Tag Archives: Golf Equipment

Is Clarke The Right Man To Captain Europe?

Well as you all know by now Darren Clarke has been appointed European Ryder Cup Captain for 2016 which seems to be a popular choice among fans and player alike, and no doubt his current sponsors will be very happy with the publicity.

Clarke has won the Ryder Cup 4 times as a player which will stand him good stead as he prepares for seemingly one of the biggest weeks of his life next year in America. He has been victorious under the captaincy of Seve, Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer and lastly Ian Woosnam in which Darren Clarke bravely lead Europe to victory in Ireland after the death of his wife a week earlier.

Next September the event will be held at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Minnesota, and Clarke will be up against good friend and opponent Davis Love III who will be trying to heal the wounded tiger that is the US team, after many years of domination by Europe.

The last time Europe were defeated in America was under the captaincy of Nick Faldo who didn’t conduct himself amazingly well in Valhalla in 2008. I really we hope we see a professional approach from Clarke as he is known as a bit of a ‘boy’ on the tour and does like to party, but I guess we will only find this out as time goes on…

I’m sure it will definitely be as fiercely contested as ever and will be another great spectacle for this game we all love. It’s a long time to wait, but I remember thinking that when I was waiting for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, and look where that time as gone!

How to book a golf lesson in London

If you like me are looking for a new hobbie to get your teeth into this year, then why not come to Dukes Meadows and try your hand at golf?

Dukes Meadows Golf really is a little gem only a few miles from Central London and very accessible by public transport. When you arrive here, you wouldn’t believe where you were as you walk from the car park onto the beautiful terracing that overlooks a beautiful lake full of ducks and Canadian geese, and beyond that, a beautiful challenging 9 hole golf course.

The golf course was built in 1996 and has matured into London’s finest and is even a test for professional golfers with it’s fast and slopey greens. It is also host to the Middlesex small course championship every year.

Although it’s a test of golf, it is also the perfect place to come start learning and even have a coach like me take you out there to give you some tips. It only takes about 90 minutes to play 9 holes which allows you time to relax and have a drink outside on the beautiful promenade afterwards.

If you want to find out more about having a golf lesson on a golf course in London then please contact me and view my lesson prices and we can arrange a time for you.

 

Lyoness Open Agrees A New Five Year Deal With European Tour

The European Tour have agreed a new five year deal for The Lyoness Open to feature in the Race To Dubai until 2019 .

The tournament held in Austria will see it’s tenth consecutive staging next year but also held the event between 1990 and 1996 in the past and has had famous winners with the likes of Bernhard Langer and Paul McGinley.

The prize money has increased a bit since those days, and as part of the new agreement the 2015 tournament will see the prize money increase by 50% from €1,000,000 to €1,500,000. Diamond Country Club will be the host again next year as it has been since 2010.

This years event was won by Mikael Lundberg after holing a 40ft putt in a play-off against home favourite Bernd Wiesberger who was the winner of the event back in 2012.

This is a really excellent tournament and to have it as part of the Race To Dubai until 2019 is a great thing for the tour and for the players.

Sky Sports Delighted With New Golf Deal

It was announced today that Sky Sports will have exclusive live coverage of the PGA Tour until 2022 at least.

This means that only Sky Sports viewers can look forward to watchng the worlds best golfers including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy live throughout the summer months.

The deal includes showing 32 live PGA Tour events, the Fedex Cup play-offs and the Presidents Cup. 

There will also be a ‘PGA Tour Match Centre’ available which will include live coverage of featured holes and groups involving European players via the red button facility.

The coverage will only continue to get better as technology does, which will just enhance the viewing experience for the Sky Sports customers.

In my opinion Sky Sports have always produced the best coverage of the golf from around the world, and the presenters are excellent (with exception of a few) and the analysis side of it is also fantastic.

Long may it continue.

Gallacher Recovers From Poor Start To Win Desert Classic

Stephen Gallacher started the day two shots clear of Rory McIlroy who was Gallacher’s main threat standing on the opening tee.

The Scot who had been solid all week but got his round off to the worst possible start with bogeys on the first two holes and then again on the sixth and the eighth to leave him trailing by two.

But the 39 year old who seems to like the back nine of The Emirates managed to card birdies at the 11th, 13th, 16th and 17th to pip a shot victory from Emiliano Grillo from Argentina.

Unfortunately McIlroy never really got going and was struggling to hole birdie putts and the extremely fast greens which were up to 13 on the stimpmeter and probably the fastest greens the players will on the European Tour this season.

This win for Gallacher gets him a spot in the top 40 in the world and makes him eligible for the Masters if he can keep himself there or there about’s.

He will also have one eye now on the Ryder Cup which would be his first appearance and he won’t have a better chance than he does now.

Next it’s on to the Joburg Open for the European Tour where Richard Sterne is eyeing a hat-trick of wins!

Been watching the golf over the weekend and it’s giving you the buzz back? Why not book a golf lesson and get your swing ready for the summer!

Patrick Reed Claims Second PGA Title With Ease In California

If like me you stayed up to watch the conclusion of the Humana Challenge last night you will know that Patrick Reed held on to claim his second PGA Tour title by two shots in California.

The 23 year old American was in the form of his life heading into the final round after shooting three consecutive rounds of 63 giving him a seven shot lead.

The lead should’ve been unassailable but a couple of bogeys on the front nine brought him closer to the chasing back. He then made another two bogeys on the back nine with a birdie in-between to leave him with a three shot lead with three holes to play with Ryan Palmer and Justin Leonard on his tail.

He had a chance on the short par 3 17th to seal the tournament when he hit his sand wedge to six feet but failed to convert the putt giving him a two shot lead going into the last after Ryan Palmer had just made eagle on the final hole to at least make it slightly interesting.

Reed hit the 18th fairway with his 3-wood and wasn’t tempted to take on the green that is surrounded by water and bunkers as he didn’t need to take the risk, so he laid up down the right hand side of the fairway and left himself 100 yard pitch shot which he hit to 12 feet and went on to make par giving him a two shot victory.

Reed had a new caddie on the bag for his second PGA Tour win as his wife who normally caddies for him is 5 months pregnant with their first child, so Reed’s brother-in-law took the job on and I’m sure he will be happy with his 10% of $1,000,000! 

Next week we’re off to Torrey Pines for The Farmers Insurance Open where we will see Tiger Woods in action for the first time this year to defend his title.

Click HERE to read my last blog and to see the PGA Tour schedule for 2014

The ‘Golfing’ Twelve Days Of Christmas

If the Twelve Days of Christmas were about golf this is how it would go…….

On the first day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me……….a birdie on a par 3.

On the second day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me……..Two Titleist golf balls.

On the third day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me………Three gap wedges.

On the fourth day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me…….Four shouts of ‘FORE’

On the fifth day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me……Five golf range cards.

On the sixth day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me…….Six ‘Gimme’ long putts. 

On the seventh day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me…...Seven free drops.

On the eighth day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me…..Eight magic pencils. 

On the ninth day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me……..Nine holes at Dukes Meadows. 

On the tenth day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me……Ten lady golf friends. 

On the eleventh day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me…..Eleven rounds at Augusta.

On the twelfth day of Christmas the golf gods gave to me…….Twelve lessons with James Irons for only £240! Bargain! 🙂

Dawie van der Walt Wins Nelson Mandela Championship in Durban

Dawie van der Walt shot a superb final round 66 to win by two shots in the Nelson Mandela Championship in Durban.

It was a mixed round at the Mount Edgecombe golf club as he carded three birdies and three bogeys in the first 11 holes. But an eagle at the 12th and two more birdies coming home were enough to seal the win.

It was the second European Tour title for the 30 year old South African who also won earlier this year at the Tshwane Open. The tournament was reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather.

It was fitting to see a South African win the Nelson Mandela Championship the day before the funeral of the former president who passed away last week aged 95.

“It’s obviously really special, making you a part of history,” said van der Walt.

Adam Scott Going For Aussie Hat-trick

Adam Scott is looking to add the Australian Open to his list of achievements this year when he tees it up tomorrow at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

This could be his third win in his last four outings, he’s been triumphant at the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Masters and came third last week at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, but won the team event with Jason Day.

Scott is looking to become only the second player to get a hat-trick of titles in Australia in a season.

The only other player to do this is Robert Allenby but Scott joked he has received no advice from the veteran.

The course looks to be in great condition and it’s going to be tough competition out there, should be another great week of golf!

 

Stenson – A Major Bet For Next Season

Well it hasn’t been a bad year for Henrik Stenson, not only did he win the FedEx Cup, yesterday he went one better and won The Race To Dubai, the first time it has been achieved by someone in the same season.

Stenson had a dramatic loss in form a few years back due to losing a lot of money which he had invested and then he had a mysterious illness which took him a year to recover from.

His form over the last few months has been quite remarkable and he hasn’t finished outside of the top 10 in any tournament he has played.

The big Swede started the final round with a two-shot lead over Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and was four shots clear of good friend Ian Poulter.

Stenson though was a man on a mission and never looked like getting chased down, he played like he had the ball on a bit of string and was hitting every fairway and hitting it close on a regular basis, it was really was amazing to watch.

This year should see him in great stead for next year’s majors where he has to challenge in all four you would feel, I would get your bets on now for him to at least finish in the top 5 for three out of the four majors!