SPECIAL THE OPEN PREVIEW

THE FAVOURITES / MARTIN SLUMBERS / NICK DOUGHERTY'S GUIDE

Issue 156 • £4.45
@BunkeredOnline | bunkered.co.uk

Exclusive

NORMAN
THE SHARK ON TIGER,
TURNBERRY AND
BUILDING AN EMPIRE
TIGER WOODS BUILD
WHAT NOW? A BETTER
SWING
SCOTTISH OPEN P94

PREVIEW
Callaway Epic irons • Bettinardi putters
FJ spikeless shoes • Arccos shot tracker TOUR DRIVERS
16-PAGE EPIC POWER SUPPLEMENT REVIEWED
DEAR
WIN
A long-sleeved
‘Largo’ top
Email letters@bunkered.co.uk

STAR LETTER
I know the pros have routines... but Lexi’s putt was a simple tap-in
5 Having read the comments
about the ‘Lexi’ incident, anyone
who marks their ball knows exactly
where the ball should be replaced.
I suppose many of us have
misplaced our ball in friendly
competition because a fraction of an
inch either way wouldn’t make much
difference to the end result. However,
this young lady is already a seasoned
professional and would have known
exactly what she was doing, maybe
not intentionally, but possibly taken
for granted that it wouldn’t have
mattered that much.
Why she didn’t just tap it in instead
of mucking about marking the ball is
beyond me and I’m sure many other
golfers.
I know the pros have their routines,
but that putt was a simple tap-in and
didn’t need to be subject to such a
furore.
The other night I was lucky
enough to see the replay of Sandy
Lyle winning the 1987 Players
Championship on Sky Sports. By
God, he could strike a ball! As for
the comments from Gerry Campbell
about the Masters ‘oldies’ [Your
Views, Issue 155], these guys earned
their place in history and, even if they
could only swing with one arm and
needed a buggy to get round, I for
one would welcome them.
As for those supposedly better
players, let them win the damn thing
rather than complain about their right
to return time and time again to one
of the greatest shows on Earth.
I have lived in England for many
years but had the pleasure of
Machrihanish membership in the
1970s when I was stationed there
with the RAF. One day, I hope to visit
those links again where, I hope, I
will play better than I did back then.
Robert Laird
Nottingham
(member at Belton Park GC)
EDITOR’S REPLY
I also watched that Sandy Lyle ‘Players’
re-run and it was pretty enjoyable stuff.
For one, there was hardly anybody there
and I’m still constantly amazed the size
of the clubs used. Absolutely tiny. I also
thought it was interesting that Lyle was
practically hounded by the announcer
as soon as his ball hit the bottom of
the cup. These days, there seems to be
so much more going on. Don’t know
whether that’s a good or a bad thing.

Making my brother famous...

5 It gives me great
pleasure to share
with you my brother’s
woeful attempt at a
230-yard hybrid shot on
the par-5 12th at Paisley
Golf Club.
Lay up before the burn
or go for the green in two
for the 14 handicapper -
the decision was clear. He
had the audacity to consult
his GPS watch before
stepping up confidently.
Little did he know what
was to unfold.
The backswing looked
good. Noticeable torque
from his ‘Dad bod’
indicated he was going for
glory. ALL OR NOTHING.
Nothing. The clubhead
flew towards the back of
the ball at an alarming
rate, topping the ball so
much so that it shot off
directly backwards, much
to the bewilderment and
amusement of his playing
partner and opponents.
‘Cool story bro’, I hear
you say. The shame
doesn’t end there. As you
can see from the perfectly
timed photo, David’s
ball sets off backwards
like an express train,
next stop... his ill-placed
bag! ‘CLUNK’ as the ball
comes to a rest against his
bag. ‘PENALTY STROKE’
someone exclaims through
fits of laughter. They say
the screeches of his
playing partners were
heard far and wide across
Renfrewshire and beyond!
I always knew that one
day my brother would
be featured in bunkered
magazine... ladies and
gentlemen, my brother
David, from Paisley.
Ryan Gibb

12 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ÎON TOUR
Been somewhere nice? Managed to get your copy
of bunkered in the snap? If so, send us your pic and
we’ll stick your mug in the mag!
letters@bunkered.co.uk

The other Green Jacket winner

5 We recently played the first Green Jacket competition
of 2017 at Burntisland. A total of 26 bunkered
subscribers were involved and here is eventual winner,
2 3
Steven McGinnis, wearing the much sought-after replica
Masters jacket. He will keep this until he can defend his
title at The Duke’s.
Cameron McGregor

One-ball status?
5 During one of our club qualifiers, my playing partner
and I got caught behind a one-ball at the fifth tee. Not
once between then and completing our round did he wave
us through. This situation was made worse as he had his
girlfriend with him who liked to stop for photos every so
often.
Our courses are municipal with visitors’ and members’
times split throughout the day, hence why we found 4
ourselves in this situation.
Should a one-ball wave those playing in a competition
through or do they still have a right of place? Hope you can
help.
Jim Robinson
EDITOR’S REPLY
I believe the old ‘a single player has no standing’ is a bit
outdated these days. I’m not even sure it’s in the rulebook. In
this instance, surely common courtesy takes over? Maybe you 5
could, in the future, politely ask if you could play through?

Happy reader
5 I live in Toronto, Canada, I’m 84 years of age and I’m
still an ardent golfer having started playing in 1965. I
managed to get down to as low as an eight handicap and
I have also managed to score five holes-in-one over the
years.
Both of my parents were born in Blantyre and came to
Canada in 1929. I have visited Bonnie Scotland about 30
times over the years and first played St Andrews in 1969, 1 Alec Palmer says he had a “great week” at Aphrodite
when the green fee was £1. In 1974, it was £2. Hills in Cyprus. “Fantastic course with stunning layout.” 2
I’ve played quite a few courses, including Muirfield, North Billy Smith and the boys on tour with Abby Birnie holding
Berwick, Dunbar, Musselburgh, Carnoustie, Gleneagles, the bunkered at Salgados Palace in Portugal. 3 Stephen
Rosemount [Blairgowrie], Nairn and Royal Dornoch to name Reid and Barry Wilson skiing in Pila, Aosta Valley, Italy. 4
a few. Buchanan Castle members at the National Golf Club in Belek.
I picked up a copy of bunkered in my doctor’s office 5 Linlithgow GC member Jim Callachan on the Brooklyn
today [Issue 152] and thought it was a great golf magazine Bridge, New York, with daughters Hayley and Morgan.
- I enjoyed all the articles. I’m going back to the doctor in a
few weeks and hope the latest issue is there. connect with us
Lang may your lum reek!
Robert Burns

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 13
Insight, news, views & gossip from around the game

14 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 KOREAN STARS’ IN THE WORDS TURNBERRY’S
TOUR OF DUTY OF... LYDIA KO NEW COURSE
PAGE 20 PAGE 24 PAGE 27

IS THIS
THE END
OF TIGER?
The 14-time major champion is at his lowest
ebb - but can he come back from his DUI arrest?

WORDS Martin Inglis

@MartinInglis_
PHOTOS Getty Images

N
INE YEARS AGO, TIGER
WOODS was bordering on
invincible. After winning his 14th
major at the 2008 US Open at Torrey
Pines, he looked set to obliterate
Jack Nicklaus’ record haul of 18 wins
and cement himself as the greatest
golfer - if not athlete - of all-time.
He was 32, and though troubled
by some injuries, was in the prime of
his career. He already had 65 of his
79 PGA Tour titles in pursuit of Sam
Snead’s 82. He averaged almost
six wins per season. He was a
phenomenon.
All that makes it
unfathomable how the
second chapter of his
career has lurched
so horrendously
off the rails.
There is
arguably
no
greater
contrast in the history of sport and the
lowest ebb of that second chapter
was reached in the early hours
of Monday, May 29, when Woods
was detained for driving under the
influence (DUI). That came just four
days after a website post which said
he ‘hadn’t felt this good in years’
following a fourth back surgery.
The 41-year-old was found asleep
at the wheel of his black Mercedes
and despite there being no alcohol
involved - which Woods stressed in a
statement immediately afterwards - a
police report released said he ‘didn’t
know where he was’, his speech
was extremely slow and slurred, and
he failed a number of mandatory
roadside tests. He said it was due to
a reaction to prescription drugs.
Mugshots are never flattering but
Woods’ was particularly shocking. His
eyes told the story of a man who had
sacrificed everything to become the
greatest of his generation and was
now paying the price.
You’d think that would trigger a
sympathetic reaction but social media
- Twitter especially - rarely misses the
chance to twist the knife, regardless
of who you are or what you’ve
achieved.
The mugshot went viral and was
given the ‘meme treatment’. For
some, that will be their everlasting
image of Woods.
If the mugshot and detail in the
resulting police report wasn’t enough,
the release of the police dashcam
footage laid bare the true extent of
Woods’ troubles. It was an extremely
tough watch.
Following that, the ridicule directed
at him stopped. Finally, people were
starting to sympathise with Woods.
There was also outrage that the
footage had been made available
for public consumption, despite that
being in accordance with Florida
state law.
Media outlets, us at bunkered.co.uk
included, were heavily criticised
for posting it. But here’s the thing.
Woods is the world’s most instantly T

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 15
TIGER’S
FOUR BACK
SURGERIES
zMARCH 31, 2014
Woods underwent a
microdiscectomy on his
lower back to relieve
pressure on a pinched
nerve. “This pain had been
going on for quite some
time,” said friend Notah
Begay. As a result, Woods
missed the Masters for
the first time in his pro
career and didn’t return to
action for three months.
zSEPTEMBER 16,
2015
His back
remained
an issue
with more
high-profile
WDs. He had
another microdiscectomy
to remove a disc fragment,
which was after initially
going in for a check-up.
“The fact that this check-up
Clockwise from top
ended up in surgery I find left A fan shows his
absolutely astounding,” support for Woods
said Peter O’Sullivan, a at the 2017 Farmers
Insurance Open;
professor in physiotherapy. Holding the US Open
trophy following his
zOCTOBER 30, 2015 most recent major
Six weeks later, Woods win in 2008; Woods is
revealed he had a handcuffed by officers
following his arrest for
‘successful’ follow-up DUI; The scoreboard
procedure. Intended to says it all after Woods’
‘relieve discomfort’, it withdrawal from this
year’s Dubai Desert
raised concerns from Classic.
former coach Hank Haney.
who said: “The odds aren’t
great of ever seeing him T recognisable golfer and when he gets Twitter. Would they have done that before
return to a level even arrested and footage is made available the footage was made public? Probably
close to where he once from it, that’s a pretty big deal. not.
was.” It was 13 months Even though it’s not the Tiger story we’d Both stated their desire to see Woods
before he returned to like to be writing, we’re not doing our jobs return to competitive golf but, in reality,
action at the 2016 Hero if we don’t share it. The media scrutiny a comeback has never seemed more
World Challenge. goes with the territory of being a sports unlikely - despite that statement days
star who picks up tens of millions of dollars before his arrest saying: “Unequivocally, I
zAPRIL 20, 2017 every year in endorsements. want to play professional golf again.”
After WD-ing from the We also didn’t pass judgment on the For starters, there are still serious
Dubai Desert Classic with footage or force anybody to watch it. We question marks hanging over the state of
back spasms, Woods just shared what was already available for Woods’ game.
underwent spinal fusion public consumption. Just last May, he dunked three
surgery, said to be a ‘last There was also a second video from straightforward 102-yard pitch shots into
resort’. “It was instant inside the police station that was equally, water at a media day for the Quicken
nerve relief - I haven’t felt if not more, alarming. We opted not to Loans National and, at the Hero World
this good in years,” said publish that. Challenge last December, there were
Woods on May 24. Five Hours later, major champions Gary glimpses that the short game yips of early
days later, though, we all Player and Martin Kaymer reacted by 2015 were still in his system.
know what happened... posting heartfelt messages of support on That, combined with a driving accuracy T

16 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 A CAREER OF TWO HALVES
1996-2008 2009-Present
PGA TOUR EVENTS PLAYED 222 PGA TOUR EVENTS PLAYED 92

% %
WINS WINS

65 29.28% 14 15.22%

TOP 5s TOP 5s

128 57.66% 27 29.35%

TOP 10s TOP 10s

152 68.47% 36 39.13%

TOP 25s TOP 25s

195 87.84% 53 57.61%

CUTS MADE CUTS MADE

216 97.30% 74 80.43%

CUTS MISSED CUTS MISSED

4 1.80% 12 13.04%

W/Ds W/Ds

2 0.90% 6 6.52%

T of just 28.57% in the opening round
of the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open,
highlights that there are weaknesses
throughout Woods’ game at a
time when the depth of talent in
tournament fields has never been
greater.
Then, there are the health issues.
A swift return to action after a fourth
back surgery in three years is not on
the cards - he can’t even twist at the
moment - and it would appear that
this fusion surgery, which joins two or
more vertebrae in the lower back, is
the final throw of the dice to resurrect
his career.
Finally, there are the off-course
issues. To be driving in no fit state
away from his Florida mansion at
3am gives a worrying look into his
personal life, and the mental impact
from the reaction to his arrest - just
like from the uncovering of his sex
scandal of 2009 - is likely to take its
toll.
Since that fateful night of
November 26, 2009, it feels like
everything that could possibly have
gone wrong for Woods - with the
exception of an 18-month period in
2012 and 2013 - has done just that.
From being a player who struck
fear into his rivals for more than ten
years, it is those same rivals who are
now fearing for Woods’ physical and
mental wellbeing.
His legacy has been tainted and
that is incredibly sad, given that he
has inspired a generation.
Ask the vast majority of tour pros in
their 20s who their idol was growing
up and the answer you’ll get will likely
be Tiger Woods.
If the ‘Golf Gods’ do exist, he will
be repaid for all he has given to the
game by returning, firstly, to full health
and then to action.
I think I speak for the vast majority
of golf fans by saying: “Unequivocally,
we want Tiger Woods to play
professional golf again.” „

18 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 Si Woo Kim recently
won the Players - one
of the richest events
in golf - but must

NEW
still do mandatory
military service

BALLS
PLEASE
Volvik balls. What’s the deal?
Volvik is the brand leader in
‘multi-coloured’ golf balls. They
brought out the Volvik S4 and
the Volvik Vivid in the UK this
past spring. They come in seven
different colours: red, orange,
pink, green, lime, blue and white.

Where have I seen them before?

Two-time Masters champion
Bubba Watson uses the Volvik
S4 and regularly plays with the
pink version to match his bright
pink driver. Typical Bubba.

Which one should I get?

For lower handicappers with fast
swing speeds, the S4 ball would
be best suited to you. It provides
accuracy and optimal spin rate.
For less ‘skilled’ players, the Vivid
would be the answer. It provides
longer distance for those with
slower swing speeds, looking for a
softer feel and consistent flight.

So, eh, how much are we talking?

The Volvik S4 will have an RRP
of £49 per dozen and the Volvik
Vivid will retail at £39 per dozen.

Will it take off?

Possibly. It will be hard to match
Titleist’s dominance in the golf
ball market but Bubba is among
75 professionals using Volvik balls
on tours worldwide. The bright
colours will turn some players off
but, equally, others will love the
new concept from the Korean
manufacturer. They have 37 years’
experience in manufacturing balls
so at least they know what they’re
doing from a technical perspective.

20 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 TOUR
OF DUTY
One minute you’re a PGA Tour winner.
The next you’re doing military service.

WORDS CHRIS DOYLE

I
T WOULD HAVE been easy
to think that Si Woo Kim, the
recent Players Championship
winner, would be looking forward
to enjoying the riches of his
Sawgrass victory.
Just think what you could do
with $1,890,000.
But Kim, 21, will soon have to
put his career - and his spending
- on hold for two years. All South
Korean men are obliged to
complete two years of military
service between turning 18 and
hitting 35.
Not even professional golfers
are excluded.
Kim, the current world No.31,
was given a five-year exemption
on the PGA Tour courtesy of his
incredible Sawgrass victory, but
tried to plan his future against
taking military service.
Sangmoon Bae, a two-time PGA
Tour winner currently on military
service, also tried desperately to
get an exemption from service and
lodged an appeal in an attempt to
delay it.
That was thwarted. So, too,
was his hope to be granted an
extension to represent South
Korea in the Olympics in Rio back
in 2016. Exemptions on service are
given out to South Korean athletes
who win a medal at the Olympics, T

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 21
T or who win gold medals
at the Asian Games. The
30-year-old exhausted all
avenues to avoid having
to complete his military
service.
Every road was sadly a
dead end.
Kim, on the other
hand, has realised the
inevitability of the situation,
despite his milestone
victory at a tournament
widely regarded as the
unofficial ‘fifth major’.
He told Golf Digest:
“Regardless of me
winning this tournament,
I really have to go to the
military service and I’ve
already decided I’m going
to go, too, so I’m ready for
that. But I have five years
of exemption so we will
see.”
Bae’s military service
comes to an end on
August 16 and it is
expected he will return
to PGA Tour action at
the Safeway Open, a
tournament he won when Clockwise from top Sangmoon Bae (front row, on
it was called the Frys.com the right) with his army pals; posing in his uniform; a
Open in 2014. close-up shot of his uniform posted on his Instagram;
a special golf tribute birthday cake.
“I’m very well and hope
to see you guys soon,”
he said on his Instagram
page in a reply to Rickie
Fowler. In all of his other that Bae was the real player heading into his late the top 50, which gives
online posts, he has been deal with two wins in twenties. you access to all four
nothing but upbeat. During the States. He reached Bae has now fallen to majors and the lucrative
one of the rare breaks he No.64 on the world 974th in the world rankings World Golf Championships.
gets from duty, he played rankings and produced a due to his inactivity over Bae was outside the top
golf with close friend gritty performance at the the past two years and it 100 when he went on
Danny Lee, saying: “Finally Presidents Cup on home is clear to see why he put military service but he was
it’s my holiday from army soil in 2015 where he up sjch a fight against his certainly a lot closer than
duty! Good to see my went 2-1-1 as a captain’s country’s calling. where he is now, almost
friend @dannygolf0724 pick, marginally losing the Despite being exempt outside the top 1000.
and my old friends! I miss deciding singles match on the PGA Tour through Add in the fact he went
@pgatour so much!” against Bill Haas. There 2018, world ranking points from making over $2.5m
Before his military is a real feeling the best are collated via results. It in 2015 to earning nothing
service, we got glimpses is still to come from a is all about staying inside whilst completing his

DONE TO DO

DOING
THEIR z KJ CHOI z YE YANG z BYEONG HUN-AN

DUTY
Completed his military Yang did his two years at the Won the BMW PGA in 2015
service 25 years ago when age of 21. He later became - but will have to complete
working a night shift at a the first Asian male to win his service sometime in
National Guard station. a major, the 2009 PGA. the next eight years.

22 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 THE
INSIDE
TRACK
New technology is great… when it
works, that is. The European Tour
chose its biggest tournament - the
BMW PGA - to launch its brand new
digital platform. By 10am, it wasn’t
working. “How is it possible on day 1
of #BMWPGA for this app to be over
an hour behind?” said top coach
Jamie Gough. Denis Pugh added it
was a “bad week” to get it wrong.

Tiger Woods released a statement

saying he was “pain free” recently.
He said he hadn’t felt that good in
years. We cannot confirm whether
this statement was copy and pasted
from the previous statement(s)
where he said he was pain free…
but it’s highly likely. Anyway, he’ll
be back soon because he’s pain
free. Then we’ll start the whole
process again. This makes us sad.

Tyrell Hatton is the world No.16.

military duties, it must be a
tough pill to swallow.
In the women’s game,
there are currently a
seven South Koreans in
the world’s top 11. South
Korean women are
absolutely dominant on
the LPGA, with the likes of
So Yeon Ryu, In Gee Chun
and Inbee Park, who have
ten majors between them.
But the country is not even
close to replicating the
He has one career victory to his
same level of success in name (excluding lower level tours).
the men’s game. And he’s 25 years of age. He drives
Over the years, there a Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4,
have been players who which is available from £185,466. Get
have made their mark, your kids into golf. Seriously. We’re
but nothing consistent not joking. Buy them clubs. Today.
on the big stage. It is
hard to pinpoint exactly
why, but there is no
denying a player’s two-
year duty to their country
has unfortunately had a
detrimental effect to men
achieving that goal.

Reasons To Get Your Kids Into

z SI WOO KIM
The Players champ
has tried everything to
dodge military service,
but to no avail.
z SEUNG-YUL NOH
Has one PGA Tour victory
to his name - the 2014
Zurich Classic of New
Orleans in 2014.
z JEUNGHUNG WANG
Claimed his third
European Tour win in less
than a year at the Qatar
Masters in January.
Golf No.4: They’ll Make Money
Not Playing Golf. Rory McIlroy has
come in tied sixth on Forbes’ latest
‘Highest Paid Athletes’ list, with
total earnings of $50m. Real Madrid
star Ronaldo is No.1 with $93m.
The next golfer on the list is Phil
Mickelson in 12th spot with £43.5m,
with Tiger Woods back in 17th with
$37.1m. Why is this relevant? McIlroy
made $34m off the golf course,
which is nice pocket money.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 23

‘PARSONS
IS NOT
CRAZY’
PXG IS THE NEWEST brand in
golf, known for its high-end gear
and eye-catching logo. A host of
top tour players - male and female,
including world No.1 Lydia Ko - made
the switch to the company as owner
Bob Parsons tried to make his mark
in a sport already rife with brands.
People called him mad,
investing millions into an industry
that is ferociously competitive
and has its fair share of loyal
customers. But he’s stuck with it.
One of the players Parsons
wanted carrying the PXG logo -
which Forbes says is worth $2m
per event in terms of brand
exposure on TV - was Billy
Horschel. The American recently
bagged his fourth PGA Tour
title and said he and his fellow
PXG staffers are determined to
prove the doubters wrong.
“Bob Parsons… the belief
he had just not in me but the
other guys that he signed early
on to carry the banner for PXG
was massive,” said Horschel.
“I think we have all felt a little
bit of a weight on our shoulders to
carry it. We want to prove that Bob
is not crazy. People may think he is,
but he’s not. He’s a brilliant guy.
“We talk on a regular basis.
He’s different. He texts every
one of us, every one of the PXG
staffers on a fairly regular basis
checking in. He’s not just checking
in to see how we’re playing - he’s
checking in to see how we’re
doing. He cares for us as people.
“That’s truly amazing. To think
that I can help PXG get to the
level he wants is massive.”
24 BUNKERED.CO.UK
It’s been a huge honour for me to be
the No.1 ranked player in the world. It’s
always been a dream of mine. For it to
have happened so early, it’s something
I’m very fortunate about.
The girls are playing amazing golf
and there is incredible talent on this
tour. I know that I need to work hard.
I’ve got to focus on the shot in front of
me and not get too carried away about
the results and the rankings. I’ve got
to focus on me, and I think that’s the
important thing going forward.
My goal is to retire when I’m 30,
so that’s another ten years from now.
Anything can happen. I’m sure in
a year’s time, I’ll be a little bit
different from what I am now.
I don’t know how much I’m
going to change in ten
years’ time or five years’
time, but I’m really looking
forward to spending that
time here, on tour with
the girls.
I’ve had a lot of changes going
into this year. Changed caddies,
coaches, everything apart from
my name. I think the biggest
change for me was actually
the change of moving to the
US. I’ve lived, like, ten years
in New Zealand and it’s a
12-hour flight from LA to go
back home, and another 12
to go to Korea, where I am
originally from. Luckily for
me, my whole family is with
me. I don’t feel homesick.
I definitely do miss going
back and seeing the
beaches back home and
spending time with my
IN THE WORDS OF
friends.
LYDIA KO
I’ve really been liking
the changes I’ve made
to my swing. It hasn’t
been so technical
AGE 20 with Gary [Gilchrist]
NATIONALITY NEW ZEALANDER and I think that’s a
good thing. Caddie-
wise, even though I’ve
known Pete [Godfrey]
for a while, I think he’s
still getting to know a little bit
more about my game and I’m getting to
know about his style. I think in time it’ll
improve and hopefully we’ll be able to
continue this team for a while.
 BEST
EXPERIENCE
VOTING HAS OPENED for
the 2017 Scottish Golf Tourism
Awards, which will once again
see one of the country’s
golf clubs recognised as
the provider of ‘Scotland’s
Best Golf Experience’.
Won for the last three years
on the spin by Kingsbarns
Golf Links in Fife, pictured
below, the ‘Best Experience’
accolade is the ultimate seal
of approval, recognising
excellence across the board.
It will be the main award
handed out at the ceremony,
which brings the curtain down
on Scottish Golf Tourism Week,
taking place this year from
October 23-27 at the Trump
Turnberry resort in Ayrshire.
Other awards include ‘Best
Clubhouse’, ‘Best Catering’,
‘Best Customer Service’,
‘Best Value For Money’
and ‘Best Golf Course’.
All of the awards are
chosen for by the public, with
voting open until August 31.
The winners will be revealed
at a gala dinner at Trump
Turnberry on October 26.
Everybody who votes The spectacular King Robert the
will also be entered into a Bruce Course is set to open this
summer, complementing the existing
prize draw to win a year’s Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry
supply of Srixon golf balls.
Cast your vote now at
scotlandsbestgolfexperience.
co.uk

26 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 FIT FOR
FIRST LOOK!

A KING
Introducing the new King Robert the
Bruce Course at Trump Turnberry
NEW
COURSE

L
ITTLE OVER A year
on from the ‘rebirth’
of its acclaimed
Ailsa Course, Trump
Turnberry has unveiled the
magnificent King Robert
the Bruce Course.
The replacement for the
old Kintyre Course, the
new layout may occupy
much of the same land
as its predecessor but
with every hole having
been, at the very least,
considerably changed -
and, in some cases, built
entirely from new - it is far
more than just an upgrade.
Confused by the link
to Bruce? Don’t be. The
man who led Scotland
to independence in the
Battle of Bannockburn was
born in Turnberry Castle
in July 1274. The famous
Turnberry lighthouse now
sits amongst the ruins of
the castle.
Martin Ebert, the
man responsible for
the changes to the
Ailsa Course, was
commissioned to create
what the team at the
Ayrshire resort are
calling ‘a world-class golf
experience which will thrill
golfers of all abilities’.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 27
 Arguably the most
exciting run of holes is the
stretch from the eighth
to the eleventh, which
offers spectacular views
of the castle ruins and
lighthouse, as well as the
stunning coastline.
The par-5 eighth sits
high above the ocean
and ‘quickens the blood’
ahead of the ninth. It has
already been tipped to
become the most exciting
hole across either of the
OBITUARY
Roberto
De Vicenzo
1923-2017
28 BUNKERED.CO.UK
two courses at Turnberry,
with the shot across the
valley leading to the ocean
described as ‘not for the
faint hearted’.
The par-3 tenth requires
a shot across its own
valley to a well-protected
green, whilst the 11th,
another par-5, has the
lighthouse as its focus
from the tee.
With its distinctive
bunkering, visually
attractive wetland areas
IN A SPORT WHERE you
lose more regularly than you
win, Roberto De Vicenzo
was a remarkably prolific
champion. The Argentine,
who passed away recently at
the age of 94, recorded over
230 tournament victories in
a long and illustrious career.
The majority of those came
in his native South America.
He won the Argentine PGA
Championship 16 times and
the Argentine Open on nine
occasions. Both are records.
There were multiple PGA
Tour wins, too, as well as
three French Open victories.
However, his crowning glory
and swathes of gorse, it
looks set to become an
instant classic and the
perfect complement to
its more illustrious sister
course.
A Turnberry
spokesperson said:
“An exceptional golfing
experience awaits those
who play this course,
cementing Trump
Turnberry’s reputation as
one of the world’s finest
golfing destinations.”
came in 1967 when he won
the Open at Royal Liverpool.
At the age of 44, De Vicenzo
held off defending champion
Jack Nicklaus to win by two.
He might have had another
major the following year but
signed for an incorrect
scorecard at the
Masters, an error
that cost him a
chance at a
play-off with
Bob Goalby. His
subsequent reaction
passed into legend:
“What a stupid
I am!” His
success
The King Robert the
Bruce Course opens for
play in early July.
PLAY IT! For the months
of July, August and
September, Trump
Turnberry is offering a
‘4 for the price of 3’
deal for those wishing
to play the King Robert
the Bruce Course, saving
£120 per fourball. To find
out more, call 01655
334032.
continued into his 50s when
he won the 1980 US Senior
Open. He was inducted
into the World Golf Hall of
Fame in 1989 and, in 2006,
aged 83, he officially retired
from the game. In the same
year, the Museum of
Golf in Argentina was
renamed in his honour.
In the many tributes that
followed his passing, it
was perhaps Nicklaus, the
man he beat at Hoylake
50 years ago, who
summed it up best:
“He was a nice man,
and you always
miss nice guys.”
 DOUGIE DONNELLY

Forty years of fantastic

Open memories
Getting to cover the championship has been one of my greatest privileges

‘VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IF I EVER

I
appear on Mastermind, my specialist subject
would probably be the Open Championship.
For all the different sports I’ve worked on -
almost 30, at the last count - the Open is the
one event I’ve always got most excited about.
As a junior member at Cathkin Braes, I would devour every
detail of each year’s championship, before finally getting to
my first Open at Turnberry in 1977 - the ‘Duel in the Sun’.
You might have thought it was all downhill from there but
every one since has its own, thrilling place in my memory.
I had already been working for BBC Scotland Sport for
nine years when I was finally able to add golf to my CV
when we started to cover the late, lamented Bell’s Scottish
Open at Gleneagles. I was thrilled to join Peter Alliss, Alex
Hay, Clive Clark and the rest of the BBC golf team and
must have done okay, because I was soon asked to join
them at the Open as a reporter and interviewer.
My first winner’s interview was with Ian Baker-Finch at
Royal Birkdale in 1991. I still have a much-treasured photo
alongside the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’, proudly
holding the Claret Jug.
I may be claiming undue credit for this but I suspect
I was the first, or certainly one of the first, broadcasters
to interview players on the practice ground before they
began their round. I remember suggesting we tried it one
year and being told that the players would never agree to
being interrupted so close to teeing off. I, though, had
sounded out a few of the players I knew well - the Scots
boys like Monty, Sam, big Sandy, Paul Lawrie and Co., as
well as a few others like Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke
- and they were all supportive. I was eventually given
the nod to give it a try - recorded, of course, just in case
someone told me to **** off. Sergio Garcia did some years
later but that’s another story… ! Fortunately, the players
played ball, I kept the chats brief and soon just about
everyone was happy to be approached.
Everyone, that is, except the world No.1. Tiger was never
anything other than friendly and cooperative when we
spoke post round behind the 18th green but always smiled,
“Not on the range, Dougie – that’s when I’m in the office.”
What a privilege it was, though, to speak to the greatest
players in the world in their moments of triumph - or
sometimes desperate disappointment. Some remain clear
in the memory many years later. Nick Price, still the nicest
man in golf, after his Turnberry win in ‘94; a stunned John
Daly after beating Costantino Rocca in the play-off at St
Andrews the following year; an excited young amateur
called Justin Rose after finishing fourth in ‘98; an emotional
Arnold Palmer and strangely unemotional Jack Nicklaus
after their last ever Open rounds on the Old Course.
Then there was Paul Lawrie’s brilliant display at
Carnoustie in 1999, above; Tiger’s majestic victories at
St Andrews in 2000 and 2005, and his tearful triumph
at Hoylake a year later, so soon after his father passed
away. I can still see Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton shaking
their heads in disbelief, holding the Claret Jug and trying
to take in what they just achieved as shock winners in
‘03 and ‘04, and how thrilled Padraig Harrington was to
win at Carnoustie in 2007, the year I first met the brilliant
youngster who won the Silver Medal: Rory McIlroy.
A change in producer at the BBC after that particular
Open brought an end to my 18-year run on the TV team.
I no longer ticked the all important boxes, apparently, so I
was back to being a spectator until last year at Royal Troon.
To the delight of everyone at my regular employer,
European Tour Productions, we would be taking over the
Open coverage, which would now be seen on Sky Sports
in the UK. I was back at the Open, this time as one of the
commentary team for the huge worldwide audience.
What a thrill, especially when Henrik Stenson and Phil
Mickelson served up the best final day since the ‘Duel in
the Sun’. Oh yes, and the coverage won a BAFTA…
So now it’s back to Royal Birkdale and I must say, I
quietly fancy the chances of that young Englishman who
made worldwide headlines with his exploits on the same
course 19 years ago… Time will tell.

@DougieDonnelly

32 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 MICHAEL McEWAN

A long overdue
appreciation of golf
Various recent events have provided pause for thought. Golf? It’s not so bad.

T THIS VERY MOMENT, it’s 23:42 on

A
Tuesday, June 6, 2017. Ordinarily, I’d be in
a deep slumber by now. We might exist
behind static, monochromatic head shots -
see above - but we writers need our beauty
sleep, too.
Tonight, I’m wide awake. Here in the UK, we’re less
than two days away from a second General Election in just
over two years and our fourth trot to the polling station
since September 2014. Amidst the divisive political
finger-pointing, there is also an unmistakable cloud of
sadness and fear that lingers in the settling of the dust
after yet another terrorist attack. Men, women and children,
all targeted in senseless acts of inexpressible evil. Call me
soft but thinking about all this is literally keeping me awake.
There’s other stuff, too. Personal stuff I have no desire to
divulge and trivial stuff I’m too embarrassed to. And so it
goes that on this particular evening - it’s now 23:52 by the
way - and, for reasons I’m at a loss to explain, I can’t sleep.
I have also found myself thinking something I’m not sure
I’ve ever thought before.
Thank goodness for golf.
It’s actually untrue when I say I’m not sure I’ve ever
thought that before. I know for a fact that I haven’t. I’ve
appreciated what the sport has provided me with -
friendship, employment, entertainment and the like - but
tonight, for the first time ever, I’m actually grateful for it.
It’s ridiculously difficult, an art-form masquerading as
a pastime. No matter how long I play it I know I’ll never
master it. But in a world where gratification comes more
easily now than ever, where everything is a few mouse-
clicks away and where success is measured superficially -
followers, likes, retweets and hashtags - I’ll take golf and its
infinite challenge any day.
Its rules are convoluted and so many in number that you
often break them unwittingly. But better that, surely, than
the reckless pursuit of self-interest and self-betterment that
seems to consume so many people today.
It demands discipline, honesty and trust, values you can’t
learn from textbooks and most certainly won’t learn from
the tattoo-clad, lavishly-celebrated mercenaries that have
over-run the formerly ‘Beautiful Game’.
It’s time-consuming, requiring hours spent in the fresh
air, in whatever conditions Mother Nature chooses. Still,
is that not preferable to sitting indoors, bingeing on
boxsets, gaming or indulging the desperation of the latest
empty-headed reality ‘star’?
It is beset by image problems, by dress codes that
may well pre-date needles and threads. It has been
dragged if not kicking and screaming into the 21st century
then certainly huffing and puffing. But who is giving it
the credit for trying to mend its ways? Change is hard.
Being stubbornly principled? Much easier. Never mind the
fact that some of the most heinous acts in living memory
have been committed by so-called men and women of
principle.
It is, at best, an individual pursuit, a battle between man
and nature. Yet some of the friendships I most treasure
have been forged on golf courses.
Please don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t dare to suggest
that golf is the cure for all of our ills or an antidote to evil.
It is quite clearly not. Rather, I’m just thankful it is there
to indulge in and enjoy, to escape away into for a few
hours at a time. It’s not perfect. But what is? In these noisy,
confrontational times, it is reassuringly consistent. Even
when it’s bad, it’s good.
It frustrates me, it dismays me, it all-too-often
exasperates me. And yet I love it. Every single by-law
protected part of it.
Anyway, it’s now 00:34 and I have to be up in six
hours to write some more about it. Relative to what other
people have to do day-to-day, the struggles they have
to experience, the pressures they have to withstand, the
tragedies they have to endure, there are most certainly
worse things to get out of bed for.
Yes indeed. Thank goodness for golf.

@MMcEwanBunkered

34 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/tuition

SCOTT CLARK

Change to a
Finishing with your
hands high forces your
club to come down

higher finish
on an inside path
earlier in the swing.
An easy swing fix!
Start at the end and work
back to fix your swing
PHOTOS KENNY SMITH

I
F YOU GO UP AND DOWN
any driving range and watch
amateur golfers, you will
see that they will invariably be
focusing on the first few steps
of their swing. Now, obviously,
set-up is massively important,
and your backswing has to
work right as well. That’s all fine
and necessary - but I’m going
to switch that method round for
this tip.
One crucial part of your swing
is the path that your club is on
when it comes into the ball -
and sometimes the easiest and
most productive way to change
that is to try and get into a
different finishing position.

FINISH HIGH
I like to see people with a
slightly higher follow-through.
What we’re trying to do is get
away from the habit of coming
from outside-to-in, or across the
ball, which is a very common
fault. When you do that, your
finish position is always quite
low. But if you actively try and
finish with your hands in a
higher position, it will naturally
have a knock-on effect to how
you deliver the club into the
back of the ball. In order to
finish higher, you will have to
take it more from the inside.
To give it as a goal to a
normal amateur, if you’re
working on one drill, it’s always
easier to work on something
at the start of the swing. But by
focusing on an end product,
it’ll give you better positions
naturally, without really putting
much thought into it.

SCOTT CLARK
Director of Golf, Prestonfield Golf Club.
For lessons, call Scott on 0131 667 8597.
@ScottClarkPGA

SHOT ON LOCATION AT LAS COLINAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB / LASCOLINASGOLF.ES

36 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/tuition

DAVID ORR

Improve your
green reading
Start the ‘reading’
Always work closely
process earlier and make on your putting stroke
use of the information so you can consistently
strike the ball out
of the sweetspot,
PHOTO EVE CONROY
and start your green

P
UTTING IS probably one of reading process early.
the most neglected parts
of any golfer’s game - but
it shouldn’t be. As one of the
most important parts of your
golf game, it’s really something
you should spend more time
working on.
When the putting stats
closed for the season last year
on the PGA Tour, the players
occupying positions No.1 and
No.2 on the list were none
other than Jason Day and
Jordan Spieth respectively. That
gives you an idea of how much
good putting has an affect on
your ability to score.

START EARLY
Reading greens is a great skill
in itself and one that, for me,
starts some 20 to 50 yards out
from the green as I approach
the putting surface. When I walk
to the green, I’m looking at the
both sides - and back to front -
and also looking at the ridges
and where the lowest point is.
Too many people just stand at
their ball. Instead, get yourself
moving around the hole and
look from various angles and
get your eyeline down as low
to ground level as possible. You
can do all this when you walk
onto the green. The information
is all around you.
The best putters in the world,
like Spieth, Day and Dustin
Johnson, all spend a lot of time
studying the green. They’re
simply doing what works,
gathering information.

DAVID ORR
Head Professional, Eastwood
Golf Club 01355 500285
@DavidOrrGolfer

38 BUNKERED.CO.UK

YES
MURRAY URQUHART
Be aware of how you grip the club
Here’s a simple check that gives you a more natural grip
G
ETTING THE
CORRECT left hand
grip is essential in
being able to swing the
club around your body
efficiently. Not only that,
it will give you a better
awareness of the weight
of the clubhead.
Stand with your feet
shoulder-width apart as
you normally would for
PHOTOS KENNY SMITH
setting up to the ball, then
put your left hand on the
club. When you look down,
you should be able to see
two knuckles.
Now move the club up to
hip height. With this move,
40 BUNKERED.CO.UK
you’ll find that it is an awful
lot easier to do it from that
position, when you can see
two knuckles. You should
be able to take the weight
of the club comfortably.
However, if you put the
club in the palm of your
hand - where you can’t see
any knuckles - and then
take it back, the club feels
incredibly heavy. You’ll now
be straining the muscles on
the back of your wrist and
forearm.
This drill just stresses
the importance of a good
left hand position on the
club, as it makes it a lot
ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/tuition
Grip the club in your
fingers so it runs
from the middle joint
of your forefinger to
just below the base
of your pinky. If you
do so, you’ll be able
to grip the club in
your left hand and
do this movement.
Grip it in the palm of
your hands, below,
and you’ll struggle to
move the club at all.
NO
lighter when you swing. It WATCH OUR
allows your wrist and left GEAR REVIEWS
forearm to operate a lot Get the verdict on the
more naturally, without you latest gear direct from
manipulating the blade.
the bunkered team
Former PGA Tour star
youtube.com/bunkered
Frank Nobilo used to do
this quite a lot, as it’s a
great way of illustrating
how your grip should feel.
MURRAY URQUHART
Teaching professional, The Nairn Golf Club. For lessons,
01667 453 208 murrayurquhartgolf.com
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44 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 EXCLUSIVE

A Shark’s
tale...
On the 40th anniversary of his first
European Tour win at Blairgowrie,
Greg Norman sits down with bunkered
to reflect on his incredible career
WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS SUPPLIED / GETTY IMAGES

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 45
COVER STORY

FTER THE BEAR BUT BEFORE TIGER, THERE WAS THE SHARK. Not

A
just any shark. The Great White Shark. So-called because of his flowing
blond locks, aggressive style of play and his Australian roots, Greg
Norman was arguably golf’s most dominant figure for the best part of
two decades, topping the Official World Golf Ranking for a total of 331
weeks - a record bettered only by Tiger Woods. Now 62, he’s still one of
the game’s most influential and instantly-recognisable individuals. In this
exclusive, wide-ranging interview, Norman reflects on the highs and lows
of his extraordinary career, explains the secrets of his huge success as a businessman, and
shares his thoughts on Tiger, course design, technology and more.
AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN shrewd judge of a golfer, couldn’t Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer, Ian
QUEENSLAND, Norman played have predicted it better. Woosnam, Stewart Ginn and John
rugby and cricket. He was a keen O’Leary, guys like that. They were -
surfer, too, but harboured ambitions Let’s start with your first European and are - all great guys who I really
of becoming a fighter pilot. Golf Tour win at Blairgowrie in 1977. Do enjoyed being around. But, like I
didn’t appear on his radar until his you remember much of that week? said, my goal was to get to America.
mid-teens when his mother, a single- Absolutely. Being completely That was my focus. I knew that if I
figure handicapper, taught him how to honest, I don’t recall all 18 holes could get there and I could beat the
play. She also allowed him to caddy on the course but I remember the best American golfers, in their own
for her at the Virginia Golf Club in week vividly. It was an important win backyard, that I’d be in good stead to
Brisbane and, within 18 months, he and I’ll always remember it fondly have a long and successful career.
went from a 27 handicap to scratch. because it made a statement, to
At the age of 20, he served as an myself as much as anyone else. It Was becoming a golfer something
assistant professional at Beverley told me that I was good enough you always wanted to do?
Park Golf Club in Sydney before to compete and win at the highest Actually, no. My earliest ambition
moving on to become a trainee of level. It gave me a huge amount of was to become a fighter pilot in the
Charlie Earp at Royal Queensland, confidence. I’d already won a few Royal Australian Air Force. I grew up
earning $38 a week. In 1976, just six titles in Australia and Japan by that in North East Australia, close to an
years after he took up golf, he turned point and so the next logical step air force base, and I used to watch
pro as a tournament player, earning was to try to win in Europe. I came the fighter jets taking off all the time.
his first victory the same year in the over with the simple goal of trying to I figured that would be a pretty cool
West Lakes Classic in Adelaide. learn different courses, different ways thing to do but somewhere along
The following year, he joined the of playing and to improve my ball- the way golf just took over. I’ve seen
European Tour, finishing in a tie for striking. The turf on links courses in it written that I wanted to become
52nd on his debut at the Penfold Scotland is totally different to the turf a professional surfer but that’s not
PGA Championship in May. His very on some of the more lush parkland true. Surfing was a big part of my
next event yielded his first victory - courses I’d largely been playing up childhood. It was something I was
the Martini International at Blairgowrie until that point, and the best way to good at and I loved doing it but it
Golf Club in Perthshire. With Bernard improve is to learn. That was my aim, was never something I was going
Gallacher for company, he closed to learn as much as I could - about to do for a living. It’s interesting,
with a magnificent 66, the lowest double greens, summer greens, though, and this is something I’ve
round of the week, to beat Simon winter greens, narrow fairways, wide spoken with [five-time World Surf
Hobday by three shots. fairways, thick rough, wispy rough, League champion] Kelly Slater about,
Writing in The Herald, the late you name it - with the ultimate goal surfing is very good for your golf.
Raymond Jacobs proclaimed Norman of getting to the US. I knew that was When you’re on a board, you feel
to be “a new - and rare - golfing where I needed to end up in order everything that is under your feet.
talent.” to really fulfil my potential but I didn’t The proprioception of your body in
“If ever a player looks the part,” want to take any shortcuts to get the golf swing is similar to that when
wrote Jacobs, “both physically and there. I wanted to learn the game as you’re surfing. Even though they’re
technically, he is Norman. A head of best I could to give myself the best opposites in so many ways, the two
hair as strikingly blond as Nicklaus’s chance of succeeding when I did sports are similar. Looking back now,
perches above a piratical-looking eventually get to America. I really believe my surfing prowess
broken nose and a burly, broad- had a big influence on my golf.
shouldered frame.” Who did you associate with in your
Noting the Aussie’s “aggressive” early years on the tour?
shot-making, Jacobs added that Nobody, really. I mean, it was a
he was “tailor made for American great time for the European Tour IN THE DECADE THAT FOLLOWED
weather and courses.” Jacobs, a with the emergence of guys like HIS BREAKTHROUGH WIN AT T

46 BUNKERED.CO.UK
‘MY ROUND
WITH THE
SHARK’
MURRAY RITCHIE ON
THE DAY HE PLAYED
WITH NORMAN
WHEN THE INVITATION came
to play in the Texas Scramble
pro-am before the Suntory
World Matchplay at Wentworth
in 1987, I was nervous at the
very thought. When they
told me I was last out with
Greg Norman, the defending
champion and World No.1, I
was terrified. On the practice
putting green, I became aware
of a crowd gathering. When
I looked up, there was only
me - and Seve Ballesteros. I
don’t think they were there for
me. Seve smiled as I picked up
and made a beeline for the first
tee where, to my horror, there
were thousands of spectators.
Down the right there were
millions of pounds worth of
luxury limos just waiting for
an expensive slice. I managed
an almost respectable drive -
and we were off. Playing with
a legend was a wonderful
experience. Greg showed
interest in my ancient Ping
putter and told me never
to sell it because it was a
collector’s item. I never have.
He looked at my new carbon-
headed Dunlop driver, the
fashion of the day, and seemed
puzzled by its fishing-rod shaft.
“How do you wait for it?” he
asked. That was a bit technical
for me. When I introduced him
to the good lady he helpfully
informed her I needed a
driver with a stiffer shaft. Well,
even the boss could hardly
argue with the world No.1! My
moment of glory came on the
short 14th when Greg missed
the green with a 6-iron and
looked astonished. There was
a sudden wind, apparently.
I hit the green from the front
tee - to flattering applause,
continues on p48
 COVER STORY
T BLAIRGOWRIE, Norman cemented
his place as one of golf’s most
dominant players, winning multiple
times on the European Tour, PGA
Tour of Australia and elsewhere. His
first PGA Tour victory arrived in the
1984 Kemper Open at Congressional,
where he defeated Mark O’Meara
by five shots. The only thing now
missing from his CV was a major
championship. He’d come close,
finishing fourth on his Masters debut
in 1981 and, a fortnight after his
Kemper victory, he lost an 18-hole
play-off for the US Open to Fuzzy
Zoeller. It was in 1986, however, that
Norman truly made his mark. After
leading both the Masters and the
US Open after 54 holes, without
converting either lead into a victory,
he went to the Open at Turnberry as
one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Sure enough, he again found
himself in the lead with 18 holes to
go, completing the third leg of what
became known as his ‘Saturday
Slam’ [Incidentally, he would go on
to lead the PGA Championship after
three rounds the following month
to complete this streak]. Unlike the
previous two majors, there was to
be no final round disappointment for
Norman this time around. With the
words of Jack Nicklaus still fresh in
his mind from dinner the previous
evening - “Nobody in the world wants
you to win more than I do,” Nicklaus
told him - he converted a one-shot
lead over Tommy Nakajima into an
emphatic five-shot victory from his
nearest challenger, Gordon J Brand.
The following day ‘Norman conquest’
headlines were splashed on the
sports pages of newspapers around
the world.
What are your memories of that
week at Turnberry?
I think that win was all the more
significant because of the attention
I had been getting that year as a
result of the ‘Saturday Slam’ talk.
Look, obviously, it was fantastic to
win and when I reflect on it now,
I’d go so far as to say that the 63
I shot in that second round is one
of my top three or four rounds of
all time. What a lot of people won’t
remember, but I do, is that I three-
putted 17 and 18 for that 63. It could
very realistically have been a 61 or
better, and in tough conditions, too.
I remember feeling very confident
about my chances that week. When
I saw the weather forecast and I saw
the course, I immediately knew what
my game-plan was going to be. The
48 BUNKERED.CO.UK
continued from p47
a strange experience - and
made the world’s best golfer
play my ball. When I faced
a three-footer - I hate short
putts - he saw my fear. “Don’t
worry,” he said, “just knock
it in. That’s what you do with
these.” Easier said than done,
but in it went and I have tried
that mental trick with varying
results ever since. A ridiculous
six hours after we started we
reached the par-5 18th where
Greg experimented by trying
to carry the corner. His ball
sailed out of bounds and we
played one of our group’s drive
from the centre of the fairway.
Larry Mize, Greg’s nemesis
at Augusta that year, was on
the 18th, sizing up his putt.
“Watch this,” said Greg, as
he took a driver off the deck
from 260 yards. The ball rolled
precisely to Mize’s feet. Some
good-natured hand signals
were exchanged. Throughout
our round, Greg Norman was
encouraging and friendly,
making an effort to interact
with his playing partners
and spectators. He skipped
the prize-giving though,
probably concluding he’d
suffered enough for one day.
Murray is the father of
bunkered editor Bryce Ritchie
and the former Scottish
political editor of The Herald
Norman celebrates the first of
his two Open Championship
victories at Turnberry in 1986
fairways were tight. The rough was
high, so high that you wondered if
you might injure yourself trying to get
the ball back in play if you found it.
And, on the eve of the championship,
the wind picked up considerably. It
was cold, grey and windy. So, my
plan was simple: grab the driver and
try to take the left side of the course
out of play as much as possible. I
had a lot of confidence in my driving.
It was always one of my strengths. I
knew that if I aimed down the left of
the fairway, and got that power-fade
going, I’d have more of the fairway
to hit to. So, that’s what I did. I stuck
to my task, even in the worst of the
conditions, and just tried to swing
nice and easy, making solid contact.
I had a good, positive frame of mind
the whole week, and by the end of
it, I was lucky enough to be standing
there holding the Claret Jug.
Can you describe for those of us
who’ll never get to experience it
what it is like to be the ‘Champion
Golfer of the Year’?
Wonderful. Simply wonderful. I
remember it occurring to me how
meteoric my rise had been to that
point. I had only been playing golf
for about ten years, starting off with
a 27 handicap, and now here I was
holding the Claret Jug. It was a
powerful statement. It was proof that
if you dare to chase your dreams,
there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.
You know, I’ve never played to please
other people. I’ve always played for
me. You’ve got to. You can’t spend
your entire life - certainly, your
professional life - trying to please T
T
T and impress other people. You’ve
got to do it for yourself. If you do, and
you do it well, then everyone else
benefits, from those closest to you,
to those watching you play. So, it was
fantastic to get that first win but it
wasn’t long before I started to think,
‘Okay, now what?’ That’s the thing
about dreams: you’ve always got to
have them.

IN 2010, Tom Watson offered this

magazine his take on many of his
contemporaries at the height of his
career. Lee Trevino? “The best ball-
striker I ever saw.” Gary Player? “The
original Mr Fitness.” Seve Ballesteros?
“Magical. Just magical.”
But Greg Norman? “Greg was what
we refer to over here in the States
as ‘snakebit’,” said Watson. “In other
words, he lost more tournaments than
Main Norman during his early years
he really ought to have.” on the European Tour Below left
It seems a remarkable, perhaps Norman with his mum Toini. It was
even slightly unkind, thing to say of she who introduced him to golf in his
a man who has won 91 times around teens Below right Norman originally
harboured dreams of joining the
the world - but it’s not unjustified. Australian Air Force
Norman finished runner-up in eight
different majors: the Masters three
times (1986, 1987 and 1996); the US
Open twice (1984 and 1995); the
Open once (1989); and the PGA twice
(1986 and 1993). Save for not even
a handful of shots here and there
over the course of his career, he
could quite reasonably now be sitting
alongside Sarazen, Hogan, Player,
Nicklaus and Woods as the only
golfers to have completed the career
grand slam. Instead, he has as many
major wins as the likes of John Daly, T
Fuzzy Zoeller and Curtis Strange. All
great golfers but not even close to
being in Norman’s league.
His Masters near-misses were
particularly painful. Jack Nicklaus
staged one of the great Sunday you’ve had in majors. What do you What about the 1996 Masters?
charges to overtake Norman in 1986. feel when you look back on those? Different story altogether. What can
The following year, Larry Mize holed Regret, presumably? I say? It was hugely disappointing. I
an improbable chip to defeat him on Yeah, regrets in some instances, remember waking up on the Sunday
the second extra hole. But nothing not so much in others. Larry Mize, morning, leading by six, and noticing
compares to 1996. Leading by six for example. I never, ever thought straight away that my back was
with 18 holes to play, Norman shot I’d lose the Masters on the 11th hole. sore. Not bad enough to keep me in
a 78, ultimately finishing five behind Larry did what he did, which was bed but bad enough to be a niggly
playing partner Nick Faldo. incredible, and there was nothing I problem. Anyway, I got up, got ready
“I played liked shit,” he could do about it. Likewise, I had no and went out to warm up. I remember
acknowledged afterwards. Others control over Jack Nicklaus shooting speaking to my coach, Butch
were less kind. Thomas Bonk, in 30 on the back nine at Augusta in Harmon, and being concerned that
the Los Angeles Times, wrote: 1986. When you birdie four straight I was getting the club stuck behind
“Empires collapse. So do card tables, holes coming in, like I did from the me, almost to compensate for my
tents and soufflés. And so does 14th to the 17th, and you don’t win, back. I told him I thought it wouldn’t
Greg Norman.” you have to accept that the golfing be easy that day, and so it proved.
Gods have just decided not to smile Augusta National is one of those
We have to touch on the on you that day. That’s just the way it places where, if you’re a
disappointments and near misses goes sometimes. half-yard out, you pay for it big time. T

50 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 COVER STORY

Since turning pro in 1976, Norman -

who once harboured ambitions of
becoming an Australian Air Force pilot
- has clocked up over five million air miles

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 51
 COVER STORY
T Does it frustrate you that people
are often quite quick to talk about
the negatives rather than the
positives of your career?
There’s nothing I can do about that.
I understand the interest. I just hope
they remember the other stuff I’ve
done, too. I’ve been a loyal supporter
of the game on a global front since
my earliest days as a professional.
I’ve played and won in Australia,
Europe, Asia and America. I never
stopped going home to support golf
there. I was the first guy to do an
exhibition in China. I was one of the
first to support the golf in Dubai. I’ve
always done my best to grow the
game around the world.
Only Tiger Woods has been world
No.1 for longer than you, too.
Let’s talk Tiger. Everyone has an
opinion on what has happened to
him over the last few years. What’s
your take? Presumably you can
sympathise with the injuries?
Absolutely. I feel for Tiger. I really do.
He’ll never get back to where he was.
Time is against him. Younger, fitter
players are against him. And most
significantly of all, his confidence is
against him. I said it earlier about
surfing, but proprioception is massive.
The body is programmed to protect
its weakest link as a priority, whether
subconsciously or otherwise, and
when that happens, that weakest link
can become your undoing. That’s
what we’ve seen with Tiger. Whether
he knows it or not, it looks like he has
been trying to play to accommodate
whatever back problems he’s got,
and it’s almost impossible to play at
your best when you’re doing that. It’s
sad to see and, of course, I can relate
given my own back problems. When
30
NORMAN
IN THE 20
MAJORS
10
1st 6 to 10
2nd 11 to 25
3rd Other
4 to 5 MC/WD 0
MASTERS
52 BUNKERED.CO.UK
As well as being a successful
golfer, Norman has become
an accomplished businessman
you look back at the big ‘power’
players of the last 50 or so years,
we’ve all had some lingering issues
because of the way we attacked
the ball. Jack [Nicklaus], Seve
[Ballesteros], me and now Tiger.
So, do you see back problems in
the futures of current big-hitters?
Guys like, say, Rory McIlroy and
Dustin Johnson?
Absolutely. Everything points that
way, doesn’t it? The body is the
body. Anatomically, we’re all the
same. Sure, we can all change our
physiques by building up muscle and
so on - but you can’t build up your
bones or your spine. The more you
try to put power and flexibility around
what Mother Nature gave you, the
higher the chance of something
happening. We’ve seen it already
with some of the top guys today.
US OPEN
Jason Day, for example, has already
had some issues. They’re all aware
of the stress that they’re putting on
their bodies but, to maintain their
quality, they’re still attacking the ball
as aggressively as ever. I can’t judge
them for that. I used to do it, too. But
stress is stress. Even bending over
putting for hours and hours on end
on the putting green isn’t good for
you. I wish I’d known that sooner.
I perhaps wouldn’t have spent so
much time practising.
THE 1999 SUPER BOWL saw the
Denver Broncos take on the Atlanta
Falcons at the Pro Player Stadium in
Miami, Florida. Legendary Broncos
quarterback John Elway, playing
what would prove to be his final
match before retiring, provided the
excitement with a match-winning
performance. Greg Norman? He
supplied the pitch.
Turf is just one of the Aussie’s many
business interests. Others include
golf course design, apparel, eyewear,
real estate and wine. He even has his
own branded line of premium steaks.
The Greg Norman Company - until
last year known as Great White Shark
Enterprises - is a diverse empire
that reports hundreds of millions of
dollars in revenue each year, making
the $14.4m he made from playing on
the PGA Tour look like mere pocket
change.
How did you turn a nickname into
one of golf’s biggest brands?
I was very alert early on in my career
to the fact that I was building my own
business as a professional golfer and
that I therefore had a responsibility to T
OPEN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
 T run my affairs and handle my affairs
With over 100 courses spread
across six continents, Norman
owns one of the world’s premier
golf course design companies
54 BUNKERED.CO.UK
like a business. I also figured out
quite quickly that my management
company - any management
company - wasn’t interested in
building equity on my brand. The
average career for a professional
athlete at the very top level is, what,
ten to 15 years at best? That’s all
my management were interested
in - that period of time. Fair enough.
That’s how they run. The athletes
they represent are all pass-through
entities. They roll in, make money,
and roll out, replaced by younger,
fresh, new talent. It’s a conveyor belt.
But that didn’t sit well with me. Ten
to 15 years at the top would take
me pretty close to 40, but where
did I want to be when I was 60? My
management weren’t concerned with
that. By then, they’d be onto the next
guy, or the guy after him. So I realised
I had a responsibility to take care of
myself. I was quite forward-thinking
and observed what was going on
rather than just let it all happen
around about me.
So what did you do?
Well, this was the late 1980s. I was
sponsored by Reebok and its owner,
Paul Fireman, approached me about
launching a ‘Great White Shark’ range
of clothing. He said that they’d create
the logo and license it back from
me. It seemed like a brilliant idea.
Suddenly, I had an outlet for products
through Reebok and my own distinct
brand and logo, which I would wear
in place of the Reebok logo. Perfect,
right? Around the same time, my
contract with Reebok was coming
up for renewal. I remember sitting in
the meetings and my management
company laying out a plan for a three
to five-year extension. Three to five
years! I said, ‘Guys, this is crazy.
Reebok are planning to invest all
of this time and money in my new
brand and we’re wanting to enter
into that short of a deal?’ In that
instant, the penny dropped. From my
management’s point of view, these
talks were all about them getting their
percentage of my deals year on year.
It was all about the immediate and
near future. There was no concern
for my long-term potential. So, I
proposed to Paul that we instead
enter into a lifetime contract, as there
would be nothing to stop me from
walking away from Reebok when my
deal was up. And, yes, I split with my
management firm and went it alone.
You’ve got so many business

interests these days that it must
be hard to keep on top of them all.
How hands-on are you?
[Laughs] My team would probably
tell you I’m too hands-on. They’ll say
to me, ‘Greg, it’s fine, we’ve got this.
You don’t need to be this granular
about it’. But then again, that’s just
me. That’s the type of guy I am. I like
to know everything that’s going on
and what needs done. I guess it’s the
golfer in me, always thinking through
every outcome. ‘Okay, if I hit the
ball there, this will be the outcome,
whereas if I hit it there, it’ll be this.’
Is there one area of business that
interests you the most?
I enjoy it all but if I had to pick my
biggest passion I’d probably say golf
course design. We’ve designed more
than 100 courses in over 30 countries
around the globe. We’ve actually
just announced our first project in
Colombia, which is very exciting.
It’s very gratifying to be involved in
taking golf to new territories and
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to design a course in
Scotland. The chance to do that in the country where the
game began would be the final arrow in my quiver.”
new audiences. It’s funny, our design
company is also a good economic
indicator. We know when a recession
is about to hit. Some people read tea
leaves; our guys can see it coming
when payments start to be delayed.
Back in 2007 or 2008, when the
global financial crisis hit, I remember
the first signs we got were some
months earlier when we started to
find some of our payments being
deferred. I said to the guys, ‘Hey,
this isn’t going to be pretty. We
need to make some shifts, diversify
what we’re doing and spread our
net further around the globe to find
markets that won’t be affected’.
That wasn’t easy to do but we came
through it relatively unscathed
and that was largely down to
understanding what was happening
and reacting to it before it happened.
Like you say, you’ve designed
courses in over 30 different
countries around the world… but
not Scotland. Why?
It nearly happened. I actually did
a redesign of the Ailsa Course
at Turnberry before the Trump
Organisation bought it. I was asked
by the former owners to draw up
some plans, which I did, but that’s
as far as it went. It’s funny to look
at it now and see some of your
own ideas. I had big plans for the
tenth, eleventh and twelfth holes,
in particular. The 12th was going to
be more a right-to-left shape, with
a tee positioned high up above the
11th green, which I had planned to
move more towards the rocks, as has
happened. It would have been great
to get the chance to realise the plans
but, like I say, it didn’t happen. That’s
just the way it goes. I’d be lying,
though, if I said I didn’t want to design
a course in Scotland. The opportunity
to input everything I’ve learned about
the game in the country where it all
began would be so special. It would
be the final arrow in my quiver.
IT’S ALL RELATIVE, of course,
but it’s remarkable that a man who
dominated golf as recently as
Norman can be ranked outside the
top 100 on the PGA Tour’s career
money list. John Huston, Scott Piercy,
Steve Lowery, Mark Wilson - all
have earned more from playing golf
than he did. Much has, of course,
changed in the 20 years since
Norman secured the most recent of
his 20 PGA Tour titles. Aside from
the money that the game’s top pros
now play for, the courses they play
on have been altered to reflect the
distance gains made achievable by
huge advances in golf club - and golf
ball - technology.
It seems like there’s a new
millionaire every week on the PGA
Tour. What do you make of guys
who’ve got $12m to their name but
have never won an event?
It’s no big deal. You know, I think
back to when I was the first to make
a million in career earnings, and the
first to make a million in a season.
All the other guys were excited,
saying ‘Go Greg, go’ and stuff like
that, because it was helping to create
more wealth and spread the money
COVER STORY
around. No matter what era you’re
in, there will be some guys who want
to be as successful as they can be
and there will be others who are
happy in their comfort zone. They’ll
pull the blanket up around their
necks and be quite content. Some
people like the responsibility that
goes with being a professional golfer
and others don’t. But money is all
relative to the time and era. There
have been incremental gains from
the Nicklaus and Palmer era, to, say,
my era, and the same again from my
era to the Woods era, and again from
the Woods era to the Rory era. Go
25 years forward from now and I’m
confident you’ll see the same pattern
of growth.
What about technology? Everyone
has an opinion on the way it’s
going. What’s your take?
I have always thought that pros
should play under a different set
of rules from the masses. The best
players in the world will always be
the best players in the world. If you
told them to play Augusta National
with hickory clubs and a gutta percha
ball, they’d do it and they’d still be
fantastic. Instead, they’ve got this
incredible technology which is only
creating a bigger gulf between them
and the guys at the grassroots. In
turn, that has made countless top
courses obsolete for tournament
play. The average club golfer can still
play them and enjoy them but they’re
no longer suitable for professional
events. I don’t think that’s right. The
main benefactors of technology
have been the people making the
technology and the top players.
But what about the average player?
They’re the ones who need the
technology. The more you give them,
the more likely they are to enjoy the
game. Give them more, but restrict
us.
Putting your design hat on for a
second, how much has technology
influenced the creation of new
courses?
Oh boy, it’s crazy. When we sit down
with developers to discuss plans, T
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COVER STORY

Greg Norman expanded

his business interests into
‘EVEN THEN, producing wine in 1996

HE HAD THIS
AMAZING AURA’
BLAIRGOWRIE PRO
CHARLES DERNIE
RECALLS NORMAN’S
MAIDEN WIN
BLAIRGOWRIE professional
Charles Dernie remembers
Greg Norman’s maiden
European Tour win at the
Perthshire club vividly. No
surprise really given that he,
too, was playing. Dernie, who
was an assistant at Lytham
at the time, was a young
European Tour card-holder and
was urged by his then boss to
drop everything to play in the
Martini International, which
was played over the acclaimed
Rosemount Course in 1977.
“He always spoke very highly
of Blairgowrie and, when the
tournament was announced,
he was insistent I play in it,”
Dernie tells bunkered. Sadly,
he missed the cut but recalls
the impression Norman made
that week. “Even then, he had
T more often than not one of the first really understand it. From a purely
an incredible aura,” he says.
things they say is that they want a ‘course’ point of view, why would you
“There was a lot of hype about
championship-standard course. Straight want to build a course that is 7,500
him, this young Aussie being
off the bat, a championship course. yards long if you’re only going to have
touted as the next big thing. But for what? One week a year? We’ve people playing it at its full length once
It’s fair to say he lived up to walked away from opportunities simply or twice a year? It’s just another cost
expectations. He had a broad because we don’t see how we can you don’t need. It’s 700 or 800 extra
frame, bright blond hair and make them work for the developer yards that you won’t use but you still
was a snappy dresser, so he based on their expectations. need to water, fertilise, maintain, year
stood out. Plus, he was a very on year. Take those costs and multiply
big hitter. He was easily one For example? them out over a 20-year period. Do you
of the best drivers of the ball TPC San Antonio is one. You ask a really need that? I’m not sure you do.
I ever saw, which no doubt developer if they want a course capable
helped him that week. Back of hosting a PGA Tour event and a high
then, the Rosemount had a lot majority will say yes. But let’s break
more heather, so you really down the economics of that. For one THE OPEN RETURNS TO ROYAL
couldn’t afford to miss the week a year, at best, they need to have BIRKDALE THIS SUMMER. The last
fairway. With his combination a course that is long enough for the time it was there, in 2008, Norman
of power and accuracy, he was smallest percentage of golfers because rolled back the years to, once again,
always going to be tough to of the influence of technology. Beyond head the field after three rounds. At
beat.” Blairgowrie made such that, you need to factor in additional the age of 53, he became the oldest
an impression on Dernie that, costs for a suitable clubhouse, TV player to hold at least a share of the
towers, cabling, spectators and all of the Open lead after 54 holes. [Tom Watson
when the opportunity arose to
other associated infrastructural costs of eclipsed that record the following year
become the pro there 20 years
staging a tournament. Now, take those at Turnberry aged 59].
ago, he leapt at it. Norman, extra costs and multiply them out over Had he won, Norman would have
too, made a big impression on 20 years or so – where’s the return set a new record as the oldest major
him. “I’m not surprised how on your investment? You show that to champion in the game’s history.
fantastic a career he has gone people and yet they’ll still largely say, Alas, it wasn’t to be. Playing partner
on to have,” he adds. “He was ‘Thanks for that and, yes, I still want all Padraig Harrington - who almost had
a very special talent and if he of it’. The only way of getting any kind to withdraw prior to the championship
ever wants to revisit the scene of non-diminished return is to build real because of a wrist injury - reined him in
of that first win of his, he’d estate around the property but even to successfully defend the title he had
be welcome here any time.” then there are no guarantees. I don’t won a year earlier at Carnoustie. Even T

56 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 COVER STORY
T so, Norman’s gallant effort won’t soon
be forgotten.
What are your abiding memories of
the 2008 Open?
It was a fun week. I went in feeling
confident, healthy and hitting the
ball well and, for the first 63 holes,
everything was going great. Then,
on the Sunday, I remember walking
off the ninth tee to go to the tenth,
feeling fantastic, when suddenly
there were people everywhere. I
looked up and realised that there
were two groups on the tee. It was
pretty obvious we were in for a bit of
a delay. The thing is, there’s nowhere
to go. You’re in a goldfish bowl with
cameras trained directly on you.
You’re wanting to look relaxed and
not show the nerves underneath or
the frustration that you’re having your
momentum disrupted by the hold-
up in front of you. You’re focusing
hard on maintaining your cool and
your intensity all at once, which is
very hard to do. Finally, after about
15 minutes or so, we’re on the tee
and I hit a horrible pull-hook. That’s
something I just don’t do. My body
had just stiffened up from standing
around waiting. I made a good par at
11 but then failed to get up and down
at 12 and the championship just kind
of got away from me after that. It was
disappointing but we gave it a good
go and it was a lot of fun being in the
mix again.
You nearly did it. Watson nearly did
it. Do you think we’ll ever see the
day a 50+ golfer wins a major?
Absolutely. I don’t think it’ll happen on
one of these monster courses but I
can see it happening somewhere like
St Andrews. You know, Birkdale in ’08
was an example of how, in the right
weather conditions, experience can
be so much more valuable than any
yardage book. I was chipping 5-irons
58 BUNKERED.CO.UK
Main Norman describes
course design as one of his
biggest passions Above left
With Padraig Harrington at the
2008 Open Championship.
from 150 yards and getting it close
more often than not. That’s something
that only comes from years and years
of playing the game and having the
guts to try it. Somewhere down the
line, somebody is going to have the
same opportunity and I’m quite sure
they’ll see it through.
That was your last real appearance
on golf’s biggest stage but you’ve
become very active on social media
over the last few years with your
‘#AttackLife’ mantra. Is that a
new philosophy or something that
you’ve lived by for a while?
It came about one time when I
was signing autographs on my
plane. That’s when I catch up on
correspondence and things like that.
Anyway, I’m going through a box of
pictures and I’m putting the usual
stuff on it. “Keep swinging”, “Play
hard”, “Enjoy your golf”. All of the
typical stuff. Then, out of nowhere, I
started writing “Attack life” and it kind
of resonated with me. I just thought,
‘You know, there’s something in that’.
That’s how I approach every day now.
Go out there and give it some.
What does a typical day look like
for Greg Norman these days?
It really depends what I’m doing. If
I’m working on a particular project,
for example, it could vary from one
day to the next. One thing I’m very
big on, though, is making sure I have
my weekends free to spend at home.
That’s family time. I’ve spent so much
of my life working at weekends
that I really value having the luxury
of having them free these days. I
recognise that’s something that’s
important for my staff, too. They’ve
mostly got families of their own.
Work during the week; family at the
weekend. That’s the way I like it. But
a typical day? I’ll get up early, take my
stepdaughters to school and aim to
be in my office for just before 8am.
I’ll work there until 2pm, 2.30pm and
then I’ll go to the gym and work out
between 4pm and 6pm. After that,
it’s back home to wind down, have
dinner with the family, and then watch
some TV. Preferably sport. Most of
what is on TV is garbage, though.
Finally, if you had the chance to
give your 18-year-old self one piece
of advice, what would it be?
Travel with a masseuse and a full-time
trainer. No doubt about it. You look
back and take stock of everything
you’ve put your body through and
you just think of how much a benefit
that would have been. It would have
been a wonderful asset. But, hey, I’ve
got no complaints. „
60 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 SCOTTISH OPEN
PREVIEW

BORN IN
SWEDEN
MADE IN
SCOTLAND
How winning the 2016 Scottish Open set Alex Noren on a path
to becoming one of the world’s top golfers

WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 61
SCOTTISH OPEN PREVIEW

I
T DIVIDES OPINION. Some
people love it, some people
hate it. For what it’s worth, Alex
Noren loves it. “Irn Bru?” he
smiles. “I used to drink a lot of
it when I was younger. We’d
come over to Scotland on golf
trips with the Swedish national
team and I always looked
forward to it. I really like it.”
This year, of course, the softly-
spoken Swede has another reason
to look forward to his visiting the
home of golf: his Scottish Open title
defence. Winning at Castle Stuart
last July yielded the fifth win of the
34-year-old’s European Tour career
and started a remarkable run that
would see him win four more times in
his next 16 starts. It would have been
five had Anthony Wall not beaten
him in a play-off for the Paul Lawrie
Matchplay.
No male golfer on either of the
game’s top two tours has more
victories worldwide in the same span.
Not DJ. Not Hideki. Nobody. He has
gone from 119th on the Official World
Golf Rankings in April 2016 to eighth,
almost doubling his career earnings
in the process - and it all started at
the Scottish Open.
“It really kicked off what has
been a great year for me,” he tells
bunkered. “I was feeling good going
in after coming in on off a strong
finish in the French Open the week
before. I’d had some pretty tough
times at Le Golf National previously
but I finished eighth last year, so I
went to Castle Stuart feeling pretty
good and I managed to keep that
momentum going. So, winning there
was fantastic.”
Victories in the European Masters,
British Masters and Nedbank Golf
Challenge followed as Noren ended
the season ranked third on the Race
To Dubai - his best-ever finish on the Victory at Castle Stuart last year the next day to prepare for the
European Tour. went some way to making up for Open,” he adds.
“The biggest thing that winning Noren’s disappointment at narrowly His Scottish Open win
an event like the Scottish Open missing out on winning the same demonstrated what those who
does is give you the confidence tournament at the same venue in following the game most closely
you need the next time you find 2012. He missed a short putt on had long since known: that Noren
yourself leading as you’re coming the last, which cost him a place in a is a dab-hand around links courses.
down the stretch,” he adds. play-off ultimately won by Jeev Milka As well as the Scottish Open, he
“You’re able to look back and Singh. “It felt extra nice to get it done has missed the cut only once in
say, ‘Okay, I’ve been here before last year,” he admits. “It’s one of the his last eight Alfred Dunhill Links
and I got it done. I know what I’m biggest tournaments that we have appearances, finishing third in
doing.’ That’s certainly how I felt at on the schedule. Winning it meant so 2012. He was ninth in the Open
the European Masters and then much to me.” Championship the same year.
again at the British Masters and Not that he celebrated too wildly. Clearly, this is a guy who understands
Nedbank. Belief in yourself and “My caddie and I just had a nice how to play the game in its purest
experience of closing out wins are dinner and watched a little bit of form.
two very important things for a golfer the European Championship final “I love it,” he says. “You get to hit
to have. They help make things between France and Portugal and a lot of different shots and be quite
easier.” then headed down to Royal Troon creative, which is very tough but I

62 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 Left Noren celebrates
winning the 2016
Scottish Open at
Castle Stuart
Top right Swigging
Champagne after
victory in the BMW
PGA Championship
Below right Noren
has cemented himself
inside the world’s
top ten

like the challenge of it. I’m one of
these guys who has always liked
playing around ‘at golf’, if you know
what I mean? I enjoy trying to pull off
difficult or unusual shots. High ones,
really low ones, big hooks, big slices,
things like that. They’re always fun
to try when you’re on the range or
practising somewhere when there’s
nothing really on the line and,
quite often, you find yourself
needing to draw on those kinds of
experiences when you’re playing
links. On one hole, you might have
a big left-to-right wind, and then
you’ll turn around on the next hole
and it’ll be going the opposite way.
So, being able to be versatile is
hugely important.”
Should he retain his Scottish Open
title this year, Noren will become the
first player to successfully defend T

“Belief in yourself and experience

of closing out wins are two very
important things for a golfer to have”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 63
 SCOTTISH OPEN PREVIEW

SCOTTISH OPEN A PUNTER’S GUIDE

T the crown. Indeed, only
two players - Ernie Els
and Ian Woosnam - have
won the event on multiple
occasions. He’ll also have All you need to know and learn about this year’s contest in Ayrshire
to master a new course,

with Dundonald Links,
near Irvine, set to become
the 11th different venue to
stage the tournament.
“I’ve not been there
before although I’ve
heard a little bit about it,”
he adds. “I know that it
was designed by one of
the guys who designed
Kingsbarns [Kyle Phillips]
which is great as I really
like Kingsbarns. I don’t
imagine I’ll get to go there
before the tournament
itself because I’ve got a
little one at home, so I try
to spend as much time at
home as I possibly can
but I’m sure it’ll be great -
although, yeah, I’d much
rather be going back to
Castle Stuart!”
SWEDE
’16/’17
NOREN’S
REMARKABLE
RUN IN NUMBERS
GETTING THERE
z BY ROAD entrance to Dundonald Links The entrance to Dundonald
From Glasgow - Take the M77 is half a mile along on the Links is half a mile along
south towards Kilmarnock/ left hand side. Please follow on the left hand side.
Ayr. At the Dutchhouse signs for Dundonald Links Free on-site parking available.
Roundabout, follow signs for (not Dundonald Village).
the A78 Irvine. Head north From Prestwick Airport - Take z BY RAIL
on the A78 towards Irvine the A78 towards Irvine and Regular train services from
for five miles and at the after five miles on this road Glasgow Central to Irvine
next roundabout take the at the first roundabout take Central, where there will be
second exit on the left. The the second exit on the left. a free shuttle bus service.
FOUR TO WATCH
Adam Scott Rickie Fowler Henrik Stenson Matt Kuchar
The 2013 Masters
champion will be
The winner in 2015
at Gullane, Fowler
The popular Swede
will be making his
The seven-time
PGA Tour winner
making his first
appearance in
will return this year, first visit to Ayrshire will be aiming to
having missed since his Open go one better than
the Scottish Open last year due to victory at Royal 2015 when he was
since 2009. the Olympics. Troon last year. second to Fowler.

32
The number of times Noren
broke 70 in 64 rounds.
(Best, 62; Worst, 78)
ADMISSION
Under 16 ......................... Free (with an adult)
Wed, July 12 (Pro-Am) ............................. £15
Thurs, July 13 ........................ £30/£25 (conc)
Fri, July 14 ........................................£30/£25
HOSPITALITY
Corporate hospitality is available in the Skean
Dhu pavilion overlooking the ninth and 18th
greens. It includes: admission to the course;
dedicated table of eight, ten or 12; reserved VIP
parking; full Scottish breakfast; complimentary

69.5
Sat, July 15 .......................................£30/£25 bar; three-course lunch served with fine wines;
Sun, July 16 ......................................£30/£25 afternoon tea; official programme and daily
Season Ticket ................................... £75/£60 drawsheet. Prices vary. Call 01344 840538.

Noren’s stroke average.

OTHER STUFF
-123
Noren’s combined
z PLUS
Player Q&As on the
Tented Village Show
Stage... Inflatable
score to par. obstacle courses

1,006
The amount of Euros Noren
earned per shot hit.
* 2016 Scottish Open
until 2017 BMW PGA
Championship inclusive.
Hero Challenge
Introduced at the
British Masters
last year, this fun
challenge will see
eight players play
in a one-hole, head-
to-head knock-out
matchplay event on
Tues, July 11, 7pm.
Cooking demos Build a Bee Hotel! & trampolines...
Braehead Foods will Join the Scottish American Golf show
be whipping up a Wildlife Trust on a tent featuring swing
feast in the tented treasure hunt around nets, golf simulators,
village throughout the golf course and challenges,
the week with live even help build manufacturers,
cooking demos Dundonald’s very retail outlets and
and more - just the own Bee Hotel. more... Plus a
ticket for the hungry Fun for little kids merry-go-round...
golf spectator! and big kids alike. and loads more!

64 BUNKERED.CO.UK
SUBSCRIBE TO US ON ...

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68 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 THE 146TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
LET’S GET IT ON
WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES
A
BSOLUTELY NOTHING
WILL top the last day drama
of Royal Troon 2016. But we
all know that already. Regardless
of what Royal Birkdale has to live
up to, there is real excitement that
this year’s Open Championship
has all the ingredients to deliver
another four fantastic days of
major championship golf.
MARTIN SLUMBERS NICK DOUGHERTY’S
Q&A COURSE GUIDE
PAGE 76
In this preview, you’ll get the
lowdown on the favourites vying
for the famous Claret Jug and
an exclusive Q&A with R&A boss
Martin Slumbers, whilst we glean
local knowledge on the course
from Nick Dougherty and look
back at Harrington’s 2008 victory.
No major is bigger than the
Open… so let’s get it on!
HARRINGTON’S
‘FYBRID’ GLORY
PAGE 82 PAGE 90
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 69

The Both of the two most recent Open
Championships at Royal Birkdale
have seen an amateur finish inside
amateurs the top five (more on that over
the page), so this year’s crop of
up-and-comers have a lot to live
up to. In the battle for the silver
medal, all eyes will likely be on
Maverick McNealy, right. The 2016
70 BUNKERED.CO.UK
The defending champ
Henrik Stenson produced one of the great Open
Championship rounds when he closed with a 63
to become Sweden’s first male major winner at
Royal Troon last year. The 41-year-old will fancy his
chances of retaining his title, too. Not only is Royal
Birkdale ideally suited to his game, rewarding
excellent ball-striking and players who typically
tend to find lots of fairways, there is also this little
nugget. Sixteen different players have successfully
defended the Open since it was contested in
1860. This year’s championship will be the 146th,
meaning that a successful title defence happens,
on average, every nine years. The most recent
of those 16 players to retain the Claret Jug?
Padraig Harrington in 2008 - nine years ago.
75%
The defending
champion has made
the cut in the Open
in 15 of the last 20
years, with an average
finish of 26th.
McCormack Medal winner is one of
the USA’s most hotly-tipped young
golfers and already has some major
experience, having played in the
2014 US Open. He also played in
the 2015 Walker Cup at nearby
Royal Lytham & St Annes. European
Amateur champ Luca Cianchetti will
be worth keeping an eye on, too.
The ‘statistical’ favourite
If you take the average age of the nine previous
winners of Open Championships at Royal Birkdale,
along with the average number of starts they
needed before winning their first Claret Jug, you KAYMER’S
get ‘A. Golfer’ aged 32 and a few months, who OPEN RECORD
won on their sixth start. By that logic, the winner
of this year’s championship should be… Martin 2008 80
Kaymer. The former world No.1 will be 32-and-a- 2009 T34
half at this year’s championship and will be playing 2010 T7
in his tenth Open. Another worth keeping an 2011 T12
eye on is Charl Schwartzel (32, 12th start), whilst 2012 CUT
English duo Paul Waring and David Horsey also fit 2013 T32
the age criteria and will be playing in their third 2014 70
and second Opens respectively. What’s more, 2015 T12
both are relatively local to Royal Birkdale. Waring
was born in Birkenhead, 17 miles from Birkdale,
with Horsey born in Stockport, 38 miles away.

The The last time the Open visited

Royal Birkdale, Greg Norman turned
at the age of 59. Elsewhere in
this edition, At the time of going

veterans
the clock back to make a bold title
tilt. He came up short in the end
but served notice that links golf is a
tremendous equaliser. Tom Watson
hammered home the point the
following year, coming within a
putt of winning the championship
to print, there were six such
players in this year’s field: John
Daly, Paul Broadhurst and Sandy
Lyle, as well as Todd Hamilton,
right, Mark O’Meara and Prayad
Marksaeng. Could one of them
rewrite the game’s history books?

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 71
 The potential
‘history-makers’
No golfer has ever won both the silver medal for low
amateur and the Open Championship at the same venue.
Both Justin Rose and Chris Wood can do just that this year.
Rose, who tied for fourth in 1998, and Wood, who tied
for fifth ten years later, can rewrite the record books with
a victory this year. Interestingly, only two of the players
who have won the silver medal since it was introduced in
1949 have gone on to lift the Claret Jug: Tiger Woods and
Rory McIlroy. Woods won the silver medal at Turnberry
in 1996 and went on to win the championship proper in
2000, 2005 and 2006. McIlroy, meanwhile, was the low
amateur at Carnoustie in 2007 and subsequently won the
main spoils at Royal Liverpool seven years later. Should
neither Rose nor Wood win this year, McIlroy will have the
opportunity to claim this little piece of history for himself
next year, when the championship returns to Carnoustie.

72 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 5
The number of Open
low amateurs who
have gone on to win a
major championship.
As well as Woods,
McIlroy and Rose (US
Open, 2013), the other
two are Hal Sutton
The debutants
(Silver Medal, 1981;
You have to go back to Ben Curtis’
PGA C’ship, 1983) and
victory at Royal St George’s in
Jose Maria Olazabal
2003 to find the last time a player
(Silver Medal, 1985;
won the Claret Jug on their Open
Masters, 1994 & 1999).
Championship debut. Others to
have done so include Tom Watson,
Tony Lema, Ben Hogan and Sam
Snead. This year’s crop of first-timers
includes Haotong Li, above, Adam
Hadwin, Si Woo Kim, Wes Bryan and
Jhonattan Vegas. Will one of them
leave Birkdale with the Claret Jug?

The Scots
At the time of writing, and with
Local Final Qualifying still to come,
there were only three Scots in the
field for this year’s championship:
former winners Sandy Lyle and
Paul Lawrie, as well as Russell
Knox, above. This is desperately
disappointing. We’ve gone from
speculating over which of the
Scots might contend for the title,
to which of them might make the
cut, to which of them might play
altogether. Frankly, it’s becoming
just a little bit embarrassing.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 73
The home favourites
These are heady times for golfers from south of the Border.
Fresh off the back of a stunning 2016, where English golfers
accounted for seven of the top 20 players on the Race To Dubai
and ended the year with 12 of the top 100 players on the Official
World Golf Rankings, things are going rather well this year, too,
with Graeme Storm and Tommy Fleetwood, pictured, having
already won on the European Tour, so hopes of a home win at
the Open will be high. Curiously, it has been 25 years since an
Englishman last lifted the Claret Jug, the 1992 championship at
Muirfield delivering the third of Sir Nick Faldo’s three victories.
You have to go back 48 years to find the last time they won
the title on home soil, courtesy of Tony Jacklin’s win at Royal
Lytham in 1969. Is this the year that those ducks will be broken?

ENGLISH WINNERS ON ENGLISH SOIL

1894
JH Taylor.............Royal St George’s
1897
Harold Hilton ......Royal Liverpool
1899
Harry Vardon ......Royal St George’s
1909
JH Taylor.............Royal Cinque Ports
1911
Harry Vardon ......Royal St George’s
1913
JH Taylor.............Royal Liverpool
1934
Henry Cotton ......Royal St George’s
1936
Alf Padgham .......Royal Liverpool
1938
Reg Whitcombe ..Royal St George’s
1969
Tony Jacklin ........Royal Lytham & St Annes

The absent We can’t not mention him, can we?

With this year looking set to be
day of any major and 11 years
since he was in the final group on

icon
another write-off as he recovers
from yet another back operation,
former world No.1 Tiger Woods will
have sat out four of the last ten Open
Championships. It has been over
two years since we saw his name
on the leaderboard on the final
the last day of the Open
Championship. Still, if the 41-year-
old, 14-time major winner is looking
for any crumb of consolation,
perhaps it’s this: three of the last
seven Open champions have been
42. Watch out, Carnoustie…

74 BUNKERED.CO.UK
Martin Slumbers, St Andrews,
June 2017

76 BUNKERED.CO.UK
THE MAN
AT THE HELM
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers looks ahead to the second Open
Championship under his stewardship
T
WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS KENNY SMITH / GETTY IMAGES
HE WALLS OF MARTIN
SLUMBERS’ impressive
office on the top floor of
the R&A Clubhouse are
adorned with various pieces
of golfing memorabilia. It
is the pictures, however,
that make the most instant
impression.
A huge framed print of Royal Birkdale
hangs on the right hand side as you enter
the room, a constant reminder of where
this year’s Open Championship will be
contested. By the time July is out, it will
have given way to a picture of next year’s
host venue, Carnoustie.
Similarly, a photo of Henrik Stenson
gazing at the Claret Jug in the Royal Troon
locker room in the aftermath of his win
there last year will be replaced by a similar
image of this year’s ‘Champion Golfer of
the Year’.
Directly opposite Slumbers’ desk,
though, is a large black and white print
of Seve Ballesteros’ iconic ‘air punch’
celebration after holing out to win the 1984
Open at St Andrews. Another Seve picture
- a smaller painting of him - hangs on the
opposite wall.
“It’s not difficult to tell who my favourite
golfer was, is it?” laughs Slumbers. Indeed
it is not. Yet that’s the thing about the R&A
chief executive. You get the impression
he’s a golf fan first and an administrator
second. His background bears that out.
Born in Brighton, Slumbers is a qualified T
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 77
 Clockwise from main Martin Slumbers’
impressive office; Sky Sports won a BAFTA for its
coverage of the Open last year; The Honourable
Company of Edinburgh Golfers’ decision to allow
women members allowed Muirfield to return
to the Open rota; 2015 Open champion Zach
Johnson returning the Claret Jug to Slumbers
T chartered account who has spent
most of his professional career
working in the banking sector. Golf
was a sport he played - as a member
of Worplesdon in Surrey, he got
his handicap down as low as two
- but his professional interests lay
elsewhere. That is until September
2014 when the R&A confirmed him
as the successor to its long-standing
chief executive, Peter Dawson.
He officially joined the organisation
in March 2015 and shadowed
Dawson for six months before taking
charge that September. So far, he’s
relishing it.
“It’s not very often that people get
the opportunity in their mid-fifties to
change what they do and, moreover,
“We’re trying to deploy our coverage
as broadly as we can. I think it
worked last year.”
78 BUNKERED.CO.UK
to work in a sport that they are very
fond of,” he smiles. “I’m privileged to
do this. It’s interesting coming in from
the outside. You realise how much
the R&A does for the game. I had a
busy corporate life prior to coming
here but this is pretty full on, too.”
It’s about to get a whole lot busier,
with the 146th Open Championship
looming large on the horizon. As
Slumbers himself says, the event is
the ‘shop window’ for the R&A, the
championship for which it is best
known and most closely scrutinised.
He had his first experience of
steering that particular ship at Royal
Troon last year, which produced one
of the most thrilling final days in the
history of the event.
Playing in the final group,
Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson
separated themselves from the rest
of the field, shooting rounds of 63
and 65 respectively as the former
became the first Swedish male to win
a major championship. Mickelson, the
2013 champion, finished three shots
behind Stenson, and an incredible 11
ahead of third-placed J.B. Holmes.
The thrilling battle was immediately
likened to Tom Watson and Jack
Nicklaus’ much-acclaimed ‘Duel in
the Sun’ at Turnberry in 1977.
How, then, do Slumbers and his
team go about topping that?
“Last year was a wonderful advert
for golf,” he says. “When we look at
the Open, what we’re trying to do
is stage one of the world’s greatest
sporting events and our philosophy is
to try to create a fantastic experience
for all: our patrons, our fans and our
players. Consequently, we try to set
up the course in a way that allows the
best players in the world to show us
how good they are. We feel strongly
 PAST
OPENS AT
BIRKDALE
1954
Peter Thomson
-9, £750 winnings

1961
Arnold Palmer
-4, £1,400

1965
Peter Thomson
-7, £1,750

1971
Lee Trevino
-14, £5,500

1976
Johnny Miller
-9, £7,500

1983
Tom Watson
-9, £40,000

1991
Ian Baker-Finch
-8, £90,000

about that. We want to let people see
how good they are.”
We want to let people see how
good they are. Naturally, there will
be some reading that sentiment who
will question its sincerity given the
R&A’s decision to hand the live rights
for the championship to subscription
broadcaster Sky Sports, ending 60
uninterrupted years of live coverage
on the free-to-air BBC. Slumbers,
though, believes that the quality and
variety of coverage provided last year
completely vindicated that move.
“We have a pretty broad package
with Sky during the day and a
highlights package with the BBC in
the evening,” he says. “People can
also make use of NOW TV, which
enables them to buy access to Sky
for the week of the championship,
whilst our digital channels also
provide fantastic content. We’re trying
to cover the whole spectrum of how
people consume television and how
they watch sport.
“From my point of view, I’m also
1998
trying to get more young people
to watch and I don’t think they
necessarily want to sit down to watch Mark O’Meara
eight or nine hours of uninterrupted E*, £300,000
coverage any more, so we’re trying
to deploy our coverage as broadly
as we can. I think it worked last year. 2008
Over ten million people across Great Padraig Harrington
Britain and Ireland consumed the +3, £750,000
championship in one form or another.
“As for Sky, we were delighted with
what they delivered. It was a change * Defeated Brian Watts in
at fairly short notice and they told the a play-off.
story we wanted to present - that of
the classic links challenge between
the player and his caddie with the
course - brilliantly. There’s no greater
accolade I can give them that would
top the BAFTA that they won for that
particular production. I don’t think a
BAFTA has ever been won in golf
before so we’re very proud of that.”
Getting people to watch on TV is
just one box that Slumbers and his
team have to check off. Encouraging
Ian Baker-Finch
people to attend in person is another.
So far so good, in that respect. This T

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 79
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Midweek
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KINGS-ACREGOLF.COM Situated 6 miles from Edinburgh City Centre and 10 mins from Edinburgh City Airport.
 Slumbers, left, with predecessor
Peter Dawson, right, and the R&A’s
David Rickman during the 2015 Open
T year’s championship is the fastest-
selling in Open history, whilst large
parts of the extensive hospitality
offering is sold out.
The accommodation village that
proved popular on its debut last
year returns, and twice the size,
whilst many of the other innovations
introduced at Royal Troon - Protracer
on the video screen on the range,
for example - will also be back. This
is part of Slumbers’ plan to attempt
to engage with a demographic - 18
to 25-year-olds - he has identified as
‘the future of the game’.
“The people who are going to be
playing golf 30, 40 or 50 years from
now are young today,” he explains.
“The Open is the biggest golf event
staged outside the USA, so we have
a fantastic opportunity to engage
with them and, if we can encourage
them to play too, that’s good news for
everybody.”
The decision by the Honourable
Company of Edinburgh Golfers to
allow women to become members
of the club - that was good news for
everybody, too, not least the R&A.
After a first attempt to change the
club’s constitution failed in May 2016,
its Muirfield course was immediately
dropped from the Open rota. It was
reinstated just as quickly when the
second vote was pushed through
earlier this year.
“Throughout that whole process,
we had an extremely open and
good dialogue with the club,” says
Slumbers. “We, at the R&A, were
very clear and consistent that its
membership policy was none of our
business and that it was a matter for
the club and its members.
“It does, however, become our
business when it comes to where
we stage the Open Championship.
I had very open conversations with
the club’s senior officials about that.
It was a good relationship then
and it’s a good relationship today.
Muirfield is an outstanding golf
course and I’m very pleased it is back
on the rota.”
Likewise, Slumbers remains
consistent in his view on Turnberry,
stating that it ‘absolutely’ remains an
Open host venue. “We’ve announced
out to Royal St George’s in 2020 and,
at the end of this year or beginning
of next year, we will announce
where 2021 will be played,” he adds.
“Turnberry was not part of those
discussions but it is one of our ten
courses. The work that has been
done to redesign the golf course
has created an outstanding course
and, when we get round to thinking
about 2022, we will start with all ten
courses under consideration. For
now, though, our focus is very much
on Royal Birkdale.”
Indeed and lest anyone forget, the
pictures on Slumbers’ office wall will
soon remind them.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 81
How to tame
BIRKDALE
Nick Dougherty knows this year’s Open venue better than
most. Here’s his guide to the challenge that awaits…

WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

G
ROWING UP, NICK
DOUGHERTY would
spend every Saturday
practising on ‘Misery Hill’,
high up on the Royal
Birkdale driving range.
He’d be at one end,
grafting away under the
watchful eye of the club’s
former head pro Richard
Barbeer, with his dad,
Roger, at the opposite end,
picking up the balls.
“We’d spend hours
there, whatever the
weather, working away,”
reminisces Dougherty.
“That’s effectively where I
learned the game.”
Little wonder he’s so
fond of this year’s Open
venue, acknowledging
it as ‘a big part of my life
growing up’.
This year, he’ll be
there in a media capacity,
working as part of Sky
Sports Golf’s BAFTA-
award winning team. The
last time the Open was in
town, however, he was in
the field. It remains one of
his fondest memories from
a career that yielded three
European Tour wins.
“It was an amazing
experience,” he recalls. “I
was playing relatively well
but it was only a couple
of months after my mum
passed away, so it was
an emotional time. I know
she would have loved to
have been there, what
with it being my ‘home’
Open. The support I had
was amazing but the
conditions were awful, with
gusty winds and freezing
temperatures, so it wasn’t
easy to score. I think I
finished 22-over and that

82 BUNKERED.CO.UK

included chipping in on
the last in the final round
to break 80! So, it wasn’t
the easiest week I ever
had on a golf course but it
definitely was one of the
most special.”
For Dougherty, the key
to shooting a low score
at Birkdale - weather
permitting - is, first and
foremost, to drive it well.
“If you’re missing fairways,
it doesn’t matter how
well you scramble, you’re
going to drop shots. Pretty
much every bunker is a
penalty shot, too. It’s a
tough course that rewards
accuracy. Hit fairways, hit
greens and you’ll be just
fine.”
Here, in Nick’s own
words, is a hole-by-hole
guide to the soon-to-be
ten-time Open host venue.
1 Par 4 Yards 448
2008 Avg 4.515
z It’s all about the tee shot. I suspect a lot
of the guys will go for a driving iron and play
for position because it’s a ‘must find’ fairway.
There’s an opportunity for a big number if you
leak it right because there’s lots of trouble
down there. It’s not for nothing that it has
been the second hardest hole on the course
in each of the last two Opens played there.
2
Par 4 Yards 422
2008 Avg 4.368
z A good opportunity for birdie. In the right
conditions, you won’t have a particularly
long club into the green for your second
shot, assuming you safely find the fairway.
Hit it into one of the banks on the side of the
fairway and you’ll struggle to make par but
two good shots will give you a golden chance
of picking up a shot early in your round.
3 Par 4 Yards 451
2008 Avg 4.147
z If it is playing downwind, some of the
bigger-hitting guys will fancy their chances
of getting pretty close to this green. Stay
away from the bunkers and this, again, is a
pretty good birdie opportunity. In an ideal
world, you’d expect to be one or two under-
par through these first three holes.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 83
 6 Par 4 Yards 499
2008 Avg 4.765

z If it was a par-5, as it is for at a double. Bale away from it

members, this would be a ‘gimme’
par but, instead, it’s the most
hideous of par-4s. It is so, so
challenging. Find the bunker on
the right off the tee - and it is very
much in play - and you’ll be staring
too much, and you’ll be battling
to reach the green, particularly if
the wind is against you. It’s not
an especially big target either.
Remember: it’s a par-5 green
every other week of the year.

4 Par 3 Yards 199

2008 Avg 3.250

z The first of the par-3s on the golf course

is a seriously strong hole. The green isn’t
particularly wide and, because you’re hitting
off an elevated tee, you will very often be
required to hit through a crosswind. That’s
never much fun. Plus, at around 200 yards,
it’s not a short hole. You could be hitting as
much as a 4-iron in there, like I did most days
in 2008. Find the middle of the green and you
should be able to two-putt for your three.

5 Par 4 Yards 346

2008 Avg 4.147

z Find the fairway and you’ll give yourself a good

birdie opportunity. There’s a pond on the right
that will gather up any stray shots from those
who try to cut off too much of the corner. I’m
not a huge fan of that pond. I don’t really think
it’s in keeping with the rest of the course. It’s a
classic ‘risk and reward’ hole. You can either play
for position off the tee and leave yourself with a
longer second shot into the green or take on a big
chunk of the corner.

84 BUNKERED.CO.UK
7 Par 3 Yards 177
2008 Avg 3.237

z Another small target, which, with the wind,

can become smaller still. You need to hit the
green, it’s as simple as that, as there are seven
bunkers lurking all around the green which are
extremely penal. You can get some ugly lies
in those bunkers, too, where the ball doesn’t
necessarily get all the way down into the middle
of them. It’s all about finding the dancefloor.

8 Par 4 Yards 458

2008 Avg 4.134

z In this part of the course, if you get off the

beaten track, you’re probably going to end
up in some pretty nasty grass, so finding the
fairway from the elevated tee is absolutely key.
You want to be spot-on with your approach,
too, as the green slopes from back to front, so
you need to have excellent distance control.
And, obviously, stay out of the bunkers.

9 Par 4 Yards 416

2008 Avg 4.179

z A blind tee shot to a narrow fairway makes this

hole really tough. Picking your line is hard enough
but then there are lots of little crevices, nooks
and dells that your ball can bounce off or trickle
into, so finding the fairway is easier said than
done. The green is elevated, too, so you can’t run
it up. You need to fly it in, which means you can’t
afford to be hitting your second from the rough.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 85
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10 Par 4 Yards 402
2008 Avg 4.419
z Another tough dogleg where it’s all about getting your angles
right off the tee. If you’re brave and take the corner on, as some
guys will, then you’ll hopefully leave yourself just a short iron
in, so from that point of view it’s a good birdie opportunity. If
you tug it just a little, though, you’re going to be in all sorts
of trouble. The green is almost enveloped by a dune, too, so
you really don’t want to be off-line with your approach.
12 Par 3 Yards 183
2008 Avg 3.272
z My favourite hole on the course, as it is for so many people. It’s
probably in my top five par-3s in the world. It’s just so picturesque
and, as a challenge, it’s fantastic. Both the tee and the green are
pretty well sheltered by their dune framing, so that can trick you
into thinking that it’s pretty calm but, once your ball gets up in the
air, the wind can move it about a lot, so you want to make sure that
you’re on the money with judging the wind strength and direction.
14 Par 3 Yards 200
2008 Avg 3.249
z The last of the par-3s and a really tricky hole. Wind is a
big factor because you’re hitting from an elevated tee on a
particularly open part of the course, with the driving range just
beside it. It plays slightly downhill to a plateau green with false
edges that fall off into bunkers, which makes it a smaller green
than it looks, so managing your ball flight and spin control is
absolutely crucial.
11 Par 4 Yards 436
2008 Avg 4.437
z Playing back into the prevailing wind, I would expect to
see most guys hitting driver here. The key is avoiding the
bunkers on both sides of what is a pretty narrow fairway.
There are four that are very much in play and so staying out
of them is absolutely crucial. The green sits kind of side-on
to you as you play it and you’re probably going to be hitting
a long-ish club in there, so accuracy is your friend here.
13 Par 4 Yards 499
2008 Avg 4.323
z A tough hole which previously played as a par-5 but is
now a long par-4. The first objective is to avoid the fairway
bunkers on the right-hand side, and the left if you’re
one of the bigger hitters. There are also three traps on
the left and right of what is a pretty big green. You don’t
want to overcook your approach, though, as there is thick
rough at the back. A four is always a good result.
15 Par 5 Yards 542
2008 Avg 5.089
z After the last of the par-3s comes the first of the par-5s and
it’s a fantastic birdie opportunity - but only if you find what is a
narrow fairway. There were 92 birdies and one eagle here in
2008… but also 85 bogeys, 20 doubles and three ‘others’, so it’s
no pushover. Hit a good drive, you’ll pick up a shot eight or nine
times out of ten. Hit a bad one, and you’ll struggle not to drop
one.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 87
 Burntisland Golf
House Club
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AT THE FOOT OF
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16 Par 4 Yards 438
2008 Avg 4.395 17 Par 5 Yards 567
2008 Avg 4.747

z This is the hole where Arnie hit that famous shot to set
up the first of his Open wins in 1961 although, if you find
yourself in the spot where his plaque now lies, you’ve gone
wrong off the tee! You really don’t want to be there. Once
again, you’re taking aim at a narrow fairway. Assuming you
find it you’ll set up an approach into an elevated green -
again! - that is surrounded by some pretty deep bunkers.
z Another extremely tough tee shot. Hit it into the dunes on
either side of the fairway, you’re in trouble. If you’re hitting into
the wind, both of those banks are bang in play. Get it in the
fairway and you’ll have a golden chance of a birdie - or even
an eagle, as Padraig Harrington did in the final round in 2008.
The green has changed since then, with its slopes having been
softened, so I think the guys will fancy their chances there.

18 Par 4 Yards 473

2008 Avg 4.234

z Out of bounds, fairway bunkers, a blind tee shot, a twisting-turning

fairway - the last hole at Royal Birkdale has got the lot. I think you’ll
see a lot of guys taking their medicine and just laying up well back.
That leaves you with a longer approach into the green but that’s okay
as everything runs down towards it. It’s kind of set up for that classic,
old-fashioned Open finale where the ball lands at the front of the green,
rolls up towards the pin and everybody applauds. The smart play is
an iron off the tee into the left corner of the fairway and well away
from the bunkers - but, if the Claret Jug is on the line and you need to
make a birdie, it’s all about staying out the bunkers and holding your
nerve when it matters the most. It’s a seriously strong closing hole.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 89
FAIRWAY
TO HEAVEN
The story behind the peculiarly-named club that
helped Padraig Harrington win the 2008 Open

WORDS DAVID CUNNINGHAME PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

W
HEN LOOKING BACK at the
2008 Open Championship at
Royal Birkdale, one moment
stands out more than any other.
During the final round, Padraig
Harrington stood on the par-5 17th
fairway with a two-shot lead and 272
yards to the pin for his second shot.
With a cold wind blowing hard off
the left, he surprised many by pulling
his Wilson Staff FYbrid 5-wood out of
the bag.
Almost everyone expected him to
lay-up, including the commentators.
Ken Brown said: “Perhaps he doesn’t
know where he is, he’s two ahead,
there’s a bit of a risk in this.” Peter
Alliss quickly concurred. “I would
have thought so yes, he’s going to
be aiming into the grandstand on the
left, virtually.”
Both Brown and Alliss, along with
the viewing public, were amazed by
the unlikely result. The defending
champion managed to pull off one
of the greatest shots in recent Open
history, his ball finishing up within
three feet of the hole. His subsequent
eagle ensured he would retain the
Claret Jug.
OUT OF THE BLUE
Although he came in as defending
champion, Harrington did not really
feature in the headlines until the
final round. The Irishman was not
even a certainty to be playing after
suffering a wrist injury at the Irish PGA
Championship the week before.
The big news story of the week
was Greg Norman. The 53-year-old
Australian had turned the clock back,
battling through the wet and windy
conditions to hold a two-shot lead
entering into the final round.
Norman, though, struggled on the
final day, eventually finishing six shots
back. By the end of it, the only story
was Harrington’s stunning four-under
back nine, his incredible shot on 17,
and the club he used.

90 BUNKERED.CO.UK

PLAYING AGGRESSIVELY
Throughout that testing final round,
Harrington wanted to remain on the
front foot and stay aggressive. He
was in the zone. When asked post-
round about what was going through
his mind on the 17th fairway, he
explained how taking on the second
shot was the only option if he wanted
to win the Open.
“My caddie said to me, ‘Do you
want to think of laying it up?’ So
I asked him the situation,” said
Harrington. “I knew I could make
birdie if I hit 5-wood. I worried if I
laid up and made par, I was giving
Greg a great chance to get within
Harrington celebrates
holing his tap-in eagle
putt on 17
one shot of me, and one shot is not
comfortable in any shape or form
going down 18.”
The low chasing draw was blown to
the right by the strong wind, catching
the downslope of the front bunker,
scurrying up to less than three feet
from the flag.
“It’s one of the few times I think I’ve
ever heard my caddie say ‘good shot’
to me before the ball is finished,”
added Harrington.
THE FYBRID
Doug Wright, the global commercial
director at Wilson Golf, Harrington’s
club manufacturer, reveals a bit of
MAKING
HISTORY...
AGAIN!
With the Open
Championship returning
to Royal Birkdale this
year, Harrington recently
returned to the scene of
that famous shot on 17
almost a decade later.
The tap-in eagle was the
highlight of his flawless
Sunday back nine charge.
Speaking to Golfing
World on his return,
Harrington was taken
aback, saying: “You know,
272 yards doesn’t seem
extraordinary but, back
in 2008, which isn’t all
that long ago, it was miles
to be hitting a 5-wood.
It was unheard of to hit
5-wood 272 at the time.”
The three-time major
winner demonstrated how
far modern technology has
moved club development
forward when he hit
the brand’s latest D300
5-wood club to replicate
the famous shot. Of
course, he managed
to find the green.
Harrington is currently
in his 20th season of
using Wilson Staff clubs
on the global stage and
signed a new multi-
year contract with the
company last December.
“There’s no doubt
in my mind that Wilson
Staff clubs have given
me a genuine edge over
my rivals at previous
Opens,” he added.
T
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 91
 Kelso Golf Club

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 Harrington was five
shots back after battling
through the wet and
windy conditions on day
one at Birkdale in 2008
T background on the unique club he
used. “At that time, Wilson’s R&D
department was looking for new
innovations that would help us
get ahead of our competitors,” he
tells bunkered. “In 2008, a lot of
companies were looking to meet the
new demand for hybrid clubs, and we
were no different.
“The concept behind the FYbrid
was to give golfers options on what
they could replace their long irons
with and provide seamless distance
gapping throughout their bag.”
The 5-wood was designed to
replace three clubs: 2-iron, 2-hybrid
and 7-wood.
Harrington has always been keen
to try out new products and is known
as a bit of a tinkerer. He first got his
hands on the FYbrid a few months
before the Open and fell in love with
it. It was his favourite club in the bag,
his go-to club in pressure situations.
As is often the case with
tour players, however, their set
composition can change at a whim.
The Irishman had decided to put
the 5-wood in his bag that week
during his early practice rounds
because of the specialised head
shape and loft, length combination
that offered him the greatest shot
flexibility in the gusty conditions.
Once in the bag, it proved to be a
great asset.
Wilson Staff was quick to capitalise
on Harrington’s heroics, tailoring its
marketing around the famous shot.
It was the perfect product story
that consumers could grasp and
appreciate, and it had a dramatic
effect on Wilson’s sales figures in
2008, with them recording record
sales for a fairway wood at the time.
“We saw sales rise by about 20
to 30% compared to the previous
year, which was a great year for us
following Padraig’s win at Carnoustie,”
adds Wright.
“For a company whose pedigree
is irons and balls it was great to have
a new lease of life in the woods and
hybrids market. In my time at Wilson,
I have never seen sales receive such
a massive boost as the result of just
one golf shot.”
The FYbrid now resides in
Harrington’s home alongside his
other memorabilia and trophies. For
those who fancy getting their hands
on one, they sell for around £30 on
eBay if you look hard enough.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 93
PHOTOS KENNY SMITH

BUILD A BETTER
FOCUS ON SOME BASICS TO BUILD YOURSELF A MORE
BY MURRAY URQUHART

How do you go about

improving your golf
swing? It starts with
some absolute basic
fundamentals - and then
you take it from there.
Once you get these
right, you can add some
very simple moves into
your swing, which help
make it more consistent
and repeatable. Here, I
break down the basics
and show you some easy
tweaks to help you build
a better golf swing.

94 BUNKERED.CO.UK
SWING
CONSISTENT SWING
ADDRESS

SET-UP BASICS
ooo

The best pros in the world are

always aware of and always
GET BEHIND IT working on their set-up. They
I set up with the left side check their grip, ball position
of my chest opposite of and posture. And they will do
the ball - but it’s important that every single day they are
you get your spine behind practising or playing. It’s part
the ball. That’s an absolute of the way they think. Before
must at address as it helps they start thinking about
you with your takeaway. making any swing changes
or tweaks, they are always
focusing on getting their
set-up correct. Once they’re
happy with their grip, their
ball position is important to be
able to make the right moves
in their swing, without having
to manipulate their swing.
For me, I think it’s best if you
can create a constant ball
position, and I like to do that
by having the ball always on
the left side of my chest. What
that means is that it gets my
spine behind the ball, and
the only thing I need to then
change is the width of my
stance. If the ball is continually
opposite the left side of my
chest, with an 8-iron, it’s going
to look like it’s in the middle
of my stance, and with a
driver it’s going to look like it’s
forward - but there’s always
a constant in that your spine
is behind the ball. That helps
you get the right takeaway.

Always get a
consistent ball
position, which
should be opposite
your left chest. Once
you get that, all
you need to do with
certain clubs is widen
or close your stance.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 95
 ooo

TAKEAWAY You want to lift the

club up square and
hinge earlier than
you would normally.

YOUR FIRST MOVE

I see a lot of players who turn away
from the ball too quickly. The fault is
that their first move is their right hip
turning far too quickly and the club
coming way inside, or they pick the
club up on the outside a little too
much. A good way to get the club
working square and up the way on
the right path is to simply put a golf
ball under your right heel. This stops
your right hip turning too quickly and
forces the club to hinge up in the
air at the right time. Halfway back,
when your hands are chest height,
the club is working up in the air in
front of you, rather than behind you.

Putting a ball under

your right heel will
feel odd - but it
forces you to take
the club back on the
right path, which is
important if you want
to build a swing.

96 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 KEEP YOUR RIGHT
hinge the club back halfway. Doing this makes
you understand that when you are swinging the

ELBOW TUCKED IN
This is another great drill which will help you
understand the feelings of the correct swing,
which is essentially how you will build your swing.
Put your left hand on your right bicep at address
and keep your right elbow into your side and
club back, your right elbow must work into your
side. Now you’ll understand why people say
you use your elbows as a ‘lever’ in the swing.
Moving through the ball, with your right hand
on your left bicep, do the exact same thing with
your left arm. Again, you want to just let your
arm fold, and not extend. It hinges going through
the ball. It gives you the feeling of swinging
the clubhead efficiently through impact. You’re
just using your levers. This makes you more
compact and more connected through the ball.

Your elbows should

bend during the
swing and act as
levers. This drill
helps you understand
the feelings of the
correct swing.

ooo

WIDTH

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 97
 ooo

CLUB PATH
This drill makes you
realise where your
r
right elbow should
b in relation to your
be
s
shoulders - it’s a
s
superb feeling for the
o
one-piece takeaway.

GET A ONE-PIECE
TAKEAWAY
Another good drill - which
helps build your swing via
feelings - is to take your
set-up position and hold the
club three-quarters of the
way down the shaft in your
right hand and just move it
back, then put your left hand
in position. That will give you
the sensation of where the
club should travel. You put the
grip end under your armpit
then move your right arm
back. The feeling you have is
the correct path of the club.
It gets your arms in the right
position relative to where your
shoulders are. This drill makes
you understand how your right
elbow works in relation to your
shoulder turn and your chest.
It makes you understand why
everything should travel back
in one piece. As your shoulders
move, your clubhead moves
with it and you’re not making
any independent moves with
your body, hands or arms.

MURRAY URQUHART
Teaching professional, The Nairn Golf Club. For lessons,
call 01667 453 208 murrayurquhartgolf.com
98 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ‘LISTEN’ TO GET
GOOD TEMPO
A good drill to feel the
movement of the clubhead
through impact is to hold the
club just below the head on
the shaft (upside down) and
just feel that you swish the
clubhead through impact, past
the ball. Not at the ball; after
the ball. If you make it before
the ball, you’re in the wrong
position. Listen to where you
should be at this point in the
swing. A foot past the ball.

The split hand drill is great for accentuating the feeling of where your hands should be
relative to the ball coming into impact. You can see that the butt of the club (left hand) is
pulled past the ball before the clubhead strikes through. Whereas, in the wrong picture,
your right arm has straightened too early and has worked away from your side. It’s
working independently. You see this a lot in people who slice the ball.
CELEBRATING TEN
YEARS AT THE CARRICK
An inside look at one of Scotland’s favourite golf courses
WORDS DAVID CUNNINGHAME
I
T HAS NOW BEEN ten years
since The Carrick opened its
doors to the golfing public.
Situated on the Western shores
of Loch Lomond, it has quickly
established itself as one of the
country’s most popular golfing
venues.
Named after its celebrated
designer, Doug Carrick, little
was known about the Canadian
architect at the time, but you
simply had to look at some of
his other projects to see what a
brilliant course designer he is. His
philosophy is to approach each
new project with a completely
open mind in order to create
something unique. With the
Carrick, he delivered a course that
offers a challenging and fun test for
all golfers, set amongst the most
stunning of backdrops.
THE EARLY YEARS
The Carrick, like any new golf
course, has had its fair share of
difficulties over the years. One
stumbling block it has managed
to overcome - as a result of being
situated in the West of Scotland - is
the amount of rainfall the course
receives. To give you an idea,
the average rainfall for the Loch
Lomond region is almost three
times higher than London’s.
Paul McCLearn is the head
greenkeeper at The Carrick
and has witnessed the course’s
transformation since the first seed
was planted around 13 years ago
to the celebrated course it is today.
“At the very beginning we
had some issues with getting it
established, especially with the
weather we get. Trying to get the
seed to take without being washed
away proved difficult at times,” says
Paul. “We built a lot of drainage into
the course which really enabled
it to grow and establish fairly
quickly. In the last ten years, I‘ve
really seen the course settle down
nicely and certainly, now, it dries
out a lot quicker and is better able
to handle some of the prolonged
heavy downpours we get.”
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 101
 It wasn’t only the rain though that was causing The
Carrick some difficulties in those early years, as the Head
of Golf at The Carrick, Jonny Sharp, explains. “Over the
past ten years we have experienced some ups and downs
especially during the recession around 2008.
“As much as it was a tough time for all, it was also a
success for golf in general. It was a great time to be able
to talk about a new course set on the Bonnie Banks of
Loch Lomond, and the emergence of our unique points
membership offered golfers an affordable alternative during
a tough time.”
GROWING THE REPUTATION
Over the last ten years The Carrick has continually grown
in popularity. Many golfers who go to tick it off the list will
return because of the great condition of the course and the
excellent experience on offer. This is in large part thanks to
ongoing improvements and work carried out by the greens
staff. “Our greens team are a highly dedicated group of
people who embrace what they do with such a professional
102 BUNKERED.CO.UK
attitude day in day out,” says Sharp. “Over the past two
years the course has risen to a different level which has
been highlighted in recent feedback from members, golf
days, social media and also from the professionals who
played in the recent EuroPro Tour events we have held.
“As we all know, it is the course that people come to
play, so it needs to be in great condition and thankfully
it is.”
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
To mark their tenth anniversary, the Carrick hosted two
successful golf days in early June. A Stableford competition
was held for the members on the first day, with an open
event backed by bunkered on the following day.
“I feel it was important to do both a member and guest
event over the two days as it lets our visitors, who possibly
haven’t played for a while, get the chance to see the
improvements made, from course condition, to service and
overall general offering,” says Sharp.
 z
BRYCE RITCHIE
EDITOR
One of the perks of working
in the golf industry is getting
behind the scenes and seeing
how things take shape. And
when it comes to golf courses,
the opportunities to see how a
course is laid out are actually
pretty rare. It doesn’t happen
very often. Invites to openings are
common, but seeing the design
process take shape, not so much.
It was 11 years ago when I was
invited to tour the site of a new
layout being constructed on
the edge of Loch Lomond by
the De Vere group, the former
owners of Cameron House, still
one of Scotland’s most luxurious
hotels. The designer was Doug
Carrick, a Canadian architect who
I admit I’d never heard of. His
design was going to be set just
a short drive from Loch Lomond
Golf Club. Talk about tough
competition from your neighbour.
I found Carrick to be an interesting
guy, and we enjoyed a fair bit
of conversation in the back
of a swanky 4x4 as we were
chauffeured around the final
routing of his design. At this point,
much of the ‘course’ was simply
earth, though revetted bunkers
were in place on some holes.
Carrick was hugely excited at the
project and talked proudly of his
first involvement in Scottish golf.
He wanted to create something
that was a proper test of golf,
but nothing too strenuous or
The Carrick have a host of events and fantastic deals on offer to celebrate over-bearing. Even though he
their tenth anniversary. To find out more, log-on to cameronhouse.co.uk was clearly quite a shy figure,
he was excited. Considering he
was getting to design a course
on the shores of Loch Lomond,
THE FUTURE he had every right to be upbeat.
The Carrick has quickly gone from a club with virtually no reputation from the He never discussed the pressure of
outset to one that now sits comfortably amongst the country’s elite. Popular constructing of a course next door
amongst societies and for corporate clients, the club also boasts a healthy to the then Scottish Open venue
traditional and county membership, which is the envy of many clubs. - he only ever accentuated the
Paul McClearn is excited about the coming years and the way in which they positives. And why wouldn’t he?
plan on further improving the golf course. “Moving forward, we want to keep In the ten years since, he has
going the way we are going. We are always investing in drainage and our kept a low profile in Scotland,
most recent investment in new machinery will help further improve the greens, and let his work do the talking.
fairways and the overall condition of the course,” he explains. He has continued to design golf
Even though the course opened a decade ago, Doug Carrick still has an courses around the world, some
active role. He visited the course in March of this year to discuss with the team in truly spectacular locations. His
some of the changes they have made and how they can further improve what design at The Carrick remains
is on offer for visitors. By filling in some of the bunkers and making the collars one of my favourite venues in the
and approaches around the greens a little larger, they hope to make the country. It’s fun, which is what
course play a little easier for the higher handicapped golfer. a golf course should be, and it
When asked what the next ten years has in store, Sharp is quick to reply. is accessible and affordable.
“More of the same, I hope. Our aim is to provide the best golf experience the For me, that’s a job well done.
country has to offer, yet be affordable and accessible to all.”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 103
 SHOT ON LOCATION AT LAS COLINAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB / LASCOLINASGOLF.ES

GOOD BALANCE

CREATING LAG

DRAG THE CLUBHEAD WITH

STEVE JOHNSTON
Head Professional, Peebles
YOUR HANDS AHEAD OF THE BALL BY STEVE JOHNSTON
Golf Club, 01721 720197
@sjohnstonpga

PHOTO KENNY SMITH

 The feeling I’m trying to achieve here is
of the club dragging behind me, which
is caused by creating lag in my swing.
Notice how my hands are ahead of the
clubhead at impact. Try to feel how
things work in your swing and not stick
to static movements. Remember that
the golf swing is a series of moves.

Y
OU NEED TO compress the ball to be a good ball striker. And to compress
the ball, you need to create lag in your swing. When you come into the ball,
the club comes downwards and forwards towards the target and outwards
towards the golf ball. If you top it or thin it, your club is on the way up too soon.
What you’re missing is lag.
When you’ve hit the ball, it should feel as though there’s a drag of the club WATCH OUR
behind you at impact. That’s lag. Imagine the ball was nestling on the top of GEAR REVIEWS
water and the club hit the water. Once you’ve hit the ball, the club would drag Get the verdict on the
underneath the water. In play, you would take a divot. This is shown here by latest gear direct from
dragging the water with my hands clearly ahead of the ball at impact. That’s the the bunkered team
lag that I need in order to compress the ball for better ball striking. youtube.com/bunkered

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 105
To support Steven and other deaf
golfers, go to justgiving.com/sdga
106 BUNKERED.CO.UK

‘Taking part in the
Deaflympics is a huge honour’
Deaf golfer Steven Cafferty on the struggles he’s faced
WORDS CHRIS DOYLE PHOTO PSP MEDIA GROUP
G
OLF CAN BE A challenge most
of the time but not many of us
have the same obstacles to
overcome as Steven Cafferty.
The Glasgow golfer, 27, is
profoundly deaf and yet continues to
defy the odds to have a successful
career in a game he says he is in love
with. While climbing the professional
ladder off the course - he works on
the shop floor in the American Golf
retail shop in East Kilbride - he has
also carved out an impressive
career on it.
Cafferty has picked up a number
of victories and is a three-time
winner of the Scottish Deaf Golf
Association Open (SDGA). His form
has been so impressive, in fact, that
is has led to a call-up for Team GB at
the Deaflympics in Turkey later this
year.
Cafferty fell in love with golf at a
young age and knew right away he
wanted to be involved in the sport,
one way or another.
“My dad took me up for junior
lessons at a local club [Craigie Hill]
when I was about seven,” he tells
bunkered. “Since then, I’ve always
wanted a career in golf.”
When he was 16, he worked at
Noah’s Ark Golf Centre in Perth and
was accepted into the PGA as a
trainee assistant professional.
He was set to embark on three
years of training and exams on
coaching, products, custom fitting
and fitness to become a PGA pro.
However, that was all put on hold
when he lost his job at the centre. He
bounced back and went on to work
at Nevada Bob’s in Glasgow for a
short while and then onto American
Golf, where he has worked for over
five years.
He spent three years at the
Clydebank branch, two years at
™
MY
LIFE
IN GOLF
™
on and off the course
Bearsden, and is now in the East
Kilbride store, where he has been
based for the past eight months.
Steven did not let any previous
obstacles faze him as he picked
up the World Deaf Golf Team
Championships at Fairmont St
Andrews with Scotland in 2010,
becoming the first European country
to do so. Since then he has won the
SDGA Open on three occasions:
2010, 2013 and 2016.
He also claimed the club
championship at Milngavie in 2014.
“Having my name up on the board at
the clubhouse and seeing it everyday
made me realise I did the right thing
in not letting my deafness affect my
ability and my life,” he says.
These performances gave him
the chance to represent his country
at the Deaflympics in Turkey. He
explained that, despite everything he
has achieved, nothing compares to
getting a call up for Team GB.
“Team GB inclusion is my biggest
achievement to date, and it’s reward
for all my hard work and success
in events,” said Cafferty. “It’s the
first time golf will be included in the
Deaflympics so it’s a huge honour for
me.
“I’m looking forward to seeing
the difference between it and other
international events like the Worlds
and Euros. I believe the standard
is higher as it’s the elite level for all
athletes in every sport. I’m excited to
test myself in an event that has more
media awareness.”
However, Cafferty is not going
there just to make up the numbers
- he’s going there to win. “I was
chosen as I have a strong chance of
getting onto the podium and winning
a medal. I try to always believe I’m
better than who I play against. I’m
not an over-confident person but if I
believe I’m good enough to win, then
I take that belief onto the course and
do my best.”
It’s not been an easy journey for
Cafferty. His deafness impacted
him at a younger age and started
to influence his ability to enjoy the
game. “Sometimes it was lonely. I
had a bad temper growing up. In golf,
I often wondered why I deserved
a bad round because I was deaf. I
blamed everything on my deafness,
like it was bad luck.
“Due to my temper, I often found
myself isolated from other juniors.
Then I grew up and realised being
deaf doesn’t affect my mentality or
ability to hit a ball. Even these days,
I’m still missing out, but I’m trying
harder to get more involved and
the guys I play with are usually very
patient.
“I am honest enough to say that
there have been moments where I
wanted to just give up but that’s not
my mentality. I kept going and, yes,
there are limits to what I can do but
that makes me appreciate the things
I can do even more.”
Cafferty has achieved many of
his goals, but feels there’s plenty
to be done on the wider scale for
deaf golfers, especially in Scotland.
Currently, he is the fundraising officer
for Scottish Deaf Golf, but they may
have to disband due to the lack of
awareness and available funding.
“I have managed to raise over
£6,000 in the last three to four years
to help with the costs for international
events. They can cost as much as
£2,000 per golfer, which is crazy
money to represent your country.
“I hoped winning the World Team
Championship would have given us
more awareness and support, but it
was the opposite. Still, I won’t give
up on equality.”
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 107
 SUKIRA GOLF
A SOCIAL GAME We have designed the JB1 driver with very simplistic
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as opposed to the usual 3 or 4. So if this method is such
a good idea, why don’t all manufacturers use it? In one
word, cost! It is far more expensive to cast a one-piece
shell, than it is to press
out the various parts from m
plate then weld.
This cast-constructed
method directs more
energy forward to the
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 GET MORE
bunkered.co.uk/gear

PUSHING THE
BOUNDARIES OF INNOVATION
Callaway’s Epic irons and hybrids will revolutionise your game

I
T IS FAIR TO SAY that
the Callaway Great
Big Bertha Epic drivers
have taken the equipment
market by storm in the
last few months. There
has been a palpable buzz
surrounding the clubs
and their revolutionary
Jailbreak Technology
since they were released
in January. The new Epic
irons and hybrids look set
to continue this trend.
Callaway’s head of
R&D, Dr Alan Hocknell,
was approached by the
company’s CEO, Chip
Brewer, a few years ago
with a unique request.
Chip asked: “If you
could design the very best
iron that you would play,
if you wanted maximum
performance without
any limits to the cost or THIS
THIS•ISSUE
ISSUE
engineering process, what
would that be?”
The answer is the
incredible Epic and Epic
Pro irons, and if they are
anything like the Epic
drivers, you’re in for a FootJoy 2017 spikeless range
treat. Turn the page to
find out more about these
page 114
exciting new clubs.

Bettinardi putters
page 116
• All prices provided are RRP. Contact your local golf stockist or PGA pro for more accurate prices & offers.
 1 IRONS & HYBRIDS

CALLAWAY EPIC IRONS AND HYBRIDS

This is what Callaway R&D boffins come up with when given a blank chequebook on design

M
ORE HAS engineers’ own high Incorporating tungsten 1mm thick at its thinnest
GONE INTO expectations. in the Internal Standing point, the ultra-thin rim
THE DESIGN, Wave has allowed around the perimeter of
production and R&D THE EPIC IRONS Callaway’s engineers to the inner side of the face
process for the Epic Callaway’s Exo-Cage precisely position the CG flexes and rebounds at
irons than any previous head construction stiffens in each individual iron. impact to add ball speed
Callaway iron. the body to allow the face This includes a lower on centre-face hits and
The company’s to take on more of the CG for easier launch and minimise ball speed loss
engineering team load of impact. The Exo- long carry in the long on off-centre hits.
was given a blank Cage, acting somewhat irons, higher CG in the
chequebook before like jailbreak in the driver, short irons for a lower, THE EPIC PRO IRONS
embarking on process leads to energy lensing, more controllable flight. Incredible performance
of creating the Epic irons promoting faster ball Callaway have advanced in a player’s shape, the
and hybrids. The result speed for longer distance. their industry-leading Pro is Alan Hocknell’s
is a truly remarkable Both the Epic and Epic Face Cup technology to dream iron. He says,
selection of products Pro irons feature a multi- add even more ball speed the Epic Pro is a “better
that even exceeded the material construction. with the Epic irons. Only player’s iron that features

110 BUNKERED.CO.UK

all the benefits of a game
improvement iron, such
as massive ball speed,
forgiveness and excellent
launch conditions”.
He also remarked
on just how difficult it
was to produce an iron
that offered all of these
benefits but retained the
thin topline shape, feel
and workability of a pro
class iron.
As was the case with
the Epic drivers released
earlier this year, the new
Epic irons are breaking the
conventions of golf club
design.
THE EPIC HYBRIDS
During the design process,
the engineers at Callaway
knew that this latest hybrid
would have to live up to
the Epic name. In order
to achieve this, they went
above and beyond the
normal conventions of
club design to create
a club that delivers an
unparalleled level of
distance, control and
versatility.
The Epic is the first
hybrid from Callaway to
incorporate its proprietary
Triaxial Carbon composite
crown technology. The
incredibly light material
has allowed the engineers
to reposition the saved
weight lower and deeper
in the clubhead to
increase MOI and lower
the CG for easy launch
and longer, straighter
shots.
Although the Epic hybrid
does not feature the
revolutionary Jailbreak
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE
SPECS
Epic & Epic
Pro Irons
STOCK SHAFTS
Project X LZ 95
Steel, UST Recoil ES
760/780 Graphite
(in Epic); Project
X LZ 105 Steel
(in Epic Pro)
PRICE £1,749 (steel
and graphite 7 irons)
Epic Hybrids
LOFT 2H (18°),
3H (20°), 4H
(23°), 5H (26°)
SHAFT UST Recoil
ES 760/780
PRICE £279
@CallawayGolf
callawaygolf.com
technology seen in the
drivers and fairways, it
still boasts incredibly fast
ball speeds off the face.
The Next Generation 455
Forged Hyper Speed Face
Cup is more efficient at
delivering faster ball speed
across the face, especially
on mis-hits, for increased
average distance.
The Epic has appeal
across the board,
regardless of handicap,
thanks to it being easy
to work, forgiving and
incredibly long.
111
 1 GAME-TRACKING TECH
ARCCOS 360
Improve your decision-making on the course
A
RCCOS IS A
company that has
golf at its heart.
A pioneering brand
in the game-tracking
market, its new system
has been developed to
seamlessly analyse each
shot in real time and
provide powerful, data-
driven insights to help
golfers of all skill levels
measurably improve their
performance by going
beyond guesswork.
Arccos 360 is the
company’s second-
generation system
and boasts a wealth of
improvements against
the initial system. They
say you can improve your
handicap 36 times faster
than the average golfer
by using it.
HOW IT WORKS
Fourteen lightweight
sensors are inserted into
112 BUNKERED.CO.UK
the butt of your grips
and paired with your
smartphone. Playing with
your smartphone in your
front pocket, the sensors
will then automatically
track every shot you hit,
allowing you to play your
normal round of golf
uninterrupted.
The second generation
sensors only need to be
paired once and have
a permanent battery,
certified for 24 months,
that requires no charging.
Whilst out on the
course, you will be able to
make use of the live shot-
tracking feature - giving
you an instant record of
the shots you have hit -
and the GPS 2.0 feature,
which gives pinpoint
distances on over 40,000
mapped courses.
Arccos says that playing
a round with its system
is likely to use up 15% of
your smartphone battery is contributing to your
but it can also be used scores.
whilst on airplane mode
to help save battery or to ARCCOS CADDIE
avoid any data roaming This newly-released
charges when you are feature from Arccos
playing abroad. is golf’s first artificially
Once you have intelligent platform and
completed your round, is free to all Arccos 360
you will be able to access users on a trial basis
the unbelievable wealth until July 1. Caddies
of data the system has play a massive role in
gathered, either on the accomplishments of
your smartphone or the professional golfers but,
desktop dashboard. today, less than 3% of
Arccos 360 provides golfers have access to
advanced Tour Analytics, a caddie. Sal Syed,
an enhanced version CEO and Co-Founder of
of the Strokes Gained Arccos, said: “Everyone
statistic used on the PGA else is missing out
Tour. on a crucial source of
Your game is broken information that can help
down into five key inform every shot.”
components - driving, The Caddie platform
approach, chipping, harnesses your advanced
sand game and putting analytics to help you
- allowing you to shoot lower scores by
understand exactly how making smarter,
each part of your game data-driven decisions.
RRP £249
@ArccosGolf
arccosgolf.com
 REVIEWED
ARCCOS
ARCCOS 360
David Cunninghame
@D_Cunninghame

I T IS ALWAYS EXCITING when I get my hands on a piece of

tech that looks set to revolutionise the way we play the game.
I was lucky enough to test out the new system whilst playing the
stunning Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry.
One of the main advantages of Arccos 360 is the fact that you
can play your normal round without having to constantly peer
at your smartphone. I was able to enjoy the stunning day at the
Ayrshire resort knowing that, in the background, all of my stats
- and, unfortunately, all of my wayward tee shots - were being
gathered and analysed.
The detailed statistical breakdown of every aspect of
my game that the system’s Tour Analytics feature gave was

“The statistical breakdown of

every aspect of my game that the
system’s’ Tour Analytics feature
gave was fascinating.”
fascinating. As I already knew, when my driving is on, I tend
to shoot low scores. When it’s not, I can post a big number.
Unfortunately for me that day, it was the latter. Arccos provides
the kind of tour stats that the best players in the world make use
of to better their game. It’s great to have these at my disposal.
I couldn’t wait to go out and play again to build up my data
and get a better idea of what I should be working on with my
game. That’s perhaps one of the greatest things about Arccos
and game-tracking technology - it really makes you want to get
out there and play more golf.
Speaking to the guys from Arccos, you can immediately
feel the level of excitement they have for the 360 system and
vast opportunities that lie ahead for them in the coming years.
Without a doubt, we can expect even more interesting and
innovative products from this company in the future.
RRP £249
arccosgolf.com

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 113
1 SHOES

FOOTJOY’S 2017 SPIKELESS RANGE

A diverse selection of premium
remium performance spikeless shoes

F
OOTJOY IS AT THE takes golfers from the
FOREFRONT of home to the course and
premium performance on to their next stop.
spikeless shoe design. Whether it’s a casual
The No.1 shoe brand in or traditional look, our
golf has introduced a advanced spikeless range
varied spikeless range for for 2017 will offer
2017 that delivers comfort something for all
and style for both on and preferences.”
off the golf course.
FootJoy has developed
this new range in response
to consumer demand for
high performance non-
cleated golf shoes.
Late last year, they
released the Pro/SL, an
innovative shoe that has
completely changed
performance expectations
for a spikeless shoe.
Several tour players
have embraced the
successful model across
the globe, including the
likes of Adam Scott and
Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.
Spikeless shoes are
an innovation that have
become a permanent
fixture both on the tour
and at grassroots level.
It’s a trend, not a fad.
Russell Lawes, FJ
marketing manager, said:
“There is a continued
demand for a shoe that

SUPERLITES XP AWD XL CASUAL

` An incredibly lightweight, flexible and breathable shoe,
the SuperLites XP is also completely waterproof. The midsole is
made from a Fine-Tuned Foam (FTF) that offers exceptional comfort
and is combined with the same durable TPU spikeless outsole as the
FootJoy Pro/SL to provide excellent flexibility and outstanding grip.
` Crafted from an easy care, waterproof, synthetic upper, the
AWD XL Casual provides turf-gripping performance and durability
for all underfoot conditions thanks to its DuraMax outsole that is
crafted from a proprietary rubber compound. A contour last offers
a fit to closely match the shape of the foot, whilst a lightweight
cushioned fit-bed provides outstanding underfoot comfort.

114 BUNKERED.CO.UK

CONTOUR CASUAL
` FootJoy’s Contour Series, one of the best-selling shoe
franchises of all time, was created with a focus firmly on comfort.
This much-loved addition to the franchise offers the same
world-renowned fit and comfort as its cleated counterparts
but with the added versatility of a spikeless outsole. Its
full grain leather upper is soft to the touch, comfortable
and waterproof, while an external heel cup provides
additional support when swinging and walking.
VERSALUXE
` This premium shoe line has been designed by FootJoy to create
the perfect blend of off-course style with on-course performance.
Created from the finest luxurious calfskin leather, the Versaluxe
range is available in Luggage Caramelo, Luggage Black, Chalky
Off White, and Luggage Navy colourways to reflect the current
trend of off-course styling, allowing the shoes to be worn with
any outfit, on any occasion. The superior comfort and fit of this
range comes courtesy of the cork covered, ultra-comfortable
fit-bed, premium leather linings and a no-slip suede inner-heel.
REVIEWED
POWAKADDY
Compact C2
David Cunninghame
@D_Cunninghame
PROBABLY BEST TO GET THIS OFF MY CHEST straight
away. Before testing the new PowaKaddy Compact C2, I had
never used a trolley whilst playing golf. I’m not against it. I’ve
always just enjoyed carrying my bag and walking the course.
For this reason, I was excited to see what the Compact C2
had to offer and how I would feel after playing 18 holes at the
London Golf Club, not a short course by anyone’s standards.
This new model introduces an innovative ‘simple-2-fold’
system that allows it to be set up and packed away in two
simple folds. The Compact C2 will also fit into the smallest of
car boots thanks to the new system and is one of the lightest
trolleys available in its category, coming in at only 9.8kg.
“I had a lot of fun playing
around with the many features
that PowaKaddy fans have come
to love over the years.”
The new system is supposed to reduce any
hassle in using a trolley by assembling in only a few
seconds. I certainly found this to be the case.
On the course, I had a lot of fun playing with the
many features that PowaKaddy fans have come to love
over the years: the nine speed settings, adjustable
distance control, USB charging slot, and the full
colour widescreen display being a real highlight.
After playing a full round using the Compact C2, I
was amazed. Being somewhat fit and healthy, I honestly
didn’t realise what carrying a bag can take out of you
over 18 holes. I definitely felt fresher coming down the
stretch and know that’ll help me to shoot lower scores.
I can see myself using a trolley a lot more often,
especially one like this with user-friendly features.
RRP £599.99
powakaddy.co.uk
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 115
 1 PUTTERS

BETTINARDI PUTTERS
Four new models from the Chicago-based putter specialists

STUDIO STOCK 8
This distinct and classic blade
is one of three new models for the
2017/18 Studio Stock series. The
SS8 features the popular JAM head
style with a high-toe topline and
squared off edges. F.I.T. (Feel Impact SPECS
Technology) face milling removes
material from the face to produce
Studio Stock 8
a softer feel at impact. Finished in
Available in
Mercury Grey for a confidence- lengths 33”-35”
inspiring look at address and is PRICE £319
available with either standard or
Queen B 8
jumbo deep-etched Lamkin grip Available in
with new cord lining. lengths 33”-35”
PRICE £319
QUEEN B 8 BB40
This advancement of a classic mallet Available in
design was based on the feedback lengths 33”-35”
Bettinardi received from tour players PRICE £279
around the world. Its quarter toe Inovai 3.0
hang will be favoured by those with Available in
a slight arcing stroke while the Micro lengths 33”-35”
Honeycomb milled face delivers a PRICE £279
muted yet crisp feel at impact. (standard)
£299 (Centre shaft)
£289 (Counter-
BB40 balance)
Bettinardi’s BB Series putters
take innovation and performance
to the next level, with the BB40 being
one of the new models introduced
for 2016/17. Its classic mallet shape,
and perimeter weighting for a larger
sweetspot, certainly make this one
for the traditionalists. Alignment is
made easy with the BB40 thanks
to its classic shape and extended
sight line.

INOVAI 3.0
Designed for players seeking a
high MOI mallet-style putter with
a compact head, it features two
alignment aids and Feel Impact
Technology to provide a soft feel
at impact for the most aggressive
putting styles. Its BI-Metal technology
combines black anodised aluminium
and stainless steel in order to
maximise performance and feel. The
aluminium is utilised in the face to
create the brand’s softest feeling
putter yet and the stainless steel back
weight creates the density needed
for perfect head weight. This slight
toe hang MOI mallet has extreme
perimeter weighting that promotes a
stable stroke and larger sweetspot.
@BettinardiGolf
bettinardi.com

116 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 02

02

01
1 GALVIN GREEN MITCHELL POLO
The new VENTIL8 PLUS Mitchell short sleeve shirt boasts a 03
sporty design and offers all the benefits of the special fabric
technology, such as extreme breathability and moisture
management, body mapping technology and 20+ UV
protection. Available in five colourways and sizes S-XXL.
£95 galvingreen.com

2 GOLFBUDDY WTX
Takes functionality to the next level thanks to
some fantastic features, such as a touch screen
and full hole view, usually only ever seen on a
large hand-held distance measuring device.
£199.99 gpsgolfbuddy.com

3 STEWART GOLF T5 TOUR BAG

This stunning premium cart bag from Stewart Golf
features a six-way full-length divider, nine pockets,
03
including two large side pockets, a large ball pocket,
an integrated umbrella holder... and is available in
three colour options! £179 stewartgolf.com 05
4 CARDINAL PAUL POLO 17
This classic cut performance polo, from
the superb 2017 Cardinal collection, has
been crafted to allow air to move freely to
regulate the temperature of the body.
£39.99 cardinalgolf.co.uk

5 VICE PRO SOFT

A ball designed for players with medium to lower swing
speeds, the Pro Soft is an extremely low compression
ball that features a three-piece cast urethane cover

04
for a superior soft feel around the greens. Available
in your choice of three different colours.
£1.79 per ball vicegolf.com

118 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 Vintage GET MORE
bunkered.co.uk/gear

Re-visiting the equipment that shaped golf

MACGREGOR RESPONSE ZT 615

The putter that helped 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus win the 1986 Masters Tournament

N
O MASTERS Clay Long, the head Interestingly, unusual club to say
highlights reel is of MacGregor’s R&D, MacGregor had only the least. It is reported
complete without to create something forecast sales of that he said to Long
the iconic image of similar to Tom roughly 6,000 units when he first saw the
Jack raising his putter Watson’s Ping Pal. The of the Response ZT club, “Is this a joke?”
aloft after draining putter Long created 615. However, after the After playing his first
his crucial birdie putt had an extremely large ‘Golden Bear’s heroics competitive round with
on the 17th green at moment of inertia around Augusta that the putter, he even
Augusta during the (more forgiving and year, they recorded said: “Oh, man, what
final round of the 1986 better performong on sales of over 350,000 have I got this thing in
tournament. mis-hits), leading to units between then my hands for?”
The MacGreogr the ZT (Zero Twisting) and the end of 1987. Thankfully for
Response ZT 615 in its name. The It could’ve been a Jack, MacGregor and
putter’s massive commercials that ran completely different his adoring fans, he
oversized head for the putter used story, though, as was won over by the
design was unique the tagline: “We took Jack, initially, was club and went onto
and came about when out twist to take off not a big fan of the secure his historic
Jack asked designer strokes.” cumbersome and 18th major.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 119
Subscribe
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BAG A
BARGAIN
American Golf has opened its first outlet store in Scotland in
Giffnock, Glasgow, selling entirely pre-owned clubs. We spoke to the
UK’s head of business development Elliot Fleming about the move...
Can you explain a bit more about the
outlet store concept?
Our outlet store is a concept that
we’ve designed in order to give an
alternative, more affordable offering to
golfers through the pre-owned market.
Instead of having a small section
of one our main stores dedicated
to pre-owned clubs, now we’ve
dedicated virtually a whole store to
that which enables us to offer a more
comprehensive range.
What prompted the shift to the pre-
owned market and how did the idea
come to fruition?
We looked at current participation
trends in golf on a UK-wide scale.
There are a range of barriers people
talk about from time to cost and we
felt we could address the latter by
entering the pre-owned market. It just
evolved from there and followed a
strategic decision as a business at the
tail end of last year. An outlet store
was one of our ideas and we started
implementing them at the start of the
year. Our Giffnock store is now the
third outlet store in the UK and first in
Scotland.
What can customers expect when
they come into the store?
The customer experience will be no
124 BUNKERED.CO.UK
different to what it’s like in any of our
other stores. Although this is an outlet
concept, we’ve not diminished our
service offering so customers can still
expect to be aided by experienced
golf professionals. There’s still the
level of care and benefits that come
through shopping with us such as our
membership schemes and the ability
to be custom-fitted for equipment. All
the elements are the same, it’s just the
stock that’s different.
Is it only golf clubs that can be found
in store?
No, we’ll have everything that you’ll be
able to find in a normal store, including
GPS equipment, trolleys, balls, apparel,
footwear and other consumables, but
they’re slightly older products at great
prices. With apparel, lines are available
from as recently as spring 2017. Like all
retailers, we’ve got people who want
the latest equipment and the stuff that
Rory McIlroy is wearing on TV at the
weekend. However, there are guys
who would happily buy Rory’s shirt
from last year which could be available
at half the cost. We appreciate people
come in all shapes and sizes and have
different shopping preferences and we
want to do our best to cater for that.
Has any stigma attached to buying
pre-owned gear now completely
gone?
Yeah, I’d say it has. The cost of golf
equipment varies greatly and pre-
owned clubs can still be new to
somebody. If somebody has a 15-year-
old driver and buys one that’s five-
years-old, that will still feel new to them
and compel them to play. Everything
we do is about participation and
having new clubs makes you excited
to play. Hopefully this store helps
people buy some new kit and gets
them out on the course.
Are there plans for anymore outlet
stores in Scotland?
We’ll evaluate it as a business at a later
date and see if it’s something we want
to expand on in Scotland. One of the
reasons we chose Glasgow is because
no more than four miles away we have
our flagship store at East Kilbride. So
for any of our customers in that area,
they have a clear choice. What I will
say though is that our Giffnock store
has only been open a few weeks and
it’s already proving incredibly popular.
Outlet store address: 6 Fenwick Rd,
Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 6AN
Phone: 0141 611 9565
 WIN!
£500
TO SPEND AT THE
AMERICAN GOLF OUTLET
STORE IN GLASGOW!
T
O MARK THE OPENING of the first American Golf
outlet store in Scotland and the third in the UK at
Giffnock, we’re giving one lucky bunkered reader the
chance to win a £500 spend in store on anything they like.
The winner will spend a morning with bunkered at the
store on a day that will be agreed at a later date, where we
will document the winner’s visit, purchases and feedback.

HOW MANY AMERICAN GOLF OUTLET

STORES ARE THERE CURRENTLY IN THE
UK?
A3
B5
C7

› ENTER at bunkered.co.uk/competitions
Or send your answer, name and contact details to: American
Golf Competition, bunkered, PSP House, 50 High Craighall
Road, Craighall Business Park, Glasgow, G4 9UD

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

All entries must be received no later than July 26, 2017. Only one entry per person
can be accepted. Winner will be the first correct entry drawn after the closing date.
Competition is only open to UK residents. By entering this competition, you agree
to share your data with our supporting partners. The editor’s decision is final. See
our Facebook page for winner’s details: facebook.com/bunkeredmagazine.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 125
 REVIEWED TOUR DRIVERS
David Cunninghame
@D_Cunninghame
N
OTHING GETS a
golf gear enthusiast
like myself quite as
excited as a new driver.
We all love getting our
hands on the latest toys
and seeing how much
further we can crush one
out there.
In this feature, I
will give you a quick
rundown of the tech each
manufacturer has packed
126 BUNKERED.CO.UK
into their premium drivers
to help you hit it further
and straighter as well as
a little insight into who is
using them out on tour.
I will then give
my thoughts on the
performance, looks and
feel of each driver, which
will hopefully help you
come to an informed
decision should you wish
to put a new one in the
CONTENTS
bag this summer. After
all, a new driver is a big 127 CALLAWAY GREAT
expense and so you’re BIG BERTHA EPIC
going to want something SUB ZERO
that inspires you with
confidence on the tee, no 128 TITLEIST 917 D3
matter how narrow the 129 TAYLORMADE M2
fairway looks.
My last piece of advice 130 MIZUNO JPX 900
is to get fitted - the 131 SRIXON Z 565
difference it can make to
132 COBRA KING F7+
how your driver performs
is simply unbelievable.
 TOUR
DRIVERS
REVIEW

CALLAWAY
GREAT BIG BERTHA EPIC SUB ZERO
„ £469 „ callawaygolf.com

THE TECH
Callaway are calling the Epic Sub Zero
the most forgiving pro-style driver
they have ever made. The forgiveness
stems from its multi-material
construction. The titanium Exo-Cage
combines with the ultra-lightweight
Triaxial Carbon Crown to create an
extraordinarily high MOI.
The reason, however, why the Epic
Sub Zero has been making headlines
is due to the Jailbreak technology. Two
ultra-light, strong titanium bars placed
behind the face work together to take
on more of the load created at impact
than ever before. This results in faster
ball speeds across the entire face,
promoting more distance.
The Sub Zero also allows you to dial
in your ideal launch conditions and ball
flight thanks to the OptiFit hosel and
two interchangeable sole weights.
With the heavier 12g
OUT ON TOUR weight in the rear port,
The Sub Zero’s latest big win came the Sub Zero’s MOI is a
at the BMW PGA Championship. massive 42% higher than
Sweden’s Alex Noren put the it in his @CallawayGolf
its predecessor, the Big
bag at the start of the season and Bertha Alpha 816 Double
hasn’t looked back. His victory at Black Diamond.
Wentworth was his fifth in 17 starts. SPECS
COMMENTS
My first impression was that this driver LOFT 9.5˚ and 10.5˚
(Left-hand, 9˚ only)
is anything but traditional. The head SHAFTS Diamana
shape and look at address are very M+ Green, Project
unique. The feel off the face was very X HZRDUS, Fujikura
solid but retained a good level of feel Pro Green, Adila
and feedback. It felt incredibly fast off Rogue M•AX
the face but the very low flight was PRICE £469
not quite to my liking. By switching the
weights around so that the heavier 12g
weight was in the rear, I was getting a
much higher launch and carrying the
ball further. Without a doubt, it’s one of
the longest drivers I have ever used.
It is clear Callaway is delivering on
Jailbreak’s promises.

“Without a doubt, one

of the longest drivers
I have ever used”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 127
 TITLEIST
917 D3
„ £450 „ titleist.co.uk

THE TECH
The 917 D3 offers both distance and
workability in a traditional, tour-inspired
pear profile. The big talking point with
the 917 is the inclusion of Titleist’s new
SureFit CG technology. It allows the CG
to be moved from a back, heel position
to a forward, toe position through
interchangeable weights, optimising
spin and launch conditions for every
player. This coupled with the excellent
SureFit Hosel means this is Titleist’s
most adjustable driver to date.
The D3, along with the D2, are also
the company’s longest-ever drivers.
The Active Recoil Channel 2.0 acts
to reduce spin and increases speed,
while the Radial Speed Face 2.0
promotes greater off-centre ball
speed for more overall distance across
the face.

OUT ON TOUR
@TitleistEurope The sound and acoustics
of the D3 have been Justin Thomas was on-fire in the early
validated by Titleist’s stages of the PGA Tour season. His
SPECS brand ambassadors to three wins came in large part thanks to
his prodigious length and accuracy off
inspire confidence and
enhance feel. the tee, as indicated by his impressive
LOFT 8.5˚, 9.5˚ stats. As this issue went to print, he was
and 10.5˚ sitting first in total driving efficiency and
(Left-hand, 8.5˚, tenth in driving distance.
9.5˚ and 10.5˚)
SHAFTS Adila COMMENTS
Rogue M*AX 65, The smaller 440cc head and compact
Fujikura Speeder shape is exactly what I like to see in
Pro TS 74, a driver. It gives me the confidence to
Mitsubishi Diamana
LTD. Blue 60
go out on any golf course and play a
PRICE £450 variety of shots. The lower launch and
reduced spin it offers, when compared
to the D2, again suits my game
perfectly. Once, I had settled on the
perfect SureFit CG and Hosel settings
I was seeing a penetrating, consistent
and powerful ball flight. If you are a bit
of traditionalist like me, you’ll love the
D3.

“The smaller 440cc

head and compact
shape is exactly what I
like to see in a driver”

128 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 TOUR
DRIVERS
REVIEW

TAYLORMADE
M2
„ £369 „ taylormadegolf.co.uk

THE TECH
The new 2017 M2 has built upon
the success of its predecessor to
deliver an engineering masterpiece
that delivers massive distance and
forgiveness. A new multi-material
construction and advanced shaping
by way of a breakthrough design
technique called ‘Geocoustic’, along
with a newly designed speed pocket,
provides complete performance for all
level of golfers.
The Geocoustic feature combines
geometry and acoustical engineering
to unlock more forgiveness and
incredible sound. The sunken sole
portion of the driver has freed up
volume and allowed engineers to make
the driver’s head larger, both the visible
footprint as well as the club’s face (7%),
ultimately making the driver not only
appear more visibly forgiving, but feel
more forgiving at the same time. The new lower density
9-1-1 Titanium body,
OUT ON TOUR six-layer carbon composite
The new Masters champion has long crown and minimal sound
been regarded as one of the best ribs allowed for 25g of @TaylorMadeTourf
drivers of a golf ball the game has ever discretionary mass to be
seen. Around Augusta we saw Sergio relocated low and back
Garcia put on a driving clinic, where he in the sole of the club, SPECS
ranked second in accuracy and sixth in helping to increase the
distance for the week using his M2. MOI and distance.
LOFT 9.5˚ and
COMMENTS 10.5˚,12˚
TaylorMade says the M2 raises the bar (Left-hand, 9.5
in terms of what you should expect and 10.5˚)
from a driver in terms of both distance SHAFTS Fujikura
and forgiveness - they’re not kidding. Pro XLR8 56
PRICE £369
The M2 is both high launching and
low spinning; a fierce combination
that leads to huge carries. No wonder
McIlroy hits it for miles. Perhaps the
only downside with the M2 is that
it lacks the added dimension of
adjustability that some other drivers do.
Mind you, if I’m piping it straight down
the middle, even on my mis-hits, then
perhaps I am starting to knit pick.

“Even on some of my
wildest mishits, the
club felt great.”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 129
 SRIXON
Z 565
„ £325 „ srixon.co.uk

THE TECH
Srixon says it has created a Ripple
Effect to help deliver maximum
distance and forgiveness through
the combination of three design
innovations.
First, a new Stretch Flex Cup face
has been extended further around the
crown and the sole to create a larger
sweetspot.
The crown of the Z 565 is about
four grams lighter than its predecessor
which has allowed engineers to
strategically reposition the weight
around the clubhead to increase the
MOI and lower the CG for a higher
launching, more forgiving flight.
Lastly, a new Power Wave Sole,
with its advanced multi-step design,
allows the lower face to flex, helping to
increase ball speeds across the face.

The Z 565 has a slightly OUT ON TOUR

larger footprint than Russell Knox decided to put the Z 565
previous Srixon models to in his bag the week of the WGC Dell
increase forgiveness and Technologies Match Play. He said: “The
inspire confidence. Z 565 driver is fast and low spinning.
@SrixonEuropef It’s an incredible driver and going to be
in my bag for a long time.”

SPECS COMMENTS
This is a driver that has taken many
by surprise with its incredible feel,
LOFT 9.5˚ and forgiveness and distance. It was the
10.5˚ (Left-hand, best looking and feeling driver I got my
9˚ AND 10.5˚) hands on. The classic looks and finish
SHAFTS Miyazaki suit my eye perfectly and, off the face,
Kuala Mizu 5 it gave incredible feedback and a soft
PRICE £325
feel. Although it was the looks and feel
that made the Z 565 stand out, the
level of forgiveness it offered was also
incredible. I was seeing a much tighter
dispersion with it compared to my
current driver. The slight draw bias look
at address may not be for everyone
but, if that’s the case, you should try
the better player’s Z 765.

“It was the best looking

and feeling driver I got
my hands on”

130 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 TOUR
DRIVERS
REVIEW

MIZUNO
JPX 900
„ £399 „ golf.mizunoeurope.com

THE TECH
A newly-configured multi-thickness
face has enabled the engineers at
Mizuno to deliver incredible speed
across the entire face.
Mizuno’s tour professionals said they
wanted a driver that looked easier to
hit. The engineers, therefore, designed
a longer, wider and shallower-than-
normal profile than would be typically
expected of a tour driver. The
re-shaping has also contributed to
increasing the MOI, therefore boosting
forgiveness.
The three Fast Tracks on the JPX
900 give you the option to adjust your
launch angle and spin rate, which
Mizuno says can add up to 30 yards
onto your drives. This, along with the
Quick Switch hosel and the new face
angle prop, makes this one of the most
adjustable drivers on the market.
Mizuno’s Quick Switch
OUT ON TOUR hosel allows you to alter
Chris Wood says the JPX 900 is a big the loft with the simple
step in the right direction to helping turn of a key.
his driving. The improved Fast Tracks
have helped him combat his tendency
to hook the ball by slowing the toe
down further when the fade setting is
selected. SPECS
COMMENTS LOFT 9.5˚
The slick matte blue finish really makes (adjustable
the JPX 900 stand out and you can 7.5˚- 11.5˚) Left
see how the engineers at Mizuno have hand available
increased the level of forgiveness SHAFTS Fujikura
when compared with its predecessor, Speeder Evolution II
@MizunoGolf_Newsf PRICE £399
the JPX 850. The wealth of adjustable
features make it a tinkerer’s dream. It
was fairly easy for me to work out the
right setting for me and, regardless
of where I had the sliding weights,
the club felt and sounded forgiving.
Although the relatively shallow face
didn’t suit my eye, I cannot argue with
the truly excellent results.

“The slick matte blue

finish really makes the
JPX 900 stand out”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 131
 TOUR
DRIVERS
REVIEW

COBRA
KING F7+
„ £299 „ cobragolf.co.uk

THE TECH
The F7+ comes equipped with three
CG settings that produce three very
different ball flights. By switching the
weights around, you can choose from
either a lower, penetrating ball flight
with less spin; a higher, towering ball
flight with added spin for more carry; or
a flight with draw bias, that’ll help those
tackling a slice. You can further dial in
your ball flight and launch conditions
with the MyFly8 with SmartPad
technology.
The F7+ is also incredibly long
thanks to a re-engineered forged 8-11
Titanium E9 face that has created a
larger sweetspot across the face for
increased ball speed.
What makes the F7+ stand out from
the crowd is the inclusion of Cobra
Connect technology. This system,
@cobragolf powered by Arccos, allows you to
The TeXtreme Carbon automatically track and compile the
Fibre crown is 20% data from every one of your drives,
SPECS lighter, allowing weight helping you to identify your driving
to be redistributed lower strengths and weaknesses.
and deeper into the club
LOFT 8°, 8.5°, head for a lower CG and OUT ON TOUR
8.5° Draw, 9.5°,
extreme distance and Fowler put the F7+ in the bag as soon
9.5° Draw, as he could get his hands on it and
10.5°, 10.5° forgiveness.
hasn’t looked back. We just have to
Draw and 11° look at some of his stats to see he
(Left-hand, 8°,
loves the new driver. The week after
8.5°, 8.5° Draw,
9.5°, 9.5° Draw, the Memorial Tournament, Fowler sat
10.5°, 10.5° first in the total driving stats and third
Draw and 11°) in total driving efficiency.
SHAFTS Fujikura
Pro XLR8 61 COMMENTS
PRICE £299 This is a driver that I would happily
pop straight into my bag. I really like
the look and feel of it and found it
incredibly easy to work the ball through
the air, which is a big plus for me.
Cobra Connect is certainly an added
bonus with the F7+. Being able to play
my normal round of golf and having my
stats automatically compiled was a lot
of fun.

“This is a driver that

I would happily pop
straight into my bag”

132 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 DRIVERS | IRONS | FAIRWAYS | HYBRIDS | WEDGES | BALLS | SHOES
APPAREL | PUTTERS | RANGEFINDERS | GPS | TROLLEYS | BAGS | GLOVES

BUYER’S GUIDE

FAIRWAYS

IRONS
P.140

DIAL IN YOUR LONG GAME

WITH THE LATEST IRONS
P.134
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 133
 BEST IN SHOW

IRONS
BUYING GUIDE
I
RON TECHNOLOGY IS PROGRESSING at a
staggering rate. Every manufacturer is finding new
ways to help you hit your irons higher, straighter,
further and more consistently. In this buyer’s guide,
you will find the perfect set of irons for you, whether
you are an out-and-out ball-striker or a higher
handicapper looking for a little more help in your
attempts to shoot lower scores.

PING PING
i200 £120 PER IRON iBLADE £130 PER IRON
KEY FEATURES Achieving significant KEY FEATURES Definitely one for the
performance gains without sacrificing any traditionalists, the iBlade iron has
key attributes, Ping’s engineers have designed the softest, purest feel Ping has ever
the new i200 iron for aspiring blade players achieved in an iron, with the workability
who like to be creative with their shot-making, and control to shape shots on command.
but also demand forgiveness on miscues. Through extensive research and
Providing the look and feel of a players- observation of leading tour professionals,
style iron with great forgiveness for its size, Ping engineers designed the clean,
the i200 offers improved workability and compact iBlade iron to surpass the
ball-flight control. The long irons are high- expectations of skilled golfers who rely
launching and provide maximum distance, on precision and control to execute the
while the compact, precise short irons give most demanding shots in the game.
you full command of your shot-making with ping.com
unprecedented feel and forgiveness.
ping.com

134 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 IRONS





PING PING
G £92 PER IRON GMAX £92 PER IRON 
KEY FEATURES This utilises COR-Eye technology to help KEY FEATURES Ping’s longest and most forgiving iron 
boost ball speed off the face. The increase in speed and features COR-Eye tech and a wide sole design for low and
shot height generates distance and a steep landing angle back CG. Progressive lengths and lofts are optimised for 
so that shots hit the green and hold the green. efficient gapping offering superb distance control.

ping.com ping.com





COBRA COBRA 
KING F7 £549 KING F7 ONE LENGTH £549

KEY FEATURES Cobra’s TECFLO construction helps to KEY FEATURES The One Length irons are inspired by
deliver a set of irons that optimise the performance Bryson DeChambeau and boast TECFLO tech, with each 
characteristics of each iron. The PWRSHELL face is thinner, head designed to deliver optimised trajectory and distance
stronger and its sole structure is re-engineered for speed. gapping from long irons to wedges. 
cobragolf.co.uk cobragolf.co.uk






COBRA SRIXON 
KING FORGED TOUR £749 Z 965 £660

KEY FEATURES This player’s iron offers tour-proven KEY FEATURES A sleek, compact muscleback blade.
performance, soft feel and shot-making precision. High- A new Tour V.T. sole has been modified to move even more 
density tungsten weights are strategically positioned on efficiently through the turf, reducing impact resistance and

the sole of the club head for a lower, centred CG. tightening shot dispersion for maximum consistency.
cobragolf.co.uk srixon.co.uk 
BUYER’S GUIDE

SRIXON
Z 565 £660
KEY FEATURES The Z 565 irons are geared for golfers of
all abilities and feature a new Tour V.T. sole that allows the
clubhead to move even more efficiently through the turf,
reducing impact resistance and tightening shot dispersion.
srixon.co.uk
SRIXON
Z 355 £499
KEY FEATURES Tailored towards higher handicappers, a
higher hosel section has allowed for an expanded face area
and a large sweetspot. Optimised set construction has also
increased the playability of the entire set.
srixon.co.uk
CALLAWAY
EPIC PRO £1,749
KEY FEATURES Offers the same tech as the Epic but in a ‘better
player’s’ shape. Each head is precision-milled and robotically
laser-welded. It takes 65 days and more than 200 processes,
steps and inspections to create each head.
callawaygolf.com
CALLAWAY
STEELHEAD XR PRO £759
KEY FEATURES The Steelhead XR Pro is a player’s iron that
combines playability and control. They have been designed to
increase your ball speed and distance, especially on off-centre
strikes, thanks to 360 Face Cup technology.
callawaygolf.com
TAYLORMADE
P770 £1,049
KEY FEATURES Thanks to an advanced forging process and
precision-milled faces and grooves, the P770’s pure and simple
head shape will appeal to the better player’s eye and provides a
soft-solid feel at impact and workable, forgiving performance.
taylormadegolf.co.uk
TAYLORMADE
M1 £849
KEY FEATURES The M1 was designed to give as much
of the speed, forgiveness and playability of the M2 but
deliver it to the player who prefers a more compact
look along with more control and workability.
taylormadegolf.co.uk
136 BUNKERED.CO.UK
CALLAWAY
EPIC £1,749
KEY FEATURES The Epic and Epic Pro
are the result of years of research and
development from 70 members of
Callaway’s team after its main man,
Alan Hocknell, was approached by
the company’s CEO, Chip Brewer,
with a brief to create his dream iron,
regardless of cost. The Epic combines
Callaway’s most ground-breaking iron
innovations, including an Exo-Cage
head construction, advanced Face Cup
technology and the inclusion of tungsten
weighting. Read more on page 109.
callawaygolf.com
TAYLORMADE
P750 £1,499
KEY FEATURES The irons that helped Sergio Garcia win the
Masters are tailored towards real ball-strikers and players who
favour a classic and compact forged clubhead. They feature a
thin topline (thinner than the P770) and minimal offset.
taylormadegolf.co.uk
TAYLORMADE
M2 £699
KEY FEATURES The M2 is the culmination of years of developing
top tech, including a speed pocket, face slots and fluted hosels,
designed for more distance, peak trajectory and forgiveness - all
designed using Geocoustic engineering techniques.
taylormadegolf.co.uk
 IRONS





TITLEIST TITLEIST
716 AP1 £100 PER IRON 716 AP2 £125 PER IRON 
KEY FEATURES The AP1’s extreme 360˚ undercut cavity KEY FEATURES High density tungsten weighting has 
design with a large, thin, unsupported face delivers speed been strategically placed low and to the perimeter to help
and launch for more distance, while the use of high-density increase MOI for greater forgiveness, faster ball speeds 
tungsten weighting provides maximum forgiveness. across the face and consistent distance.

titleist.co.uk titleist.co.uk





TITLEIST TITLEIST 
716 CB £125 PER IRON 716 MB £125 PER IRON

KEY FEATURES A modern cavity blade engineered with KEY FEATURES A classic blade design that delivers a
high density tungsten for tour-proven shot-making with tour proven flight, unrivalled feedback, feel and supreme 
added forgiveness. The CG is low and, as such, provides control with your shot trajectory. The 716 MB is favoured
forgiveness and distance but in a better player’s iron. by many of the best ball-strikers around the world. 
titleist.co.uk titleist.co.uk




CHRIS BEAUMONT, TITLEIST’S GOLF CLUB

MARKETING MANAGER, TELLS US ABOUT THE USE
Q&A OF TUNGSTEN IN TITLEIST IRONS. 

Why have Titleist of the club. With the head of
incorporated tungsten an iron, however, there are 
weighting in the 716 irons? certain parameters we have
At Titleist, we have a certain to adhere to in terms of size, 
shape and size of irons that weight and performance.
our fans have come to love By using tungsten, which is 
over the years. For that reason, denser than steel, we are able
BUYER’S GUIDE
we always try to come up to place more weight in the
with new ways of maximising heel and toe sections whilst still
performance, without adhering to these parameters.
sacrificing our industry-leading
shape and feel. Tungsten How will this help amateurs?
has allowed us to do this. Tungsten weighting has
allowed us to move the CG
How does it help improve lower in the 716 range of irons.
performance? This means amateurs will
It allows us to significantly experience more forgiveness,
increase the size of the distance and tighter dispersion
sweetspot in our irons. The best than any previous generation of
way of doing this is to get more Titleist iron but with the same
weight out onto the perimeter looks, feel and workability.
MIZUNO
JPX 900 FORGED £120 PER IRON
KEY FEATURES Produced from a stronger Boron-infused steel
billet, the JPX900 Forged boasts a milled pocket and new multi-
thickness face for increased ball speeds. More compact than its
predecessor, it provides superb forged feel - a Mizuno classic.
golf.mizunoeurope.com
MIZUNO
JPX 900 HOT METAL £105 PER IRON
KEY FEATURES Combines super-fast ball speeds and maximum
forgiveness with the workability of a forged iron for the ultimate
in all-around performance. The new Chromoly 4140M material
offers distance, exceptional feel and forgiveness.
golf.mizunoeurope.com
MIZUNO
JPX 900 TOUR £120 PER IRON
KEY FEATURES We’ve seen a lot of tour
pros switching to Mizuno irons in the past
few months, with many of them opting
to put the JPX Tour in the bag. This is the
purest, most solid JPX iron in the line. Grain
Flow Forged, using 1025E Pure Select mild
carbon steel, the JPX900 Tour combines
authentic Mizuno feedback with advanced
stability. An evolved look for a Mizuno
player’s iron, it features a satin finish,
straighter lines and low toe profile, all of
which accentuate its compact appearance.
golf.mizunoeurope.com

WILSON STAFF WILSON STAFF

V6 £699
KEY FEATURES Padraig Harrington’s current sticks. Made from
8620 carbon steel, the irons feature 20 grams of split tungsten
weighting, offering improved sole camber and bounce for added
distance and optimum ball flight.
wilson.com
D300 £579
KEY FEATURES New for 2017, these super-game improvement
irons feature ground-breaking FLX Face Technology, which
minimises contact points between the thin face and clubhead for
maximum face flex upon impact to create extreme distance.
wilson.com

WISHON MACGREGOR
STERLING £75 PER IRON DCT ELITE £199
KEY FEATURES Wishon’s single length irons allow you to adopt KEY FEATURES Manufactured from 431 stainless steel and
the same stance, the same posture, and the same swing plane featuring premium components, the DCT Elite irons boast an
for every iron in the bag, boosting your shot consistency and over-sized head design with perimeter weighting for extreme
performance. forgiveness across the entire clubface.
diamondgolf.co.uk macgregor-golf.co.uk

138 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 IRONS





BENROSS BENROSS
HTX COMPRESSOR TYPE R £420 HTX COMPRESSOR £350 
KEY FEATURES The Compressor Type R refines the original KEY FEATURES Heel and toe weighting has been optimised 
Type R design with a heat-treated cup face that produces in the 431 stainless steel cast head to create an ultra-
the best-ever CT performance of a Benross iron, plus a new forgiving, high-launching iron. Available with KBS Tour 90 
Cavity Dampener that helps to soften feel at impact. or Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage graphite shafts as standard.

benrossgolf.com benrossgolf.com





BENROSS SUKIRA 
HTX COMPRESSOR GOLD £420 PRO V2 £75 PER IRON

KEY FEATURES Powered by a lightweight Kuro Kage black KEY FEATURES Sukira manufacture tour-quality gear not
shaft, the HTX Compressor Gold iron is 4 grams lighter for the masses, but rather the individual. Their jewel in 
than the standard HTX Compressor iron and produces the crown is the Pro V2, where the face and grooves are
unmatched distance for those with slow swing speeds. painstakingly CNC machined to perfection. 
benrossgolf.com sukiragolf.com






LYNX LYNX 
BB £499 PARALLAX £319

KEY FEATURES Lynx’s flagship model is packed full of KEY FEATURES The Parallax iron is geared towards being
technology and has been updated for 2017. Made from a game improvement club, featuring a wide-soled cavity 
a one-piece 17-4 stainless steel casting, the #BB irons back head. Made from 17-4 stainless steel, with CNC milled

provide ultimate performance and consistency. grooves, the Parallax is both powerful and very forgiving.
lynxgolf.co.uk lynxgolf.co.uk 
BUYER’S GUIDE

TOUR STATS
Some names you expect and others you won’t, these are the stats that
show who the best ball-strikers were last year on the PGA Tour

GIR % Strokes Gained: Approach to the green Proximity to the hole

1 Lucas Glover ......... 71.63% 1 Adam Scott 1 Adam Scott ............... 32’5”
2 Paul Casey ............ 70.80% 2 Kevin Na 2 David Hearn.............. 32’7”
3 Adam Scott ........... 70.76% 3 Hideki Matsuyama 3 Robert Garrigus ........ 32’9”
 TAYLORMADE
M1 £279
KEY FEATURES TaylorMade’s
engineers have labelled the
M1 their ‘longest adjustable
fairway’ to date. Constructed
with a 450 stainless steel
body, strong Ni-Co C300 face
and same six-layer Carbon
composite crown as the
M1 driver, the completely
re-designed and reshaped
M1 fairway has a track system
that has been shifted further
back to make room for a new
open channel Speed Pocket
designed to deliver more ball
speed and more forgiveness.
WE SAY The new track system
Sergio Garcia had
gives the M1 an added level of
both an M1 3 and
adjustability that we’ve never
5-wood in his
bag at Augusta seen in a fairway wood before.
FAIRWAY WOODS

National this year. taylormadegolf.co.uk

TAYLORMADE
M2 £229
KEY FEATURES The new, more
forgiving M2 fairway takes from
some of the best performing
and most successful products
in TaylorMade’s history in
becoming the company’s
next great fairway wood. The
extremely long and forgiving
fairway wood incorporates
a recessed six-layer carbon
composite crown, inverted
cone technology (for the first
time in a TaylorMade fairway)
and a new Geocoustic-driven
sole design. Additionally, a
longer, more flexible Speed
Pocket and lighter fluted Inverted cone
technology in the M2
hosel create a low CG that
delivers driver-like
produces fast ball speeds for an
performance throughout
incredibly long, high launching a larger area of the face.
and low spinning fairway.
WE SAY Rory McIlroy’s
fairway of choice, the new
M2 has raised the bar for
what an all-round fairway
z wood should be.
YOUR GUIDE taylormadegolf.co.uk
TO THE
BEST GOLF
EQUIPMENT
 FAIRWAY WOODS







COBRA COBRA 
KING F7 £189 KING LTD BLACK £229

KEY FEATURES The Baffler Dual Rail System on these KEY FEATURES Cobra’s innovative spaceport tech has
woods is beneficial to all golfers and helps to deliver allowed their engineers to create a low CG and high MOI 
unparalleled forgiveness through the turf. The King F7 also to give incredible distance and forgiveness. The King LTD

features an adjustable front to back CG. The reversible also features Cobra’s MyFly with SmartPad technology
weight allows you to choose from two CG settings to hone that allows you to choose from eight adjustable loft 
in on your ideal launch conditions for maximum distance. settings to help to fine-tune your launch conditions.
WE SAY One of the most versatile fairways from tee WE SAY An extremely long and forgiving wood 
to green, thanks to Cobra’s Baffler Dual Rail System - that has been made all the more appealing thanks
something Rickie Fowler says ‘is beneficial to everyone’. to its seriously slick, matte black makeover. 
cobragolf.co.uk cobragolf.co.uk











BUYER’S GUIDE

MIZUNO WILSON STAFF

JPX900 £279
KEY FEATURES With the JPX900, Mizuno has closed the
gap between your 3-wood and driver. Extremely fast off the
face, the expanding Shockwave Sole gives incredible ball
speeds for increased distances. The centrally-located single
sliding weight makes it playable for all swing speeds, too.
WE SAY The moveable weight in the sole gives an added
dimension of adjustability and the matte blue finish will suit
those looking to make a bold statement on the course.
golf.mizunoeurope.com
D300 £155
KEY FEATURES Specifically designed for those
seeking more distance, the D300 fairway woods
feature new Micro Vortex Generators on the
crown of the clubhead that help to reduce drag,
increasing clubhead speed and distance.
WE SAY The Wilson Staff D300 is packed with
the technology you need to hit your woods
longer from the tee, fairway or the rough.
wilson.com
PING
G £220
KEY FEATURES A lower leading edge, that sits closer to the
ground, allows the face to slide under the ball so that impact
occurs high on the face (12% higher than the G30) in order to
make it much easier to get the ball in the air. It also features
Ping’s thinnest ever crown in a fairway wood. This has allowed
its engineers to place the CG low and towards the back of
the clubhead for a low spinning, high launching ball flight.
WE SAY An extremely forgiving fairway wood thanks
to the low, rear CG and the lower leading edge.
ping.com
SRIXON
Z-F65 £229
KEY FEATURES The new Power Wave Sole absorbs more
stress at impact for maximum energy transfer, generating
higher ball speed and distance. A Stretch Flex Cup face has
been extended around crown and sole to create a 10% larger
sweet spot. The thinner crown allows four grams of weight
to be repositioned for higher launch and clubhead MOI.
WE SAY Its high and forgiving launch will appeal to many, while
its classic looks and feel make it one for the traditionalists.
srixon.co.uk
142 BUNKERED.CO.UK
PING
G STRETCH £220
KEY FEATURES The G Stretch has a larger head, slightly
forward CG and a lower 13° loft to reduce your spin rate at
impact, for a more penetrating ball flight and added distance.
Like the G, the G Stretch features an advanced Carpenter
455 Face that allows for a thinner, variable-thickness,
precision-machined face that increases flexing for fast
ball speeds, high launch and greater distance.
WE SAY If you are looking to add some serious yards with
your fairway woods then look no further than the G Stretch.
ping.com
SRIXON
Z-355 £179
KEY FEATURES Designed with the higher handicapper in
mind, Srixon’s Action Mass Technology combines a heavier
head weight and an ultra-balance point shaft to deliver
distance and forgiveness. The Z-355 also features a fast and
powerful HT1770 maraging steel face that creates an even
larger sweetspot for increased consistency and distance.
WE SAY The shallow head and deep CG promotes
higher launch and allows for shot versatility.
srixon.co.uk
 FAIRWAY WOODS







CALLAWAY CALLAWAY 
GREAT BIG BERTHA EPIC £279 GREAT BIG BERTHA EPIC SUB ZERO £279

KEY FEATURES The new Epic woods offer maximum KEY FEATURES The Sub Zero features the same Triaxial
forgiveness thanks to the ultra-light Triaxial Carbon Carbon crown, fourth generation Hyper Speed Face 
crown. Triaxial Carbon is 78% lighter than steel, Cup and Speed Step technology as the Epic. Unlike

this weight saving has allowed the engineers at the Epic, however, adjustable 3 and 22 gram weights
Callaway to reposition weight in the clubhead and allow you to adjust spin plus or minus 350-400 rpm, 
increase MOI by 11% when compared to the XR 16. giving you a choice between lower launch, spin and
WE SAY The Epic drivers have been all over the equipment trajectory or higher launch, spin, and trajectory. 
headlines in recent months owing to their incredible ball WE SAY For added adjustability over the Epic,
speed and distance. The Fairway woods are no different. the Sub Zero is the fairway wood for you. 
callawaygolf.com callawaygolf.com











BUYER’S GUIDE

TITLEIST
917F2 £280
KEY FEATURES A high launching, forgiving fairway
wood, the F2 allows you dial in your perfect launch
conditions and ball flight thanks to the inclusion of
SureFit CG technology. The Active Recoil Channel
2.0 also helps to boost ball speeds at impact.
WE SAY Offering complete playability and forgiveness,
the SureFit CG and Hosel technology will give you the
best possible fit for you, regardless of handicap.
titleist.co.uk
TITLEIST
917F3 £280
KEY FEATURES Lower spinning and launching than
the F2, the F3 offers greater versatility with shot
control and is more suited to the better player. Both
models feature a variable thickness face insert that
helps to maintain ball speed, on off-centre hits.
WE SAY The fairway wood of choice if you
like to see a compact headshape at address
and like to work the ball through the air.
titleist.co.uk
LYNX
BLACK CAT £179
KEY FEATURES Adjustable from 13˚ to 17˚, the Black Cat is
playable as a three or five wood. It also features a moveable
weight bar system that allows you to adjust launch and spin.
WE SAY The Black Cat is available in three matte colour finishes
and the adjustable hosel and moveable weight bar system
make it one of the most versatile fairway woods on the market.
lynxgolf.co.uk
BENROSS
HTX COMPRESSOR TYPE R £119.99
KEY FEATURES The first adjustable fairway from Benross.
The eight point hosel allows you to dial in your ball flight
while the thin crown moves the CG low and forward in the
clubhead to promote a low spinning, penetrating ball flight.
WE SAY The adjustable loft hosel allows you to effortlessly
tailor your ball flight with this tour style fairway wood.
benrossgolf.com
MACGREGOR
DCT ELITE £49.99
KEY FEATURES Its large profile at address inspires confidence
both on the tee and off the deck. Made from stainless steel,
the DCT Elite incorporates a shallow face with a high-MOI
design to help launch the ball into the air from any lie.
WE SAY The DCT Elite is a fantastic option for those looking
for a high performing fairway wood at a low price.
macgregor-golf.co.uk
144 BUNKERED.CO.UK
LYNX
PARALLAX £99
KEY FEATURES The two-piece cast head, featuring BiTitanium
construction, includes a power channel on the sole for increased
distance. Its low profile and low-to-the-ground leading edge
makes the Parallax forgiving from the fairway and off the tee.
WE SAY We really like the high gloss mirror finish
of this forgiving and long offering from Lynx.
lynxgolf.co.uk
BENROSS
HTX COMPRESSOR GOLD £99.99
KEY FEATURES A lighter headweight and softer shaft combine
to help boost the clubhead speed of those with slower swing
speeds, while the compressor technology response channel
delivers increased ball speeds for maximum carry distances.
WE SAY The fairway wood that’ll help improve your
game, especially if your swing is on the slow side.
benrossgolf.com
HONMA
S-05 FROM £910
KEY FEATURES Designed for players that are looking
for a higher trajectory with a more forgiving feel.
Its advanced cup face helps to boost ball speed
across the face for incredible distance.
WE SAY If the price tag doesn’t put you off and you like standing
out on the course, then this is the fairway wood for you.
honma.co.uk
 EXTRA LISTINGS
ADIDAS ADIPURE
COLLECTION
F
USING CRAFTSMANSHIP
and innovation, Adidas’ 
new adiPure apparel
line will change the way you

look at traditional golf styles. 
This performance driven,
premium range has been 
crafted with fashion-focused
golfers in mind. The new line 
features polos, outwear, shorts
and pants, designed to look 
stylish both on and off the golf
course. 
adidas.co.uk

















BUYER’S GUIDE

z z
G-RIP FL-1 PUTTER GRIPS
These unique grips feature an
innovative triangular shape that
has been designed to encourage
a more consistent stroke. The
shape of the grip helps you find
the correct hand position quickly
WATCH OUR and easily, whilst the lightweight
GEAR REVIEWS EVA under-listing and microfibre
Get the verdict on the cover gives great feel and
latest gear direct from instantaneous feedback.
the bunkered team g-rip.com
youtube.com/bunkered £24.99
GLENMUIR MEN’S
BLOCK STRIPE
MERCERISED COTTON
GOLF POLO SHIRT
This lightweight, breathable,
performance polo is made
from 100% double mercerised
cotton to give a silk-like soft
feel and enhanced durability.
Available in six colour options
and sizes S to XXL.
glenmuir.com
£49.95
z
MOTOCADDY DRY
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 HISTORIC
A fairytale ARBROATH
setting ... GOLF LINKS
Arbroath Golf Links was designed originally by
Old Tom Morris in 1877, redesigned by Willie
Fernie in 1907 and then altered by James Braid
in 1931. This is a traditional links course with
undulating fairways and dunes that run the
length of the course on the seaward side which
means the wind is always a factor. There are
bunkers and burns aplenty on the course, but
the rough is well cut back making it suitable for
all level of players. This is a must play course
for all connoisseurs of links golf situated 8
miles from Carnoustie. Any visitor who takes
out a Green Fee Ticket is welcomed to use the
Arbroath Artisan Golf Club and its facilities.

GREEN FEE PRICES FROM SPECIAL OFFER RECENT EVENTS

Weekday £15 Monday to Friday £50 pp 2015 Scottish Youth Champion.

Weekend £15 Min 4 (must be booked in advance) 2016 Co Host World Hickory
Discounts available for groups 2 rounds of golf, bacon roll Champion.
Twilight golf available
and coffee 2016 Senior Golf Circuit
Soup & sandwich, 2 course meal Pro Event.

ACCOMMODATION
We are fortunate to have 3 B/Bs on our doorstep, all highly recommended that
cater for golf parties.
• 5 Gables House literally 20 yds from the first tee 01241 871632 for bookings

... for a wedding of • Inishowen Guest House 300 yds from first tee 01241 871922 for bookings
• Brucefield Boutique B/B is situated in the town 01241 875393 for booking

your dreams. CONTACT

Golf Professional Lindsay Ewart for all fees and bookings on 01241 875837
or Email: lindsay.ewart@btconnect.com or check out our website on
www.arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk

For over 130 years, the Atholl Palace has

been a spectacular venue for weddings
and celebrations.

DON’T MISS THE LIMITED

2017 SEASON OFFER
1 July 17 - 31 Dec 18 for
ONLY £699

With a variety of decadent function suites,

magnificent gardens and spa facilities and an
expert wedding team, we will ensure that every
detail of the best day of your life runs smoothly
and your dream wedding becomes a reality.

Muckhart Golf Club

ATHOLLPALACE.COM Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Ochill Hills, Muckhart
 Golf Club offers a rewarding 27 hole golf experience together with
a well stocked pro shop and welcoming clubhouse.
Visitor and Membership options are available
Tel: 01796 472400
Email: weddings@athollpalace.com Drumburn Road, Muckhart, By Dollar FK14 7JH
Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland PH16 5LX T: 01259 781493 | www.muckhartgolf.com
@MuckhartGC
 ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/travel

The best of golf around the globe

BANDON DUNES LANCASHIRE AYRSHIRE

Why this magnificent Going to the Open this The best places to play
Oregon golf resort is year? Don’t forget to in this year’s Scottish
worthy of the hype take your clubs with you Open host region
PAGE 150 PAGE 152 PAGE 158

A THAI E THAILAND’S
VERY NOW and then, par-4 fourth. A downhill
you will play a golf hole that doglegs from
course that, quite right to left, it requires an FINEST

SENSATION
simply, takes your breath
away. Black Mountain Golf
Club in Thailand is one of
those courses.
Introducing Black Situated 12 kilometres
west of the town of Hua
Mountain, one of Hin, the award-winning
Thailand’s top tracks resort is one of the finest
courses Thailand has to
offer. When it opened in
2007, there were 18 holes.
However, reconstruction
work in 2016 has now
transformed it into a
27-hole masterpiece,
where visitors have three
different nine-hole courses
to choose from: the North,
East and West.
The stand-out hole at
what is a truly mesmerising
golf complex is the East’s
accurate tee shot, with
bunkers guarding the left-
hand side. Your approach
will need to be equally as
accurate, with water and
bunkers surrounding the
green.
Regardless of what nine
you choose, an exciting
challenge awaits and
emphasises why many
regard Black Mountain as
‘the best golf course in
Asia’. An exquisite golfing
paradise, the beauty of
Black Mountain doesn’t
start and end with the
course either.
All the other amenities,
including the luxury
accommodation options,
are rather special, too.
… LAEM CHABANG
Located just outside Pattaya,
this 27-hole complex was
designed by Jack Nicklaus’
design company during the
Thai golf boom of the 1990s.
† AYODHYA LINKS
One of the country’s most
exclusive clubs, membership
here is by invitation only.
Almost impossible to
get on but those who’ve
played it rave about it.
‡ ALPINE GC
Just a short drive outside
of Bangkok, this course
has been described as an
‘exquisite tropical gem’ –
that’s good enough for us.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 147
 ARDEER GOLF CLUB
www.ardeergolfclub.co.uk

Looking to play golf in Ayrshire,

then look no further
Tuesday and Thursday golf for £15 only.
Available for outings (10 or more), great deals available, full catering.
Golf clubs available for hire.

Deals for 5 day membership,

New Member Youths and 2nd Club available,
Deal Arrangements for fees to be paid
monthly can be made through
15% off fees Zebra Finance. Approx £55/month.
From 1st May 2017.
Don’t delay call today Hall for Hire, only £25

For further info - call: 01294 464542 or email: info@ardeergolfclub.co.uk

Ballumbie Castle
GOLF CLUB

GOLF OUTINGS
Planning a golf outing this
season with your friends and
not sure where to go?
Ballumbie Golf Club is the
perfect venue to host your group.
Our facilities are ideal for having
large outings, driving range to
warm up, fantastic golf course,
delicious food and of course
well stocked bar! We are very
busy with groups but still have
availability, to book now call
01382 770028

3 Old Quarry Rd, Dundee DD4 0PD

T: 01382 730026
E: info@ballumbiegolf.com
 In association with

z
ALGARVE
Last year, the Algarve hit an
all-time high for visitors, with
almost 1.3m rounds played - an
increase of more than 10% on
2015. That surge has continued
into 2017 and sights are now
set on a new record after nearly
328,000 rounds were played in
the first quarter of the year. That’s
6% up on last year’s figures.

z
GLENEAGLES
Gleneagles has been voted ‘Best
Golf Resort in the World’ for an
unprecedented sixth successive
year by readers of Ultratravel, The
Telegraph’s luxury travel mag,
and visitors to telegraph.co.uk.
Readers were asked to vote for
their favourite travel experiences
Tiger Woods and Johnny Morris will in 19 categories, with Gleneagles
co-design Payne’s Valley in Missouri
taking the top golf award.

“Tiger is the greatest

Tiger to design first public course thing that’s happened
to the tour in a long
New Missouri layout set to be a tribute to late Payne Stewart time. He has brought
incredible attention to

T
IGER WOODS to settle unfinished “Sprawling, wide golf.”
will design his matches. The hole fairways will showcase Payne Stewart
first public access was the brainchild of playabilty, while also
golf course in the Morris and is set in one allowing strategic
Midwestern state of of the ‘most dramatic angles and shot values z
Missouri. The new geological features to be emphasised LAS COLINAS
track will be located imaginable’. to challenge Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has
at Big Cedar Lodge The course will be experienced players,” been nominated by the World Golf
in Missouri’s Ozark called ‘Payne’s Valley’ said a company Awards in ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’
Mountains and is set to and will be a tribute to spokesperson. “The category for the third year in a row.
open in 2019. the late Stewart, who green surrounds are The resort, just south of Alicante,
The course is a was a friend of both designed to promote is going for an unprecedented
collaboration between Morris and Woods, creativity and a variety hat-trick at the glittering ceremony,
the 14-time major as well as an Ozarks of recovery options, which will this year be held in
winner, American native. Stewart and while the fairway rough Spain in late November.
conservationist Johnny his father Bill were will be kept low to
Morris and the Payne instrumental in helping further promote a fun, z
Stewart family. to establish golf in the enjoyable experience.” FINCA CORTESIN
Speaking about region and the course Big Cedar Lodge is Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa is
the unique tie with is a nod to that legacy. regarded as America’s the latest addition to the exclusive
his designer partners, The new course will premier wilderness European Tour Properties portfolio,
Woods said was proud be located adjacent resort. A passion becoming the 25th member
to see the project to a new 13-hole short of Bass Pro Shops of the network and only the
come to fruition. course designed by founder Morris, the
second Spanish venue to achieve
“Together, we’re Gary Player - due to 4,600-acre lakeside
the prestigious European Tour
tremendously excited open in 2017 - and retreat connects
holidaymakers to Destination status. It joins fellow
to create a publicly Ozarks National, a
accessible world-class championship layout the outdoors with a Spanish venue PGA Catalunya
golf experience in the designed by Coore & variety of nature-based Resort in the European Tour
centre of America,” said Crenshaw which will experiences including Properties network. Miguel Girbés,
the former world No.1. open in 2018. fishing, shooting, Director of Golf at Finca Cortesin
The course will According to TGR boating, hiking, spa Hotel, Golf & Spa, said the resort
feature a ‘dramatic’ Design, Payne’s Valley and wellness offerings. was ‘delighted to join one of
19th hole, called ‘The will be fun to play for all The resort hosts some the world’s most respected
Rock’, that will be used golfers. 1.5m visitors every year. golf organisations.”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 149
 The 148-yard par-3
11th at Pacific
Dunes in all its
dramatic glory
COOL HANGOUT

z
YOUR GUIDE
TO THE
BEST GOLF
DESTINATIONS
 AMERICA’S L
OCATED IN OREGON, on
the north-west coast of the
USA, Bandon Dunes is one of
SWEETHEART
America’s most hyped golf resorts
- and with good reason.
The town of Bandon, which
sits at the mouth of the Coquille
River, is arguably the closest thing
Get a taste of Bandon America has to St Andrews. The
locals live and breathe golf, whilst
Dunes, one of the most the four links at Bandon Dunes
(five, if you include the fabulous
hyped resorts in the USA par-3 layout) evoke the spirit of the
‘Auld Grey Toon’s’ own impressive
WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN collection.
The first of the courses opened
in 1999 and was designed by
(surprise, surprise) a Scot, David
McLay-Kidd.
Pacific Dunes followed two
years later. It was designed by
Tom Doak - the man behind The
Renaissance on East Lothian - and
proved so popular so quickly that
it soon overtook McLay-Kidd’s
track as the highest-rated course
on the property. Indeed, in 2005,
Golfweek rated it the No.1 course
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE
in the USA, pipping Pebble Beach
to the top spot.
Also in 2005, Bandon Dunes
welcomed its third 18-hole
layout, the Coore-Crenshaw
designed Bandon Trails. Unlike its
contemporaries, none of its holes
are routed along the edge of the
Pacific Ocean, meandering instead
through dunes, meadows and
forest land.
Old Macdonald followed in
2010. Named in honour of Charles
Blair Macdonald, the man who
designed the first 18-hole course in
the States, it was crafted by Doak
in collaboration with Jim Urbina.
According to Golf Digest, it is ‘the
hottest course in America right
now’ and ‘looks like it was lifted,
cleaned and placed from the west
of Scotland’. High praise.
With a variety of accommodation
on offer on-site, a short break at
Bandon Dunes has become one of
the hottest tickets in US golf. Rest
assured, it lives up to the hype.
bandondunesgolf.com
151
 COOL HANGOUT

z
YOUR GUIDE
TO THE
BEST GOLF
DESTINATIONS
 WHERE TO PLAY
IN LANCASHIRE
Heading to Royal Birkdale this summer?
Here is your guide to the area’s best courses
WORDS EWAN PATON

H
OME TO SOME OF THE best
golf courses in the country,
this corner of England is
known as England’s Golf Coast,
and rightly so. It is the pinnacle
of the golfing world beneath the
border.
If you are attending this year’s
Open at Royal Birkdale and, like
so many do, fancy taking your
clubs with you, then you’re in for a
treat. This is an area littered with
first-class courses, scattered all
across the north-west coast and all
within a short drive of Liverpool.
Boasting three Open venues
within the vicinity, various Open
qualifying courses and some of
the finest links golf in the country,
England’s Golf Coast is a very
serious golf destination in its own
right.
What’s more, with many famous
towns and cities in the heart of the
area, such as Southport, Lytham
St Annes, Liverpool and the Wirral,
it’s fair to say visitors are spoilt
for choice for accommodation.
With all the golfing attractions
Southport & Ainsdale nearby, fellow golfers are never in
short supply in the local bars and
restaurants.
In Southport, you won’t need
to walk far to find a top quality
restaurant for a good feed or bar
for a few beverages after enjoying
a round.
The Warehouse, owned by
former Liverpool and England star
Steven Gerrard, is one of many
highly recommended eateries
to visit. Also, with nightlife to suit
everyone, Southport tends to be a
popular haunt for places to stay.
Lytham St Annes, too, has no
short supply of top-of-the-range
B&Bs and hotels, and the city of
Liverpool needs no introduction.
Priding itself on its working class
core, also world-renowned for its
culture and football background,
it is a must for your escapade
southwards.
Whilst discovering this famous
city and all its beauty, the people
who live and work there will always
make you welcome.
But the best reason to visit is the
golf. Here’s a selection of courses
to think about playing on your trip.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 153

Sunday 30th July 2017
•Arrival •Overnight stay in Double Room
single occupancy and Dinner in our
Marine Brasserie
Monday 31st July 2017
•Breakfast followed by transfer to Formby
Golf Club for a 12.00 midday tee off time
•Transfer back •Overnight stay in Double
Room and Dinner in The Marine
Brasserie
As one of the 10 oldest clubs
in England, West Lancashire
is full of history and tradition.
“Between tournaments I
always make time to play West
Lancs. A proper links which is
always in top condition,
Tuesday 1st August 2017 a must play for any golfer.”
•Breakfast and relax before transfer to
Royal Birkdale Golf Club 2.30pm tee off - TOMMY FLEETWOOD
time •Transfer back •Overnight stay in
Double Room and Dinner in The Marine
Brasserie
Wednesday 2nd August 2017 **
•Breakfast •Departure
** Optional extra round by request at West
Lancashire Golf Club www.westlancashiregolf.co.uk
>> PLEASINGTON GOLF CLUB
From £45
28 miles from Royal Birkdale
pleasington-golf.co.uk
Located just outside Blackburn,
Pleasington Golf Club is one of
the further-out courses from Royal
Birkdale - but it ia absolutely worth
the short journey. This rural course
stretches to 6,539 yards for golfers
to delve into. The first hole gives you
a taste of what’s to come. At less
than 400 yards, it may seem a safe
start but you have to be aware of
the subtle rise in the ground for your
approach. Superb fun from start to
finish.
>> HESKETH GOLF CLUB
From £65
3 miles from Royal Birkdale
heskethgolfclub.co.uk
Hesketh is set amidst the towering
Victorian villas of one of Southport’s
illustrious residential areas. It is the
oldest course in Southport and a
course of contrasts, with half of its
holes meandering through sand
dunes and the rest overlooking the
glorious Ribble Estuary. Traditionally,
it is a links course, its landscape
has developed over the years to be
appropriate for ‘seaside’ golf.
>> SOUTHPORT OLD LINKS
From £45
4.2 miles from Royal Birkdale
southportoldlinksgolfclub.co.uk
Situated just two miles inland from
Southport pier and promenade - both
of which are worth visiting - the Old
Links is easily accessible and quick
to get to from the town centre. The
par-72 course faces east, looking
onto the Lancashire plain and distant
hills, with birch trees dotted about the
linksland. The course is a nine-holer
with 18 different sets of tees, making
it unique in the area but also great
all-round fun.
>> HILLSIDE GOLF CLUB
From £130
0.3 miles from Royal Birkdale
hillside-golfclub.co.uk
Hillside borders Southport and
Ainsdale as well as Royal Birkdale
and sits on spectacular linksland. An
Open Qualifying course, the first half
is classic links with standout greens
and menacing bunkers. However,
after that, you make the turn into
pinewoods bordered in parts by large
dunes. As players make the journey
through the course, the majestic
sandhills and pristinely-kept greens
are notable. It’s not for nothing that
Hillside Golf Club
Hillside is considered to be one of
the finest courses never to have
hosted the Open.
>> SOUTHPORT AND AINSDALE
GOLF CLUB
From £105
2.1 miles from Royal Birkdale
sandagolfclub.co.uk
Nestled amongst hilly linksland,
Southport and Ainsdale is a
two-time Ryder Cup venue and a
regular inclusion in ‘top courses’
listings. ‘S&A’, as it is known, has
plenty of memorable holes and
makes for an exhilarating challenge.
Players will experience a magnificent
test with the westerly sea breeze
and prominent heather and gorse
combining to ensure an enjoyable
round of golf. It is, quite simply, an
absolute joy to play.
>> FORMBY GOLF CLUB
Price: £N/A
6.2 miles from Royal Birkdale
formbygolfclub.co.uk
On the outskirts of Southport,
very close to Royal Birkdale, is
Formby Golf Club. For all keen
golfers, no matter where you’re
travelling from, Formby is well
worth a round. Founded in 1884,
this is a brilliant course steeped
in history from start to finish and
is always a top performer on the
expedition of England’s Golf Coast.
Many believe this to be the highlight
of all the courses in the area, and
perhaps the plush fairways and
par-3s are the main reason for this.
As an aside, this is where European
Tour star Matteo Manassero won
the Amateur Championship back
in 2009.
>> WEST LANCASHIRE
GOLF CLUB
From £95
8 miles from Royal Birkdale
westlancashiregolf.co.uk
By far the pick of the bunch in
Liverpool, West Lancs is the place
to play when on your tour of
the northwest coast. It is a truly
magnificent course that poses a
fabulous challenge for all golfers,
whilst the backdrop of the Welsh
mountains in the distance simply
adds to its appeal. Esteemed
course designer Donald Steel once
remarked: “Only in Britain can
one savour the true flavor of seaside
golf, of which West Lancashire is a
perfect example.” Resident pro Gavin
Abson - a former member of this
magazine’s Tuition Panel - will provide
a warm welcome (not to mention
some handy local knowledge).
>> WALLASEY GOLF CLUB
From £90
23.1 miles from Royal Birkdale
wallaseygolfclub.com
The picturesque Wallasey Golf
Club overlooks Liverpool Bay, with
the Irish Sea flowing below. A classic
links test in every regard, it has a
superb variety of holes to keep you
on your toes. Expect to hit plenty of
approach shots into small, undulating
and fast-running greens, and make
sure you take a moment or two to
savour the magnificent view from
the fourth tee (your first real sight of
the water’s edge). Stationed on the
edge of the Wirral, there are plenty of
pubs and restaurants to visit after a
challenging round, too.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 155
 — Pleasington Golf Club —
Pleasington Golf Club is renowned as one of the
best inland courses in the North-West of England.
• Boasting a superb layout, part heathland with some
heather and every hole differing in character.
• Off the course the Club is embarking on some exciting
changes, with a new Professional Team, Shop and Indoor
Teaching Studios and a new Food and Beverage Team
looking after the Clubhouse services.
There has never been a better time to visit
Pleasington Golf Club - we look forward to
welcoming you to the Club
Whether an individual or a Visiting Party, we can accommodate
your golfing requirements.

T: 01254 202177
E: hello@pleasington-golf.co.uk
for further information and to
make your reservation.

www.pleasington-golf.co.uk/visitors-information

Keep up to
date on the go,
11 Duke Street, Southport, Merseyside PR8 1LS
wherever you go!
Less than 2 miles away
from the Royal Birkdale
Download your
free golf app
and Hillside Golf Clubs,
the Duke’s Folly Hotel has
been a favorite of golfers
for generations. A staple
of Southport’s history, yet
our 20 rooms are freshly
renovated, unique packages,
typical of modern boutique
hotels. With our new Bar and
Restaurant providing a wide
selection of food & drink, and
breakfast included, you’ll not
regret a memorable stay in
the Duke’s.

Tel: 01704 533355 • enquiries@dukesfolly.co.uk

www.ddukesfolly.co.uk
kesfoll co k
PLACES
TO STAY
z
RAMADA PLAZA
SOUTHPORT
Located in the heart of
Southport and a five-
minute drive from Hesketh
in the north, with Hillside
a short drive down the
coast towards Birkdale.
The hotel (01704 516220)
offers golf packages
and can take of all your
bookings. Plenty of places
to eat and drink nearby.

z
NORTHCOTE HOTEL
The reigning VisitEngland
‘Hotel of the Year’ is pretty
special and offers what
it calls ‘Gourmet Golfing
Breaks’. The hotel (01254
240555) is under an hour’s
drive from Royal Birkdale
and, as such, gives you a
great base to explore some
of the inland courses in the Hesketh Golf Club
area, such as Pleasington.

z
DUKE’S FOLLY
This hotel (01704 533355)
is another superb option if
you wish to base yourself
in the heart of the action.
It also has a brand new
restaurant, and is a two-
minute walk from the main
drag in Southport. It will
provide you with everything
you need to make your
stay a memorable one.
z
RIBBY HALL VILLAGE
Take your pick from pine
cottages, luxury cottages,
a motel and a spa hotel -
you’ve got options, put it
that way. This one (01772
671111) is located to the
north of Southport, near
Royal Lytham and Fairhaven,
two of the best courses
along England’s Golf Coast.
You’re also within touching
distance of Blackpool’s
famous nightlife, which
should be a major pull
for any golf break.
Pleasington Golf Club
Wallasey Golf Club
SIGHTS
TO SEE
z DOWNTOWN
BLACKPOOL
Blackpool has beaches,
bars, hotels, entertainment
galore and enough fun to
fill a month-long holiday
- but a simple afternoon
stroll is more than enough
to give you a taste of the
action in one of England’s
busiest holiday hotspots.
There’s always something
happening, so check online
before you go to make
sure you don’t miss out.
z SOUTHPORT
PLEASURELAND
An absolutely brilliant day
out, especially if you’re with
a group, offering everything
you would expect from
a proper entertainment
park. This is probably
one of the best parks of
its kind in England and
will guarantee a cracking
afternoon away from the
fairways. Call 01704 531957
for info and updates.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 157
 COOL HANGOUT

z
YOUR GUIDE
TO THE
BEST GOLF
DESTINATIONS
GOLF IN AYRSHIRE?
IT’S A ‘DUN’ DEAL
Head to the Scottish Open with your clubs in your
boot because there’s serious value to be had
WORDS CHRIS DOYLE

T
HE SCOTTISH OPEN is coming
to Ayrshire for the first time since
1936, with Dundonald Links set
to play host to some of the world’s top
golfers all eager to wrestle the title from
defending champion Alex Noren. A big
crowd of spectators is also expected
to watch the action unfold. But why just
watch when you can play, too?
Ayrshire is one of Scotland’s most
spectacular golfing destinations, with
a rich variety of courses to enjoy. To
say it has something for everyone is a
horrible cliché but it rings true.
There are Open Championship
venues, such as Royal Troon and
Trump Turnberry; other classic links,
like Kilmarnock Barassie, Western
Gailes and Prestwick St Nicholas; and
a variety of ‘hidden gems’, amongst
them Ravenspark and Routenburn.
You are, quite simply, spoilt for choice,
with something to match both your
preferred type of golf and, just as
importantly, your ability.
Better yet, the value for money
is truly exceptional. Whatever your
budget - whether you’ve got £100
to spend on a round or £10 - you will
find a golf course in Ayrshire to suit
your finances.
Away from the golf course, there
is just as much to enjoy, with award-
winning tourist attractions to enjoy and
an abundance of towns and villages
packed with fantastic pubs, restaurants,
shops and all the accommodation
options a visiting golfer needs.
But, first and foremost, it’s all about
the golf, so take our advice: combine
a visit to the 2017 Scottish Open at
Dundonald Links with the chance to
play some of Ayrshire’s many brilliant
courses. Our recommendations? You’ll
West Kilbride find them over the page...

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 159
THINK GOLF… THINK PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS!

THE COURSE
Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club, the
26th oldest Golf Club in the world is a
traditional Scottish links golf course
occupying a prime position on the
shores of the Firth of Clyde.
A mere 40 minutes from the centre of
Glasgow, the deep bunkers, running
fairways, undulating greens and stands of gorse test the skills of
players of all abilities and at 6044 yards, this par 69 course is a
must for amateur golfers of all ages.

MEMBERSHIP
The Club has a small number of vacancies for both
ordinary membership and the 6 day associate
membership which allows play every day except a
Saturday and at just under £537 per annum, is incredible value.
Outings and Group bookings are welcome with play and dine
rates available on request.

&ŽƌŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉŽƌǀŝƐŝƚŽƌŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ
• Tel: 01292 477608 • www.prestwickstnicholas.com
• Email: secretary@prestwickstnicholas.com

GOLF ACADEMY TRUMP TURNBERRY

INDUSTRY LEADERS IN
CUSTOM FITTING

SPECIAL OFFER
FOR BUNKERED READERS
Book a full bag fitting and receive a complimentary
putter fitting until 31st July

To book call 01655 334 190 or

email info@truespecgolf.com
www.truespecgolf.com
>> IRVINE RAVENSPARK GC
From £18
GO HERE
4.1 miles from Dundonald z z
irgc.co.uk SANDYLANDS TRUE SPEC
Celebrating its 110th anniversary this There’s great value accommodation to As well as the new Robert the Bruce
year, Irvine Ravenspark is one of the be had here (parkdeanresorts.co.uk) Course, Trump Turnberry has also
true ‘hidden gems’ of golf in Ayrshire. plus the beach is only five minutes recently unveiled its new True Spec
Located just two minutes from the
away. There’s also a pool and plenty Golf fitting studio (truespecgolf.com). It
centre of the town, it is a mostly-flat,
to keep the kids occupied. It’s handy provides custom fitting with world-class,
easy-waking parkland course but
with a slight ‘linksy’ feel to it, too. It for the golf, too, being only 15 to 20 state-of-the-art tech. It is, quite simply,
promises a ‘challenge for every golfer’. minutes from Dundonald Links. golf geek heaven in its finest form.
and with a hugely appealing price
tag, too. Check it out. You won’t be
disappointed.

>> ROUTENBURN GC
From £18
22.4 miles from Dundonald
routenburngolfclub.co.uk
Where a young Sam Torrance learned
his craft under the watchful eye
of his father, Bob, Routenburn is a
fantastic, wildly underrated course.
It is located just one mile from the
popular seaside town of Largs and
offers some of the finest views going,
with the Isle of Arran, Cumbrae and
the Argyll Peninsula visible on a clear
day. It describes itself as “a small,
friendly club which offers great golf, Prestwick St Nicholas
outstanding scenery and unbeatable
value for money” - who are we to
argue?

>> AUCHENHARVIE GC
From £9
8.9 miles from Dundonald
golf.kaleisure.com
Auchenharvie is the ideal course to try
if you are looking to play a quick nine
holes before an exciting day ahead
of you at Dundonald Links. Just a
15-minute drive away from the venue,
you can easily fit both in. A great
course for the casual golfer, it also
boasts an 18-bay practice range where
you can fine-tune your game before
you test yourself on the course.
>> PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS GC
From £50
7.8 miles from Dundonald
prestwickstnicholas.com
The 26th oldest golf club in the
world and just 15 minutes’ drive from
Dundonald, “St Nicks” is a classic,
traditional Scottish links. It’s not a
particularly long course but has tight
fairways, devilish pot bunkers and
humps and swales galore to keep
you on your toes. Its long, par-3 18th,
meanwhile, is one of the finest closing
holes in Scottish golf.
>> KILMARNOCK BARASSIE GC
From £65
3.1 miles from Dundonald
kbgc.co.uk
Providing golfers with an outstanding
Kilmarnock Barassie
links challenge dating back to
1887, Kilmarnock Barassie is ideally
situated within striking distance of
Royal Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry.
Used to stage numerous high-profile
tournaments down the years, it is
renowned for being home to some
of the best maintained greens in the
country, so you have no excuses for
not putting well! Short on time? Why
not play the club’s nine-hole Hillhouse
Course? A terrific challenge in its
own right, you can get round it in an
hour-and-a-half quite easily.
>> WESTERN GAILES GC
From £65
1.6 miles from Dundonald
westerngailes.com
Western Gailes is widely - and rightly
- regarded as one of the best links
experiences in golf. Legends of the
game, including Gene Sarezen, Tom
Watson and Gary Player, have all
played there down the years, whilst
more recently pros such as Rory
Western Gailes
McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Luke
Donald have paid it a visit. This is,
quite simply, classic Scottish links
golf in all its glory. Expect tight tee
shots, wispy links rough, small greens,
stunning links terrain, and a firm local
breeze.
>> GAILES LINKS GC
From £70
1.2 miles from Dundonald
gaileslinks.co.uk
Situated literally a five-minute drive
from the front door of Dundonald
Links, Gailes Links is a sheer joy to
play. Designed by the iconic golf
course architect, Willie Park Jnr, it
opened in 1892 and is owned by
Glasgow Golf Club, the ninth oldest
club in the world. Gailes has staged
Open Final Qualifying for the past
three years and will do so again this
year. This in itself should give you an
idea of the pedigree of the course.
Make no mistake: it is a ‘must play’ on
your trip to Ayrshire.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 161
 GB&I WHERE
TO PLAY
ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/wheretoplay
FROM
£30
PER ROUND
DUNS GOLF
COURSE
Î Duns, Berwickshire
Î Par 70 Yards 5,993
Î dunsgolfclub.com
` Golf has been played at
Duns for over 120 years. From
that opening tee shot back
in 1894, this club has been
widely admired due to its
outstanding quality, relaxed
atmosphere and sociable
clubhouse. Duns is a widely
acclaimed course, matured
over decades and designed
carefully to blend in with the
spectacular rolling landscape of
the Scottish Borders. Offering
18 glorious holes, this is a
beautiful setting for a round.
Its gentle contours, cultured
fairways and true greens make
it one of the Scottish Borders’
best golf destinations.
162 BUNKERED.CO.UK
FROM
£36
PER ROUND
ARBROATH GOLF
COURSE
Î Arbroath, Angus
Î Par 70 Yards 6,200
Î arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk
` This links has been in
operation since 1877. Over the
years, changes have taken
place, however the overall look
and style has remained. Situated
on the outskirts of Arbroath,
the area is steeped in golfing
history. Arbroath Golf Club finds
itself neighbour to prestigious
courses such as Carnoustie,
St Andrews and Gleneagles,
all within a one-hour drive.
Despite being, predominantly,
a club for private members,
both the Links Directors and
Club Committee work closely
to try and provide members
and visitors alike with a
memorable golfing experience.
FROM
£20
PER ROUND
MUIR OF ORD GOLF
CLUB
Î Muir of Ord, Highlands
Î Par 68 Yards 5,542
Î muirofordgolfclub.co.uk
` Muir of Ord has undergone
some major changes over the
years, but has maintained its
stunning picturesque views.
“Castle Hill”, which is the
par-3 13th, only plays a mere
106 yards. However, with the
hole approximately 100 feet
below the green, you can’t
afford to miss the putting
surface or you’re in trouble.
A typical heathland/moorland
course, this layout offers a very
enjoyable yet challenging day
out. It doesn’t matter if you’re
picking up a club for the first
time or find yourself as a single
figure handicapper; Muir of
Ord Golf Club caters for all.
FROM
£36
PER ROUND
TROON
LOCHGREEN
Î Prestwick, Ayrshire
Î Par 74 Yards 6,785
Î ayrshiregolfscotland.com
` The closest, yet longer,
neighbour of Darley is Troon
Lochgreen. Predominantly
a links course, which also
provides holes of a more
parkland character, this will
test golfers of all abilities. One
stretch in particular - known as
the ‘Dovecot Section’ - could
very much ‘make or break’
your round. Treacherous rough,
deep bunkers and lightning
fast greens - this is absolutely
one of the best value links
courses in the country. This
is where a young American
golfer called Jack Nicklaus
qualified for his first Open
Championship back in 1962.
 FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS (KITTOCKS) FROM
Î St Andrews
Î Par 72 Yards 7,192 £50
PER ROUND
Î standrewsbay.com

` The Kittocks course at Fairmont St Andrews - just a short drive

out the town on the coast road - is equally as tough-but-enjoyable
as The Torrance. Designed by Bruce Devlin with help from golfing
great Gene Sarazen, this course has received plenty of plaudits.
It was awarded ‘Golf Club’ and ‘Course Experience of the Year’ in
2013 by Golf Tourism Scotland. And as it hugs the Fife coastline, it
is easy to see why. The Kittocks is a long and challenging course
that’s bee retouched in recent years and is a cracking test of golf.

BALLUMBIE CASTLE GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Dundee
Î Par 69 Yards 571 £30
PER ROUND
Î ballumbiegolf.co.uk

` Set in the beautiful rolling parkland of Dundee, and offering excellent

views of the surrounding countryside, Ballumbie is a must-play. Its
terrain twists and turns with no two holes the same. Since its opening
in June 2000, there has been a number of changes to the original
layout. Greens have been moved, new bunkers added and trees that
were planted in the early days have now matured nicely to give a
better definition to the course. A wide range of clubs could be used
‘Always make a total during your round, but not necessarily the driver on every tee.
effort - even when
the odds are stacked
against you.’
Arnold Palmer MAGDALENE FIELDS GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
Î Par 72 Yards 6,574 £27
PER ROUND
Î magdalene-fields.co.uk

` Magdalene is the first or last golf course you’ll visit in England,

depending on which way you travel. As you set off from the first, you
are just yards from the famous Elizabethan Walls. By the time you
reach the signature par-3 eighth, you’ll be treated to a wonderful view
of the cliffs leading into Scotland. After the turn, there is an equally
stunning view of the Northumberland coast with Bamburgh and Holy
Island castles clearly in view. Just five minutes from the centre of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, it is a great test for players of all standards.

SEAFIELD GOLF COURSE FROM

Î Ayr, Ayrshire
Î Par 67 Yards 5,481 £23
PER ROUND
Î ayrseafieldgolfclub.com

` The older and slightly shorter sister course to Belleisle. Opened

in 1907, Seafield offers its members a rare combination of links and
parkland holes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a single handicapper or
picking up a club for the first time, a challenge awaits all. It’s length
and forgiving fairways may suit beginner golfers better, but there’s
enough out there to trouble lower handicappers. Watch out for the
13th. With OOB down the left, thick rough down the right and a wall
behind the green, it’s arguably the toughest hole on the course.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 163
 Barassie
A wonderful parkland course only
5 minutes from Glasgow City Centre

NO Links
JOININ
G at KBGC
FEE!
PLAY ALL YEAR
ROUND GOLF!

4 ball rates
May-Sept £220
Founded in 1906 and later re-designed by 301 Barrhead Road, Glasgow G43 1AU
ASK ABOUT OUR
the highly acclaimed James Braid, Cowglen Tel: 0843 312 0040
KĸĐĞ͗ 0141 632 7463 MEMBERSHIP & VISITOR
Golf Club is recognised for its outstanding OFFERS!
ŐƌĞĞŶƐ͘tŝƚŚŵĂŐŶŝĮĐĞŶƚǀŝĞǁƐŽĨ'ůĂƐŐŽǁ Pro Shop: 0141 649 9401
ĂŶĚƚŚĞ^ĐŽƫƐŚŚŝŐŚůĂŶĚƐ͕ƚŚĞĐŽƵƌƐĞ Email: secretary@cowglengolfclub.co.uk/
simon-payne@live.co.uk T: 01292 313920
ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐĂŶŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐ͕ĞŶũŽLJĂďůĞĂŶĚ Follow us on Facebook
ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐŝŶŐĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƚŽĂůůůĞǀĞůƐŽĨƉůĂLJĞƌ͘ www.cowglengolfclub.co.uk www.kbgc.co.uk @Barassie Links - KBGC

Three well-appointed properties, two sleeping 10 and

one up to 5, with stunning views situated on the west
coast of Arran in the hamlet of Machrie, an area of
outstanding natural beauty and a haven for wildlife.
Less than a mile away is Machrie’s 9 hole golf course,
tea room, tennis court, children’s play area and Arran’s
six other golf courses are within driving distance, with
the outstanding 12 hole Shiskine Golf Course only 4
miles away.

Machrie, Arran KA27 8DY

Tel: 01403 822364 E:judyboscawen@yahoo.co.uk
www.arran-holidaycottages.co.uk

Special
Twilight fee
for June dŚĞŽƌƌŝĞ,ŽƚĞůŝƐĂǁĂƌŵ͕ĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ͕ĨĂŵŝůLJƌƵŶŚŽƚĞůŝŶƚŚĞďĞĂƵƟĨƵů
ǀŝůůĂŐĞŽĨŽƌƌŝĞ͕ƐŝdžŵŝůĞƐĨƌŽŵƌŽĚŝĐŬĨĞƌƌLJdĞƌŵŝŶĂů͘
ŌĞƌLJŽƵƌĚĂLJŐŽůĮŶŐ͕ĞŶũŽLJĂƉŝŶƚŝŶƚŚĞůŽǀĞůLJďĞĞƌŐĂƌĚĞŶŽŶƚŚĞ
ƐŚŽƌĞůŝŶĞĂĚŵŝƌŝŶŐƚŚĞǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵůǀŝĞǁƐ͘
Shore Road, Blackwaterfoot, Arran is a golfer’s paradise with no fewer than 7 golf courses - 18 hole
Isle of Arran KA27 8HA ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐĂƚƌŽĚŝĐŬ͕>ĂŵůĂƐŚĂŶĚtŚŝƟŶŐĂLJ͕ĂϭϮŚŽůĞĐŽƵƌƐĞĂƚ^ŚŝƐŬŝŶĞ
ĂŶĚϵŚŽůĞĐŽƵƌƐĞƐĂƚDĂĐŚƌŝĞ͕>ŽĐŚƌĂŶnjĂĂŶĚŚĞƌĞĂƚŽƌƌŝĞ͘
T: 01770 860 226
www.shiskinegolf.com Corrie, Isle of Arran, KA28 8JB
T: 01770 810 273 E: corriehotelarran@gmail.com
www.corriehotel.co.uk

THE HISTORIC GOLF CLUB & LINKS COURSES

Voted the best opening hole in golf

For more information and to book go to

www.machgolf.com
E: secretary@machgolf.com T: 01586 810215

164 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 BRAEHEAD GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Alloa, Clackmannanshire
Î Par 70 Yards 6,053 £20
PER ROUND
Î braeheadgolfclub.co.uk

` Braehead offers the perfect blend of pleasure and picturesque

views. Offering visitors panoramic views of the Ochil Hills, Stirling
Castle and the Wallace Monument, you’ll not want your round to
end. On a clear day, Ben Lomond and the distant mountains of
Perthshire are visible. Originally created back in 1891, naturally the
course has seen a number of changes and improvements. Recent
renovations have been met with approval, whilst more development
has seen the off-course facilities change out of all recognition.

THE ROXBURGHE FROM

Î Kelso, Scottish Borders
Î Par 72 Yards 7,111 £65
PER ROUND
Î theroxburghe.com

` Sometimes you’ve got to treat yourself. So why not treat yourself

at this outstanding inland championship test. Designed by the late
renowned course architect Dave Thomas, and located in the heart
of the Scottish Borders, the Roxburghe is set in 200 acres of rolling
parkland on the banks of the River Teviot. From the natural contours that
have been created over thousands of years, to the natural woodland
edge that surrounds this magnificent course, it’s no surprise that this
‘The object of golf course has been ranked in the top ten inland courses in the country.
is not just to win.
It’s to play like a
gentleman and win.’
Phil Mickelson
BRUNSTON CASTLE GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Dailly, Ayrshire
Î Par 71 Yards 6,556 £28
PER ROUND
Î brunstoncastlegolfclub.co.uk

` Brunston Castle Golf Club can be found in the small parish of

Dailly, in the Carrick District of Ayrshire. Regarded by many as
a ‘hidden gem’, Brunston offers golfers two par-5s, three par-
3s and 13 par-4s. The layout is fantastic. By using the natural
contours and the creation of a number of strategically-placed
ponds, some spectacular holes have been created. The greens,
meanwhile, are maintained to an exceptionally high standard
and provide excellent putting surfaces all year round.

COWGLEN GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Glasgow
Î Par 70 Yards 6,105 £40
PER ROUND
Î cowglengolfclub.co.uk

` Cowglen is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of

Glasgow. An undulating parkland track, framed by mature trees
and just a ten-minute drive from the city centre, it’s no wonder
it’s one of the most popular haunts in central Scotland. Designed
by James Braid, Cowglen provide an interesting and challenging
experience, with the added bonus of fantastic views over Glasgow.
The practice facilities, meanwhile, are top notch and comprise a
six-bay covered academy, putting green and two short game areas.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 165
Golfing in Aberdeen
With an abundance of fabulous golf
courses, Aberdeen is the place to play golf
in 2017. Craibstone Estate is surrounded
by 7 golf courses including Royal Maverston...more golf, more of the time
Aberdeen, Deeside, Murcar Links and Situated amongst some of the most breath-taking scenery in the North East, Maverston Golf
Trump International to name but a few. Course provides the perfect opportunity for outings and visiting parties from corporate days
to stag parties and everything in-between.

Great Golfing Offers: • Society/Group Deals

10%
UNT
• Membership packages from £190
Per night including breakfast only: O ga
DISCbo
• Members and non-members welcome
okin
£45 single OR £77 twin en-suite room when July
• 9-hole and 18-hole parkland courses
room in • Quality catering and bar services
7 day stays start from only £235 including breakfast • Extensive fixtures list
• Equipment for hire
Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
‘The perfect outing venue!’
T: 01224 711012 E: accommodation@sruc.ac.uk 2-3 Stars
Maverston Golf Course · Garmouth Road · Urquhart · Moray IV30 8LR
T. 01343 843863
www.sruc.ac.uk/holidayletsaberdeen fore@maverstongolf.com · www.maverstongolf.com

Enjoy comfort and freedom in well equipped,

warm, self catering log chalets, in beautiful
countryside near beach and Colvend 18 hole golf
course, which rarely uses winter greens. 25% off
CARNOUSTIE
fees at Colvend golf course for Barend guests.
Exclusive Bunkered Dinner, Bed & Breakfast offer with
daily golfers packed lunch box and a copy of Bunkered 01387 780663 Millionaire’s golf available on sixteen quiet
magazine in your room. golf
g courses within a short drive.
All for £65 per person based on two golfers sharing a twin
room and dining from the golfers 3 course menu. Bar
B • restaurant • boules • sauna • indoor
heated
h pool.
Private Car Park
Meal packages available for parties.
Daily Meals Any day of entry; any length of stay 3+ days.
From £284 for 4 people for 3 days, from £399
Bar with Pool Table & Dart Board p.w. Quote “Bunk17” for a 10% discount
when you book.
23 Station Road, Carnoustie DD7 6AR
T: 01241 852 447 E: info@stationhotelcarnoustie.com
WWW.BARENDHOLIDAYVILLAGE.CO.UK
www.stationhotelcarnoustie.com

Ard Na Mara is a
Ard Na Mara beautiful house situated
SELF-CATERING IN NAIRN, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
only minutes away
from Nairn’s two
championship golf
courses. The prestigious
Castle Stuart is around
a twenty minute drive.
The property is spacious
and comfortably sleeps
T: +44(0)7595 977 445 8, with all mod cons
E: ardnamara@outlook.com including WiFi.
22 Table Road, Lochloy, Nairn IV12 5PF
A great base from which
www.ardnamara-nairn.co.uk to explore the highlands.

Cairn Hotel GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY

GOLF CLUB ESTABLISHED 1890
Pay for
get 1 F &
on
3
REE
An authentic highland inn offering excellent our mid
accommodation for small groups and individuals. A challenging 18-hole golf we
Fourba ek
course situated ll
• Tailored Golf packages available featuring Boat of Garten, Spey
Valley and the fantastically challenging Carrbridge Golf Course in the Cairngorms National Park,
• Only 30 minute drive from Castle Stuart – Home of the Scottish approximately 35 miles from
Open Inverness.
• 7ULS$GYLVRU&HUWLʻFDWHRI([FHOOHQFH
ș ([FHOOHQWVHOHFWLRQRIPDOWZKLVNLHVZLWKH[SHUWDGYLFHRQKDQG The perfect - 2017 GREEN FEES -
ș +LJKTXDOLW\EDUPHDOVZLWKVHDVRQDOPHQXVXVLQJWKHEHVW base for your Round: £35 (Mid-week)
local produce Highland
Golf Holiday Day: £45
• Situated in the Cairngorm National Park, offering a fantastic range of things to see
and do. We are delighted to make arrangements or make recommendations for Competitive group/society discounts available!
partners and non-golfers in your group.
Visit us at: www.grantownonspeygolfclub.co.uk
Main Road, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire • 7 • (LQIR#FDLUQKRWHOFRXN
t:01479 872079 f:01479 873725
www.cairnhotel.co.uk

166 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 DRUMOIG GOLF HOTEL FROM
Î Leuchars, St. Andrews
Î Par 73 Yards 6,956 £15
PER ROUND
Î drumoiggolfhotel.com

` Stretching to almost 7,000 yards from the back tees, Drumoig

is one of the best-kept secrets in Fife. The spectacular Fife
countryside on offer, which weaves through a natural bird and
wildlife haven, provides up a beautiful setting for one of the most
fun rounds you’ll encounter in a region that is filled with top
courses. The stretch of holes from eight through to 12 are
particularly excellent and are, in the eyes of many, Fife’s very
own version of Augusta National’s famous ‘Amen Corner’.

BURNTISLAND GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Burntisland, Fife
Î Par 70 Yards 5,993 £22
PER ROUND
Î burntislandgolfhouseclub.co.uk

` Burntisland Golf Club is steeped in history and golfing beauty.

History is etched into every inch of the course, the tenth oldest in the
world. Despite having generous fairways and lush grass, the links-
esque greens will test you to the max. Failure to bring your putting
‘A’ game could result in a high-scoring round. It’s not just the course
that will take your breath away, though. The views over the Firth
of Forth and towards the famous Forth Bridges are truly stunning.
‘A kid grows up a Edinburgh Castle is also visible from the superb eighth hole.
lot faster on a golf
course. Golf teaches
you how to behave.’
Jack Nicklaus THE CARRICK ON LOCH LOMOND FROM
Î Alexandria, Dunbartonshire
Î Par 71 Yards 7,082 £85
PER ROUND
Î cameronhouse.co.uk

` The Carrick on Loch Lomond has established itself as one of

Scotland’s most popular places to play since it opened ten years ago.
As it is celebrating ten years this year, now is a fitting time to sample
one of Scottish golf’s biggest success stories. The course sits on the
banks of the loch and is both a challenging and beautiful test. The
layout follows a traditional Scottish heathland style and is the work
of acclaimed Canadian golf architect Doug Carrick. Watch out for the
par-3 14th, one of the most photographed holes on the course.

WEST LINTON GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Medwyn Road, West Linton
Î Par 69 Yards 6,161 £30
PER ROUND
Î wlgc.co.uk

` West Linton Golf Club is perched in moorland above the village

of the same name in Peebleshire. Featuring wonderful views of
the Scottish Borders’ countryside, it is dominated by Mendick Hill
to the south west. Originally formed as a nine-hole course in 1890,
the great James Braid advised on improvements allowing for the
18-hole course, as we know it today, to take shape. West Linton
has a reputation for being in good condition all year round with
its pristine greens, and pleasant surroundings. You’ll love it.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 167
 EDZELL GOLF CLUB Peterhead Golf Club
Founded 1841
The 18th Oldest Club in the World
Set among the dunes and across the Craigewan
links the course is a classic example of Scottish
BUNKERED 4 BALL OFFER seaside golf at it’s best - and the toughest!
£120
Subject to Availability

www.edzellgolfclub.com
Telephone: 01779 472149 Email: enquiries@peterheadgolfclub.co.uk
High Street, Edzell, DD9 7TF
T: 01356 647283 E: admin@edzellgolfclub.com Visit: www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk

LEVEN LINKS
Golf Course

5 DAY b
ERSH
MEMB ly
IP
Go lf Clu
on h
£399 Royal Musselburg SUMMER SPECIAL
MEMBERSHIP OFFER 2017
Special 4 ball offers available midweek
OUR STUNNING AND INTIMIDATING 456 yard 18th hole here at Leven Links £100 or £80 twilight
LAY UP OR GO FOR IT? You will take 4 here every time!
To experience this and the rest of this historical Links Memberships still available on pro rata prices to January 2018
Call 01333 421390 E: pro@levenlinksprofessionalshop.com
T&Cs subject to availability. Twilight available from 3pm. Must be pre-booked.
The Promenade, Leven, Fife KY8 4HS For further information please email managementsecretary@royalmusselburgh.co.uk
www.leven-links.com or call 0875 819000

YOU DESERVE THE BEST GOLF BREAK IN THE

SCOTTISH BORDERS INCLUDING FREE GOLF!

New WoLL Estate overlooking THE woLL Golf course, The most popular golf resort in
the Scottish Borders & no wonder with FREE GOLF and our award winning restaurant
in the Clubhouse. CALL us now 01750 32799 or check out our website for availability!
NEW WoLL estate, ASHKIRK TD7 4PE 01750 32799· info@wollgolf.co.uk
www.wollgolf.co.uk

Fulford Golf Club | Yorkshire

— Pleasington Golf Club —

For the complete golf experience when visiting Lancashire come

Discounted Summer & Twilight Rates Available
01904 413579 | info@fulfordgolfclub.co.uk
www.fulfordgolfclub.co.uk
to Pleasington Golf Club, renowned as one of the best inland
courses in the North-West of England.
www.pleasington-golf.co.uk/visitors-information
for further information and to make your reservation.
T: 01254 202177 E: hello@pleasington-golf.co.uk

168 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 THORNTON GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Thornton, Fife
Î Par 70 Yards 6,210 £30
PER ROUND
Î thorntongolfclub.co.uk

` Established by a group of railwaymen back in 1921, Thornton

is a much-loved part-woodland, part-parkland course, which is
particularly well-renowned for the quality and condition of its
greens. They truly are amongst the best in the area. The course,
bounded by the River Ore, is a relatively easy-walking layout and
will provide a fine challenge to players of all standards. Its closing
five holes will linger particularly long in the memory as it is here
that the River Ore really comes into play and the real test begins.

SOUTHERNESS GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Southerness, Dumfries
Î Par 69 Yards 6,566 £50
PER ROUND
Î southernessgolfclub.com

` A true championship links, the course at Southerness is one

of the purest links Dumfries has to offer. Resting on the Solway
coast, the club is surrounded by beautiful countryside, making
for a tranquil round. The course is relatively flat, yet the clever
layout and rolling links terrain ensure it is a challenging test from
start to finish. Over the years, Southerness has hosted many top
amateur events, including the Scottish Amateur Championship on
‘A kid grows up a multiple occasions - a clear indication of the quality on offer.
lot faster on a golf
course. Golf teaches
you how to behave.’
Jack Nicklaus BRAHAN GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Lochussie, Muir of Ord
Î Par 72 Yards 6,656 £18
Î brahangolfclub.ch PER ROUND

` Get ready to play, quite possibly, Scotland’s best-kept secret. Having

only opened a few years ago, this is the pride and joy of owners Claudia
and Jon Wiggett. It’s a heathland track with 18 sets of tees played to
nine shared greens. This allows you to, effectively, play 18 holes, using
different tees into double greens. It’s unique, it’s exhilarating and, thanks
to its location of being 15 minutes from Inverness and overlooking the
Black Isle and the Cromarty Firth, it’s also beautiful. There’s an on-site
guesthouse, which is great if you fancy making a weekend of it.

TULLIALLAN GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Tulliallan, Kincardine
Î Par 69 Yards 6,022 £25
Î tulliallangolf.co.uk PER ROUND

` With tree-lined fairways and a burn that winds its way through
most of the course, Tulliallan is a fantastic test. Whether you’re an
enthusiastic beginner or a seasoned golfer, a round here will live
long in the memory. The signature hole is undoubtedly the 16th,
redesigned to accommodate a new burn in front of the green and
two new ponds to the left. A fantastic par-4, you’ll do well not to
drop a shot. You definitely have to stop in at the clubhouse, too,
where visitors can enjoy the friendly welcome and atmosphere.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 169
CLASSIFIEDS

Muir of Ord Golf Club albatross Executive Transportation

Scottish Golf Club of the Year 2016
TOP BRAND
• Par 68 easy walking golf course LEFT AND RIGHT
• A James Braid Designed Course CLUB HIRE
• Weekday and Sun Round £30, Sat £35 AVAILABLE
• Twilight golf after 5pm Mon to Sat
and Sun after 3pm £15
• Scottish Golf Club of the year 2016
• Thur 1pm – 3pm £20 per round
(£15 per round if booked online)
• Weekday Day Ticket £35
• Sunday 4Ball + 1 course Lunch £80
TRAVELLING TIMES FROM INVERNESS Executive Private and
Great North Road, Muir of Ord, Location Distance Time Corporate Transfer Services
Ross-shire IV6 7SX Castle Stuart 6 miles 15 M
T: 07808 079489
T: 01463 870825 Nairn 18 Miles 30 M
Dornoch 50 Miles 1 hr 10 M E: enquiry@highlandgolftransport.co.uk
E: muir.golf@btconnect.com | W: www.muirofordgolfclub.co.uk Trump Int 100 Miles 2 hr 15 M www.highlandgolftransport.co.uk

North Berwick Golf Lodge B&B

2 DAY BREAK
WITH FREE GOLF
Stay for a minimum of 2
nights and get a discount
of £20.00 on our one night
B&B rate plus Free Golf
(18 holes per person per day) for
each day stay.
www.thelodgeontheloch.com
T: 013398 86444
info@thelodgeontheloch.com
Family run B&B where you will be assured
of warm Scottish hospitality from your hosts
Tom & Emma Hill. You will find us situated
in the picturesque seaside town of North
Berwick on Edinburgh’s Golfing Coastline.
For the Golfer wishing to play some of
Scotland’s finest Links courses, North
Berwick West Links is a 5 minute walk
away, and Muirfield, host to the 2013 2 bed Golf Lodge Cottage also
British Open Championship is a 5 minute available for small groups of up to
drive away. Please contact us directly for 4 guests
golf packages available. www.golflodgecottage.co.uk
T: 01620 890064 | E: emma@northberwickgolflodge.co.uk | www.golflodgebb.co.uk

Station Hotel Portsoy 01292 262 474

enquiries@hotelkylestrome.co.uk
www.hotelkylestrome.co.uk

3 NIGHTS’
DBB AND
3 ROUNDS
FROM £269

Perfect base when golfing in Ayrshire - with amazing food!

Championship courses at Royal Troon, Prestwick
& Trump Turnberry all within close proximity

• We specialise in providing top class golf breaks at affordable

prices
• 15 modern, comfortable en-suite rooms
• Many top class courses and ‘hidden gems’ to choose from 2017 Season
including some of the best old traditional links courses in Established in 1905
Holiday area – Still a great place
Scotland accommodation to
• Great food, friendly locals’ bar and large games room with all to play
suit all pockets.
Sky Sports and BT Sports shown Societies encouraged – book by end
• 2017 already filling up fast but we will do our best to September for best 2018 deals. Visitors
accommodate you! always wel
come.
Range of
Station Hotel Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, AB45 2QT Sandyhills, Dalbeattie DG5 4PY membershi
ps
01556 630398 available.
Tel: 01261 842327 E: enquiries@stationhotelportsoy.co.uk
secretary@colvendgolfclub.co.uk
www.stationhotelportsoy.co.uk www.colvendgolfclub.co.uk

170 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 HIGHLANDS / NORTH EAST / SOUTH WEST / HEARTLANDS / SOUTH EAST / CENTRAL / ENGLAND

Monturpie Guest House & Apartments

01334 838555 01334 479900
Monturpie’s stunning location within the www.clubcars-standrews.com
East Neuk of Fife, is within easy driving
distance to St Andrews and all of Fife’s
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IURPPDJQLÀFHQWYLHZVRYHUWKH)LUWK
of Forth towards Edinburgh. Our onsite
licensed restaurant provides delicious
home cooked meals, Monturpie also
offers a touring caravan site, with new
serviced apartments coming soon. Club Cars can meet all your taxi requirements, from shopping trips and nights out to airport
transfers and corporate golf outings. Our spacious saloon cars mean that your comfort is assured
Please visit our website for and estate car capacity is available when luggage space is required.
more information. www.monturpie.co.uk We also operate people carriers seating up to 8 passengers. We operate quality vehicles which
are both clean and well maintained; similarly, we aim to create a favourable impression by being
T: 01333 360254 smartly attired. Taking a conscientious and professional approach to all our customers.
E: enquiries@monturpie.co.uk
Upper Largo, Near St Andrews, Fife KY8 5QS www.standrews-chauffeurdrive.com

Drumoig Golf Hotel

Our accommodation comprises 29 en-suite bedrooms of which 24 are located in unique lodges
adjacent to the main facilities. The 18 hole championship style, Par 73 golf course offers many tĞŽīĞƌĨƌĞĞtŝ&ŝĂŶĚĐŽŵƉůŝŵĞŶƚĂƌLJ
ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŵĞŶƚƐ͘KƵƌǀĞŚŝĐůĞŝƐĂůƵdžƵƌLJ͕
challenging features. The course is set on 250 acres of spectacular Fife countryside, which ϲƉĂƐƐĞŶŐĞƌDĞƌĐĞĚĞƐDWs͘
weaves through a natural bird and wildlife haven.
The only driving you will need to
PLAY & STAY PACKAGES do is on the course.
May to September 2017 info@robertwilsonexecutivetravel.co.uk
07786 082 798
1 NIGHT B&B, 2 Rounds of Golf pp £85 pp (Any day) SPECIAL GOLFERS’ PACKAGE robertwilsonexecutivetravel.co.uk
2 NIGHTS B&B, 1 Round of Golf pp £95 pp (Sun-Thurs) 2 nights’ Dinner, Bed & Breakfast plus
2 NIGHTS B&B, 1 Round of Golf pp £105 pp (Fri/Sat) 2 rounds of golf for 2 people
sharing from £169pp
13 fantastic golf courses within 10 miles
See website for details of amazing offers throughout the year.
Email: reception@drumoiggolfhotel.com Tel: 01382 541800 or 07880 551372 T: 01592 654112 F: 01592 598555
Forgan Drive, Drumoig, St. Andrews, KY16 0DS E: info@royalhotelfife.co.uk
www.drumoiggolfhotel.com www.royalhotelfife.co.uk

MAGDALENE FIELDS GOLF CLUB

Situated on the border between Scotland & England

signoaur
t
holeure

A SOCIAL GAME
A SOCIAL MAG
GREAT PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR PARTIES OF 8 OR MORE
• Coffee & bacon roll + 18 holes £20 per person
• Coffee & bacon roll + 18 holes + 2 course meal £24 per person
• Coffee & bacon roll + 12 holes + soup & sandwiches + 18 holes £28 per person
• Coffee & bacon roll + 12 holes + soup & sandwiches
+ 18 holes + 2 course meal £36 per person

connect with us T: 01289 306130

twitter.com/BunkeredOnline
facebook.com/BunkeredMagazine www.magdalene-fields.co.uk

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 171
CLASSIFIEDS MAIL ORDER / MISCELLANEOUS

modern high-performance persimmon

drivers: fairways: putters

www.persimmongolf.co.uk
Tel: 01558 822552

172 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ¼ DOONTHESTRETCH
PRIZE CROSSWORD
Once you have completed the crossword, re-arrange the
WIN... A DOZEN SRIXON
letters in yellow squares to form a Scottish course ULTISOFT GOLF BALLS

Across 1 2 3 4 5 6
4. It looks as though his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ ‘Majors’
record is now over (5)
7. Golf’s bronze medal winner at the 2016 Olympic 7
Games (4,6)
8. Colin Montgomerie’s father was secretary at this golf
club (5) 8
9. Lickliter, who had two wins on the US PGA Tour (5)
11. See 20 Down 9
13. He lost the 1989 Open Championship in a play-off to
Mark Calcavecchia (6)
10 11 12
15. Inbee Park’s golfing continent (4)
17. Cink, winner of the 2009 Open Championship…(7)
18. … and Westwood, who missed the play-off at the 2009 13 14
Open by a shot (3)
19. Lowest score possible on a golf hole (3)
15 16
21. Wrist problems have hampered this Scot’s career in the
last two years (9)
22. McIlroy, who is still trying to complete golf’s grand slam 17 18
(4)
23. Area where three-putting is to be avoided (5)
24. Winner of the 1994 Open Championship (4,5)

Down 19 20 21
1. Last man to win consecutive Opens (10)
2. Likely venue of the 2021 Open Championship (2,7)
3. Martin Laird’s nationality (4) 22
4. Most US courses incorporate this feature into their
design (5) 23
5. Scot who was the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year
in 1993 (3)
6. The modern pro is very skilful in hitting from it (4) 24
10. All golfers want to hit this area from the tee (7)
12. His recent deal with TaylorMade has made 22 Across
______ than ever (9)
14. Hitting a golf ball too carefully (8) Answer ..............................................................................................................................................................................................
16. US Open Champion in 1988 and 1989 (7)
19. Royal Portrush will host this championship in 2019 (4) Your Name ......................................................................................................................................................................................
20. And 11 Across. Crew Robin altered for ex-Ryder Cup
captain (4,5)
Address ............................................................................................................................................................................................
21. An orthodox one is vital for a golfer (4)
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
Issue 155 answer Ladybank
Winner David McLintock, Glasgow
Email ................................................................................................................................................................................................
ISSUE 155 ANSWERS Across 7. Renaissance, 8. Sixteen, 9. Sleeve, 11.
Locker, 12. Pencil, 15. Eye, 16. Gary, 17. Shorts, 20. Kentucky, 21. Murray.
Down 1. Pebble Beach, 2. Kaymer, 3. USA, 4. Davis Love, 5. Scotscraig,
Send your entry to ‘Prize Crossword’, bunkered, 50 High Craighall Rd, Glasgow, G4 9UD.
6. Leonard, 10. Eagle, 13. Crerar, 14. Stroke, 17. Sam, 18. Sky, 19. One. Crossword kindly produced by Jim McLaren / jim.mclaren5@gmail.com

QUIZ TIME
3 How many times has 6 Which American state 9 Which golfer has spent
Colin Montgomerie finished staged the first-ever the most time at No.2 on
second or tied-second in US Open in 1895? the world rankings without
1 In which year did a major championship? 7 In which year did the ever reaching world No.1?
Annika Sorenstam win the 4 Which player did Mike International team win its one 10 Which Scottish golfer won
first of her ten majors? Weir defeat in a play-off to and only Presidents Cup? the European Tour ‘Rookie of
2 Who is the only golfer win the 2003 Masters? 8 To date, who is the only the Year honour in 2004 - the
to have won the Open 5 Who was the very first Scot to have captained same year that he won his
at Royal Portrush? US Ryder Cup captain? a Solheim Cup side? only European Tour title?

6. Rhode Island, 7. 1998, 8. Dale Reid, 9. Phil Mickelson, 10. Scott Drummond.
ANSWERS 1. 1995, 2. Max Faulkner, 3. Five, 4. Len mattaice, 5. Walter Hagen,
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 173
Tulliallan Golf Club ST FILLANS GOLF CLUB
Superb course set amongst breathtaking scenery
FOR YOUR 2017 GOLF OUTING
A challenging course, whatever your ability - set amidst
Our superb parkland course is only a 30 minute Perthshire Hills over surprisingly level terrain. Excellent
commute from Glasgow and Edinburgh. catering provided by our resident chef Richard Mountain.
Golf Cars*, trollies and clubs for hire.
Flexible (*Booking advised)
membership
for only Thinking of joining a golf club?
£250 We proudly boast the warmest of welcomes and will help you to
meet fellow members for competitive or friendly games. If ‘doing
you own thing’ is your preference —then that’s fine too! Ask to
speak to our Manager for the very latest Membership Offer.
WEEKDAY GOLF Any parties of 12 or ALL VISITORS
PARTY PACKAGES more will receive a QUALIFY FOR A
INCLUDE 10% discount on RETURN ROUND AT
2 ROUNDS OF GOLF, their golf booking. HALF PRICE DURING
COFFEE & FILLED In addition you will THE SAME SEASON.
ROLL ON ARRIVAL, qualify for another Join now for under
SOUP & FILLED game in the same £10 a week (based on
ROLL & HIGH TEA season at half price. 5 day membership).
ALL FOR ONLY *DOES NOT INCLUDE
£54.95.* £54.95 PACKAGE*

3 day
local Golf Pass
on sale - £45
for 3 days!
PRICES: WEEKDAY ROUND £25 WEEKEND ROUND £29 stfillansgolf@btconnect.com
Contact: professional@tulliallangolf.co.uk | Tel: 01259 730798 www.st-fillans-golf.com
www.tulliallangolf.co.uk 01764 685312

Caldwell Golf Club

EXCLUSIVE
OFFER!
Round of golf + 2 Course Lunch
ONLY £20
Subject to availability

TO BOOK NOW CALL: 01505 850616

NEW JUNIOR & Caldwell Golf Club is delighted to offer
bunkered readers and exclusive package
STUDENT OFFER from July to September 2017.
Are you a budding Junior Golfer or Book for only £20 per person and get:
student looking for an affordable • An 18-hole round of Golf on our
club to join? fantastic course
Caldwell Golf Club are offering • Followed by a 2 Course Meal
Free Of Charge Junior memberships afterwards (in the Tower Restaurant)
up to the age of 18.
This offer is exclusive to bunkered
We also invite students to join for an readers and is only available by quoting
annual rate of only £99 bunkered when booking.
*Terms & Conditions apply
To take advantage of this exclusive offer please
please contact the club for details
call the club right away to get your preferred
tee time.

Lochlibo Road, Uplawmoor, Renfrewshire G78 4AU

Pro Shop: 01505 850616 • Clubhouse: 01505 850366 • www.caldwellgolfclub.com
 DOON THE STRETCH
TIME FOR A QUICK NINE?
Check out the 9-Hole Open at St Fillans!

N
OT EVERYONE HAS TIME to play in
Opens lasting five-plus hours these
days and St Fillans Golf Club has
recognised this by hosting its first 9-Hole
Open on Saturday, July 22 - so you’ll still
have plenty of time to play some golf and
watch the third round of the Open.
St Fillans is an attractive course, kindly
referred to by Sandy Lyle as his ‘favourite
inland course in Scotland’, and attracts
visitors from far and wide. It is hoped
that the nine-hole format will prove
popular, along with coffee and a bacon
roll, for the inclusive £10 entry fee.
Should you prefer to play the full 18
holes, the club has a Texas Scramble
Open on August 26 and a Gents’ Open
scheduled for September 16.
If you are looking for a really special
day, then the club hosts the Sandy Lyle
Charity Day on August 5 and hopes
to attract teams of four golfers to this
aggregate Stableford competition.
The former Masters and Open champ
hopes to be in attendance on the day
and details of the last event along
with booking forms can be found at
st-fillans-golf.com.

ON AUGUST 31, why not book

your spot at a special charity day
FYI
at Dalmahoy Golf and Country • 100,000 older
Club near Edinburgh to help people go two weeks
raise money for Age Scotland? or longer without
The charity works to promote speaking to anyone
positive views of aging, to • 240,000 older people
help older people to be as well consider the TV or
as they can be and to tackle a pet as their main
loneliness and isolation. form of company
The day promises a fun day
• Chronic isolation is a
of golf with high value prizes
health risk equivalent
up for grabs. You even have
to 15 cigarettes a day
the opportunity to win a car.
After breakfast, the event • 90,000 people in

PUTTING THE kicks off with a shotgun

start. Afterwards, there’s a
Scotland have dementia
– this will rise by 40%

FUN INTO
high-tea, during which the in the next 12 years
awards will be presented. • Each winter, 1 older
To get involved and play one person in Scotland

FUNDRAISING! of Scotland’s best courses, email

fundraising@agescotland.org.uk
dies every 47 minutes
due to the cold
The new Whisky Bar is located
in MacLeod House & Lodge - the
Aberdeen resort’s on-site five-star
accommodation - and it is as grand
and opulent as you would expect.

IT’S YOUR
Swanky new Whisky Bar opens at Trump International in Aberdeen,

ROUND!
showcasing the world’s best - and rarest - whisky
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE
DOON THE STRETCH
Y
OU NOW HAVE ANOTHER
good reason to visit Trump
International in Aberdeen. As
well as having one of the best golf
courses you’ll ever play, the resort
has just opened its new Whisky Bar.
Located within the on-site five-star
hotel - MacLeod House & Lodge -
the new bar features an extensive
selection of whiskies selected from
the world’s leading producers. Rare
and highly sought-after releases sit
alongside well-known favourites
and traditional Scottish brands,
giving guests a unique choice of
liquors to sample and savour.
Trump International worked
with industry experts, including
family-owned Scotch whisky
specialist Gordon & MacPhail, in
curating this collection.
A central feature of this intimate
traditional bar is bespoke, hand-
made cabinetry, showcasing the
most valuable bottles behind
decorative brass grills.
A Trump Scotland spokesperson
said: “Guests can relax amidst the
dark walnut, luxurious upholstery
and golden tones whilst enjoying
a favourite dram or indulging
in something extra special
recommended by our resident
whisky connoisseur.”
Sarah Malone, Executive Vice
President of Trump International
Golf Links, Scotland, said the new
addition would be open to all.
“We have worked with the
industry’s best to select the finest
malts and create an authentic
whisky experience,” she added.
“It’s a great addition to our existing
facilities and we look forward to
launching an exclusive Whisky
Membership, giving whisky lovers
even more access to rare bottles,
new releases and special events in
the very near future.”
You can visit trumpgolfscotland.
com/macleod-house/hotel for more
details and opening times.
177
 Moments
LANDMARK VICTORIES | INSPIRATIONAL PLAYERS

1961
ARNOLD PALMER
‘THE HOWITZER
THROUGH THE BUSH’

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH this

magazine in 2011, Arnold Palmer
revealed that competing in the Open
Championship was “a ‘must’ on his
schedule. “Back at the start,” he
revealed, “when my father and I were
discussing my career, he told me that
it was important to be an international
player, that you had to be playing
and competing all around the
globe.” Few of his fellow American
professionals shared that vision,
preferring instead to compete almost
exclusively in the US. That started to
change when Palmer won the 1961
Open at Royal Birkdale. He had made
his debut in the championship a
year earlier, finishing second at St
Andrews. He wouldn’t be denied
next time around. En route to the
Claret Jug, he produced one of
the most remarkable shots in the
championship’s history - one so
incredible, in fact, that a bronze
plaque now commemorates the spot
he struck it from. A wayward drive at
the 15th hole in the final round ended
up, as Henry Longhurst described
it, at “the bottom of a small, sandy
bank, buried deep in some blackberry
bushes”. Rather than hack his way
back into play, Palmer grabbed his
6-iron and proceeded to scythe his
ball through what was superbly
described a ‘howitzer through
the bush’ some 150 yards away.
“I have never hit a ball so hard in
my life,” he later said, whilst former
champion Henry Cotton called it
“one of the greatest shots ever”.
Under the circumstances, it probably
was. Palmer made his four, won by
a shot from Dai Rees, successfully
defended his title the following
year at Royal Troon and forever
improved the standing of the world’s
oldest golf championship amongst
his American contemporaries.

178 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 contentsissue156
FEATURES
44 GREG NORMAN
COVER STORY Michael McEwan chats
exclusively to the Australian legend about
his career on and off the golf course
60 SCOTTISH OPEN PREVIEW
EXCLUSIVE Alex Noren reflects on his
win at Castle Stuart last year plus a
punter’s guide to Dundonald Links
68 2017 OPEN PREVIEW
A rundown of the favourites, an interview
with Martin Slumbers, Nick Dougherty’s
guide to Birkdale - it’s all in here
PLUS
The story of the club that won the
2008 Open for Padraig Harrington
100 TEN YEARS OF THE CARRICK
David Cunninghame looks back on a
decade of golf at the popular course
on the banks of Loch Lomond
106 ‘OFF TO THE DEAFLYMPICS’
PROFILE Meet Steven Cafferty, the Scottish
golfer who is refusing to let a disability
get in the way of his golf career

Tuition Gear Opinion Regulars

36 Finish higher 110 Callaway Epic irons 32 Dougie Donnelly 12 Letters
Scott Clark demonstrates 111 Callaway Epic hybrids Our man shares his favourite 13 bunkered On Tour
his best swing path tip 112 Arccos game-tracker Open memories, 40 years on 14 On The Tee
114 FJ 2017 spikeless range from his first championship 147 Travel News
38 Read greens better
115 Bettinardi putters 150 Cool Hangout: Oregon
Start the process earlier 34 Michael McEwan
118 Shop Window 162 Where To Play in GB&I
for improved results In light of recent turbulent
119 Vintage Gear 173 Doon The Stretch
and terrible events, a long
40 Get a more natural grip 133 Buyer’s Guide 178 Moments
overdue appreciation of golf
A simple way to check how Featuring
you’re holding the club 134 Irons
140 Fairway Woods

FREE INSIDE
94 Build a better swing 145 Extra Listings
Want to make some gains? Plus
It starts with some basics... 126 Reviewed Tour Drivers
104 Creating lag
The technique you need to
be a better ball-striker 16-page Epic Power Guide!

8 BUNKERED.CO.UK
DEAR
WIN
A long-sleeved
‘Largo’ top
Email letters@bunkered.co.uk

STAR LETTER
I know the pros have routines... but Lexi’s putt was a simple tap-in
5 Having read the comments
about the ‘Lexi’ incident, anyone
who marks their ball knows exactly
where the ball should be replaced.
I suppose many of us have
misplaced our ball in friendly
competition because a fraction of an
inch either way wouldn’t make much
difference to the end result. However,
this young lady is already a seasoned
professional and would have known
exactly what she was doing, maybe
not intentionally, but possibly taken
for granted that it wouldn’t have
mattered that much.
Why she didn’t just tap it in instead
of mucking about marking the ball is
beyond me and I’m sure many other
golfers.
I know the pros have their routines,
but that putt was a simple tap-in and
didn’t need to be subject to such a
furore.
The other night I was lucky
enough to see the replay of Sandy
Lyle winning the 1987 Players
Championship on Sky Sports. By
God, he could strike a ball! As for
the comments from Gerry Campbell
about the Masters ‘oldies’ [Your
Views, Issue 155], these guys earned
their place in history and, even if they
could only swing with one arm and
needed a buggy to get round, I for
one would welcome them.
As for those supposedly better
players, let them win the damn thing
rather than complain about their right
to return time and time again to one
of the greatest shows on Earth.
I have lived in England for many
years but had the pleasure of
Machrihanish membership in the
1970s when I was stationed there
with the RAF. One day, I hope to visit
those links again where, I hope, I
will play better than I did back then.
Robert Laird
Nottingham
(member at Belton Park GC)
EDITOR’S REPLY
I also watched that Sandy Lyle ‘Players’
re-run and it was pretty enjoyable stuff.
For one, there was hardly anybody there
and I’m still constantly amazed the size
of the clubs used. Absolutely tiny. I also
thought it was interesting that Lyle was
practically hounded by the announcer
as soon as his ball hit the bottom of
the cup. These days, there seems to be
so much more going on. Don’t know
whether that’s a good or a bad thing.

Making my brother famous...

5 It gives me great
pleasure to share
with you my brother’s
woeful attempt at a
230-yard hybrid shot on
the par-5 12th at Paisley
Golf Club.
Lay up before the burn
or go for the green in two
for the 14 handicapper -
the decision was clear. He
had the audacity to consult
his GPS watch before
stepping up confidently.
Little did he know what
was to unfold.
The backswing looked
good. Noticeable torque
from his ‘Dad bod’
indicated he was going for
glory. ALL OR NOTHING.
Nothing. The clubhead
flew towards the back of
the ball at an alarming
rate, topping the ball so
much so that it shot off
directly backwards, much
to the bewilderment and
amusement of his playing
partner and opponents.
‘Cool story bro’, I hear
you say. The shame
doesn’t end there. As you
can see from the perfectly
timed photo, David’s
ball sets off backwards
like an express train,
next stop... his ill-placed
bag! ‘CLUNK’ as the ball
comes to a rest against his
bag. ‘PENALTY STROKE’
someone exclaims through
fits of laughter. They say
the screeches of his
playing partners were
heard far and wide across
Renfrewshire and beyond!
I always knew that one
day my brother would
be featured in bunkered
magazine... ladies and
gentlemen, my brother
David, from Paisley.
Ryan Gibb

12 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ÎON TOUR
Been somewhere nice? Managed to get your copy
of bunkered in the snap? If so, send us your pic and
we’ll stick your mug in the mag!
letters@bunkered.co.uk

The other Green Jacket winner

5 We recently played the first Green Jacket competition
of 2017 at Burntisland. A total of 26 bunkered
subscribers were involved and here is eventual winner,
2 3
Steven McGinnis, wearing the much sought-after replica
Masters jacket. He will keep this until he can defend his
title at The Duke’s.
Cameron McGregor

One-ball status?
5 During one of our club qualifiers, my playing partner
and I got caught behind a one-ball at the fifth tee. Not
once between then and completing our round did he wave
us through. This situation was made worse as he had his
girlfriend with him who liked to stop for photos every so
often.
Our courses are municipal with visitors’ and members’
times split throughout the day, hence why we found 4
ourselves in this situation.
Should a one-ball wave those playing in a competition
through or do they still have a right of place? Hope you can
help.
Jim Robinson
EDITOR’S REPLY
I believe the old ‘a single player has no standing’ is a bit
outdated these days. I’m not even sure it’s in the rulebook. In
this instance, surely common courtesy takes over? Maybe you 5
could, in the future, politely ask if you could play through?

Happy reader
5 I live in Toronto, Canada, I’m 84 years of age and I’m
still an ardent golfer having started playing in 1965. I
managed to get down to as low as an eight handicap and
I have also managed to score five holes-in-one over the
years.
Both of my parents were born in Blantyre and came to
Canada in 1929. I have visited Bonnie Scotland about 30
times over the years and first played St Andrews in 1969, 1 Alec Palmer says he had a “great week” at Aphrodite
when the green fee was £1. In 1974, it was £2. Hills in Cyprus. “Fantastic course with stunning layout.” 2
I’ve played quite a few courses, including Muirfield, North Billy Smith and the boys on tour with Abby Birnie holding
Berwick, Dunbar, Musselburgh, Carnoustie, Gleneagles, the bunkered at Salgados Palace in Portugal. 3 Stephen
Rosemount [Blairgowrie], Nairn and Royal Dornoch to name Reid and Barry Wilson skiing in Pila, Aosta Valley, Italy. 4
a few. Buchanan Castle members at the National Golf Club in Belek.
I picked up a copy of bunkered in my doctor’s office 5 Linlithgow GC member Jim Callachan on the Brooklyn
today [Issue 152] and thought it was a great golf magazine Bridge, New York, with daughters Hayley and Morgan.
- I enjoyed all the articles. I’m going back to the doctor in a
few weeks and hope the latest issue is there. connect with us
Lang may your lum reek!
Robert Burns

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 13
Insight, news, views & gossip from around the game

14 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 KOREAN STARS’ IN THE WORDS TURNBERRY’S
TOUR OF DUTY OF... LYDIA KO NEW COURSE
PAGE 20 PAGE 24 PAGE 27

IS THIS
THE END
OF TIGER?
The 14-time major champion is at his lowest
ebb - but can he come back from his DUI arrest?

WORDS Martin Inglis

@MartinInglis_
PHOTOS Getty Images

N
INE YEARS AGO, TIGER
WOODS was bordering on
invincible. After winning his 14th
major at the 2008 US Open at Torrey
Pines, he looked set to obliterate
Jack Nicklaus’ record haul of 18 wins
and cement himself as the greatest
golfer - if not athlete - of all-time.
He was 32, and though troubled
by some injuries, was in the prime of
his career. He already had 65 of his
79 PGA Tour titles in pursuit of Sam
Snead’s 82. He averaged almost
six wins per season. He was a
phenomenon.
All that makes it
unfathomable how the
second chapter of his
career has lurched
so horrendously
off the rails.
There is
arguably
no
greater
contrast in the history of sport and the
lowest ebb of that second chapter
was reached in the early hours
of Monday, May 29, when Woods
was detained for driving under the
influence (DUI). That came just four
days after a website post which said
he ‘hadn’t felt this good in years’
following a fourth back surgery.
The 41-year-old was found asleep
at the wheel of his black Mercedes
and despite there being no alcohol
involved - which Woods stressed in a
statement immediately afterwards - a
police report released said he ‘didn’t
know where he was’, his speech
was extremely slow and slurred, and
he failed a number of mandatory
roadside tests. He said it was due to
a reaction to prescription drugs.
Mugshots are never flattering but
Woods’ was particularly shocking. His
eyes told the story of a man who had
sacrificed everything to become the
greatest of his generation and was
now paying the price.
You’d think that would trigger a
sympathetic reaction but social media
- Twitter especially - rarely misses the
chance to twist the knife, regardless
of who you are or what you’ve
achieved.
The mugshot went viral and was
given the ‘meme treatment’. For
some, that will be their everlasting
image of Woods.
If the mugshot and detail in the
resulting police report wasn’t enough,
the release of the police dashcam
footage laid bare the true extent of
Woods’ troubles. It was an extremely
tough watch.
Following that, the ridicule directed
at him stopped. Finally, people were
starting to sympathise with Woods.
There was also outrage that the
footage had been made available
for public consumption, despite that
being in accordance with Florida
state law.
Media outlets, us at bunkered.co.uk
included, were heavily criticised
for posting it. But here’s the thing.
Woods is the world’s most instantly T

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 15
TIGER’S
FOUR BACK
SURGERIES
zMARCH 31, 2014
Woods underwent a
microdiscectomy on his
lower back to relieve
pressure on a pinched
nerve. “This pain had been
going on for quite some
time,” said friend Notah
Begay. As a result, Woods
missed the Masters for
the first time in his pro
career and didn’t return to
action for three months.
zSEPTEMBER 16,
2015
His back
remained
an issue
with more
high-profile
WDs. He had
another microdiscectomy
to remove a disc fragment,
which was after initially
going in for a check-up.
“The fact that this check-up
Clockwise from top
ended up in surgery I find left A fan shows his
absolutely astounding,” support for Woods
said Peter O’Sullivan, a at the 2017 Farmers
Insurance Open;
professor in physiotherapy. Holding the US Open
trophy following his
zOCTOBER 30, 2015 most recent major
Six weeks later, Woods win in 2008; Woods is
revealed he had a handcuffed by officers
following his arrest for
‘successful’ follow-up DUI; The scoreboard
procedure. Intended to says it all after Woods’
‘relieve discomfort’, it withdrawal from this
year’s Dubai Desert
raised concerns from Classic.
former coach Hank Haney.
who said: “The odds aren’t
great of ever seeing him T recognisable golfer and when he gets Twitter. Would they have done that before
return to a level even arrested and footage is made available the footage was made public? Probably
close to where he once from it, that’s a pretty big deal. not.
was.” It was 13 months Even though it’s not the Tiger story we’d Both stated their desire to see Woods
before he returned to like to be writing, we’re not doing our jobs return to competitive golf but, in reality,
action at the 2016 Hero if we don’t share it. The media scrutiny a comeback has never seemed more
World Challenge. goes with the territory of being a sports unlikely - despite that statement days
star who picks up tens of millions of dollars before his arrest saying: “Unequivocally, I
zAPRIL 20, 2017 every year in endorsements. want to play professional golf again.”
After WD-ing from the We also didn’t pass judgment on the For starters, there are still serious
Dubai Desert Classic with footage or force anybody to watch it. We question marks hanging over the state of
back spasms, Woods just shared what was already available for Woods’ game.
underwent spinal fusion public consumption. Just last May, he dunked three
surgery, said to be a ‘last There was also a second video from straightforward 102-yard pitch shots into
resort’. “It was instant inside the police station that was equally, water at a media day for the Quicken
nerve relief - I haven’t felt if not more, alarming. We opted not to Loans National and, at the Hero World
this good in years,” said publish that. Challenge last December, there were
Woods on May 24. Five Hours later, major champions Gary glimpses that the short game yips of early
days later, though, we all Player and Martin Kaymer reacted by 2015 were still in his system.
know what happened... posting heartfelt messages of support on That, combined with a driving accuracy T

16 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 A CAREER OF TWO HALVES
1996-2008 2009-Present
PGA TOUR EVENTS PLAYED 222 PGA TOUR EVENTS PLAYED 92

% %
WINS WINS

65 29.28% 14 15.22%

TOP 5s TOP 5s

128 57.66% 27 29.35%

TOP 10s TOP 10s

152 68.47% 36 39.13%

TOP 25s TOP 25s

195 87.84% 53 57.61%

CUTS MADE CUTS MADE

216 97.30% 74 80.43%

CUTS MISSED CUTS MISSED

4 1.80% 12 13.04%

W/Ds W/Ds

2 0.90% 6 6.52%

T of just 28.57% in the opening round
of the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open,
highlights that there are weaknesses
throughout Woods’ game at a
time when the depth of talent in
tournament fields has never been
greater.
Then, there are the health issues.
A swift return to action after a fourth
back surgery in three years is not on
the cards - he can’t even twist at the
moment - and it would appear that
this fusion surgery, which joins two or
more vertebrae in the lower back, is
the final throw of the dice to resurrect
his career.
Finally, there are the off-course
issues. To be driving in no fit state
away from his Florida mansion at
3am gives a worrying look into his
personal life, and the mental impact
from the reaction to his arrest - just
like from the uncovering of his sex
scandal of 2009 - is likely to take its
toll.
Since that fateful night of
November 26, 2009, it feels like
everything that could possibly have
gone wrong for Woods - with the
exception of an 18-month period in
2012 and 2013 - has done just that.
From being a player who struck
fear into his rivals for more than ten
years, it is those same rivals who are
now fearing for Woods’ physical and
mental wellbeing.
His legacy has been tainted and
that is incredibly sad, given that he
has inspired a generation.
Ask the vast majority of tour pros in
their 20s who their idol was growing
up and the answer you’ll get will likely
be Tiger Woods.
If the ‘Golf Gods’ do exist, he will
be repaid for all he has given to the
game by returning, firstly, to full health
and then to action.
I think I speak for the vast majority
of golf fans by saying: “Unequivocally,
we want Tiger Woods to play
professional golf again.” „

18 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 Si Woo Kim recently
won the Players - one
of the richest events
in golf - but must

NEW
still do mandatory
military service

BALLS
PLEASE
Volvik balls. What’s the deal?
Volvik is the brand leader in
‘multi-coloured’ golf balls. They
brought out the Volvik S4 and
the Volvik Vivid in the UK this
past spring. They come in seven
different colours: red, orange,
pink, green, lime, blue and white.

Where have I seen them before?

Two-time Masters champion
Bubba Watson uses the Volvik
S4 and regularly plays with the
pink version to match his bright
pink driver. Typical Bubba.

Which one should I get?

For lower handicappers with fast
swing speeds, the S4 ball would
be best suited to you. It provides
accuracy and optimal spin rate.
For less ‘skilled’ players, the Vivid
would be the answer. It provides
longer distance for those with
slower swing speeds, looking for a
softer feel and consistent flight.

So, eh, how much are we talking?

The Volvik S4 will have an RRP
of £49 per dozen and the Volvik
Vivid will retail at £39 per dozen.

Will it take off?

Possibly. It will be hard to match
Titleist’s dominance in the golf
ball market but Bubba is among
75 professionals using Volvik balls
on tours worldwide. The bright
colours will turn some players off
but, equally, others will love the
new concept from the Korean
manufacturer. They have 37 years’
experience in manufacturing balls
so at least they know what they’re
doing from a technical perspective.

20 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 TOUR
OF DUTY
One minute you’re a PGA Tour winner.
The next you’re doing military service.

WORDS CHRIS DOYLE

I
T WOULD HAVE been easy
to think that Si Woo Kim, the
recent Players Championship
winner, would be looking forward
to enjoying the riches of his
Sawgrass victory.
Just think what you could do
with $1,890,000.
But Kim, 21, will soon have to
put his career - and his spending
- on hold for two years. All South
Korean men are obliged to
complete two years of military
service between turning 18 and
hitting 35.
Not even professional golfers
are excluded.
Kim, the current world No.31,
was given a five-year exemption
on the PGA Tour courtesy of his
incredible Sawgrass victory, but
tried to plan his future against
taking military service.
Sangmoon Bae, a two-time PGA
Tour winner currently on military
service, also tried desperately to
get an exemption from service and
lodged an appeal in an attempt to
delay it.
That was thwarted. So, too,
was his hope to be granted an
extension to represent South
Korea in the Olympics in Rio back
in 2016. Exemptions on service are
given out to South Korean athletes
who win a medal at the Olympics, T

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 21
T or who win gold medals
at the Asian Games. The
30-year-old exhausted all
avenues to avoid having
to complete his military
service.
Every road was sadly a
dead end.
Kim, on the other
hand, has realised the
inevitability of the situation,
despite his milestone
victory at a tournament
widely regarded as the
unofficial ‘fifth major’.
He told Golf Digest:
“Regardless of me
winning this tournament,
I really have to go to the
military service and I’ve
already decided I’m going
to go, too, so I’m ready for
that. But I have five years
of exemption so we will
see.”
Bae’s military service
comes to an end on
August 16 and it is
expected he will return
to PGA Tour action at
the Safeway Open, a
tournament he won when Clockwise from top Sangmoon Bae (front row, on
it was called the Frys.com the right) with his army pals; posing in his uniform; a
Open in 2014. close-up shot of his uniform posted on his Instagram;
a special golf tribute birthday cake.
“I’m very well and hope
to see you guys soon,”
he said on his Instagram
page in a reply to Rickie
Fowler. In all of his other that Bae was the real player heading into his late the top 50, which gives
online posts, he has been deal with two wins in twenties. you access to all four
nothing but upbeat. During the States. He reached Bae has now fallen to majors and the lucrative
one of the rare breaks he No.64 on the world 974th in the world rankings World Golf Championships.
gets from duty, he played rankings and produced a due to his inactivity over Bae was outside the top
golf with close friend gritty performance at the the past two years and it 100 when he went on
Danny Lee, saying: “Finally Presidents Cup on home is clear to see why he put military service but he was
it’s my holiday from army soil in 2015 where he up sjch a fight against his certainly a lot closer than
duty! Good to see my went 2-1-1 as a captain’s country’s calling. where he is now, almost
friend @dannygolf0724 pick, marginally losing the Despite being exempt outside the top 1000.
and my old friends! I miss deciding singles match on the PGA Tour through Add in the fact he went
@pgatour so much!” against Bill Haas. There 2018, world ranking points from making over $2.5m
Before his military is a real feeling the best are collated via results. It in 2015 to earning nothing
service, we got glimpses is still to come from a is all about staying inside whilst completing his

DONE TO DO

DOING
THEIR z KJ CHOI z YE YANG z BYEONG HUN-AN

DUTY
Completed his military Yang did his two years at the Won the BMW PGA in 2015
service 25 years ago when age of 21. He later became - but will have to complete
working a night shift at a the first Asian male to win his service sometime in
National Guard station. a major, the 2009 PGA. the next eight years.

22 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 THE
INSIDE
TRACK
New technology is great… when it
works, that is. The European Tour
chose its biggest tournament - the
BMW PGA - to launch its brand new
digital platform. By 10am, it wasn’t
working. “How is it possible on day 1
of #BMWPGA for this app to be over
an hour behind?” said top coach
Jamie Gough. Denis Pugh added it
was a “bad week” to get it wrong.

Tiger Woods released a statement

saying he was “pain free” recently.
He said he hadn’t felt that good in
years. We cannot confirm whether
this statement was copy and pasted
from the previous statement(s)
where he said he was pain free…
but it’s highly likely. Anyway, he’ll
be back soon because he’s pain
free. Then we’ll start the whole
process again. This makes us sad.

Tyrell Hatton is the world No.16.

military duties, it must be a
tough pill to swallow.
In the women’s game,
there are currently a
seven South Koreans in
the world’s top 11. South
Korean women are
absolutely dominant on
the LPGA, with the likes of
So Yeon Ryu, In Gee Chun
and Inbee Park, who have
ten majors between them.
But the country is not even
close to replicating the
He has one career victory to his
same level of success in name (excluding lower level tours).
the men’s game. And he’s 25 years of age. He drives
Over the years, there a Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4,
have been players who which is available from £185,466. Get
have made their mark, your kids into golf. Seriously. We’re
but nothing consistent not joking. Buy them clubs. Today.
on the big stage. It is
hard to pinpoint exactly
why, but there is no
denying a player’s two-
year duty to their country
has unfortunately had a
detrimental effect to men
achieving that goal.

Reasons To Get Your Kids Into

z SI WOO KIM
The Players champ
has tried everything to
dodge military service,
but to no avail.
z SEUNG-YUL NOH
Has one PGA Tour victory
to his name - the 2014
Zurich Classic of New
Orleans in 2014.
z JEUNGHUNG WANG
Claimed his third
European Tour win in less
than a year at the Qatar
Masters in January.
Golf No.4: They’ll Make Money
Not Playing Golf. Rory McIlroy has
come in tied sixth on Forbes’ latest
‘Highest Paid Athletes’ list, with
total earnings of $50m. Real Madrid
star Ronaldo is No.1 with $93m.
The next golfer on the list is Phil
Mickelson in 12th spot with £43.5m,
with Tiger Woods back in 17th with
$37.1m. Why is this relevant? McIlroy
made $34m off the golf course,
which is nice pocket money.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 23

‘PARSONS
IS NOT
CRAZY’
PXG IS THE NEWEST brand in
golf, known for its high-end gear
and eye-catching logo. A host of
top tour players - male and female,
including world No.1 Lydia Ko - made
the switch to the company as owner
Bob Parsons tried to make his mark
in a sport already rife with brands.
People called him mad,
investing millions into an industry
that is ferociously competitive
and has its fair share of loyal
customers. But he’s stuck with it.
One of the players Parsons
wanted carrying the PXG logo -
which Forbes says is worth $2m
per event in terms of brand
exposure on TV - was Billy
Horschel. The American recently
bagged his fourth PGA Tour
title and said he and his fellow
PXG staffers are determined to
prove the doubters wrong.
“Bob Parsons… the belief
he had just not in me but the
other guys that he signed early
on to carry the banner for PXG
was massive,” said Horschel.
“I think we have all felt a little
bit of a weight on our shoulders to
carry it. We want to prove that Bob
is not crazy. People may think he is,
but he’s not. He’s a brilliant guy.
“We talk on a regular basis.
He’s different. He texts every
one of us, every one of the PXG
staffers on a fairly regular basis
checking in. He’s not just checking
in to see how we’re playing - he’s
checking in to see how we’re
doing. He cares for us as people.
“That’s truly amazing. To think
that I can help PXG get to the
level he wants is massive.”
24 BUNKERED.CO.UK
It’s been a huge honour for me to be
the No.1 ranked player in the world. It’s
always been a dream of mine. For it to
have happened so early, it’s something
I’m very fortunate about.
The girls are playing amazing golf
and there is incredible talent on this
tour. I know that I need to work hard.
I’ve got to focus on the shot in front of
me and not get too carried away about
the results and the rankings. I’ve got
to focus on me, and I think that’s the
important thing going forward.
My goal is to retire when I’m 30,
so that’s another ten years from now.
Anything can happen. I’m sure in
a year’s time, I’ll be a little bit
different from what I am now.
I don’t know how much I’m
going to change in ten
years’ time or five years’
time, but I’m really looking
forward to spending that
time here, on tour with
the girls.
I’ve had a lot of changes going
into this year. Changed caddies,
coaches, everything apart from
my name. I think the biggest
change for me was actually
the change of moving to the
US. I’ve lived, like, ten years
in New Zealand and it’s a
12-hour flight from LA to go
back home, and another 12
to go to Korea, where I am
originally from. Luckily for
me, my whole family is with
me. I don’t feel homesick.
I definitely do miss going
back and seeing the
beaches back home and
spending time with my
IN THE WORDS OF
friends.
LYDIA KO
I’ve really been liking
the changes I’ve made
to my swing. It hasn’t
been so technical
AGE 20 with Gary [Gilchrist]
NATIONALITY NEW ZEALANDER and I think that’s a
good thing. Caddie-
wise, even though I’ve
known Pete [Godfrey]
for a while, I think he’s
still getting to know a little bit
more about my game and I’m getting to
know about his style. I think in time it’ll
improve and hopefully we’ll be able to
continue this team for a while.
 BEST
EXPERIENCE
VOTING HAS OPENED for
the 2017 Scottish Golf Tourism
Awards, which will once again
see one of the country’s
golf clubs recognised as
the provider of ‘Scotland’s
Best Golf Experience’.
Won for the last three years
on the spin by Kingsbarns
Golf Links in Fife, pictured
below, the ‘Best Experience’
accolade is the ultimate seal
of approval, recognising
excellence across the board.
It will be the main award
handed out at the ceremony,
which brings the curtain down
on Scottish Golf Tourism Week,
taking place this year from
October 23-27 at the Trump
Turnberry resort in Ayrshire.
Other awards include ‘Best
Clubhouse’, ‘Best Catering’,
‘Best Customer Service’,
‘Best Value For Money’
and ‘Best Golf Course’.
All of the awards are
chosen for by the public, with
voting open until August 31.
The winners will be revealed
at a gala dinner at Trump
Turnberry on October 26.
Everybody who votes The spectacular King Robert the
will also be entered into a Bruce Course is set to open this
summer, complementing the existing
prize draw to win a year’s Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry
supply of Srixon golf balls.
Cast your vote now at
scotlandsbestgolfexperience.
co.uk

26 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 FIT FOR
FIRST LOOK!

A KING
Introducing the new King Robert the
Bruce Course at Trump Turnberry
NEW
COURSE

L
ITTLE OVER A year
on from the ‘rebirth’
of its acclaimed
Ailsa Course, Trump
Turnberry has unveiled the
magnificent King Robert
the Bruce Course.
The replacement for the
old Kintyre Course, the
new layout may occupy
much of the same land
as its predecessor but
with every hole having
been, at the very least,
considerably changed -
and, in some cases, built
entirely from new - it is far
more than just an upgrade.
Confused by the link
to Bruce? Don’t be. The
man who led Scotland
to independence in the
Battle of Bannockburn was
born in Turnberry Castle
in July 1274. The famous
Turnberry lighthouse now
sits amongst the ruins of
the castle.
Martin Ebert, the
man responsible for
the changes to the
Ailsa Course, was
commissioned to create
what the team at the
Ayrshire resort are
calling ‘a world-class golf
experience which will thrill
golfers of all abilities’.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 27
 Arguably the most
exciting run of holes is the
stretch from the eighth
to the eleventh, which
offers spectacular views
of the castle ruins and
lighthouse, as well as the
stunning coastline.
The par-5 eighth sits
high above the ocean
and ‘quickens the blood’
ahead of the ninth. It has
already been tipped to
become the most exciting
hole across either of the
OBITUARY
Roberto
De Vicenzo
1923-2017
28 BUNKERED.CO.UK
two courses at Turnberry,
with the shot across the
valley leading to the ocean
described as ‘not for the
faint hearted’.
The par-3 tenth requires
a shot across its own
valley to a well-protected
green, whilst the 11th,
another par-5, has the
lighthouse as its focus
from the tee.
With its distinctive
bunkering, visually
attractive wetland areas
IN A SPORT WHERE you
lose more regularly than you
win, Roberto De Vicenzo
was a remarkably prolific
champion. The Argentine,
who passed away recently at
the age of 94, recorded over
230 tournament victories in
a long and illustrious career.
The majority of those came
in his native South America.
He won the Argentine PGA
Championship 16 times and
the Argentine Open on nine
occasions. Both are records.
There were multiple PGA
Tour wins, too, as well as
three French Open victories.
However, his crowning glory
and swathes of gorse, it
looks set to become an
instant classic and the
perfect complement to
its more illustrious sister
course.
A Turnberry
spokesperson said:
“An exceptional golfing
experience awaits those
who play this course,
cementing Trump
Turnberry’s reputation as
one of the world’s finest
golfing destinations.”
came in 1967 when he won
the Open at Royal Liverpool.
At the age of 44, De Vicenzo
held off defending champion
Jack Nicklaus to win by two.
He might have had another
major the following year but
signed for an incorrect
scorecard at the
Masters, an error
that cost him a
chance at a
play-off with
Bob Goalby. His
subsequent reaction
passed into legend:
“What a stupid
I am!” His
success
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334032.
continued into his 50s when
he won the 1980 US Senior
Open. He was inducted
into the World Golf Hall of
Fame in 1989 and, in 2006,
aged 83, he officially retired
from the game. In the same
year, the Museum of
Golf in Argentina was
renamed in his honour.
In the many tributes that
followed his passing, it
was perhaps Nicklaus, the
man he beat at Hoylake
50 years ago, who
summed it up best:
“He was a nice man,
and you always
miss nice guys.”
 DOUGIE DONNELLY

Forty years of fantastic

Open memories
Getting to cover the championship has been one of my greatest privileges

‘VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IF I EVER

I
appear on Mastermind, my specialist subject
would probably be the Open Championship.
For all the different sports I’ve worked on -
almost 30, at the last count - the Open is the
one event I’ve always got most excited about.
As a junior member at Cathkin Braes, I would devour every
detail of each year’s championship, before finally getting to
my first Open at Turnberry in 1977 - the ‘Duel in the Sun’.
You might have thought it was all downhill from there but
every one since has its own, thrilling place in my memory.
I had already been working for BBC Scotland Sport for
nine years when I was finally able to add golf to my CV
when we started to cover the late, lamented Bell’s Scottish
Open at Gleneagles. I was thrilled to join Peter Alliss, Alex
Hay, Clive Clark and the rest of the BBC golf team and
must have done okay, because I was soon asked to join
them at the Open as a reporter and interviewer.
My first winner’s interview was with Ian Baker-Finch at
Royal Birkdale in 1991. I still have a much-treasured photo
alongside the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’, proudly
holding the Claret Jug.
I may be claiming undue credit for this but I suspect
I was the first, or certainly one of the first, broadcasters
to interview players on the practice ground before they
began their round. I remember suggesting we tried it one
year and being told that the players would never agree to
being interrupted so close to teeing off. I, though, had
sounded out a few of the players I knew well - the Scots
boys like Monty, Sam, big Sandy, Paul Lawrie and Co., as
well as a few others like Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke
- and they were all supportive. I was eventually given
the nod to give it a try - recorded, of course, just in case
someone told me to **** off. Sergio Garcia did some years
later but that’s another story… ! Fortunately, the players
played ball, I kept the chats brief and soon just about
everyone was happy to be approached.
Everyone, that is, except the world No.1. Tiger was never
anything other than friendly and cooperative when we
spoke post round behind the 18th green but always smiled,
“Not on the range, Dougie – that’s when I’m in the office.”
What a privilege it was, though, to speak to the greatest
players in the world in their moments of triumph - or
sometimes desperate disappointment. Some remain clear
in the memory many years later. Nick Price, still the nicest
man in golf, after his Turnberry win in ‘94; a stunned John
Daly after beating Costantino Rocca in the play-off at St
Andrews the following year; an excited young amateur
called Justin Rose after finishing fourth in ‘98; an emotional
Arnold Palmer and strangely unemotional Jack Nicklaus
after their last ever Open rounds on the Old Course.
Then there was Paul Lawrie’s brilliant display at
Carnoustie in 1999, above; Tiger’s majestic victories at
St Andrews in 2000 and 2005, and his tearful triumph
at Hoylake a year later, so soon after his father passed
away. I can still see Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton shaking
their heads in disbelief, holding the Claret Jug and trying
to take in what they just achieved as shock winners in
‘03 and ‘04, and how thrilled Padraig Harrington was to
win at Carnoustie in 2007, the year I first met the brilliant
youngster who won the Silver Medal: Rory McIlroy.
A change in producer at the BBC after that particular
Open brought an end to my 18-year run on the TV team.
I no longer ticked the all important boxes, apparently, so I
was back to being a spectator until last year at Royal Troon.
To the delight of everyone at my regular employer,
European Tour Productions, we would be taking over the
Open coverage, which would now be seen on Sky Sports
in the UK. I was back at the Open, this time as one of the
commentary team for the huge worldwide audience.
What a thrill, especially when Henrik Stenson and Phil
Mickelson served up the best final day since the ‘Duel in
the Sun’. Oh yes, and the coverage won a BAFTA…
So now it’s back to Royal Birkdale and I must say, I
quietly fancy the chances of that young Englishman who
made worldwide headlines with his exploits on the same
course 19 years ago… Time will tell.

@DougieDonnelly

32 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 MICHAEL McEWAN

A long overdue
appreciation of golf
Various recent events have provided pause for thought. Golf? It’s not so bad.

T THIS VERY MOMENT, it’s 23:42 on

A
Tuesday, June 6, 2017. Ordinarily, I’d be in
a deep slumber by now. We might exist
behind static, monochromatic head shots -
see above - but we writers need our beauty
sleep, too.
Tonight, I’m wide awake. Here in the UK, we’re less
than two days away from a second General Election in just
over two years and our fourth trot to the polling station
since September 2014. Amidst the divisive political
finger-pointing, there is also an unmistakable cloud of
sadness and fear that lingers in the settling of the dust
after yet another terrorist attack. Men, women and children,
all targeted in senseless acts of inexpressible evil. Call me
soft but thinking about all this is literally keeping me awake.
There’s other stuff, too. Personal stuff I have no desire to
divulge and trivial stuff I’m too embarrassed to. And so it
goes that on this particular evening - it’s now 23:52 by the
way - and, for reasons I’m at a loss to explain, I can’t sleep.
I have also found myself thinking something I’m not sure
I’ve ever thought before.
Thank goodness for golf.
It’s actually untrue when I say I’m not sure I’ve ever
thought that before. I know for a fact that I haven’t. I’ve
appreciated what the sport has provided me with -
friendship, employment, entertainment and the like - but
tonight, for the first time ever, I’m actually grateful for it.
It’s ridiculously difficult, an art-form masquerading as
a pastime. No matter how long I play it I know I’ll never
master it. But in a world where gratification comes more
easily now than ever, where everything is a few mouse-
clicks away and where success is measured superficially -
followers, likes, retweets and hashtags - I’ll take golf and its
infinite challenge any day.
Its rules are convoluted and so many in number that you
often break them unwittingly. But better that, surely, than
the reckless pursuit of self-interest and self-betterment that
seems to consume so many people today.
It demands discipline, honesty and trust, values you can’t
learn from textbooks and most certainly won’t learn from
the tattoo-clad, lavishly-celebrated mercenaries that have
over-run the formerly ‘Beautiful Game’.
It’s time-consuming, requiring hours spent in the fresh
air, in whatever conditions Mother Nature chooses. Still,
is that not preferable to sitting indoors, bingeing on
boxsets, gaming or indulging the desperation of the latest
empty-headed reality ‘star’?
It is beset by image problems, by dress codes that
may well pre-date needles and threads. It has been
dragged if not kicking and screaming into the 21st century
then certainly huffing and puffing. But who is giving it
the credit for trying to mend its ways? Change is hard.
Being stubbornly principled? Much easier. Never mind the
fact that some of the most heinous acts in living memory
have been committed by so-called men and women of
principle.
It is, at best, an individual pursuit, a battle between man
and nature. Yet some of the friendships I most treasure
have been forged on golf courses.
Please don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t dare to suggest
that golf is the cure for all of our ills or an antidote to evil.
It is quite clearly not. Rather, I’m just thankful it is there
to indulge in and enjoy, to escape away into for a few
hours at a time. It’s not perfect. But what is? In these noisy,
confrontational times, it is reassuringly consistent. Even
when it’s bad, it’s good.
It frustrates me, it dismays me, it all-too-often
exasperates me. And yet I love it. Every single by-law
protected part of it.
Anyway, it’s now 00:34 and I have to be up in six
hours to write some more about it. Relative to what other
people have to do day-to-day, the struggles they have
to experience, the pressures they have to withstand, the
tragedies they have to endure, there are most certainly
worse things to get out of bed for.
Yes indeed. Thank goodness for golf.

@MMcEwanBunkered

34 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/tuition

SCOTT CLARK

Change to a
Finishing with your
hands high forces your
club to come down

higher finish
on an inside path
earlier in the swing.
An easy swing fix!
Start at the end and work
back to fix your swing
PHOTOS KENNY SMITH

I
F YOU GO UP AND DOWN
any driving range and watch
amateur golfers, you will
see that they will invariably be
focusing on the first few steps
of their swing. Now, obviously,
set-up is massively important,
and your backswing has to
work right as well. That’s all fine
and necessary - but I’m going
to switch that method round for
this tip.
One crucial part of your swing
is the path that your club is on
when it comes into the ball -
and sometimes the easiest and
most productive way to change
that is to try and get into a
different finishing position.

FINISH HIGH
I like to see people with a
slightly higher follow-through.
What we’re trying to do is get
away from the habit of coming
from outside-to-in, or across the
ball, which is a very common
fault. When you do that, your
finish position is always quite
low. But if you actively try and
finish with your hands in a
higher position, it will naturally
have a knock-on effect to how
you deliver the club into the
back of the ball. In order to
finish higher, you will have to
take it more from the inside.
To give it as a goal to a
normal amateur, if you’re
working on one drill, it’s always
easier to work on something
at the start of the swing. But by
focusing on an end product,
it’ll give you better positions
naturally, without really putting
much thought into it.

SCOTT CLARK
Director of Golf, Prestonfield Golf Club.
For lessons, call Scott on 0131 667 8597.
@ScottClarkPGA

SHOT ON LOCATION AT LAS COLINAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB / LASCOLINASGOLF.ES

36 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/tuition

DAVID ORR

Improve your
green reading
Start the ‘reading’
Always work closely
process earlier and make on your putting stroke
use of the information so you can consistently
strike the ball out
of the sweetspot,
PHOTO EVE CONROY
and start your green

P
UTTING IS probably one of reading process early.
the most neglected parts
of any golfer’s game - but
it shouldn’t be. As one of the
most important parts of your
golf game, it’s really something
you should spend more time
working on.
When the putting stats
closed for the season last year
on the PGA Tour, the players
occupying positions No.1 and
No.2 on the list were none
other than Jason Day and
Jordan Spieth respectively. That
gives you an idea of how much
good putting has an affect on
your ability to score.

START EARLY
Reading greens is a great skill
in itself and one that, for me,
starts some 20 to 50 yards out
from the green as I approach
the putting surface. When I walk
to the green, I’m looking at the
both sides - and back to front -
and also looking at the ridges
and where the lowest point is.
Too many people just stand at
their ball. Instead, get yourself
moving around the hole and
look from various angles and
get your eyeline down as low
to ground level as possible. You
can do all this when you walk
onto the green. The information
is all around you.
The best putters in the world,
like Spieth, Day and Dustin
Johnson, all spend a lot of time
studying the green. They’re
simply doing what works,
gathering information.

DAVID ORR
Head Professional, Eastwood
Golf Club 01355 500285
@DavidOrrGolfer

38 BUNKERED.CO.UK

YES
MURRAY URQUHART
Be aware of how you grip the club
Here’s a simple check that gives you a more natural grip
G
ETTING THE
CORRECT left hand
grip is essential in
being able to swing the
club around your body
efficiently. Not only that,
it will give you a better
awareness of the weight
of the clubhead.
Stand with your feet
shoulder-width apart as
you normally would for
PHOTOS KENNY SMITH
setting up to the ball, then
put your left hand on the
club. When you look down,
you should be able to see
two knuckles.
Now move the club up to
hip height. With this move,
40 BUNKERED.CO.UK
you’ll find that it is an awful
lot easier to do it from that
position, when you can see
two knuckles. You should
be able to take the weight
of the club comfortably.
However, if you put the
club in the palm of your
hand - where you can’t see
any knuckles - and then
take it back, the club feels
incredibly heavy. You’ll now
be straining the muscles on
the back of your wrist and
forearm.
This drill just stresses
the importance of a good
left hand position on the
club, as it makes it a lot
ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/tuition
Grip the club in your
fingers so it runs
from the middle joint
of your forefinger to
just below the base
of your pinky. If you
do so, you’ll be able
to grip the club in
your left hand and
do this movement.
Grip it in the palm of
your hands, below,
and you’ll struggle to
move the club at all.
NO
lighter when you swing. It WATCH OUR
allows your wrist and left GEAR REVIEWS
forearm to operate a lot Get the verdict on the
more naturally, without you latest gear direct from
manipulating the blade.
the bunkered team
Former PGA Tour star
youtube.com/bunkered
Frank Nobilo used to do
this quite a lot, as it’s a
great way of illustrating
how your grip should feel.
MURRAY URQUHART
Teaching professional, The Nairn Golf Club. For lessons,
01667 453 208 murrayurquhartgolf.com
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44 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 EXCLUSIVE

A Shark’s
tale...
On the 40th anniversary of his first
European Tour win at Blairgowrie,
Greg Norman sits down with bunkered
to reflect on his incredible career
WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS SUPPLIED / GETTY IMAGES

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 45
COVER STORY

FTER THE BEAR BUT BEFORE TIGER, THERE WAS THE SHARK. Not

A
just any shark. The Great White Shark. So-called because of his flowing
blond locks, aggressive style of play and his Australian roots, Greg
Norman was arguably golf’s most dominant figure for the best part of
two decades, topping the Official World Golf Ranking for a total of 331
weeks - a record bettered only by Tiger Woods. Now 62, he’s still one of
the game’s most influential and instantly-recognisable individuals. In this
exclusive, wide-ranging interview, Norman reflects on the highs and lows
of his extraordinary career, explains the secrets of his huge success as a businessman, and
shares his thoughts on Tiger, course design, technology and more.
AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN shrewd judge of a golfer, couldn’t Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer, Ian
QUEENSLAND, Norman played have predicted it better. Woosnam, Stewart Ginn and John
rugby and cricket. He was a keen O’Leary, guys like that. They were -
surfer, too, but harboured ambitions Let’s start with your first European and are - all great guys who I really
of becoming a fighter pilot. Golf Tour win at Blairgowrie in 1977. Do enjoyed being around. But, like I
didn’t appear on his radar until his you remember much of that week? said, my goal was to get to America.
mid-teens when his mother, a single- Absolutely. Being completely That was my focus. I knew that if I
figure handicapper, taught him how to honest, I don’t recall all 18 holes could get there and I could beat the
play. She also allowed him to caddy on the course but I remember the best American golfers, in their own
for her at the Virginia Golf Club in week vividly. It was an important win backyard, that I’d be in good stead to
Brisbane and, within 18 months, he and I’ll always remember it fondly have a long and successful career.
went from a 27 handicap to scratch. because it made a statement, to
At the age of 20, he served as an myself as much as anyone else. It Was becoming a golfer something
assistant professional at Beverley told me that I was good enough you always wanted to do?
Park Golf Club in Sydney before to compete and win at the highest Actually, no. My earliest ambition
moving on to become a trainee of level. It gave me a huge amount of was to become a fighter pilot in the
Charlie Earp at Royal Queensland, confidence. I’d already won a few Royal Australian Air Force. I grew up
earning $38 a week. In 1976, just six titles in Australia and Japan by that in North East Australia, close to an
years after he took up golf, he turned point and so the next logical step air force base, and I used to watch
pro as a tournament player, earning was to try to win in Europe. I came the fighter jets taking off all the time.
his first victory the same year in the over with the simple goal of trying to I figured that would be a pretty cool
West Lakes Classic in Adelaide. learn different courses, different ways thing to do but somewhere along
The following year, he joined the of playing and to improve my ball- the way golf just took over. I’ve seen
European Tour, finishing in a tie for striking. The turf on links courses in it written that I wanted to become
52nd on his debut at the Penfold Scotland is totally different to the turf a professional surfer but that’s not
PGA Championship in May. His very on some of the more lush parkland true. Surfing was a big part of my
next event yielded his first victory - courses I’d largely been playing up childhood. It was something I was
the Martini International at Blairgowrie until that point, and the best way to good at and I loved doing it but it
Golf Club in Perthshire. With Bernard improve is to learn. That was my aim, was never something I was going
Gallacher for company, he closed to learn as much as I could - about to do for a living. It’s interesting,
with a magnificent 66, the lowest double greens, summer greens, though, and this is something I’ve
round of the week, to beat Simon winter greens, narrow fairways, wide spoken with [five-time World Surf
Hobday by three shots. fairways, thick rough, wispy rough, League champion] Kelly Slater about,
Writing in The Herald, the late you name it - with the ultimate goal surfing is very good for your golf.
Raymond Jacobs proclaimed Norman of getting to the US. I knew that was When you’re on a board, you feel
to be “a new - and rare - golfing where I needed to end up in order everything that is under your feet.
talent.” to really fulfil my potential but I didn’t The proprioception of your body in
“If ever a player looks the part,” want to take any shortcuts to get the golf swing is similar to that when
wrote Jacobs, “both physically and there. I wanted to learn the game as you’re surfing. Even though they’re
technically, he is Norman. A head of best I could to give myself the best opposites in so many ways, the two
hair as strikingly blond as Nicklaus’s chance of succeeding when I did sports are similar. Looking back now,
perches above a piratical-looking eventually get to America. I really believe my surfing prowess
broken nose and a burly, broad- had a big influence on my golf.
shouldered frame.” Who did you associate with in your
Noting the Aussie’s “aggressive” early years on the tour?
shot-making, Jacobs added that Nobody, really. I mean, it was a
he was “tailor made for American great time for the European Tour IN THE DECADE THAT FOLLOWED
weather and courses.” Jacobs, a with the emergence of guys like HIS BREAKTHROUGH WIN AT T

46 BUNKERED.CO.UK
‘MY ROUND
WITH THE
SHARK’
MURRAY RITCHIE ON
THE DAY HE PLAYED
WITH NORMAN
WHEN THE INVITATION came
to play in the Texas Scramble
pro-am before the Suntory
World Matchplay at Wentworth
in 1987, I was nervous at the
very thought. When they
told me I was last out with
Greg Norman, the defending
champion and World No.1, I
was terrified. On the practice
putting green, I became aware
of a crowd gathering. When
I looked up, there was only
me - and Seve Ballesteros. I
don’t think they were there for
me. Seve smiled as I picked up
and made a beeline for the first
tee where, to my horror, there
were thousands of spectators.
Down the right there were
millions of pounds worth of
luxury limos just waiting for
an expensive slice. I managed
an almost respectable drive -
and we were off. Playing with
a legend was a wonderful
experience. Greg showed
interest in my ancient Ping
putter and told me never
to sell it because it was a
collector’s item. I never have.
He looked at my new carbon-
headed Dunlop driver, the
fashion of the day, and seemed
puzzled by its fishing-rod shaft.
“How do you wait for it?” he
asked. That was a bit technical
for me. When I introduced him
to the good lady he helpfully
informed her I needed a
driver with a stiffer shaft. Well,
even the boss could hardly
argue with the world No.1! My
moment of glory came on the
short 14th when Greg missed
the green with a 6-iron and
looked astonished. There was
a sudden wind, apparently.
I hit the green from the front
tee - to flattering applause,
continues on p48
 COVER STORY
T BLAIRGOWRIE, Norman cemented
his place as one of golf’s most
dominant players, winning multiple
times on the European Tour, PGA
Tour of Australia and elsewhere. His
first PGA Tour victory arrived in the
1984 Kemper Open at Congressional,
where he defeated Mark O’Meara
by five shots. The only thing now
missing from his CV was a major
championship. He’d come close,
finishing fourth on his Masters debut
in 1981 and, a fortnight after his
Kemper victory, he lost an 18-hole
play-off for the US Open to Fuzzy
Zoeller. It was in 1986, however, that
Norman truly made his mark. After
leading both the Masters and the
US Open after 54 holes, without
converting either lead into a victory,
he went to the Open at Turnberry as
one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Sure enough, he again found
himself in the lead with 18 holes to
go, completing the third leg of what
became known as his ‘Saturday
Slam’ [Incidentally, he would go on
to lead the PGA Championship after
three rounds the following month
to complete this streak]. Unlike the
previous two majors, there was to
be no final round disappointment for
Norman this time around. With the
words of Jack Nicklaus still fresh in
his mind from dinner the previous
evening - “Nobody in the world wants
you to win more than I do,” Nicklaus
told him - he converted a one-shot
lead over Tommy Nakajima into an
emphatic five-shot victory from his
nearest challenger, Gordon J Brand.
The following day ‘Norman conquest’
headlines were splashed on the
sports pages of newspapers around
the world.
What are your memories of that
week at Turnberry?
I think that win was all the more
significant because of the attention
I had been getting that year as a
result of the ‘Saturday Slam’ talk.
Look, obviously, it was fantastic to
win and when I reflect on it now,
I’d go so far as to say that the 63
I shot in that second round is one
of my top three or four rounds of
all time. What a lot of people won’t
remember, but I do, is that I three-
putted 17 and 18 for that 63. It could
very realistically have been a 61 or
better, and in tough conditions, too.
I remember feeling very confident
about my chances that week. When
I saw the weather forecast and I saw
the course, I immediately knew what
my game-plan was going to be. The
48 BUNKERED.CO.UK
continued from p47
a strange experience - and
made the world’s best golfer
play my ball. When I faced
a three-footer - I hate short
putts - he saw my fear. “Don’t
worry,” he said, “just knock
it in. That’s what you do with
these.” Easier said than done,
but in it went and I have tried
that mental trick with varying
results ever since. A ridiculous
six hours after we started we
reached the par-5 18th where
Greg experimented by trying
to carry the corner. His ball
sailed out of bounds and we
played one of our group’s drive
from the centre of the fairway.
Larry Mize, Greg’s nemesis
at Augusta that year, was on
the 18th, sizing up his putt.
“Watch this,” said Greg, as
he took a driver off the deck
from 260 yards. The ball rolled
precisely to Mize’s feet. Some
good-natured hand signals
were exchanged. Throughout
our round, Greg Norman was
encouraging and friendly,
making an effort to interact
with his playing partners
and spectators. He skipped
the prize-giving though,
probably concluding he’d
suffered enough for one day.
Murray is the father of
bunkered editor Bryce Ritchie
and the former Scottish
political editor of The Herald
Norman celebrates the first of
his two Open Championship
victories at Turnberry in 1986
fairways were tight. The rough was
high, so high that you wondered if
you might injure yourself trying to get
the ball back in play if you found it.
And, on the eve of the championship,
the wind picked up considerably. It
was cold, grey and windy. So, my
plan was simple: grab the driver and
try to take the left side of the course
out of play as much as possible. I
had a lot of confidence in my driving.
It was always one of my strengths. I
knew that if I aimed down the left of
the fairway, and got that power-fade
going, I’d have more of the fairway
to hit to. So, that’s what I did. I stuck
to my task, even in the worst of the
conditions, and just tried to swing
nice and easy, making solid contact.
I had a good, positive frame of mind
the whole week, and by the end of
it, I was lucky enough to be standing
there holding the Claret Jug.
Can you describe for those of us
who’ll never get to experience it
what it is like to be the ‘Champion
Golfer of the Year’?
Wonderful. Simply wonderful. I
remember it occurring to me how
meteoric my rise had been to that
point. I had only been playing golf
for about ten years, starting off with
a 27 handicap, and now here I was
holding the Claret Jug. It was a
powerful statement. It was proof that
if you dare to chase your dreams,
there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.
You know, I’ve never played to please
other people. I’ve always played for
me. You’ve got to. You can’t spend
your entire life - certainly, your
professional life - trying to please T
T
T and impress other people. You’ve
got to do it for yourself. If you do, and
you do it well, then everyone else
benefits, from those closest to you,
to those watching you play. So, it was
fantastic to get that first win but it
wasn’t long before I started to think,
‘Okay, now what?’ That’s the thing
about dreams: you’ve always got to
have them.

IN 2010, Tom Watson offered this

magazine his take on many of his
contemporaries at the height of his
career. Lee Trevino? “The best ball-
striker I ever saw.” Gary Player? “The
original Mr Fitness.” Seve Ballesteros?
“Magical. Just magical.”
But Greg Norman? “Greg was what
we refer to over here in the States
as ‘snakebit’,” said Watson. “In other
words, he lost more tournaments than
Main Norman during his early years
he really ought to have.” on the European Tour Below left
It seems a remarkable, perhaps Norman with his mum Toini. It was
even slightly unkind, thing to say of she who introduced him to golf in his
a man who has won 91 times around teens Below right Norman originally
harboured dreams of joining the
the world - but it’s not unjustified. Australian Air Force
Norman finished runner-up in eight
different majors: the Masters three
times (1986, 1987 and 1996); the US
Open twice (1984 and 1995); the
Open once (1989); and the PGA twice
(1986 and 1993). Save for not even
a handful of shots here and there
over the course of his career, he
could quite reasonably now be sitting
alongside Sarazen, Hogan, Player,
Nicklaus and Woods as the only
golfers to have completed the career
grand slam. Instead, he has as many
major wins as the likes of John Daly, T
Fuzzy Zoeller and Curtis Strange. All
great golfers but not even close to
being in Norman’s league.
His Masters near-misses were
particularly painful. Jack Nicklaus
staged one of the great Sunday you’ve had in majors. What do you What about the 1996 Masters?
charges to overtake Norman in 1986. feel when you look back on those? Different story altogether. What can
The following year, Larry Mize holed Regret, presumably? I say? It was hugely disappointing. I
an improbable chip to defeat him on Yeah, regrets in some instances, remember waking up on the Sunday
the second extra hole. But nothing not so much in others. Larry Mize, morning, leading by six, and noticing
compares to 1996. Leading by six for example. I never, ever thought straight away that my back was
with 18 holes to play, Norman shot I’d lose the Masters on the 11th hole. sore. Not bad enough to keep me in
a 78, ultimately finishing five behind Larry did what he did, which was bed but bad enough to be a niggly
playing partner Nick Faldo. incredible, and there was nothing I problem. Anyway, I got up, got ready
“I played liked shit,” he could do about it. Likewise, I had no and went out to warm up. I remember
acknowledged afterwards. Others control over Jack Nicklaus shooting speaking to my coach, Butch
were less kind. Thomas Bonk, in 30 on the back nine at Augusta in Harmon, and being concerned that
the Los Angeles Times, wrote: 1986. When you birdie four straight I was getting the club stuck behind
“Empires collapse. So do card tables, holes coming in, like I did from the me, almost to compensate for my
tents and soufflés. And so does 14th to the 17th, and you don’t win, back. I told him I thought it wouldn’t
Greg Norman.” you have to accept that the golfing be easy that day, and so it proved.
Gods have just decided not to smile Augusta National is one of those
We have to touch on the on you that day. That’s just the way it places where, if you’re a
disappointments and near misses goes sometimes. half-yard out, you pay for it big time. T

50 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 COVER STORY

Since turning pro in 1976, Norman -

who once harboured ambitions of
becoming an Australian Air Force pilot
- has clocked up over five million air miles

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 51
 COVER STORY
T Does it frustrate you that people
are often quite quick to talk about
the negatives rather than the
positives of your career?
There’s nothing I can do about that.
I understand the interest. I just hope
they remember the other stuff I’ve
done, too. I’ve been a loyal supporter
of the game on a global front since
my earliest days as a professional.
I’ve played and won in Australia,
Europe, Asia and America. I never
stopped going home to support golf
there. I was the first guy to do an
exhibition in China. I was one of the
first to support the golf in Dubai. I’ve
always done my best to grow the
game around the world.
Only Tiger Woods has been world
No.1 for longer than you, too.
Let’s talk Tiger. Everyone has an
opinion on what has happened to
him over the last few years. What’s
your take? Presumably you can
sympathise with the injuries?
Absolutely. I feel for Tiger. I really do.
He’ll never get back to where he was.
Time is against him. Younger, fitter
players are against him. And most
significantly of all, his confidence is
against him. I said it earlier about
surfing, but proprioception is massive.
The body is programmed to protect
its weakest link as a priority, whether
subconsciously or otherwise, and
when that happens, that weakest link
can become your undoing. That’s
what we’ve seen with Tiger. Whether
he knows it or not, it looks like he has
been trying to play to accommodate
whatever back problems he’s got,
and it’s almost impossible to play at
your best when you’re doing that. It’s
sad to see and, of course, I can relate
given my own back problems. When
30
NORMAN
IN THE 20
MAJORS
10
1st 6 to 10
2nd 11 to 25
3rd Other
4 to 5 MC/WD 0
MASTERS
52 BUNKERED.CO.UK
As well as being a successful
golfer, Norman has become
an accomplished businessman
you look back at the big ‘power’
players of the last 50 or so years,
we’ve all had some lingering issues
because of the way we attacked
the ball. Jack [Nicklaus], Seve
[Ballesteros], me and now Tiger.
So, do you see back problems in
the futures of current big-hitters?
Guys like, say, Rory McIlroy and
Dustin Johnson?
Absolutely. Everything points that
way, doesn’t it? The body is the
body. Anatomically, we’re all the
same. Sure, we can all change our
physiques by building up muscle and
so on - but you can’t build up your
bones or your spine. The more you
try to put power and flexibility around
what Mother Nature gave you, the
higher the chance of something
happening. We’ve seen it already
with some of the top guys today.
US OPEN
Jason Day, for example, has already
had some issues. They’re all aware
of the stress that they’re putting on
their bodies but, to maintain their
quality, they’re still attacking the ball
as aggressively as ever. I can’t judge
them for that. I used to do it, too. But
stress is stress. Even bending over
putting for hours and hours on end
on the putting green isn’t good for
you. I wish I’d known that sooner.
I perhaps wouldn’t have spent so
much time practising.
THE 1999 SUPER BOWL saw the
Denver Broncos take on the Atlanta
Falcons at the Pro Player Stadium in
Miami, Florida. Legendary Broncos
quarterback John Elway, playing
what would prove to be his final
match before retiring, provided the
excitement with a match-winning
performance. Greg Norman? He
supplied the pitch.
Turf is just one of the Aussie’s many
business interests. Others include
golf course design, apparel, eyewear,
real estate and wine. He even has his
own branded line of premium steaks.
The Greg Norman Company - until
last year known as Great White Shark
Enterprises - is a diverse empire
that reports hundreds of millions of
dollars in revenue each year, making
the $14.4m he made from playing on
the PGA Tour look like mere pocket
change.
How did you turn a nickname into
one of golf’s biggest brands?
I was very alert early on in my career
to the fact that I was building my own
business as a professional golfer and
that I therefore had a responsibility to T
OPEN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
 T run my affairs and handle my affairs
With over 100 courses spread
across six continents, Norman
owns one of the world’s premier
golf course design companies
54 BUNKERED.CO.UK
like a business. I also figured out
quite quickly that my management
company - any management
company - wasn’t interested in
building equity on my brand. The
average career for a professional
athlete at the very top level is, what,
ten to 15 years at best? That’s all
my management were interested
in - that period of time. Fair enough.
That’s how they run. The athletes
they represent are all pass-through
entities. They roll in, make money,
and roll out, replaced by younger,
fresh, new talent. It’s a conveyor belt.
But that didn’t sit well with me. Ten
to 15 years at the top would take
me pretty close to 40, but where
did I want to be when I was 60? My
management weren’t concerned with
that. By then, they’d be onto the next
guy, or the guy after him. So I realised
I had a responsibility to take care of
myself. I was quite forward-thinking
and observed what was going on
rather than just let it all happen
around about me.
So what did you do?
Well, this was the late 1980s. I was
sponsored by Reebok and its owner,
Paul Fireman, approached me about
launching a ‘Great White Shark’ range
of clothing. He said that they’d create
the logo and license it back from
me. It seemed like a brilliant idea.
Suddenly, I had an outlet for products
through Reebok and my own distinct
brand and logo, which I would wear
in place of the Reebok logo. Perfect,
right? Around the same time, my
contract with Reebok was coming
up for renewal. I remember sitting in
the meetings and my management
company laying out a plan for a three
to five-year extension. Three to five
years! I said, ‘Guys, this is crazy.
Reebok are planning to invest all
of this time and money in my new
brand and we’re wanting to enter
into that short of a deal?’ In that
instant, the penny dropped. From my
management’s point of view, these
talks were all about them getting their
percentage of my deals year on year.
It was all about the immediate and
near future. There was no concern
for my long-term potential. So, I
proposed to Paul that we instead
enter into a lifetime contract, as there
would be nothing to stop me from
walking away from Reebok when my
deal was up. And, yes, I split with my
management firm and went it alone.
You’ve got so many business

interests these days that it must
be hard to keep on top of them all.
How hands-on are you?
[Laughs] My team would probably
tell you I’m too hands-on. They’ll say
to me, ‘Greg, it’s fine, we’ve got this.
You don’t need to be this granular
about it’. But then again, that’s just
me. That’s the type of guy I am. I like
to know everything that’s going on
and what needs done. I guess it’s the
golfer in me, always thinking through
every outcome. ‘Okay, if I hit the
ball there, this will be the outcome,
whereas if I hit it there, it’ll be this.’
Is there one area of business that
interests you the most?
I enjoy it all but if I had to pick my
biggest passion I’d probably say golf
course design. We’ve designed more
than 100 courses in over 30 countries
around the globe. We’ve actually
just announced our first project in
Colombia, which is very exciting.
It’s very gratifying to be involved in
taking golf to new territories and
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to design a course in
Scotland. The chance to do that in the country where the
game began would be the final arrow in my quiver.”
new audiences. It’s funny, our design
company is also a good economic
indicator. We know when a recession
is about to hit. Some people read tea
leaves; our guys can see it coming
when payments start to be delayed.
Back in 2007 or 2008, when the
global financial crisis hit, I remember
the first signs we got were some
months earlier when we started to
find some of our payments being
deferred. I said to the guys, ‘Hey,
this isn’t going to be pretty. We
need to make some shifts, diversify
what we’re doing and spread our
net further around the globe to find
markets that won’t be affected’.
That wasn’t easy to do but we came
through it relatively unscathed
and that was largely down to
understanding what was happening
and reacting to it before it happened.
Like you say, you’ve designed
courses in over 30 different
countries around the world… but
not Scotland. Why?
It nearly happened. I actually did
a redesign of the Ailsa Course
at Turnberry before the Trump
Organisation bought it. I was asked
by the former owners to draw up
some plans, which I did, but that’s
as far as it went. It’s funny to look
at it now and see some of your
own ideas. I had big plans for the
tenth, eleventh and twelfth holes,
in particular. The 12th was going to
be more a right-to-left shape, with
a tee positioned high up above the
11th green, which I had planned to
move more towards the rocks, as has
happened. It would have been great
to get the chance to realise the plans
but, like I say, it didn’t happen. That’s
just the way it goes. I’d be lying,
though, if I said I didn’t want to design
a course in Scotland. The opportunity
to input everything I’ve learned about
the game in the country where it all
began would be so special. It would
be the final arrow in my quiver.
IT’S ALL RELATIVE, of course,
but it’s remarkable that a man who
dominated golf as recently as
Norman can be ranked outside the
top 100 on the PGA Tour’s career
money list. John Huston, Scott Piercy,
Steve Lowery, Mark Wilson - all
have earned more from playing golf
than he did. Much has, of course,
changed in the 20 years since
Norman secured the most recent of
his 20 PGA Tour titles. Aside from
the money that the game’s top pros
now play for, the courses they play
on have been altered to reflect the
distance gains made achievable by
huge advances in golf club - and golf
ball - technology.
It seems like there’s a new
millionaire every week on the PGA
Tour. What do you make of guys
who’ve got $12m to their name but
have never won an event?
It’s no big deal. You know, I think
back to when I was the first to make
a million in career earnings, and the
first to make a million in a season.
All the other guys were excited,
saying ‘Go Greg, go’ and stuff like
that, because it was helping to create
more wealth and spread the money
COVER STORY
around. No matter what era you’re
in, there will be some guys who want
to be as successful as they can be
and there will be others who are
happy in their comfort zone. They’ll
pull the blanket up around their
necks and be quite content. Some
people like the responsibility that
goes with being a professional golfer
and others don’t. But money is all
relative to the time and era. There
have been incremental gains from
the Nicklaus and Palmer era, to, say,
my era, and the same again from my
era to the Woods era, and again from
the Woods era to the Rory era. Go
25 years forward from now and I’m
confident you’ll see the same pattern
of growth.
What about technology? Everyone
has an opinion on the way it’s
going. What’s your take?
I have always thought that pros
should play under a different set
of rules from the masses. The best
players in the world will always be
the best players in the world. If you
told them to play Augusta National
with hickory clubs and a gutta percha
ball, they’d do it and they’d still be
fantastic. Instead, they’ve got this
incredible technology which is only
creating a bigger gulf between them
and the guys at the grassroots. In
turn, that has made countless top
courses obsolete for tournament
play. The average club golfer can still
play them and enjoy them but they’re
no longer suitable for professional
events. I don’t think that’s right. The
main benefactors of technology
have been the people making the
technology and the top players.
But what about the average player?
They’re the ones who need the
technology. The more you give them,
the more likely they are to enjoy the
game. Give them more, but restrict
us.
Putting your design hat on for a
second, how much has technology
influenced the creation of new
courses?
Oh boy, it’s crazy. When we sit down
with developers to discuss plans, T
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COVER STORY

Greg Norman expanded

his business interests into
‘EVEN THEN, producing wine in 1996

HE HAD THIS
AMAZING AURA’
BLAIRGOWRIE PRO
CHARLES DERNIE
RECALLS NORMAN’S
MAIDEN WIN
BLAIRGOWRIE professional
Charles Dernie remembers
Greg Norman’s maiden
European Tour win at the
Perthshire club vividly. No
surprise really given that he,
too, was playing. Dernie, who
was an assistant at Lytham
at the time, was a young
European Tour card-holder and
was urged by his then boss to
drop everything to play in the
Martini International, which
was played over the acclaimed
Rosemount Course in 1977.
“He always spoke very highly
of Blairgowrie and, when the
tournament was announced,
he was insistent I play in it,”
Dernie tells bunkered. Sadly,
he missed the cut but recalls
the impression Norman made
that week. “Even then, he had
T more often than not one of the first really understand it. From a purely
an incredible aura,” he says.
things they say is that they want a ‘course’ point of view, why would you
“There was a lot of hype about
championship-standard course. Straight want to build a course that is 7,500
him, this young Aussie being
off the bat, a championship course. yards long if you’re only going to have
touted as the next big thing. But for what? One week a year? We’ve people playing it at its full length once
It’s fair to say he lived up to walked away from opportunities simply or twice a year? It’s just another cost
expectations. He had a broad because we don’t see how we can you don’t need. It’s 700 or 800 extra
frame, bright blond hair and make them work for the developer yards that you won’t use but you still
was a snappy dresser, so he based on their expectations. need to water, fertilise, maintain, year
stood out. Plus, he was a very on year. Take those costs and multiply
big hitter. He was easily one For example? them out over a 20-year period. Do you
of the best drivers of the ball TPC San Antonio is one. You ask a really need that? I’m not sure you do.
I ever saw, which no doubt developer if they want a course capable
helped him that week. Back of hosting a PGA Tour event and a high
then, the Rosemount had a lot majority will say yes. But let’s break
more heather, so you really down the economics of that. For one THE OPEN RETURNS TO ROYAL
couldn’t afford to miss the week a year, at best, they need to have BIRKDALE THIS SUMMER. The last
fairway. With his combination a course that is long enough for the time it was there, in 2008, Norman
of power and accuracy, he was smallest percentage of golfers because rolled back the years to, once again,
always going to be tough to of the influence of technology. Beyond head the field after three rounds. At
beat.” Blairgowrie made such that, you need to factor in additional the age of 53, he became the oldest
an impression on Dernie that, costs for a suitable clubhouse, TV player to hold at least a share of the
towers, cabling, spectators and all of the Open lead after 54 holes. [Tom Watson
when the opportunity arose to
other associated infrastructural costs of eclipsed that record the following year
become the pro there 20 years
staging a tournament. Now, take those at Turnberry aged 59].
ago, he leapt at it. Norman, extra costs and multiply them out over Had he won, Norman would have
too, made a big impression on 20 years or so – where’s the return set a new record as the oldest major
him. “I’m not surprised how on your investment? You show that to champion in the game’s history.
fantastic a career he has gone people and yet they’ll still largely say, Alas, it wasn’t to be. Playing partner
on to have,” he adds. “He was ‘Thanks for that and, yes, I still want all Padraig Harrington - who almost had
a very special talent and if he of it’. The only way of getting any kind to withdraw prior to the championship
ever wants to revisit the scene of non-diminished return is to build real because of a wrist injury - reined him in
of that first win of his, he’d estate around the property but even to successfully defend the title he had
be welcome here any time.” then there are no guarantees. I don’t won a year earlier at Carnoustie. Even T

56 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 COVER STORY
T so, Norman’s gallant effort won’t soon
be forgotten.
What are your abiding memories of
the 2008 Open?
It was a fun week. I went in feeling
confident, healthy and hitting the
ball well and, for the first 63 holes,
everything was going great. Then,
on the Sunday, I remember walking
off the ninth tee to go to the tenth,
feeling fantastic, when suddenly
there were people everywhere. I
looked up and realised that there
were two groups on the tee. It was
pretty obvious we were in for a bit of
a delay. The thing is, there’s nowhere
to go. You’re in a goldfish bowl with
cameras trained directly on you.
You’re wanting to look relaxed and
not show the nerves underneath or
the frustration that you’re having your
momentum disrupted by the hold-
up in front of you. You’re focusing
hard on maintaining your cool and
your intensity all at once, which is
very hard to do. Finally, after about
15 minutes or so, we’re on the tee
and I hit a horrible pull-hook. That’s
something I just don’t do. My body
had just stiffened up from standing
around waiting. I made a good par at
11 but then failed to get up and down
at 12 and the championship just kind
of got away from me after that. It was
disappointing but we gave it a good
go and it was a lot of fun being in the
mix again.
You nearly did it. Watson nearly did
it. Do you think we’ll ever see the
day a 50+ golfer wins a major?
Absolutely. I don’t think it’ll happen on
one of these monster courses but I
can see it happening somewhere like
St Andrews. You know, Birkdale in ’08
was an example of how, in the right
weather conditions, experience can
be so much more valuable than any
yardage book. I was chipping 5-irons
58 BUNKERED.CO.UK
Main Norman describes
course design as one of his
biggest passions Above left
With Padraig Harrington at the
2008 Open Championship.
from 150 yards and getting it close
more often than not. That’s something
that only comes from years and years
of playing the game and having the
guts to try it. Somewhere down the
line, somebody is going to have the
same opportunity and I’m quite sure
they’ll see it through.
That was your last real appearance
on golf’s biggest stage but you’ve
become very active on social media
over the last few years with your
‘#AttackLife’ mantra. Is that a
new philosophy or something that
you’ve lived by for a while?
It came about one time when I
was signing autographs on my
plane. That’s when I catch up on
correspondence and things like that.
Anyway, I’m going through a box of
pictures and I’m putting the usual
stuff on it. “Keep swinging”, “Play
hard”, “Enjoy your golf”. All of the
typical stuff. Then, out of nowhere, I
started writing “Attack life” and it kind
of resonated with me. I just thought,
‘You know, there’s something in that’.
That’s how I approach every day now.
Go out there and give it some.
What does a typical day look like
for Greg Norman these days?
It really depends what I’m doing. If
I’m working on a particular project,
for example, it could vary from one
day to the next. One thing I’m very
big on, though, is making sure I have
my weekends free to spend at home.
That’s family time. I’ve spent so much
of my life working at weekends
that I really value having the luxury
of having them free these days. I
recognise that’s something that’s
important for my staff, too. They’ve
mostly got families of their own.
Work during the week; family at the
weekend. That’s the way I like it. But
a typical day? I’ll get up early, take my
stepdaughters to school and aim to
be in my office for just before 8am.
I’ll work there until 2pm, 2.30pm and
then I’ll go to the gym and work out
between 4pm and 6pm. After that,
it’s back home to wind down, have
dinner with the family, and then watch
some TV. Preferably sport. Most of
what is on TV is garbage, though.
Finally, if you had the chance to
give your 18-year-old self one piece
of advice, what would it be?
Travel with a masseuse and a full-time
trainer. No doubt about it. You look
back and take stock of everything
you’ve put your body through and
you just think of how much a benefit
that would have been. It would have
been a wonderful asset. But, hey, I’ve
got no complaints. „
60 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 SCOTTISH OPEN
PREVIEW

BORN IN
SWEDEN
MADE IN
SCOTLAND
How winning the 2016 Scottish Open set Alex Noren on a path
to becoming one of the world’s top golfers

WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 61
SCOTTISH OPEN PREVIEW

I
T DIVIDES OPINION. Some
people love it, some people
hate it. For what it’s worth, Alex
Noren loves it. “Irn Bru?” he
smiles. “I used to drink a lot of
it when I was younger. We’d
come over to Scotland on golf
trips with the Swedish national
team and I always looked
forward to it. I really like it.”
This year, of course, the softly-
spoken Swede has another reason
to look forward to his visiting the
home of golf: his Scottish Open title
defence. Winning at Castle Stuart
last July yielded the fifth win of the
34-year-old’s European Tour career
and started a remarkable run that
would see him win four more times in
his next 16 starts. It would have been
five had Anthony Wall not beaten
him in a play-off for the Paul Lawrie
Matchplay.
No male golfer on either of the
game’s top two tours has more
victories worldwide in the same span.
Not DJ. Not Hideki. Nobody. He has
gone from 119th on the Official World
Golf Rankings in April 2016 to eighth,
almost doubling his career earnings
in the process - and it all started at
the Scottish Open.
“It really kicked off what has
been a great year for me,” he tells
bunkered. “I was feeling good going
in after coming in on off a strong
finish in the French Open the week
before. I’d had some pretty tough
times at Le Golf National previously
but I finished eighth last year, so I
went to Castle Stuart feeling pretty
good and I managed to keep that
momentum going. So, winning there
was fantastic.”
Victories in the European Masters,
British Masters and Nedbank Golf
Challenge followed as Noren ended
the season ranked third on the Race
To Dubai - his best-ever finish on the Victory at Castle Stuart last year the next day to prepare for the
European Tour. went some way to making up for Open,” he adds.
“The biggest thing that winning Noren’s disappointment at narrowly His Scottish Open win
an event like the Scottish Open missing out on winning the same demonstrated what those who
does is give you the confidence tournament at the same venue in following the game most closely
you need the next time you find 2012. He missed a short putt on had long since known: that Noren
yourself leading as you’re coming the last, which cost him a place in a is a dab-hand around links courses.
down the stretch,” he adds. play-off ultimately won by Jeev Milka As well as the Scottish Open, he
“You’re able to look back and Singh. “It felt extra nice to get it done has missed the cut only once in
say, ‘Okay, I’ve been here before last year,” he admits. “It’s one of the his last eight Alfred Dunhill Links
and I got it done. I know what I’m biggest tournaments that we have appearances, finishing third in
doing.’ That’s certainly how I felt at on the schedule. Winning it meant so 2012. He was ninth in the Open
the European Masters and then much to me.” Championship the same year.
again at the British Masters and Not that he celebrated too wildly. Clearly, this is a guy who understands
Nedbank. Belief in yourself and “My caddie and I just had a nice how to play the game in its purest
experience of closing out wins are dinner and watched a little bit of form.
two very important things for a golfer the European Championship final “I love it,” he says. “You get to hit
to have. They help make things between France and Portugal and a lot of different shots and be quite
easier.” then headed down to Royal Troon creative, which is very tough but I

62 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 Left Noren celebrates
winning the 2016
Scottish Open at
Castle Stuart
Top right Swigging
Champagne after
victory in the BMW
PGA Championship
Below right Noren
has cemented himself
inside the world’s
top ten

like the challenge of it. I’m one of
these guys who has always liked
playing around ‘at golf’, if you know
what I mean? I enjoy trying to pull off
difficult or unusual shots. High ones,
really low ones, big hooks, big slices,
things like that. They’re always fun
to try when you’re on the range or
practising somewhere when there’s
nothing really on the line and,
quite often, you find yourself
needing to draw on those kinds of
experiences when you’re playing
links. On one hole, you might have
a big left-to-right wind, and then
you’ll turn around on the next hole
and it’ll be going the opposite way.
So, being able to be versatile is
hugely important.”
Should he retain his Scottish Open
title this year, Noren will become the
first player to successfully defend T

“Belief in yourself and experience

of closing out wins are two very
important things for a golfer to have”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 63
 SCOTTISH OPEN PREVIEW

SCOTTISH OPEN A PUNTER’S GUIDE

T the crown. Indeed, only
two players - Ernie Els
and Ian Woosnam - have
won the event on multiple
occasions. He’ll also have All you need to know and learn about this year’s contest in Ayrshire
to master a new course,

with Dundonald Links,
near Irvine, set to become
the 11th different venue to
stage the tournament.
“I’ve not been there
before although I’ve
heard a little bit about it,”
he adds. “I know that it
was designed by one of
the guys who designed
Kingsbarns [Kyle Phillips]
which is great as I really
like Kingsbarns. I don’t
imagine I’ll get to go there
before the tournament
itself because I’ve got a
little one at home, so I try
to spend as much time at
home as I possibly can
but I’m sure it’ll be great -
although, yeah, I’d much
rather be going back to
Castle Stuart!”
SWEDE
’16/’17
NOREN’S
REMARKABLE
RUN IN NUMBERS
GETTING THERE
z BY ROAD entrance to Dundonald Links The entrance to Dundonald
From Glasgow - Take the M77 is half a mile along on the Links is half a mile along
south towards Kilmarnock/ left hand side. Please follow on the left hand side.
Ayr. At the Dutchhouse signs for Dundonald Links Free on-site parking available.
Roundabout, follow signs for (not Dundonald Village).
the A78 Irvine. Head north From Prestwick Airport - Take z BY RAIL
on the A78 towards Irvine the A78 towards Irvine and Regular train services from
for five miles and at the after five miles on this road Glasgow Central to Irvine
next roundabout take the at the first roundabout take Central, where there will be
second exit on the left. The the second exit on the left. a free shuttle bus service.
FOUR TO WATCH
Adam Scott Rickie Fowler Henrik Stenson Matt Kuchar
The 2013 Masters
champion will be
The winner in 2015
at Gullane, Fowler
The popular Swede
will be making his
The seven-time
PGA Tour winner
making his first
appearance in
will return this year, first visit to Ayrshire will be aiming to
having missed since his Open go one better than
the Scottish Open last year due to victory at Royal 2015 when he was
since 2009. the Olympics. Troon last year. second to Fowler.

32
The number of times Noren
broke 70 in 64 rounds.
(Best, 62; Worst, 78)
ADMISSION
Under 16 ......................... Free (with an adult)
Wed, July 12 (Pro-Am) ............................. £15
Thurs, July 13 ........................ £30/£25 (conc)
Fri, July 14 ........................................£30/£25
HOSPITALITY
Corporate hospitality is available in the Skean
Dhu pavilion overlooking the ninth and 18th
greens. It includes: admission to the course;
dedicated table of eight, ten or 12; reserved VIP
parking; full Scottish breakfast; complimentary

69.5
Sat, July 15 .......................................£30/£25 bar; three-course lunch served with fine wines;
Sun, July 16 ......................................£30/£25 afternoon tea; official programme and daily
Season Ticket ................................... £75/£60 drawsheet. Prices vary. Call 01344 840538.

Noren’s stroke average.

OTHER STUFF
-123
Noren’s combined
z PLUS
Player Q&As on the
Tented Village Show
Stage... Inflatable
score to par. obstacle courses

1,006
The amount of Euros Noren
earned per shot hit.
* 2016 Scottish Open
until 2017 BMW PGA
Championship inclusive.
Hero Challenge
Introduced at the
British Masters
last year, this fun
challenge will see
eight players play
in a one-hole, head-
to-head knock-out
matchplay event on
Tues, July 11, 7pm.
Cooking demos Build a Bee Hotel! & trampolines...
Braehead Foods will Join the Scottish American Golf show
be whipping up a Wildlife Trust on a tent featuring swing
feast in the tented treasure hunt around nets, golf simulators,
village throughout the golf course and challenges,
the week with live even help build manufacturers,
cooking demos Dundonald’s very retail outlets and
and more - just the own Bee Hotel. more... Plus a
ticket for the hungry Fun for little kids merry-go-round...
golf spectator! and big kids alike. and loads more!

64 BUNKERED.CO.UK
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68 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 THE 146TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
LET’S GET IT ON
WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES
A
BSOLUTELY NOTHING
WILL top the last day drama
of Royal Troon 2016. But we
all know that already. Regardless
of what Royal Birkdale has to live
up to, there is real excitement that
this year’s Open Championship
has all the ingredients to deliver
another four fantastic days of
major championship golf.
MARTIN SLUMBERS NICK DOUGHERTY’S
Q&A COURSE GUIDE
PAGE 76
In this preview, you’ll get the
lowdown on the favourites vying
for the famous Claret Jug and
an exclusive Q&A with R&A boss
Martin Slumbers, whilst we glean
local knowledge on the course
from Nick Dougherty and look
back at Harrington’s 2008 victory.
No major is bigger than the
Open… so let’s get it on!
HARRINGTON’S
‘FYBRID’ GLORY
PAGE 82 PAGE 90
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 69

The Both of the two most recent Open
Championships at Royal Birkdale
have seen an amateur finish inside
amateurs the top five (more on that over
the page), so this year’s crop of
up-and-comers have a lot to live
up to. In the battle for the silver
medal, all eyes will likely be on
Maverick McNealy, right. The 2016
70 BUNKERED.CO.UK
The defending champ
Henrik Stenson produced one of the great Open
Championship rounds when he closed with a 63
to become Sweden’s first male major winner at
Royal Troon last year. The 41-year-old will fancy his
chances of retaining his title, too. Not only is Royal
Birkdale ideally suited to his game, rewarding
excellent ball-striking and players who typically
tend to find lots of fairways, there is also this little
nugget. Sixteen different players have successfully
defended the Open since it was contested in
1860. This year’s championship will be the 146th,
meaning that a successful title defence happens,
on average, every nine years. The most recent
of those 16 players to retain the Claret Jug?
Padraig Harrington in 2008 - nine years ago.
75%
The defending
champion has made
the cut in the Open
in 15 of the last 20
years, with an average
finish of 26th.
McCormack Medal winner is one of
the USA’s most hotly-tipped young
golfers and already has some major
experience, having played in the
2014 US Open. He also played in
the 2015 Walker Cup at nearby
Royal Lytham & St Annes. European
Amateur champ Luca Cianchetti will
be worth keeping an eye on, too.
The ‘statistical’ favourite
If you take the average age of the nine previous
winners of Open Championships at Royal Birkdale,
along with the average number of starts they
needed before winning their first Claret Jug, you KAYMER’S
get ‘A. Golfer’ aged 32 and a few months, who OPEN RECORD
won on their sixth start. By that logic, the winner
of this year’s championship should be… Martin 2008 80
Kaymer. The former world No.1 will be 32-and-a- 2009 T34
half at this year’s championship and will be playing 2010 T7
in his tenth Open. Another worth keeping an 2011 T12
eye on is Charl Schwartzel (32, 12th start), whilst 2012 CUT
English duo Paul Waring and David Horsey also fit 2013 T32
the age criteria and will be playing in their third 2014 70
and second Opens respectively. What’s more, 2015 T12
both are relatively local to Royal Birkdale. Waring
was born in Birkenhead, 17 miles from Birkdale,
with Horsey born in Stockport, 38 miles away.

The The last time the Open visited

Royal Birkdale, Greg Norman turned
at the age of 59. Elsewhere in
this edition, At the time of going

veterans
the clock back to make a bold title
tilt. He came up short in the end
but served notice that links golf is a
tremendous equaliser. Tom Watson
hammered home the point the
following year, coming within a
putt of winning the championship
to print, there were six such
players in this year’s field: John
Daly, Paul Broadhurst and Sandy
Lyle, as well as Todd Hamilton,
right, Mark O’Meara and Prayad
Marksaeng. Could one of them
rewrite the game’s history books?

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 71
 The potential
‘history-makers’
No golfer has ever won both the silver medal for low
amateur and the Open Championship at the same venue.
Both Justin Rose and Chris Wood can do just that this year.
Rose, who tied for fourth in 1998, and Wood, who tied
for fifth ten years later, can rewrite the record books with
a victory this year. Interestingly, only two of the players
who have won the silver medal since it was introduced in
1949 have gone on to lift the Claret Jug: Tiger Woods and
Rory McIlroy. Woods won the silver medal at Turnberry
in 1996 and went on to win the championship proper in
2000, 2005 and 2006. McIlroy, meanwhile, was the low
amateur at Carnoustie in 2007 and subsequently won the
main spoils at Royal Liverpool seven years later. Should
neither Rose nor Wood win this year, McIlroy will have the
opportunity to claim this little piece of history for himself
next year, when the championship returns to Carnoustie.

72 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 5
The number of Open
low amateurs who
have gone on to win a
major championship.
As well as Woods,
McIlroy and Rose (US
Open, 2013), the other
two are Hal Sutton
The debutants
(Silver Medal, 1981;
You have to go back to Ben Curtis’
PGA C’ship, 1983) and
victory at Royal St George’s in
Jose Maria Olazabal
2003 to find the last time a player
(Silver Medal, 1985;
won the Claret Jug on their Open
Masters, 1994 & 1999).
Championship debut. Others to
have done so include Tom Watson,
Tony Lema, Ben Hogan and Sam
Snead. This year’s crop of first-timers
includes Haotong Li, above, Adam
Hadwin, Si Woo Kim, Wes Bryan and
Jhonattan Vegas. Will one of them
leave Birkdale with the Claret Jug?

The Scots
At the time of writing, and with
Local Final Qualifying still to come,
there were only three Scots in the
field for this year’s championship:
former winners Sandy Lyle and
Paul Lawrie, as well as Russell
Knox, above. This is desperately
disappointing. We’ve gone from
speculating over which of the
Scots might contend for the title,
to which of them might make the
cut, to which of them might play
altogether. Frankly, it’s becoming
just a little bit embarrassing.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 73
The home favourites
These are heady times for golfers from south of the Border.
Fresh off the back of a stunning 2016, where English golfers
accounted for seven of the top 20 players on the Race To Dubai
and ended the year with 12 of the top 100 players on the Official
World Golf Rankings, things are going rather well this year, too,
with Graeme Storm and Tommy Fleetwood, pictured, having
already won on the European Tour, so hopes of a home win at
the Open will be high. Curiously, it has been 25 years since an
Englishman last lifted the Claret Jug, the 1992 championship at
Muirfield delivering the third of Sir Nick Faldo’s three victories.
You have to go back 48 years to find the last time they won
the title on home soil, courtesy of Tony Jacklin’s win at Royal
Lytham in 1969. Is this the year that those ducks will be broken?

ENGLISH WINNERS ON ENGLISH SOIL

1894
JH Taylor.............Royal St George’s
1897
Harold Hilton ......Royal Liverpool
1899
Harry Vardon ......Royal St George’s
1909
JH Taylor.............Royal Cinque Ports
1911
Harry Vardon ......Royal St George’s
1913
JH Taylor.............Royal Liverpool
1934
Henry Cotton ......Royal St George’s
1936
Alf Padgham .......Royal Liverpool
1938
Reg Whitcombe ..Royal St George’s
1969
Tony Jacklin ........Royal Lytham & St Annes

The absent We can’t not mention him, can we?

With this year looking set to be
day of any major and 11 years
since he was in the final group on

icon
another write-off as he recovers
from yet another back operation,
former world No.1 Tiger Woods will
have sat out four of the last ten Open
Championships. It has been over
two years since we saw his name
on the leaderboard on the final
the last day of the Open
Championship. Still, if the 41-year-
old, 14-time major winner is looking
for any crumb of consolation,
perhaps it’s this: three of the last
seven Open champions have been
42. Watch out, Carnoustie…

74 BUNKERED.CO.UK
Martin Slumbers, St Andrews,
June 2017

76 BUNKERED.CO.UK
THE MAN
AT THE HELM
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers looks ahead to the second Open
Championship under his stewardship
T
WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS KENNY SMITH / GETTY IMAGES
HE WALLS OF MARTIN
SLUMBERS’ impressive
office on the top floor of
the R&A Clubhouse are
adorned with various pieces
of golfing memorabilia. It
is the pictures, however,
that make the most instant
impression.
A huge framed print of Royal Birkdale
hangs on the right hand side as you enter
the room, a constant reminder of where
this year’s Open Championship will be
contested. By the time July is out, it will
have given way to a picture of next year’s
host venue, Carnoustie.
Similarly, a photo of Henrik Stenson
gazing at the Claret Jug in the Royal Troon
locker room in the aftermath of his win
there last year will be replaced by a similar
image of this year’s ‘Champion Golfer of
the Year’.
Directly opposite Slumbers’ desk,
though, is a large black and white print
of Seve Ballesteros’ iconic ‘air punch’
celebration after holing out to win the 1984
Open at St Andrews. Another Seve picture
- a smaller painting of him - hangs on the
opposite wall.
“It’s not difficult to tell who my favourite
golfer was, is it?” laughs Slumbers. Indeed
it is not. Yet that’s the thing about the R&A
chief executive. You get the impression
he’s a golf fan first and an administrator
second. His background bears that out.
Born in Brighton, Slumbers is a qualified T
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 77
 Clockwise from main Martin Slumbers’
impressive office; Sky Sports won a BAFTA for its
coverage of the Open last year; The Honourable
Company of Edinburgh Golfers’ decision to allow
women members allowed Muirfield to return
to the Open rota; 2015 Open champion Zach
Johnson returning the Claret Jug to Slumbers
T chartered account who has spent
most of his professional career
working in the banking sector. Golf
was a sport he played - as a member
of Worplesdon in Surrey, he got
his handicap down as low as two
- but his professional interests lay
elsewhere. That is until September
2014 when the R&A confirmed him
as the successor to its long-standing
chief executive, Peter Dawson.
He officially joined the organisation
in March 2015 and shadowed
Dawson for six months before taking
charge that September. So far, he’s
relishing it.
“It’s not very often that people get
the opportunity in their mid-fifties to
change what they do and, moreover,
“We’re trying to deploy our coverage
as broadly as we can. I think it
worked last year.”
78 BUNKERED.CO.UK
to work in a sport that they are very
fond of,” he smiles. “I’m privileged to
do this. It’s interesting coming in from
the outside. You realise how much
the R&A does for the game. I had a
busy corporate life prior to coming
here but this is pretty full on, too.”
It’s about to get a whole lot busier,
with the 146th Open Championship
looming large on the horizon. As
Slumbers himself says, the event is
the ‘shop window’ for the R&A, the
championship for which it is best
known and most closely scrutinised.
He had his first experience of
steering that particular ship at Royal
Troon last year, which produced one
of the most thrilling final days in the
history of the event.
Playing in the final group,
Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson
separated themselves from the rest
of the field, shooting rounds of 63
and 65 respectively as the former
became the first Swedish male to win
a major championship. Mickelson, the
2013 champion, finished three shots
behind Stenson, and an incredible 11
ahead of third-placed J.B. Holmes.
The thrilling battle was immediately
likened to Tom Watson and Jack
Nicklaus’ much-acclaimed ‘Duel in
the Sun’ at Turnberry in 1977.
How, then, do Slumbers and his
team go about topping that?
“Last year was a wonderful advert
for golf,” he says. “When we look at
the Open, what we’re trying to do
is stage one of the world’s greatest
sporting events and our philosophy is
to try to create a fantastic experience
for all: our patrons, our fans and our
players. Consequently, we try to set
up the course in a way that allows the
best players in the world to show us
how good they are. We feel strongly
 PAST
OPENS AT
BIRKDALE
1954
Peter Thomson
-9, £750 winnings

1961
Arnold Palmer
-4, £1,400

1965
Peter Thomson
-7, £1,750

1971
Lee Trevino
-14, £5,500

1976
Johnny Miller
-9, £7,500

1983
Tom Watson
-9, £40,000

1991
Ian Baker-Finch
-8, £90,000

about that. We want to let people see
how good they are.”
We want to let people see how
good they are. Naturally, there will
be some reading that sentiment who
will question its sincerity given the
R&A’s decision to hand the live rights
for the championship to subscription
broadcaster Sky Sports, ending 60
uninterrupted years of live coverage
on the free-to-air BBC. Slumbers,
though, believes that the quality and
variety of coverage provided last year
completely vindicated that move.
“We have a pretty broad package
with Sky during the day and a
highlights package with the BBC in
the evening,” he says. “People can
also make use of NOW TV, which
enables them to buy access to Sky
for the week of the championship,
whilst our digital channels also
provide fantastic content. We’re trying
to cover the whole spectrum of how
people consume television and how
they watch sport.
“From my point of view, I’m also
1998
trying to get more young people
to watch and I don’t think they
necessarily want to sit down to watch Mark O’Meara
eight or nine hours of uninterrupted E*, £300,000
coverage any more, so we’re trying
to deploy our coverage as broadly
as we can. I think it worked last year. 2008
Over ten million people across Great Padraig Harrington
Britain and Ireland consumed the +3, £750,000
championship in one form or another.
“As for Sky, we were delighted with
what they delivered. It was a change * Defeated Brian Watts in
at fairly short notice and they told the a play-off.
story we wanted to present - that of
the classic links challenge between
the player and his caddie with the
course - brilliantly. There’s no greater
accolade I can give them that would
top the BAFTA that they won for that
particular production. I don’t think a
BAFTA has ever been won in golf
before so we’re very proud of that.”
Getting people to watch on TV is
just one box that Slumbers and his
team have to check off. Encouraging
Ian Baker-Finch
people to attend in person is another.
So far so good, in that respect. This T

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 79
 Located in a magnificent rural idyll, the resort and golf course is named
after the original 16th Century Brunston Castle. Set in 250 acres of
landscaped grounds in the peaceful Girvan Valley, just five miles from
Ayrshire’s picturesque coastline.

Midweek
£28
Weekend
£35
Visitors
Visitors and parties welcome 7 days a week.
Parties, please phone for best rates.
Restaurant open 9am - 10pm
Brunston Castle Golf Club
T: 01465 811471
enquiries@brunstoncastlegolfclub.co.uk
Seasons Holidays | Self catering holiday cottages

Driving Range • Well Stocked Golf Shop • Buggies Available • Group discount rates available

Dedicated to your enjoyment

Green Fees
Weekday Green Fee £29
Weekend Green Fee £39

Packages* From
18 Holes Golf & Lunch £35
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27 Holes Golf, Lunch & Dinner £51
36 Holes Golf, Lunch & Dinner £56
*Packages for groups of 12 or over.

Lasswade, Midlothian
EH18 1AU Scotland
info@kings-acregolf.com
Tel: 0131 663 3456

KINGS-ACREGOLF.COM Situated 6 miles from Edinburgh City Centre and 10 mins from Edinburgh City Airport.
 Slumbers, left, with predecessor
Peter Dawson, right, and the R&A’s
David Rickman during the 2015 Open
T year’s championship is the fastest-
selling in Open history, whilst large
parts of the extensive hospitality
offering is sold out.
The accommodation village that
proved popular on its debut last
year returns, and twice the size,
whilst many of the other innovations
introduced at Royal Troon - Protracer
on the video screen on the range,
for example - will also be back. This
is part of Slumbers’ plan to attempt
to engage with a demographic - 18
to 25-year-olds - he has identified as
‘the future of the game’.
“The people who are going to be
playing golf 30, 40 or 50 years from
now are young today,” he explains.
“The Open is the biggest golf event
staged outside the USA, so we have
a fantastic opportunity to engage
with them and, if we can encourage
them to play too, that’s good news for
everybody.”
The decision by the Honourable
Company of Edinburgh Golfers to
allow women to become members
of the club - that was good news for
everybody, too, not least the R&A.
After a first attempt to change the
club’s constitution failed in May 2016,
its Muirfield course was immediately
dropped from the Open rota. It was
reinstated just as quickly when the
second vote was pushed through
earlier this year.
“Throughout that whole process,
we had an extremely open and
good dialogue with the club,” says
Slumbers. “We, at the R&A, were
very clear and consistent that its
membership policy was none of our
business and that it was a matter for
the club and its members.
“It does, however, become our
business when it comes to where
we stage the Open Championship.
I had very open conversations with
the club’s senior officials about that.
It was a good relationship then
and it’s a good relationship today.
Muirfield is an outstanding golf
course and I’m very pleased it is back
on the rota.”
Likewise, Slumbers remains
consistent in his view on Turnberry,
stating that it ‘absolutely’ remains an
Open host venue. “We’ve announced
out to Royal St George’s in 2020 and,
at the end of this year or beginning
of next year, we will announce
where 2021 will be played,” he adds.
“Turnberry was not part of those
discussions but it is one of our ten
courses. The work that has been
done to redesign the golf course
has created an outstanding course
and, when we get round to thinking
about 2022, we will start with all ten
courses under consideration. For
now, though, our focus is very much
on Royal Birkdale.”
Indeed and lest anyone forget, the
pictures on Slumbers’ office wall will
soon remind them.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 81
How to tame
BIRKDALE
Nick Dougherty knows this year’s Open venue better than
most. Here’s his guide to the challenge that awaits…

WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

G
ROWING UP, NICK
DOUGHERTY would
spend every Saturday
practising on ‘Misery Hill’,
high up on the Royal
Birkdale driving range.
He’d be at one end,
grafting away under the
watchful eye of the club’s
former head pro Richard
Barbeer, with his dad,
Roger, at the opposite end,
picking up the balls.
“We’d spend hours
there, whatever the
weather, working away,”
reminisces Dougherty.
“That’s effectively where I
learned the game.”
Little wonder he’s so
fond of this year’s Open
venue, acknowledging
it as ‘a big part of my life
growing up’.
This year, he’ll be
there in a media capacity,
working as part of Sky
Sports Golf’s BAFTA-
award winning team. The
last time the Open was in
town, however, he was in
the field. It remains one of
his fondest memories from
a career that yielded three
European Tour wins.
“It was an amazing
experience,” he recalls. “I
was playing relatively well
but it was only a couple
of months after my mum
passed away, so it was
an emotional time. I know
she would have loved to
have been there, what
with it being my ‘home’
Open. The support I had
was amazing but the
conditions were awful, with
gusty winds and freezing
temperatures, so it wasn’t
easy to score. I think I
finished 22-over and that

82 BUNKERED.CO.UK

included chipping in on
the last in the final round
to break 80! So, it wasn’t
the easiest week I ever
had on a golf course but it
definitely was one of the
most special.”
For Dougherty, the key
to shooting a low score
at Birkdale - weather
permitting - is, first and
foremost, to drive it well.
“If you’re missing fairways,
it doesn’t matter how
well you scramble, you’re
going to drop shots. Pretty
much every bunker is a
penalty shot, too. It’s a
tough course that rewards
accuracy. Hit fairways, hit
greens and you’ll be just
fine.”
Here, in Nick’s own
words, is a hole-by-hole
guide to the soon-to-be
ten-time Open host venue.
1 Par 4 Yards 448
2008 Avg 4.515
z It’s all about the tee shot. I suspect a lot
of the guys will go for a driving iron and play
for position because it’s a ‘must find’ fairway.
There’s an opportunity for a big number if you
leak it right because there’s lots of trouble
down there. It’s not for nothing that it has
been the second hardest hole on the course
in each of the last two Opens played there.
2
Par 4 Yards 422
2008 Avg 4.368
z A good opportunity for birdie. In the right
conditions, you won’t have a particularly
long club into the green for your second
shot, assuming you safely find the fairway.
Hit it into one of the banks on the side of the
fairway and you’ll struggle to make par but
two good shots will give you a golden chance
of picking up a shot early in your round.
3 Par 4 Yards 451
2008 Avg 4.147
z If it is playing downwind, some of the
bigger-hitting guys will fancy their chances
of getting pretty close to this green. Stay
away from the bunkers and this, again, is a
pretty good birdie opportunity. In an ideal
world, you’d expect to be one or two under-
par through these first three holes.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 83
 6 Par 4 Yards 499
2008 Avg 4.765

z If it was a par-5, as it is for at a double. Bale away from it

members, this would be a ‘gimme’
par but, instead, it’s the most
hideous of par-4s. It is so, so
challenging. Find the bunker on
the right off the tee - and it is very
much in play - and you’ll be staring
too much, and you’ll be battling
to reach the green, particularly if
the wind is against you. It’s not
an especially big target either.
Remember: it’s a par-5 green
every other week of the year.

4 Par 3 Yards 199

2008 Avg 3.250

z The first of the par-3s on the golf course

is a seriously strong hole. The green isn’t
particularly wide and, because you’re hitting
off an elevated tee, you will very often be
required to hit through a crosswind. That’s
never much fun. Plus, at around 200 yards,
it’s not a short hole. You could be hitting as
much as a 4-iron in there, like I did most days
in 2008. Find the middle of the green and you
should be able to two-putt for your three.

5 Par 4 Yards 346

2008 Avg 4.147

z Find the fairway and you’ll give yourself a good

birdie opportunity. There’s a pond on the right
that will gather up any stray shots from those
who try to cut off too much of the corner. I’m
not a huge fan of that pond. I don’t really think
it’s in keeping with the rest of the course. It’s a
classic ‘risk and reward’ hole. You can either play
for position off the tee and leave yourself with a
longer second shot into the green or take on a big
chunk of the corner.

84 BUNKERED.CO.UK
7 Par 3 Yards 177
2008 Avg 3.237

z Another small target, which, with the wind,

can become smaller still. You need to hit the
green, it’s as simple as that, as there are seven
bunkers lurking all around the green which are
extremely penal. You can get some ugly lies
in those bunkers, too, where the ball doesn’t
necessarily get all the way down into the middle
of them. It’s all about finding the dancefloor.

8 Par 4 Yards 458

2008 Avg 4.134

z In this part of the course, if you get off the

beaten track, you’re probably going to end
up in some pretty nasty grass, so finding the
fairway from the elevated tee is absolutely key.
You want to be spot-on with your approach,
too, as the green slopes from back to front, so
you need to have excellent distance control.
And, obviously, stay out of the bunkers.

9 Par 4 Yards 416

2008 Avg 4.179

z A blind tee shot to a narrow fairway makes this

hole really tough. Picking your line is hard enough
but then there are lots of little crevices, nooks
and dells that your ball can bounce off or trickle
into, so finding the fairway is easier said than
done. The green is elevated, too, so you can’t run
it up. You need to fly it in, which means you can’t
afford to be hitting your second from the rough.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 85
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10 Par 4 Yards 402
2008 Avg 4.419
z Another tough dogleg where it’s all about getting your angles
right off the tee. If you’re brave and take the corner on, as some
guys will, then you’ll hopefully leave yourself just a short iron
in, so from that point of view it’s a good birdie opportunity. If
you tug it just a little, though, you’re going to be in all sorts
of trouble. The green is almost enveloped by a dune, too, so
you really don’t want to be off-line with your approach.
12 Par 3 Yards 183
2008 Avg 3.272
z My favourite hole on the course, as it is for so many people. It’s
probably in my top five par-3s in the world. It’s just so picturesque
and, as a challenge, it’s fantastic. Both the tee and the green are
pretty well sheltered by their dune framing, so that can trick you
into thinking that it’s pretty calm but, once your ball gets up in the
air, the wind can move it about a lot, so you want to make sure that
you’re on the money with judging the wind strength and direction.
14 Par 3 Yards 200
2008 Avg 3.249
z The last of the par-3s and a really tricky hole. Wind is a
big factor because you’re hitting from an elevated tee on a
particularly open part of the course, with the driving range just
beside it. It plays slightly downhill to a plateau green with false
edges that fall off into bunkers, which makes it a smaller green
than it looks, so managing your ball flight and spin control is
absolutely crucial.
11 Par 4 Yards 436
2008 Avg 4.437
z Playing back into the prevailing wind, I would expect to
see most guys hitting driver here. The key is avoiding the
bunkers on both sides of what is a pretty narrow fairway.
There are four that are very much in play and so staying out
of them is absolutely crucial. The green sits kind of side-on
to you as you play it and you’re probably going to be hitting
a long-ish club in there, so accuracy is your friend here.
13 Par 4 Yards 499
2008 Avg 4.323
z A tough hole which previously played as a par-5 but is
now a long par-4. The first objective is to avoid the fairway
bunkers on the right-hand side, and the left if you’re
one of the bigger hitters. There are also three traps on
the left and right of what is a pretty big green. You don’t
want to overcook your approach, though, as there is thick
rough at the back. A four is always a good result.
15 Par 5 Yards 542
2008 Avg 5.089
z After the last of the par-3s comes the first of the par-5s and
it’s a fantastic birdie opportunity - but only if you find what is a
narrow fairway. There were 92 birdies and one eagle here in
2008… but also 85 bogeys, 20 doubles and three ‘others’, so it’s
no pushover. Hit a good drive, you’ll pick up a shot eight or nine
times out of ten. Hit a bad one, and you’ll struggle not to drop
one.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 87
 Burntisland Golf
House Club
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16 Par 4 Yards 438
2008 Avg 4.395 17 Par 5 Yards 567
2008 Avg 4.747

z This is the hole where Arnie hit that famous shot to set
up the first of his Open wins in 1961 although, if you find
yourself in the spot where his plaque now lies, you’ve gone
wrong off the tee! You really don’t want to be there. Once
again, you’re taking aim at a narrow fairway. Assuming you
find it you’ll set up an approach into an elevated green -
again! - that is surrounded by some pretty deep bunkers.
z Another extremely tough tee shot. Hit it into the dunes on
either side of the fairway, you’re in trouble. If you’re hitting into
the wind, both of those banks are bang in play. Get it in the
fairway and you’ll have a golden chance of a birdie - or even
an eagle, as Padraig Harrington did in the final round in 2008.
The green has changed since then, with its slopes having been
softened, so I think the guys will fancy their chances there.

18 Par 4 Yards 473

2008 Avg 4.234

z Out of bounds, fairway bunkers, a blind tee shot, a twisting-turning

fairway - the last hole at Royal Birkdale has got the lot. I think you’ll
see a lot of guys taking their medicine and just laying up well back.
That leaves you with a longer approach into the green but that’s okay
as everything runs down towards it. It’s kind of set up for that classic,
old-fashioned Open finale where the ball lands at the front of the green,
rolls up towards the pin and everybody applauds. The smart play is
an iron off the tee into the left corner of the fairway and well away
from the bunkers - but, if the Claret Jug is on the line and you need to
make a birdie, it’s all about staying out the bunkers and holding your
nerve when it matters the most. It’s a seriously strong closing hole.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 89
FAIRWAY
TO HEAVEN
The story behind the peculiarly-named club that
helped Padraig Harrington win the 2008 Open

WORDS DAVID CUNNINGHAME PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

W
HEN LOOKING BACK at the
2008 Open Championship at
Royal Birkdale, one moment
stands out more than any other.
During the final round, Padraig
Harrington stood on the par-5 17th
fairway with a two-shot lead and 272
yards to the pin for his second shot.
With a cold wind blowing hard off
the left, he surprised many by pulling
his Wilson Staff FYbrid 5-wood out of
the bag.
Almost everyone expected him to
lay-up, including the commentators.
Ken Brown said: “Perhaps he doesn’t
know where he is, he’s two ahead,
there’s a bit of a risk in this.” Peter
Alliss quickly concurred. “I would
have thought so yes, he’s going to
be aiming into the grandstand on the
left, virtually.”
Both Brown and Alliss, along with
the viewing public, were amazed by
the unlikely result. The defending
champion managed to pull off one
of the greatest shots in recent Open
history, his ball finishing up within
three feet of the hole. His subsequent
eagle ensured he would retain the
Claret Jug.
OUT OF THE BLUE
Although he came in as defending
champion, Harrington did not really
feature in the headlines until the
final round. The Irishman was not
even a certainty to be playing after
suffering a wrist injury at the Irish PGA
Championship the week before.
The big news story of the week
was Greg Norman. The 53-year-old
Australian had turned the clock back,
battling through the wet and windy
conditions to hold a two-shot lead
entering into the final round.
Norman, though, struggled on the
final day, eventually finishing six shots
back. By the end of it, the only story
was Harrington’s stunning four-under
back nine, his incredible shot on 17,
and the club he used.

90 BUNKERED.CO.UK

PLAYING AGGRESSIVELY
Throughout that testing final round,
Harrington wanted to remain on the
front foot and stay aggressive. He
was in the zone. When asked post-
round about what was going through
his mind on the 17th fairway, he
explained how taking on the second
shot was the only option if he wanted
to win the Open.
“My caddie said to me, ‘Do you
want to think of laying it up?’ So
I asked him the situation,” said
Harrington. “I knew I could make
birdie if I hit 5-wood. I worried if I
laid up and made par, I was giving
Greg a great chance to get within
Harrington celebrates
holing his tap-in eagle
putt on 17
one shot of me, and one shot is not
comfortable in any shape or form
going down 18.”
The low chasing draw was blown to
the right by the strong wind, catching
the downslope of the front bunker,
scurrying up to less than three feet
from the flag.
“It’s one of the few times I think I’ve
ever heard my caddie say ‘good shot’
to me before the ball is finished,”
added Harrington.
THE FYBRID
Doug Wright, the global commercial
director at Wilson Golf, Harrington’s
club manufacturer, reveals a bit of
MAKING
HISTORY...
AGAIN!
With the Open
Championship returning
to Royal Birkdale this
year, Harrington recently
returned to the scene of
that famous shot on 17
almost a decade later.
The tap-in eagle was the
highlight of his flawless
Sunday back nine charge.
Speaking to Golfing
World on his return,
Harrington was taken
aback, saying: “You know,
272 yards doesn’t seem
extraordinary but, back
in 2008, which isn’t all
that long ago, it was miles
to be hitting a 5-wood.
It was unheard of to hit
5-wood 272 at the time.”
The three-time major
winner demonstrated how
far modern technology has
moved club development
forward when he hit
the brand’s latest D300
5-wood club to replicate
the famous shot. Of
course, he managed
to find the green.
Harrington is currently
in his 20th season of
using Wilson Staff clubs
on the global stage and
signed a new multi-
year contract with the
company last December.
“There’s no doubt
in my mind that Wilson
Staff clubs have given
me a genuine edge over
my rivals at previous
Opens,” he added.
T
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 91
 Kelso Golf Club

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 Harrington was five
shots back after battling
through the wet and
windy conditions on day
one at Birkdale in 2008
T background on the unique club he
used. “At that time, Wilson’s R&D
department was looking for new
innovations that would help us
get ahead of our competitors,” he
tells bunkered. “In 2008, a lot of
companies were looking to meet the
new demand for hybrid clubs, and we
were no different.
“The concept behind the FYbrid
was to give golfers options on what
they could replace their long irons
with and provide seamless distance
gapping throughout their bag.”
The 5-wood was designed to
replace three clubs: 2-iron, 2-hybrid
and 7-wood.
Harrington has always been keen
to try out new products and is known
as a bit of a tinkerer. He first got his
hands on the FYbrid a few months
before the Open and fell in love with
it. It was his favourite club in the bag,
his go-to club in pressure situations.
As is often the case with
tour players, however, their set
composition can change at a whim.
The Irishman had decided to put
the 5-wood in his bag that week
during his early practice rounds
because of the specialised head
shape and loft, length combination
that offered him the greatest shot
flexibility in the gusty conditions.
Once in the bag, it proved to be a
great asset.
Wilson Staff was quick to capitalise
on Harrington’s heroics, tailoring its
marketing around the famous shot.
It was the perfect product story
that consumers could grasp and
appreciate, and it had a dramatic
effect on Wilson’s sales figures in
2008, with them recording record
sales for a fairway wood at the time.
“We saw sales rise by about 20
to 30% compared to the previous
year, which was a great year for us
following Padraig’s win at Carnoustie,”
adds Wright.
“For a company whose pedigree
is irons and balls it was great to have
a new lease of life in the woods and
hybrids market. In my time at Wilson,
I have never seen sales receive such
a massive boost as the result of just
one golf shot.”
The FYbrid now resides in
Harrington’s home alongside his
other memorabilia and trophies. For
those who fancy getting their hands
on one, they sell for around £30 on
eBay if you look hard enough.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 93
PHOTOS KENNY SMITH

BUILD A BETTER
FOCUS ON SOME BASICS TO BUILD YOURSELF A MORE
BY MURRAY URQUHART

How do you go about

improving your golf
swing? It starts with
some absolute basic
fundamentals - and then
you take it from there.
Once you get these
right, you can add some
very simple moves into
your swing, which help
make it more consistent
and repeatable. Here, I
break down the basics
and show you some easy
tweaks to help you build
a better golf swing.

94 BUNKERED.CO.UK
SWING
CONSISTENT SWING
ADDRESS

SET-UP BASICS
ooo

The best pros in the world are

always aware of and always
GET BEHIND IT working on their set-up. They
I set up with the left side check their grip, ball position
of my chest opposite of and posture. And they will do
the ball - but it’s important that every single day they are
you get your spine behind practising or playing. It’s part
the ball. That’s an absolute of the way they think. Before
must at address as it helps they start thinking about
you with your takeaway. making any swing changes
or tweaks, they are always
focusing on getting their
set-up correct. Once they’re
happy with their grip, their
ball position is important to be
able to make the right moves
in their swing, without having
to manipulate their swing.
For me, I think it’s best if you
can create a constant ball
position, and I like to do that
by having the ball always on
the left side of my chest. What
that means is that it gets my
spine behind the ball, and
the only thing I need to then
change is the width of my
stance. If the ball is continually
opposite the left side of my
chest, with an 8-iron, it’s going
to look like it’s in the middle
of my stance, and with a
driver it’s going to look like it’s
forward - but there’s always
a constant in that your spine
is behind the ball. That helps
you get the right takeaway.

Always get a
consistent ball
position, which
should be opposite
your left chest. Once
you get that, all
you need to do with
certain clubs is widen
or close your stance.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 95
 ooo

TAKEAWAY You want to lift the

club up square and
hinge earlier than
you would normally.

YOUR FIRST MOVE

I see a lot of players who turn away
from the ball too quickly. The fault is
that their first move is their right hip
turning far too quickly and the club
coming way inside, or they pick the
club up on the outside a little too
much. A good way to get the club
working square and up the way on
the right path is to simply put a golf
ball under your right heel. This stops
your right hip turning too quickly and
forces the club to hinge up in the
air at the right time. Halfway back,
when your hands are chest height,
the club is working up in the air in
front of you, rather than behind you.

Putting a ball under

your right heel will
feel odd - but it
forces you to take
the club back on the
right path, which is
important if you want
to build a swing.

96 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 KEEP YOUR RIGHT
hinge the club back halfway. Doing this makes
you understand that when you are swinging the

ELBOW TUCKED IN
This is another great drill which will help you
understand the feelings of the correct swing,
which is essentially how you will build your swing.
Put your left hand on your right bicep at address
and keep your right elbow into your side and
club back, your right elbow must work into your
side. Now you’ll understand why people say
you use your elbows as a ‘lever’ in the swing.
Moving through the ball, with your right hand
on your left bicep, do the exact same thing with
your left arm. Again, you want to just let your
arm fold, and not extend. It hinges going through
the ball. It gives you the feeling of swinging
the clubhead efficiently through impact. You’re
just using your levers. This makes you more
compact and more connected through the ball.

Your elbows should

bend during the
swing and act as
levers. This drill
helps you understand
the feelings of the
correct swing.

ooo

WIDTH

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 97
 ooo

CLUB PATH
This drill makes you
realise where your
r
right elbow should
b in relation to your
be
s
shoulders - it’s a
s
superb feeling for the
o
one-piece takeaway.

GET A ONE-PIECE
TAKEAWAY
Another good drill - which
helps build your swing via
feelings - is to take your
set-up position and hold the
club three-quarters of the
way down the shaft in your
right hand and just move it
back, then put your left hand
in position. That will give you
the sensation of where the
club should travel. You put the
grip end under your armpit
then move your right arm
back. The feeling you have is
the correct path of the club.
It gets your arms in the right
position relative to where your
shoulders are. This drill makes
you understand how your right
elbow works in relation to your
shoulder turn and your chest.
It makes you understand why
everything should travel back
in one piece. As your shoulders
move, your clubhead moves
with it and you’re not making
any independent moves with
your body, hands or arms.

MURRAY URQUHART
Teaching professional, The Nairn Golf Club. For lessons,
call 01667 453 208 murrayurquhartgolf.com
98 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ‘LISTEN’ TO GET
GOOD TEMPO
A good drill to feel the
movement of the clubhead
through impact is to hold the
club just below the head on
the shaft (upside down) and
just feel that you swish the
clubhead through impact, past
the ball. Not at the ball; after
the ball. If you make it before
the ball, you’re in the wrong
position. Listen to where you
should be at this point in the
swing. A foot past the ball.

The split hand drill is great for accentuating the feeling of where your hands should be
relative to the ball coming into impact. You can see that the butt of the club (left hand) is
pulled past the ball before the clubhead strikes through. Whereas, in the wrong picture,
your right arm has straightened too early and has worked away from your side. It’s
working independently. You see this a lot in people who slice the ball.
CELEBRATING TEN
YEARS AT THE CARRICK
An inside look at one of Scotland’s favourite golf courses
WORDS DAVID CUNNINGHAME
I
T HAS NOW BEEN ten years
since The Carrick opened its
doors to the golfing public.
Situated on the Western shores
of Loch Lomond, it has quickly
established itself as one of the
country’s most popular golfing
venues.
Named after its celebrated
designer, Doug Carrick, little
was known about the Canadian
architect at the time, but you
simply had to look at some of
his other projects to see what a
brilliant course designer he is. His
philosophy is to approach each
new project with a completely
open mind in order to create
something unique. With the
Carrick, he delivered a course that
offers a challenging and fun test for
all golfers, set amongst the most
stunning of backdrops.
THE EARLY YEARS
The Carrick, like any new golf
course, has had its fair share of
difficulties over the years. One
stumbling block it has managed
to overcome - as a result of being
situated in the West of Scotland - is
the amount of rainfall the course
receives. To give you an idea,
the average rainfall for the Loch
Lomond region is almost three
times higher than London’s.
Paul McCLearn is the head
greenkeeper at The Carrick
and has witnessed the course’s
transformation since the first seed
was planted around 13 years ago
to the celebrated course it is today.
“At the very beginning we
had some issues with getting it
established, especially with the
weather we get. Trying to get the
seed to take without being washed
away proved difficult at times,” says
Paul. “We built a lot of drainage into
the course which really enabled
it to grow and establish fairly
quickly. In the last ten years, I‘ve
really seen the course settle down
nicely and certainly, now, it dries
out a lot quicker and is better able
to handle some of the prolonged
heavy downpours we get.”
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 101
 It wasn’t only the rain though that was causing The
Carrick some difficulties in those early years, as the Head
of Golf at The Carrick, Jonny Sharp, explains. “Over the
past ten years we have experienced some ups and downs
especially during the recession around 2008.
“As much as it was a tough time for all, it was also a
success for golf in general. It was a great time to be able
to talk about a new course set on the Bonnie Banks of
Loch Lomond, and the emergence of our unique points
membership offered golfers an affordable alternative during
a tough time.”
GROWING THE REPUTATION
Over the last ten years The Carrick has continually grown
in popularity. Many golfers who go to tick it off the list will
return because of the great condition of the course and the
excellent experience on offer. This is in large part thanks to
ongoing improvements and work carried out by the greens
staff. “Our greens team are a highly dedicated group of
people who embrace what they do with such a professional
102 BUNKERED.CO.UK
attitude day in day out,” says Sharp. “Over the past two
years the course has risen to a different level which has
been highlighted in recent feedback from members, golf
days, social media and also from the professionals who
played in the recent EuroPro Tour events we have held.
“As we all know, it is the course that people come to
play, so it needs to be in great condition and thankfully
it is.”
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
To mark their tenth anniversary, the Carrick hosted two
successful golf days in early June. A Stableford competition
was held for the members on the first day, with an open
event backed by bunkered on the following day.
“I feel it was important to do both a member and guest
event over the two days as it lets our visitors, who possibly
haven’t played for a while, get the chance to see the
improvements made, from course condition, to service and
overall general offering,” says Sharp.
 z
BRYCE RITCHIE
EDITOR
One of the perks of working
in the golf industry is getting
behind the scenes and seeing
how things take shape. And
when it comes to golf courses,
the opportunities to see how a
course is laid out are actually
pretty rare. It doesn’t happen
very often. Invites to openings are
common, but seeing the design
process take shape, not so much.
It was 11 years ago when I was
invited to tour the site of a new
layout being constructed on
the edge of Loch Lomond by
the De Vere group, the former
owners of Cameron House, still
one of Scotland’s most luxurious
hotels. The designer was Doug
Carrick, a Canadian architect who
I admit I’d never heard of. His
design was going to be set just
a short drive from Loch Lomond
Golf Club. Talk about tough
competition from your neighbour.
I found Carrick to be an interesting
guy, and we enjoyed a fair bit
of conversation in the back
of a swanky 4x4 as we were
chauffeured around the final
routing of his design. At this point,
much of the ‘course’ was simply
earth, though revetted bunkers
were in place on some holes.
Carrick was hugely excited at the
project and talked proudly of his
first involvement in Scottish golf.
He wanted to create something
that was a proper test of golf,
but nothing too strenuous or
The Carrick have a host of events and fantastic deals on offer to celebrate over-bearing. Even though he
their tenth anniversary. To find out more, log-on to cameronhouse.co.uk was clearly quite a shy figure,
he was excited. Considering he
was getting to design a course
on the shores of Loch Lomond,
THE FUTURE he had every right to be upbeat.
The Carrick has quickly gone from a club with virtually no reputation from the He never discussed the pressure of
outset to one that now sits comfortably amongst the country’s elite. Popular constructing of a course next door
amongst societies and for corporate clients, the club also boasts a healthy to the then Scottish Open venue
traditional and county membership, which is the envy of many clubs. - he only ever accentuated the
Paul McClearn is excited about the coming years and the way in which they positives. And why wouldn’t he?
plan on further improving the golf course. “Moving forward, we want to keep In the ten years since, he has
going the way we are going. We are always investing in drainage and our kept a low profile in Scotland,
most recent investment in new machinery will help further improve the greens, and let his work do the talking.
fairways and the overall condition of the course,” he explains. He has continued to design golf
Even though the course opened a decade ago, Doug Carrick still has an courses around the world, some
active role. He visited the course in March of this year to discuss with the team in truly spectacular locations. His
some of the changes they have made and how they can further improve what design at The Carrick remains
is on offer for visitors. By filling in some of the bunkers and making the collars one of my favourite venues in the
and approaches around the greens a little larger, they hope to make the country. It’s fun, which is what
course play a little easier for the higher handicapped golfer. a golf course should be, and it
When asked what the next ten years has in store, Sharp is quick to reply. is accessible and affordable.
“More of the same, I hope. Our aim is to provide the best golf experience the For me, that’s a job well done.
country has to offer, yet be affordable and accessible to all.”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 103
 SHOT ON LOCATION AT LAS COLINAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB / LASCOLINASGOLF.ES

GOOD BALANCE

CREATING LAG

DRAG THE CLUBHEAD WITH

STEVE JOHNSTON
Head Professional, Peebles
YOUR HANDS AHEAD OF THE BALL BY STEVE JOHNSTON
Golf Club, 01721 720197
@sjohnstonpga

PHOTO KENNY SMITH

 The feeling I’m trying to achieve here is
of the club dragging behind me, which
is caused by creating lag in my swing.
Notice how my hands are ahead of the
clubhead at impact. Try to feel how
things work in your swing and not stick
to static movements. Remember that
the golf swing is a series of moves.

Y
OU NEED TO compress the ball to be a good ball striker. And to compress
the ball, you need to create lag in your swing. When you come into the ball,
the club comes downwards and forwards towards the target and outwards
towards the golf ball. If you top it or thin it, your club is on the way up too soon.
What you’re missing is lag.
When you’ve hit the ball, it should feel as though there’s a drag of the club WATCH OUR
behind you at impact. That’s lag. Imagine the ball was nestling on the top of GEAR REVIEWS
water and the club hit the water. Once you’ve hit the ball, the club would drag Get the verdict on the
underneath the water. In play, you would take a divot. This is shown here by latest gear direct from
dragging the water with my hands clearly ahead of the ball at impact. That’s the the bunkered team
lag that I need in order to compress the ball for better ball striking. youtube.com/bunkered

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 105
To support Steven and other deaf
golfers, go to justgiving.com/sdga
106 BUNKERED.CO.UK

‘Taking part in the
Deaflympics is a huge honour’
Deaf golfer Steven Cafferty on the struggles he’s faced
WORDS CHRIS DOYLE PHOTO PSP MEDIA GROUP
G
OLF CAN BE A challenge most
of the time but not many of us
have the same obstacles to
overcome as Steven Cafferty.
The Glasgow golfer, 27, is
profoundly deaf and yet continues to
defy the odds to have a successful
career in a game he says he is in love
with. While climbing the professional
ladder off the course - he works on
the shop floor in the American Golf
retail shop in East Kilbride - he has
also carved out an impressive
career on it.
Cafferty has picked up a number
of victories and is a three-time
winner of the Scottish Deaf Golf
Association Open (SDGA). His form
has been so impressive, in fact, that
is has led to a call-up for Team GB at
the Deaflympics in Turkey later this
year.
Cafferty fell in love with golf at a
young age and knew right away he
wanted to be involved in the sport,
one way or another.
“My dad took me up for junior
lessons at a local club [Craigie Hill]
when I was about seven,” he tells
bunkered. “Since then, I’ve always
wanted a career in golf.”
When he was 16, he worked at
Noah’s Ark Golf Centre in Perth and
was accepted into the PGA as a
trainee assistant professional.
He was set to embark on three
years of training and exams on
coaching, products, custom fitting
and fitness to become a PGA pro.
However, that was all put on hold
when he lost his job at the centre. He
bounced back and went on to work
at Nevada Bob’s in Glasgow for a
short while and then onto American
Golf, where he has worked for over
five years.
He spent three years at the
Clydebank branch, two years at
™
MY
LIFE
IN GOLF
™
on and off the course
Bearsden, and is now in the East
Kilbride store, where he has been
based for the past eight months.
Steven did not let any previous
obstacles faze him as he picked
up the World Deaf Golf Team
Championships at Fairmont St
Andrews with Scotland in 2010,
becoming the first European country
to do so. Since then he has won the
SDGA Open on three occasions:
2010, 2013 and 2016.
He also claimed the club
championship at Milngavie in 2014.
“Having my name up on the board at
the clubhouse and seeing it everyday
made me realise I did the right thing
in not letting my deafness affect my
ability and my life,” he says.
These performances gave him
the chance to represent his country
at the Deaflympics in Turkey. He
explained that, despite everything he
has achieved, nothing compares to
getting a call up for Team GB.
“Team GB inclusion is my biggest
achievement to date, and it’s reward
for all my hard work and success
in events,” said Cafferty. “It’s the
first time golf will be included in the
Deaflympics so it’s a huge honour for
me.
“I’m looking forward to seeing
the difference between it and other
international events like the Worlds
and Euros. I believe the standard
is higher as it’s the elite level for all
athletes in every sport. I’m excited to
test myself in an event that has more
media awareness.”
However, Cafferty is not going
there just to make up the numbers
- he’s going there to win. “I was
chosen as I have a strong chance of
getting onto the podium and winning
a medal. I try to always believe I’m
better than who I play against. I’m
not an over-confident person but if I
believe I’m good enough to win, then
I take that belief onto the course and
do my best.”
It’s not been an easy journey for
Cafferty. His deafness impacted
him at a younger age and started
to influence his ability to enjoy the
game. “Sometimes it was lonely. I
had a bad temper growing up. In golf,
I often wondered why I deserved
a bad round because I was deaf. I
blamed everything on my deafness,
like it was bad luck.
“Due to my temper, I often found
myself isolated from other juniors.
Then I grew up and realised being
deaf doesn’t affect my mentality or
ability to hit a ball. Even these days,
I’m still missing out, but I’m trying
harder to get more involved and
the guys I play with are usually very
patient.
“I am honest enough to say that
there have been moments where I
wanted to just give up but that’s not
my mentality. I kept going and, yes,
there are limits to what I can do but
that makes me appreciate the things
I can do even more.”
Cafferty has achieved many of
his goals, but feels there’s plenty
to be done on the wider scale for
deaf golfers, especially in Scotland.
Currently, he is the fundraising officer
for Scottish Deaf Golf, but they may
have to disband due to the lack of
awareness and available funding.
“I have managed to raise over
£6,000 in the last three to four years
to help with the costs for international
events. They can cost as much as
£2,000 per golfer, which is crazy
money to represent your country.
“I hoped winning the World Team
Championship would have given us
more awareness and support, but it
was the opposite. Still, I won’t give
up on equality.”
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 107
 SUKIRA GOLF
A SOCIAL GAME We have designed the JB1 driver with very simplistic
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This cast-constructed
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 GET MORE
bunkered.co.uk/gear

PUSHING THE
BOUNDARIES OF INNOVATION
Callaway’s Epic irons and hybrids will revolutionise your game

I
T IS FAIR TO SAY that
the Callaway Great
Big Bertha Epic drivers
have taken the equipment
market by storm in the
last few months. There
has been a palpable buzz
surrounding the clubs
and their revolutionary
Jailbreak Technology
since they were released
in January. The new Epic
irons and hybrids look set
to continue this trend.
Callaway’s head of
R&D, Dr Alan Hocknell,
was approached by the
company’s CEO, Chip
Brewer, a few years ago
with a unique request.
Chip asked: “If you
could design the very best
iron that you would play,
if you wanted maximum
performance without
any limits to the cost or THIS
THIS•ISSUE
ISSUE
engineering process, what
would that be?”
The answer is the
incredible Epic and Epic
Pro irons, and if they are
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page 114
exciting new clubs.

Bettinardi putters
page 116
• All prices provided are RRP. Contact your local golf stockist or PGA pro for more accurate prices & offers.
 1 IRONS & HYBRIDS

CALLAWAY EPIC IRONS AND HYBRIDS

This is what Callaway R&D boffins come up with when given a blank chequebook on design

M
ORE HAS engineers’ own high Incorporating tungsten 1mm thick at its thinnest
GONE INTO expectations. in the Internal Standing point, the ultra-thin rim
THE DESIGN, Wave has allowed around the perimeter of
production and R&D THE EPIC IRONS Callaway’s engineers to the inner side of the face
process for the Epic Callaway’s Exo-Cage precisely position the CG flexes and rebounds at
irons than any previous head construction stiffens in each individual iron. impact to add ball speed
Callaway iron. the body to allow the face This includes a lower on centre-face hits and
The company’s to take on more of the CG for easier launch and minimise ball speed loss
engineering team load of impact. The Exo- long carry in the long on off-centre hits.
was given a blank Cage, acting somewhat irons, higher CG in the
chequebook before like jailbreak in the driver, short irons for a lower, THE EPIC PRO IRONS
embarking on process leads to energy lensing, more controllable flight. Incredible performance
of creating the Epic irons promoting faster ball Callaway have advanced in a player’s shape, the
and hybrids. The result speed for longer distance. their industry-leading Pro is Alan Hocknell’s
is a truly remarkable Both the Epic and Epic Face Cup technology to dream iron. He says,
selection of products Pro irons feature a multi- add even more ball speed the Epic Pro is a “better
that even exceeded the material construction. with the Epic irons. Only player’s iron that features

110 BUNKERED.CO.UK

all the benefits of a game
improvement iron, such
as massive ball speed,
forgiveness and excellent
launch conditions”.
He also remarked
on just how difficult it
was to produce an iron
that offered all of these
benefits but retained the
thin topline shape, feel
and workability of a pro
class iron.
As was the case with
the Epic drivers released
earlier this year, the new
Epic irons are breaking the
conventions of golf club
design.
THE EPIC HYBRIDS
During the design process,
the engineers at Callaway
knew that this latest hybrid
would have to live up to
the Epic name. In order
to achieve this, they went
above and beyond the
normal conventions of
club design to create
a club that delivers an
unparalleled level of
distance, control and
versatility.
The Epic is the first
hybrid from Callaway to
incorporate its proprietary
Triaxial Carbon composite
crown technology. The
incredibly light material
has allowed the engineers
to reposition the saved
weight lower and deeper
in the clubhead to
increase MOI and lower
the CG for easy launch
and longer, straighter
shots.
Although the Epic hybrid
does not feature the
revolutionary Jailbreak
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Project X LZ 95
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760/780 Graphite
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Epic Hybrids
LOFT 2H (18°),
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SHAFT UST Recoil
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PRICE £279
@CallawayGolf
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technology seen in the
drivers and fairways, it
still boasts incredibly fast
ball speeds off the face.
The Next Generation 455
Forged Hyper Speed Face
Cup is more efficient at
delivering faster ball speed
across the face, especially
on mis-hits, for increased
average distance.
The Epic has appeal
across the board,
regardless of handicap,
thanks to it being easy
to work, forgiving and
incredibly long.
111
 1 GAME-TRACKING TECH
ARCCOS 360
Improve your decision-making on the course
A
RCCOS IS A
company that has
golf at its heart.
A pioneering brand
in the game-tracking
market, its new system
has been developed to
seamlessly analyse each
shot in real time and
provide powerful, data-
driven insights to help
golfers of all skill levels
measurably improve their
performance by going
beyond guesswork.
Arccos 360 is the
company’s second-
generation system
and boasts a wealth of
improvements against
the initial system. They
say you can improve your
handicap 36 times faster
than the average golfer
by using it.
HOW IT WORKS
Fourteen lightweight
sensors are inserted into
112 BUNKERED.CO.UK
the butt of your grips
and paired with your
smartphone. Playing with
your smartphone in your
front pocket, the sensors
will then automatically
track every shot you hit,
allowing you to play your
normal round of golf
uninterrupted.
The second generation
sensors only need to be
paired once and have
a permanent battery,
certified for 24 months,
that requires no charging.
Whilst out on the
course, you will be able to
make use of the live shot-
tracking feature - giving
you an instant record of
the shots you have hit -
and the GPS 2.0 feature,
which gives pinpoint
distances on over 40,000
mapped courses.
Arccos says that playing
a round with its system
is likely to use up 15% of
your smartphone battery is contributing to your
but it can also be used scores.
whilst on airplane mode
to help save battery or to ARCCOS CADDIE
avoid any data roaming This newly-released
charges when you are feature from Arccos
playing abroad. is golf’s first artificially
Once you have intelligent platform and
completed your round, is free to all Arccos 360
you will be able to access users on a trial basis
the unbelievable wealth until July 1. Caddies
of data the system has play a massive role in
gathered, either on the accomplishments of
your smartphone or the professional golfers but,
desktop dashboard. today, less than 3% of
Arccos 360 provides golfers have access to
advanced Tour Analytics, a caddie. Sal Syed,
an enhanced version CEO and Co-Founder of
of the Strokes Gained Arccos, said: “Everyone
statistic used on the PGA else is missing out
Tour. on a crucial source of
Your game is broken information that can help
down into five key inform every shot.”
components - driving, The Caddie platform
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 REVIEWED
ARCCOS
ARCCOS 360
David Cunninghame
@D_Cunninghame

I T IS ALWAYS EXCITING when I get my hands on a piece of

tech that looks set to revolutionise the way we play the game.
I was lucky enough to test out the new system whilst playing the
stunning Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry.
One of the main advantages of Arccos 360 is the fact that you
can play your normal round without having to constantly peer
at your smartphone. I was able to enjoy the stunning day at the
Ayrshire resort knowing that, in the background, all of my stats
- and, unfortunately, all of my wayward tee shots - were being
gathered and analysed.
The detailed statistical breakdown of every aspect of
my game that the system’s Tour Analytics feature gave was

“The statistical breakdown of

every aspect of my game that the
system’s’ Tour Analytics feature
gave was fascinating.”
fascinating. As I already knew, when my driving is on, I tend
to shoot low scores. When it’s not, I can post a big number.
Unfortunately for me that day, it was the latter. Arccos provides
the kind of tour stats that the best players in the world make use
of to better their game. It’s great to have these at my disposal.
I couldn’t wait to go out and play again to build up my data
and get a better idea of what I should be working on with my
game. That’s perhaps one of the greatest things about Arccos
and game-tracking technology - it really makes you want to get
out there and play more golf.
Speaking to the guys from Arccos, you can immediately
feel the level of excitement they have for the 360 system and
vast opportunities that lie ahead for them in the coming years.
Without a doubt, we can expect even more interesting and
innovative products from this company in the future.
RRP £249
arccosgolf.com

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 113
1 SHOES

FOOTJOY’S 2017 SPIKELESS RANGE

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OOTJOY IS AT THE takes golfers from the
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an innovation that have
become a permanent
fixture both on the tour
and at grassroots level.
It’s a trend, not a fad.
Russell Lawes, FJ
marketing manager, said:
“There is a continued
demand for a shoe that

SUPERLITES XP AWD XL CASUAL

` An incredibly lightweight, flexible and breathable shoe,
the SuperLites XP is also completely waterproof. The midsole is
made from a Fine-Tuned Foam (FTF) that offers exceptional comfort
and is combined with the same durable TPU spikeless outsole as the
FootJoy Pro/SL to provide excellent flexibility and outstanding grip.
` Crafted from an easy care, waterproof, synthetic upper, the
AWD XL Casual provides turf-gripping performance and durability
for all underfoot conditions thanks to its DuraMax outsole that is
crafted from a proprietary rubber compound. A contour last offers
a fit to closely match the shape of the foot, whilst a lightweight
cushioned fit-bed provides outstanding underfoot comfort.

114 BUNKERED.CO.UK

CONTOUR CASUAL
` FootJoy’s Contour Series, one of the best-selling shoe
franchises of all time, was created with a focus firmly on comfort.
This much-loved addition to the franchise offers the same
world-renowned fit and comfort as its cleated counterparts
but with the added versatility of a spikeless outsole. Its
full grain leather upper is soft to the touch, comfortable
and waterproof, while an external heel cup provides
additional support when swinging and walking.
VERSALUXE
` This premium shoe line has been designed by FootJoy to create
the perfect blend of off-course style with on-course performance.
Created from the finest luxurious calfskin leather, the Versaluxe
range is available in Luggage Caramelo, Luggage Black, Chalky
Off White, and Luggage Navy colourways to reflect the current
trend of off-course styling, allowing the shoes to be worn with
any outfit, on any occasion. The superior comfort and fit of this
range comes courtesy of the cork covered, ultra-comfortable
fit-bed, premium leather linings and a no-slip suede inner-heel.
REVIEWED
POWAKADDY
Compact C2
David Cunninghame
@D_Cunninghame
PROBABLY BEST TO GET THIS OFF MY CHEST straight
away. Before testing the new PowaKaddy Compact C2, I had
never used a trolley whilst playing golf. I’m not against it. I’ve
always just enjoyed carrying my bag and walking the course.
For this reason, I was excited to see what the Compact C2
had to offer and how I would feel after playing 18 holes at the
London Golf Club, not a short course by anyone’s standards.
This new model introduces an innovative ‘simple-2-fold’
system that allows it to be set up and packed away in two
simple folds. The Compact C2 will also fit into the smallest of
car boots thanks to the new system and is one of the lightest
trolleys available in its category, coming in at only 9.8kg.
“I had a lot of fun playing
around with the many features
that PowaKaddy fans have come
to love over the years.”
The new system is supposed to reduce any
hassle in using a trolley by assembling in only a few
seconds. I certainly found this to be the case.
On the course, I had a lot of fun playing with the
many features that PowaKaddy fans have come to love
over the years: the nine speed settings, adjustable
distance control, USB charging slot, and the full
colour widescreen display being a real highlight.
After playing a full round using the Compact C2, I
was amazed. Being somewhat fit and healthy, I honestly
didn’t realise what carrying a bag can take out of you
over 18 holes. I definitely felt fresher coming down the
stretch and know that’ll help me to shoot lower scores.
I can see myself using a trolley a lot more often,
especially one like this with user-friendly features.
RRP £599.99
powakaddy.co.uk
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 115
 1 PUTTERS

BETTINARDI PUTTERS
Four new models from the Chicago-based putter specialists

STUDIO STOCK 8
This distinct and classic blade
is one of three new models for the
2017/18 Studio Stock series. The
SS8 features the popular JAM head
style with a high-toe topline and
squared off edges. F.I.T. (Feel Impact SPECS
Technology) face milling removes
material from the face to produce
Studio Stock 8
a softer feel at impact. Finished in
Available in
Mercury Grey for a confidence- lengths 33”-35”
inspiring look at address and is PRICE £319
available with either standard or
Queen B 8
jumbo deep-etched Lamkin grip Available in
with new cord lining. lengths 33”-35”
PRICE £319
QUEEN B 8 BB40
This advancement of a classic mallet Available in
design was based on the feedback lengths 33”-35”
Bettinardi received from tour players PRICE £279
around the world. Its quarter toe Inovai 3.0
hang will be favoured by those with Available in
a slight arcing stroke while the Micro lengths 33”-35”
Honeycomb milled face delivers a PRICE £279
muted yet crisp feel at impact. (standard)
£299 (Centre shaft)
£289 (Counter-
BB40 balance)
Bettinardi’s BB Series putters
take innovation and performance
to the next level, with the BB40 being
one of the new models introduced
for 2016/17. Its classic mallet shape,
and perimeter weighting for a larger
sweetspot, certainly make this one
for the traditionalists. Alignment is
made easy with the BB40 thanks
to its classic shape and extended
sight line.

INOVAI 3.0
Designed for players seeking a
high MOI mallet-style putter with
a compact head, it features two
alignment aids and Feel Impact
Technology to provide a soft feel
at impact for the most aggressive
putting styles. Its BI-Metal technology
combines black anodised aluminium
and stainless steel in order to
maximise performance and feel. The
aluminium is utilised in the face to
create the brand’s softest feeling
putter yet and the stainless steel back
weight creates the density needed
for perfect head weight. This slight
toe hang MOI mallet has extreme
perimeter weighting that promotes a
stable stroke and larger sweetspot.
@BettinardiGolf
bettinardi.com

116 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 02

02

01
1 GALVIN GREEN MITCHELL POLO
The new VENTIL8 PLUS Mitchell short sleeve shirt boasts a 03
sporty design and offers all the benefits of the special fabric
technology, such as extreme breathability and moisture
management, body mapping technology and 20+ UV
protection. Available in five colourways and sizes S-XXL.
£95 galvingreen.com

2 GOLFBUDDY WTX
Takes functionality to the next level thanks to
some fantastic features, such as a touch screen
and full hole view, usually only ever seen on a
large hand-held distance measuring device.
£199.99 gpsgolfbuddy.com

3 STEWART GOLF T5 TOUR BAG

This stunning premium cart bag from Stewart Golf
features a six-way full-length divider, nine pockets,
03
including two large side pockets, a large ball pocket,
an integrated umbrella holder... and is available in
three colour options! £179 stewartgolf.com 05
4 CARDINAL PAUL POLO 17
This classic cut performance polo, from
the superb 2017 Cardinal collection, has
been crafted to allow air to move freely to
regulate the temperature of the body.
£39.99 cardinalgolf.co.uk

5 VICE PRO SOFT

A ball designed for players with medium to lower swing
speeds, the Pro Soft is an extremely low compression
ball that features a three-piece cast urethane cover

04
for a superior soft feel around the greens. Available
in your choice of three different colours.
£1.79 per ball vicegolf.com

118 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 Vintage GET MORE
bunkered.co.uk/gear

Re-visiting the equipment that shaped golf

MACGREGOR RESPONSE ZT 615

The putter that helped 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus win the 1986 Masters Tournament

N
O MASTERS Clay Long, the head Interestingly, unusual club to say
highlights reel is of MacGregor’s R&D, MacGregor had only the least. It is reported
complete without to create something forecast sales of that he said to Long
the iconic image of similar to Tom roughly 6,000 units when he first saw the
Jack raising his putter Watson’s Ping Pal. The of the Response ZT club, “Is this a joke?”
aloft after draining putter Long created 615. However, after the After playing his first
his crucial birdie putt had an extremely large ‘Golden Bear’s heroics competitive round with
on the 17th green at moment of inertia around Augusta that the putter, he even
Augusta during the (more forgiving and year, they recorded said: “Oh, man, what
final round of the 1986 better performong on sales of over 350,000 have I got this thing in
tournament. mis-hits), leading to units between then my hands for?”
The MacGreogr the ZT (Zero Twisting) and the end of 1987. Thankfully for
Response ZT 615 in its name. The It could’ve been a Jack, MacGregor and
putter’s massive commercials that ran completely different his adoring fans, he
oversized head for the putter used story, though, as was won over by the
design was unique the tagline: “We took Jack, initially, was club and went onto
and came about when out twist to take off not a big fan of the secure his historic
Jack asked designer strokes.” cumbersome and 18th major.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 119
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BAG A
BARGAIN
American Golf has opened its first outlet store in Scotland in
Giffnock, Glasgow, selling entirely pre-owned clubs. We spoke to the
UK’s head of business development Elliot Fleming about the move...
Can you explain a bit more about the
outlet store concept?
Our outlet store is a concept that
we’ve designed in order to give an
alternative, more affordable offering to
golfers through the pre-owned market.
Instead of having a small section
of one our main stores dedicated
to pre-owned clubs, now we’ve
dedicated virtually a whole store to
that which enables us to offer a more
comprehensive range.
What prompted the shift to the pre-
owned market and how did the idea
come to fruition?
We looked at current participation
trends in golf on a UK-wide scale.
There are a range of barriers people
talk about from time to cost and we
felt we could address the latter by
entering the pre-owned market. It just
evolved from there and followed a
strategic decision as a business at the
tail end of last year. An outlet store
was one of our ideas and we started
implementing them at the start of the
year. Our Giffnock store is now the
third outlet store in the UK and first in
Scotland.
What can customers expect when
they come into the store?
The customer experience will be no
124 BUNKERED.CO.UK
different to what it’s like in any of our
other stores. Although this is an outlet
concept, we’ve not diminished our
service offering so customers can still
expect to be aided by experienced
golf professionals. There’s still the
level of care and benefits that come
through shopping with us such as our
membership schemes and the ability
to be custom-fitted for equipment. All
the elements are the same, it’s just the
stock that’s different.
Is it only golf clubs that can be found
in store?
No, we’ll have everything that you’ll be
able to find in a normal store, including
GPS equipment, trolleys, balls, apparel,
footwear and other consumables, but
they’re slightly older products at great
prices. With apparel, lines are available
from as recently as spring 2017. Like all
retailers, we’ve got people who want
the latest equipment and the stuff that
Rory McIlroy is wearing on TV at the
weekend. However, there are guys
who would happily buy Rory’s shirt
from last year which could be available
at half the cost. We appreciate people
come in all shapes and sizes and have
different shopping preferences and we
want to do our best to cater for that.
Has any stigma attached to buying
pre-owned gear now completely
gone?
Yeah, I’d say it has. The cost of golf
equipment varies greatly and pre-
owned clubs can still be new to
somebody. If somebody has a 15-year-
old driver and buys one that’s five-
years-old, that will still feel new to them
and compel them to play. Everything
we do is about participation and
having new clubs makes you excited
to play. Hopefully this store helps
people buy some new kit and gets
them out on the course.
Are there plans for anymore outlet
stores in Scotland?
We’ll evaluate it as a business at a later
date and see if it’s something we want
to expand on in Scotland. One of the
reasons we chose Glasgow is because
no more than four miles away we have
our flagship store at East Kilbride. So
for any of our customers in that area,
they have a clear choice. What I will
say though is that our Giffnock store
has only been open a few weeks and
it’s already proving incredibly popular.
Outlet store address: 6 Fenwick Rd,
Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 6AN
Phone: 0141 611 9565
 WIN!
£500
TO SPEND AT THE
AMERICAN GOLF OUTLET
STORE IN GLASGOW!
T
O MARK THE OPENING of the first American Golf
outlet store in Scotland and the third in the UK at
Giffnock, we’re giving one lucky bunkered reader the
chance to win a £500 spend in store on anything they like.
The winner will spend a morning with bunkered at the
store on a day that will be agreed at a later date, where we
will document the winner’s visit, purchases and feedback.

HOW MANY AMERICAN GOLF OUTLET

STORES ARE THERE CURRENTLY IN THE
UK?
A3
B5
C7

› ENTER at bunkered.co.uk/competitions
Or send your answer, name and contact details to: American
Golf Competition, bunkered, PSP House, 50 High Craighall
Road, Craighall Business Park, Glasgow, G4 9UD

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

All entries must be received no later than July 26, 2017. Only one entry per person
can be accepted. Winner will be the first correct entry drawn after the closing date.
Competition is only open to UK residents. By entering this competition, you agree
to share your data with our supporting partners. The editor’s decision is final. See
our Facebook page for winner’s details: facebook.com/bunkeredmagazine.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 125
 REVIEWED TOUR DRIVERS
David Cunninghame
@D_Cunninghame
N
OTHING GETS a
golf gear enthusiast
like myself quite as
excited as a new driver.
We all love getting our
hands on the latest toys
and seeing how much
further we can crush one
out there.
In this feature, I
will give you a quick
rundown of the tech each
manufacturer has packed
126 BUNKERED.CO.UK
into their premium drivers
to help you hit it further
and straighter as well as
a little insight into who is
using them out on tour.
I will then give
my thoughts on the
performance, looks and
feel of each driver, which
will hopefully help you
come to an informed
decision should you wish
to put a new one in the
CONTENTS
bag this summer. After
all, a new driver is a big 127 CALLAWAY GREAT
expense and so you’re BIG BERTHA EPIC
going to want something SUB ZERO
that inspires you with
confidence on the tee, no 128 TITLEIST 917 D3
matter how narrow the 129 TAYLORMADE M2
fairway looks.
My last piece of advice 130 MIZUNO JPX 900
is to get fitted - the 131 SRIXON Z 565
difference it can make to
132 COBRA KING F7+
how your driver performs
is simply unbelievable.
 TOUR
DRIVERS
REVIEW

CALLAWAY
GREAT BIG BERTHA EPIC SUB ZERO
„ £469 „ callawaygolf.com

THE TECH
Callaway are calling the Epic Sub Zero
the most forgiving pro-style driver
they have ever made. The forgiveness
stems from its multi-material
construction. The titanium Exo-Cage
combines with the ultra-lightweight
Triaxial Carbon Crown to create an
extraordinarily high MOI.
The reason, however, why the Epic
Sub Zero has been making headlines
is due to the Jailbreak technology. Two
ultra-light, strong titanium bars placed
behind the face work together to take
on more of the load created at impact
than ever before. This results in faster
ball speeds across the entire face,
promoting more distance.
The Sub Zero also allows you to dial
in your ideal launch conditions and ball
flight thanks to the OptiFit hosel and
two interchangeable sole weights.
With the heavier 12g
OUT ON TOUR weight in the rear port,
The Sub Zero’s latest big win came the Sub Zero’s MOI is a
at the BMW PGA Championship. massive 42% higher than
Sweden’s Alex Noren put the it in his @CallawayGolf
its predecessor, the Big
bag at the start of the season and Bertha Alpha 816 Double
hasn’t looked back. His victory at Black Diamond.
Wentworth was his fifth in 17 starts. SPECS
COMMENTS
My first impression was that this driver LOFT 9.5˚ and 10.5˚
(Left-hand, 9˚ only)
is anything but traditional. The head SHAFTS Diamana
shape and look at address are very M+ Green, Project
unique. The feel off the face was very X HZRDUS, Fujikura
solid but retained a good level of feel Pro Green, Adila
and feedback. It felt incredibly fast off Rogue M•AX
the face but the very low flight was PRICE £469
not quite to my liking. By switching the
weights around so that the heavier 12g
weight was in the rear, I was getting a
much higher launch and carrying the
ball further. Without a doubt, it’s one of
the longest drivers I have ever used.
It is clear Callaway is delivering on
Jailbreak’s promises.

“Without a doubt, one

of the longest drivers
I have ever used”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 127
 TITLEIST
917 D3
„ £450 „ titleist.co.uk

THE TECH
The 917 D3 offers both distance and
workability in a traditional, tour-inspired
pear profile. The big talking point with
the 917 is the inclusion of Titleist’s new
SureFit CG technology. It allows the CG
to be moved from a back, heel position
to a forward, toe position through
interchangeable weights, optimising
spin and launch conditions for every
player. This coupled with the excellent
SureFit Hosel means this is Titleist’s
most adjustable driver to date.
The D3, along with the D2, are also
the company’s longest-ever drivers.
The Active Recoil Channel 2.0 acts
to reduce spin and increases speed,
while the Radial Speed Face 2.0
promotes greater off-centre ball
speed for more overall distance across
the face.

OUT ON TOUR
@TitleistEurope The sound and acoustics
of the D3 have been Justin Thomas was on-fire in the early
validated by Titleist’s stages of the PGA Tour season. His
SPECS brand ambassadors to three wins came in large part thanks to
his prodigious length and accuracy off
inspire confidence and
enhance feel. the tee, as indicated by his impressive
LOFT 8.5˚, 9.5˚ stats. As this issue went to print, he was
and 10.5˚ sitting first in total driving efficiency and
(Left-hand, 8.5˚, tenth in driving distance.
9.5˚ and 10.5˚)
SHAFTS Adila COMMENTS
Rogue M*AX 65, The smaller 440cc head and compact
Fujikura Speeder shape is exactly what I like to see in
Pro TS 74, a driver. It gives me the confidence to
Mitsubishi Diamana
LTD. Blue 60
go out on any golf course and play a
PRICE £450 variety of shots. The lower launch and
reduced spin it offers, when compared
to the D2, again suits my game
perfectly. Once, I had settled on the
perfect SureFit CG and Hosel settings
I was seeing a penetrating, consistent
and powerful ball flight. If you are a bit
of traditionalist like me, you’ll love the
D3.

“The smaller 440cc

head and compact
shape is exactly what I
like to see in a driver”

128 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 TOUR
DRIVERS
REVIEW

TAYLORMADE
M2
„ £369 „ taylormadegolf.co.uk

THE TECH
The new 2017 M2 has built upon
the success of its predecessor to
deliver an engineering masterpiece
that delivers massive distance and
forgiveness. A new multi-material
construction and advanced shaping
by way of a breakthrough design
technique called ‘Geocoustic’, along
with a newly designed speed pocket,
provides complete performance for all
level of golfers.
The Geocoustic feature combines
geometry and acoustical engineering
to unlock more forgiveness and
incredible sound. The sunken sole
portion of the driver has freed up
volume and allowed engineers to make
the driver’s head larger, both the visible
footprint as well as the club’s face (7%),
ultimately making the driver not only
appear more visibly forgiving, but feel
more forgiving at the same time. The new lower density
9-1-1 Titanium body,
OUT ON TOUR six-layer carbon composite
The new Masters champion has long crown and minimal sound
been regarded as one of the best ribs allowed for 25g of @TaylorMadeTourf
drivers of a golf ball the game has ever discretionary mass to be
seen. Around Augusta we saw Sergio relocated low and back
Garcia put on a driving clinic, where he in the sole of the club, SPECS
ranked second in accuracy and sixth in helping to increase the
distance for the week using his M2. MOI and distance.
LOFT 9.5˚ and
COMMENTS 10.5˚,12˚
TaylorMade says the M2 raises the bar (Left-hand, 9.5
in terms of what you should expect and 10.5˚)
from a driver in terms of both distance SHAFTS Fujikura
and forgiveness - they’re not kidding. Pro XLR8 56
PRICE £369
The M2 is both high launching and
low spinning; a fierce combination
that leads to huge carries. No wonder
McIlroy hits it for miles. Perhaps the
only downside with the M2 is that
it lacks the added dimension of
adjustability that some other drivers do.
Mind you, if I’m piping it straight down
the middle, even on my mis-hits, then
perhaps I am starting to knit pick.

“Even on some of my
wildest mishits, the
club felt great.”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 129
 SRIXON
Z 565
„ £325 „ srixon.co.uk

THE TECH
Srixon says it has created a Ripple
Effect to help deliver maximum
distance and forgiveness through
the combination of three design
innovations.
First, a new Stretch Flex Cup face
has been extended further around the
crown and the sole to create a larger
sweetspot.
The crown of the Z 565 is about
four grams lighter than its predecessor
which has allowed engineers to
strategically reposition the weight
around the clubhead to increase the
MOI and lower the CG for a higher
launching, more forgiving flight.
Lastly, a new Power Wave Sole,
with its advanced multi-step design,
allows the lower face to flex, helping to
increase ball speeds across the face.

The Z 565 has a slightly OUT ON TOUR

larger footprint than Russell Knox decided to put the Z 565
previous Srixon models to in his bag the week of the WGC Dell
increase forgiveness and Technologies Match Play. He said: “The
inspire confidence. Z 565 driver is fast and low spinning.
@SrixonEuropef It’s an incredible driver and going to be
in my bag for a long time.”

SPECS COMMENTS
This is a driver that has taken many
by surprise with its incredible feel,
LOFT 9.5˚ and forgiveness and distance. It was the
10.5˚ (Left-hand, best looking and feeling driver I got my
9˚ AND 10.5˚) hands on. The classic looks and finish
SHAFTS Miyazaki suit my eye perfectly and, off the face,
Kuala Mizu 5 it gave incredible feedback and a soft
PRICE £325
feel. Although it was the looks and feel
that made the Z 565 stand out, the
level of forgiveness it offered was also
incredible. I was seeing a much tighter
dispersion with it compared to my
current driver. The slight draw bias look
at address may not be for everyone
but, if that’s the case, you should try
the better player’s Z 765.

“It was the best looking

and feeling driver I got
my hands on”

130 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 TOUR
DRIVERS
REVIEW

MIZUNO
JPX 900
„ £399 „ golf.mizunoeurope.com

THE TECH
A newly-configured multi-thickness
face has enabled the engineers at
Mizuno to deliver incredible speed
across the entire face.
Mizuno’s tour professionals said they
wanted a driver that looked easier to
hit. The engineers, therefore, designed
a longer, wider and shallower-than-
normal profile than would be typically
expected of a tour driver. The
re-shaping has also contributed to
increasing the MOI, therefore boosting
forgiveness.
The three Fast Tracks on the JPX
900 give you the option to adjust your
launch angle and spin rate, which
Mizuno says can add up to 30 yards
onto your drives. This, along with the
Quick Switch hosel and the new face
angle prop, makes this one of the most
adjustable drivers on the market.
Mizuno’s Quick Switch
OUT ON TOUR hosel allows you to alter
Chris Wood says the JPX 900 is a big the loft with the simple
step in the right direction to helping turn of a key.
his driving. The improved Fast Tracks
have helped him combat his tendency
to hook the ball by slowing the toe
down further when the fade setting is
selected. SPECS
COMMENTS LOFT 9.5˚
The slick matte blue finish really makes (adjustable
the JPX 900 stand out and you can 7.5˚- 11.5˚) Left
see how the engineers at Mizuno have hand available
increased the level of forgiveness SHAFTS Fujikura
when compared with its predecessor, Speeder Evolution II
@MizunoGolf_Newsf PRICE £399
the JPX 850. The wealth of adjustable
features make it a tinkerer’s dream. It
was fairly easy for me to work out the
right setting for me and, regardless
of where I had the sliding weights,
the club felt and sounded forgiving.
Although the relatively shallow face
didn’t suit my eye, I cannot argue with
the truly excellent results.

“The slick matte blue

finish really makes the
JPX 900 stand out”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 131
 TOUR
DRIVERS
REVIEW

COBRA
KING F7+
„ £299 „ cobragolf.co.uk

THE TECH
The F7+ comes equipped with three
CG settings that produce three very
different ball flights. By switching the
weights around, you can choose from
either a lower, penetrating ball flight
with less spin; a higher, towering ball
flight with added spin for more carry; or
a flight with draw bias, that’ll help those
tackling a slice. You can further dial in
your ball flight and launch conditions
with the MyFly8 with SmartPad
technology.
The F7+ is also incredibly long
thanks to a re-engineered forged 8-11
Titanium E9 face that has created a
larger sweetspot across the face for
increased ball speed.
What makes the F7+ stand out from
the crowd is the inclusion of Cobra
Connect technology. This system,
@cobragolf powered by Arccos, allows you to
The TeXtreme Carbon automatically track and compile the
Fibre crown is 20% data from every one of your drives,
SPECS lighter, allowing weight helping you to identify your driving
to be redistributed lower strengths and weaknesses.
and deeper into the club
LOFT 8°, 8.5°, head for a lower CG and OUT ON TOUR
8.5° Draw, 9.5°,
extreme distance and Fowler put the F7+ in the bag as soon
9.5° Draw, as he could get his hands on it and
10.5°, 10.5° forgiveness.
hasn’t looked back. We just have to
Draw and 11° look at some of his stats to see he
(Left-hand, 8°,
loves the new driver. The week after
8.5°, 8.5° Draw,
9.5°, 9.5° Draw, the Memorial Tournament, Fowler sat
10.5°, 10.5° first in the total driving stats and third
Draw and 11°) in total driving efficiency.
SHAFTS Fujikura
Pro XLR8 61 COMMENTS
PRICE £299 This is a driver that I would happily
pop straight into my bag. I really like
the look and feel of it and found it
incredibly easy to work the ball through
the air, which is a big plus for me.
Cobra Connect is certainly an added
bonus with the F7+. Being able to play
my normal round of golf and having my
stats automatically compiled was a lot
of fun.

“This is a driver that

I would happily pop
straight into my bag”

132 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 DRIVERS | IRONS | FAIRWAYS | HYBRIDS | WEDGES | BALLS | SHOES
APPAREL | PUTTERS | RANGEFINDERS | GPS | TROLLEYS | BAGS | GLOVES

BUYER’S GUIDE

FAIRWAYS

IRONS
P.140

DIAL IN YOUR LONG GAME

WITH THE LATEST IRONS
P.134
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 133
 BEST IN SHOW

IRONS
BUYING GUIDE
I
RON TECHNOLOGY IS PROGRESSING at a
staggering rate. Every manufacturer is finding new
ways to help you hit your irons higher, straighter,
further and more consistently. In this buyer’s guide,
you will find the perfect set of irons for you, whether
you are an out-and-out ball-striker or a higher
handicapper looking for a little more help in your
attempts to shoot lower scores.

PING PING
i200 £120 PER IRON iBLADE £130 PER IRON
KEY FEATURES Achieving significant KEY FEATURES Definitely one for the
performance gains without sacrificing any traditionalists, the iBlade iron has
key attributes, Ping’s engineers have designed the softest, purest feel Ping has ever
the new i200 iron for aspiring blade players achieved in an iron, with the workability
who like to be creative with their shot-making, and control to shape shots on command.
but also demand forgiveness on miscues. Through extensive research and
Providing the look and feel of a players- observation of leading tour professionals,
style iron with great forgiveness for its size, Ping engineers designed the clean,
the i200 offers improved workability and compact iBlade iron to surpass the
ball-flight control. The long irons are high- expectations of skilled golfers who rely
launching and provide maximum distance, on precision and control to execute the
while the compact, precise short irons give most demanding shots in the game.
you full command of your shot-making with ping.com
unprecedented feel and forgiveness.
ping.com

134 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 IRONS





PING PING
G £92 PER IRON GMAX £92 PER IRON 
KEY FEATURES This utilises COR-Eye technology to help KEY FEATURES Ping’s longest and most forgiving iron 
boost ball speed off the face. The increase in speed and features COR-Eye tech and a wide sole design for low and
shot height generates distance and a steep landing angle back CG. Progressive lengths and lofts are optimised for 
so that shots hit the green and hold the green. efficient gapping offering superb distance control.

ping.com ping.com





COBRA COBRA 
KING F7 £549 KING F7 ONE LENGTH £549

KEY FEATURES Cobra’s TECFLO construction helps to KEY FEATURES The One Length irons are inspired by
deliver a set of irons that optimise the performance Bryson DeChambeau and boast TECFLO tech, with each 
characteristics of each iron. The PWRSHELL face is thinner, head designed to deliver optimised trajectory and distance
stronger and its sole structure is re-engineered for speed. gapping from long irons to wedges. 
cobragolf.co.uk cobragolf.co.uk






COBRA SRIXON 
KING FORGED TOUR £749 Z 965 £660

KEY FEATURES This player’s iron offers tour-proven KEY FEATURES A sleek, compact muscleback blade.
performance, soft feel and shot-making precision. High- A new Tour V.T. sole has been modified to move even more 
density tungsten weights are strategically positioned on efficiently through the turf, reducing impact resistance and

the sole of the club head for a lower, centred CG. tightening shot dispersion for maximum consistency.
cobragolf.co.uk srixon.co.uk 
BUYER’S GUIDE

SRIXON
Z 565 £660
KEY FEATURES The Z 565 irons are geared for golfers of
all abilities and feature a new Tour V.T. sole that allows the
clubhead to move even more efficiently through the turf,
reducing impact resistance and tightening shot dispersion.
srixon.co.uk
SRIXON
Z 355 £499
KEY FEATURES Tailored towards higher handicappers, a
higher hosel section has allowed for an expanded face area
and a large sweetspot. Optimised set construction has also
increased the playability of the entire set.
srixon.co.uk
CALLAWAY
EPIC PRO £1,749
KEY FEATURES Offers the same tech as the Epic but in a ‘better
player’s’ shape. Each head is precision-milled and robotically
laser-welded. It takes 65 days and more than 200 processes,
steps and inspections to create each head.
callawaygolf.com
CALLAWAY
STEELHEAD XR PRO £759
KEY FEATURES The Steelhead XR Pro is a player’s iron that
combines playability and control. They have been designed to
increase your ball speed and distance, especially on off-centre
strikes, thanks to 360 Face Cup technology.
callawaygolf.com
TAYLORMADE
P770 £1,049
KEY FEATURES Thanks to an advanced forging process and
precision-milled faces and grooves, the P770’s pure and simple
head shape will appeal to the better player’s eye and provides a
soft-solid feel at impact and workable, forgiving performance.
taylormadegolf.co.uk
TAYLORMADE
M1 £849
KEY FEATURES The M1 was designed to give as much
of the speed, forgiveness and playability of the M2 but
deliver it to the player who prefers a more compact
look along with more control and workability.
taylormadegolf.co.uk
136 BUNKERED.CO.UK
CALLAWAY
EPIC £1,749
KEY FEATURES The Epic and Epic Pro
are the result of years of research and
development from 70 members of
Callaway’s team after its main man,
Alan Hocknell, was approached by
the company’s CEO, Chip Brewer,
with a brief to create his dream iron,
regardless of cost. The Epic combines
Callaway’s most ground-breaking iron
innovations, including an Exo-Cage
head construction, advanced Face Cup
technology and the inclusion of tungsten
weighting. Read more on page 109.
callawaygolf.com
TAYLORMADE
P750 £1,499
KEY FEATURES The irons that helped Sergio Garcia win the
Masters are tailored towards real ball-strikers and players who
favour a classic and compact forged clubhead. They feature a
thin topline (thinner than the P770) and minimal offset.
taylormadegolf.co.uk
TAYLORMADE
M2 £699
KEY FEATURES The M2 is the culmination of years of developing
top tech, including a speed pocket, face slots and fluted hosels,
designed for more distance, peak trajectory and forgiveness - all
designed using Geocoustic engineering techniques.
taylormadegolf.co.uk
 IRONS





TITLEIST TITLEIST
716 AP1 £100 PER IRON 716 AP2 £125 PER IRON 
KEY FEATURES The AP1’s extreme 360˚ undercut cavity KEY FEATURES High density tungsten weighting has 
design with a large, thin, unsupported face delivers speed been strategically placed low and to the perimeter to help
and launch for more distance, while the use of high-density increase MOI for greater forgiveness, faster ball speeds 
tungsten weighting provides maximum forgiveness. across the face and consistent distance.

titleist.co.uk titleist.co.uk





TITLEIST TITLEIST 
716 CB £125 PER IRON 716 MB £125 PER IRON

KEY FEATURES A modern cavity blade engineered with KEY FEATURES A classic blade design that delivers a
high density tungsten for tour-proven shot-making with tour proven flight, unrivalled feedback, feel and supreme 
added forgiveness. The CG is low and, as such, provides control with your shot trajectory. The 716 MB is favoured
forgiveness and distance but in a better player’s iron. by many of the best ball-strikers around the world. 
titleist.co.uk titleist.co.uk




CHRIS BEAUMONT, TITLEIST’S GOLF CLUB

MARKETING MANAGER, TELLS US ABOUT THE USE
Q&A OF TUNGSTEN IN TITLEIST IRONS. 

Why have Titleist of the club. With the head of
incorporated tungsten an iron, however, there are 
weighting in the 716 irons? certain parameters we have
At Titleist, we have a certain to adhere to in terms of size, 
shape and size of irons that weight and performance.
our fans have come to love By using tungsten, which is 
over the years. For that reason, denser than steel, we are able
BUYER’S GUIDE
we always try to come up to place more weight in the
with new ways of maximising heel and toe sections whilst still
performance, without adhering to these parameters.
sacrificing our industry-leading
shape and feel. Tungsten How will this help amateurs?
has allowed us to do this. Tungsten weighting has
allowed us to move the CG
How does it help improve lower in the 716 range of irons.
performance? This means amateurs will
It allows us to significantly experience more forgiveness,
increase the size of the distance and tighter dispersion
sweetspot in our irons. The best than any previous generation of
way of doing this is to get more Titleist iron but with the same
weight out onto the perimeter looks, feel and workability.
MIZUNO
JPX 900 FORGED £120 PER IRON
KEY FEATURES Produced from a stronger Boron-infused steel
billet, the JPX900 Forged boasts a milled pocket and new multi-
thickness face for increased ball speeds. More compact than its
predecessor, it provides superb forged feel - a Mizuno classic.
golf.mizunoeurope.com
MIZUNO
JPX 900 HOT METAL £105 PER IRON
KEY FEATURES Combines super-fast ball speeds and maximum
forgiveness with the workability of a forged iron for the ultimate
in all-around performance. The new Chromoly 4140M material
offers distance, exceptional feel and forgiveness.
golf.mizunoeurope.com
MIZUNO
JPX 900 TOUR £120 PER IRON
KEY FEATURES We’ve seen a lot of tour
pros switching to Mizuno irons in the past
few months, with many of them opting
to put the JPX Tour in the bag. This is the
purest, most solid JPX iron in the line. Grain
Flow Forged, using 1025E Pure Select mild
carbon steel, the JPX900 Tour combines
authentic Mizuno feedback with advanced
stability. An evolved look for a Mizuno
player’s iron, it features a satin finish,
straighter lines and low toe profile, all of
which accentuate its compact appearance.
golf.mizunoeurope.com

WILSON STAFF WILSON STAFF

V6 £699
KEY FEATURES Padraig Harrington’s current sticks. Made from
8620 carbon steel, the irons feature 20 grams of split tungsten
weighting, offering improved sole camber and bounce for added
distance and optimum ball flight.
wilson.com
D300 £579
KEY FEATURES New for 2017, these super-game improvement
irons feature ground-breaking FLX Face Technology, which
minimises contact points between the thin face and clubhead for
maximum face flex upon impact to create extreme distance.
wilson.com

WISHON MACGREGOR
STERLING £75 PER IRON DCT ELITE £199
KEY FEATURES Wishon’s single length irons allow you to adopt KEY FEATURES Manufactured from 431 stainless steel and
the same stance, the same posture, and the same swing plane featuring premium components, the DCT Elite irons boast an
for every iron in the bag, boosting your shot consistency and over-sized head design with perimeter weighting for extreme
performance. forgiveness across the entire clubface.
diamondgolf.co.uk macgregor-golf.co.uk

138 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 IRONS





BENROSS BENROSS
HTX COMPRESSOR TYPE R £420 HTX COMPRESSOR £350 
KEY FEATURES The Compressor Type R refines the original KEY FEATURES Heel and toe weighting has been optimised 
Type R design with a heat-treated cup face that produces in the 431 stainless steel cast head to create an ultra-
the best-ever CT performance of a Benross iron, plus a new forgiving, high-launching iron. Available with KBS Tour 90 
Cavity Dampener that helps to soften feel at impact. or Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage graphite shafts as standard.

benrossgolf.com benrossgolf.com





BENROSS SUKIRA 
HTX COMPRESSOR GOLD £420 PRO V2 £75 PER IRON

KEY FEATURES Powered by a lightweight Kuro Kage black KEY FEATURES Sukira manufacture tour-quality gear not
shaft, the HTX Compressor Gold iron is 4 grams lighter for the masses, but rather the individual. Their jewel in 
than the standard HTX Compressor iron and produces the crown is the Pro V2, where the face and grooves are
unmatched distance for those with slow swing speeds. painstakingly CNC machined to perfection. 
benrossgolf.com sukiragolf.com






LYNX LYNX 
BB £499 PARALLAX £319

KEY FEATURES Lynx’s flagship model is packed full of KEY FEATURES The Parallax iron is geared towards being
technology and has been updated for 2017. Made from a game improvement club, featuring a wide-soled cavity 
a one-piece 17-4 stainless steel casting, the #BB irons back head. Made from 17-4 stainless steel, with CNC milled

provide ultimate performance and consistency. grooves, the Parallax is both powerful and very forgiving.
lynxgolf.co.uk lynxgolf.co.uk 
BUYER’S GUIDE

TOUR STATS
Some names you expect and others you won’t, these are the stats that
show who the best ball-strikers were last year on the PGA Tour

GIR % Strokes Gained: Approach to the green Proximity to the hole

1 Lucas Glover ......... 71.63% 1 Adam Scott 1 Adam Scott ............... 32’5”
2 Paul Casey ............ 70.80% 2 Kevin Na 2 David Hearn.............. 32’7”
3 Adam Scott ........... 70.76% 3 Hideki Matsuyama 3 Robert Garrigus ........ 32’9”
 TAYLORMADE
M1 £279
KEY FEATURES TaylorMade’s
engineers have labelled the
M1 their ‘longest adjustable
fairway’ to date. Constructed
with a 450 stainless steel
body, strong Ni-Co C300 face
and same six-layer Carbon
composite crown as the
M1 driver, the completely
re-designed and reshaped
M1 fairway has a track system
that has been shifted further
back to make room for a new
open channel Speed Pocket
designed to deliver more ball
speed and more forgiveness.
WE SAY The new track system
Sergio Garcia had
gives the M1 an added level of
both an M1 3 and
adjustability that we’ve never
5-wood in his
bag at Augusta seen in a fairway wood before.
FAIRWAY WOODS

National this year. taylormadegolf.co.uk

TAYLORMADE
M2 £229
KEY FEATURES The new, more
forgiving M2 fairway takes from
some of the best performing
and most successful products
in TaylorMade’s history in
becoming the company’s
next great fairway wood. The
extremely long and forgiving
fairway wood incorporates
a recessed six-layer carbon
composite crown, inverted
cone technology (for the first
time in a TaylorMade fairway)
and a new Geocoustic-driven
sole design. Additionally, a
longer, more flexible Speed
Pocket and lighter fluted Inverted cone
technology in the M2
hosel create a low CG that
delivers driver-like
produces fast ball speeds for an
performance throughout
incredibly long, high launching a larger area of the face.
and low spinning fairway.
WE SAY Rory McIlroy’s
fairway of choice, the new
M2 has raised the bar for
what an all-round fairway
z wood should be.
YOUR GUIDE taylormadegolf.co.uk
TO THE
BEST GOLF
EQUIPMENT
 FAIRWAY WOODS







COBRA COBRA 
KING F7 £189 KING LTD BLACK £229

KEY FEATURES The Baffler Dual Rail System on these KEY FEATURES Cobra’s innovative spaceport tech has
woods is beneficial to all golfers and helps to deliver allowed their engineers to create a low CG and high MOI 
unparalleled forgiveness through the turf. The King F7 also to give incredible distance and forgiveness. The King LTD

features an adjustable front to back CG. The reversible also features Cobra’s MyFly with SmartPad technology
weight allows you to choose from two CG settings to hone that allows you to choose from eight adjustable loft 
in on your ideal launch conditions for maximum distance. settings to help to fine-tune your launch conditions.
WE SAY One of the most versatile fairways from tee WE SAY An extremely long and forgiving wood 
to green, thanks to Cobra’s Baffler Dual Rail System - that has been made all the more appealing thanks
something Rickie Fowler says ‘is beneficial to everyone’. to its seriously slick, matte black makeover. 
cobragolf.co.uk cobragolf.co.uk











BUYER’S GUIDE

MIZUNO WILSON STAFF

JPX900 £279
KEY FEATURES With the JPX900, Mizuno has closed the
gap between your 3-wood and driver. Extremely fast off the
face, the expanding Shockwave Sole gives incredible ball
speeds for increased distances. The centrally-located single
sliding weight makes it playable for all swing speeds, too.
WE SAY The moveable weight in the sole gives an added
dimension of adjustability and the matte blue finish will suit
those looking to make a bold statement on the course.
golf.mizunoeurope.com
D300 £155
KEY FEATURES Specifically designed for those
seeking more distance, the D300 fairway woods
feature new Micro Vortex Generators on the
crown of the clubhead that help to reduce drag,
increasing clubhead speed and distance.
WE SAY The Wilson Staff D300 is packed with
the technology you need to hit your woods
longer from the tee, fairway or the rough.
wilson.com
PING
G £220
KEY FEATURES A lower leading edge, that sits closer to the
ground, allows the face to slide under the ball so that impact
occurs high on the face (12% higher than the G30) in order to
make it much easier to get the ball in the air. It also features
Ping’s thinnest ever crown in a fairway wood. This has allowed
its engineers to place the CG low and towards the back of
the clubhead for a low spinning, high launching ball flight.
WE SAY An extremely forgiving fairway wood thanks
to the low, rear CG and the lower leading edge.
ping.com
SRIXON
Z-F65 £229
KEY FEATURES The new Power Wave Sole absorbs more
stress at impact for maximum energy transfer, generating
higher ball speed and distance. A Stretch Flex Cup face has
been extended around crown and sole to create a 10% larger
sweet spot. The thinner crown allows four grams of weight
to be repositioned for higher launch and clubhead MOI.
WE SAY Its high and forgiving launch will appeal to many, while
its classic looks and feel make it one for the traditionalists.
srixon.co.uk
142 BUNKERED.CO.UK
PING
G STRETCH £220
KEY FEATURES The G Stretch has a larger head, slightly
forward CG and a lower 13° loft to reduce your spin rate at
impact, for a more penetrating ball flight and added distance.
Like the G, the G Stretch features an advanced Carpenter
455 Face that allows for a thinner, variable-thickness,
precision-machined face that increases flexing for fast
ball speeds, high launch and greater distance.
WE SAY If you are looking to add some serious yards with
your fairway woods then look no further than the G Stretch.
ping.com
SRIXON
Z-355 £179
KEY FEATURES Designed with the higher handicapper in
mind, Srixon’s Action Mass Technology combines a heavier
head weight and an ultra-balance point shaft to deliver
distance and forgiveness. The Z-355 also features a fast and
powerful HT1770 maraging steel face that creates an even
larger sweetspot for increased consistency and distance.
WE SAY The shallow head and deep CG promotes
higher launch and allows for shot versatility.
srixon.co.uk
 FAIRWAY WOODS







CALLAWAY CALLAWAY 
GREAT BIG BERTHA EPIC £279 GREAT BIG BERTHA EPIC SUB ZERO £279

KEY FEATURES The new Epic woods offer maximum KEY FEATURES The Sub Zero features the same Triaxial
forgiveness thanks to the ultra-light Triaxial Carbon Carbon crown, fourth generation Hyper Speed Face 
crown. Triaxial Carbon is 78% lighter than steel, Cup and Speed Step technology as the Epic. Unlike

this weight saving has allowed the engineers at the Epic, however, adjustable 3 and 22 gram weights
Callaway to reposition weight in the clubhead and allow you to adjust spin plus or minus 350-400 rpm, 
increase MOI by 11% when compared to the XR 16. giving you a choice between lower launch, spin and
WE SAY The Epic drivers have been all over the equipment trajectory or higher launch, spin, and trajectory. 
headlines in recent months owing to their incredible ball WE SAY For added adjustability over the Epic,
speed and distance. The Fairway woods are no different. the Sub Zero is the fairway wood for you. 
callawaygolf.com callawaygolf.com











BUYER’S GUIDE

TITLEIST
917F2 £280
KEY FEATURES A high launching, forgiving fairway
wood, the F2 allows you dial in your perfect launch
conditions and ball flight thanks to the inclusion of
SureFit CG technology. The Active Recoil Channel
2.0 also helps to boost ball speeds at impact.
WE SAY Offering complete playability and forgiveness,
the SureFit CG and Hosel technology will give you the
best possible fit for you, regardless of handicap.
titleist.co.uk
TITLEIST
917F3 £280
KEY FEATURES Lower spinning and launching than
the F2, the F3 offers greater versatility with shot
control and is more suited to the better player. Both
models feature a variable thickness face insert that
helps to maintain ball speed, on off-centre hits.
WE SAY The fairway wood of choice if you
like to see a compact headshape at address
and like to work the ball through the air.
titleist.co.uk
LYNX
BLACK CAT £179
KEY FEATURES Adjustable from 13˚ to 17˚, the Black Cat is
playable as a three or five wood. It also features a moveable
weight bar system that allows you to adjust launch and spin.
WE SAY The Black Cat is available in three matte colour finishes
and the adjustable hosel and moveable weight bar system
make it one of the most versatile fairway woods on the market.
lynxgolf.co.uk
BENROSS
HTX COMPRESSOR TYPE R £119.99
KEY FEATURES The first adjustable fairway from Benross.
The eight point hosel allows you to dial in your ball flight
while the thin crown moves the CG low and forward in the
clubhead to promote a low spinning, penetrating ball flight.
WE SAY The adjustable loft hosel allows you to effortlessly
tailor your ball flight with this tour style fairway wood.
benrossgolf.com
MACGREGOR
DCT ELITE £49.99
KEY FEATURES Its large profile at address inspires confidence
both on the tee and off the deck. Made from stainless steel,
the DCT Elite incorporates a shallow face with a high-MOI
design to help launch the ball into the air from any lie.
WE SAY The DCT Elite is a fantastic option for those looking
for a high performing fairway wood at a low price.
macgregor-golf.co.uk
144 BUNKERED.CO.UK
LYNX
PARALLAX £99
KEY FEATURES The two-piece cast head, featuring BiTitanium
construction, includes a power channel on the sole for increased
distance. Its low profile and low-to-the-ground leading edge
makes the Parallax forgiving from the fairway and off the tee.
WE SAY We really like the high gloss mirror finish
of this forgiving and long offering from Lynx.
lynxgolf.co.uk
BENROSS
HTX COMPRESSOR GOLD £99.99
KEY FEATURES A lighter headweight and softer shaft combine
to help boost the clubhead speed of those with slower swing
speeds, while the compressor technology response channel
delivers increased ball speeds for maximum carry distances.
WE SAY The fairway wood that’ll help improve your
game, especially if your swing is on the slow side.
benrossgolf.com
HONMA
S-05 FROM £910
KEY FEATURES Designed for players that are looking
for a higher trajectory with a more forgiving feel.
Its advanced cup face helps to boost ball speed
across the face for incredible distance.
WE SAY If the price tag doesn’t put you off and you like standing
out on the course, then this is the fairway wood for you.
honma.co.uk
 EXTRA LISTINGS
ADIDAS ADIPURE
COLLECTION
F
USING CRAFTSMANSHIP
and innovation, Adidas’ 
new adiPure apparel
line will change the way you

look at traditional golf styles. 
This performance driven,
premium range has been 
crafted with fashion-focused
golfers in mind. The new line 
features polos, outwear, shorts
and pants, designed to look 
stylish both on and off the golf
course. 
adidas.co.uk

















BUYER’S GUIDE

z z
G-RIP FL-1 PUTTER GRIPS
These unique grips feature an
innovative triangular shape that
has been designed to encourage
a more consistent stroke. The
shape of the grip helps you find
the correct hand position quickly
WATCH OUR and easily, whilst the lightweight
GEAR REVIEWS EVA under-listing and microfibre
Get the verdict on the cover gives great feel and
latest gear direct from instantaneous feedback.
the bunkered team g-rip.com
youtube.com/bunkered £24.99
GLENMUIR MEN’S
BLOCK STRIPE
MERCERISED COTTON
GOLF POLO SHIRT
This lightweight, breathable,
performance polo is made
from 100% double mercerised
cotton to give a silk-like soft
feel and enhanced durability.
Available in six colour options
and sizes S to XXL.
glenmuir.com
£49.95
z
MOTOCADDY DRY
SERIES CART BAG
Super-lightweight (2.4kg) and
100% waterproof, the new Dry-
Series bag is manufactured from
a durable Rip-Stop 420D Nylon
fabric together with heat-welded
seams and thermo-sealed zips
that have been put through
rigorous testing to ensure the
bag’s contents remain dry.
motocaddy.com
£199.99
 HISTORIC
A fairytale ARBROATH
setting ... GOLF LINKS
Arbroath Golf Links was designed originally by
Old Tom Morris in 1877, redesigned by Willie
Fernie in 1907 and then altered by James Braid
in 1931. This is a traditional links course with
undulating fairways and dunes that run the
length of the course on the seaward side which
means the wind is always a factor. There are
bunkers and burns aplenty on the course, but
the rough is well cut back making it suitable for
all level of players. This is a must play course
for all connoisseurs of links golf situated 8
miles from Carnoustie. Any visitor who takes
out a Green Fee Ticket is welcomed to use the
Arbroath Artisan Golf Club and its facilities.

GREEN FEE PRICES FROM SPECIAL OFFER RECENT EVENTS

Weekday £15 Monday to Friday £50 pp 2015 Scottish Youth Champion.

Weekend £15 Min 4 (must be booked in advance) 2016 Co Host World Hickory
Discounts available for groups 2 rounds of golf, bacon roll Champion.
Twilight golf available
and coffee 2016 Senior Golf Circuit
Soup & sandwich, 2 course meal Pro Event.

ACCOMMODATION
We are fortunate to have 3 B/Bs on our doorstep, all highly recommended that
cater for golf parties.
• 5 Gables House literally 20 yds from the first tee 01241 871632 for bookings

... for a wedding of • Inishowen Guest House 300 yds from first tee 01241 871922 for bookings
• Brucefield Boutique B/B is situated in the town 01241 875393 for booking

your dreams. CONTACT

Golf Professional Lindsay Ewart for all fees and bookings on 01241 875837
or Email: lindsay.ewart@btconnect.com or check out our website on
www.arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk

For over 130 years, the Atholl Palace has

been a spectacular venue for weddings
and celebrations.

DON’T MISS THE LIMITED

2017 SEASON OFFER
1 July 17 - 31 Dec 18 for
ONLY £699

With a variety of decadent function suites,

magnificent gardens and spa facilities and an
expert wedding team, we will ensure that every
detail of the best day of your life runs smoothly
and your dream wedding becomes a reality.

Muckhart Golf Club

ATHOLLPALACE.COM Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Ochill Hills, Muckhart
 Golf Club offers a rewarding 27 hole golf experience together with
a well stocked pro shop and welcoming clubhouse.
Visitor and Membership options are available
Tel: 01796 472400
Email: weddings@athollpalace.com Drumburn Road, Muckhart, By Dollar FK14 7JH
Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland PH16 5LX T: 01259 781493 | www.muckhartgolf.com
@MuckhartGC
 ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/travel

The best of golf around the globe

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Why this magnificent Going to the Open this The best places to play
Oregon golf resort is year? Don’t forget to in this year’s Scottish
worthy of the hype take your clubs with you Open host region
PAGE 150 PAGE 152 PAGE 158

A THAI E THAILAND’S
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course that, quite right to left, it requires an FINEST

SENSATION
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Club in Thailand is one of
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Introducing Black Situated 12 kilometres
west of the town of Hua
Mountain, one of Hin, the award-winning
Thailand’s top tracks resort is one of the finest
courses Thailand has to
offer. When it opened in
2007, there were 18 holes.
However, reconstruction
work in 2016 has now
transformed it into a
27-hole masterpiece,
where visitors have three
different nine-hole courses
to choose from: the North,
East and West.
The stand-out hole at
what is a truly mesmerising
golf complex is the East’s
accurate tee shot, with
bunkers guarding the left-
hand side. Your approach
will need to be equally as
accurate, with water and
bunkers surrounding the
green.
Regardless of what nine
you choose, an exciting
challenge awaits and
emphasises why many
regard Black Mountain as
‘the best golf course in
Asia’. An exquisite golfing
paradise, the beauty of
Black Mountain doesn’t
start and end with the
course either.
All the other amenities,
including the luxury
accommodation options,
are rather special, too.
… LAEM CHABANG
Located just outside Pattaya,
this 27-hole complex was
designed by Jack Nicklaus’
design company during the
Thai golf boom of the 1990s.
† AYODHYA LINKS
One of the country’s most
exclusive clubs, membership
here is by invitation only.
Almost impossible to
get on but those who’ve
played it rave about it.
‡ ALPINE GC
Just a short drive outside
of Bangkok, this course
has been described as an
‘exquisite tropical gem’ –
that’s good enough for us.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 147
 ARDEER GOLF CLUB
www.ardeergolfclub.co.uk

Looking to play golf in Ayrshire,

then look no further
Tuesday and Thursday golf for £15 only.
Available for outings (10 or more), great deals available, full catering.
Golf clubs available for hire.

Deals for 5 day membership,

New Member Youths and 2nd Club available,
Deal Arrangements for fees to be paid
monthly can be made through
15% off fees Zebra Finance. Approx £55/month.
From 1st May 2017.
Don’t delay call today Hall for Hire, only £25

For further info - call: 01294 464542 or email: info@ardeergolfclub.co.uk

Ballumbie Castle
GOLF CLUB

GOLF OUTINGS
Planning a golf outing this
season with your friends and
not sure where to go?
Ballumbie Golf Club is the
perfect venue to host your group.
Our facilities are ideal for having
large outings, driving range to
warm up, fantastic golf course,
delicious food and of course
well stocked bar! We are very
busy with groups but still have
availability, to book now call
01382 770028

3 Old Quarry Rd, Dundee DD4 0PD

T: 01382 730026
E: info@ballumbiegolf.com
 In association with

z
ALGARVE
Last year, the Algarve hit an
all-time high for visitors, with
almost 1.3m rounds played - an
increase of more than 10% on
2015. That surge has continued
into 2017 and sights are now
set on a new record after nearly
328,000 rounds were played in
the first quarter of the year. That’s
6% up on last year’s figures.

z
GLENEAGLES
Gleneagles has been voted ‘Best
Golf Resort in the World’ for an
unprecedented sixth successive
year by readers of Ultratravel, The
Telegraph’s luxury travel mag,
and visitors to telegraph.co.uk.
Readers were asked to vote for
their favourite travel experiences
Tiger Woods and Johnny Morris will in 19 categories, with Gleneagles
co-design Payne’s Valley in Missouri
taking the top golf award.

“Tiger is the greatest

Tiger to design first public course thing that’s happened
to the tour in a long
New Missouri layout set to be a tribute to late Payne Stewart time. He has brought
incredible attention to

T
IGER WOODS to settle unfinished “Sprawling, wide golf.”
will design his matches. The hole fairways will showcase Payne Stewart
first public access was the brainchild of playabilty, while also
golf course in the Morris and is set in one allowing strategic
Midwestern state of of the ‘most dramatic angles and shot values z
Missouri. The new geological features to be emphasised LAS COLINAS
track will be located imaginable’. to challenge Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has
at Big Cedar Lodge The course will be experienced players,” been nominated by the World Golf
in Missouri’s Ozark called ‘Payne’s Valley’ said a company Awards in ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’
Mountains and is set to and will be a tribute to spokesperson. “The category for the third year in a row.
open in 2019. the late Stewart, who green surrounds are The resort, just south of Alicante,
The course is a was a friend of both designed to promote is going for an unprecedented
collaboration between Morris and Woods, creativity and a variety hat-trick at the glittering ceremony,
the 14-time major as well as an Ozarks of recovery options, which will this year be held in
winner, American native. Stewart and while the fairway rough Spain in late November.
conservationist Johnny his father Bill were will be kept low to
Morris and the Payne instrumental in helping further promote a fun, z
Stewart family. to establish golf in the enjoyable experience.” FINCA CORTESIN
Speaking about region and the course Big Cedar Lodge is Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa is
the unique tie with is a nod to that legacy. regarded as America’s the latest addition to the exclusive
his designer partners, The new course will premier wilderness European Tour Properties portfolio,
Woods said was proud be located adjacent resort. A passion becoming the 25th member
to see the project to a new 13-hole short of Bass Pro Shops of the network and only the
come to fruition. course designed by founder Morris, the
second Spanish venue to achieve
“Together, we’re Gary Player - due to 4,600-acre lakeside
the prestigious European Tour
tremendously excited open in 2017 - and retreat connects
holidaymakers to Destination status. It joins fellow
to create a publicly Ozarks National, a
accessible world-class championship layout the outdoors with a Spanish venue PGA Catalunya
golf experience in the designed by Coore & variety of nature-based Resort in the European Tour
centre of America,” said Crenshaw which will experiences including Properties network. Miguel Girbés,
the former world No.1. open in 2018. fishing, shooting, Director of Golf at Finca Cortesin
The course will According to TGR boating, hiking, spa Hotel, Golf & Spa, said the resort
feature a ‘dramatic’ Design, Payne’s Valley and wellness offerings. was ‘delighted to join one of
19th hole, called ‘The will be fun to play for all The resort hosts some the world’s most respected
Rock’, that will be used golfers. 1.5m visitors every year. golf organisations.”

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 149
 The 148-yard par-3
11th at Pacific
Dunes in all its
dramatic glory
COOL HANGOUT

z
YOUR GUIDE
TO THE
BEST GOLF
DESTINATIONS
 AMERICA’S L
OCATED IN OREGON, on
the north-west coast of the
USA, Bandon Dunes is one of
SWEETHEART
America’s most hyped golf resorts
- and with good reason.
The town of Bandon, which
sits at the mouth of the Coquille
River, is arguably the closest thing
Get a taste of Bandon America has to St Andrews. The
locals live and breathe golf, whilst
Dunes, one of the most the four links at Bandon Dunes
(five, if you include the fabulous
hyped resorts in the USA par-3 layout) evoke the spirit of the
‘Auld Grey Toon’s’ own impressive
WORDS MICHAEL McEWAN collection.
The first of the courses opened
in 1999 and was designed by
(surprise, surprise) a Scot, David
McLay-Kidd.
Pacific Dunes followed two
years later. It was designed by
Tom Doak - the man behind The
Renaissance on East Lothian - and
proved so popular so quickly that
it soon overtook McLay-Kidd’s
track as the highest-rated course
on the property. Indeed, in 2005,
Golfweek rated it the No.1 course
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE
in the USA, pipping Pebble Beach
to the top spot.
Also in 2005, Bandon Dunes
welcomed its third 18-hole
layout, the Coore-Crenshaw
designed Bandon Trails. Unlike its
contemporaries, none of its holes
are routed along the edge of the
Pacific Ocean, meandering instead
through dunes, meadows and
forest land.
Old Macdonald followed in
2010. Named in honour of Charles
Blair Macdonald, the man who
designed the first 18-hole course in
the States, it was crafted by Doak
in collaboration with Jim Urbina.
According to Golf Digest, it is ‘the
hottest course in America right
now’ and ‘looks like it was lifted,
cleaned and placed from the west
of Scotland’. High praise.
With a variety of accommodation
on offer on-site, a short break at
Bandon Dunes has become one of
the hottest tickets in US golf. Rest
assured, it lives up to the hype.
bandondunesgolf.com
151
 COOL HANGOUT

z
YOUR GUIDE
TO THE
BEST GOLF
DESTINATIONS
 WHERE TO PLAY
IN LANCASHIRE
Heading to Royal Birkdale this summer?
Here is your guide to the area’s best courses
WORDS EWAN PATON

H
OME TO SOME OF THE best
golf courses in the country,
this corner of England is
known as England’s Golf Coast,
and rightly so. It is the pinnacle
of the golfing world beneath the
border.
If you are attending this year’s
Open at Royal Birkdale and, like
so many do, fancy taking your
clubs with you, then you’re in for a
treat. This is an area littered with
first-class courses, scattered all
across the north-west coast and all
within a short drive of Liverpool.
Boasting three Open venues
within the vicinity, various Open
qualifying courses and some of
the finest links golf in the country,
England’s Golf Coast is a very
serious golf destination in its own
right.
What’s more, with many famous
towns and cities in the heart of the
area, such as Southport, Lytham
St Annes, Liverpool and the Wirral,
it’s fair to say visitors are spoilt
for choice for accommodation.
With all the golfing attractions
Southport & Ainsdale nearby, fellow golfers are never in
short supply in the local bars and
restaurants.
In Southport, you won’t need
to walk far to find a top quality
restaurant for a good feed or bar
for a few beverages after enjoying
a round.
The Warehouse, owned by
former Liverpool and England star
Steven Gerrard, is one of many
highly recommended eateries
to visit. Also, with nightlife to suit
everyone, Southport tends to be a
popular haunt for places to stay.
Lytham St Annes, too, has no
short supply of top-of-the-range
B&Bs and hotels, and the city of
Liverpool needs no introduction.
Priding itself on its working class
core, also world-renowned for its
culture and football background,
it is a must for your escapade
southwards.
Whilst discovering this famous
city and all its beauty, the people
who live and work there will always
make you welcome.
But the best reason to visit is the
golf. Here’s a selection of courses
to think about playing on your trip.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 153

Sunday 30th July 2017
•Arrival •Overnight stay in Double Room
single occupancy and Dinner in our
Marine Brasserie
Monday 31st July 2017
•Breakfast followed by transfer to Formby
Golf Club for a 12.00 midday tee off time
•Transfer back •Overnight stay in Double
Room and Dinner in The Marine
Brasserie
As one of the 10 oldest clubs
in England, West Lancashire
is full of history and tradition.
“Between tournaments I
always make time to play West
Lancs. A proper links which is
always in top condition,
Tuesday 1st August 2017 a must play for any golfer.”
•Breakfast and relax before transfer to
Royal Birkdale Golf Club 2.30pm tee off - TOMMY FLEETWOOD
time •Transfer back •Overnight stay in
Double Room and Dinner in The Marine
Brasserie
Wednesday 2nd August 2017 **
•Breakfast •Departure
** Optional extra round by request at West
Lancashire Golf Club www.westlancashiregolf.co.uk
>> PLEASINGTON GOLF CLUB
From £45
28 miles from Royal Birkdale
pleasington-golf.co.uk
Located just outside Blackburn,
Pleasington Golf Club is one of
the further-out courses from Royal
Birkdale - but it ia absolutely worth
the short journey. This rural course
stretches to 6,539 yards for golfers
to delve into. The first hole gives you
a taste of what’s to come. At less
than 400 yards, it may seem a safe
start but you have to be aware of
the subtle rise in the ground for your
approach. Superb fun from start to
finish.
>> HESKETH GOLF CLUB
From £65
3 miles from Royal Birkdale
heskethgolfclub.co.uk
Hesketh is set amidst the towering
Victorian villas of one of Southport’s
illustrious residential areas. It is the
oldest course in Southport and a
course of contrasts, with half of its
holes meandering through sand
dunes and the rest overlooking the
glorious Ribble Estuary. Traditionally,
it is a links course, its landscape
has developed over the years to be
appropriate for ‘seaside’ golf.
>> SOUTHPORT OLD LINKS
From £45
4.2 miles from Royal Birkdale
southportoldlinksgolfclub.co.uk
Situated just two miles inland from
Southport pier and promenade - both
of which are worth visiting - the Old
Links is easily accessible and quick
to get to from the town centre. The
par-72 course faces east, looking
onto the Lancashire plain and distant
hills, with birch trees dotted about the
linksland. The course is a nine-holer
with 18 different sets of tees, making
it unique in the area but also great
all-round fun.
>> HILLSIDE GOLF CLUB
From £130
0.3 miles from Royal Birkdale
hillside-golfclub.co.uk
Hillside borders Southport and
Ainsdale as well as Royal Birkdale
and sits on spectacular linksland. An
Open Qualifying course, the first half
is classic links with standout greens
and menacing bunkers. However,
after that, you make the turn into
pinewoods bordered in parts by large
dunes. As players make the journey
through the course, the majestic
sandhills and pristinely-kept greens
are notable. It’s not for nothing that
Hillside Golf Club
Hillside is considered to be one of
the finest courses never to have
hosted the Open.
>> SOUTHPORT AND AINSDALE
GOLF CLUB
From £105
2.1 miles from Royal Birkdale
sandagolfclub.co.uk
Nestled amongst hilly linksland,
Southport and Ainsdale is a
two-time Ryder Cup venue and a
regular inclusion in ‘top courses’
listings. ‘S&A’, as it is known, has
plenty of memorable holes and
makes for an exhilarating challenge.
Players will experience a magnificent
test with the westerly sea breeze
and prominent heather and gorse
combining to ensure an enjoyable
round of golf. It is, quite simply, an
absolute joy to play.
>> FORMBY GOLF CLUB
Price: £N/A
6.2 miles from Royal Birkdale
formbygolfclub.co.uk
On the outskirts of Southport,
very close to Royal Birkdale, is
Formby Golf Club. For all keen
golfers, no matter where you’re
travelling from, Formby is well
worth a round. Founded in 1884,
this is a brilliant course steeped
in history from start to finish and
is always a top performer on the
expedition of England’s Golf Coast.
Many believe this to be the highlight
of all the courses in the area, and
perhaps the plush fairways and
par-3s are the main reason for this.
As an aside, this is where European
Tour star Matteo Manassero won
the Amateur Championship back
in 2009.
>> WEST LANCASHIRE
GOLF CLUB
From £95
8 miles from Royal Birkdale
westlancashiregolf.co.uk
By far the pick of the bunch in
Liverpool, West Lancs is the place
to play when on your tour of
the northwest coast. It is a truly
magnificent course that poses a
fabulous challenge for all golfers,
whilst the backdrop of the Welsh
mountains in the distance simply
adds to its appeal. Esteemed
course designer Donald Steel once
remarked: “Only in Britain can
one savour the true flavor of seaside
golf, of which West Lancashire is a
perfect example.” Resident pro Gavin
Abson - a former member of this
magazine’s Tuition Panel - will provide
a warm welcome (not to mention
some handy local knowledge).
>> WALLASEY GOLF CLUB
From £90
23.1 miles from Royal Birkdale
wallaseygolfclub.com
The picturesque Wallasey Golf
Club overlooks Liverpool Bay, with
the Irish Sea flowing below. A classic
links test in every regard, it has a
superb variety of holes to keep you
on your toes. Expect to hit plenty of
approach shots into small, undulating
and fast-running greens, and make
sure you take a moment or two to
savour the magnificent view from
the fourth tee (your first real sight of
the water’s edge). Stationed on the
edge of the Wirral, there are plenty of
pubs and restaurants to visit after a
challenging round, too.
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 155
 — Pleasington Golf Club —
Pleasington Golf Club is renowned as one of the
best inland courses in the North-West of England.
• Boasting a superb layout, part heathland with some
heather and every hole differing in character.
• Off the course the Club is embarking on some exciting
changes, with a new Professional Team, Shop and Indoor
Teaching Studios and a new Food and Beverage Team
looking after the Clubhouse services.
There has never been a better time to visit
Pleasington Golf Club - we look forward to
welcoming you to the Club
Whether an individual or a Visiting Party, we can accommodate
your golfing requirements.

T: 01254 202177
E: hello@pleasington-golf.co.uk
for further information and to
make your reservation.

www.pleasington-golf.co.uk/visitors-information

Keep up to
date on the go,
11 Duke Street, Southport, Merseyside PR8 1LS
wherever you go!
Less than 2 miles away
from the Royal Birkdale
Download your
free golf app
and Hillside Golf Clubs,
the Duke’s Folly Hotel has
been a favorite of golfers
for generations. A staple
of Southport’s history, yet
our 20 rooms are freshly
renovated, unique packages,
typical of modern boutique
hotels. With our new Bar and
Restaurant providing a wide
selection of food & drink, and
breakfast included, you’ll not
regret a memorable stay in
the Duke’s.

Tel: 01704 533355 • enquiries@dukesfolly.co.uk

www.ddukesfolly.co.uk
kesfoll co k
PLACES
TO STAY
z
RAMADA PLAZA
SOUTHPORT
Located in the heart of
Southport and a five-
minute drive from Hesketh
in the north, with Hillside
a short drive down the
coast towards Birkdale.
The hotel (01704 516220)
offers golf packages
and can take of all your
bookings. Plenty of places
to eat and drink nearby.

z
NORTHCOTE HOTEL
The reigning VisitEngland
‘Hotel of the Year’ is pretty
special and offers what
it calls ‘Gourmet Golfing
Breaks’. The hotel (01254
240555) is under an hour’s
drive from Royal Birkdale
and, as such, gives you a
great base to explore some
of the inland courses in the Hesketh Golf Club
area, such as Pleasington.

z
DUKE’S FOLLY
This hotel (01704 533355)
is another superb option if
you wish to base yourself
in the heart of the action.
It also has a brand new
restaurant, and is a two-
minute walk from the main
drag in Southport. It will
provide you with everything
you need to make your
stay a memorable one.
z
RIBBY HALL VILLAGE
Take your pick from pine
cottages, luxury cottages,
a motel and a spa hotel -
you’ve got options, put it
that way. This one (01772
671111) is located to the
north of Southport, near
Royal Lytham and Fairhaven,
two of the best courses
along England’s Golf Coast.
You’re also within touching
distance of Blackpool’s
famous nightlife, which
should be a major pull
for any golf break.
Pleasington Golf Club
Wallasey Golf Club
SIGHTS
TO SEE
z DOWNTOWN
BLACKPOOL
Blackpool has beaches,
bars, hotels, entertainment
galore and enough fun to
fill a month-long holiday
- but a simple afternoon
stroll is more than enough
to give you a taste of the
action in one of England’s
busiest holiday hotspots.
There’s always something
happening, so check online
before you go to make
sure you don’t miss out.
z SOUTHPORT
PLEASURELAND
An absolutely brilliant day
out, especially if you’re with
a group, offering everything
you would expect from
a proper entertainment
park. This is probably
one of the best parks of
its kind in England and
will guarantee a cracking
afternoon away from the
fairways. Call 01704 531957
for info and updates.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 157
 COOL HANGOUT

z
YOUR GUIDE
TO THE
BEST GOLF
DESTINATIONS
GOLF IN AYRSHIRE?
IT’S A ‘DUN’ DEAL
Head to the Scottish Open with your clubs in your
boot because there’s serious value to be had
WORDS CHRIS DOYLE

T
HE SCOTTISH OPEN is coming
to Ayrshire for the first time since
1936, with Dundonald Links set
to play host to some of the world’s top
golfers all eager to wrestle the title from
defending champion Alex Noren. A big
crowd of spectators is also expected
to watch the action unfold. But why just
watch when you can play, too?
Ayrshire is one of Scotland’s most
spectacular golfing destinations, with
a rich variety of courses to enjoy. To
say it has something for everyone is a
horrible cliché but it rings true.
There are Open Championship
venues, such as Royal Troon and
Trump Turnberry; other classic links,
like Kilmarnock Barassie, Western
Gailes and Prestwick St Nicholas; and
a variety of ‘hidden gems’, amongst
them Ravenspark and Routenburn.
You are, quite simply, spoilt for choice,
with something to match both your
preferred type of golf and, just as
importantly, your ability.
Better yet, the value for money
is truly exceptional. Whatever your
budget - whether you’ve got £100
to spend on a round or £10 - you will
find a golf course in Ayrshire to suit
your finances.
Away from the golf course, there
is just as much to enjoy, with award-
winning tourist attractions to enjoy and
an abundance of towns and villages
packed with fantastic pubs, restaurants,
shops and all the accommodation
options a visiting golfer needs.
But, first and foremost, it’s all about
the golf, so take our advice: combine
a visit to the 2017 Scottish Open at
Dundonald Links with the chance to
play some of Ayrshire’s many brilliant
courses. Our recommendations? You’ll
West Kilbride find them over the page...

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 159
THINK GOLF… THINK PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS!

THE COURSE
Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club, the
26th oldest Golf Club in the world is a
traditional Scottish links golf course
occupying a prime position on the
shores of the Firth of Clyde.
A mere 40 minutes from the centre of
Glasgow, the deep bunkers, running
fairways, undulating greens and stands of gorse test the skills of
players of all abilities and at 6044 yards, this par 69 course is a
must for amateur golfers of all ages.

MEMBERSHIP
The Club has a small number of vacancies for both
ordinary membership and the 6 day associate
membership which allows play every day except a
Saturday and at just under £537 per annum, is incredible value.
Outings and Group bookings are welcome with play and dine
rates available on request.

&ŽƌŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉŽƌǀŝƐŝƚŽƌŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ
• Tel: 01292 477608 • www.prestwickstnicholas.com
• Email: secretary@prestwickstnicholas.com

GOLF ACADEMY TRUMP TURNBERRY

INDUSTRY LEADERS IN
CUSTOM FITTING

SPECIAL OFFER
FOR BUNKERED READERS
Book a full bag fitting and receive a complimentary
putter fitting until 31st July

To book call 01655 334 190 or

email info@truespecgolf.com
www.truespecgolf.com
>> IRVINE RAVENSPARK GC
From £18
GO HERE
4.1 miles from Dundonald z z
irgc.co.uk SANDYLANDS TRUE SPEC
Celebrating its 110th anniversary this There’s great value accommodation to As well as the new Robert the Bruce
year, Irvine Ravenspark is one of the be had here (parkdeanresorts.co.uk) Course, Trump Turnberry has also
true ‘hidden gems’ of golf in Ayrshire. plus the beach is only five minutes recently unveiled its new True Spec
Located just two minutes from the
away. There’s also a pool and plenty Golf fitting studio (truespecgolf.com). It
centre of the town, it is a mostly-flat,
to keep the kids occupied. It’s handy provides custom fitting with world-class,
easy-waking parkland course but
with a slight ‘linksy’ feel to it, too. It for the golf, too, being only 15 to 20 state-of-the-art tech. It is, quite simply,
promises a ‘challenge for every golfer’. minutes from Dundonald Links. golf geek heaven in its finest form.
and with a hugely appealing price
tag, too. Check it out. You won’t be
disappointed.

>> ROUTENBURN GC
From £18
22.4 miles from Dundonald
routenburngolfclub.co.uk
Where a young Sam Torrance learned
his craft under the watchful eye
of his father, Bob, Routenburn is a
fantastic, wildly underrated course.
It is located just one mile from the
popular seaside town of Largs and
offers some of the finest views going,
with the Isle of Arran, Cumbrae and
the Argyll Peninsula visible on a clear
day. It describes itself as “a small,
friendly club which offers great golf, Prestwick St Nicholas
outstanding scenery and unbeatable
value for money” - who are we to
argue?

>> AUCHENHARVIE GC
From £9
8.9 miles from Dundonald
golf.kaleisure.com
Auchenharvie is the ideal course to try
if you are looking to play a quick nine
holes before an exciting day ahead
of you at Dundonald Links. Just a
15-minute drive away from the venue,
you can easily fit both in. A great
course for the casual golfer, it also
boasts an 18-bay practice range where
you can fine-tune your game before
you test yourself on the course.
>> PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS GC
From £50
7.8 miles from Dundonald
prestwickstnicholas.com
The 26th oldest golf club in the
world and just 15 minutes’ drive from
Dundonald, “St Nicks” is a classic,
traditional Scottish links. It’s not a
particularly long course but has tight
fairways, devilish pot bunkers and
humps and swales galore to keep
you on your toes. Its long, par-3 18th,
meanwhile, is one of the finest closing
holes in Scottish golf.
>> KILMARNOCK BARASSIE GC
From £65
3.1 miles from Dundonald
kbgc.co.uk
Providing golfers with an outstanding
Kilmarnock Barassie
links challenge dating back to
1887, Kilmarnock Barassie is ideally
situated within striking distance of
Royal Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry.
Used to stage numerous high-profile
tournaments down the years, it is
renowned for being home to some
of the best maintained greens in the
country, so you have no excuses for
not putting well! Short on time? Why
not play the club’s nine-hole Hillhouse
Course? A terrific challenge in its
own right, you can get round it in an
hour-and-a-half quite easily.
>> WESTERN GAILES GC
From £65
1.6 miles from Dundonald
westerngailes.com
Western Gailes is widely - and rightly
- regarded as one of the best links
experiences in golf. Legends of the
game, including Gene Sarezen, Tom
Watson and Gary Player, have all
played there down the years, whilst
more recently pros such as Rory
Western Gailes
McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Luke
Donald have paid it a visit. This is,
quite simply, classic Scottish links
golf in all its glory. Expect tight tee
shots, wispy links rough, small greens,
stunning links terrain, and a firm local
breeze.
>> GAILES LINKS GC
From £70
1.2 miles from Dundonald
gaileslinks.co.uk
Situated literally a five-minute drive
from the front door of Dundonald
Links, Gailes Links is a sheer joy to
play. Designed by the iconic golf
course architect, Willie Park Jnr, it
opened in 1892 and is owned by
Glasgow Golf Club, the ninth oldest
club in the world. Gailes has staged
Open Final Qualifying for the past
three years and will do so again this
year. This in itself should give you an
idea of the pedigree of the course.
Make no mistake: it is a ‘must play’ on
your trip to Ayrshire.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 161
 GB&I WHERE
TO PLAY
ò GET MORE bunkered.co.uk/wheretoplay
FROM
£30
PER ROUND
DUNS GOLF
COURSE
Î Duns, Berwickshire
Î Par 70 Yards 5,993
Î dunsgolfclub.com
` Golf has been played at
Duns for over 120 years. From
that opening tee shot back
in 1894, this club has been
widely admired due to its
outstanding quality, relaxed
atmosphere and sociable
clubhouse. Duns is a widely
acclaimed course, matured
over decades and designed
carefully to blend in with the
spectacular rolling landscape of
the Scottish Borders. Offering
18 glorious holes, this is a
beautiful setting for a round.
Its gentle contours, cultured
fairways and true greens make
it one of the Scottish Borders’
best golf destinations.
162 BUNKERED.CO.UK
FROM
£36
PER ROUND
ARBROATH GOLF
COURSE
Î Arbroath, Angus
Î Par 70 Yards 6,200
Î arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk
` This links has been in
operation since 1877. Over the
years, changes have taken
place, however the overall look
and style has remained. Situated
on the outskirts of Arbroath,
the area is steeped in golfing
history. Arbroath Golf Club finds
itself neighbour to prestigious
courses such as Carnoustie,
St Andrews and Gleneagles,
all within a one-hour drive.
Despite being, predominantly,
a club for private members,
both the Links Directors and
Club Committee work closely
to try and provide members
and visitors alike with a
memorable golfing experience.
FROM
£20
PER ROUND
MUIR OF ORD GOLF
CLUB
Î Muir of Ord, Highlands
Î Par 68 Yards 5,542
Î muirofordgolfclub.co.uk
` Muir of Ord has undergone
some major changes over the
years, but has maintained its
stunning picturesque views.
“Castle Hill”, which is the
par-3 13th, only plays a mere
106 yards. However, with the
hole approximately 100 feet
below the green, you can’t
afford to miss the putting
surface or you’re in trouble.
A typical heathland/moorland
course, this layout offers a very
enjoyable yet challenging day
out. It doesn’t matter if you’re
picking up a club for the first
time or find yourself as a single
figure handicapper; Muir of
Ord Golf Club caters for all.
FROM
£36
PER ROUND
TROON
LOCHGREEN
Î Prestwick, Ayrshire
Î Par 74 Yards 6,785
Î ayrshiregolfscotland.com
` The closest, yet longer,
neighbour of Darley is Troon
Lochgreen. Predominantly
a links course, which also
provides holes of a more
parkland character, this will
test golfers of all abilities. One
stretch in particular - known as
the ‘Dovecot Section’ - could
very much ‘make or break’
your round. Treacherous rough,
deep bunkers and lightning
fast greens - this is absolutely
one of the best value links
courses in the country. This
is where a young American
golfer called Jack Nicklaus
qualified for his first Open
Championship back in 1962.
 FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS (KITTOCKS) FROM
Î St Andrews
Î Par 72 Yards 7,192 £50
PER ROUND
Î standrewsbay.com

` The Kittocks course at Fairmont St Andrews - just a short drive

out the town on the coast road - is equally as tough-but-enjoyable
as The Torrance. Designed by Bruce Devlin with help from golfing
great Gene Sarazen, this course has received plenty of plaudits.
It was awarded ‘Golf Club’ and ‘Course Experience of the Year’ in
2013 by Golf Tourism Scotland. And as it hugs the Fife coastline, it
is easy to see why. The Kittocks is a long and challenging course
that’s bee retouched in recent years and is a cracking test of golf.

BALLUMBIE CASTLE GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Dundee
Î Par 69 Yards 571 £30
PER ROUND
Î ballumbiegolf.co.uk

` Set in the beautiful rolling parkland of Dundee, and offering excellent

views of the surrounding countryside, Ballumbie is a must-play. Its
terrain twists and turns with no two holes the same. Since its opening
in June 2000, there has been a number of changes to the original
layout. Greens have been moved, new bunkers added and trees that
were planted in the early days have now matured nicely to give a
better definition to the course. A wide range of clubs could be used
‘Always make a total during your round, but not necessarily the driver on every tee.
effort - even when
the odds are stacked
against you.’
Arnold Palmer MAGDALENE FIELDS GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
Î Par 72 Yards 6,574 £27
PER ROUND
Î magdalene-fields.co.uk

` Magdalene is the first or last golf course you’ll visit in England,

depending on which way you travel. As you set off from the first, you
are just yards from the famous Elizabethan Walls. By the time you
reach the signature par-3 eighth, you’ll be treated to a wonderful view
of the cliffs leading into Scotland. After the turn, there is an equally
stunning view of the Northumberland coast with Bamburgh and Holy
Island castles clearly in view. Just five minutes from the centre of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, it is a great test for players of all standards.

SEAFIELD GOLF COURSE FROM

Î Ayr, Ayrshire
Î Par 67 Yards 5,481 £23
PER ROUND
Î ayrseafieldgolfclub.com

` The older and slightly shorter sister course to Belleisle. Opened

in 1907, Seafield offers its members a rare combination of links and
parkland holes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a single handicapper or
picking up a club for the first time, a challenge awaits all. It’s length
and forgiving fairways may suit beginner golfers better, but there’s
enough out there to trouble lower handicappers. Watch out for the
13th. With OOB down the left, thick rough down the right and a wall
behind the green, it’s arguably the toughest hole on the course.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 163
 Barassie
A wonderful parkland course only
5 minutes from Glasgow City Centre

NO Links
JOININ
G at KBGC
FEE!
PLAY ALL YEAR
ROUND GOLF!

4 ball rates
May-Sept £220
Founded in 1906 and later re-designed by 301 Barrhead Road, Glasgow G43 1AU
ASK ABOUT OUR
the highly acclaimed James Braid, Cowglen Tel: 0843 312 0040
KĸĐĞ͗ 0141 632 7463 MEMBERSHIP & VISITOR
Golf Club is recognised for its outstanding OFFERS!
ŐƌĞĞŶƐ͘tŝƚŚŵĂŐŶŝĮĐĞŶƚǀŝĞǁƐŽĨ'ůĂƐŐŽǁ Pro Shop: 0141 649 9401
ĂŶĚƚŚĞ^ĐŽƫƐŚŚŝŐŚůĂŶĚƐ͕ƚŚĞĐŽƵƌƐĞ Email: secretary@cowglengolfclub.co.uk/
simon-payne@live.co.uk T: 01292 313920
ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐĂŶŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐ͕ĞŶũŽLJĂďůĞĂŶĚ Follow us on Facebook
ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐŝŶŐĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƚŽĂůůůĞǀĞůƐŽĨƉůĂLJĞƌ͘ www.cowglengolfclub.co.uk www.kbgc.co.uk @Barassie Links - KBGC

Three well-appointed properties, two sleeping 10 and

one up to 5, with stunning views situated on the west
coast of Arran in the hamlet of Machrie, an area of
outstanding natural beauty and a haven for wildlife.
Less than a mile away is Machrie’s 9 hole golf course,
tea room, tennis court, children’s play area and Arran’s
six other golf courses are within driving distance, with
the outstanding 12 hole Shiskine Golf Course only 4
miles away.

Machrie, Arran KA27 8DY

Tel: 01403 822364 E:judyboscawen@yahoo.co.uk
www.arran-holidaycottages.co.uk

Special
Twilight fee
for June dŚĞŽƌƌŝĞ,ŽƚĞůŝƐĂǁĂƌŵ͕ĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ͕ĨĂŵŝůLJƌƵŶŚŽƚĞůŝŶƚŚĞďĞĂƵƟĨƵů
ǀŝůůĂŐĞŽĨŽƌƌŝĞ͕ƐŝdžŵŝůĞƐĨƌŽŵƌŽĚŝĐŬĨĞƌƌLJdĞƌŵŝŶĂů͘
ŌĞƌLJŽƵƌĚĂLJŐŽůĮŶŐ͕ĞŶũŽLJĂƉŝŶƚŝŶƚŚĞůŽǀĞůLJďĞĞƌŐĂƌĚĞŶŽŶƚŚĞ
ƐŚŽƌĞůŝŶĞĂĚŵŝƌŝŶŐƚŚĞǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵůǀŝĞǁƐ͘
Shore Road, Blackwaterfoot, Arran is a golfer’s paradise with no fewer than 7 golf courses - 18 hole
Isle of Arran KA27 8HA ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐĂƚƌŽĚŝĐŬ͕>ĂŵůĂƐŚĂŶĚtŚŝƟŶŐĂLJ͕ĂϭϮŚŽůĞĐŽƵƌƐĞĂƚ^ŚŝƐŬŝŶĞ
ĂŶĚϵŚŽůĞĐŽƵƌƐĞƐĂƚDĂĐŚƌŝĞ͕>ŽĐŚƌĂŶnjĂĂŶĚŚĞƌĞĂƚŽƌƌŝĞ͘
T: 01770 860 226
www.shiskinegolf.com Corrie, Isle of Arran, KA28 8JB
T: 01770 810 273 E: corriehotelarran@gmail.com
www.corriehotel.co.uk

THE HISTORIC GOLF CLUB & LINKS COURSES

Voted the best opening hole in golf

For more information and to book go to

www.machgolf.com
E: secretary@machgolf.com T: 01586 810215

164 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 BRAEHEAD GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Alloa, Clackmannanshire
Î Par 70 Yards 6,053 £20
PER ROUND
Î braeheadgolfclub.co.uk

` Braehead offers the perfect blend of pleasure and picturesque

views. Offering visitors panoramic views of the Ochil Hills, Stirling
Castle and the Wallace Monument, you’ll not want your round to
end. On a clear day, Ben Lomond and the distant mountains of
Perthshire are visible. Originally created back in 1891, naturally the
course has seen a number of changes and improvements. Recent
renovations have been met with approval, whilst more development
has seen the off-course facilities change out of all recognition.

THE ROXBURGHE FROM

Î Kelso, Scottish Borders
Î Par 72 Yards 7,111 £65
PER ROUND
Î theroxburghe.com

` Sometimes you’ve got to treat yourself. So why not treat yourself

at this outstanding inland championship test. Designed by the late
renowned course architect Dave Thomas, and located in the heart
of the Scottish Borders, the Roxburghe is set in 200 acres of rolling
parkland on the banks of the River Teviot. From the natural contours that
have been created over thousands of years, to the natural woodland
edge that surrounds this magnificent course, it’s no surprise that this
‘The object of golf course has been ranked in the top ten inland courses in the country.
is not just to win.
It’s to play like a
gentleman and win.’
Phil Mickelson
BRUNSTON CASTLE GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Dailly, Ayrshire
Î Par 71 Yards 6,556 £28
PER ROUND
Î brunstoncastlegolfclub.co.uk

` Brunston Castle Golf Club can be found in the small parish of

Dailly, in the Carrick District of Ayrshire. Regarded by many as
a ‘hidden gem’, Brunston offers golfers two par-5s, three par-
3s and 13 par-4s. The layout is fantastic. By using the natural
contours and the creation of a number of strategically-placed
ponds, some spectacular holes have been created. The greens,
meanwhile, are maintained to an exceptionally high standard
and provide excellent putting surfaces all year round.

COWGLEN GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Glasgow
Î Par 70 Yards 6,105 £40
PER ROUND
Î cowglengolfclub.co.uk

` Cowglen is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of

Glasgow. An undulating parkland track, framed by mature trees
and just a ten-minute drive from the city centre, it’s no wonder
it’s one of the most popular haunts in central Scotland. Designed
by James Braid, Cowglen provide an interesting and challenging
experience, with the added bonus of fantastic views over Glasgow.
The practice facilities, meanwhile, are top notch and comprise a
six-bay covered academy, putting green and two short game areas.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 165
Golfing in Aberdeen
With an abundance of fabulous golf
courses, Aberdeen is the place to play golf
in 2017. Craibstone Estate is surrounded
by 7 golf courses including Royal Maverston...more golf, more of the time
Aberdeen, Deeside, Murcar Links and Situated amongst some of the most breath-taking scenery in the North East, Maverston Golf
Trump International to name but a few. Course provides the perfect opportunity for outings and visiting parties from corporate days
to stag parties and everything in-between.

Great Golfing Offers: • Society/Group Deals

10%
UNT
• Membership packages from £190
Per night including breakfast only: O ga
DISCbo
• Members and non-members welcome
okin
£45 single OR £77 twin en-suite room when July
• 9-hole and 18-hole parkland courses
room in • Quality catering and bar services
7 day stays start from only £235 including breakfast • Extensive fixtures list
• Equipment for hire
Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
‘The perfect outing venue!’
T: 01224 711012 E: accommodation@sruc.ac.uk 2-3 Stars
Maverston Golf Course · Garmouth Road · Urquhart · Moray IV30 8LR
T. 01343 843863
www.sruc.ac.uk/holidayletsaberdeen fore@maverstongolf.com · www.maverstongolf.com

Enjoy comfort and freedom in well equipped,

warm, self catering log chalets, in beautiful
countryside near beach and Colvend 18 hole golf
course, which rarely uses winter greens. 25% off
CARNOUSTIE
fees at Colvend golf course for Barend guests.
Exclusive Bunkered Dinner, Bed & Breakfast offer with
daily golfers packed lunch box and a copy of Bunkered 01387 780663 Millionaire’s golf available on sixteen quiet
magazine in your room. golf
g courses within a short drive.
All for £65 per person based on two golfers sharing a twin
room and dining from the golfers 3 course menu. Bar
B • restaurant • boules • sauna • indoor
heated
h pool.
Private Car Park
Meal packages available for parties.
Daily Meals Any day of entry; any length of stay 3+ days.
From £284 for 4 people for 3 days, from £399
Bar with Pool Table & Dart Board p.w. Quote “Bunk17” for a 10% discount
when you book.
23 Station Road, Carnoustie DD7 6AR
T: 01241 852 447 E: info@stationhotelcarnoustie.com
WWW.BARENDHOLIDAYVILLAGE.CO.UK
www.stationhotelcarnoustie.com

Ard Na Mara is a
Ard Na Mara beautiful house situated
SELF-CATERING IN NAIRN, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
only minutes away
from Nairn’s two
championship golf
courses. The prestigious
Castle Stuart is around
a twenty minute drive.
The property is spacious
and comfortably sleeps
T: +44(0)7595 977 445 8, with all mod cons
E: ardnamara@outlook.com including WiFi.
22 Table Road, Lochloy, Nairn IV12 5PF
A great base from which
www.ardnamara-nairn.co.uk to explore the highlands.

Cairn Hotel GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY

GOLF CLUB ESTABLISHED 1890
Pay for
get 1 F &
on
3
REE
An authentic highland inn offering excellent our mid
accommodation for small groups and individuals. A challenging 18-hole golf we
Fourba ek
course situated ll
• Tailored Golf packages available featuring Boat of Garten, Spey
Valley and the fantastically challenging Carrbridge Golf Course in the Cairngorms National Park,
• Only 30 minute drive from Castle Stuart – Home of the Scottish approximately 35 miles from
Open Inverness.
• 7ULS$GYLVRU&HUWLʻFDWHRI([FHOOHQFH
ș ([FHOOHQWVHOHFWLRQRIPDOWZKLVNLHVZLWKH[SHUWDGYLFHRQKDQG The perfect - 2017 GREEN FEES -
ș +LJKTXDOLW\EDUPHDOVZLWKVHDVRQDOPHQXVXVLQJWKHEHVW base for your Round: £35 (Mid-week)
local produce Highland
Golf Holiday Day: £45
• Situated in the Cairngorm National Park, offering a fantastic range of things to see
and do. We are delighted to make arrangements or make recommendations for Competitive group/society discounts available!
partners and non-golfers in your group.
Visit us at: www.grantownonspeygolfclub.co.uk
Main Road, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire • 7 • (LQIR#FDLUQKRWHOFRXN
t:01479 872079 f:01479 873725
www.cairnhotel.co.uk

166 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 DRUMOIG GOLF HOTEL FROM
Î Leuchars, St. Andrews
Î Par 73 Yards 6,956 £15
PER ROUND
Î drumoiggolfhotel.com

` Stretching to almost 7,000 yards from the back tees, Drumoig

is one of the best-kept secrets in Fife. The spectacular Fife
countryside on offer, which weaves through a natural bird and
wildlife haven, provides up a beautiful setting for one of the most
fun rounds you’ll encounter in a region that is filled with top
courses. The stretch of holes from eight through to 12 are
particularly excellent and are, in the eyes of many, Fife’s very
own version of Augusta National’s famous ‘Amen Corner’.

BURNTISLAND GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Burntisland, Fife
Î Par 70 Yards 5,993 £22
PER ROUND
Î burntislandgolfhouseclub.co.uk

` Burntisland Golf Club is steeped in history and golfing beauty.

History is etched into every inch of the course, the tenth oldest in the
world. Despite having generous fairways and lush grass, the links-
esque greens will test you to the max. Failure to bring your putting
‘A’ game could result in a high-scoring round. It’s not just the course
that will take your breath away, though. The views over the Firth
of Forth and towards the famous Forth Bridges are truly stunning.
‘A kid grows up a Edinburgh Castle is also visible from the superb eighth hole.
lot faster on a golf
course. Golf teaches
you how to behave.’
Jack Nicklaus THE CARRICK ON LOCH LOMOND FROM
Î Alexandria, Dunbartonshire
Î Par 71 Yards 7,082 £85
PER ROUND
Î cameronhouse.co.uk

` The Carrick on Loch Lomond has established itself as one of

Scotland’s most popular places to play since it opened ten years ago.
As it is celebrating ten years this year, now is a fitting time to sample
one of Scottish golf’s biggest success stories. The course sits on the
banks of the loch and is both a challenging and beautiful test. The
layout follows a traditional Scottish heathland style and is the work
of acclaimed Canadian golf architect Doug Carrick. Watch out for the
par-3 14th, one of the most photographed holes on the course.

WEST LINTON GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Medwyn Road, West Linton
Î Par 69 Yards 6,161 £30
PER ROUND
Î wlgc.co.uk

` West Linton Golf Club is perched in moorland above the village

of the same name in Peebleshire. Featuring wonderful views of
the Scottish Borders’ countryside, it is dominated by Mendick Hill
to the south west. Originally formed as a nine-hole course in 1890,
the great James Braid advised on improvements allowing for the
18-hole course, as we know it today, to take shape. West Linton
has a reputation for being in good condition all year round with
its pristine greens, and pleasant surroundings. You’ll love it.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 167
 EDZELL GOLF CLUB Peterhead Golf Club
Founded 1841
The 18th Oldest Club in the World
Set among the dunes and across the Craigewan
links the course is a classic example of Scottish
BUNKERED 4 BALL OFFER seaside golf at it’s best - and the toughest!
£120
Subject to Availability

www.edzellgolfclub.com
Telephone: 01779 472149 Email: enquiries@peterheadgolfclub.co.uk
High Street, Edzell, DD9 7TF
T: 01356 647283 E: admin@edzellgolfclub.com Visit: www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk

LEVEN LINKS
Golf Course

5 DAY b
ERSH
MEMB ly
IP
Go lf Clu
on h
£399 Royal Musselburg SUMMER SPECIAL
MEMBERSHIP OFFER 2017
Special 4 ball offers available midweek
OUR STUNNING AND INTIMIDATING 456 yard 18th hole here at Leven Links £100 or £80 twilight
LAY UP OR GO FOR IT? You will take 4 here every time!
To experience this and the rest of this historical Links Memberships still available on pro rata prices to January 2018
Call 01333 421390 E: pro@levenlinksprofessionalshop.com
T&Cs subject to availability. Twilight available from 3pm. Must be pre-booked.
The Promenade, Leven, Fife KY8 4HS For further information please email managementsecretary@royalmusselburgh.co.uk
www.leven-links.com or call 0875 819000

YOU DESERVE THE BEST GOLF BREAK IN THE

SCOTTISH BORDERS INCLUDING FREE GOLF!

New WoLL Estate overlooking THE woLL Golf course, The most popular golf resort in
the Scottish Borders & no wonder with FREE GOLF and our award winning restaurant
in the Clubhouse. CALL us now 01750 32799 or check out our website for availability!
NEW WoLL estate, ASHKIRK TD7 4PE 01750 32799· info@wollgolf.co.uk
www.wollgolf.co.uk

Fulford Golf Club | Yorkshire

— Pleasington Golf Club —

For the complete golf experience when visiting Lancashire come

Discounted Summer & Twilight Rates Available
01904 413579 | info@fulfordgolfclub.co.uk
www.fulfordgolfclub.co.uk
to Pleasington Golf Club, renowned as one of the best inland
courses in the North-West of England.
www.pleasington-golf.co.uk/visitors-information
for further information and to make your reservation.
T: 01254 202177 E: hello@pleasington-golf.co.uk

168 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 THORNTON GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Thornton, Fife
Î Par 70 Yards 6,210 £30
PER ROUND
Î thorntongolfclub.co.uk

` Established by a group of railwaymen back in 1921, Thornton

is a much-loved part-woodland, part-parkland course, which is
particularly well-renowned for the quality and condition of its
greens. They truly are amongst the best in the area. The course,
bounded by the River Ore, is a relatively easy-walking layout and
will provide a fine challenge to players of all standards. Its closing
five holes will linger particularly long in the memory as it is here
that the River Ore really comes into play and the real test begins.

SOUTHERNESS GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Southerness, Dumfries
Î Par 69 Yards 6,566 £50
PER ROUND
Î southernessgolfclub.com

` A true championship links, the course at Southerness is one

of the purest links Dumfries has to offer. Resting on the Solway
coast, the club is surrounded by beautiful countryside, making
for a tranquil round. The course is relatively flat, yet the clever
layout and rolling links terrain ensure it is a challenging test from
start to finish. Over the years, Southerness has hosted many top
amateur events, including the Scottish Amateur Championship on
‘A kid grows up a multiple occasions - a clear indication of the quality on offer.
lot faster on a golf
course. Golf teaches
you how to behave.’
Jack Nicklaus BRAHAN GOLF CLUB FROM
Î Lochussie, Muir of Ord
Î Par 72 Yards 6,656 £18
Î brahangolfclub.ch PER ROUND

` Get ready to play, quite possibly, Scotland’s best-kept secret. Having

only opened a few years ago, this is the pride and joy of owners Claudia
and Jon Wiggett. It’s a heathland track with 18 sets of tees played to
nine shared greens. This allows you to, effectively, play 18 holes, using
different tees into double greens. It’s unique, it’s exhilarating and, thanks
to its location of being 15 minutes from Inverness and overlooking the
Black Isle and the Cromarty Firth, it’s also beautiful. There’s an on-site
guesthouse, which is great if you fancy making a weekend of it.

TULLIALLAN GOLF CLUB FROM

Î Tulliallan, Kincardine
Î Par 69 Yards 6,022 £25
Î tulliallangolf.co.uk PER ROUND

` With tree-lined fairways and a burn that winds its way through
most of the course, Tulliallan is a fantastic test. Whether you’re an
enthusiastic beginner or a seasoned golfer, a round here will live
long in the memory. The signature hole is undoubtedly the 16th,
redesigned to accommodate a new burn in front of the green and
two new ponds to the left. A fantastic par-4, you’ll do well not to
drop a shot. You definitely have to stop in at the clubhouse, too,
where visitors can enjoy the friendly welcome and atmosphere.

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 169
CLASSIFIEDS

Muir of Ord Golf Club albatross Executive Transportation

Scottish Golf Club of the Year 2016
TOP BRAND
• Par 68 easy walking golf course LEFT AND RIGHT
• A James Braid Designed Course CLUB HIRE
• Weekday and Sun Round £30, Sat £35 AVAILABLE
• Twilight golf after 5pm Mon to Sat
and Sun after 3pm £15
• Scottish Golf Club of the year 2016
• Thur 1pm – 3pm £20 per round
(£15 per round if booked online)
• Weekday Day Ticket £35
• Sunday 4Ball + 1 course Lunch £80
TRAVELLING TIMES FROM INVERNESS Executive Private and
Great North Road, Muir of Ord, Location Distance Time Corporate Transfer Services
Ross-shire IV6 7SX Castle Stuart 6 miles 15 M
T: 07808 079489
T: 01463 870825 Nairn 18 Miles 30 M
Dornoch 50 Miles 1 hr 10 M E: enquiry@highlandgolftransport.co.uk
E: muir.golf@btconnect.com | W: www.muirofordgolfclub.co.uk Trump Int 100 Miles 2 hr 15 M www.highlandgolftransport.co.uk

North Berwick Golf Lodge B&B

2 DAY BREAK
WITH FREE GOLF
Stay for a minimum of 2
nights and get a discount
of £20.00 on our one night
B&B rate plus Free Golf
(18 holes per person per day) for
each day stay.
www.thelodgeontheloch.com
T: 013398 86444
info@thelodgeontheloch.com
Family run B&B where you will be assured
of warm Scottish hospitality from your hosts
Tom & Emma Hill. You will find us situated
in the picturesque seaside town of North
Berwick on Edinburgh’s Golfing Coastline.
For the Golfer wishing to play some of
Scotland’s finest Links courses, North
Berwick West Links is a 5 minute walk
away, and Muirfield, host to the 2013 2 bed Golf Lodge Cottage also
British Open Championship is a 5 minute available for small groups of up to
drive away. Please contact us directly for 4 guests
golf packages available. www.golflodgecottage.co.uk
T: 01620 890064 | E: emma@northberwickgolflodge.co.uk | www.golflodgebb.co.uk

Station Hotel Portsoy 01292 262 474

enquiries@hotelkylestrome.co.uk
www.hotelkylestrome.co.uk

3 NIGHTS’
DBB AND
3 ROUNDS
FROM £269

Perfect base when golfing in Ayrshire - with amazing food!

Championship courses at Royal Troon, Prestwick
& Trump Turnberry all within close proximity

• We specialise in providing top class golf breaks at affordable

prices
• 15 modern, comfortable en-suite rooms
• Many top class courses and ‘hidden gems’ to choose from 2017 Season
including some of the best old traditional links courses in Established in 1905
Holiday area – Still a great place
Scotland accommodation to
• Great food, friendly locals’ bar and large games room with all to play
suit all pockets.
Sky Sports and BT Sports shown Societies encouraged – book by end
• 2017 already filling up fast but we will do our best to September for best 2018 deals. Visitors
accommodate you! always wel
come.
Range of
Station Hotel Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, AB45 2QT Sandyhills, Dalbeattie DG5 4PY membershi
ps
01556 630398 available.
Tel: 01261 842327 E: enquiries@stationhotelportsoy.co.uk
secretary@colvendgolfclub.co.uk
www.stationhotelportsoy.co.uk www.colvendgolfclub.co.uk

170 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 HIGHLANDS / NORTH EAST / SOUTH WEST / HEARTLANDS / SOUTH EAST / CENTRAL / ENGLAND

Monturpie Guest House & Apartments

01334 838555 01334 479900
Monturpie’s stunning location within the www.clubcars-standrews.com
East Neuk of Fife, is within easy driving
distance to St Andrews and all of Fife’s
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of Forth towards Edinburgh. Our onsite
licensed restaurant provides delicious
home cooked meals, Monturpie also
offers a touring caravan site, with new
serviced apartments coming soon. Club Cars can meet all your taxi requirements, from shopping trips and nights out to airport
transfers and corporate golf outings. Our spacious saloon cars mean that your comfort is assured
Please visit our website for and estate car capacity is available when luggage space is required.
more information. www.monturpie.co.uk We also operate people carriers seating up to 8 passengers. We operate quality vehicles which
are both clean and well maintained; similarly, we aim to create a favourable impression by being
T: 01333 360254 smartly attired. Taking a conscientious and professional approach to all our customers.
E: enquiries@monturpie.co.uk
Upper Largo, Near St Andrews, Fife KY8 5QS www.standrews-chauffeurdrive.com

Drumoig Golf Hotel

Our accommodation comprises 29 en-suite bedrooms of which 24 are located in unique lodges
adjacent to the main facilities. The 18 hole championship style, Par 73 golf course offers many tĞŽīĞƌĨƌĞĞtŝ&ŝĂŶĚĐŽŵƉůŝŵĞŶƚĂƌLJ
ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŵĞŶƚƐ͘KƵƌǀĞŚŝĐůĞŝƐĂůƵdžƵƌLJ͕
challenging features. The course is set on 250 acres of spectacular Fife countryside, which ϲƉĂƐƐĞŶŐĞƌDĞƌĐĞĚĞƐDWs͘
weaves through a natural bird and wildlife haven.
The only driving you will need to
PLAY & STAY PACKAGES do is on the course.
May to September 2017 info@robertwilsonexecutivetravel.co.uk
07786 082 798
1 NIGHT B&B, 2 Rounds of Golf pp £85 pp (Any day) SPECIAL GOLFERS’ PACKAGE robertwilsonexecutivetravel.co.uk
2 NIGHTS B&B, 1 Round of Golf pp £95 pp (Sun-Thurs) 2 nights’ Dinner, Bed & Breakfast plus
2 NIGHTS B&B, 1 Round of Golf pp £105 pp (Fri/Sat) 2 rounds of golf for 2 people
sharing from £169pp
13 fantastic golf courses within 10 miles
See website for details of amazing offers throughout the year.
Email: reception@drumoiggolfhotel.com Tel: 01382 541800 or 07880 551372 T: 01592 654112 F: 01592 598555
Forgan Drive, Drumoig, St. Andrews, KY16 0DS E: info@royalhotelfife.co.uk
www.drumoiggolfhotel.com www.royalhotelfife.co.uk

MAGDALENE FIELDS GOLF CLUB

Situated on the border between Scotland & England

signoaur
t
holeure

A SOCIAL GAME
A SOCIAL MAG
GREAT PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR PARTIES OF 8 OR MORE
• Coffee & bacon roll + 18 holes £20 per person
• Coffee & bacon roll + 18 holes + 2 course meal £24 per person
• Coffee & bacon roll + 12 holes + soup & sandwiches + 18 holes £28 per person
• Coffee & bacon roll + 12 holes + soup & sandwiches
+ 18 holes + 2 course meal £36 per person

connect with us T: 01289 306130

twitter.com/BunkeredOnline
facebook.com/BunkeredMagazine www.magdalene-fields.co.uk

TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 171
CLASSIFIEDS MAIL ORDER / MISCELLANEOUS

modern high-performance persimmon

drivers: fairways: putters

www.persimmongolf.co.uk
Tel: 01558 822552

172 BUNKERED.CO.UK
 ¼ DOONTHESTRETCH
PRIZE CROSSWORD
Once you have completed the crossword, re-arrange the
WIN... A DOZEN SRIXON
letters in yellow squares to form a Scottish course ULTISOFT GOLF BALLS

Across 1 2 3 4 5 6
4. It looks as though his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ ‘Majors’
record is now over (5)
7. Golf’s bronze medal winner at the 2016 Olympic 7
Games (4,6)
8. Colin Montgomerie’s father was secretary at this golf
club (5) 8
9. Lickliter, who had two wins on the US PGA Tour (5)
11. See 20 Down 9
13. He lost the 1989 Open Championship in a play-off to
Mark Calcavecchia (6)
10 11 12
15. Inbee Park’s golfing continent (4)
17. Cink, winner of the 2009 Open Championship…(7)
18. … and Westwood, who missed the play-off at the 2009 13 14
Open by a shot (3)
19. Lowest score possible on a golf hole (3)
15 16
21. Wrist problems have hampered this Scot’s career in the
last two years (9)
22. McIlroy, who is still trying to complete golf’s grand slam 17 18
(4)
23. Area where three-putting is to be avoided (5)
24. Winner of the 1994 Open Championship (4,5)

Down 19 20 21
1. Last man to win consecutive Opens (10)
2. Likely venue of the 2021 Open Championship (2,7)
3. Martin Laird’s nationality (4) 22
4. Most US courses incorporate this feature into their
design (5) 23
5. Scot who was the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year
in 1993 (3)
6. The modern pro is very skilful in hitting from it (4) 24
10. All golfers want to hit this area from the tee (7)
12. His recent deal with TaylorMade has made 22 Across
______ than ever (9)
14. Hitting a golf ball too carefully (8) Answer ..............................................................................................................................................................................................
16. US Open Champion in 1988 and 1989 (7)
19. Royal Portrush will host this championship in 2019 (4) Your Name ......................................................................................................................................................................................
20. And 11 Across. Crew Robin altered for ex-Ryder Cup
captain (4,5)
Address ............................................................................................................................................................................................
21. An orthodox one is vital for a golfer (4)
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
Issue 155 answer Ladybank
Winner David McLintock, Glasgow
Email ................................................................................................................................................................................................
ISSUE 155 ANSWERS Across 7. Renaissance, 8. Sixteen, 9. Sleeve, 11.
Locker, 12. Pencil, 15. Eye, 16. Gary, 17. Shorts, 20. Kentucky, 21. Murray.
Down 1. Pebble Beach, 2. Kaymer, 3. USA, 4. Davis Love, 5. Scotscraig,
Send your entry to ‘Prize Crossword’, bunkered, 50 High Craighall Rd, Glasgow, G4 9UD.
6. Leonard, 10. Eagle, 13. Crerar, 14. Stroke, 17. Sam, 18. Sky, 19. One. Crossword kindly produced by Jim McLaren / jim.mclaren5@gmail.com

QUIZ TIME
3 How many times has 6 Which American state 9 Which golfer has spent
Colin Montgomerie finished staged the first-ever the most time at No.2 on
second or tied-second in US Open in 1895? the world rankings without
1 In which year did a major championship? 7 In which year did the ever reaching world No.1?
Annika Sorenstam win the 4 Which player did Mike International team win its one 10 Which Scottish golfer won
first of her ten majors? Weir defeat in a play-off to and only Presidents Cup? the European Tour ‘Rookie of
2 Who is the only golfer win the 2003 Masters? 8 To date, who is the only the Year honour in 2004 - the
to have won the Open 5 Who was the very first Scot to have captained same year that he won his
at Royal Portrush? US Ryder Cup captain? a Solheim Cup side? only European Tour title?

6. Rhode Island, 7. 1998, 8. Dale Reid, 9. Phil Mickelson, 10. Scott Drummond.
ANSWERS 1. 1995, 2. Max Faulkner, 3. Five, 4. Len mattaice, 5. Walter Hagen,
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE 173
Tulliallan Golf Club ST FILLANS GOLF CLUB
Superb course set amongst breathtaking scenery
FOR YOUR 2017 GOLF OUTING
A challenging course, whatever your ability - set amidst
Our superb parkland course is only a 30 minute Perthshire Hills over surprisingly level terrain. Excellent
commute from Glasgow and Edinburgh. catering provided by our resident chef Richard Mountain.
Golf Cars*, trollies and clubs for hire.
Flexible (*Booking advised)
membership
for only Thinking of joining a golf club?
£250 We proudly boast the warmest of welcomes and will help you to
meet fellow members for competitive or friendly games. If ‘doing
you own thing’ is your preference —then that’s fine too! Ask to
speak to our Manager for the very latest Membership Offer.
WEEKDAY GOLF Any parties of 12 or ALL VISITORS
PARTY PACKAGES more will receive a QUALIFY FOR A
INCLUDE 10% discount on RETURN ROUND AT
2 ROUNDS OF GOLF, their golf booking. HALF PRICE DURING
COFFEE & FILLED In addition you will THE SAME SEASON.
ROLL ON ARRIVAL, qualify for another Join now for under
SOUP & FILLED game in the same £10 a week (based on
ROLL & HIGH TEA season at half price. 5 day membership).
ALL FOR ONLY *DOES NOT INCLUDE
£54.95.* £54.95 PACKAGE*

3 day
local Golf Pass
on sale - £45
for 3 days!
PRICES: WEEKDAY ROUND £25 WEEKEND ROUND £29 stfillansgolf@btconnect.com
Contact: professional@tulliallangolf.co.uk | Tel: 01259 730798 www.st-fillans-golf.com
www.tulliallangolf.co.uk 01764 685312

Caldwell Golf Club

EXCLUSIVE
OFFER!
Round of golf + 2 Course Lunch
ONLY £20
Subject to availability

TO BOOK NOW CALL: 01505 850616

NEW JUNIOR & Caldwell Golf Club is delighted to offer
bunkered readers and exclusive package
STUDENT OFFER from July to September 2017.
Are you a budding Junior Golfer or Book for only £20 per person and get:
student looking for an affordable • An 18-hole round of Golf on our
club to join? fantastic course
Caldwell Golf Club are offering • Followed by a 2 Course Meal
Free Of Charge Junior memberships afterwards (in the Tower Restaurant)
up to the age of 18.
This offer is exclusive to bunkered
We also invite students to join for an readers and is only available by quoting
annual rate of only £99 bunkered when booking.
*Terms & Conditions apply
To take advantage of this exclusive offer please
please contact the club for details
call the club right away to get your preferred
tee time.

Lochlibo Road, Uplawmoor, Renfrewshire G78 4AU

Pro Shop: 01505 850616 • Clubhouse: 01505 850366 • www.caldwellgolfclub.com
 DOON THE STRETCH
TIME FOR A QUICK NINE?
Check out the 9-Hole Open at St Fillans!

N
OT EVERYONE HAS TIME to play in
Opens lasting five-plus hours these
days and St Fillans Golf Club has
recognised this by hosting its first 9-Hole
Open on Saturday, July 22 - so you’ll still
have plenty of time to play some golf and
watch the third round of the Open.
St Fillans is an attractive course, kindly
referred to by Sandy Lyle as his ‘favourite
inland course in Scotland’, and attracts
visitors from far and wide. It is hoped
that the nine-hole format will prove
popular, along with coffee and a bacon
roll, for the inclusive £10 entry fee.
Should you prefer to play the full 18
holes, the club has a Texas Scramble
Open on August 26 and a Gents’ Open
scheduled for September 16.
If you are looking for a really special
day, then the club hosts the Sandy Lyle
Charity Day on August 5 and hopes
to attract teams of four golfers to this
aggregate Stableford competition.
The former Masters and Open champ
hopes to be in attendance on the day
and details of the last event along
with booking forms can be found at
st-fillans-golf.com.

ON AUGUST 31, why not book

your spot at a special charity day
FYI
at Dalmahoy Golf and Country • 100,000 older
Club near Edinburgh to help people go two weeks
raise money for Age Scotland? or longer without
The charity works to promote speaking to anyone
positive views of aging, to • 240,000 older people
help older people to be as well consider the TV or
as they can be and to tackle a pet as their main
loneliness and isolation. form of company
The day promises a fun day
• Chronic isolation is a
of golf with high value prizes
health risk equivalent
up for grabs. You even have
to 15 cigarettes a day
the opportunity to win a car.
After breakfast, the event • 90,000 people in

PUTTING THE kicks off with a shotgun

start. Afterwards, there’s a
Scotland have dementia
– this will rise by 40%

FUN INTO
high-tea, during which the in the next 12 years
awards will be presented. • Each winter, 1 older
To get involved and play one person in Scotland

FUNDRAISING! of Scotland’s best courses, email

fundraising@agescotland.org.uk
dies every 47 minutes
due to the cold
The new Whisky Bar is located
in MacLeod House & Lodge - the
Aberdeen resort’s on-site five-star
accommodation - and it is as grand
and opulent as you would expect.

IT’S YOUR
Swanky new Whisky Bar opens at Trump International in Aberdeen,

ROUND!
showcasing the world’s best - and rarest - whisky
TWITTER.COM/BUNKEREDONLINE
DOON THE STRETCH
Y
OU NOW HAVE ANOTHER
good reason to visit Trump
International in Aberdeen. As
well as having one of the best golf
courses you’ll ever play, the resort
has just opened its new Whisky Bar.
Located within the on-site five-star
hotel - MacLeod House & Lodge -
the new bar features an extensive
selection of whiskies selected from
the world’s leading producers. Rare
and highly sought-after releases sit
alongside well-known favourites
and traditional Scottish brands,
giving guests a unique choice of
liquors to sample and savour.
Trump International worked
with industry experts, including
family-owned Scotch whisky
specialist Gordon & MacPhail, in
curating this collection.
A central feature of this intimate
traditional bar is bespoke, hand-
made cabinetry, showcasing the
most valuable bottles behind
decorative brass grills.
A Trump Scotland spokesperson
said: “Guests can relax amidst the
dark walnut, luxurious upholstery
and golden tones whilst enjoying
a favourite dram or indulging
in something extra special
recommended by our resident
whisky connoisseur.”
Sarah Malone, Executive Vice
President of Trump International
Golf Links, Scotland, said the new
addition would be open to all.
“We have worked with the
industry’s best to select the finest
malts and create an authentic
whisky experience,” she added.
“It’s a great addition to our existing
facilities and we look forward to
launching an exclusive Whisky
Membership, giving whisky lovers
even more access to rare bottles,
new releases and special events in
the very near future.”
You can visit trumpgolfscotland.
com/macleod-house/hotel for more
details and opening times.
177
 Moments
LANDMARK VICTORIES | INSPIRATIONAL PLAYERS

1961
ARNOLD PALMER
‘THE HOWITZER
THROUGH THE BUSH’

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH this

magazine in 2011, Arnold Palmer
revealed that competing in the Open
Championship was “a ‘must’ on his
schedule. “Back at the start,” he
revealed, “when my father and I were
discussing my career, he told me that
it was important to be an international
player, that you had to be playing
and competing all around the
globe.” Few of his fellow American
professionals shared that vision,
preferring instead to compete almost
exclusively in the US. That started to
change when Palmer won the 1961
Open at Royal Birkdale. He had made
his debut in the championship a
year earlier, finishing second at St
Andrews. He wouldn’t be denied
next time around. En route to the
Claret Jug, he produced one of
the most remarkable shots in the
championship’s history - one so
incredible, in fact, that a bronze
plaque now commemorates the spot
he struck it from. A wayward drive at
the 15th hole in the final round ended
up, as Henry Longhurst described
it, at “the bottom of a small, sandy
bank, buried deep in some blackberry
bushes”. Rather than hack his way
back into play, Palmer grabbed his
6-iron and proceeded to scythe his
ball through what was superbly
described a ‘howitzer through
the bush’ some 150 yards away.
“I have never hit a ball so hard in
my life,” he later said, whilst former
champion Henry Cotton called it
“one of the greatest shots ever”.
Under the circumstances, it probably
was. Palmer made his four, won by
a shot from Dai Rees, successfully
defended his title the following
year at Royal Troon and forever
improved the standing of the world’s
oldest golf championship amongst
his American contemporaries.

178 BUNKERED.CO.UK