today's golfer issue 305

Golfer BRITAIN’S BIGGEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE

Today’sDOES THE RANGE DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD?

> Callaway X Hot woods & irons> Ping adjustable G25 driver> Odyssey Versa putters> Adams hybrids

NIKE WORLD EXCLUSIVE

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CHOOSE THE BEST CLUBS FOR YOUGet more from your gear with Nike’s new starWITH RORY McILROYPLUS TG TRAVEL AWARDS 2013 > DUSTIN JOHNSON > THE 6,500-YARD CRAZY GOLF COURSE > LAUNCH MONITORS EXPLAINED > POULTS’ SWING

MARCH 2013 ISSUE 305 JAN 24 – FEB 20 £4.20

Photograph Marc Lecureuil, courtesy of Nike Golf

Plus driving, bunker and putting tips

PITCHING MADE EASY

Inside the Titleist production line

300 MILLION BALLS A YEAR

37NEW CLUBS REVEALED

PLUSRORY TELLS TG ALL ABOUT HIS SWITCH

FIRST TEETHIS MONTH’S SECTION 11 Adidas launch golf ’s lightest-ever shoe13 McLay Kidd on design14 Europe goes global19 TG’s new launch monitor 20 Jim Furyk Q&A

VOLCANO HAZARDS AND PANDAS IN THE SANDIS SU E 3 0 5 ❘ TODAYSG OLF ER .CO.U K

VOLCANOSThe par-3 8th is called The Volcano. Players can either shoot straight for the green or take on the easier shot into the volcano. The ball will then go into one of four pipes and pop out on or around the green or into a lava field of doom.

CASINOSThe par-4 6th hole is called Casino. Off the tee, players must decide whether to carry the narrow 'Pass Line' bunkers or lay up, and negotiate the giant bunker with an actual roulette wheel in the middle. Dice guard the green.

PANDASThe par-4 1st hole is called Pandamonium. You tee off from panda footprint-shaped tee boxes and must avoid six panda-shaped bunkers from tee to green. This is one of the holes that is already well under construction.

➔PLAYING TO A GREEN FLOATING IN A giant bowl of soup, pitching into a volcano

that shoots your ball onto the green and animals designed into the bunkers sound like something you’d find at a seaside crazy golf course. But all these ideas are a reality at this new, full-size Fantasy Course at the Mission Hills Haikou Resort in China.

It also features a 400-metre Great Wall of China, panda-shaped bunkers, a hurricane-themed hole with fans blowing on the tee, a green inspired by Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium, a tee box inside a giant sleeve of balls and even a chasm of terracotta warriors.

The par-72 layout combines concepts from golf course design company Schmidt-Curley with the ideas of three competition winners. “The beauty of this project is that, unlike mini-golf on artificial turf, this is played at full-scale, with regular equipment, on real turf tees, fairways, rough, sand and greens,” says designer Brian Curley. “Where other courses frame holes with trees, rocky hillsides and lakes, this will be surrounded by ‘stuff’ that brings unique visuals. Players, however, will need to execute shots and putts just like any other course.”

Dr Ken Chu, Chairman of the Mission Hills Group, added: “We are well aware of the game’s traditions. However, we see this as a fun alternative that families, novices and kids will want to play. It may not be everybody’s cup of tea and the purists may cringe, but we feel many players will seek out this new adventure. We intend to push the bar of what is considered golf entertainment.”

Construction is underway now, and the course is due to open by the end of 2014.

THE CRAZY GOLF COURSE THAT’S 6,500 YARDS

A unique golfing vision: The massive noodle bowl and actual stone replica of the Great Wall of China will form integral parts of the Mission Hills Haikou Resort Fantasy Course and look visually striking.

TODAYSG OLF ER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 5

BALLSThe par-4 11th is called “Titleist Sleeve”. Players tee off inside a giant sleeve of balls that measures 8m tall by 26m long. The rest of the hole is flanked by giant balls. Dr Chu is particularly proud of using corporate partnerships.

This stunning par 5 begins on terraced

tees and winds between

Mayan ruins.

WATERFALLSThe par-3 12th is called Waterfall. You tee off directly above a trio of waterfalls that will challenge the golfer visually and audibly. It also has a long grass snake that runs through the lake and bunkers, with its head behind the green.

Martin Kaymer holed the winning putt for Europe at Medinah – a putt that has rebooted the German’s career

artin Kaymer was on top of the world this time 12 months ago. Literally. He was the man who finally ended Tiger Woods’ dominance as the best

player on the planet, becoming the second-youngest player (at 26) to capture the top spot since Woods did so at the age of 21 in 1997.

He’d won his first Major at the 2010 US PGA Championship. He’d won eight times on the European Tour after being named rookie of the year in 2007, including three out of four big-field Abu Dhabi Championships.

Then things went awry...He missed the cut in last year’s Open and the

PGA. The 27 year old slipped to No.32 in the world. Such was his lack of form, he was branded a weak link in the Ryder Cup team.

But Jose Maria Olazabal kept faith, and was rewarded when Kaymer holed the putt that retained the trophy for Europe. “Now I honestly feel like my whole career might have been on the line,” he says. “I sometimes think about

what would have happened if I had missed it. Would I have had the mental strength to recover from thinking I had let down a whole continent?

“I had a similar putt to win my first Major, the US PGA Championship in 2010, but the feeling was completely different. If I had missed that one it would have been my own fault and I would have moved on to the next Major. But letting down so many people? That doesn’t bear thinking about.”

It was the tonic he needed. In the weeks after Medinah, he finished T3 in the South African Open, made the top 10 in the HSBC Champions and won for the first time in a year at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. “Up to that point it hadn’t been a good year for me, I would have given it about a three or four at best out of 10,” he said. “Then, all of a sudden, you feel a lot happier about matters. On paper you’d probably still only give the year a three or four, but mentally it had suddenly gone up a few marks.”

We caught up with him to ask about that tumultuous week at Medinah, and what the confidence he’s taken from it will mean for 2013.

‘Missing that putt? It just doesn’t bear thinking about’W O R D S P A U L M A H O N E Y P I C T U R E S H O W A R D B O Y L A N , G E T T Y I M A G E S

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IS SU E 3 0 5 ❘ TODAYSG OLF ER .CO.U K

he chances are if you’re a committed golfer, at some stage in your golfing life you’ll have put a Titleist ball into play.

It’s been 13 years since the iconic Pro V1 range was launched, and it’s 80 years since the company was founded. But had it not been for an X-ray machine in a dentist’s surgery things could have worked out very differently, as Director of Titleist Golf Ball Product Management Michael Mahoney explained.

“In 1932, avid golfer Phil Young was out playing in New Bedford and on the 18th hole he had a relatively short putt to win his match. He stroked it pure, but the ball missed outside the hole, even though he was convinced he’d put a good stroke on the ball – if there was no way it could have been the golfer, it had to be the golf ball. He was given a hard time by his partners for that, but he was curious, so he asked a dentist friend if he could use his X-ray machine.

“He X-rayed the ball he missed the putt with and found that the core wasn’t round – it was off centre and the ball rolled impurely as a result of a product that wasn’t consistent. He felt he could do it better and he could make products better and more consistent and he spent three years working on that process.”

Titleist may have started out small, but it’s grown to be the dominant ball brand in the market today. And while lots of things have changed in the 80 years since, Mahoney is adamant that certain values still remain.

“Part of our identity has to do with how we haven’t changed and what our core values are. We started out as a process company, we continue today to be a process company. When the company was set up it was really about

looking at how to make a better, more consistent golf ball. To this day we spend so much time and attention on the process – be that the process of development or the process of making golf balls. The scale has obviously changed dramatically – we make 25 million dozen golf balls a year now –but the attention to detail has remained constant.”

Titleist’s pursuit of excellence involves extensive testing, research and development, but in an age when the likes of Srixon, TaylorMade, Callaway and Nike all have their piece of the market, what sets Titleist’s processes aside from that of its rivals? “I think the fact that we have our own proprietary technology that we have developed. There are certain elements to it that are common for any golf ball manufacturing, but to a large degree

what you see was designed and built in our own manufacturing facilities by our associates, and that’s becoming more and more rare these days. So the fact that we control the processes is a significant advantage,” adds Mahoney.

“Our level of quality check that exists throughout the process is unprecedented – and there are many, many steps in making a golf ball. We take samples from the very first stage and test it to make sure it meets our performance specifications. The testing criteria we set up for any product really happens throughout the process,

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1932Following Phil Young’s missed putt, he sets out on the road to building a more consistent golf ball.

1940Titleist starts to offer personalisation on golf balls, and five years later begins to put numbers on them.

1952The company converts the nameplate on the ball to the Titleist script only, without including Acushnet.

Titleist’s milestones since 1932

1935It took three years for Titleist to launch their first golf ball, but each one produced had been X-rayed to ensure consistency.

1945The first automatic mould press is installed and by 1949 Titleist becomes the most played ball at the US Open at Medinah.

1973A breakthrough in aerodynamics is introduced with the new icosahedron dimple design.

‘We make 25 million dozen golf balls a year now – but the attention to detail is constant’

22 The number of men’s major championships won by Pro V1 or Pro V1x players since 2000.

64 Including 2012, the number of consecutive years Titleist has been the No.1 ball at the US Open – the longest running equipment success story in golf.

750,000 The approximate number of balls made per day at the company’s three wholly owned and operated manufacturing sites.

TITLEIST BY NUMBERS

Titleist then... A “Golf Ball Demonstration” machine was taken on the road in 1936. They developed the first mechanical golfer to test the flight of balls coming off the production line in 1935. The production line in 1958.

THEN


whether it be core moulding to adding the casing layer, putting the urethane cover on, to the paint process, to the stamping – there are quality checks every step of the way and that results in a very consistent product coming off the line.” We’ve been told that even a slightly lighter imprint on the “T” in the logo is enough to reject a ball.

And it’s not just Titleist balls that get the testing treatment, either. “We run more tests on golf balls than any other manufacturer and it’s probably more than all the others combined,” says Mahoney. “The companies that make the robot testing devices we use tell us we wear out parts that they wouldn’t see worn out in other places.”

On the production line, the material for the core begins as a slab of rubber which is fed into something resembling a pasta-maker. The result is

a long sheet, which is left to cool for up to ten hours before being sliced into long, thin strips. The strips are cut into smaller pieces, which are placed into a mould that shapes the core. The cover is then attached in two pieces, which are spot-welded together, before the whole thing is placed in a dimpled mould and turned into a sphere under heat and pressure. The ball is then buffed to erase a ridge left by the two halves before the logo and number are stamped on, and two spray guns apply a latex primer and finishing coat. All that, so anyone from an 18-handicapper or Luke Donald can trust their ball.

Titleist’s presence on Tour is, and always has been, impressive. In 2012, Pro V1s recorded 190 wins on worldwide tours, and as demand for the products grew in the brand’s formative years, Titleist hit on a novel

way of making sure their reps were easy to spot. Mahoney told us: “Back when we started out on Tour, one of the things that was so important to our brand message – and this remains today – was that the ball you could buy in your golf shop was the same ball we were giving to pros, it was that good.

“We didn’t have a separate line we were making for tour players, so when an event would come into town we wanted to give players the opportunity to play that ball. They received a ‘chit’ to go into the golf shop and get four dozen free balls, which we would then replace. As popularity grew, and more players wanted to get that chit, spotting the Titleist representative was really important so the rep would start wearing a white coat on the range.”

It’s clear that Titleist holds its heritage dear, as well as maintaining the core values that helped them develop into a market leader.

Today’s balls are a world away from those that were played in 1932, but certain fundamentals remain. “It starts with the precision process in our founding,” says Mahoney, “and making every single ball consistently the same – cores that were centred, consistent dimple coverage. Eighty years ago, balls had very simple constructions. I think the introduction of aerodynamic changes in the 1970s to give different trajectories, and the fact we offered players those different trajectories, and they put them in play and utilised them for different types of shot, really influenced the one-ball rule. So the understanding of aerodynamics would be one of the key moments.”

Then there was the shift to different materials from a cover standpoint with the introduction of balata. “That generated a spin profile that would allow players to really improve their ➔

2007The Pro V1 records its 1,000th win on Tour, six years after USA Today labelled it “The Golf Ball that is turning golf upside down”.

1993The liquid-filled Tour Balata ball becomes the most played on Tour and a year later the first urethane cover Tour ball is unveiled.

1979The Trajectory system is introduced – a Low version and Pro version goes on sale.

2010To keep up with demand for the Pro V1, Titleist opens Ball Plant IV in Thailand.

2000After extensive testing with 100 staff players, the Pro V1 is launched. 47 golfers put it in play the first week it was available for use.

80 YEARS OF TITLEIST

190 The number of global Tour wins for Titleist’s Pro V1 and Pro V1x in 2012 – compared to 25 for the nearest rival.

352 The number of spherically tiled tetrahedral dimples on the urethane cover of a Pro V1.

1,900 The number of wins on worldwide tours with a Pro V1 since its introduction. A prototype version of the ball has been seeded on the world’s tours since last November.

TITLEIST BY NUMBERS

Titleist now... The company now has four ball plants – this one is in Massachusetts, while IV opened in Thailand in 2010. All balls now undergo exhaustive testing with robots and thousands of real golfers. The production line in 2013.

NOW

1991Eight years after the 384 Tour ball launched, Titleist introduces the HVC – the first two-piece golf ball ever produced by the company.


The club within a clubW O R D S K I T A L E X A N D E R P I C T U R E S H O W A R D B O Y L A N I L L U S T R A T I O N G A R Y L E E S

There’s a 125-year-old movement at 72 of Britain’s top courses where golfers still work for their membership. Meet the artisans

THE ARTISANS

TODAYSG OLF ER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 03

Clubhouse comparisons

Artisan clubhouses bare little resemblance to their big

club neighbours. This is Verulam’s main clubhouse in

Hertfordshire (above), and the artisan clubhouse (left).

‘I PLAY FOR TITLES. NOT FOR MONEY’

The inside story of Rory McIlroy’s switch to Nike, plus how he chose his new gear – and what you can learn from his decisions


W O R D S J O E L TA D M A N & J O N G R E AT H E A D P I C T U R E S M A R C L E C U R E U I L , H O W A R D B O Y L A N , G E T T Y

t was golf’s worst kept secret. World No.1 Rory McIlroy had signed with Nike Golf. At 6.30pm local time on the Monday evening before the

HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, confirmation finally came in the form of an extravagant ceremony at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr hotel, announcing the two-time Major champion as the latest addition to the Nike Golf roster.

It was an elaborate affair, fitting for the start of the most lucrative sponsorship deal in the history of the game. While the exact figure will never be confirmed, what is almost certain is that McIlroy, still just 23, has signed one of the biggest deals in golf to use a full set of Nike clubs, ball, glove, shoes, apparel, headwear and accessories. Whatever the figure, his new $10.9m property in Florida is just small change.

Nike has forever wanted to be associated with the best players in sport. From Michael Jordan to Lance Armstrong, then Roger Federer and

Wayne Rooney. In golf they had that in 2005, when they extended Tiger Woods’ contract for five years for what was thought to be $200 million. That deal was renegotiated in late 2009, and Woods hasn’t won a Major since. Rory has won two in two years, amassing a healthy advantage at the top of the world rankings and maintaining a clean-cut image in the process, winning fans all over the world.

“It’s a very clever call from Nike,” an industry source told BBC Sport. “Both Nike and golf need Tiger and Rory going down the 18th together. They will have lots of fun on the global market with Tiger and Rory as a pair.”

During an on-stage Q&A, Rory was shown a series of clips from current Nike athletes, in which Rooney, Federer and Woods welcomed him, before the new Nike Golf TV advert, featuring both McIlroy and Woods was given its world premier.

He was then off to do interviews with very selected media. Today’s Golfer was the only golf magazine invited, with instruction editor Joel

I

Cindy DavisPresident of Nike Golf

“We get the best athletes because of our innovation. What we know about Tiger, and

what is clear with Rory, is they transcend golf and sports. They are great in golf, but

they are great athletes and appeal to a broad audience the world over. What this

will enable us to do is tell incredible stories. We’re going to have fun with this. Since we signed Tiger, we have had kids growing up playing Nike equipment. A new generation of players with Nike golf equipment. Tiger and Rory will help us continue to do that.”

RORY EXCLUSIVE

➔


XXXXX DISTANCE

A new visionRory’s Nike move

marks a new era for the world No.1.

AMERICANIDOLS

An exciting new generation of American pros are beginning to fulfil their potential. We speak to four of them as they embark

on potentially career-defining seasons


W O R D S G A R R E T T J O H N S T O N P I C T U R E S A N G U S M U R R AY, C O B R A P U M A , G E T T Y

AMERICANIDOLS


PGA TOUR STARS

NEW GEAR

What you need to know about the G25

➔PING’S G-SERIES HAS BEEN among the most successful gear

franchises in recent years. Forgiveness, distance and ease-of-use were all key watchwords, and that’s all evident in the latest incarnation – G25.

The family is headed by Ping’s first adjustable 'G' driver, but also includes irons, woods and hybrids (see page 70).

“We’re helping golfers play better through some exciting innovations,” said John A Solheim, Ping Chairman & CEO. “The entire line appeals to players of

every ability level. The G25 driver offers meaningful adjustability to help all golfers optimise their trajectories without sacrificing the performance that’s often lost in bulkier hosel designs.”

The G25 has already been put in play by Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan, who used it at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. It features the same three-way adjustability as the Anser driver, but is a higher-launching, higher-spinning driver with greater forgiveness. It has an RRP of £299.

1 Biggest head everThere were so many excellent drivers

on the market last year – TaylorMade’s R11S and Callaway’s RAZR Hawk were just two which won widespread acclaim. But Ping’s G20 was arguably friendlier for real game-improvers because it looked so inviting to hit at address. It appeared to be enormous behind the ball, yet the G25, somewhat unbelievably, features a larger profile (more elongated from the front to back) than the G20. So, there really are very few excuses for not getting the ball off the tee given this forgiving nature of the

head. The familiar Ping alignment aid remains, but it’s subtle enough that

it won’t irritate better players. And at a time when many

manufacturers are making their drivers in many different

colours, Ping has gone for a lovely, matt charcoal

finish which adds a touch of class

to the look.

New driver features Ping’s largest-profile head ever – and it’s the first G-series club to get adjustability

PING G25 GOES LARGE

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FIRST LOOK

Family valuesPing’s G-series has long been about forgiveness – and the sixth-generation G25 is no different.

1 The elongated head size helps to make this the most forgiving Ping driver ever.2 Variable thickness in the face helps to deliver a powerful energy transfer for faster ball speeds.3 Golfers will have the option of being able to adjust the loft on the G25 by plus or minus 0.5°.4 The centre of gravity has been moved lower and further back than in any other Ping driver.

minus 0.5˚. Ping made an effort to keep the adjustable hosel from being a distraction by keeping it the same diameter and mass as hosels on Ping’s non-adjustable drivers. The high-balance-point shaft has been developed specifically for the G25. Ping say the shaft creates more clubhead momentum at impact, leading to greater ball velocity and forgiveness.

4 More forgivenessPing’s G20 driver won our 2012 driver test,

and it performed particularly well when it came to forgiveness. The new G25 follows suit. According to the company, the G25 positions the centre of gravity lower and further back than any Ping driver in the company’s history, and boasts a moment of inertia measurement which is 10 per cent higher than the G20. The G25 benefits from an ultra-thin crown and body made of 8-1-1 titanium and a variable-thickness 6-4 titanium face insert – these result in improved ball speeds on off-centre hits. There have also been structural reinforcements in the crown, sole and skirt, providing a more solid feel and sound.

2 A deeper faceLike its G20 predecessor, the 460cc head

is cast from a strong, light titanium alloy. The G25 has a larger face than the G20, a lower and deeper centre of gravity, and the more elongated head we have already mentioned. These design features result in higher-launching shots that spin less, a higher MOI and more forgiveness.

3 The adjustabilityPing first entered the world of driver

adjustability with the Anser last summer. That system has been incorporated into the G25. It comes in four lofts (8.5˚, 9.5˚, 10.5˚ and 12˚) and each loft can be adjusted by plus or

Ping chairman John Solheim, and his father Karsten, have never been afraid of thinking ‘outside the box’ when it comes to golf equipment. Now, a year after announcing an idea for rating balls based on distance, he has applied for a patent that rates equipment and balls as one of the factors in determining a golfer’s handicap.

“The tone coming from the USGA and the R&A in recent years suggests another significant equipment rollback may not be far away,” he said. “We continue to hear whispers of more changes. But as we’re also reading on the proposed anchoring ban, many directly involved in the game favour more equipment options, not fewer. I’m looking for ways to keep the game enjoyable for every level of golfer.”

His application includes various scenarios in which equipment could be graded (such as balls that go differing distances) and are also factored in with current variables such as the difficulty of the course.

“One of the goals of this concept is to get people thinking outside the traditional box that seems to have been built around golf, due primarily to the influence of the professional game.”

Ping boss wants ‘gear handicaps’John Solheim’s latest idea to make golf easier

For exclusive equipment news visit www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/gear

PROS The G25 clubhead is enormous – which builds confidence. Though the G20 hasn’t been out of my bag much in the last 18 months, the G25’s forgiveness gives it an edge. That matt charcoal finish oozes class, too.CONS There’s a bit of a price jump from the G20 to the G25 (£255-£299), but this can be attributed to the cost of materials as well as the adjustability that has been incorporated.

First hit : Jon Greathead, hcp 10

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England’s Ian Poulter is known for his nerves of steel and flawless short game, but does he THE SWING THAT SPARKED THE MIRACLE OF MEDINAH

➔WATCHING IAN POULTER IN FULL FLIGHT IS something special. While his swing is not technically

perfect, he is still capable of playing some amazing golf and there is a lesson for all of us in that. He has a tremendous golfing brain which, coupled with a deadly short game, makes him perhaps the ultimate matchplay competitor. We can learn some key things from Ian Poulter that, if applied, can make a considerable difference to your game as well. Ian is clearly meticulous about his “pre-swing”

components: his posture, hold and set-up. He knows how much of an influence they have on the “in-swing components”. You should also pay close attention to these.

Part of having a good golfing brain is to leave swing mechanics on the range. Remember, golf is a target game. Develop a sound routine that allows you to set up and fire, letting your subconscious run the show. Finally, learn to play under pressure by switching club and target on each shot during practice. This builds pressure, consequence and focus.

SWING SEQUENCE

A poised and ready start

position devoid of any excess

tension. Notice how freely his

arms hang.

The club is swinging on a wide circle, ideal for power.

Perfect sequencing: hips, then upper body, arms, club.

As a result of the takeaway

the club is swung on an upright

plane and the backswing is long and full.

Width created early although

evidence of arms separating

from the body slightly here.

This generally leads to a long

backswing.

INSTRUCTION


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Steven Orr England coach and Fellow of the PGA based at Rustington Golf Centre, W Sussex.

also have the full swing to match. Steven Orr looks at the action of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroTHE SWING THAT SPARKED THE MIRACLE OF MEDINAH

THINGS TO TAKE FROM IAN’S SWING3 1

LET THE CLUB SWING Body-dominant swing thoughts tend to make the golf swing look

awkward and over-controlled. Copy Ian and simply let your body respond to the motion of the club

for better results.

2COMPLETE YOUR TURN

Swing to a full turn. Ian’s backswing is longer than most in the modern game, but provides a great image for you to remember to complete your backswing with

a full shoulder turn.

3MAKE IT PERSONAL

Match your tempo to your personality. Ian’s swing is brisk and snappy, and matches his

personality. Make sure the tempo of your swing is an expression of

your natural pace.

Great impact position; right wrist bent, left wrist flat.

Club has freewheeled, taking the body with it.

Ian’s swing is on plane as the

shaft is parallel to the target line

at this point. Use this as a checkpoint.

Maintaining his spine's

inclination to the ground helps ensure

consistent contact time

after time.

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MY TOP SHOTSMATTEO MANASSERO

Bomb drives and nail your approaches with my essential tips

Matteo Manasserois the youngest ever winner on the European Tour. He is also a TCA Abu Dhabi Ambassador. Special thanks to Golf in Abu Dhabi & Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

➔I’VE MADE SOME PRETTY big changes to my swing

recently with my coach, Alberto Binaghi, which made 2012 my most challenging season. I’m still only 19 and I figured it was better to make the necessary changes sooner rather than later in order to take the next step in my career. It gives me great confidence to see the hard work pay off when I picked up my third European Tour victory at the Barclays Singapore Open. Over the next four pages, my coach Alberto and I will show you how I’ve added distance to my driving without sacrificing accuracy – and how you can control your approach play to set up more birdie opportunities.

INSTRUCTION


HOW I HIT LOW, PINPOINTSHORT IRONSWhen I’m faced with a shot of between 120-140 yards and there’s a breeze to factor in, like here on the par-3 17th at Saadiyat Beach, I like to visualise what I refer to as a “chippy” shot. This shot produces a low, penetrating ball flight that stops quickly as soon as it lands on the green. Because I can keep my hands very still through the hitting area, I can be very accurate with this type of shot when I’ve got a wedge or a 9-iron. It’s important not to fall into the trap of using too much hands and arms though. A lot of instructors will tell you to swing easy in order to hit the ball lower – that’s true, but it doesn’t work for this particular style of shot. I grip down on the handle of the club maybe by an inch, and take a tighter stance – everything is a little bit closer together.

ROTATE AND ‘HOLD OFF’ FOR CONTROLThe rotation of my right shoulder drives this shot, with my hands remaining passive, low and left at the finish. This shot only works when played at speed and with power. The faster you can whip your right shoulder down and around your body, the lower and better the resulting ball flight will be. This shot is barely affected by all but the strongest of breezes. I can take dead aim at the pin and pick the spot where I want the ball to land. ➔

WITH MATTEO MANASSERO

Down and around My main swing thought from the top is to drive my right shoulder down and then around my body, rotating hard towards the target.


TRAVELAWARDS2 0 1 3

CONTINENTAL EUROPE’S BEST VALUE DESTINATIONWinnerThe Algarve

The Algarve is an awesome golf destination – and is getting even bigger and better.

The region has flourished since Sir Henry Cotton set the ball rolling by creating legendary Penina in the mid 1960s. Now the Algarve boasts more than 40 courses and they suit all tastes, playing levels and budgets.

Nine Portuguese courses appear in the new edition of the Rolex Top 1,000 Courses book with six in the Algarve, namely Palmares, San Lorenzo, Vilamoura Victoria and Old, Monte Rei and Quinta da Cima. What’s more, the sun is bound to be shining down on you when you play them too; the Algarve boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year.Top deal: Three nights’ B&B (Le Meridien Penina) and three rounds (two Championship, one Resort) from £199pp. Valid March 2-April 26. See page 106 for booking info.

TRAVELAWARDS2 0 1 3

SPAIN ’S BEST COURSEWinnerValderrama

A fitting tribute to founder Jaime Patino, who died in January at the age of 82. Often considered to be the No.1 course not only in Spain but the whole of continental Europe, Valderrama is a genuine superstar. It has staged some of the biggest tournaments in golf, including the former season-ending Volvo Masters on numerous occasions and was the first venue outside the UK and America to stage the Ryder Cup, which was won by Seve’s European team in 1997.

It was the conclusion to a huge programme of development at the club, Robert Trent Jones Snr dramatically turning little-known Las Aves into a top venue in the mid 1980s.

Be warned, though, it’s likely you’ll have to part with 300 euros to tee it up here – but for that you can expect immaculate conditioning, top service and an unforgettable experience.Top deal: Three nights’ B&B (NH Almenara Hotel) and three rounds (one on Valderrama, two at Almenara) from £345pp. Valid Mar 1-22 (book 30+ days in advance).

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SPAIN’S BEST HOTEL/RESORTWinnerLa Manga

La Manga has been entertaining golfers from all over the world for over 40 years.

The famous venue has everything you could possibly need for a break in the sun on site, including a trio of 18-hole courses (South, North and West), a pitch and putt course, superb practice facilities and a range of accommodation including a centrally-located five-star hotel. The resort is more than three times the size of Monaco and it boasts superb off-course amenities such as a spa, 28-court tennis centre and a plethora of restaurants, bars and entertainment.Top deal: Three nights’ B&B (Hotel La Manga Club – Principe Felipe ) and two rounds from £199pp. Valid Jan 1-Mar 29.

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PORTUGAL’S BEST COURSEWinnerVilamoura Old Course

It may be overshadowed by nearby modern tracks Victoria and The Faldo at Amendoeira,

but the charming Old Course is still the jewel. Known as the ‘Grande Dame’ of Algarve courses, the Frank Pennink design opened in 1969 and is the region’s second-oldest course. It meanders over gently-undulating terrain between rows of impressive umbrella pines: it’s not intimidatingly long, but you have to keep it straight, with good course management crucial to a solid score. The Old underwent a renovation project 27 years after opening.Top deal: Seven nights’ B&B (Conrad Algarve Hotel) and three rounds (Vilamoura Old, Victoria & Quinta do Lago Laranjal) from £989pp. Valid Mar 29-Apr 30.

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PORTUGAL’S BEST HOTEL/RESORTWinnerVale do Lobo

It’s the Algarve’s largest resort, has just celebrated its 50th anniversary and is perfect for couples, families and groups alike.

Vale do Lobo has a variety of quality accommodation and world-class facilities including two 18-hole courses (Royal and Ocean), a sumptuous spa, a 14-court tennis centre plus its very own private beach.

Furthermore, you can unwind in style at Praca, the beach-side complex featuring a plethora of bars, restaurants and pools.Top deal: Three nights’ B&B (Vale do Lobo) and two rounds (Royal & Ocean) from £299pp. Valid Mar 1-Jun 28.

Above: Valderrama was voted Spain’s top course and is considered one of continental Europe’s best.

PLAYING

‘VALDERRAMA IS OFTEN CONSIDERED THE No.1 COURSE IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE’


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FRANCE’S BEST COURSEWinnerLe Touquet

Le Touquet is just across the Channel – only 45 minutes from Calais – so is incredibly easy to get to. It also offers superb value for money – and you’re guaranteed a great round of golf whether you elect to play either the Sea or Forest courses. Most prefer the Sea, with it being an 80-year-old Harry Colt masterpiece and host of several French Opens in the 1970s. The neighbouring Forest weaves in and out of the pines. Play both in a day and it will live long in the memory.Top deal: Two nights’ B&B (Le Manoir Hotel) and three rounds (Sea and Forest plus the delightful Hardelot) from £275pp, which includes a free welcome dinner. Valid on selected dates in April and September.

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FRANCE’S BEST HOTEL/RESORTWinnerSt Malo Hotel G&CC

If you’re looking for a relaxed and peaceful retreat in rural Brittany, this is for you.

The venue, which overlooks Mirloup lake, is just 30 minutes from the walled, coastal town of St Malo and the wooden beam and stone interiors help to give it a 19th Century manor style and feel.

Rooms are spacious and well equipped and have their own balcony/terrace. Altogether

Above: Palmares, in the western Algarve, has been redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and is now one of the biggest attractions on this coastline.

Below: The famous red cliffs at Vale do Lobo, the resort you voted the best on the Algarve.

BEST VALUE DESTINATION (CONTINENTAL EUROPE) 1 The Algarve 43% 2 Turkey 13% 3 Murcia 12%

SPAIN BEST COURSE 1 Valderrama 54% 2 PGA Catalunya 11% 3 San Roque 9% HOTEL/RESORT 1 La Manga 45% 2 La Quinta 13% 3 La Cala 12%

PORTUGAL BEST COURSE 1 Vilamoura Old 30%2 Palmares and San

Lorenzo both 11% HOTEL/RESORT 1 Vale do Lobo 15%2 Dona Filipa & San

Lorenzo 14% 3 Quinta da

Marinha 11%

FRANCE BEST COURSE 1 Le Touquet 24% 2 Paris National 23%3 Fontainebleau 12%HOTEL/RESORT 1 St Malo Hotel

G&CC 2 1%2 Le Manoir 19% 3 Terre Blanche 18%

ENGLAND (NORTH) BEST COURSE 1 Royal Lytham & St

Annes 30.17%2 Royal Birkdale

27.79%3 De Vere Slaley Hall

24.23%HOTEL/RESORT 1 De Vere Carden

Park 50%2 Mere G&CC 18% 3 Rockliffe Hall 16%

ENGLAND (SOUTH) BEST COURSE 1 Royal St

George’s 26% 2 Sunningdale

Old 25%3 Woburn G&CC 24%HOTEL/RESORT 1 The Grove 41%2 Stoke Park 34%3 Foxhills 23%

TG Travel Awards – the top 3s

there are 27 holes of parkland golf on offer while the seaside course treats of Dinard and Val Andre are within comfortable striking distance to make yours a rounded trip.Top deal: Four nights’ B&B and two rounds from £289pp. Valid Mar 30-Apr 21.

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ENGLAND’S BEST COURSE (NORTH)WinnerRoyal Lytham & St Annes

One of the most demanding courses on The Open rota – as Australian Adam Scott discovered last summer when he collapsed coming down the stretch to hand the Claret Jug to Ernie Els. It was Lytham’s 11th Open and it has been challenging and thrilling golfers – pro and amateur alike – since opening in 1897.

The course unusually starts with a par 3

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today's golfer issue 305

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