Written by Karl Morris, mind coach to tour pros including Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen on Thursday 28 April 2016
Back in 2008, Graeme McDowell was leading the Scottish Open by four shots with just four holes to play. It was the first time he had been in a position of having a healthy lead going into the final few holes. But at this moment – on the brink of success, and playing the best golf of his career –...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 26 April 2016
Accommodation near The Open venue gets booked up early ever year, and doesn’t tend to come cheap. If you haven’t got yours sorted already, you’re likely to be facing extortionate prices, a long daily journey to the course, or both. Unless you don’t mind sleeping in a tent, that is. The Open Camping Village will be located near to the course when...
Tuesday 26 April 2016
2016 marks the twelfth year of BMW’s title sponsorship of the BMW PGA Championship – a prestigious event on the European Tour schedule and one of the most recognised events in the world of professional golf. Returning once again to Wentworth Club and the iconic West Course, the event attracts a world class field to excite and entertain the large,...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 22 April 2016
A little while ago, we explained why many of the traditional golf statistics don’t help you and, in some cases, can actually harm your game. Many of you agreed. But, you asked, what stats should we be tracking in order to improve our scores? Well, we’re glad you asked… Your score from 75 yards and in Every time you’re within 75 yards of...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 21 April 2016
Nine-hole golf is being proposed as a perfect solution to the problem of slow play and golf taking too long. In the latest move, the R&A have announced a nine-hole championship that will take place in the week leading up to The Open. But is simply cutting something in half ever a suitable solution? Does half a round equal half the...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 21 April 2016
Of all the ideas proposed to shorten the amount of time it takes to play a round of golf, one has the potential to make by far the biggest difference: reducing the number of holes played from 18 to nine. It doesn’t take a professor in mathematics to realise that without changing anything else, that one simple move would halve...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 19 April 2016
The first time the world saw Tiger Woods’ golf swing was when he was two years old. A young Woods appeared on The Mike Douglas Show, and demonstrated a pretty impressive swing for someone who may still have been wearing nappies. But Woods’ swing at that age looks messy when you compare it to Juan Ignacio, a two-year-old from Chile, taking...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 18 April 2016
Show us a golfer who doesn’t want to hit the ball further and we’ll show you a liar. Distance not only makes the game easier, enabling you to reach par-5s in two and hit shorter irons into par-4s, it is, quite simply, fun. Not many feelings can match the sensation of hammering a drive miles down the middle of the...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 18 April 2016
Slow play is one of the main things driving people away from golf, as people don’t have the patience or the time to put up with rounds that take nearly five hours. Lichfield Golf and Country Club decided to tackle the problem head-on by producing a set of ‘Ready Golf’ guidelines designed to improve pace of play. The guidelines state: – Tee off...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 14 April 2016
61.7% of adults in Britain are overweight. 24.8% are obese, meaning their weight is likely to have an adverse effect on their health. Britain has the highest levels of obesity in Europe. In short, we need to do something to get people in shape. Could golf be the answer? “The health benefits are clear for so many who take part,” says Conservative...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 12 April 2016
“There are three kinds of lies,” said Mark Twain. “Lies, damned lies, and statistics.” The sentiment was echoed by another of the world’s great thinkers, Homer J. Simpson: Unfortunately, I’d wager that well over forfty per cent of people don’t realise that traditional golf statistics are at best useless and, at worst, downright harmful. Allow me to explain. Putts per round “I putted terribly today.
Written by Staff writer, Today's Golfer on Monday 4 April 2016
Every birdie or better that Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen make during this year’s four majors will earn kids clubs thanks to UPS. #bags4birdies is designed to support golf’s future talent, giving them the kit they need to succeed on the course. Ping will partner with UPS in this initiative, developing PING Moxie G junior clubs and other golf gear for the...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 31 March 2016
One of the many unique things about Bubba Watson is that he says he’s never had a golf lesson. Whether that’s strictly true – Bubba played college golf, which normally involves regular coaching – is a debate for another time. What’s interesting is that the rest of the world’s best players have golf lessons all the time. These are the most naturally...
Written by Michael Catling on Tuesday 29 March 2016
First Luke Donald dabbled in the world of fine wines. Now the former world number one has opened his first-ever golf course in Asia. Ba Na Hills Golf Club, which was designed in collaboration with IMG, officially opened on Good Friday and completes a grand slam of designer courses in Vietnam which have been built in the last seven years. The...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 29 March 2016
We’ve found ourselves talking about golf-related robots an awful lot lately. First, there was the RoboGolfPro, which you hold onto while it makes the perfect swing, allowing you to copy the movements of whichever top pro you choose. And then there was the robot called Eldrick that made a hole-in-one to the delight of thousands of watching spectators during the...
Written by Rob McGarr on Saturday 26 March 2016
Golf balls are having a pretty tough time of it lately. Only recently they were being fired at the sharp edge of an axe, and now one with a smiley face is being subjected to torture by a welding torch. This time the torment was being adminstered by YouTube channel ‘LET’S MELT THIS‘, which, as the name would suggest, specialises in...
Written by Rob McGarr on Saturday 26 March 2016
It’s a golfer’s worst nightmare. You lose a ball, reach into your bag for another, and realise that you’re down to your last. Running out of balls – be it due to losing a hatful or simply not having enough in your bag at the start – is about as embarrassing as it gets. But what are the repurcussions if you’re...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 24 March 2016
Slow motion video has been a fantastic addition to golf. It enables us to analyse swings in frame-by-frame steps, revel at the explosive power as the world’s best players make impact, and wince as balls virtually disappear before lipping out, dimple by dimple. It also allows us to witness the answer to that immortal question: what happens when you hit a...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 23 March 2016
How do you choose what golf ball you use? For most amateurs, the answer is: “I don’t. I use whatever I find.” It’s often said as a statement of pride. “I haven’t bought a ball in three years. I just find them and use them.” It’s understandable. Golf balls can be expensive, and most of us are looking ways to make the game...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 21 March 2016
Should golf be compulsory in schools? That might sound like a strange question, but consider this: 1. Many people agree that golf is a good sport for all people, but especially youngsters, to be involved in. Among the many benefits of golf, it teaches self-discipline, instills fair play, helps with mental arithmetic and can be a useful tool in career progression. 2.