the start of an examining closing stretch requiring your very best golf to prosper. Its an exhilarating journey around Llandrindod Wells, boredom won’t ever be an issue and despite what it says on the scorecard and tee boxes, it plays a whole lot longer.
Take care with
Frequent patches of heavy rough, some of which appear as thick grassy banks in the middle of the fairways, the penalties can be quite severe for straying offline.
Look forward to
Tremendous variety in length, shape and difficulty on each of Llandrindod’s six short holes, six pars would be some feat.
Signature Hole
18th 297 yards Par 4 (White Tees) Vardon named this hole Death or Glory. An apt title surveying the view from the tee across a deep gully with a 270 yard carry to reach the apron of the green on the other side. There’s a circle of fairway at the bottom to suit the safer option, which will leave a blind wedged approach, and whichever way you play it there’s a road to cross too. A dramatic closing hole.
The Golfer Magazine Pick 5th 469 yards Par 4 (Whites and Yellows)
We normally pick easier challenges than this, yet it caught our eye for its mouth watering long iron or hybrid approach shot to a distant green partially blocked by trees, humps
and hollows. A little bit of a luck involved for a successful outcome but find the right landing spot and you can witness a contoured pathway for your golf ball resulting in a birdie putt. Lovely.
19th Hole
New facilities at Llandrindod Wells in recent times include a covered and floodlit 8 bay driving range and new changing rooms. Inside there’s a conference room now in addition to the 70 seater restaurant which boasts yet more outstanding views.
Summary
June 5th-12th sees the return to the calendar of the Llandrindod Wells Golf Open week, 7 days of competitions, fun and events for all ages and abilities of golfers from all over Britain. A great opportunity to introduce yourselves to a unique establishment you won’t forget in a hurry. One to relish on The Road to the Ryder Cup.
JUNE • 2010
SPAIN INTRO
ESCAPE to the Sun Welcome to Murcia
La Manga
The great British summer is upon us again, and just like a general election and an England World Cup campaign we all may need something to fall back on should disappointment arise, and especially if the weather fails yet again to provide us with what should be a season of golf in the warm sunshine.
La Manga was the brainchild of American magnate Gregory Peters who saw the potential of the area and set out to construct Spain’s first ever purpose built tourist and golfing resort. He started small with just a nine hole layout, the popularity of which soon enabled mass expansion enabling two 18 holers to be ready by 1971 complete with 3,000 palm trees, 450 hectares of land and villas and apartments. Through the subsequent years La Manga has added another course, a 5 star hotel and an apartment complex, Las Lomas Village which boasts full spa and fitness facilities. The complex is also a world renowned tennis facility with 28 all weather courts and football teams from all over Spain and Europe set up summer camps here. La Manga has over 20 restaurants and bars onsite, plus its golf clubhouses. As well as the three courses there’s still room onsite for a Seve designed Par 47 short course plus state of the art practice and training amenities.
Spain has long been a destination of solace for frustrated and soggy British golfers, the country boasts well over 300 courses, not bad for a nation who up until the 1970’s took little interest in our beautiful pastime. The increase in ex-pats and the rise to fame of a certain Severiano Ballesteros changed all that, now Spain is a market leader in away from it all golf travel. Murcia is one of its rapidly growing destinations, golfers flock to this previously unheralded region thanks to cheap air fares and a dazzling 300 days of sunshine per year guaranteed. 19 courses reside in the area with many more due for completion in the coming months and years. Murcia’s second international airport at Corvera is due to open next year, meaning a further boost for the golfing economy. Our feature brings you a bit of old and young in Murcian golf, firstly to La Manga, which in Spanish golf terms is the equivalent of its St Andrews. Then to the bold and modern newcomer, Polaris World and the Jack Nicklaus golfing trail. The two make very different destinations, put them together and there’s a golfing break of some serious quality to be had in Murcia. JUNE • 2010
The South Course was under maintenance for our visit. Designed in 1971 as La Manga’s championship lay out, it hosted the Spanish Open in the mid seventies and the European Tour Qualifying school. La Manga’s longest course, stretching to over 7,000 yards from the white tees, it features many water hazards, palms and strategically placed bunkers. Accuracy is absolutely vital although nothing is hidden from view, the South finishes in style, a wonderful Par 5 18th with water on either side of the fairway. Quite a layout, and La Manga has another couple of treats in store too…..
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NORTH COURSE
The one in the middle of the three extremes of La Manga golfing life. More open and straight ahead than the exacting West Course, similar in looks to the South, but hillier and significantly shorter, The North Course presents probably your best opportunity of a good score here. Not that its easy, far from it, nothing at La Manga could ever be described as that. At least this time though this lay out offers some real width from the tee and everything is all pretty much in front of you, a fair few opportunities exist to open your shoulders a bit. Water hazards are never too far away though and the regular barrancas (natural storm drains) snake their way around the course, when the two combine like on the Par 4 14th, the tee shot demands at least a 200 yard carry to reach safety. The course has some epic long holes, each Par 5 reaches over 500 yards and the short ones aren’t half bad either, the 4th especially catches the eye, a long iron required across a narrow valley to a raised green with another barranca to cross, a beautiful looking hole. Many will view the USPGA standard greens to be the highlight of a trip around this layout, they are pretty special and quite deceptive too, some obvious undulations like on the three tiered surface of the short 2nd, but there are other spots where only the most skilled putters will read the more subtle borrows successfully. Yet nowhere on this course can you fail to be impressed by the conditioning and the attractive
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surroundings. Palm trees, colourful plantations and nicely manicured bunkers make the North Course a photogenic gem. It all finishes right in front of the Hyatt Hotel, a very fitting place to hole a winning putt.
Favourito Hoyo
16th 183 metres Par 3 (White Tees) Picked more for its stunning looks than anything else because despite the fact this long Par 3 is surrounded by three delightful looking ponds neither really should present a major hazard, there’s more than enough room to avoid them. Nevertheless they still need respect, so too do the two pot bunkers guarding the green and the holes length will make finding it in regulation a rewarding moment.
Diecinueve Hoyo The North Course shares clubhouse facilities with the South, all very modern looking with a large club shop, upstairs, Bar 37 serves delicious meals from dawn to dusk.
El Resumen Just a lovely course from start to finish, and a chance for a decent card, hazards yes, but they don’t penalise quite as severely as on The West Course, sprinkled with memorable and scenic challenges The North effortlessly plays a major part in La Manga’s continuing success. JUNE • 2010
LA MANGA
WEST COURSE
Designed by Dave Thomas, The West Course (also known as La Princesca) is the newest lay out at La Manga, set further away from the main complex around hilly terrain, tree lined with many natural hazards. A gem of a design where no hole offers any sort of similarity to whats gone before and what will follow. Your walk takes you through sweet smelling pine groves, across barrancas, around gullys and regular water hazards. Hidden dangers lurk around many corners and changes of elevation are frequent. The West Course’s reasonably modest length is no guarantee of a comfortable time, it’s a beautiful place to play golf, you will fall for your surroundings without a doubt, but be prepared for some very testing times and a few lost balls, first timers here will regularly come to grief in places due more to a lack of course knowledge than a lack of skill. Not an easy task to pick highlights, The West Course is littered with them, but we were highly impressed by the holes around the turn, the Par 4 8th demands two great shots, the second across a dry gully to reach the large green. The Par 5 dog leg 9th is an absolute gem, tight to turn the corner from the tee, then downhill towards the green with a further ravine to cross that a fast running ball may not stop in time to avoid. The 10th is a bit risk and reward from the tee, all about judging how much of the very same ravine to traverse to give yourself a shorter approach. The spectacular nature of this layout and its surroundings continTHE GOLFER MAGAZINE
ues unabated throughout, until just when you thought you’d seen it all, La Manga saves its very best for last on The West Course.
Favourito Hoyo
18th 374 metres Par 4 (White Tees) After what might be a bit of a gruelling trek in the sunshine the last thing you might need is a long walk up a seemingly endless path to the final tee. However the view that greets you when you get there is more than worth the sweat, La Manga in its entirety sits below this hill top tee with the Mar Menor and the Med stretched out further beyond, a glorious and inspiring sight, yet back to the golf and there’s a good 200 yard carry over dense scrubland to reach the sanctity of the fairway, when 3 golfers surpass themselves and comfortably find the centre of the short stuff as ours did, that clubhouse beer sure tastes good at the bar afterwards!
Diecinueve Hoyo The West Course has its own small clubhouse which serves the most wonderful burgers on the shaded patio outside. There’s a practice putting green plus driving nets.
El Resumen A tight twisting rollercoaster ride of a golf course is impossible not to enjoy, you really feel you’re in the heart of typical Spanish countryside which adds its own appeal, The West Course, tricky though it is, totally lived up to our expectations.
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La Cuente Por Favor (The Bill please)
No 19th hole this issue, instead its an elongated Tour Banter dedicated to three golfing legends who defied a volcano, sore shoulders, bad navigation (on and off course) and insomnia to rip up some of Murcia’s finest tracks, all for our Happy Billmore’s 50th Birthday. It all started with a series of secretive phone calls between ourselves and Bill’s missus, producing a trip to La Manga with golf there and at two of Polaris World’s finest. Sadly though, by the time this awesome gift was presented, the giant Icelandic ash cloud that scuppered many a travel plan in Mid/Late April had taken up stubborn residence over UK air space. The night the gift was revealed our plane was cancelled, Euan and myself feared a damp squib of a presentation and a long winded re-arrangement. Yet Bill was having none of it, misty eyed and speechless at his well sprung surprise of a gift on that Saturday night, come early Sunday morning and pretty hung-over, he was on the phone to us enquiring about just how possible it would be to drive there.
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Initial incredulity slowly transformed itself through puzzlement, plausibility into pure and insane indefatigable British Bulldog spirit as the telephone wires of North Staffordshire burned hot that Sunday morning. Eventually the clubs were packed and the sat nav was set, merrily pointing out that from Leek it was just a mere 1,485 miles to go. A long night followed, through M1 roadworks, a hectic ferry full of misplaced air travellers and long miles of night time French motorways. Snoozes were common, some of them by the passengers, the sat nav mileage counter trickled slowly downwards. Morning eventually dawned over the mountains of the Massif Central, passing the Spanish border raised morale, and somehow we made it to La Manga that Monday evening. Not much time to quaff that many celebratory beers, the awesome view of The North Course from below the apartment balcony reminded us that a 72 hole Golfer Magazine Spanish Championship awaited us in the next two days.
Tuesday 20th April, The West Course, La Manga, 08:00am Can’t exactly say we had high expectations of a flying start, 26 hour drives don’t exactly encourage optimism for smooth golf swings. If it wasn’t for the driving nets at The West Course, we’d have stood at the first tee resembling three extras from a Kraftwork video. So there we were in our natty matching Bills 50th Birthday tops and as usual ready to laugh in the face of theory as the early holes, (not easy) were conquered in a stupendous rush of high quality play, myself with a pinpoint long game, and Bill and Euan on the greens started rolling in putt after putt as if they’d stayed up all night reading the Brad Faxon book of good putting. It was all very uplifting but predictably not to last, the further we ventured into Spanish woodland the more our regular games returned. The West Course is no place for army golf; (left, right, left, right) we filled barrancas, cannoned off palm trees and lost balls in sticky undergrowth. All a little messy in the end but great fun and the burgers in the West Course clubhouse were superlative.
20th, PM, La Torre, Polaris World 3:15pm La Torre was memorable for all the wrong reasons and only some of the right ones. We started at the 10th and were greeted by a field of white – with a little bit of grass in between. This course has some bunkering going on, especially around the turn. Our revived bunker fool competition that avid readers may remember from months past took many fools. Playing wise, Euan struggled, Bill was wayward, actually finding a communal swimming pool with one drive, no-one in it though, it was unusually chilly that afternoon. If I am permitted a little self indulgence this was my highlight. Our back nine saw easily my best golf, a par and birdie blitz, finishing with a near hole in one at the lake surrounded 9th. A run that saw me finish the first day with a big lead in the Spanish Masters.
JUNE • 2010
TOUR BANTER However, never mind the golf, La Torre will be remembered for its fun side, thanks to the hospitality and generosity of Polaris World. Three single person three wheeled golf scooters were presented to us at tee off, we couldn’t believe our eyes at the significance of it all, what a time on his 50th birthday to introduce Happy Billmore to exactly the sort of vehicle he’ll soon be driving on shopping trips back in Stoke-on-Trent! We resisted the temptation to open the throttles too much until out in the wilderness, but once there couldn’t resist showing off a little. The video appeared on Facebook for a while and had friends and family in stitches, we returned to La Manga that night again with little time again for much of a social life.
Wednesday 21st, La Manga – North Course 08:00am Day Two dawned to bright sunshine at last, The North was a pleasure to play in shades, it’s the ultimate good weather course. I’d like to say it brought the best out in us, but that would be a lie. My golf was consistent enough to keep the lead intact but the fireworks I’d left behind at La Torre. Euan was injured with his bad shoulder and unable to find any comfort in his swing and as for the OAP, Bill played fitfully and when he did find some form, his putting let him down. Nevertheless, it was a wonderfully enjoyable round, bad golf never felt so good.
Wednesday, PM, El Valle – Polaris World 03:00pm A spectacular location for a climax to remember. Euan in particular took one look at the dramatic desert landscape, found it to his liking and decided to forget his injury worries. He clearly decided that driving to Spain and back to play 4 bad rounds of golf wasn’t gonna happen, so he gritted his teeth and played a good one instead, threatening a late fightback in the Masters. Me, I had a mare but clearly won the longest club chuck contest. Bill’s play at El Valle was memorable for one thing in particular. The Par Three’s are long here, it’s a clear long iron or hybrid for all of them for average golfers, but not if you’re Happy Billmore. The man had other ideas, Bill has a shot in his locker that defies all golfing common sense but he can perform
in a way that makes a mockery of his modest handicap. “Bill, it’s too short for driver mate” were our words of wisdom four times at El Valle. “Watch this then” was his answer x4 and then he performed it, his newly patented soft driver, a full swing with a deceptive decrease in club head speed leading to a high fade and a soft landing on the green. Bill’s happy knack at producing these miracle shots so out of line with the rest of his game was stupefying, we could only take our caps off in tribute and surrender. El Valle was memorable, sadly the sun refused to shine denying us the very epitome of a desert atmosphere but we were still glad of a pint at the end and a pool tournament that saw Euan crowned as the Spanish Champ. Golfing wise I just about clung on to become the Spanish Master and as for Bunker fool, typically for us it ended in a draw between Euan & Bill who took it back to blighty for a play off, only decided finally at the 17th hole at Abergele when a soft driver finally let Bill down on the Par 3. Time finally on the last night for some proper birthday celebrations at an impromptu party for Bill in the raucous Mulligan’s bar at La Manga. Songs rang out and the old man downed half a pint of fiery Sambuca to round the trip off in a most explosive fashion. The road back was arduous, peppered with Spanish, French and to be fair many English traffic cones plus a typically nonchalant French customs officer who wanted to search the C5s boot in Calais, but after opening it and surveying the task in hand, merely had a little prod about and decided not to bother. One Gallic shrug of the shoulders later and back to England we headed, a country strangely sunnier than the ones we’d left. By this time, the skies were full of aeroplanes again but our mission had been accomplished, Happy Billmore had the birthday of his dreams with the added bonus of already knowing how to drive a Motability vehicle before his time comes. We warmly thank staff at La Manga and Polaris World for their hospitality and look forward to returning, golf widows and volcanoes permitting.
6½ 5½ HEAD TO HEAD
A brief summary of the latest goings on in our own personal Ryder Cup battle played on Welsh courses during The Road to the Ryder Cup. Bill ( representing Europe ) won his team with a point at Welshpool then conspired with team mate Neil to gift USA ( Phil and Euan ) two points and a way back into the match thanks to dodgy putting at both Vale of Llangollen and Abergele. Aberdovey saw some fine golf and a halved 18th hole in par bringing the score in the match to 6 ½ – 5 ½ in Europe’s favour as we head to South Wales. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
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La Torre The Jack Nicklaus golfing trail in Murcia has played a major part in transforming this sunny region into the fastest growing tourist destination in Spain. Six family friendly resorts and courses have sprung up in the last decade with the biggest one yet, at Condado de Alhama close to completion and promising to be Jack’s jewel in the crown. Our whistle stop Murcian tour took us around two of Nicklaus Design’s finest, to sample the very contrasting charms of La Torre and El Valle.
Situated about half way between the Mediterranean and the Murcia mountains the La Torre Golf Resort was the second project to be designed on the Nicklaus golf trail, a busy self contained town of villas and apartments with its great lake and a challenging 18 hole championship golf course as its centrepiece. Just a Par 68 at La Torre with no less than six short holes, all well designed though, some raised greens and water hazards make them testing and in a common theme during our Murcian adventure, a little longish too. They tend to make Par Three’s stretch out quite far in these parts, long irons and hybrids will get regular outings from the tees. The lay out twists and turns its way around rows of course side villas, bushes and palms garnish the fairways attractively, there’s also a fair bit of sand about. La Torre features no less than 5 hectares of beautifully contoured and conditioned bunkers, some holes especially after the turn there is a real sense of the desert about the place, the grass around them a little denser to create the optimum wind effect. The greens are large, smooth as silk and nicely contoured, run off areas can be quite severe, the three lakes that dominate the landscape at La Torre really do skirt very close to the edge of the putting surfaces in places. It’s a typical Nicklaus design, concentrating on strategy and placement rather than relying on great length. Suitable for all standards with four tee placements and bail out options on approaches to some of the tougher challenges for high handicappers unwilling to take on tight waterside pins. Good fun throughout and just what Spanish golf should be all about.
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Favourito Hoyo 9th A truly fabulous signature hole set in front of the hotel and clubhouse with the small matter of a 170 yard carry over the lake to reach the sanctity of the green. With a likely gallery watching attentively a successful tee shot could be your Spanish highlight and beware, there’s another challenge very similar to this coming up at the 11th!
Diecinueve Hoyo Top class practice facilities including a range, putting, chipping and bunker is also utilised by juniors at the clubs academy. The ultra modern and stunning 5 star Intercontinental hotel overlooks the course and is currently offering discounted play and stay breaks for summer 2010 well worth checking out. The hotel boasts 3 varied bar/restaurants and full leisure facilities including a luxurious Thai Health Spa
El Resumen The Nicklaus team have transformed what is fairly flat terrain into a gently undulating and inventive golf course, suitable for all and little wonder its one of the busiest venues in Murcia. The off course service is second to none and will enhance the experience of La Torre, an outstanding all round Spanish treat.
JUNE • 2010
POLARIS WORLD
Away from the lush fairways and sea breezes of the coastal courses, take a trip further inland to the very edge of the Murcian mountains where the air is thin and the warm wind gently teases the sand in the plentiful traps. This is pure desert golf, intended by the Nicklaus design team to be faithful to their many successful projects in Arizona, USA. A more dramatic golfing location we have rarely found anywhere before. El Valle is raw, breathtaking majesty, the desert landscape is surrounded by natural rocks and crags, large varieties of desert grasses and bushes surround the fairways for that authentic feel. Playability wise its mid range in length but to us played much longer due to some stiff breezes, raised greens and the length of the Par 3’s which once again was very noticeable. The four short holes present formidable challenges from the longer tees although in typical Nicklaus fashion he does offer the easier option with two more generous tee boxes further forward. Yet a big hit from the yellows or whites and finding the green does feel good, there’s a stadium feel to some of these holes. Birdie opportunities do exist, especially on some of the shorter Par 4’s, the rough is fairly benign and should you venture deep into desert country there’s more than
likely to be a reasonable route back into play. It’s the bunkers that need avoiding, especially around the greens that will make heavy demands on your short game if you don’t quite get club selection right on approach shots.
El Valle
In true desert style if its hot out there you’ll be gasping for water deep into the back nine, and you get some too, and not just the very welcome free bottles dished out by the course staff. The 13th hole sees the first of the two lakes at El Valle that dominate the closing stages, both with elaborate and very attractive stream and cascading waterfall systems.
Favorito Hoyo 8th 318 metres Par 4 (Yellow Tees) A strategic challenge featuring many sand traps, most of them set around the long green situated below El Valle’s most imposing rock face. Aim left and be bold to find a clear view for your approach, a gloriously eerie atmosphere around the green.
Decienueve Hoyo What a clubhouse awaits the thirsty golfer, large and sumptuous, the patio area seats many. Despite its luxurious look its far from exclusive, catering for families on its restaurant menus and at the side there’s a games room with pool, darts and comfy sofas.
Resumen To go to Murcia golfing and not visit El Valle is something of a crime really. Differing ways to play the course as always for a Nicklaus design, players though are rewarded for taking a courageous approach in their strategies. Yet no matter how you cope with a challenge that genuinely tests everything about your game it’s the jaw-dropping setting and its aura that you will remember the most. THE GOLFER MAGAZINE
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