stoke park - Golf Features

Golf
Features.net
May 2016
Featuring:
Le Golf National
British Putting News
Stoke Park
Say Your Prayers - Church Pews and All
People in Golf - Diana M. Murphy
Everyone can putt, which is why adventure
golf is so successful.
Let people putt on your putting green and
enjoy more customers now. You will
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strong increase in your food and drink
business.
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at britishputting.com
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Golf
Features.net
Colin Jenkins PGA
Editor - Golf Features
Chairman - OGRO
Tel +44 (0)1580 715248
[email protected]
golffeatures.net
Rohan Barnett MSc
Production - Golf Features
Managing Director - OGRO
Tel +44 (0)1580 715043
[email protected]
ogro.org
Contents
Le Golf National - 3
British Putting News - 11
Stoke Park - 13
Say Your Prayers - Church Pews and All - 19
People in Golf - Diana M. Murphy - 27
Managing a Top Golf Club - 31
Retail News - 35
Golf Foundation News - 43
Golf Courses 4 Sale - 49
PGA News - 57
Machinery 4 Golf - 61
FootGolf Update - 67
News - 69
Classifieds - 79
Cover photo: The Majestic Le Golf National, Versailles.
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or experience of golf – EVERYONE CAN PUTT!!
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Editor Colin Jenkins PGA
Production Rohan Barnett MSc
Contributing Editors Carsten Hallas,
M. James Ward, Jerry Kilby
Advertising Marion Jenkins
Website sureline-design.co.uk
Printed by Pensord Ltd. - 01495 223721
Published by GRN Ltd. © GRN Ltd. 2016
Golf
Features.
women members and hope that those that voted for
the change continue to make the case for
modernisation of their club.”
The Scottish Golf Board is meeting later this
week
when the implications of this decision will be
net
considered. Scores of top golfers, including former
world number ones, Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald,
Editorial - April 2016
politicians and other prominent figures have all
condemned the decision. Lord Grade has also
219 Dishonourable Edinburgh Bigots
spoken out against the club being anti-Semitic and
As regular readers of this editorial will know, every
now and again an issue gets so far up my nose that claims to have been denied access as a guest once
it makes me mad. When I get mad, I can sometimes it was known that he was a member of the leading
Jewish club, Coombe Hill. This was admittedly twenty
offend, so please only read on if you are not easily
years ago, but now is the time to get rid of all
offended, as this has indeed made me cross.
The issue that’s bugging me, and many people in prejudice and discrimination. Who really cares what
golf at present is that of Muirfield Golf Club. Muirfield sex, religion, colour or sexuality someone is - its
whether they are fun, engaging and good company
is a celebrated links course just to the south of
on the golf course – these are the things that should
Edinburgh, which has hosted many a great
determine admittance to a club - particularly if that
championship in the past. It might be slightly over
club is seeking tax breaks and financial support from
rated as a course, but it is without doubt an historic
the government. If a club wishes to be exclusive,
venue. It is also quite correct that any club can
then I think it should lose the right to any financial
decide its own rules. This at least is the legal
exemptions that might be better offered to a more
position.
Recently Muirfield Golf Club decided not to admit inclusive group. How funny if the 219 frightful old
dinosaurs at Muirfield cost all such inward looking
women players as members, preferring to keep the
club as men only. The club, which has benefited from clubs their tax-exempt status.
Also in the name of fairness, or some might say
huge publicity and prestige from the Open
mischief, we spoke to the front desk at Muirfield and
Championship and other events that it has staged,
followed up with the following emailed questions:
has quickly been slapped down by the R&A – they
Please could you tell me if you think it’s fair that
immediately announced that Muirfield will not be
Muirfield
Golf Club members continue to enjoy VAT
considered for hosting the Open Championship until
exempt golf despite the fact that they will not allow
men and women are treated equally. What is even
women to be members?
more irritating is that these exclusive golfers at
Do you think members at Muirfield should be
Muirfield get their golf free of VAT. I think this is
prevented
from holding an official CONGU handicap?
slightly annoying to Nicola Sturgeon as well, who I’m
Do you think it is morally correct that women are
sure will now look into closing this disgraceful
excluded?
loophole for such non-inclusive clubs.
So well done to the R&A for preventing them
Stuart McEwen, the club secretary is stuck between
from basking in any future prestige from the Open
Championship. We asked Scottish Golf whether they a rock and a hard place. He is obviously a class act,
would continue to allow Muirfield Golf Club members in that he did have the courtesy to reply, but he could
to hold official handicaps. This would be the ultimate only restate the case that the decision required a
two-thirds majority to change the club’s rules. I
sanction, preventing any Muirfield members from
would like to offer my congratulations and support to
holding a CONGU handicap and therefore not being
the 397 wonderful, progressive Muirfield members
allowed to play at many of the courses that require
voting in favour of admitting women as members and
handicaps! Scottish Golf responded by saying:
my commiserations to them and the excellent golf
club staff for having to share their lovely course with
“We are disappointed with the decision from the
219 bigoted toads.
Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at
Muirfield. We believe every golf club has a duty to be
Best wishes, Colin Jenkins PGA
inclusive and reflect modern society. We take some
encouragement from the clear majority in favour of
2
LE GOLF NATIONAL
A Magnificent Setting for the 2018 Ryder Cup
In 2018, the Ryder Cup will be held on the
Albatros course at Le Golf National, in SaintQuentin-en-Yvelines, 20 miles to the west of Paris
at Guyancourt, near Versailles.
This will mark an historic achievement for
French golf and much careful planning has gone
into the event so far: there is a huge amount of
work to do before hosting what has become the
world’s biggest golf tournament. Indeed, the
3
infrastructure surrounding the golf course and the
playing surfaces needs to be so substantial that at
least five years of planning is required before any
course could host such an event.
Le Golf National, was founded in September
1985 by the Committee of the FFG (the French
Golf Federation) and its President, Claude-Roger
Cartier. The course took three years to create –
from July 1987 to October 1990 – and was
Left: The beautiful first hole at Le Golf National.
concept and mainly in the UK market, but Le Golf
National was created as the spectacular golfing
landscape that it is today from the importation of
millions of tones of material. Over a period of
three years 400 trucks per day transported
1.600.000 cubic metres of soil from building
projects in Paris, which, together with the
600.000 m3 already excavated on site to create
the water features, made up the general relief of
the courses and their surroundings. This allowed
the land to be modelled and to construct a golf
stadium as a venue for the Open de France and
various other national and international
competitions - and one that can be kept open to
all, all year round. The design team, therefore had
‘carte blanche’ to create a course which could
move in any direction, and water features which
initially could be placed anywhere to enhance the
layout.
New landscapes always take time to ‘bed-in’
and settle to their correct level, but the course
opened to critical acclaim in 1990 and the
following year held its first French Open. Sir Nick
Faldo deemed his score of 71 “Tough but fair”
after his opening round in the 1991 Open de
France. The French Open had found its home.
Other players from the European Tour also voiced
their approval and The Albatros is now firmly
established as one of the pros’ favourite courses
on the European Tour.
So is this a good course for all golfers? That is an
easy question – it is a beauty.
opened with an exhibition match featuring
legendary golfers Ray Floyd, Greg Norman, Jeff
Sluman and Marc Farry.
The site, which covers 139 hectares (over 340
acres), was completely flat and featureless
agricultural land, farmed since the days of Louis
XIV and the Château de Versailles.
The Albatros course was designed by the
architects Hubert Chesneau and Robert Von
Hagge, with additional input from Pierre Thevenin.
Some may think of inert importation as a new
The real feedback amongst most of the Tour
players is that they really enjoy playing the course,
and this is the same as amateur golfers, who
return from afar to play the course – a sure sign
of their approval. It is a great test - long and
difficult, particularly from the back tees, but
provides lots of fun and plenty of opportunity for
mishaps with so much water in play, particularly
on the closing holes.
We caught up with general manager Paul
Armitage:
4
“It is a real honour to be running the venue for the
Ryder Cup. There is an enormous amount of work
to do and I’m very fortunate to have a fantastic
team: we are all dedicated to making sure the
Ryder Cup goes off without any hitches and
becomes a beacon for French golf for many years
to come. We have had to bury thousands of
metres of fibre-optic cable, electricity points and
additional irrigation systems, along with importing
substantial amounts of soil to create new
undulations along some of the fairways, along
with new viewing areas for the spectators. We
have a tremendous team of 30 greenkeepers, and
this will double to around sixty for the Ryder Cup.
Golf in France is growing and the Ryder Cup can
help to give added impetus to the growth of the
game and get more French people playing. It is
bound to be brilliant for golf tourism too.”
The event, which will be held at the end of
September in 2018, can be affected by weather in particular rain. With this in mind, the drainage
system for the entire complex has been
completely overhauled resulting in most of the
5
Above: The Eagle course could be described as
even more charming and it's in pristine condition.
playing surfaces now having a drain every metre.
It is almost impossible to stop it raining, but it is
virtually impossible now for any water to linger on
any of the playing surfaces at Le Golf National.
The course was closed for much of the winter
so that the infrastructure work and additional
landscaping could be completed. The course now
has a new look to some of the holes, which will be
tested properly at the French Open in early July.
The greenkeeping team have crammed into
various projects of earthworks and renovations that normally a course would have taken several
years to undertake - into the last ten months, so it
is particularly satisfying to see the progress on the
course now that Spring has arrived. The course is
still showing a few scars from the renovations, but
these will hardly be visible by July and none of
these works affect the playing areas.
The finish of the course is fierce, regardless of
which set of tees you have elected to play. The
15th, 16th and 18th are all card wreckers, with
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deliciously wicked water hazards, beautifully
framed with sleepers, enticing your ball to their
watery depths. The venue is perfect for matchplay
and certainly ideal for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
The hotel is soon to have a major overhaul. It
has an art deco theme at present and the facelift,
which is planned over the next twelve months, will
make it a perfect match for the rest of the
facilities. For visitors to Le Golf National, there are
all sorts of packages available for those wanting
to stay and play. The service is excellent, as is the
quality of the food and drink, but what is perhaps
more surprising is that there is a real buzz to the
atmosphere in the clubhouse and hotel. This
ambiance is refreshingly lively, making it lots of
fun to party after play. There are many
renovations and improvements being carried out
to the facilities at present - but do not let that stop
you visiting, as the solutions to any of these minor
inconveniences have been well thought out, with
customers’ happiness the chief priority.
The rooms and suites have great views across
the courses and surrounds. They are beautifully
appointed and finished in a crisp, modern style,
7
Above: Water is very much in play on the 16th hole,
a fiendish par 3.
Right & next page: The golf range is massive and
allows for over a hundred people to use it at any
one time. The hotel and clubhouse complex are
behind.
yet with all the comforts that you would expect,
which includes well-positioned charging points for
electric trolley batteries. There is, of course, free
wi-fi throughout.
The shop is light and airy, and open plan with
a commanding position in the centre of the golf
complex. It is well stocked, and provides plenty of
well-priced balls, (a must for the wayward golfer
playing the Albatros course) and an extensive
range of decidedly French golf wear for men and
women, logoed elegantly, as you would expect in
this most stylish of settings.
Visitors to Le Golf National will almost certainly
come for the Albatros course, as it is such a treat
to play the same track as the competitors in the
next European Ryder Cup. But don’t miss the
chance to play a round on the second 18 hole
course - The Eagle Course, which was opened in
September 1991. For most golfers, this will be a
much more enjoyable course to play. It is
beautifully designed and a real test, but one that
rewards good golf and does not have the same
amount of water as the Albatros. Many people will
obviously seek to play the trophy course, but they
may be more charmed still by the Eagle.
There is also a nine-hole course, L’Oiselet,
which is pitched more at the beginner’s end of
the market, and next to this is the golf range. The
range is huge, catering for over 100 golfers at
any time, hitting from several different sides of the
facility. Some bays are covered, with Power Tees
and top quality mats, and there is also plenty of
provision for players to hit from the grass. The
open design of the range – with no rear wall –
allows for an airy environment in the hot
summers, whilst allowing great visibility of those
playing from the café, bar and shop area that is
located behind the range.
The golf academy is a thriving and important
part of the work that the Federation for French
Golf is doing to drive interest in the sport. There
are six full-time professionals and all are busy
with some form of teaching for much of the day.
The French have a beautiful attitude to leisure, but
work very hard at the sports at which they are
involved. Golf is no exception and the range and
the practice greens are full of eager golfers all
seeking to improve.
I lost count of the number of putting greens
that were available for golfers at Le Golf National,
but it is well into double figures - even more
putting surfaces maybe available by the time the
Ryder Cup arrives. All of the facility’s greens are
cut to highest of standards, with particular
attention paid to the Ryder cup course.
A visit for golf enthusiasts is a must and you can
find more details on this remarkable golf resort at:
www.golf-national.com
8
The Palace of Versailles is a huge tourist attraction
and should not be missed.
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British Putting News
British Open Putting Championship will the 2016 Champion come from your club?
All golf facilities in Great Britain are invited to
stage putting competitions at their venues this
summer and if they do, British Putting will invite
the winners of these competitions to compete in
the inaugural British Open Putting Championship
which will be held on the 1st and 2nd September
at Basildon Golf Course, Essex.
Winners in four categories: kids (12 and
under); teens (13-19) adults and seniors (over
65) from every putting competition nominated by
the golf facility as the ‘qualifying’ competition for
the BOPC will be invited to play in the 72 hole
putting championship, which will be held over the
two days.
Holding a putting competition at your club
couldn’t be easier, just choose a date and time,
and invite your members, their friends, local
golfers and non-golfers to come and have a go.
Charge a nominal entry fee, perhaps to cover
some prizes for winners on the day, and that’s it!
Some clubs we know are inviting sponsors to get
involved, and some others we know are using the
putting competition to raise money for local
charities.
Jerry Kilby, the Co-Founder of British Putting
said: “We have been in contact with private
members clubs who will be organising putting
competitions for the members and proprietary
clubs who will be welcoming participants from
their local community. We don’t mind, we are
just happy that golf clubs are finding ways to
utilise their putting greens better, and along the
way get some new people involved in the game
at this entry level, with a golf club in their hand, a
11
ball at their feet and a putting course to play.
What a great way to get golfers’ spouses,
partners, kids and parents involved in the club,
and show how family-friendly the golf club really
can be.”
Ever since cricket managed to reinvent itself so
powerfully with Twenty-20, the golfing world has
been looking for a similar equivalent: a shorter
form of the sport, one that could be enjoyed by
everyone, one that did not require a deep and
profound understanding and skill level to enjoy,
something that offered immediate excitement and
fun.
With an estimated 5,000 grass and
artificially-surfaced putting greens throughout the
country, the facilities already exist, but are (in
most cases) under-utilised and lying empty for
much of the time. The staging of putting
competitions can change all that and bring
people – both golfers and non-golfers – to your
facility.
Many golf clubs, golf centres and indoor
facilities have already submitted their details to
British Putting via the website
www.britishputting.com and all facilities with any
type of putting green are invited to please register
with British Putting and start planning your
putting competitions for the spring and summer.
You will keep all of the entry fees, sponsorship
income and F&B revenue from each event, so the
club is guaranteed to make a tidy profit.
British Putting is open to absolutely anyone
and any facility can join up and host events and
Due to the extremely generous backing of some of the
major sponsors, we are now able to offer a completely
free affiliation to British Putting.
For the foreseeable future there will be no charge
whatsoever to benefit from joining British Putting. This
free offer is open to facilities and coaches. It's easy to
register your facility, events and completely without cost.
be part of the organisation. British Putting will
be sharing revenue-generating ideas and case
studies (like the ones mentioned above) with
registered venues every month, so please register
and get involved.
We will be covering this in much more detail
in the coming months. There are so many great
opportunities to seize with this sport within a
sport, which is now emerging to far greater
prominence.
Please contact Colin Jenkins 07768 887033,
[email protected], or Jerry Kilby 07821 908597,
[email protected]
To find out more information, sign up and register
your interest, please visit: www.britishputting.com
Calling all Golf Coaches
do you give putting
lessons?
If you do, you should consider getting involved in
British Putting, the new national programme that
is focused on getting more people to putt – the
easiest first step to take towards playing golf.
Less than 8% of the UK population play the
full length game of golf, but perhaps 88% of the
UK population can putt, and have a great deal of
fun and enjoyment with friends and family when
they do.
If you have an Adventure Golf facility at your
golf club, great, but if you don’t, you can use
your putting green. Set up a six, nine or
eighteen-hole course (whatever you can fit in)
and then get organising a competition.
British Putting is inviting all PGA professionals
who provide putting lessons to register as a
coach, so visitors to our website can see where
they can get lessons, clinics and learn to putt.
No doubt, you will be able to help those that
want to step up to the full-length version of the
game, but if they just want to have fun putting,
we are sure you can help them do that at your
facility.
To register as a coach, please visit our
website www.britishputting.com and complete
the online registration. It is free to register and
this entitles you to an entry in our listing of
putting coaches, and space where you can
provide your name, contact numbers, email,
website and any other information. You will also
be able to describe the coaching services you
provide (individual and group lessons, school
holiday golf camps, clinics and anything else),
and finally, you will be able to plot your location
on Google Maps, so people can find you easily.
A great value listing to advertise your golf
coaching services.
We will be covering this in much more detail in
the coming months. There are so many great
opportunities to seize with this sport within a
sport, which is now emerging to far greater
prominence.
Please contact Colin Jenkins 07768 887033,
[email protected], or Jerry Kilby 07821 908597,
[email protected]
To find out more information, sign up and register
your interest, please visit: www.britishputting.com
12
STOKE PARK
Stoke Park Re-Opens Masterpiece Front Nine
The recently re-opened first nine holes at Stoke
Park Country Club, Spa & Hotel – the historic Colt
course – have been heralded by club members as
“brilliant”, “fantastic” and “the best feature of the
club”.
Golf club members had exclusive early access
13
to the nine holes, which have undergone major
bunker renovation during the winter months.
Although the shape and size of the bunkers have
changed, the renowned strategic positioning
remains, and members hailed the effect the
changes had made, not just to the challenge of
Left: The par 3 third hole has recently been
transformed by the addition of new bunkers.
difference. These are a different class – if you’re
in a bunker now, you’re penalised; and that’s the
way golf should be played.
“It’s made a massive difference to the sixth and
eighth holes. Visually, the sixth is brilliant and on
eight, it’s changed the hole completely. It’s a more
strategic course now. You have to really think
about how you’re going to play each hole and
each shot.”
His sentiments were echoed by other members,
including Russell Hardwick, who plays off a
handicap of 26.
He added: “I really enjoyed the front nine, it looks
fantastic. Certainly hole eight is challenging. It’s
very playable. The course has been enhanced, no
question about it, and I prefer it now.”
Twelve-handicapper Vince Murphy concurred,
adding: “I think the changes are absolutely
fantastic. The eighth is stunning – you can’t see
the green for the second shot so you have to do it
all by yardage, which is brilliant. The way it’s all
finished off, with the grass on top of the bunkers
is excellent. It certainly enhances the course. It’s
become a different golf course, far better than it
was previously and I’m quite excited about the
work to be carried out on the remaining 18.”
the course, but also to its playability.
Club captain John Sweeney said: “I think the
changes on the course are magnificent. The
bunkers will play a lot harder, but when the work
on 10 to 18 is carried out next winter it will take
the whole course to a new level. It’s not just an
aesthetic thing; that’s good, but it’s the quality –
and depth – of the bunkering that makes the real
David Pitt, an 18-handicapper, said: “It’s excellent,
it feels like a new nine. It’s very exciting.”
And 20-handicapper Allan Gibbons added: “I think
it’s transformed the front nine – it looks brilliant. I
think the changes make eight a fantastic hole.”
Andy Smith, who plays off a 21 handicap, opined:
“I think it has turned what used to be the worst
feature of the club into one of the best. The
bunkers used to let down the course, really. But
now they are outstanding. The eighth used to be a
fairly benign hole, but it’s now a real test and
makes the closing three holes of the front nine
really challenging and difficult.”
Lady members at the club were also enthusiastic
14
Above: The bunkers have been carefully designed
to provide perfect drainage, ideal playing
conditions but also a real threat to the golfer. The
fact that they are a visual treat is an added bonus.
but fair if you think it through – it’s a good mental
workout too. I’m already excited about the
transformation of 10 to 18 next year.”
The work on the opening nine Colt holes was part
of a seven-figure facelift of Stoke Park’s 27 holes,
which were created by the legendary – and
eponymous – designer Harry Colt in 1908.
Golf Features Editor, Colin Jenkins was also
amongst a lucky few journalists invited to sample
the new layout. He added:
“It is, and has always been a real pleasure to
And Judy Fitch, who plays off 17, added: “It looks visit Stoke Park. The three loops of nine are
always in remarkable condition. It is also fair to
very pleasing to the eye and it’s incredibly
challenging. The ninth is particularly difficult when say that they were not a terrifically difficult
you’re coming up and driving through the two new challenge for the better golfer. The new layout is a
bunkers on the bridge of the hill. There are subtle completely different experience to the previous
course. In the past, the longer hitters could safely
changes but it’s just a case of getting used to a
‘whale away’ off the tee and normally manage to
new course. Overall, it’s very positive.”
Lady captain Julie Cunnah, who plays off 27, said: get their next on or close to the green from the
“It looks beautiful. The position of the bunkers and rough. The course now plays to a far more
the rough means we all have to hone our course- intelligent golfer and hitting the fairways is the
only way to score well. The tee shots are now so
management skills. I’m thinking carefully about
much more rewarding, as they have been
what club to use to avoid trouble. Aesthetically,
each hole has improved; the course is challenging designed to give all players options on their route
about the changes to the bunkers. Jill Dodds, a
12-handicapper, said: “I think it looks much better
and the sand is a fantastic improvement. Overall I
think the changes have improved the course
massively – more difficult but also more
enjoyable.”
15
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Λ∗+(∗+
Above: The par-3 seventh was the inspiration for
the 12th at Augusta. With its newly revamped
bunkers the similarity continues
to the green, but the optimum line must be
closely followed if you are not to drop shots.
Perhaps best of all though, is the visual impact of
the new work. Stuart and Alex have done an
outstanding job of getting the bunkers to sit so
well and to frame the fairways and greens in such
great style. It is daring and bold and a design
masterpiece, worthy of Harry Colt himself.”
One of the best ways to experience the re-opened
course is with Stoke Park’s exclusive Harry Colt
break, which includes one night’s B&B
accommodation in a Superior Room; a threecourse dinner in the three AA rosette Humphry’s
fine dining restaurant; and 18 holes of golf per
person, which costs from £309.
17
Stoke Park Country Club, Spa & Hotel is one of
just two five-AA Red Star golf clubs in England
and the historic land on which it stands is
recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. It was
awarded the accolade of ‘Ultimate Members Club’
at the annual 59club Service Excellence Awards
last year.
The historic course played host to the PGA
Matchplay in 1910 and, even more famously, the
golf match between Sean Connery’s James Bond
and Auric Goldfinger, in the 1964 film, Goldfinger.
It also has a thriving golf club with around 800
active members.
To book the Harry Colt golf break, enquire about a
corporate golf day with an exclusive hole-in-one
opportunity, or for more general information on
the club, please call 01753 717171, or email
[email protected].
www.stokepark.com
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SAY YOUR PRAYERS CHURCH PEWS AND
ALL
Oakmont Hosts Record 9th US Open
by M. James Ward
2016 marks my 30th US Open in covering this
year's championship Oakmont Country Club - the
tour de force facility located just several miles
from downtown Pittsburgh, PA. The famed club
serves a record 9th time as the host venue for the
national championship of American golf. This
marks the fourth time I have covered a US Open
from Oakmont - the earlier times coming in '83,
19
'94 and '07. There are a number of key courses
that have been host to the US Open but in my
mind only three are worthy in being among the
elite trio - Pebble Beach, Shinnecock Hills and
Oakmont. The aforementioned troika deserves to
host the second oldest major at least once every
ten years.
Oakmont has crowned notable winners of the
Left: The long demanding par-4 18th finishes
immediately in front of Oakmont's stately
clubhouse.
round to leap frog a stellar leaderboard and claim
the title. Miller's round was achieved in hitting all
18 greens in regulation - and ending with just 29
putts. Although the number 63 has been matched
numerous times since then - it is Miller's that
stand alone as the lowest find round to win a
major championship. For the round to have been
done at Oakmont has only added to the allure of
its accomplishment.
The UK-equivalent to Oakmont is Scotland's
Muirfield. Both layouts are exacting but will yield
low scores with stellar play and each is blessed
with s listing of champions that clearly ratifies the
pedigree of the layouts.
Oakmont came into being as the sole design
of Henry Clay Fownes - his first and only design.
Construction began on Sept. 15, 1903 - with a
crew of men, horses, mules and scrapers. Play
began less than one year later on Oct. 1, 1904.
Oakmont from the very beginning was built on one
premise - reward only the finest of shots and
punish with vengeance any shot - most especially
putts - played even slightly indifferently. Befitting
his Calvinistic-belief - Fownes believed
forgiveness was something only The Creator could
provide. “A shot poorly played should be a shot
irrevocably lost,” and his famous companion
thunder: “Let the clumsy, the spineless, the alibi
artist stand aside!”
Oakmont's ferocious reputation is not
bolstered with a large body of water either next to
it like Pebble Beach or nearby like Shinnecock
Hills. Oakmont is stark in its appearance - early on
trees were few in number - in many ways
resembling an interior links. To bolster the design,
Fownes placed numerous bunkers - at its height
US Open through the years - names such as
nearly 350 scattered about. That total now
Tommy Armour, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack
numbers 210. To complicate matters, Fownes
Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Larry Nelson, Ernie Els
and Angel Cabrera are among its roster of superb ingeniously - or cruelly - created a furrow
instrument used to "rake" the bunkers. The furrow
champions. The lone unknown winner came in
would often cause balls to find its dastardly "V"
1935 when Sam Parks won the event - the only
competitor to break 300. But it was the 1973 US area and make escape truly an art form. The
Open that brought to centre stage one of the most United States Golf Association (USGA) banned
their usage from greenside bunkers in the '62
electric moments in all of championship golf. A
26-year-old golfer from California - named Johnny event and eventually decided that in all future
Opens at Oakmont enough was enough and
Miller - fired a record 8-under-par 63 in the final
20
ended in totality their involvement.
Still, competitors had best avoid the wellknown "church pews" bunkers that straddle the
3rd and 4th holes as well as at the long par-4
15th. The pews are diabolical in their lethal
performance. Sand exists but it is a series of
grass covered mounds positioned perpendicular to
the line of play that can be nightmarish for any
player hooking too far. Once you hit the church
pews it is anything but a day at the beach.
Clearly, the main issue for Oakmont to handle
internally was the profusion of trees that
accelerated throughout the property. Video footage
from the '73, '83 and '94 Opens shows an
Oakmont choked with trees. Prior to the '07 Open
a movement took hold - at first only with a small
group of senior leaders at the club who wanted to
restore Oakmont as envisioned by its founder. The
removal of trees initially happened during evening
hours and in the winter months - keeping most
members unaware of the activities. Eventually, the
plan was unearthed and possible litigation
appeared likely until it was decided to proceed
21
Above: The renowned Church Pews bunkers are a
severe penalty to avoid at all costs.
ahead. All told, approximately 7,500 trees were
removed prior to the '07 Open and since that time
a comparable amount has also been removed primarily from the perimeter of the property. The
vistas of the course are now totally exposed from
the high point occupied at the clubhouse.
The teeth of Oakmont revolves around its
devilish putting surfaces. Along with Oakland Hills
/ South and Winged Foot / West the ones found at
Oakmont are easily the swiftest and most vexing
of its kind. The greens are kept ultra-fast even for
regular member play and it's no joke when
members say the speed in which Open
competitors play is actually slower than what they
handle daily. The putting surfaces are angled to
encourage only the most well-played of
approaches - often times there are specific holes
where the green actually runs downhill from frontto-back - especially at the demanding 1st and
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10th holes.
When people marvel at how Tiger Woods
never hit a bunker when winning the '00 Open
Championship at The Old Course at St. Andrews equally impressive is the fact that '62 Open
champion Jack Nicklaus only had one three-putt
green in 90 holes when vanquishing Arnold
Palmer in their historic playoff. That is truly
incredible when four and five putts are not
uncommon.
Since the '07 event there have been very few
changes to the course. The back of the 6th green
has been expanded so additional pin placements
are now doable. At the long par-5 12th measuring 667 yards, but still just the second
longest par-5 ever played in a US Open - two new
bunkers were removed and one expanded. The
total yardage for the championship 7,219 yards 11 fewer than what was played in '07 with the
par remaining 70 as the uphill 9th will once again
play as a par-4 hole.
Given the inherent challenges Oakmont
presents the key will be in the overall course setup. In the '83 event the off-fairway rough was so
deep and dense that often times a simply wedge
out was the only recourse. USGA Executive
Director Mike Davis has been quite imaginative
23
Above: Removing 15,000+ trees provides a
panoramic view of Oakmont's property -- free of
unnecessary clutter.
since becoming the point man for US Open setups - starting with the '06 event at Winged Foot /
West.
The US Open clearly elevated winner Jordan
Spieth last year at Chambers Bay and reconfirmed
his earlier Masters win in '15 was anything but a
fluke. Oakmont is a relentless punishing test of
golf - it will not permit consistent wayward driving
no matter how far players hit it today. The course
will also force players to demonstrate
extraordinary patience since unlike many PGA
Tour events the wherewithal to avoid the big
numbers will be essential since the course will not
feature an endless supply of birdie opportunities.
After the newness of Chambers Bay and the
uncertainty of what will happen in '17 when the
US Open ventures to another new site in Erin Hills
in Wisconsin - the return of Oakmont to centre
stage is indeed most welcomed for what it is
always done so well - define greatness.
FOUR HOLES WORTH WATCHING AT OAKMONT
by M. James Ward
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24
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People in Golf
DIANA M. MURPHY
President of United States Golf Association (USGA)
In February 2016, Diana M. Murphy, of St. Simons
Island, Ga., was elected as the United States Golf
Association’s 64th president, the second woman
in its history to hold the organisation’s highest
position. She is serving her sixth year as a
member of the USGA Executive Committee first as
president, having previously served as treasurer in
2013 and as vice president in 2014 and 2015.
We recently sat down with Ms. Murphy to discuss
the USGA and her new role.
but one in particular is special to me and
maintains permanent residency in my office. It is a
scarred MacGregor 4-wood with a steel shaft and
old-fashioned leather grip, with Ben Hogan’s name
across the top. To me, it is a constant reminder of
the eternal allure of golf, a game that has survived
600 years by constantly evolving.“
Golf Features: You were just elected to be
the USGA’s president, just the second woman in
the Association’s history. What has changed for
“Although he died when I was an infant, my father women golfers since the first woman, Judy Bell,
is the reason I am where I am today. His love of
held the position? Has much really changed,
golf was passed down to me through my brother. especially for women’s golf at the public-course
My father came to America from England and
level, since 20 years ago?
worked hard in the coalmines, but every time he
found himself with spare time, he spent it on the
Diana Murphy: First, it is an honour to be
golf course.
mentioned with Judy Bell. She actually
I don’t own many of my father’s keepsakes,
encouraged me to get involved with the USGA
27
Membership Committee during her presidency. As
for women’s golf, it is something that is very
important to the Association, as evidenced by our
involvement with LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, and the
addition of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in
2018. With the Senior Women’s Open, the USGA
now has a national championship for every
demographic. Our continued involvement with the
Masters Tournament and The PGA of America on
Drive, Chip & Putt has been a great vehicle for
outreach to youth golfers. The enthusiasm of the
competitors is so exciting to see and we know the
event will continue to gain momentum going
forward.
Golf Features: If you had to name one
specific agenda item of utmost importance during
your expected two-year time frame as USGA
president, what would it be and how do you
expect to carry it out?
Diana Murphy: I spoke about my “Plus
One” philosophy at the Annual Meeting. It’s
simple: I want everyone to reach out to someone
this year and introduce them to golf. Ideally, it
would be someone from a different background
who may be interested in golf, but doesn’t know
how to get involved. We want to encourage golfers
to serve as mentors. Making an investment in
another individual is a powerful gift. The Plus One
does not even have to play; they can volunteer at
a championship or even just watch the game on
TV. It all makes an impact in some way, and this
game is too great not to be shared.
Golf Features: The female golf population
in the States has remained at a roughly flat
percentage figure when compared to other sports.
Left and below Diana Murphy, 64th President of the
USGA.
28
Golf Features: What role can the USGA
play to get more women playing the game - and
parallel to that - equally do on the side of minority
participation?
Diana Murphy: Our work with initiatives
such as LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, The First Tee, and
Drive, Chip & Putt provides the means and
motivation for youth to get involved in the game. A
lot of this game’s future success will be reliant on
getting kids interested at a young age and
keeping them engaged to play the game for a
lifetime. We continue to make strides for greater
inclusion and ways to play the game that are
more time friendly. By supporting programmes like
Play9, we hope to get people out on the course to
see how much fun it is and how the game can be
played in a shorter amount of time. We are also
asking ourselves, along with other golf
organisations, what else can we do? Stay tuned,
we have big plans.
Golf Features: If you could change one
thing in golf unilaterally what would it be?
Golf Courses 4 Sale
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Diana Murphy: I am really excited about
the work we are doing to modernise the Rules of
the game. There is a need to consolidate and
organise the Rules of Golf in a plain-spoken,
easier-to-understand format. It is something we
have active conversations about and I expect we
will hear more about it in the next couple of
years.
Golf Features: The USGA has brought
forward a new requirement that golf scores can
no longer be posted for handicap purposes if the
person doing so has played by themselves. Since
golf is fundamentally a game of honour, what was
broken with the past practice?
Diana Murphy: Handicap manipulation is
an area of contention from golf facilities and the
concept of peer review is important in maintaining
the integrity of the USGA Handicap System. Golf is
also becoming an increasingly global game and as
players compete with one another around the
world, it is important to assure that a Handicap
Index® has value.
Golf Features: You and your husband,
Reg, are the first couple to hold the presidency of
the USGA. What is it like when the two of you
discuss USGA situations, given his past
connection and your long involvement with the
Association?
Diana Murphy: Reg and I talk about our
individual golf games, our travel schedule and elite
golfers regularly, but we don’t talk about the
USGA. That is off limits.
Golf Features: You’ve got one round left
to play – where do you tee it up, and who makes
up your foursome?
Diana Murphy: My ideal foursome would
include my husband, Reg, Arnold Palmer and
Davis Love III, and I would let Arnie or Davis
decide where we should play. I’ve only played
approximately 100 courses. I want to play 1000
more before I make a final choice.
29
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MANAGING A TOP
GOLF CLUB
Golf Features takes a look behind the scenes at London
Golf Club and how it is run.
London Golf Club is close to Brands Hatch, a short
hop on a helicopter from London, and well placed
in the busy South-East of the UK. The club is
pitched at the top of the tree and is ideal for those
wishing to enjoy premium quality golf on two
outstanding courses with a relaxed, yet elegant,
environment to socialise in before and after
playing. The club has a multi-million pound
turnover and whilst it would be vulgar to discuss
actual sums, it is quite clear that this is a
substantial golf business.
At the heart of the business is club
membership, with annual fees making up nearly a
third of all revenues. There are over four hundred
individual members and about 120 corporate
memberships: both sets of members are very
important to the London Golf club and work well
together. Membership of the London Golf Club is
not cheap, but represents excellent value for
money when you consider that there are two
immaculately manicured Nicklaus Design courses
available throughout the year, enviable practice
facilities and a vast - but intimate - clubhouse,
which is a fabulous place to enjoy regardless of
your golfing prowess.
The management of the whole complex is split
into sections, with Austin Gravestock as Chief
Executive and Dan Naudo as General Manager,
with Peter Todd running all of the grass
management, heading up an impressive team of
27 greenkeepers. Paul Stuart PGA is Director of
Golf, being responsible for delivering all aspects of
coaching, custom fit and associated golf services.
The team work very well together with their
shared goal of ensuring that all customers,
members and visitors get the best possible
service and golfing experience. Everything is
considered to ensure that this happens and the
level of detail that is covered is remarkable.
Behind the scenes there is a major bag and
31
trolley storage area and members booking their
round will have their clubs prepared for their
game. There is a fleet of 50 Club Car buggies with
the latest Visage GPS system, which not only
allows the golfer to know the exact yardage from
buggy to the green (front, centre and back), but
also allows the management to know where the
buggies are on the course and how much battery
charge is left in each buggy, which really helps to
avoid letting anyone down with low battery issues:
this is a typical example of the club’s attitude to
ensuring that problems are eliminated before they
can surface. Paul Stuart is responsible for the Golf
Services team who look after the golfers’ needs
and warmly encourage them to enjoy their game delightfully never having to chivvy players along,
as their presence alone encourages a good pace
of play.
Members can also pay to have an electric
trolley for the year. This service is again run
through the Golf Services team. A member then
has a fully primed Powakaddy ready for their
arrival. This again is a really thoughtful service, as
the hassle and inconvenience of transporting
charged batteries to and from the car and
charging them up, etc, is neatly removed.
Many of the cars at the London Golf Club are
really special and it can look like a supercar
showroom at times, with V8’s and V12’s burbling
with exotic power as they prowl in and out of the
members’ car park.
The club has recently introduced a member
photograph at all of the terminals. This is one of
the excellent innovations from ESP to improve the
efficiency of the operation. If a member hands
their card to a member of staff for any item to be
purchased, the photo is instantly displayed on the
terminal screen, which increases security to
ensure that all sales are ordered by the actual
member signing, whilst also allowing new staff to
get to know the names and faces of each
valuable member. The personal touch is vital
to all clubs, no matter what they charge or
how big or small they are, but the practicality
of getting everyone’s name right across a
staff of a hundred people is made far easier
by this excellent addition to the ESP
management system. Staff all carry their
personal wristband, which is the easiest way
to let each transaction create an easy to
follow audit trail, should the need arise.
The General Manager, Dan Naudo, said:
“We are always striving to deliver the best
service we can, and ESP has helped us to
achieve this with their technology and their
professional attention to our requirements. We
are all very impressed with the ease of the
system and their outstanding back up.”
ESP had previously been used at the London
Golf Club until 2010, when NFS Hospitality
was used for a few years. This includes
terminals at every point of the business,
including the greenkeepers’ complex, so that
Peter Todd and his team can check on the
course bookings to make sure that they can
prepare the course and carry out all the specialist
maintenance programmes without getting in the
way of the golfers. Lee Turner-Jefferies from ESP
spoke to Golf Features:
“We were very disappointed to lose the contract
here in the first instance, but obviously respected
the decision. We always keep up a dialogue with
all of our friends in the golf industry, current and
past clients - and we hope future customers. We
want to know how they are doing and we are
always happy to help, even if it doesn’t
immediately lead to a sale. To be able to
reintroduce our most advanced system to the
London Golf Club was a real pleasure and they
now have the best tools to provide the finest
customer care for their whole operation. We have
rarely seen anyone who goes to such great
lengths to ensure that they can deliver the best
service, and they richly deserve to be at the
leading edge of quality golf facilities.”
The club uses a membership credit system all
Above: Dan Naudo is proud to represent London
Golf Club.
implemented using 7 point of sale terminals and a
total of 38 PC users for the ESP management
system. A member can use their credit to pay for
any service or product and this has to be perfectly
administered and exact. Members of staff gently
insist on a card swipe for each transaction, which
prevents any misunderstandings when their
statements come through each month.
The golf shop has a substantial turnover and
has developed over the last few years into a golf
shop and fashion boutique. Refreshingly, London
Golf Club has no silly dress rules: there is a theme
of smart informality to those using the club, with
jeans welcome, so many take full advantage of
the shops range of fashion products (including
designer jeans). Mobile phones are also allowed,
with most using their devices with suitable
discretion so that nobody is inconvenienced.
London Golf Club is a joint venture partner
with the PGA European Tour. This has resulted in
32
several very prestigious events being staged at
the venue, most recently the 2014 World
Matchplay Championship and previously the
European Open and other mainstream events for
both professionals and amateurs. The club is soon
to host the Brabazon Trophy, the most prestigious
of England Golf’s stroke play events and it is
bound to attract the cream of amateur golf. Peter
and his team will have the course in pristine order
for the event, which is nothing unusual, as the
course is always in superb condition.
There are several food and drink areas at
London Golf Club. The main golfers bar is a
thriving hub for the club, which has its own
kitchen and bar and can cater for the normal
trade from two busy courses, without problem. It
has its own patio area and golfers tend to spill out
onto the patio to watch their friends and
colleagues complete their rounds while enjoying a
suitably fine glass of revitalising fluid. The food is
well priced and cooked to the very highest
standards and served beautifully in the sumptuous
surrounds. The club has succeeded in creating a
great atmosphere - it feels comfy and clubby,
33
Above: The golf shop has a boutique feel and carries
a lot of fashion brands including designer jeans.
whilst being undeniably special.
There are four further function rooms, which
can host huge weddings or smaller corporate
gatherings. The first Sunday in each month is set
aside for club lunches and they are very popular
and a great way to gel the membership and
encourage other family members and friends to
come to the club.
London Golf Club won planning permission for
a major new hotel to add to its existing facilities.
The initial infrastructure for the project has been
completed, thus winning a certificate of
commencement and retaining the planning gain
indefinitely. Timing for the start of work on this
major new project is a closely guarded secret, but
it is certain that the complex will always be
amongst the best managed facilities in its class.
For more details please visit:
www.londongolfclub.com
ESP Leisure
the obvious choice for
golf operators
call Lee on 020 8251 5100
WWWe-s-p.com
Golf Retail
Monthly Dashboard and Commentary
March some good news.
What a difference a month can make. Nine out
of the eleven product groups reported on by Golf
Datatech for Golf Features were showing positive
growth for the month in value terms. These were
gloves +1.6%, woods +2.0%, trolleys +5.3%,
shoes +6.9%, weatherwear and irons both
+7.0%, apparel +10.3%, bags +13.2%, and
wedges a staggering +55.4%. The two down
were balls -5.4% and putters in contrast to
wedges -5.6%.
In volume terms for the month the picture was
considerably different. Five groups were up: shoes
+1.0%, apparel +3.8%, weatherewear +4.9%,
bags +8.7% and wedges not surprisingly
+26.4%.
Year to date figures for the first quarter in
value terms show six product groups well up,
ranging from +7.0% for irons to +22.8% for
irons, good news. The remaining five groups show
declines ranging from -2.1% for gloves to -10.8%
for balls. In volume terms five product groups are
up ranging from +3.2% for shoes to +9.3% for
weatherwear, while the groups down were irons 2.8%, gloves -3.4%, woods -10.3%, balls usually a guide as to how much is being played 11.3%, putters -16.0% and trolleys -17.2%.
The moving annual totals clearly demonstrate the
continuing picture with values showing a health
increase while volumes continue to slowly decline.
Golf Datatech is a world leader in golf industry
research. It provides the trade with specialised
market research covering retail sales, inventory,
pricing, distribution, along with consumer attitude
and usage studies, strategic sales and marketing
consultancy.
In the UK, Golf Datatech research is based on an
average of 2,000,000 records per month,
recorded by EPOS systems at the point of sale.
For more information and or a deeper analysis
see www.golfdatatecheurope.com
Definition: Moving Annual Total (MAT)
The total value of sales figures for a product or
products, over the course of the previous 12 months.
This is a rolling yearly sum, which changes at the end of
each month with data from the new month added to the
total and data from the first month of the period taken
away thus providing a valuable trend line.
35
Total Sales: Total Market
Total Market - Moving Annual Sales Value (£000’s) Jan 2011 - March 2016
Balls Sales
Balls moving - annual sales (‘000 doz) Jan 2011 - March 2016
36
37
Total Sales of Balls
Total Sales of Woods
Total Sales of Wedges
Total Sales of Shoes
Total Sales of Trollies
Total Sales of Apparel
Total Sales of Irons
Total Sales of Putters
Total Sales of Gloves
Total Sales of Bags
Total Sales of Weatherwear
THE GOLF
DATATECH RETAIL
DASHBOARD,
WHAT’S MOVING
IN THE RETAIL
WORLD
38
Exclusif Golf launches Honma & PXG Mobile Fittings
A new service which opens the way for UK golf
clubs to sell ultra-premium golf brands Honma
and PXG, without tying up large sums of money in
stock, launches this week.
Called Exclusif Golf, the mobile custom-fitting
service is initially targeted at golf clubs around
London and the South East, but expansion to
cover the rest of the UK is expected soon.
An eight-month trial at a group of clubs around
London has proven successful, and the service is
now being rolled out to cater for potential Honma
and PXG customers at any golf club in the area.
Custom-fitter and clubmaker Richard Edginton
travels to fit the customers, with the follow-up
handled by Exclusif Golf’s UK manager Andy
Hiseman.
“Honma is very popular among golfers who are
prepared to spend a little more for that extra
performance and quality,” said Hiseman, who is
the main contact for all enquiries. “It is a complex
range with a lot of choice, including a huge array
of Honma’s own shafts, and requires a specialist
custom-fit to ensure the customer finds the right
39
spec for his or her game. And the sudden
explosion of interest in PXG – another brand at a
premium price point – has come from the brand’s
spectacular recent growth on the PGA Tour. Early
reactions to the clubs have been off the charts.
“This is why we have now rolled out Exclusif
Golf – to make it very easy for any golf club to
capitalise on the growing interest in these two
ultra-high quality, painstakingly-fitted, handcrafted golf brands. Simply call us when you have
a customer who is interested, and our fitter will
arrange to visit. We handle all aspects, and pay
the golf club a good commission on all sales.
“With Honma and PXG, the performance statistics
you can achieve on a launch monitor are usually
spectacular, when compared to your current
clubs” said Hiseman. “We were delighted that
Richard agreed to come on board this springtime,
and we are looking forward to a busy summer
fitting golfers for these two amazing golf brands.”
Call 01226 781000 or email
[email protected] to arrange a visit.
Bushnell Golf makes
distances simple with
neo iON GPS watch
New Bushnell neo iON offers market leading
technology to help provide accurate yardages in a
sleek and comfortable design
Bushnell Golf introduces the next generation
of their GPS offerings with the new neo iON Golf
GPS watch, which provides golfers with the
market leading technology synonymous with
Bushnell products, all in the convenience of a
sleek, stylish and comfortable watch.
The neo iON is Bushnell’s lightest and thinnest
golf watch to date, and has been redesigned to
meet the ever-changing needs of golfers wanting
a fashionable device that is packed full of features
and can be worn both on and off course.
The new device is incredibly easy to use, it
has no membership fees, and comes pre-loaded
with more than 35,000 courses in over 30
countries. This extensive course mapping is
combined with instant course recognition and auto
hole advance, two features which continue to be a
big hit amongst golfers, to ensure that the device
is ready to use straight out of the box.
The neo iON also boasts marketing-leading
battery life, allowing golfers to play for longer with
over three rounds of use between charges,
building upon its predecessor, the neo XS which
offered golfers more battery life than any other
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40
GPS watch on the market.
Full feature list:
• Over three rounds between charges
“Creating Tour-trusted technologies is a priority,
• Over 35,000 courses worldwide preloaded for
but we also understand everyday golfers want
instant use
those exclusive technologies available in an easy- • Instant course recognition and auto hole
to-use watch,” said Scott Peterson, Senior Product
advance
Manager at Bushnell. “With the popularity of
• Easy-to-read front/centre/back distances
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• Hazard layup distances (up to four per hole)
created the fashion-forward, user-friendly neo iON • Shot distance calculator
with improved technologies providing golfers the
• Round time and distance travelled information
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• New integrated step counter
price.”
• Odometer
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In addition, the neo iON further builds upon the
successful features of the previous neo XS model Bushnell, the #1 choice of professional golfers,
by featuring a new integrated step counter which offers a full array of rangefinders, which continue
allows golfers to monitor their distance travelled,
to change and improve the way golfers assess
speed and total activity time throughout their
distances, ultimately improving performance.
round of golf and wider daily life.
The neo iON Golf GPS Watch will be available For more information on the Bushnell family of
from authorised Bushnell stockists from May, with rangefinders, visit the company’s website at
a suggested retail price of £139.
www.bushnellgolf.co.uk For supplier information
please contact Bushnell on: 0208 391 4700
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41
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42
Golf Foundation News
people can design their own golf course to suit
their environment. StreetGolf offers an immediate
link to a range of local community sports projects
Eagles were on the scorecard at Crystal Palace FC
up and down the country and the key is to offer
as former striker Mark Bright and friends used the
follow-on opportunities for youngsters at golf
power of football to help young people ‘Get into
facilities in their area.
Golf’ on Monday 9th May.
The Crystal Palace FC Foundation works for
Keen golfer Mark Bright was an inspirational
the latest Premier League team to offer golf as
guest as the Golf Foundation and Crystal Palace
part of their Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S)
FC Foundation created a special 9-hole golf
programme. Eighteen professional football clubs
course with a difference inside Selhurst Park,
now work with the Golf Foundation to help deliver
home to the aptly named ‘Eagles’, to promote golf
HSBC Golf Roots, which has the goal of bringing
as a sport to youngsters from the wider local
all the benefits of golf to young people as one of
community.
their favourite sports.
Crystal Palace staff offered a fantastic
The eight teams attending the day had been
welcome. Bright led the way as boys and girls
selected from HSBC Golf Roots projects in the
were given an ‘access all areas’ pass to hit shots
area (and an invited team from Southampton FC),
down the players’ tunnel, chip into the dugout,
which are all linked to golf venues and PGA
shoot into the goal, drive from the stand onto the
professional coaches. They included young people
pitch and putt in the trophy room – all before
from two schools that cater for boys and girls with
enjoying a well-earned picnic in the centre circle!
Special Educational Needs (SEN) and a team from
The creative golf format from the Golf
one of these, Sunnydown School, was the winner
Foundation is known as ‘StreetGolf’, where young
HSBC Golf Roots –
where Eagles dare!
43
Left and Below: Eight teams of youngsters
enjoyed great hospitality at Crystal Palace FC for
a day of StreetGolf.
on the day.
A team from Crystal Palace FC will now play
in the national StreetGolf final against other
Premier League 4 Sport clubs in June. A similar
big stadium golf event was held at Derby County’s
iPro Stadium last week, in which teams from
Derby, Aston Villa and Stoke City battled it out in
their own StreetGolf challenge.
Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf
Foundation, said: “The whole staff at Crystal
Palace were absolutely superb in welcoming all
the young people. The Premier League 4 Sport
partnership is very exciting indeed because it
provides golf with the opportunity to reach a much
wider audience using the power of football, telling
the golf story to potentially thousands of new
youngsters.”
He added: “Today was about fun but also great
partnerships. We are extremely grateful to the
Crystal Palace FC Foundation and also to the
team at Community Golf, the PGA professionals
involved and the local schools.”
This golf project is a partnership between the Golf
Foundation, PL4S and Sport England, and
supports England Golf’s wider ‘Get into Golf’
initiative which is getting people of all ages golfing
throughout the country.
Roxanne Bennett, Sports Development Officer
at CPFC Foundation, said: “Today was a fantastic
event. We were able to bring golf to a Premier
League football stadium to provide a truly unique
experience for young people in our programmes.
We have received really positive feedback from
the teams involved.
“With the continued partnership between
Crystal Palace FC Foundation, Premier League 4
Sport and the Golf Foundation we are able to offer
the opportunity for young people to play golf at
their local clubs and receive free weekly lessons. I
would like to say thank you to the club for
allowing us access to the stadium, to everyone
involved in the planning and all the participants on
the day, and we look forward to future projects.”
Landmark day for Golf
Foundation as charity
welcomes new
President and Chairman
at AGM
It is all change at the top of the Golf Foundation
as the charity welcomed formally a new President
and new Chairman at its annual general meeting
today (Thursday, 28th April).
New President Sandy Jones, Chief Executive
of the PGA, has now taken over from Ryder Cup
hero Colin Montgomerie after five years, while golf
industry expert Stephen Lewis, former CEO of
Crown Golf, assumes the Chairman’s role from
Charles Harrison, who has served the charity for
seven years.
The appointments, made public by the
Foundation’s Board of Trustees in February of this
year and last September respectively, were ratified
at the AGM at Wentworth today.
They are seen as key for the nationally
recognised golf charity which makes the benefits
of golf available to young people, and helps them
to ‘Start, Learn and Stay’ in the sport.
Since 2011, the Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf
Roots programme has given a first introduction to
golf to more than 3 million young people across
the United Kingdom. The aim is to encourage ever
increasing numbers of young people into golf
clubs so they can learn their golf with PGA
Professionals, while offering youngsters the ‘Skills
for Life’ benefits associated with the game.
During the AGM, those present saw latest
HSBC Golf Roots figures which show just under
40,000 young people had passed through the
gates of a golf club in a year to enjoy the benefits
of golf – a significant 21% increase on the
previous year. The aim is to reach 50,000 by
2018, with 10,000 young people each year
playing golf regularly at club level through the
initiative.
44
New President Sandy Jones has said that he
is “thrilled” to take on the role of President. He
said: “This charity is all about helping the next
generation of young players, so if I can help the
Golf Foundation team through my experience in
the game I’ll be delighted.”
part in helping the next generation of players and
will grab this unique opportunity to support the
Golf Foundation and its highly motivated team led
by Brendon Pyle.”
Golf Foundation Chief Executive Brendon Pyle
said: “Our Board of Trustees and all involved in our
New Chairman Stephen Lewis said: “I feel very
charity are delighted that in Sandy and Stephen
proud to have been chosen as the Golf
we are being supported by two passionate golf
Foundation’s new Chairman. I passionately believe people who share years of experience in the golf
in the core values, aims and goals of the Golf
industry and in the sport at the highest level. We
Foundation and look to build on the excellent work also know that they care deeply about the future
and progress that the outgoing Chairman Charles of the game and understand completely why this
charity’s support of young people from all
Harrison has delivered. I am really keen to play a
backgrounds and circumstances, from all walks of
life, is so important.
Below (left to right) Incoming Chairman, Stephen
“Colin Montgomerie has been an inspirational
Lewis, new President, Sandy Jones and outgoing President for the Golf Foundation as this charity
Chairman, Charles Harrison.
has sought to raise itself to a higher level in terms
of enriching the lives of young
people through golf. Colin has
served us in a period of highly
successful growth. In this time, he
has publicly championed HSBC Golf
Roots at every opportunity and has
always been delighted to roll up his
sleeves and take on youngsters in
Tri-Golf at public golf events, usually
winning but always with a smile. We
are hugely grateful to Colin for his
efforts.”
Brendon added: “The Golf
Foundation has been incredibly
fortunate to have had Charles
Harrison as its Chairman for the last
seven years, benefiting greatly from
his financial and business acumen,
his shrewd judgement and personal
energy, plus his passion for the
ideals of this junior golf charity.
Charles’ level of engagement with
both the staff and the external
stakeholders, his attention to detail,
and his influence within the golfing
world has helped the Foundation
make significant advances.”
45
The power of the
Majors and ‘Skills for
Life’
Can you win a Major without learning golf’s ‘Skills
for Life’? While the Golf Foundation reaches
500,000 young people a year through the HSBC
Golf Roots programme, all of the charity’s golf
projects are underpinned by the desire to offer
youngsters the life skills associated with this great
game.
Young people up and down the country will
have been excited by Danny Willett’s recent
Masters win, and golf charity the Golf Foundation,
working with its national partners, has the tools to
help these young people to ‘Start, Learn and Stay’
in the game.
The technical skills will only take you so far to
winning that first Major but many believe the
mental side of the game, including the life skills
absorbed from our successes and failures, serve
to dictate who ends up with the Claret Jug or
Green Jacket, or even the club championship.
The Golf Foundation always stresses that it
isn’t just concerned with the number of children it
reaches through golf, it is equally about setting
them on the path to a good life in golf.
This road often starts with the Majors, as
every year children and young people are inspired
when watching their winners, just as Danny Willett
was himself. He first started at a municipal golf
club in Sheffield, where everyone had to clean
their own clubs and shoes and respect the
coaches and the game. Would those Skills for Life
prove valuable for young Danny?
The Green Jacket is seen in Chorley
Willett’s Masters win will have been seen by
thousands of young people who will have never
picked up a golf club or may have just started
playing. Everyone has been learning about the
Green Jacket since then – one of sport’s most
unusual prizes and full of mystique.
At Euxton Park Golf Centre in Chorley,
Lancashire, the Green Jacket has taken on a
special meaning for the youngsters. For the fourth
year in succession during Masters week, Golf
Foundation Regional Development Officer Andy
Leigh ran the ‘Masters Skills Challenge’, in which
boys and girls played different games to win... a
mini Masters Green Jacket, to wear as a prize
between challenges.
Andy Leigh said: “We bought the little green
jacket from a local school outfitters and stuck on
a laminated Masters badge on the chest. The
children love to win and wear the jacket and be a
Masters Champion, and the members here enjoy
it when they see a proud youngster imitating their
heroes. It’s all a bit tongue and cheek but it really
helps to explain what The Masters and the Majors
are all about and really fires the imaginations of
the kids.”
The Rory effect
The year Rory McIlroy won his Open
Championship (2014), the Golf Foundation team
was welcoming youngsters to try golf in the
tented village at Royal Liverpool as guests of The
R&A. On the practice days before the event the
team was asking young boys and girls who they
wanted to win. “Rory!” was the constant mantra.
Each year in the run-up to, and during, The
Open, the Golf Foundation reaches thousands of
youngsters and introduces them to golf. As with
all of its HSBC Golf Roots activity, follow-on
opportunities lead the young people to be able to
try golf in our golf clubs. The Power of the Majors!
The value of Skills for Life
At Euxton Park in Chorley, the coaching team also
introduced a special ‘Skills for Life’ trophy which
can be won each week by the youngster who
shows the best spirit, sportsmanship or behaviour
during the golf session. This simple trophy,
donated by a member, can be presented to a boy
or girl who may not have won a single golf
challenge, but has shown their sportsmanship and
respect for the day. Andy Leigh said: “This can
make all the difference to a youngster. He or she
may not be the best player but to have their good
character recognised can be a great prize in
itself.”
We are sure that Danny Willett and Rory McIlroy
would approve of this sentiment. The technical
skills of golf are one thing but you will never
triumph over all your adversaries and win the
Green Jacket or the Claret Jug on the technical
skills alone!
46
SAVILLS PUTTS OADBY
GOLF COURSE ON THE
MARKET IN LEICESTER
Savills, on behalf of Leicester Racecourse
Holdings Limited, is marketing the opportunity to
lease Oadby Golf Course in Leicester.
The property, which comprises an 18 hole,
6,000 yard golf course, is located at Oadby, on
the south eastern outskirts of Leicester. The site
extends to approximately 106 acres (43 hectares),
of which approximately 43 acres (17 hectares) is
situated within the racecourse circuit itself on
which nine holes of the course are located.
There is an existing 4,773 sq ft (443 sq m)
golf clubhouse and 814 sq ft (76 sq m) golf
professional’s shop as well as a putting green,
greenkeeper’s building and car parking for
approximately 80 cars. The property benefits from
planning consent for construction of a new 15 bay
floodlit golf driving range
The golf course has been maintained to a
47
basic standard as open grassland since its closure
in April 2012 but is not currently in a playable
condition, and the clubhouse buildings will also
require refurbishment or redevelopment before
being returned to use in conjunction with the
course.
Ian Simpson, director at Savills leisure division
in Oxford, comments: “There is a real opportunity
at Oadby for a successful new golf business to
use the existing facilities and develop the
proposed new driving range, as well as associated
leisure facilities. Our client will be flexible over the
proposed lease terms if it secures long term
investment in the property which is compatible
with the adjoining racecourse operation.”
For further information, please contact:
Ian Simpson, Savills Tel: +44 (0) 1865 269022
savills.co.uk
TO LET - 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE AND
CLUBHOUSE WITH PERMISSION TO
DEVELOP A FLOODLIT DRIVING RANGE
oadby, leicestershire
Leicester City Centre: 4 miles, M1/M69 (Junction 21): 5 miles
18 hole 6,000 yard par 72 golf course  golf clubhouse and golf professional’s shop
buildings  greenkeeper’s building  planning consent for construction of 15 bay floodlit
golf driving range with landscaping  car parking for approximately 80 cars  EPC=E
About 106.3 acres Rental offers invited
Savills Oxford Leisure [email protected] 01865 269000
Golf Courses 4 Sale
The Number 1 website for all the golf courses and ranges for sale
To
advertise
here
and on the
website
contact
Colin Jenkins on
01580 751248
[email protected]
49
TO LET
Prime Adventure Golf
Development Opportunity
Golfbug
Wast Hills, 300 Redhill Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 9EL
•
Prime location on the southern edge of the Birmingham conurbation
•
Planning permission for an 18 hole adventure golf course with café and WC’s
•
Birmingham population based on 0NS of 1.123 million
•
524,908
households
within
a
15
minute
drive
07785 500326
E: [email protected]
W: www.cjwa.uk
time.
51
Course
Location
Guide
Oadby Golf Course
South Eastern outskirts of
Leicester
Rental Offers Invited
Wast HIlls
Adventure Golf
Birmingham
Annual rent
30,000
Five Golf Courses
and
Two Development Sites
Vilamoura, Algarve,
Portugal
On Application
Boston West Hotel
& Golf Club
Boston,
Lincolnshire,
PE20 3QX
Guide Price £1.6m
Freehold
Details
Contact
Status
106 acres (43 hectares), 43 acres
(17 hectares) is situated within the
racecourse on which nine holes of
the course are located. Existing
4,773 sq ft (443 sq m) golf
clubhouse and 814 sq ft (76 sq m)
golf professional’s shop as well as a
putting green, greenkeeper’s
building and car parking for
approximately 80 cars.
Ian Simpson
Savills
020 7409 8060
[email protected]
Available
Investment opportunity to build
out a new adventure putting
course alongside a successful
golf facility.
Planning permission for half acre
site.
Colin White
phone: 07785 500326
or by email:
[email protected]
Available
Five highly profitable golf
courses of exceptional quality
and reputation. Four substantial
clubhouses. Site for development
of 126 holiday apartments on the
Vilamoura Old Course. Beach
front development site for 166
holiday apartments (as a
separate lot)
Ian Simpson
Savills
020 7409 8060
[email protected]
Under Offer
18 holes, 6488 yards, Par 72
6 hole academy course.
Extensive golf clubhouse with
function rooms.
24 bedrooms. Consent for a
further 12 bedrooms.
20 bay floodlight driving range.
Turnover 1million. Profitable
business.
Tom Marriott
HMH Golf & Leisure
[email protected]
079006 72045
Under Offer
www.golfcourses4sale.co.uk 52
Course
Location
Confidentially for sale historic18 hole golf club
London / South East M25
Guide
Offers invited in the region of
£1.75 million
Full details available on
signature of NDA
Golf Club
and
Award Winning Restaurant
London Borders
Offers over
£230,000
Huntswood Golf Course
Burnham, Buckinghamshire
Maidenhead: 5 miles,
Beaconsfield: 5 miles
£1.75 million
Sancti Petri Hills
Cadiz
Spain
Formal Offers Invited
53
Details
Contact
Status
Historic 18 hole 6,000(+) yard
parkland golf course
800 sq m (8,600 sq ft)
clubhouse.
Extensive practice facilities
Established business offering
scope for commercialisation
Profitable trading record
1,175,740 population within
30 minutes' drive
Ben Allen
GVA
020 7911 2360
[email protected]
For Sale
Par 33, 9 hole course, 2315
yds. Double lane practice net.
40 seat restaurant with fully
Contact
equipped kitchen.
[email protected]
Office and golf shop. Mowers,
buggies and equipment.
18 hole 5,613 yard, par 69 golf
course. Practice putting green and
practice hole for teaching purposes.
Modern, purpose built clubhouse.
Greenkeeper’s area
Adjoining woodland available
separately. About 102 acres
For Sale
Savills Oxford
Kay Griffiths
[email protected]
01865 269109
Under Offer
Designed by Spanish Ryder
Jesús Labrado Fernández
Cup star Manuel Pinero
39.8 hectares measuring a [email protected]
total of 4,767 metres (par 68). Phone: + 34 91 013 34 10
The clubhouse includes a café
and restaurant.
For Sale
www.golfcourses4sale.co.uk 54
55
Course
Location
Guide
Fingle Glen Golf Hotel
Tedburn St Mary, Devon
Exeter: 6 miles, Okehampton: 16
miles
£3 Million
Forest Hill Golf Club
Markfield Lane, Botcheston,
Leicester LE9 9FH
£2 Million
Golf Range Wanted
N/A
N/A
Confidential
Disposal
South East England
On application
Details
Contact
Status
18 hole 5,744 yard, par 70 golf
course. 12 bay covered floodlit
driving range. Purpose built golf
clubhouse with function rooms
and 9 hotel bedrooms.
Modern purpose built
greenkeeper’s building. Adjoining
house and land available.
Savills Oxford
Kay Griffiths
[email protected]
01865 269109
For Sale
Well maintained 6,491 yard (par
73) 18 hole course. 26 bay
floodlit driving range and golf
school. Modern and recently
extended club house. Freehold
extending over approximately
120 acres. Established business
with excellent growth.
John Rushby
Telephone+44 113 200 6915
[email protected]
Robert Smithson
Telephone+44 113 200 1876
[email protected]
For Sale
UK Golf Range Company looking
for next Golf Range
Flexible purchase to suit vendor
if required.
If you are interested in selling or
having a 5 minute confidential
chat about possibilities
call 07765 901 643
or email
[email protected]
Wanted
36 holes
Extensive golf & clubhouse
facilities
Valuable planning consents
Turnover - £2m +
Profitable
Tom Marriott
HMH Golf & Leisure
[email protected]
079006 72045
For Sale
www.golfcourses4sale.co.uk 56
PGA News
Orr becomes youngest
ever PGA Master
Professional
A golfer who first picked up a golf club at aged
just four has become the youngest ever recipient
of PGA Master Professional status.
Littlehampton-based Scot Steven Orr, now 40,
who is director of coaching and development at
the Cranfield Golf Academies, received the
accolade in the latest APAL (Accreditation for
Professional Achievement and Learning) awards.
Also celebrating were Jussi Pitkanen (Ireland
PGA coach education and development manager),
Shane Rose (Cold Ashby), Kieron Stevenson (Royal
Troon) and Ian Wrigley (Dunham Forest) who
achieved PGA Fellow Professional status.
The following were accorded PGA Advanced
Professional membership: Stephen Ennis
(Balcarrick), Robert Giles (Greenore), Lewis Hanney
(Oake Manor), Graham Hawkings (Malvern
College), Simon Hayward (Westridge), Mark Norton
(Northants County), Mark Sturgess (Bourn Golf)
and Scott Thompson (Mendip Spring).
Orr grew up playing golf on the south side of
Glasgow at East Renfrewshire Golf Club where he
and his older brother, David, who is also a
successful PGA pro, were passionate about the
game right from the start.
The younger Orr harboured hopes of playing
on the European Tour but has ended up as a
renowned coach with a host of achievements to
his name including being one of the first PGA pros
to undertake the UKCC Level 4 Certificate in
Coaching.
Ironically, it was a golfer who famously never
had a lesson - Bubba Watson - that persuaded
Orr that he was not going to cut it as a player at
the highest level and stoked a passion for
coaching. Orr played a few rounds with Watson
while at university in Alabama and it was a wakeup call to his own tour ambitions.
“From my teens I wanted to be a European Tour
player, but I promised myself that when the day it
became evident it was not going to happen as a
tour player that coaching was where I wanted to
be,” said Orr, who is also an England Regional
57
Above: Youngest PGA Master Professional, Steven
Orr, photo courtesy of The PGA.
coach.
“Playing with Bubba you could see he was a
different standard and it was maybe a turning
point when I realised there were players far better
than me.
“The other moment that brought it home was
when I played in the Johnnie Walker
Championship and played with Peter Hanson, who
went on to play in two Ryder Cups. There was a
big gulf between me and these world-class
players, and by the time I was 26 I realised I was
not going to achieve my tour ambitions.
“Coaching was beginning to hold a fascination
when I put a foot in the coaching world. I went
from playing ten hours a day to not playing for a
year because I was so absorbed in coaching. I’m
totally fascinated with coaching and in fact it’s
outgrown my fascination with playing in a way I
never thought would happen.”
Orr, who described himself as a decent player who
competed on the Europro Tour and made some
Challenge Tour appearances, believes his appetite
for coaching was fuelled by his playing
experiences.
“I think my fascination with coaching grew out of
my failure as a player. I was looking from a
playing perspective and wanted to understand
why,” he added. “I love coaching, I do 70 hours a
week but it doesn’t feel as though I’ve worked a
day since 2003. My love for coaching grows every
day: I’m very fortunate that I have got a job that
doesn’t feel like work. I think every passionate
coach will tell you the same.
“Also, part of journey over the last 15 years
has been in coach education, including as a PGA
tutor and working overseas for the R&A. I’ve found
that really interesting - how we develop effectively
as coaches and how that process works.”
Reflecting on his PGA Master Professional
accolade, Orr added: “This is a real honour to be
given this award by the PGA, especially when you
look at some of the guys on the list of Master
Professionals. Several of them have been huge
mentors, notably Scott Cranfield, who I have
worked under from day one of the start of my
coaching career.”
Golf suits newcomer to
a tee
A lady amateur golfer has proved a chip off the
old block by earning a shot at a national PGA title
with the coach who first introduced her to the
game five years ago.
Leila Scobie from Three Rivers Golf and
Country Club in Essex won her club medal and
with it the chance to partner PGA Fellow
Professional Sarah Bennett in the inaugural allwomen WPGA Lombard Trophy regional qualifier
at Camberley Heath, Surrey, on July 4.
The pair will be playing for a place in the
grand final which is being staged at Portugal’s
Pestana Vila Sol Golf & Resort Hotel at Vilamoura
later in the summer from September 22-23.
Scobie first experienced golf through Bennett’s
Golfing Girl initiative which has brought several
hundred women into the sport over the past five
years.
“It’s a real achievement that Leila has qualified to
play with me in the WPGA Lombard Trophy,
because five years ago she had never picked up a
club,” said Bennett.
“I’ve since watched her develop all the way
from complete beginner to someone who
absolutely loves golf.
“She started with a few lessons and it has just
flowered from there. She has really bought into
everything and progressed to runner up in the
club championships and winning competitions,
and now this.
“After she found out she’d qualified, I received a
text saying it was a really scary prospect and I
said she must have heard what it’s like playing
with me!
“She’s already looked up the course on the
website and is very excited. It’s just another step
in her golfing adventure, another progression
she’s taken since first picking up a club. It’s really
special, and even more so because she is leaving
Three Rivers to move to Scotland. She will be
hugely missed because she has been instrumental
within the ladies section and a real motivating
force.”
Scobie is one of a small, but thriving ladies
section at Three Rivers, and Bennett remains
passionate about not only getting more into golf
but ensuring they stay in the game.
“The key objective for me is retention. A very high
percentage of my ladies who I have introduced to
golf are still playing. That is the key driver for me.
I don’t just want to tick a box when it comes to
introducing people to the game and saying I have
introduced ‘X’ number. I would like the majority to
still be playing five years later. I think that is how
you have to measure success.”
58
Above: Sarah Bennett, left, with Leila
Scobie courtesy of Sarah Bennett/The
PGA.
Bennett also had other good news having been
selected by England Golf as lead coach to take
the U16 boys and girls team to face Spain in
Madrid at the end of May. The former Ladies
European Tour player will cover numerous event
preparations, including course mapping and
course strategy with specific contingency plans.
“It’s an area I am meticulous about because
tournament preparation is absolutely key,” she
said.
In the meantime she is also looking to picking
up her own clubs again after a hand-injury
sidelined her for a couple of years.
“I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into
playing again. You spend so much time helping
other people learn to play you tend to forget
M
what an amazing game it is to play.”
The one-stop shop to buy and
sell used golf and turf machinery
- over 2500 items listed
59
Machinery4golf
Le Golf National adopts
new Club Car fleet in
preparation for The
2018 Ryder Cup
The 2018 Ryder Cup venue and home of the
100th Open de France, (featured on page 3) has
renewed its long-term partnership with the
world’s largest manufacturer of small-wheel
electric vehicles until 2020 and is updating
its Club Car fleet ahead of the biennial event.
Through its French distributor, ORA Véhicules
Electriques, Club Car will be supplying 50 new
Precedent i3 vehicles in two phases, with most
featuring the ground-breaking Visage system to
provide golfers with precise shot and distance
information, flyover video graphics and a live
leaderboard during competitions.
The connected mobile golf information system
will also enable staff at the European Tour
Destination to remotely control each car and
optimise course maintenance with ‘no-drive’
zones, as well as monitor pace-of-play.
Paul Armitage, General Manager at Le Golf
National, said: “Our new Club Car fleet and the
61
Above: Le Golf National adopts Club Car fleet in
preparation for The 2018 Ryder Cup.
cars’ fully-connected Visage system will be a
definite USP for Le Golf National.
“The opportunity for our golfers to have the
information on each hole, along with the ability to
email themselves their score card to review at
home from the golf car, will help to further
enhance the on-course experience for all our
customers.”
In addition to the 50-strong fleet, Club Car also
provided Le Golf National with a commemorative
Ryder Cup vehicle, which was to be awarded to
anyone recording a hole-in-one during a unique
par-3 contest the prestigious venue hosted to
help launch the new layout of The 2018 Ryder
Cup course, L’Albatros 2.0.
“To mark the occasion, we invited 600 guests to
take part in a special par-3 contest on the
renovated 190-yard par-3 11th hole, which is
now protected by a new lake in front of the green
and two additional bunkers to the back,”
continued Paul Armitage.
“Closest to the pin was Justine Dreher, a
Ladies European Tour professional, with a tee shot
that finished only 6cm from the hole. So although
no hole-in-one was recorded on the day, the par-3
contest was a huge success, and I’d like to thank
Club Car and its official distributor ORA Véhicules
Electriques for providing the commemorative
Ryder Cup car and for helping to create an
unforgettable day for our guests.”
Club Car has a rich history with The Ryder Cup,
having been associated with the event since
1999. At The 2014 Ryder Cup, the company
supplied its largest ever fleet of more than 540
vehicles, which were used by both Captains, all
Vice-Captains, all team and match officials, as
well as all on-course television and event
logistics.
For more information about Club Car,
visit www.clubcar.tv.
63
New Course Manager,
first ever package deal
and a rebrand, it’s all
change for the Henley
The Henley, which until recently was known as
Henley Golf and Country Club, is entering a new
period of its young life. A new name as part of a
comprehensive rebrand, a new course manager
and its first ever machinery package deal with
Toro sees this 250 acre club with a new and
determined focus to achieve its full potential.
Overlooking the historic town of Henley-in-Arden,
Adam Moss, course manager, joined the club
eight months ago to a rather empty shed and a
course that was some way off reaching its
potential.
“Established in 1994, this is a young course,
which for one reason or another hasn’t been
pushed. There’s a lot of potential in these 250
acres and 18-holes and my job is to help realise
Below: Adam Moss, The Henley’s Course Manager,
seated on the left, with Lely’s Jon Lewis.
that potential,” he says. “There wasn’t the proper
equipment to do a good job to start with; in fact
when I first went into the shed I wondered where
all the equipment had gone!”
The aim is to create a premier facility and with
that in mind, Adam looked into new machinery to
suit the parkland course. “We have a five-year
plan with the aim to create a premier golf club for
the Midlands. We needed machines that would
suit the site and bring out the best in it. Having
used Toro before I was confident they could cope
with its challenges and I could rely on them to
help get the job done.”
The 28-strong fleet is made up of greens,
grounds and fairway mowers, aeration equipment,
UTVs, sprayers and two ever-popular TYM T503
Tractors. Advising Adam on the mix of machinery
was Lely Turfcare’s Jon Lewis, who Adam
complements, along with local dealer Redtech,
with providing sound advice, good customer care
and a comprehensive demo with a trained
demonstration team.
“The demo proved me right that Toro was what
we needed to get the course back on track. The
quality was evident and when we coupled that
with the support from Lely and Redtech, to be
honest, no one else came close.”
Among the fleet is a Groundsmaster 360, with
ProForce Blower, an unusual machinery choice
maybe for a golf course, but which, says Adam,
deals with the parkland aspect of the course with
ease. “It’s a nimble machine and with its joystick
mount is really easy to operate in between and
around the trees. The blower has enough power to
deal with the vast area, which gets covered in
leaves.
machinery choices. Adam explains: “We bought
three Greensmaster TriFlex 3420s and two
Reelmaster 5010-Hs. These models are hybrids
and together ensure we have an energy-efficient,
green option, for the cutting of our greens and
fairways.”
“With new legislation coming into play in a few
years Lely Turfcare’s Jon Lewis advised us to
consider this now so we don’t need to worry
about it nearer the time. The fact that both models
are efficient and effective at what they do sealed
the deal. In particular the 5010-H has performed
incredibly well, reducing fairway cutting time in
half and making us a substantial saving in fuel.”
It’s not only entering a new period of its life, with
Adam and Toro, The Henley is also getting a new
lease of life!
Call 01480 226800, email [email protected]
or visit www.lelyturfcare.co.uk / www.toro.com for
further details. And in Ireland by Lely Ireland call
00 353 (0)45 526170 or email
[email protected]
Golf Courses 4 Sale
The Number 1 website
for all the courses and
ranges for sale
To advertise here and on the
website contact
Colin Jenkins on 01580 7248
“We also made the decision to invest in three
aerators, two ProCore 648s and a wide area
SR72. The ground was really compacted and we
needed to remove a substantial layer of thatch;
the aerators have been worth their weight in gold
doing this.”
Energy-efficiency played a part in five of the deal’s
www.machinery4golf.net 64
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Jacobsen G-PLEX II Mower
£2,650 + VAT
3 Gang, Kubota 3 cyclinder
diesel. Lots spent on this
machine new brushes,belts and
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Saxon LM180 Triple £1,650
Robin petrol engine, three speed
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Private sale, no vat
Rytec Offset Flail Mower
£1,995 + VAT
In good condition, full working
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Location: Omagh, Tyrone, NI
Phone: 07786 564094
Location: Tunbridge Wells
Phone: 07817 358152
Location: Maldon, Essex
Phone: 01621 892907
John Deere 8400 Triple
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£11,250 + VAT
Kubota B3030 tractor
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2014 Kawasaki mule 4010
with half Cab £5,495 + VAT
Used Kubota B3030 tractor with
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58 pate road registered. Excellent
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Location: Barrow on Trent
Phone: 01283 704664
2WD or 4WD with Diff locks,
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Phone: 01268 522292
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Location: Wisbech, Cambs
Phone: 01945 582223
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66
FOOTGOLF UPDATE
The UK FootGolf Association continues its relentless
growth throughout the UK as they near the 200
certified golf courses mark.
The sport continues to be the UK’s fastest growing
and most talked about sport with more than
60,000 member players, and more than 30,000
people playing every week. The 2016 UK Open
will take place in Cambridge with an expected
playing field of over 200 taking part in the 3 day
event, with Italian legend and former West Ham,
Lazio, AC Milan & Celtic star Paolo Di Canio
having already entered the event, which has a
prize fund of over £20,000.
Springs, California during January of 2017. Each
country will be represented by 16 men, and 4
women.
The Health Insurance Group – National
FootGolf Tour:
Stage 3 – The English Open
The English FootGolf Open was played on 22nd
May over 36 holes at Magnolia Park Golf &
Country Club. The Buckinghamshire course
provided a stunning backdrop for the UK’s fastest
The Jansen Cup:
growing sport.
It was announced in April that the UK & USA will
After torrential rain during practice on Saturday
battle it out for The Jansen Cup (FootGolf’s version seemed destined to spoil the party, the sun was
of Golf’s Ryder Cup). The inaugural event will take shining early on the Sunday morning for the 110
place at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm
players who entered.
The 18 hole FootGolf layout was designed
specifically for this event as UK FootGolf take their
ten stage tour around the UK on bespoke one stop
courses. National Tournament Director Paul Oliver
‘This year we’ve taken tournament FootGolf to a
new level and hope the natural progression is to a
professional style format similar to what we see in
Golf. We’re looking to create challenging one off
designs around the UK utilising some great
facilities who embrace our sport – Magnolia Park
have certainly done this from start to finish and
we’re looking forward to returning next year’
The event was won by Clinton Moore after his
second round 64 gave him a seven shot victory
over Marc Cowell, Phil Price and Ben Clarke.
Clinton’s impressive play won him a cheque for
£1000 with second place Marc Cowell winning
£500. In total over £30,000 will be played for over
ten stages with the ultimate prize being a seat on
the plane to America to compete against USA in
The Jansen Cup.
Full results can be found here
https://ukfootgolf.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/ukfootgolf
67
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68
News
•
BGL celebrates National Golf Month
across UK Venues
Burhill Golf and Leisure Limited (BGL) is
celebrating National Golf Month this May by
hosting a full schedule of adult and children’s
lessons across nine of its UK venues.
The sessions will run throughout the month,
welcoming beginners and enthusiasts of all ages
and genders. Activities will include heavily
discounted ‘Learn Golf in a Day’ sessions for
adults, as well as free group lessons for juniors.
“BGL have been great supporters of National Golf
Month from the start, and welcome any initiative
that invites people to the game,” commented
BGL’s CEO, Colin Mayes. “We want to remove
barriers that may deter people from trying the
sport, and invite everyone to come down to one of
our venues, no matter what age or experience,
and just have fun playing golf.
“It’s a great social game, and a healthy way to
get outdoors and spend some time with friends.
By working with National Golf Month, we hope to
69
Above: BGL takes National Golf Month in hand
with free group lessons for juniors.
see many more people experiencing the great
game of golf at our venues in the near future.”
The Learn Golf in a Day sessions will be open to
adults, with at least one women’s only session
being held at each venue, with the price of the
course halved during National Golf Month.
The introductory course will include a one
hour lesson on the swing, 45 minutes of chipping
and putting, another 45 minutes of pitching and
bunker shots, and finish with an hour on the
course, punctuated with refreshments and lunch.
The one hour junior sessions will be split into age
categories of nine and under, and ten and over,
with attendees receiving their first session for free
in conjunction with National Golf Month.
“Each club has a full timetable of activities that
will run throughout the month,” added Mayes, “so
there are plenty of opportunities for people to go
along to their nearest BGL venue and give golf a
go.”
Participating venues include: Abbey Hill Golf
Centre, Aldwickbury Park Golf Club, Birchwood
Golf and Country Club, Hoebridge Golf Centre,
Ramsdale Park Golf Centre, Redbourn Golf Club,
The Shropshire Golf Centre, Thornbury Golf
Centre, and Wycombe Heights Golf Centre.
For more information regarding BGL venues,
please visit www.bglgolf.co.uk.
•
Sir Clive Woodward renews long-term
relationship with Huxley Golf
In 1999 Huxley Golf proudly installed an allweather putting and chipping green for Sir Clive
Woodward in his garden. It was one of the
company’s first ever Golf at Home installations.
Some 17 years later, the English sporting legend
continues to call on the Hampshire-based
company to ensure that his private practice area
is the finest available.
Sir Clive’s golf green is large – around 25ft
(7.6m) by 15ft (4.5m) with four hole positions. It
was originally made using polypropylene 1.25’’
turf with 16/30 sand fill dressing, which made it
very fast to play! The top layer of infill was a mix
of green and black specially formulated quartz
kiln-dried sand. Huxley Golf also installed some
chipping mats around Sir Clive’s garden and a
practice net, which gave him the ability to work
with irons and woods for a fully-rounded golf
practice session.
As Huxley Golf has developed its surfaces in
line with other technological developments in golf
over the years, Sir Clive has kept pace. He has
repeatedly commissioned the company to
upgrade and maintain his own facility to ensure
that it continues to be the optimum all-weather
golf practice area.
Barry Huxley, who oversaw the initial
installation recalls: “Sir Clive has always been an
avid golfer. I remember him telling me that his
long game was good but he wanted to improve
his short game. Jointly, along with professional
David Hart from Sir Clive’s club, we designed a
green to help him to do just that. Back then, it
was rare for someone to have a golf practice area
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70
in their garden, so we worked hard to create a
design that wouldn’t be obtrusive. In fact, we even
accommodated a small rockery around one end of
the green at his wife Jayne’s request!”
Above: Sir Clive Woodward, enjoying his Huxley
Golf all-weather putting green.
Right: Lee Westwood points the way for Scottish
youngsters.
Sir Clive commented: “I still very much enjoy my
Huxley Golf practice area, as do my family and
friends. Over the years it’s been such a delight to
be able to practise my putting mere yards from
my office and at a moment’s notice! Equally
important to me, however, is the high level of after
sales service that Huxley Golf provides. I recently
asked them to upgrade my flags and give my
green a mechanical brushing to ensure it was
in top notch condition for the summer. I couldn’t
be happier with their customer service.”
generation of champion golfers.
In support of the Bags for Birdies campaign
launched last month, Westwood presented the
very first sets of specially designed PING Moxie
junior clubs to twelve excited school children at
the famous Open venue.
Following an interactive clinic masterly
delivered by Scottish Golf under the tutelage of
Troon professional Adam Rolfe, Westwood
surprised and delighted the young golfers,
providing inspiration as they took their first steps
on the road to golfing success. Rolfe commented:
“It is fantastic to have Lee back at Royal Troon
today, promoting the Bags for Birdies initiative.
Lee has a strong record at Troon and we hope he
can contend again at this year’s Open.”
•
Lee Westwood and UPS deliver unique
access for Scottish Golf.
Fresh off his second place finish at the Masters,
iconic British golfer and UPS global golf
ambassador, Lee Westwood was on hand to
deliver a very special experience for the next
71
Jackie Davidson, Scottish Golf Club Development
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72
Manager was present to receive the clubs on
behalf of ClubGolf, Scottish Golf’s national junior
programme, supported by the Golf Foundation.
He said : “We are delighted to have been involved
in this fantastic opportunity. For 12 young people,
chosen to represent the six primary schools from
the Troon area, to meet Lee is a once and lifetime
experience and one which we hope will inspire the
boys and girls to continue to develop their golf
and stay within the sport.”
The Oaks has gone backwards.
In his first month in the role Jon has overseen
the installation of 13 Power Tees in the 16 bay
range, as well as new bay dividers and a major
redecoration of the range building.
With the upgrade of the range facility, and
with Jon offering free beginners group classes,
the team at The Oaks are aiming to get more
people starting golf and enjoying the beginnerfriendly atmosphere and facilities at this attractive
family-owned golf centre.
A fervent supporter of junior golf, Westwood spoke
Jon has had a distinguished career and has
passionately about the campaign: “It is so great to worked at some of the UK’s busiest facilities. Jon
see kids being given another opportunity to take
was asked for his views on Power Tees, and what
up the game and, importantly, UPS and PING are
he considered were their main benefits.
proving to be the right equipment, tailored for the Jon responded: “Power Tees bring the most
youngsters to start their golfing experience.”
professional look to a driving range. It is without
doubt the automated tee of choice. All of the
About Bags for Birdies:
ranges I have worked at have had Power Tees and
For every birdie or better recorded by Lee
the customers’ responses have always been
Westwood and fellow UPS ambassador Louis
magnificent. The Power Tees themselves are easy
Oosthuizen at this year’s four Major
to maintain and on a small range in busy periods
Championships, UPS will donate a set of PING
we get more balls hit by more customers.
Moxie junior clubs to support grass roots golf in
eight international territories.
“Customer service is of paramount importance to
me and by offering our customers the best mat to
Following a successful showing at the Masters in practise from - which we do with Power Tees - we
April, the duo has already recorded an impressive reap the benefits of a happier customer base that
twenty-nine birdies and one eagle to kick-start the wants to spend more time here, and spend more
campaign, with a running total of 31 bags.
money with us.
To follow their progress, search #Bags4Biridies on
“During challenging times it is easy for
Facebook and Twitter.
businesses to see the cost of everything but the
value of very little; we have created a great
for our customers to practise in, and
• Jon Woodroffe returning to The Oaks environment
the immediate response has been fantastic from
Having started his professional golf coaching
career under the guidance of Geoff Horley at The our staff as well as our customers - it is equally
Oaks Golf Club in Surrey, Jon Woodroffe has now important to demonstrate to our staff that we are
returned nearly 30 years later as the new Director wanting to offer more to our customers too.
“We have introduced longer opening hours on
of Golf at this busy 27 hole public golf facility, on
site so that golfers can come early morning and
the outskirts of Sutton, South London.
hit balls from 7:30am and then use our restaurant
In the eighties, Jon led a team of 7 PGA
professionals introducing hundreds of new people for breakfast, and we remain open until 10pm
to golf through beginner group classes. As one of Monday to Thursday, with golfers yet again able to
the only golf ranges in the area, the business was take advantage of the great fare we serve in our
restaurant. We close at 8pm Friday through to
brisk. Fast forward 30 years and the decline in
Sunday.
golf, as well as many more golf ranges in the
“With our revamped facility, rejuvenated staff,
area, has meant that by standing still the range at
73
OGRO
Preferred
Supplier
more flexible hours of operation, we are really
providing a facility we can be proud of and our
customers proud to use. I would recommend
Power Tee® to any range owner that is looking to
provide a quality environment for practice, and
anyone looking to generate business growth.”
•
Tróia Resort becomes European Tour
destination
Tróia Resort, in Portugal, has been announced as
the latest member of the exclusive European Tour
Properties network, becoming an official European
Tour Destination.
Located on the Tróia Peninsula on the Atlantic
coast, just south of Lisbon, the resort combines a
championship-standard 18-hole golf course with
the natural beauty of its surroundings. The
peninsula is set between the Natural Park of
Arrábida and the Sado Estuary, while other
attractions include the Tróia Roman Ruins, as well
as a variety of activities at the marina, including
boat trips to watch dolphins.
The centre-piece is the Championship Course,
designed by renowned course architect Robert
Trent Jones Snr, which offers outstanding sea
views and is regarded as one of the finest golf
75
Above: The golf range at the Oaks which is
welcoming Jon Woodroffe back as Director of Golf.
courses in Portugal.
David MacLaren, Director of Property and
Venue Development at The European Tour, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Tróia Resort to
European Tour Properties, becoming the
21st member of our network of outstanding golf
venues and resorts in Europe, Middle-East and
South-East Asia.
“Tróia has been recognised as possessing one of
Portugal’s finest golf courses, and we look forward
to assisting João Madeira and his team to realise
the potential of what is a truly outstanding range
of leisure, accommodation and real estate
amenities.
“Tróia is situated within a unique environment
that blends extraordinary natural beauty, historical
Roman ruins and modern facilities, and will
without doubt attract golfers, investors and
holiday-makers from all around the world.”
João Madeira, Tróia Resort General Manager, said:
“The partnership with European Tour Properties
further adds to the recognition of Tróia Resort as a
unique destination for those who wish to own a
property on a world class golf venue. We are
proud to join European Tour Properties’ worldwide
organisation, a network of world class golf
venues, and with this partnership reinforce the
notoriety and awareness of our resort within the
international community.”
Tróia is served by two hotels as well as a range of
modern apartments, villas and beach houses, with
restaurants, an entertainment centre and a casino
among the many other on-site attractions
available.
Tróia follows fellow Portuguese resort Bom
Sucesso as the latest addition to the European
Tour Properties network, also joining Quinta do
Lago to become the third member venue in
Portugal, and is the fourth new addition of 2016,
with Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort and Albatross
Golf Resort announced earlier in the year.
For more information about Tróia Resort
please visit www.troiaresort.pt/en/ and to find out
more about European Tour Properties’ other
world-class venues, please go
to www.europeantourproperties.com
77
Golf Courses 4 Sale
The Number 1 website
for all the courses and
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To advertise here and on the
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OGRO
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classifieds • range construction • classifieds
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Floodlighting
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Mobile: 07836371180
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80
classifieds • miscellaneous • classifieds
Majestic Coffee supply over 300 UK Golf Clubs, whether you’re a stand alone driving range
or an Open Championship venue let Majestic Coffee look after your hot beverage requirements or upgrade your current
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With Italian real bean vending machines starting at just £15 per week or fresh milk Barista
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classifieds • miscellaneous • classifieds
X Putt Putting Machine for Sale
The unit is ideal for bars and restaurants
and can give cash prizes or just be played
as a recreational game. It involves genuine
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has dimensions of 3 m x 1.5 m and is just
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83
Phillips 709 w, 2ft diameter
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