Deer Oh Deer!

January 26th, 2012

I have a confession. It’s been niggling my mind for a couple of years. I wish I could say we’ve all done it, but I doubt it very much.   This all relates to an incident involving me, a wedge, and one of the Queen’s animals.  You can see where this is going.  Well, it’s not a moment I’m particularly proud of, but it’s time I got it off my chest.

When I lived in Twickenham, I was a member of Hampton Court Palace Golf Club, which is set within beautiful Bushy Park in South West London. The course offers one of the most enjoyable environments in which to play golf near the city, with expansive, unspoiled parkland in every direction.  Not only that, but it’s home to hundreds (if not thousands, I don’t know which) of deer. They really are part of the furniture, and it surprises almost everyone who first steps foot on the course just how close they get to you. Appropriately, local rules at the club give the deer right of way, and while the odd frustrating break might negatively affect the scorecard (think hoof marks in the bunkers, teeth marks on your ball), it doesn’t detract from the experience of playing. Indeed, you’d argue that the deer make it even more special.

If you’ve ever played at Hampton Court Palace, you’ll know that at some point in your round you’ll be faced with the shot that, if you get it wrong, could lead to an anxious ‘heart in mouth’ moment as your ball careers towards a herd of deer.  There’s no denying that these noble creatures know very well that they have priority, and our interminable pursuit of a getting a small white ball into 18 little cups buried in the ground isn’t going to get between them and the luscious fairways that supply lunch.

The deer are so numerous that if everyone stopped and waited for every single one to be out of range prior to playing their shot, rounds at Hampton Court Palace would take days rather than hours.  As such, one of the conditions of play is that if you hit a deer, you should report it to the club immediately so that the animal can be checked over. If people are responsible about this, I’m sure casualties are kept to a minimum. (I am not enjoying reliving this).

So, one sunny summer’s day a couple of years ago, I was strolling down the second fairway contemplating the 100 yard shot to the green that lay ahead. To paint a picture briefly, the pin was right at the back of the green and a lonesome deer was nonchalantly nibbling away contently about 10 yards in front of the green. Typically the deer (we’ll call him ‘Derek’) was smack bang on a line between my ball and said target. Stating my defence (and I’ll concede at this point that it’s a fairly weak defence), I’d like to highlight that I did my utmost to move Derek along. I walked up as close as I dared in the hope he’d get scared and walk off. I clapped my hands loudly to frighten him off. I think I even ‘schewed’ him at one point, though I’m keen to stress that’s ‘schew’ not ‘shoe’… that really would bring on a court case. But nothing, Derek wasn’t going anywhere.

I suppose I have to own up to the fact that at this point in my golfing career I was a professional golfer regularly playing on satellite tours, booked in for Tour School, and generally backing my own abilities. This all taken into account, an obstacle (Derek) at 80yards for a pro playing a 100yard wedge shot, shouldn’t really come into the equation. And with that professional arrogance, I went about my business as per usual and made a positive swing at the golf ball.

There are certain moments in life where everything seems to happen in slow motion. As if time slows, allowing you to draw out every tiny detail because you know the impending psychological pain is going to scar your mind and haunt you forever. This was one such moment. That very instant that my club head made contact with the ball, before even looking up I knew there was only one place this Titleist was heading. The contact was poor; I’d made the most dribbling attempt at a golf swing. It had poor Derek’s name written all over it. The only question was where it was going to hit him.

Sadly and all too literally, the answer was ‘right between the eyes’. I guess it would be unfair to say ‘he never saw it coming’, but he really didn’t. For the entire time that ball was in the air, my hand was covering my open mouth. I was about to kill one of the Queen’s beloved animals. What was the punishment for such treason? Could you still be sent to the Tower? I saw flashes of future tabloid headlines tarnishing my character, my golfing name would be mud.

And the noise, oh, the noise was horrific. Have you ever heard a golf ball strike a skull?  You don’t want to.  I fully expected poor Derek’s lights to go out permanently. Surely he’d just lean over and crash to the floor, leaving me with an awful lot of explaining to do. But remarkably (and very thankfully) he didn’t.  Alright, he leapt five feet in the air like you’d expect, but his only other reaction was to skip off to the side of the fairway, shake his head a little, and then go back to the day job of chewing the grass. I guess the rutting season gives you a greater headache than a golf ball – they’re a hard breed these deer.

I waited around for a delayed reaction but that never came either. Derek was fine, and had even had the grace to help my ball to within 10 feet of the hole. It was only right that I should miss the putt, though I like to put it down to the emotional turmoil I was going through at the time.  Far as I could tell, the only lasting legacy was my guilt.

But my confession, I guess, is two-fold.  I also apologise unreservedly for besmirching the term “professional golfer”.  If you can’t hit a wedge shot with a 20% margin of error, what does that say about you and your right to professional status?  There, I said it. From this day forward I can walk the fairways safe in the knowledge that my wedge inadequacies are off my chest.

You’ll be relieved to know that Derek really was fine. He may have walked off in a diagonal line with an egg shaped lump on his temple, he was well enough to go back to chomping contentedly away in a matter of moments.

The Queen doesn’t know, by the way, so I’d appreciate it if you kept this between us.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Ed's View | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

In Search of the Portuguese Star

January 19th, 2012

Germany had its Bernhard Langer, and more recently, Martin Kaymer.  Spain had, of course, the inimitable Seve, then Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.  Sweden has been a conveyor-belt of Ryder Cup players, Denmark has Thomas Bjorn and even Italy, with its comparatively modest golfing pedigree, has had Costantino Rocca, and now the Molinari brothers and Matteo Mannassero.  France has perhaps underachieved, but has still delivered a list of established European Tour Pros and names that we all know, like Jean Van de Veld.  Northern Ireland punches well above its weight, boasting three Major champions in little over a year, Wales brought us Ian Woosnam and Scotland a catalogue of famous old names plus some more recent Major winners in Sandy Lyle and Paul Lawrie. While England hasn’t produced a Major winner since Nick Faldo, there has been a constant stream of world class professionals, including recent World Number Ones Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.  But for all the famous golfers making a name for both themselves and their respective European countries, Portugal remains conspicuous in its absence.

Despite an abundance of top notch golfing facilities across the Algarve and beyond, many of which have been established for decades, Portugal is still awaiting their first golfing superstar.  It’s a shame, and the region would benefit from a breakthrough performance. Surely it’s time the trend was bucked.

It’s only recently that Ricardo Santos was appointed brand ambassador for Oceanico, but in the past few years it’s been the faces of Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke acting as the inspiration to a Portuguese nation of golfers. Then again, perhaps that’s half the point. Perhaps they aren’t intended to provide inspiration to the Portuguese, but inspiration to British tourists. That’s all well and good, but for the sake of home grown talent in Portugal, they need their own superstar. Longer term, a home grown player will serve as much greater influence on the growth of their domestic game, and in turn the success of the resorts, than borrowing a pro from another part of the world.  By all accounts, Seve almost single-handedly brought golf to the domestic Spanish market.  What Portugal would do for the same.

Professional golfers undeniably bring exposure to their native countries on the golfing map. Consider the number of Americans now likely to add the rugged links courses of Northern Ireland to their itineraries when visiting Ireland, just to experience the course where Darren, Rory and GMac grew up. Without doubt, a Major champion from Portugal would widen the country’s golfing reach, especially if the Major they won was a US Masters or US Open.

Of course, there are plenty of reasons that will have contributed to Portugal’s failure to-date, but surely over the years one player should’ve made it through to the big time? Granted, there have been one or two flirting with the fringes of the European Tour for a few years, but are any of them considered to be a ‘household name’?

For a start, the trouble for Portugal is that there hasn’t been someone from a previous era of such stature as Gary Player or Seve Ballesteros, to raise the profile of golf to the youngsters. In most successful golfing countries, one player in a generation inspired a future pool of talent. Years later, one of these inspired another group of youngsters. The trouble is, you need that initial breakthrough to kick start the process, and to date Portugal hasn’t had one. Sadly for golf, one suspects that the inspiration was concentrated in other sports, particularly football, from the likes of Eusebio, Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo. Football is undoubtedly ‘cooler’ than golf, and you’d suspect that the younger generation dream of emulating Ronaldo’s footsteps, rather than Jose-Filipe Lima. No disrespect intended.

I also doubt that the infrastructure and support levels at the top of the amateur circuit in Portugal rival that of other countries. For example, can it compare to the EGU who do a sterling job in fostering the best young talent to the professional ranks? Does the Portuguese golf federation do the job to the same effect? Or produce similar results? Clearly not, though funding and volumes of players are surely valid excuses.

As touched on, financial reasons are perhaps the greatest hindrance of all. Portugal’s economic situation is well documented, so it’s probably fair to assume that in an industry priced towards tourists, the average Portuguese family might well be unable to afford, let alone justify, a sizeable outlay at the local golf club.

I’m sure there are many other contributing factors, too, and doubtless there are people far better placed to explain them.  But the roots of the problem are certainly there to see.

Of course, one day a Portuguese player will break through and buck the trend and the lift it will give to the region, and in particular the domestic game, when it does will be immense. While the 2018 Ryder Cup was recently awarded to France, there was a very strong case for Portugal to host the event. It’s fair to assume that they will bid again (and get it) another year, but you have to wonder whether the weight of a star player behind a bid might make the difference.  That the first Ryder Cup in Continental Europe went to Valderrama in Spain was solely down to Seve’s captivating heroics in the event during the 1980s and early 1990s. Perhaps when it comes to bidding for the 2022 Ryder Cup, Portugal may have a superstar to do just that. A famous ambassador carries significant weight to a Ryder Cup bid, and a Ryder Cup elevates a country beyond all recognition in golfing terms.

Consider the boost French golf will be given for the coming years as it prepares for the arrival of the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National. Golf will go wild as 2018 gets closer, and France stands to benefit. Nobody is saying that hosting a Ryder Cup is the only route to longevity of success, but you can see how Portugal would benefit from doing so in the future. A home grown Major Champion would undoubtedly influence a bid, and greatly raise the profile of the country as a golfing destination on the world stage.

Sadly, as things stand, that doesn’t look particularly likely, but regardless I hope Portugal produces at least one stand-out player sooner than 2022. The courses, facilities, and weather are too good a breeding ground for the barrenness to continue.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Ed's View | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Links On Show

January 12th, 2012

If you were still indulging in festive leftovers you might well have missed the start to the European and PGA 2012 Tours, both of which got underway last week. Yes quite, it was a fairly inconspicuous start, so you are of course excused. With the post-season competitions and money-spinners, the professional golfing merry-go-round doesn’t seem to stop.

Unless you are one of the Rookie’s on tour, you’d probably have to concede that The Africa Open and the Hyundai Tournament of Champions are a pair of fairly uninspiring season openers.  I don’t mean this as a criticism of the respective tours, as we all understand that the flagship events tend to be scheduled mid-season, but it got me thinking….which event really kick starts the public’s interest in the new season?

For the majority (that is, the averagely keen golfer and those without Sky TV) interest is usually ignited by The Masters.  For more hardened enthusiasts, the Dubai Desert Classic, the World Matchplay or the Phoenix Open are often the first events that have us tuning in.  All of these are great events in their own right, but it’s not rocket science to spot the correlation between level of interest and number of world class players in the starting field.

Personally, I’ll be keeping a close eye on all of these, and perhaps an earlier eye on the Volvo Golf Champions event at The Links at Fancourt. This one is purely down to the fact I’ve played the course a few times and it’s one of my favourites. There’s always extra interest when you’ve played the golf course (one of the special attractions golf has over so many other sports).  It’s even better still when you have enjoyed the odd birdie, and affords us to the right to heckle the professional efforts to ‘only score a par’!  And, naturally, the conditions they’re playing in are identical to (if not easier than) when you played – that cauldron pressure, off the very back tees…. and everyone’s allowed a mulligan, right?  OK, perhaps not, but it’s nice to let yourself dream.

Still, even watching all of these early season events as the players build their form, nothing inspires us to dust off the clubs and go out there and play ourselves more than the sight of rhododendrons in bloom and Magnolia Lane as The Masters rolls around.  However, this year there is a stretch of tournaments that I’m looking forward to more than any others in recent years. And bear in mind it’s a bumper year, what with the Ryder Cup upon us again in September.

The most intriguing and appealing run of events for me start at the end of June due to the recent announcement that The Irish Open will be contested at Royal Portrush. This means there is now a run of four weeks that will see three links courses, one Major Championship, one future Ryder Cup venue, and one litmus test for a future Open Championship venue.

The Irish Open (Royal Portrush), Scottish Open (Castle Stuart), and The Open (Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s) promise to be superb, and it is here that will provide a rarity to savour – being able to witness three links courses in use for professional events in such quick succession. Usually, we’re confined to one a year. I only hope that some of the top name players use the first two as a warm up for The Open. After all, and as demonstrated with a few of the early season examples above, a good quality field is essential for raising the public interest. You’d think that 2012 (being a Ryder Cup year) won’t struggle for interest, and with this being prime time for the jostling of ranking points, the fields are likely to be top notch. It’s a given that McIlroy, Clarke, Harrington, and McDowell will play at Portrush, and with many big names opting for the links of Castle Stuart last year in preparation for The Open, you’d think that many will do the same again. There is something extra provided by the vagaries of a good links course, but sadly it’s increasingly a lost art in the professional game. If it wasn’t for The Open, you wonder whether there would be any on display.  I know it’s all about access, finances, and galleries but it’s still a shame.

Either way, these four weeks from 28th June – 22nd July look set to provide the season highlight, perhaps with the exception of the Ryder Cup under Jose Maria Olazabal’s stewardship at Medinah in September . The struggle will be to draw oneself away from the armchair and onto the golf course.  I can sense a few sneaky evening rounds ahead.

I’d be interested to know which events you’re most looking forward to. There are the obvious and usual candidates, and let’s not forget the Curtis Cup at The Nairn Golf Club, or some of the major amateur events that often provide a fascinating insight into the next generation of players. Perhaps it’s this run of links courses that tick your boxes, too. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Ed's View, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Christmas Quiz Answers

January 4th, 2012

Ed is currently on paternity leave but will be writing again very soon. With this in mind, the blog is very short this week – just the answers to the Christmas Quiz. Hopefully it provided some entertainment over the festive period, and I trust you’ve got them all worked out. You may have noticed one small error – that of ‘No. 3’ where there are only 4 events in the Fed Ex Cup post season, rather than 5. Apologies if it had you stumped for days!

 

  1. 31 t at the W C of G = 31 teams at the World Cup of Golf
  2. 12 p in a R C t = 12 players in a Ryder Cup team
  3. 5 e in the FE C P S = 5 events in the Fed Ex Cup Post Season
  4. 1934 f M T = 1934 first Masters Tournament
  5. 2 s d = a d b = 2 shots dropped = a double bogey
  6. 4 M in a y = 4 Majors in a Year
  7. 80 is the a of P A = 80 is the age of Peter Alliss
  8. 156 p in the f for the O C = 156 players in the field for the Open Championship
  9. 5 in the O W G R is A S = 5 in the Official World Golf Rankings is Adam Scott
  10. 46 e on the R to D = 46 events on the Race to Dubai
  11. 14 c in the b = 14 clubs in the bag
  12. 35 i in a s l p = 35 Inches in a standard length putter
  13. 112 b on the O C at S A = 112 bunkers on the Old Course at St.Andrews
  14. 2005 M C w the U S O = 2005 Michael Campbell won the US Open
  15. 15 p s by the E S C t = 15 points scored by the European Solheim Cup Team
  16. 30 E T C at Q S = 30 European Tour Cards at Qualifying School
  17. 73 PGA T v for J N = 73 PGA Tour victories for Jack Nicklaus
  18. 2013 T O C at M = 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield
  19. 22 is the a of R M = 22 is the age of Rory McIlroy
  20. 46 d of l on a n i = 46 degrees of loft on a nine iron
  21. 3 u p  = an a = 3 under par = an albatross
  22. 2011 first M w with a b p = 2011 first Major won with a belly putter
  23. 8 O of M T w by C M = 8 Order of Merits Titles won by Colin Montgomerie
  24. 14 p s by the G B & I W C T = 14 points scored by the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup Team
  25. 4 M w by P M = 4 Majors won by Phil Mickelson
  26. 2018 R C at L G N = 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National
  27. 1995 y J D w t O C = 1995 year John Daly won the Open Championship
  28. 1 p s for o o b = 1 penalty stroke for out of bounds
  29. 141 O C at R L & S A = 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes
  30. 6 M in N F’s c = 6 Majors in Nick Faldo’s Career

Tags: , ,
Posted in Ed's View, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

iSpyGolf Christmas Quiz

December 22nd, 2011


A Yule time quiz seems an appropriate interlude to the normal blog. Quite simply, see if you can find the solutions for the number and letter combinations below. You may well have seen a similar style puzzle before – the variation here being that all of the solutions are linked to golf.  As an example, the answer to ‘18 h on a g c ’ would be ‘18 holes on a golf course’ and names and proper nouns are in capitals. Simple!  Good luck, answers next time…

 

  1. 31 t at the W C of G
  2. 12 p in a R C t
  3. 5 e in the FE C P S
  4. 1934 f M T
  5. 2 s d = a d b
  6. 4 M in a y
  7. 80 is the a of P A
  8. 156 p in the f for the O C
  9. 5 in the O W G R is A S
  10. 46 e on the R to D
  11. 14 c in the b
  12. 35 i in a s l p
  13. 112 b on the O C at S A
  14. 2005 M C w the U S O
  15. 15 p s by the E S C t
  16. 30 E T C at Q S
  17. 73 PGA T v for J N
  18. 2013 T O C at M
  19. 22 is the a of R M
  20. 46 d of l on a n i
  21. 3 u p  = an a
  22. 2011 first M w with a b p
  23. 8 O of M T w by C M
  24. 14 p s by the G B & I W C T
  25. 4 M w by P M
  26. 2018 R C at L G N
  27. 1995 y J D w t O C
  28. 1 p s for o o b
  29. 141 O C at R L & S A
  30. 6 M in N F’s c

Tags: , ,
Posted in Ed's View | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Greenkeepers Revenge

December 15th, 2011

With the exception of the odd pre-Christmas Scramble, we’re moving in to a quiet few weeks at most golf clubs.  With snow in recent years, there isn’t even the guarantee that the course will be open and the greenkeepers have their work cut out to deal with the worst the season can throw at them.

Despite all this, there are still a number of die hard golfers who insist on playing whatever the weather. Naturally, soggy fairways, muddy fringes, and winter standard greens aren’t conducive to great scoring, so perhaps the traditional stableford and medal formats could be shelved for a week in favour of an entirely different golfing beast.  How about a competition that inspires a more social atmosphere and larger participation levels from the membership? I’m talking about the ‘Greenkeeper’s Revenge’. Probably not an event found on the fairways at Augusta, but one that a number of golf clubs in this country have already hosted with great success. For the unversed, perhaps I can shed a little light on the concept.

Greenkeepers have it tough. Crack of dawn starts, lawnmower-homing golf balls, ear bashings from disgruntled members; in many ways, they’re on a complete hiding to nothing.  The ‘Greenkeepers Revenge’ gives them the chance to get their own back with carte blanche to set up the golf course as never seen before.  Part golf course, part obstacle course, the use of tractors, trailers, fake holes, and dirty pin positions are all permitted, and indeed, actively encouraged.  Here’s an opportunity for retribution.

For one day in the year, the greenkeepers do away with the text books. They create a golf course for the members to take on that will test their patience, ability and sense of humour. Revenge is the name of the game, so the goal of the ‘Greenies’ will doubtless be to infuriate the competitors. It might sound like carnage, and in many senses it is, but these guys know what they’re doing and can certainly be trusted not to compromise the golf course. Golfers won’t have seen or played in anything like it, such is the uniqueness of the set-up, and how well you play is much less important than embracing the spirit of the day.  Fun and frustration are guaranteed in equal measure.

The best format (for purposes of sanity) is probably Texas Scramble. Without it, you could be playing all day. For example, anyone who drives a golf ball under a tractor wheel is probably going to require a ‘get out of jail free card’, and the Texas Scramble format permits it. The social benefits of the Texas Scramble add to the concept as well, as teams conjure up methods of negotiating a path around the many obstacles and trickery in place.

It’s doubtless one of the most memorable competitions I’ve played in, from the green with no flag to the obstructing trailer across the middle of the fairway; tee boxes in the rough to holes cut on an upslope.  Every hole has a talking/stumbling point, and while ordinarily the post competition chat in the bar is routinely filled with boring anecdotes such as ‘you should’ve seen Dave’s drive on 12’ or ‘what about that bounce you got on 15’, the conversations instead centre around a tractor blocking the approach to the par 3, or the pin cut 12 inches from the edge of the 18th green.  They’re topics that everyone in the competition can relate to and, unsurprisingly, make for a terrific atmosphere in the bar and, more often than not, a commitment to make the event an annual feature of the golfing calendar.

Admittedly, this isn’t for everyone and may challenge the temperament of the purist, but as a complete one-off event, it is, for many, a welcome alternative to a winter stableford or medal. I love the traditional formats of golf, but I don’t think every competition has to influence handicap or stick to the rules.  To me, it’s just as important to put on events that encourage every member to play and create a lively clubhouse environment where golfers want to stay longer and talk about the day.  It wouldn’t hurt the bar takings either.

Perhaps most importantly of all, the green keepers love it.  If just for one day, it’s a chance for the members to show their collective appreciation for all the hard work that goes in to preparing the course, rain or shine, all year round.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Ed's View, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Jeans & Tonic

December 8th, 2011

I have a question for you. Taking golf clubs out of the equation for just a moment, if someone asked you to have a drink at the pub, would you expect to change into a pair of chinos because of the dress code? Moreover, would such an imposed condition influence your choice of drinking tavern? The answer is probably ‘no’ and ‘yes’ respectively.

No public house or restaurant would score such a commercial own goal. If you’re looking for business, why on earth would you actively discourage potential customers? So why are so many golf clubs still refusing to budge one iota on this issue?

I need to clarify my view fairly early by saying that I’m not campaigning to turn every golf club in the country into a complete free for all on dress standards. I don’t have a problem putting a shirt and tie on, I don’t mind adhering to a dress code, and I do understand why many golf clubs have a reluctance to change. I like the traditions of the “old school” clubs.  But the signs are that I’m in the minority. How many busy golf club bars do you see these days? Discounting club competition days, I doubt many are a hive of activity on an evening.

I’ll concede that dress standards aren’t solely responsible for a quiet golf club bar – prime example being the link to the drink drive limit. Anything more than a pint and you are on the bubble of the law. Stiff penalties rightly act as a deterrent to driving to a bar for this very reason, and golf clubs suffer from the fact that they are, almost by definition, out of town.  But are they helping themselves? For some golf clubs, the lucky ones, there is no concern. Bar takings are up, their members are happy, and dress codes are still observed. Good luck to you, and long may it continue. But what about those clubs where the staff outnumber the punters, where the atmosphere is flatter than the local ale, and where a lack of bar takings is one of the financial strains on the club? Is there still an archaic dress code in place?

Now I’m not suggesting that you have to relax dress requirements to the point of absurdity, but I’m sure there’s some middle ground here. For starters, is a pair of jeans that offensive anymore? The future King is regularly seen sporting a pair, as is the Prime Minister, and indeed pretty much 90% of the population. Just to clarify, jeans are no longer associated with punk rockers, uncouth individuals, or football hooligans. And more importantly, the golf club has already accepted the individual as a suitable candidate during the membership application process. Does a pair of jeans really alter this perception of the individual? Of course not. So the issue isn’t with the member, or the pair of jeans – it can only be a matter of upholding traditions.

I can sense the sceptics would fail to recognise the middle ground between those people that wear jeans and the root of all evil. Or perhaps they would dismiss the notion without giving it any thought or fear that it’s a “slippery slope” if they took that first step. However, failing to recognise this middle ground might also be a failure to recognise the precarious position of the club. Not only financially, but socially, too. A busy bar is a happy bar, full of happy members and happy members invariably become renewing members. Admittedly, a jeans policy alone isn’t going to singlehandedly save a golf club, but it might help. And in the current climate, there aren’t many golf clubs that can afford to be complacent.

I think the traditionalists can still be kept happy, too. I’m not campaigning that jeans become mandatory, or that the jacket and tie be hung up, never to be worn again. Clearly there are occasions when a smarter code of dress may be required, and in an effort to satisfy all members of the club, it’s probably right that flexibility to impose a dress code is retained. For some places this may still be the majority of occasions. But that’s not to say that a club match would be considered ‘low brow’ should the decision be made to permit jeans.

Club dinners, certain evening functions, and special occasions do often require a little effort in the wardrobe department to give a sense of style or occasion, and nobody minds dressing suitably. But what about those other times (the majority of the time) when members and visitors choose to go elsewhere for a few drinks or meal because of the restrictions in place over what are essentially most people’s “everyday clothes”? Those times when the bar is closed because it isn’t financially viable to keep it open due to the lack of business.

As an example, I recently met a golfing friend of mine for a drink at his club after he’d finished playing. It was early evening, but the bar was absolutely packed. There was a lively social atmosphere, a broad spectrum of members all enjoying themselves, and frankly an environment you rarely see in a golf club these days. The difference? A few weeks prior, the golf club had introduced a “jeans” policy allowing members to wear jeans up until a certain time in the golf club bar. According to my friend, ever since this change had been put in place, the bar had regularly been full. Brilliant, I thought, though he was quick to point out that this rule only applied up to a certain time, and that half an hour later the bar would be empty. Sure enough, he was spot on. Now you can read all sorts of things into that, but it’s a striking example that a golf club bar can be instantly transformed from ghost town, to a bustling hub of social activity, and back again, all within a few hours, and all because of a pair of jeans.

The dress code is still one of the primary image problems for the sport, and like it or not, it has an influence on attracting newcomers to the game. Jeans on the golf course is a separate issue. I’m all for encouraging new players to the game, but for me this isn’t the reason people don’t PLAY the game of golf. Jeans in the clubhouse is part of golf’s stuffy image (like it or not, it has one), but there are some much wider issues than a bit of blue denim that prevent newcomers picking up the game. I can’t think of a sport that you actually PLAY whilst wearing jeans, but generally the most popular ones allow you to wear a pair whilst socialising around them. Golf is a sport where a pair of jeans will only serve to discomfort when in action. But the purpose here isn’t to address the issues surrounding participation levels of golf, that’s a different beast altogether. Yes, permitting jeans in the clubhouse might show off golf as a “game that’s adapting to modern times” but in reality, this alone isn’t going to shed golf’s elitist image.

I’ll reiterate – I’m not for one minute saying that there is never a time for a dress code at the golf club. Nobody minds dressing up for an occasion, whether it be the golf club, fancy restaurant, or special function. But people do mind dressing up for a social drink at the bar. The trouble is, when economic times are better, some clubs will claim they don’t need to change because they are doing alright. When times are tough, some will say they have more important issues to deal with. But perhaps it’s some of these taboo subjects that will turn the tide of club fortunes, and perhaps jeans are one such tonic in the bar.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Ed's View | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

CS Morgado Course Review

November 25th, 2011

North of the beaches at Portimão in the Algarve, nestled in the foothills of the Monchique Mountains, is CS Morgado. A relatively new addition to the Algarve golfing landscape, Morgado is rapidly maturing into a quality golfing destination that succeeds in blending the challenge of a championship course with the demands of holiday golf.

The Experience

The CS Morgado Resort feels distinctly different to other golfing destinations in the region. Set back from the coast and blending seamlessly with its rural setting, at times playing Morgado feels more like taking a stroll through the Portuguese countryside, complete with olive trees, hoopoes and views away to the picturesque hills. This is an attractive side to the Algarve that is too easily overlooked by tourists flocking straight to the beaches, and while the facilities at CS Morgado are anything but basic (in fact, they are ultra‐modern), the resort exudes a relaxed, back‐to‐nature contentment that can be a very welcome change of scene.

The ambience of the quiet and stylish clubhouse is worth absorbing, as you lounge in comfortable chairs on a shaded terrace that adds a touch of opulence to your post‐round drink. Here you can look out and admire a course that sits comfortably in its traditional surrounds, and gaze at a deep blue sky punctuated only by the occasional passing of a brilliant‐white egret. This experience is about more than just golf.

CS Group is the fastest growing hotel group in Europe and the investment at the CS Morgado Golf Resort, with its two five star hotels on‐site (yes, two!), is plain for all to see. The first of these, the CS Morgado Golf Hotel, is now open for golfers looking to stay and play both courses, and while construction continues on the estate, it’s only really in evidence in the distance and on driving in and out of the resort.

Location

While further inland than most of the courses in the region, the CS Morgado Golf Resort’s central position in the Algarve makes it an excellent base for golfers getting away from the more famous and expensive destinations around Faro (courtesy of the A22, the drive from Villamoura and Quinta do Lago now takes less than 30 minutes). And with the Álamos course providing a very different but no less enjoyable test on the opposite side of the clubhouse, this is an off‐the‐beaten‐track destination that’s well worth a detour.

The Course

As the longer of the resort’s two eighteen hole courses (the other, Álamos, opened for play in March 2006), Morgado is a European Golf Design layout that stretches to a formidable 6,399 metres (7,040 yards) off the championship tees. Thankfully, played from the forward tees, it is a somewhat easier proposition and you can set about enjoying a challenging rather than humiliating golfing experience. After all, you’ve headed to the Algarve to play golf in the warmth of the Iberian sun, not to search for balls in waist‐high undergrowth.

That’s not to say that Morgado could ever be classified as easy, especially given the prevailing wind that seems to blow against you more often than not. It’s perhaps worth mentioning that the breeze can be deceptively cooling and, with little shade to be had out on the course, it’s worth making sure you have plenty of sun lotion and water with you. Taking a buggy is the advisable option.

Front 9

Having loosened up on the driving range (a satisfying experience in itself given the peacefulness of the location and quality of the facility), a relatively gentle opening par four awaits. The out‐ofbounds is far enough right not to worry most and there’s plenty of room left if your three‐wood doesn’t fade as much as you’d planned, given the soft left‐to‐right shape of the hole.

Be warned, Morgado isn’t short of fairway bunkers but if you can plot your way between them successfully, you’ll likely to be on for a good score. The greens are large, very large on occasion, so judging the distance on your approach shot is perhaps more important here than at most courses. At times you could knock it on and still be faced with a 30 yard putt – not for the faint‐hearted!

The second hole plays much the same as the first, albeit demanding a longer approach shot, and you’ll be relieved to have a couple of pars under your belt when you step on to the third tee and see what awaits. If ever you had to commit to a confident swing, this is it. In truth, the landing area is quite sizeable but with out‐of‐bounds the full length of the hole on the right and water lining the fairway on the left, there’s little room for error. Get a good drive away and the wind is still likely to keep the green well out of reach for all but Alberto Quiros. Playing 535 metres (roughly 580 yards) into the wind, this is a monster of a hole that you’re simply looking to par and move on.

The next offers a little respite. Again the water plays down your left side, but a good strike will take most beyond it and into relative safety, whether on the fairway or off it. But don’t stray too far right or you’ll be in considerable trouble, with the possibility of having to reload. If you stay on the straight and narrow you’ll be left with a short iron but clubbing is vital into this particularly deep green. The fourth is the first short hole of the day, though not that short at 209 metres (230 yards) off the back tees. There’s a stream bisecting the hole but if you’ve chosen the right club and struck it well enough, you’ll be well clear. Up at the green, though, this is no easy two putt, with the wide and undulating green demanding a well judged approach putt.

Five and six head up and back down, either side of a stream that runs down the left side of both. Take particular care on the fifth as the water cuts into the fairway around the landing area more than you can see from the tee. A decent drive makes for a relatively easy hole but with out‐of bounds right, a straight drive is imperative.

The sixth, a par five, allows you to open your shoulders, with anything right of target still offering a straightforward shot back into play. That’s unless you’re particularly unlucky and find yourself up against one of the indigenous trees that are attractively dotted around. Longer hitters may fancy their chances of getting up in two but the raised green will discard all but the perfect approach.

The eighth is a good par three that plays uphill to another enormous green, before you launch your drive back towards the clubhouse on the ninth. At 282 metres, this is driveable for some, but for most you’re left with a short but knee‐trembling pitch shot onto a green that’s greatest protection is the audience watching from the clubhouse terrace. If you’ve driven it on, you’ll take pleasure in strolling up the fairway, putter in hand.

Back 9

As enjoyable as the front nine is, the back nine is what makes Morgado memorable. From your tee shot on the tenth, you begin to climb into the hills and will be grateful for your buggy. The raised tees and undulating fairways create a more distinct and impressive collection of holes that wind their way into the countryside before turning back (and downhill) for home.

The tenth is an uphill par five that dog‐legs gently away right‐to left at the end. This is an appealing drive with plenty of room (if you miss the bunkers!), set against a traditionally bucolic vista. For the vast majority, this is a good three‐shotter, so leave yourself with your favourite wedge distance to give yourself a birdie chance.

A short but pretty par three rewards your climb to the top of the hill. Exposed to the wind, picking the right club is probably harder than the shot itself. Get it wrong and you’ll be left with a devilishly tricky second, wherever you finished up. Strategy is key at the twelfth as you decide whether to hit a long iron onto a fairway that cuts diagonally between a plethora of bunkers or launch a driver and hope you clear them. There’s no way back from the desert terrain that visually erodes the hole from the left, so hit driver at your peril. Your approach to the green above you is difficult to judge, though there’s a little bit of space behind the green so long is probably better than short. Not too long though!

The thirteenth is, to my mind at least, the best hole on the course. A risk or reward par five that plays along the spine of the highest point on the course, you stand on the tee faced by a snaking fairway that disappears over the crest of the hill. Left is dead and everything pushes you right, down to equally penal scrubland. A good drive, evading the well‐placed fairway bunker leaves you contemplating a long but inviting second, down the hill to a narrow green that sits atop the next undulation. There’s nowhere to miss, so layup or hit it very straight. Or just go for it and keep your fingers crossed – what the hell, you’re on holiday, aren’t you?

The next tee shot is an enjoyable launch from a raised tee down to a fairway that sweeps across you to the right. It’s imperative not to bite off more than you can chew and the elevation tends to foreshorten the distance visually, so take care. From the centre of the fairway you’re still faced by an imposing approach to a green abutted on the left by a lake that grows in size every second you stand over your shot.

The fifteenth is a short but attractive uphill hole, fringed by olive trees, before you embark on the sixteenth which is a long par five that welcomes a tee shot struck with wild abandon. That said, it helps if you keep it on the short stuff. Like most of the par fives at Morgado, into the wind this plays as a good three‐shot hole, so don’t be too greedy as there’s plenty of trouble up by the green.

The penultimate hole is a good‐looking downhill par three that, depending on the wind, can be anything from a mid‐iron to a wood. Take a par and move on to the last, with its spectacular view down the hill to the clubhouse and beyond to the vineyards of Reguengo. Like so many holes at Morgado, the eighteenth is all about the tee shot: hit a good one and you’ll have a mid‐iron just waiting to be struck to the middle of the green, en route to a rewarding chilled bottle of Sagres on the terrace.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Course Review | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

‘Fore…’ Things To Stop Doing When You Reach Middle-Age!

November 10th, 2011

“There comes a moment in every man’s life when he realises he shall never play the Dane”.
(Uncle Monty, ‘Withnail and I’)


1. Stop warming up.
Whilst medical advice would point to the beneficial effects of a quiet half hour of yoga before a round, followed by working through the bag on the range, and then twenty minutes of putting, the reality is very different. The soft draw you have just perfected on the range will be replaced by a great carving slice off the first tee, only causing you to wander off down the first tee in a worse mood than had you ‘got away with an ugly straight one’ as you usually do. By now you have mastered the ‘straight out of the car swing’ – in fact it is likely to be one of the most controlled you hit all day. Having perfectly gauged the pace of the (perfectly flat) practice green, the curling, uphill twenty-footer you have on the first green will still finish 8 feet short, and you’ll miss the one for bogey. No, warming up is a complete waste of time. Indulge instead in a full fry-up; the sort you never have time to make at home. Only this time someone else is making it for you. While you read the paper. Something else you never have time to do.

2. Don’t hit the soles of your shoes with your sand wedge after a bunker shot.

Whilst Phil Mickelson (every middle-aged golfer’s hero) can make this look nonchalantly cool, you will almost certainly hit your ankle bone, which is very, very painful indeed. You will, of course, not even flinch as the embarrassment would simply be too much, so you deal with the pain in private. (Unlike how you usually deal with pain at home, where you would have collapsed to the ground like an Argentinian footballer, writhing around as if you had just been felled by a large metal object). Funny that.

3. Stop wearing performance fabrics in any garment other than rainwear.

You do not move fast enough to sweat much, so you do not need ‘wicking material’, all but the most subtle logos will look ridiculous, and white belts should be outlawed on anyone over the age of thirty. If it is cold, you need tweed or corduroy, plus a woollen jumper. You will really have embraced middle aged golf when you are comfortable playing in your usual weekend clothes; when there is no discernible difference between the clothes you wear to the pub, to walk the dog, to do the gardening, or to play golf in. Think how cool Vijay or Freddie Couples looked, strolling around Augusta in their deck shoes…bad backs? Nonsense, middle-age style.

4. Do not fist pump upon holing a putt.

You make significant business decisions every day at work, and at home you are responsible for the financial and emotional wellbeing of your wife and children. Golf is only a game. It may be a tricky four footer, but it is only a putt. You never fist pump when you successfully vacuum the living room, so keep your emotions in check please. There is only one exception: the hole in one. Should you be fortunate enough to have an elusive ‘ace’, you have absolute licence to go magoo. There is nothing quite like the sight of a middle-aged man regressing to the sheer silliness and childish excitement that the ‘perfect stroke’ brings about. You’ll probably never have another one, so enjoy it while you can…and if your playing companions later tell you that you looked like an idiot, just ask them if they’ve had one. Chances are they won’t have…

 

Guest Author: The Colonel

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Guest Author | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Improve the Improvement Section

November 3rd, 2011

I’m willing to make a bet with you. If you dug out a few golf magazines from a couple of years ago and compared them to a selection of this month’s publications on the shelves, you’d find instructional pieces regurgitating the same suggestions on how to improve your swing.
Now, I’ll immediately concede that it must be difficult for publishers and editors. For starters, there are a limited number of shots on which you can effectively provide instruction when illustrating a point with a pen and a few photographs.  It’s also true that the fundamentals of the golf swing don’t change much, even if the audience itself, not to mention the equipment, does.

My frustration, however, lies in the fact that most instructional pieces suggest a pretty fundamental overhaul of your technique, something that (to me at least) seems pretty inadvisable given that the instructor hasn’t seen you hit a single shot.  Not to mention the fact that there’s no “one size fits all” approach to the golf swing, as the array of swinging styles at the very top of the game serves to prove.  It’s not the instructor’s fault, of course.  Asked to write an instructional article, you’d assume that they’re given a remit and are only following the magazine’s protocol on this style of article. But, my question is, why don’t instructional pieces in magazines provide ideas on how to improve without a major transformation of technique?   If that’s what’s needed, you won’t find the answer in a magazine and are much better off seeking professional advice from a PGA Pro on a one-to-one basis.

My argument is that, while I realise instructional tips and articles are key to a magazine’s appeal and take up a significant number of column inches, I think the content of these pieces should be something that all standards of golfer can emulate and benefit from.  It’s pointless telling your high-handicapper how to hit a ‘controlled fade’, as, and I am sure the high-handicapper would be the first to concede, the reason they play off a high- handicap is because ‘control’ in lacking in most shots.  And, as noted above, everybody has a unique golf swing, so passing on a generic method to hit a fade is probably only going to help one or two lucky people.

You won’t convince me that the average golfer can read the “How to Hit a Controlled Fade” feature, and subsequently go straight to the course with a Montgomerie like natural five yard cut. That’s not to say that the advice isn’t correct, but for my money it’s an unrealistic expectation.  Personally, I think the golfer could be much better served with a different approach.  I also think there is a gap to fill.

Pretty much everyone I know hits the ball brilliantly when in the middle of a lesson (a worthy testament to the merits of PGA Professional advice), only to find that this magic touch has deserted them the moment they next take the clubs out. That next game on the course, or that next session on the driving range, seems to be the blight of many a golfing life. Surely this is an area where the instructional pieces in magazines can help. Why not focus on those tips, games, drills, and thoughts that hone the skill and will aid the transformation from ‘best player on the range’ to ‘best player on the course’ much more effectively? Use these articles to bridge the gap.

Surely this serves to benefit the club professionals as well.  Instead of leading golfers to believe they can get a lesson from a generic article, why not encourage them to support their local pro, and then use the instructional space to show them how to practice with applicable games, drills, and tips? And, it might actually help us all do what these sections are attempting to do… improve!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Ed's View | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« Older Entries