July 2024

Golf Monthly

All the latest gear reviewed each month

Golf Monthly1 min read
Golf Monthly
Editor: Neil Tappin Deputy editor: Joel Tadman Production manager: David Taylor Features editor: Nick Bonfield Editor-at-large: Bill Elliott Head of art (sports): Kevin Eason Group art editor: Jamie Latchford Deputy art editor: Michael Rawley News ed
Golf Monthly2 min read
History In The Making
neil.tappin@futurenet.com My first Open Championship as a reporter for Golf Monthly was back in 2007 at Carnoustie. I walked the final round with Sergio Garcia and was just to the left of the final green as his putt to win kissed the lip and stayed a
Golf Monthly5 min read
Your View
I’ve just read an article on Jordan Spieth’s disqualification at the Genesis Invitational and agree the scorecard issue is outdated and needs fixing. But the dumbest, most ridiculous rule has always been fairway divots. You should never be punished f
Golf Monthly2 min read
Schauffele Lands Maiden Major Title At Valhalla
Xander, congratulations on winning your first Major at the US PGA. How does that feel? I am very satisfied. I’m tired. It’s just a whirlwind of emotions. It feels amazing. There are just a wide range of emotions for me. Looking up at the leaderboard,
Golf Monthly2 min read
Korda’s Spectacular Run Continues Apace
Nelly Korda has won six of the 12 LPGA Tour events to have taken place in 2024 – and she’s only competed in eight of them. Her most recent triumph on her truly remarkable run of form came at the Mizuho Americas Open, where the American pipped Hannah
Golf Monthly1 min read
World Of Golf Pays Tribute To Oosterhuis
Five different American players have won the last five men’s Majors, the first time this has happened since 1984. Voices from across the game took to social media to pay tribute to Peter Oosterhuis, who died last month at the age of 75. The Englishma
Golf Monthly2 min read
Hamilton Shocks The World At Troon
Troon has played host to some dramatic Open moments, but none as surprising as when Todd Hamilton walked off with the top prize. Bill Elliott’s words at the time remind us just what a shock it was… “Until the 133rd Open Championship, Oquawka in Illin
Golf Monthly3 min read
Should Tiger Call Time On His Competitive Career?
Says Jeremy Ellwood Writing this after The Masters, I feel the answer for any golf fan who has marvelled at his unparalleled achievements over the last 30 years surely has to be yes. Sure, he made the cut, but while appreciating conditions were trick
Golf Monthly1 min read
One Drill To Nail Your Strike
This drill can also help you become a more consistent chipper. Use it to hit some shots – it can be really effective in stopping the scoop. 1 This drill is going to help with your ball-striking no end and get you to compress the ball as you should. S
Golf Monthly2 min read
Formby Golf Club
Formby Golf Club, Golf Road, Freshfield, Liverpool, L37 1LQ. T: 01704 872164 E: enquiries@formbygolfclub.co.uk W: formbygolfclub.co.uk Formby is one of the stars of England’s north-west coast and, at no.42 in our current Top 100, its pedigree is undi
Golf Monthly1 min read
Xander Schauffele
Taylor Pendrith used a Ping G430 LST driver, Ping G425 Max 7-wood, Srixon ZX7 Mk II irons and an Odyssey Versa Jailbird putter as he won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Rose Zhang was victorious at the Cognizant Founders Cup with a Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke
Golf Monthly2 min read
Cobra Limit3d iron £2,449 (4-PW)
In what feels like an inevitable step for golf club manufacturing, Cobra has launched a limited run of the first commercially available 3D-printed irons. With Limit3d, the brand set itself the ambitious goal of creating a compact players’ blade profi
Golf Monthly1 min read
TaylorMade P-Series UDI and DHY £229
TaylorMade’s latest additions to its P-Series of golf clubs have arrived in the shape of the Utility Driving Iron (UDI) and Driving Hybrid (DHY). While the UDI will certainly skew more to the better player, the DHY has been engineered with the higher
Golf Monthly1 min read
Casa De Campo Dye Fore
Dominican Republic GF: $325 to $450 Stats: Chavon – par 36, 3,303 yards; Lagos – par 35, 3,268 yards; Marina – par 36, 3,286 yards The Dominican Republic is one of the largest countries in the Caribbean and is blessed with a tropical climate that mak
Golf Monthly3 min read
Wayne Riley
I’ve just got back from the US PGA Championship and it was fantastic. There were multiple moments when I stood there shaking my head at the sheer quality of golf on display. The PGA Tour used to have a slogan: “These guys are good.” That doesn’t come
Golf Monthly3 min read
Alison Root
I’ve always found it fascinating how golf fashion and the game’s dress code attract so much attention and controversy, far more than in any other sport. Take Jason Day, for example. Since the Australian golfer signed with lifestyle brand Malbon, his
Golf Monthly9 min read
“I’ve Dreamed Of Win Ning The Open Since I Was Five Years Old”
Tommy Fleetwood once told the Open Championship podcast that if he lifted the Claret Jug he would be happy never to hit a golf ball again. But he admits that is just not going to happen, although the Claret Jug part may well do, of course, because hi
Golf Monthly6 min read
“When I Look Back On My Career, It Will Be The Highlight”
We’re closing in on a year since you won The Open. Did it prove life-changing for you? Life-changing? No. Career-changing? Maybe. At least in the sense of being recognised a bit more often at restaurants and airports, and probably how I’m viewed by m
Golf Monthly8 min read
Monty’s Guide royal Troon
Obviously, it’s all wind dependent. General playing requirements and individual holes will change dramatically in different conditions, as with any links course. I’m describing here the prevailing conditions which the pros are most likely to encounte
Golf Monthly8 min read
High Troon
Phil Mickelson partnered Henrik Stenson in the final pairing in the closing round of The Open in 2016 at Royal Troon. The American, the Open Champion of 2013 at Muirfield, began the day one shot behind Stenson’s 54-hole lead. On the first hole, Micke
Golf Monthly2 min read
How To Stop Casting The Club
Shot on location at Infinitum Resort, Spain 1 When golfers cast the club and cut across the ball, the correct sequence of the golf swing is out of sync. The first move from the top is the arms. Then comes that horrid ‘casting’ of the club, which rele
Golf Monthly3 min read
Watch The Open In Style
The changing face of hospitality means the majority of those enjoying the hospitality packages at The Open will not be guests of businesses engaged in corporate hospitality, but individual golf fans or groups of golfing friends looking for enhanced s
Golf Monthly6 min read
Five Essential Tee Shots
The golf course asks lots of questions and, off the tee, we need to be able to mix up our drives, as the ability to hit various shots with the big stick will put us in position to make more birdies and shoot lower scores. Many of us are comfortable w
Golf Monthly2 min read
Ask The Experts
By GM Top 50 Coach Murray Patterson The longer greenside bunker shot is renowned for being one of the toughest in golf. A common fault I see is club golfers automatically reaching for a sand or lob wedge to play this shot. That means a really long sw
Golf Monthly1 min read
Improve Your Distance Control On The Greens
Shot on location at Infinitum Resort, Spain 1 Tiger Woods has often spoken about how his father, Earl, taught him to ‘putt to the picture’. Tiger really goes to town on scoping out a putt, looking at it from multiple angles. But the final stage of th
Golf Monthly1 min read
Your Wedge Game maste rclass
In association with For most amateur golfers, improving their short game can be a real challenge. Whether they struggle to find the time to practise or they prefer to focus on other areas of the game, the pursuit of wedge wizardry is a journey we sho
Golf Monthly2 min read
How To Use Bounce
In association with Let’s dive straight into one of the most important aspects for bounce, which is shaft lean. Most golfers assume that if you add shaft lean to your wedge at address, you won’t be accessing the bounce. That is, in fact, only true if
Golf Monthly2 min read
My Favourite Short-game Drill
In association with This simple drill, using an item that is readily available in most homes, will train your brain to consider your finish position. Think of it like a check-point, which we are going to turn into a drill by introducing… a coat hange
Golf Monthly2 min read
Common Pitching Mistakes
In association with Typically, amateur golfers think they need to hit the golf ball much higher than they actually do. If you were trying to throw a ball from A to B, you probably wouldn’t launch it as high as you could to cover the distance. If anyt
Golf Monthly6 min read
Rules
The combination of slick greens and breezy conditions often forms a tricky duo to play in, and sometimes the wind can be strong enough for a ball at rest on the putting green to move. This is exactly what happened to Gary Woodland on the iconic 16th
Golf Monthly2 min read
Scotty Cameron Phantom 9 Putter £429
This alignment-infused head increased our confidence over each putt Scotty Cameron’s mallet putter range combines the premium look and feel you expect with excellent attention to detail. There are some pretty outlandish head shapes and alignment feat
Golf Monthly2 min read
Wilson Dynapower Forged Iron £900 (4-pw)
Wilson has brought to market a forged version of its popular Dynapower iron. With the standard model up there among the best game-improvement irons, I was keen to see the refinements in this forged version, which is aimed at a slightly lower handicap
Golf Monthly2 min read
Skycaddie pro 5x Gps £399
The SkyCaddie Pro 5X is a digital course guide that the brand is claiming to be the closest device to a tour player’s yardage book on the market right now. Around the size of a standard smartphone, it’s pre-loaded with 35,000 courses and uses an ultr
Golf Monthly2 min read
Bushnell Pro X3+ Rangefinder £549
Anyone who’s owned a Bushnell golf laser rangefinder, or one of its sports optics products for that matter, would probably agree the brand can usually be relied on to achieve best-in-class accuracy in a device that boasts a premium look and feel. Thi
Golf Monthly2 min read
Equipment
This new version of the brand’s popular on/off-course trainer-style shoe boasts familiar Under Armour technology in an updated silhouette. The heel counter is well disguised at the back and supports the heel as you swing, while the outsole offers amp
Golf Monthly3 min read
6 common Putter-buying Mistakes
We all know putting is one of the most important areas of the game for your score, but golfers often make completely avoidable mistakes when buying a new flat-stick. We’re here to help, with the assistance of Odyssey Golf and the stunning Ai-ONE rang
Golf Monthly2 min read
Ask Our Experts
What is the best golf umbrella? Jigliz, via GM Forum Not all golf umbrellas are created equal and the first quarter of this year saw mine get plenty of use. I’ll give some quick shout outs to a couple that have been the most effective and user-friend
Golf Monthly5 min read
Low Handicap Irons
There is a vast array of choice on the market for low handicappers looking to upgrade their irons in 2024, so figuring out which is the right option for you can be a very confusing process. We have rigorously tested dozens of models and picked out ou
Golf Monthly2 min read
DMDs
Distance-measuring devices (DMDs) have become an essential part of the modern golfer’s arsenal, helping to inform club selection and general strategy during rounds. There is a huge variety of DMDs on the market, from watches to laser rangefinders, ha
Golf Monthly2 min read
“The Adjustability On This Driver Is Up There With Any Of Today’s Models”
Next up in our Retro Review series is the TaylorMade R7 Quad driver. Introduced in 2004, this was the first driver with adjustable head weights that allowed you to alter the CG and ball-flight bias of your big stick. Before then, you could only do th
Golf Monthly3 min read
The Kings And Queens Of Comfort
Since it entered the golf shoe space in 2015, Skechers’ wider reputation has only increased among golfers around the world. Using a host of proprietary technologies, alongside a number of different styles and outsoles, the 2024 Go Golf collection off
Golf Monthly2 min read
Strandhill
Essentials Strandhill Golf Club, Golf Course Road, Strandhill, Co. Sligo Stats: par 70, 6,187 yards GF: €160 Strandhill is a links renowned for its quirk and sense of adventure. You’ll be tossed about at will, tested and teased and yet you will alway
Golf Monthly3 min read
Cyprus
Situated about as far to the south and east as it is possible to journey in Europe, Cyprus is an ancient and mountainous island offering history, culture, cuisine and more. For a long time it has been a popular holiday destination, with many even cho
Golf Monthly6 min read
Call Of The Wild
In association with Once in a blue moon or so, I am lucky enough to head off on an extended adventure to fuel future coverage for Golf Monthly. Before this May, I had been to County Donegal just once, in 2011. Since then, a huge amount has changed on
Golf Monthly2 min read
Island Greens
A seagull’s eye view of the must-hit target on the par-3 5th at Rockliffe Hall, where the only walking access is via the path beyond the green Running beside the banks of the River Tees, this strong test of golf is suited to both tournament play and
Golf Monthly3 min read
Bridgend County
Coed-Y-Mwstwr Par 69, 5,817 yards GF: £20-£36 Pyle and Kenfig Par 71, 6,590 yards GF: £55-£120 Maesteg Par 70, 5,889 yards GF: £30-£35 Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club Kenfig, Bridgend W: pandkgolfclub.co.uk The star of Bridgend’s golfing landscape is Royal
Golf Monthly3 min read
Bill Elliott
It’s a funny old game, golf. You may have noticed. Some of the worst rounds I’ve ever played have followed, by my wistful standards anyway, a couple of days of fairly intense practice and preparation. Silly me, thinking I could sharply hone a game th
Golf Monthly1 min read
Welcome
The amount of money being thrown around in golf right now is frankly eye-watering, with PGA Tour pros jumping ship for millions. But despite the ugly divide in men’s professional golf causing many fans to turn off, the game remains resurgent at recre
Golf Monthly6 min read
12 Ways To Score Better Without Changing Your Golf Swing
When club golfers are struggling with their games and the red mist descends, it may seem logical to opt for a swing overhaul and roll in a raft of changes. That might be a little hasty, however, with some of these top tips and drills perhaps paving t
Golf Monthly3 min read
How To Find Good Second-hand Gear
Investing in the latest golf equipment can mean an expensive outlay and if you’re upgrading every area of your bag, the cost can run into the thousands. Fortunately, it doesn’t need to be this way, as there is no shortage of value and quality on offe
Golf Monthly3 min read
A Package Set Versus Building Your Own Bag
If you’re thinking about taking up golf or perhaps returning to the game, you’ll need to figure out the right way to kit yourself out. Broadly speaking, you have two options – buy a package set with everything from driver to putter (and even a bag),
Golf Monthly4 min read
21 Products That Won’t Break The Bank!
The Hot Launch C524 makes this list due to its all-round performance, along with a very appealing price tag. The impact feel is lively and the address profile is excellent, while the speed and distance output is not far behind drivers more than twice
Golf Monthly3 min read
Household Items That Can Sharpen Up Your Game
Give yourself a break from all those emails and stand up from your chair. Turn it round and take your stance so your rear end is touching the back of the chair. Then make a golf swing. The idea of this drill is that you can feel yourself staying conn
Golf Monthly5 min read
15 Ways To Make Golf More Affordable
If you’re new to the game and need clubs, or if you’re looking to upgrade an area of your bag, one of the easiest ways to save money is to buy second hand. And that buying process is far less daunting these days thanks to reputable companies like gol
Golf Monthly2 min read
5 Of The Best Value Green Fees In The UK
This James Braid cracker in the hills above Bassenthwaite is Cumbria’s equivalent of East Lothian’s Kilspindie in the ‘short but fun’ stakes. Every hole provides a thrill, but the 6th along the side of a hill to a small green cut into the slope is on
Golf Monthly3 min read
We Build A Bag For £250
So, I’m at Europe’s largest retailer of second-hand golf clubs – golfclubs4cash – and I have £250 to spend. I still frequently hear how golf is a really expensive sport to take up, which it undoubtedly can be. However, it doesn’t have to be, not when
Golf Monthly3 min read
How To Pay Less For Your Next Set Of Irons
1 This is a vital part of the iron-buying process that needs a bit of self-reflection. If you’re a 20-handicapper, it’s no use buying a set of blades with a view to getting down to single figures as quickly as possible. Ultimately, they won’t be righ
Golf Monthly3 min read
6 Ways To Spot Counterfeit Clubs
With golf’s popularity showing no signs of waning as prices creep higher, the demand for cut-price equipment is soaring. It seems fraudulent manufacturers have identified this as the perfect opportunity to upscale the production of counterfeit clubs.
Golf Monthly3 min read
When Should You Upgrade Your Driver?
This is a question many golfers consider, especially as equipment manufacturers regularly produce new models that promise even more distance and forgiveness than the previous generation. How much of a difference do the technical developments make to
Golf Monthly5 min read
How To Play Cheaper Golf
Golf doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be, of course, and just as with all the best things in life, the very best golf courses tend to cost the most, especially when they sit the comfortable side of the supply and demand equation. However, there a
Golf Monthly1 min read
Golf Monthly Framed Prints
Golf Monthly has partnered with Pixels.com to provide a high-quality printing service for covers from our archives. You can choose from our curated collection of covers dating back as far as the magazine’s founding year in 1911. These capture the ess
Golf Monthly2 min read
How To Make Shoes Last Longer
A shoe tree should help your shoes last two to three times longer, but it’s an underused tool. Over time, the leather wants to curl up, but a shoe tree will ensure your shoes remain stretched out, preventing cracks and keeping them in shape. The shoe

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