OUT NOW: The latest issue of TG
Published:
What you need to know about the latest issue of TG
A note from the editor
One of my (publishable) nicknames in the TG office is “caveman”. More than one of my colleagues says I hit the ball with all the finesse of a Neanderthal attacking a woolly mammoth, and I’d probably agree.
My driver is by far the most used club off the tee, with varying degrees of success, and if I have a choice between a “hard 8 or a soft 7”, you know which I’m choosing every time…
But, inspired by this month’s cover feature, the last time I played I actually tried to think like a golfer who wanted to make a score, rather than just hit some good shots (among lots of bad ones). The results were encouraging!
After a bogey-par start, I pulled my hybrid on the third into the left trees, 190 yards from the green. I had a shot to the green, so waded in with hybrid in hand. But then the little golfer on my shoulder said: “Step away from the hybrid and pitch out.” So I did. A wedge and two putts later, I walked off the green with a bogey (and two points).
The theme carried on for the rest of the round: Aiming for the middle of the green rather than the flag; taking that 6-iron instead of trying to muscle a 7; laying up with a reliable mid-iron on the par 5s instead of having a go with a 3-wood and bringing all sorts of disasters into play…
The result on the day? A decent 34 points, a fiver in my pocket and a feeling walking off the 18th that I’d actually played OK, and not thrown shots away by making reckless decisions. If that sounds appealing, turn to page 51 for our exclusive feature with Shot Scope all about thinking better to play better. It will make you look at the way you play the game in a new light.
Chris Jones, Editor
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Instruction Feature: Strategy
Big Interview: Luke Donald
Luke Donald was never a bomber. He was a finesse player, and it was his short game that got him to the top of the world. We sat down with the former World No.1 to discuss his long career, and find out how he would improve YOUR ironplay.
Gear Tests
Find out if you really need an adjustable driver in our off the rack driver test, learn more about Cleveland’s irons and which set in their range would suit you, and see who comes out in top of our twin test between Ping’s Norse Primaloft and Galvin Green’s Lyon jacket.
Courses: Cheap Winter Green Fees
Three Open courses and Top 100 classics all feature among our best pick of affordable golf courses this winter!
Get to know the Tour Pros
We put Andrew Putnam up to our golf test, get to know European Tour winner Erik van Rooyen, and take a closer look at the ones to watch this season on the PGA Tour.
The Iron man golfer
PGA pro Luke Willett has just played every course to host an Open… by bike. But it’s just one challenge by the man they call the ‘Iron Golfer’
My Life in Golf: Paul Scholes
Man United legend Paul Scholes on the difference with the pros, being a shivering wreck on the tee at pro-ams and trying to improve this winter
Thomas Bjorn Reflects
A year on from Europe’s Ryder Cup win, we sit down with Thomas Bjorn to find out how Paris changed his life.
Competitions
In this month’s issue you have a chance to win a brilliant three-night golf break to Madeira, or a set of the new Honma XP-1 irons!
