Golf Monthly

As is so often the case when I read through Golf Monthly’s instruction pages, a sparkling and simple piece of advice jumped out at me this month. On page 96, Brooks Koepka talks about his approach to warming up before a round and shares advice with a

in association with I am full of hope that the positive golfing bounce that came as a result of the Covid pandemic will hold into the future. Our clubhouse is full and member numbers are up. There are lots of new faces about and people of every age,

There has been much talk of late regarding the huge amounts of money available on the various professional tours. With this in mind, it seems fair that the winners should be decided according to their own ability and judgement. Despite the recent foc

7 Olympic silver medallist (5) 8 Augusta’s 13th (6) 9 Will thins shot at 1935 USPGA venue (4,5) 10 USPGA Champion of 2001 (4) 11 Hampshire club founded by the Royal Navy (9) 14 Surrey club with courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr (3,6) 16 Hazar

Henrik Stenson has been confirmed as the 2023 European Ryder Cup captain for next year’s contest at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome, Italy. The Swede was the frontrunner after Lee Westwood ruled himself out, before his potential involvement in the rum

➝ Congratulations on winning the Players Championship, the biggest event of your career. You’re also now World No.6 – how do you reflect on that? I feel as though I’m playing the best that I’ve ever played, but I’ve put in the work, I’ve done a lot o

Illustration: benhaslerdesigned.me ■

After back-to-back early exits at the Arnold Palmer and Players, Rose has fallen outside the world’s top 50 for the first time since June 2010. But for some awful luck on his 70th hole, Casey could very well have won the Players. In the end, he settl

What’s been the best moment of your career so far? Getting my DP World Tour card with my family there. What would be your dream four-ball? Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and my brother Lewis. What would you be doing if you weren’t a golfer? Being a coun

Tiger Woods broke down in tears after his introduction at the World Golf Hall of Fame ceremony by his daughter, Sam. Pat Perez, who plays with the Spaniard on a weekly basis, thinks he is going to dominate golf for the next ten years. Max Homa gave h

At Sawgrass, Justin Thomas was sporting a limited-edition Premier Series shoe designed by fashion icon Jon Buscemi. Patrick Reed was seen using a new PXG driver at Bay Hill, which looks like the TD model that recently hit the USGA conforming list. Ji

It’s an exciting year to be a golf shoe fan, especially if FootJoy is your go-to brand. Following on from the athletic Fuel is the Tour Alpha, FJ’s ultimate performance shoe with a big focus on stability. Replacing the Tour X, it boasts a new innovat

The rolling drumlins of Co. Cavan are home to one of Ireland’s most highly rated parklands. Slieve Russell opened in 1992, and its reputation has been growing ever since. That will come as no surprise when you see the course’s space, excitement and q

Japanese brand Honma has utilised its club-making expertise and performance materials in the new premium TW757 range of woods and irons, which sits alongside the game-improvement GS line. The range includes two driver models to suit different prefere

I’ve been out covering the Players Championship at Sawgrass pretty much every year since 2010, barring Covid, so it was quite weird watching this one from my living room. It was good fun seeing the players struggle with the tough conditions from afar

arold Varner III has a smile that lights up the room. He’s relatable, he looks people in the eye and he loves to laugh and keep things light. Now aged 31, his nearly seven years on the PGA Tour have brought both ups and downs, but one thing’s for sur

As an amateur, he was winning a lot in the States and you would read the news of how well he was doing at Arizona State and that this young Spaniard was coming through. He won the Spanish Amateur where I grew up playing at Las Palmas in Gran Canaria,

Winning is never easy, but it’s a damn sight harder when your game is off and you’re slamming down the trunk on a Friday night. In a sport of positive self-chatter twinned with nagging doubt, Rafa Cabrera Bello described his game as being in the “wor

Despite some non-golfers still believing that golf is only a sport for the well off, it doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be, of course, and just as with all the best things in life, whether cars, houses, clothes or whatever, the very best golf co

Billy Horschel has become something of an adopted Englishman. Ever since high school, the Floridian has held an interest in British history and culture, which is why his victory at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last year meant so much and why

Have you ever been away somewhere or browsed a golf club website, looked at the membership fees and thought, “What the…? I’m paying double that for my subs and this might even be a better course or club. I wouldn’t mind living in this part of the wor

Nothing draws the ire of golf fans quite like the ongoing distance debate. No matter what side of the fence you sit on, it’s a hot topic, and has been for what feels like an eternity. But it’s a very complex issue. On one hand, the governing bodies h

Professor Steve Otto, chief technology officer for The R&A, tells us what the future may hold… How are the standards decided upon, set and enforced? We’re always looking at how people make things, what they’re making and the direction of travel, whic

The secret to consistent and accurate pitching is getting your set-up right to create the optimum attack angle through impact. The ball position is all about managing the low point of your swing, so you impact the ball at the correct time. You want t

It’s much easier to play bunker shots with your body square. You still want to create extra loft by opening the clubface. This makes the face point to the right, but you can bring that back to your target by lowering your hands at address. If the bal

One of the most common mistakes I see is golfers not bringing the putter head back far enough, especially on longer putts. Then you have to use the wrists or body to create the speed and the strike and direction suffer. Acceleration is as much of a p

Good chippers are able to create a decent amount of clubhead speed while having the ball come off the clubface slower. The slower ball speed gives you touch and control. A lot of amateurs are good at bump and runs, but their thoughts change when they

1 This shot is ideal when the lip isn’t too steep, there’s green to work with and getting the distance will be a struggle with a standard splash using a sand wedge. Stand square, rather than open – not a bad idea for some golfers on all bunker shots

1 I often see golfers start the backswing by immediately shifting their weight onto their right leg. They don’t turn with the hips at all. Instead, there’s this sway onto the right side. Then, the arms lift the club up into a really horrible position

By Top 50 Coach Gary Alliss This is all about releasing the built-up angles in your wrists at impact. It should then translate into forearm rotation and extension on the follow-through. Timing your release well helps you to deliver impact at the righ

Brooks, what does your pre-round range warm-up look like? It’s really simple… always start with putting, range, then short game. What’s the goal of your putting warm up? Just get a sense of the speed. It’s way simpler than you all think. Make sure th

1 Els’ rhythm has been lauded by many for years. Look at the width he builds into his swing from the outset. Notice how his takeaway is driven by his torso, arms and clubhead all moving together at similar rates, therefore he doesn’t need to cock his

It’s not exactly rare to see balls coming to rest close together on the course, particularly in run-off areas or bowls where errant shots naturally collect. Dealing with it is usually a fairly straightforward process, says Chris Wallace, Rules manage

1 In stroke play, Jezz’s ball comes to rest in a deep furrow of sand caused by a rake and he takes free relief, to which he is not entitled. Fergus (his opponent) sees this but chooses to ignore it. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty. B Jezz g

Scoring in Stableford, the form of stroke play loved by many a club golfer for its more compassionate approach to on-course disasters, allows for players to reach a point where it doesn’t matter how many more strokes they take on a hole or even if th

Q Playing in a four-ball better-ball, we got to the 9th tee having just gone 1up on the 8th, when one of the other pair asked if he had a shot on the 7th. He said that if so, they would have won that hole so the match was tied. I looked at the card a

Improving upon a wedge as close to perfection as we saw in SM8 was always going to be a big ask, but Titleist claims its SM9 gets a step closer. The SM9 retains the classic Vokey look at address. When hitting full shots, the shaping and lack of offse

Ping usually works on longer product cycles than most other manufacturers, but it made us wait a whopping four years for the i500’s replacement. The i525 iron occupies the space between the G425 and i210 as a hollow, distance-orientated model in a sl

The TaylorMade Spider GT putter extends the range of Spider models, which focuses on high-MOI designs in compact heads. It is one of four models in a new line that also includes the Spider GT Notchback putter, Spider GT Rollback putter and Spider GT

The TaylorMade Stealth driver was launched with much fanfare at the start of the year as the brand heralded the beginning of the Carbonwood age. So, what is meant by this? TaylorMade is renowned for bringing the buzz to its marketing, but this time i

You might be surprised to see a PXG driver in our value list, but despite the brand’s notoriously premium prices, the 0211 driver is available for just £205. It’s a compelling prospect given the countless shaft options in five different flexes, as we

At comfortably under £1 a ball for a dozen, the Inesis Distance 100 is one of the best-value golf balls on the market. It has a matte finish and performs excellently from a distance perspective, with the hard two-piece construction working particular

If you’ve got your heart set on playing with the clubs used by your favourite tour players, you’ll soon realise that building your bag and other items you need to take to the fairways can be an expensive endeavour. Price remains a barrier to entry in

Stuburt’s entry-level gear has always impressed us, and for under £50 here you get a golf shoe with a full-grain leather upper, a cushioned midsole and a waterproof guarantee. With the grip on offer, you’d expect the shoe to possess spikes, but it’s

The entry level electric trolley from MGI represents excellent value for money considering the performance, durability and extras you get. The screen may be slightly rudimentary, but it’s a very solid runner with a whopping five-year warranty for pea

Not only does this Performance Primegreen polo shirt offer tremendous value, but it’s also been made using recycled materials to create a comfortable garment with stretch and breathability. The design is understated and classy, with the block colour

We are very pleased to present 100 Hidden Gems for 2022 - a fresh look at 100 slightly lesser-known but very engaging designs that we feel represent an extremely strong crosssection of courses of all shapes and sizes in every corner of the UK & Irela

GF Round: £75; day: £100wd; twilight: £40-£50 North Foreland, in the far north-east corner of Kent, boasts two courses, with the Northcliffe a fun par-3 18-holer where the longest hole is 126 yards. The Main course, which plays either side of a road

GF Round: £30; twilight: £20 This nine-hole links is embraced by the awe-inspiring beauty of the Highlands and perched on the most northerly coastline of the Scottish mainland. Durness is relentless in moving you up, down and sideways in a blistering

GF Round: £22-£37; day: £28-£54 At 1,284 feet above sea level, Kington is the highest golf club in England. With panoramic views from the course, encompassing the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountains, the Radnorshire Hills, Hergest Ridge

GF Round: £45wd, £50we The two nines at Porthmadog could not be more different and combine to make a most compelling and scenic adventure. Established in 1905, it is home to a remarkably distinctive and varied course. While the front nine and 18th ar

GF Round: €30-€100 Strandhill is without doubt one of Ireland’s quirkiest 18-hole links; it is also one of its most scenic and entertaining. The course lies under the gaze of Knocknarea Mountain, with sea pressing in on two sides. The holes keep you

COURSE LOCATIONS NON 18-HOLE COURSES Shiskine 12 holes Carradale 9 holes Durness 9 holes Isle of Harris 9 holes Traigh 9 holes DISTANCE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH From Mullion in Cornwall to Durness in the north-west Highlands ROYAL CLUBS ISLAND COURSES Isl

GF Round: £22-£37; day: £28-£54 At 1,284 feet above sea level, Kington is the highest golf club in England. With panoramic views from the course, encompassing the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountains, the Radnorshire Hills, Hergest Ridge

GF Round: £30; twilight: £20 This nine-hole links is embraced by the awe-inspiring beauty of the Highlands and perched on the most northerly coastline of the Scottish mainland. Durness is relentless in moving you up, down and sideways in a blistering

GF Round: £45wd, £50we The two nines at Porthmadog could not be more different and combine to make a most compelling and scenic adventure. Established in 1905, it is home to a remarkably distinctive and varied course. While the front nine and 18th ar

GF Round: €30-€100 Strandhill is without doubt one of Ireland’s quirkiest 18-hole links; it is also one of its most scenic and entertaining. The course lies under the gaze of Knocknarea Mountain, with sea pressing in on two sides. The holes keep you

We are very pleased to present 100 Hidden Gems for 2022 - a fresh look at 100 slightly lesser-known but very engaging designs that we feel represent an extremely strong crosssection of courses of all shapes and sizes in every corner of the UK & Irela

COURSE LOCATIONS NON 18-HOLE COURSES Shiskine 12 holes Carradale 9 holes Durness 9 holes Isle of Harris 9 holes Traigh 9 holes DISTANCE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH From Mullion in Cornwall to Durness in the north-west Highlands ROYAL CLUBS ISLAND COURSES Isl

As is so often the case when I read through Golf Monthly’s instruction pages, a sparkling and simple piece of advice jumped out at me this month. On page 96, Brooks Koepka talks about his approach to warming up before a round and shares advice with a

GF Round: £75; day: £100wd; twilight: £40-£50 North Foreland, in the far north-east corner of Kent, boasts two courses, with the Northcliffe a fun par-3 18-holer where the longest hole is 126 yards. The Main course, which plays either side of a road

There has been much talk of late regarding the huge amounts of money available on the various professional tours. With this in mind, it seems fair that the winners should be decided according to their own ability and judgement. Despite the recent foc

in association with I am full of hope that the positive golfing bounce that came as a result of the Covid pandemic will hold into the future. Our clubhouse is full and member numbers are up. There are lots of new faces about and people of every age,

7 Olympic silver medallist (5) 8 Augusta’s 13th (6) 9 Will thins shot at 1935 USPGA venue (4,5) 10 USPGA Champion of 2001 (4) 11 Hampshire club founded by the Royal Navy (9) 14 Surrey club with courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr (3,6) 16 Hazar

After back-to-back early exits at the Arnold Palmer and Players, Rose has fallen outside the world’s top 50 for the first time since June 2010. But for some awful luck on his 70th hole, Casey could very well have won the Players. In the end, he settl

Henrik Stenson has been confirmed as the 2023 European Ryder Cup captain for next year’s contest at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome, Italy. The Swede was the frontrunner after Lee Westwood ruled himself out, before his potential involvement in the rum

➝ Congratulations on winning the Players Championship, the biggest event of your career. You’re also now World No.6 – how do you reflect on that? I feel as though I’m playing the best that I’ve ever played, but I’ve put in the work, I’ve done a lot o

Illustration: benhaslerdesigned.me ■

What’s been the best moment of your career so far? Getting my DP World Tour card with my family there. What would be your dream four-ball? Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and my brother Lewis. What would you be doing if you weren’t a golfer? Being a coun

Tiger Woods broke down in tears after his introduction at the World Golf Hall of Fame ceremony by his daughter, Sam. Pat Perez, who plays with the Spaniard on a weekly basis, thinks he is going to dominate golf for the next ten years. Max Homa gave h