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how to play / what to play / where to play Contents 07 /17

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

42 BACK TO BIRKDALE! What you need to know about the Open venue.

44 THE NEW SERGIO At 37, there are changes in his life and in golf. By Jaime Diaz

50 BEEF ON GOLF Andrew (Beef) Johnston on why good rhythm isn’t just for dancing. With Guy Yocom

52 THE BEST TEACHER NO ONE KNOWS Pete Cowen on his five major champions, a prank with a lion, and a tragedy that haunts him. With Guy Yocom

COVER STORIES

16 HOT LIST: GOLF BALLS 20 Gold and silver winners. By Mike Stachura

24 UNDERCOVER TOUR PRO Cheats are hard to catch, but we know who they are. With Max Adler

26 THINK YOUNG PLAY HARD Anton Haig.

34 WIN 4 DAVID GREEN WATCHES

38 HIT MORE GREENS NOW Four faults that sabotage your iron game – and how to fix them. By Butch Harmon

80 CLOSEOUT Where do you fall on our bad-behaviour matrix? 66 American leg amputee Chad Pfeifer triumphed in the SA Disabled Open in Cape Town.

FEATURES 74 AMATEUR SCENE 13 BEST YOUNG TEACHERS 30 TRAVEL Almero Theron wins the SA A simple way to make more putts. Advice on flying like a pro. By Jessica Korda 58 TRICK-SHOT CHAMPION Mid-Amateur at Sun City. By Chris Mayson Michael Scholz wins PGA of SA 31 ASK GOLF DIGEST trophy. 14 BACK TO BASICS PLAY YOUR BEST 32 BRYANSTON EXCELS How to handle these four short- 62 RANDPARK LIFESTYLE Family-focused club wins Collier award. 7 HOW TO GO DEEP game lies. By Josh Zander Randpark is the ultimate lifestyle Tips for that long drive. 35 TECH club in South Africa. By Stuart 60 COMPRESS YOUR IRONS McLean By Jhonattan Vegas Testing three sleep-enhancing gadgets. Learn how to create and story energy 66 DISABLED GOLF 10 BUTCH HARMON like a pro. By Kevin Chappell 36 PASSINGS Leg amputees are the stars at How to get to your left side. Robert De Vicenzo and Vincent Tshabalala.

SA Disabled Open. 11 JACK NICKLAUS THE GOLF LIFE 78 GALLERY

When to fire at the flag. Club champion at age 12! 69 MUST PLAY COURSES 22 MASHIE GOLF Our new monthly feature has 8 12 DAVID LEADBETTER Country Club Johannesburg opens courses you should get to play. Curing the shanks. its third course.

2 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA COVER PHOTO BY J D CUBAN • THIS PAGE: CARL FOURIE 23681TPumaMedia_Gol 2017-03-29T10:06:46+02:00 cents 23681T/E cents ninety9

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#PLAYYOURWAY 07/17 Behind the Scenes

EDITORIAL EDITOR STUART McLEAN 021 417 5195

Why golf is still growing Contributing Editor Barry Havenga Head of Creative: Consumer Division Mark Serra in South Africa Managing Editor Chantel Kleinsmidt 021 417 5156 Art Director Alistair Fester By Stuart McLean, Editor Designer Samantha Presence Photographers Grant Leversha, uch of the enjoyment of golf contributed in buying up tee times. Jamie Thom, Luke Walker is derived from being part of They increased golfing volume at clubs M a community while playing nationwide by brokering unused tee time GOLF DIGEST USA the game. People you can as- inventory, in other words filling those Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde Contributing Editor - International Ju Kuang Tan sociate with, befriend and trust. That com- quiet weekday mornings when courses Senior Analyst, Rights Clearance - International munity always used to be the members of largely lay empty. A spin-off has been the Monique Parish the golf club to which you belonged, or Last Minute Golf website. PMG’s mem- Director of Licensing Angie Byun Playing Editors Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, the group or school at the club you mixed bership has grown to 13 000, and these Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Nick Price, with every week. Today, it’s not neces- include golfers who already have a club Jordan Spieth, Justin Leonard, David Toms sarily about loyalty to one golf club any membership. They use PMG to access A licensing agreement between Advance more, but rather the option of being with cheaper green fee rates at other courses Publications Inc. and New Media Publishing like-minded golfers playing a variety of they wish to play. different courses. PMG Managing Executive O’Brian ADVERTISING & MARKETING Traditional golfers might believe that Barber is passionate about expanding the Business Manager Diane Lubbe 083 391 1651 club membership is the only way to go, business and embracing even more new Advertising Sales Elna Coetzer 082 971 9715 Advertising Co-ordinator Michelle Koetenberg yet that’s only because the membership golfers to keep the game thriving – “our Sales Designer Marcus Viljoen model is ingrained in the way golf evolved business model ticks so many boxes when DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS in South Africa under colonialism. We it is truly understood,” he says – and Golf Distribution RNA Ramsay Subscriptions spurned pay-and-play courses, those oper- Digest will be playing its own part in Subscriptions Operations Manager Karin Mulder ated by municipalities or private owners, this through the introduction of a new [email protected], PRINT subscriptions: Ramsay Media and instead bought into generations of monthly course feature beginning on Page 0860 100 999 [email protected] strict dress codes, waiting lists, stipulated 69 of this issue. Each month we will spot- FOREIGN subscriptions: +27 21 530 3112 tee times, committees and intimidating light eight different “Must Play” courses DIGITAL subscriptions: MYSUBS mysubs.co.za 0861 697 827 protocol. In today’s changing culture, from two different regions which partner though, many golfers find that model of with PMG. It will give exposure to the PUBLISHING TEAM Managing Director Aileen Lamb being part of the “golf club set” restrictive, many great golfing venues we have in Group Account Director Kelly Cloete and are finding more flexible ways of this country. By the time we publish our Account Manager Thanaa Moosa enjoying the game. next Top 100 rankings in the March 2018 Production Manager Shirley Quinlan

Alternative membership models have issue, we will have promoted 96 courses substantially benefitted the game in the over eight months. new millennium through both welcom- Last month’s column featured the ing new golfers and retaining the interest seven principles of “Ready Golf,” and of others who might have quit. Virtual The R&A have subsequently announced Published by New Media Publishing (Pty) Ltd, clubs have often taken a bad rap for clubs that Ready Golf will be introduced at its New Media House, 19 Bree Street, Cape Town losing members, yet the 2015 SA Golf 2017 amateur championships as part of PO Box 440, Green Point, Cape Town 8051 Survey shows that the emergence of virtual its efforts to improve pace of play. Hope- Telephone: 021 417 1111 E-mail: [email protected] clubs like playmoregolf with Momentum fully golf clubs in SA will give it a try www.newmediapub.co.za (PMG) are “the only things that have too. Ready Golf features in The R&A’s grown the game.” Pace of Play manual as a recommended Chief Financial Officer Mark Oaten Executive Directors Irna van Zyl, John Psillos PMG was formed as an initiative by The solution for tackling slow play. It enables Chief Executive Officer Bridget McCarney Pro Shop in the boom days of the game a golfers to play when ready to do so rather decade or so ago to secure more affordable than strictly adhere to ‘the furthest from Reproduction New Media Publishing rounds at leading courses. Not only did the hole plays first’ requirement. PMG prove a success in that department, but since the recession it has ensured the survival of many golf clubs who would be much worse off financially without the hundreds of millions of rands PMG has [email protected]

All rights reserved. Whereas precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of information, neither the editor, publisher nor New Media Publishing can be held liable for any inaccuracies, injury or damages that may arise. The opinions 4 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA expressed in the articles may not reflect those of the publisher. “Drive it home!” Rickie Fowler

We are proud to support Rickie Fowler and The 146h Open. Dedicated to the #PerfectDrive. www.facebook.com/MercedesBenzGolf

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Hard Yards How to go deep when you need to

by jhonattan vegas

verybody wants to swing faster and hit E the ball longer. But I make fewer than 20 driver swings a year where I use more than 75-percent effort. Why? The longest bombs happen when you get the right combination of launch and spin, and that comes from swinging under control and in good sequence – not from swinging harder. When you really need a long drive, you want to hit the centre of the face and get that great launch. I’ll show you a couple of tips to make it happen. – with matthew Rudy

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 7 Play Your Best | THE LONG BALL

Y Y

N N

PHOTOS BY JD CUBAN “Keep your feet anchored to the ground longer in the downswing.”

LEVEL OUT YOUR TURN

I bet you’ve heard “you need to turn more” plenty of times. I won’t disappoint. You do need to turn. But the driver works the best if swung on a shallow plane. You lose that plane if you make a very steep turn, and your left shoulder dips very low on the backswing and then comes around very high. That makes the bottom of the swing steep and narrow, not flat and wide like it should be. To feel a good turn, hold a club across your chest and turn back and through with the shaft remaining roughly level with the ground. Recreate that feel when you play.

LET THE ARMS LEAD

When my driving is off, it’s usually because my lower body has unwound much faster than my upper body. When that happens, I have to use my hands to try to save the shot, which costs distance and accuracy. How you start down is crucial. While keeping your feet anchored to the ground, let your arms and club start to drop before unwinding. This helps sling the club faster through the impact zone. You’ll start hitting it further without any extra effort. Remember, you’re not trying to attack the ball. You’re trying to launch it.

Jhonattan Vegas, winner of the RBC Canadian Open, averaged 304.4 yards off the tee in 2016.

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 9 Play Your Best | BUTCH HARMON

The most frustrating moment in golf is… ▶ Watching the fivesome ahead fish for balls: 37% ▶ Chunking a short approach into the water: 36% % ▶ Four-putting: 20% ▶ Multiple attempts to escape a bunker: 7% SOURCE: GOLF DIGEST READERS

t’s frustrating when comes your upper body, your BEST DRILL No More you hit a great drive arms and, finally, the club. Chunky I and then chunk an In the correct photo here iron from the middle (below left), my right foot is com- Irons of the fairway. With one lousy ing off the ground, which proves swing, your mind-set goes from I’m shifting forward. My body Shift forward, Birdie time! to Don’t make a dou- and the club are moving in sync. ble bogey. In the fault photo (below right), and don’t Most poor contact comes my right foot is still down be- stop turning from not getting off the back cause my weight has stayed on foot on the downswing. A lot of my back foot. My body has Here’s a great golfers rush the club down from stalled, and the club flipped past way to pre-set the the top and “throw” it at the ball me. Fat shot, here I come. proper weight shift on instead of building momentum So shift to your front side and the downswing. Lay a wedge on the ground, from the ground up. When the keep turning. Remind yourself clubface down, and weight stays back, the club usu- to swing through the ball, not take your stance with ally hits behind the ball. at it. your back foot on the Your first move down should clubhead. That’ll angle your foot inward. Using be shifting to your front foot, Butch Harmon is at Rio Secco Golf a middle iron, hit some Club in Henderson, Nevada followed by your lower body balls, half-swings at turning towards the target. Then first. You’ll quickly get the feel for starting with more weight on your front side and shifting it there on the downswing.

10 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY DOM FURORE STRATEGY by Jack Nicklaus | Play Your Best “Sometimes the middle of the green is no good.”

Centre of Attention Know when to aim at the flag

TAKE DEAD AIM

If the cup is here, thank the superintendent. Here’s a rare opportunity when the play is directly at the flag. But be careful of what’s probably your well-conditioned instinct to cheat your aim a little left of this pin position. A shot that pitches close to the middle of this green is dangerous. If the ball runs or has any draw spin, PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTH it’s going to feed over the ridge to the back-left portion With a cup cut here, this of the green. Now you’ve got is the longest the hole can the toughest two-putt on the play. It’ll be 172 metres from hole. In this situation, the best the back tees and about 136 miss is short in the neck of from the whites. If you feel the fairway, where you can still you’ve got the trajectory that make par with a good chip. can hit and hold this back- left portion of the putting surface, you face a decision. If your chipping and sand game are strong, you might go at this flag. If lag putting is your talent, the right half of the green is your play. It’s a more manageable putt negotiating the ridge in this direction, and you keep your ball away from that deep middle bunker.

FIRM IT IN THE BACK OF THE CUP the king and i

As a designer, when I introduce a difficult element, I also give back. Even though the ridge bisecting this green is tricky, once on the correct tier, you’ll see a lot of straight, flat putts. Take advantage. We all can get too accustomed to putting defensively and then neglect to charge the cup on an easy one.

he middle of the green should complexes, the best strategy can be to aim be your default target. In my somewhere other than the middle. The T career, I always preferred a pair par-3 fourth on the Prospector Course at of 69s than to card 65-85. It Superstition Mountain (illustrated), a layout doesn’t matter how talented you are. If you north of Scottsdale that I designed with my Arnold Palmer was a more aggressive putter habitually go directly at flagsticks, hoping son, Gary, is a prime example. A big ridge than I. He made more birdies but also had every round might be a scorcher, you’re runs through the centre, effectively making more three-putts. Over five rounds at the 1962 US Open (I won in a playoff), Arnie going to shoot way more scores at the high it play like two smaller greens. Depending had 11 three-putts against my one. It’s a end of your range. on the hole location and your short-game matter of philosophy. I didn’t like testing my nerves with lengthy second putts. If I tested

AUGUSTA NATIONAL/GETTY IMAGES NATIONAL/GETTY AUGUSTA This is a fairly straightforward concept skills, you might be better served leaving a them often enough, I figured they were – except when it isn’t. With certain green chip for birdie. – with max adler bound to fail me.

ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS O’RILEY GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 11 Play Your Best | DAVID LEADBETTER It’s been at least ______5 13% since HDCPmy last shank. 33% ▶ A couple of holes: 33% ▶ 6 months:42% 33% 9% ▶ 3 weeks: 21% 33% 21% ▶ 2 years:34% 13% SOURCE:27% GOLF DIGEST READERS 20% 0510 15 20 25 30 35

Holy Shank! 1. CHILL OUT 2. WATCH YOUR TOES 3. STAY BACK 4. YELL ‘FORE!’ Don’t let one bad shot become an epidemic

itting just one shank can put fear in your ▶ Anxiety from ▶ If you stand too ▶ When you hit ▶ Just kidding! H mind that another’s shanking leads to far from the ball, your next shot, Your final thought on its way, and that kills a lot of tension in you’ll shift your maintain the “toes should be to feel the forearms and weight out to your up” feel. Losing as if you swing your confidence. They often hands. So before toes, and that can your balance is the handle of the happen because your hands are you swing again, force the club one of the main club in closer to further away from your body at be sure to lighten further from you causes of the your legs through impact than they were at address, your grip pressure when you swing. shanks. That’s impact. This helps causing the club to strike the ball and relax your Try standing a little why it’s important slot the club on off the hosel. Fear not the shanks. arms. If you don’t, closer to the ball to keep your the right path Use these steps to cure them. you won’t be able and turning your weight towards and encourages to swing the club toes upward so the the back portion centreface smoothly. weight shifts back of the feet. You contact. Do this David Leadbetter operates 34 towards your heels. have to swing in golf academies worldwide. and kiss your control. shanks goodbye. ILLUSTRATIONS: TODD DETWILER TODD ILLUSTRATIONS:

12 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA JD CUBAN BEST YOUNG TEACHERS | Play Your Best How many putters do you own? ▶ One 33% 5 ▶ Two HDCP 26% ▶ Three to five ▶ Looking42% into renting a storage locker 34% SOURCE:34% GOLF DIGEST READERS 7%

more from our best young teachers “One way to develop consistent rhythm is to download a free metronome app on your phone. Set it between 72 and 80 beats per minute. The average tour pro’s b.p.m. is around 75 when he putts.” mario guerra QUAKER RIDGE GC, SCARSDALE, NEW YORK

“Achieving good rhythm really starts from eliminating tension. Unweighting the putter in your hands is a good idea for many amateurs to achieve a smooth stroke. Feel relaxed.” chad middaugh MUIRFIELD VILLAGE GC, DUBLIN, OHIO

“When I teach a pendulum stroke, I tell students to make sure the wrists don’t break. For good rhythm, you want a smooth motion keeping the putterhead square to the hole. But pay attention to not breaking that flat left wrist through impact.” meredith kirk DUSTIN JOHNSON GOLF SCHOOL, SOUTH CAROLINA

“A lot of people struggle with long putting because their hen your putting goes strike the ball solidly, and smoothly. rhythm is off. They’re Putt with south, what’s the first It helps eliminate any jerky or abrupt hitting it instead of fundamental to try and motions that can affect ball speed or rolling it, and a lot ‘Per-fect improve? Restore good the orientation of the putterface at of that is because rhythm to your stroke. impact, especially on longer putts. the grip pressure is Pace’ way too tight and Here’s a simple cadence to You won’t feel like you need extra inconsistent. When Two simple practice. When you make a stroke, effort to get the ball to the hole. your grip pressure think per-fect pace – three syllables. One more piece of advice: Instead is consistent, typi- words to help It’s like a pendulum ticking two of worrying about the importance of cally your rhythm is beats to one. When you take the making a putt, shift your thoughts to pretty good, too. So drop the ball be conscious of how putter back, think per-fect. When you how you’re going to do it. Focus on hard you are gripping in the cup swing the putter through, think pace. the process, not the outcome. the putter at address Whether your stroke is long or short, and maintain that pressure throughout the rhythm should stay the same Chris Mayson, director of instruction, the stroke.” every time. Maderas Golf Club, California. billy fitzgerald Using this cadence will help you BEVERLY CC, CHICAGO

PHOTOS BY JD CUBAN GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 13

JD CUBAN JD BY PHOTOS

to knock it close. close. it knock to with ron kaspriske ron with –

zander josh by

copy these positions at impact. Find out what you need to know know to need you what out Find impact. at positions these copy

grip position at address for four greenside scenarios. Your job is to to is job Your scenarios. greenside four for address at position grip the secret the

be? It depends on the lie. Here I’ll show you how to pre-set the the pre-set to how you show I’ll Here lie. the on depends It be?

Grip position is is position Grip

short-game shots. It’s literally that easy. Where should the handle handle the should Where easy. that literally It’s shots. short-game

the correct spot at impact in relation to the ball, you’ll hit good good hit you’ll ball, the to relation in impact at spot correct the

Short Game Short

the process. If you can just get the handle of the club in in club the of handle the get just can you If process. the

on Your Your on

make for various shots around the greens, let me simplify simplify me let greens, the around shots various for make

Handle a Get f you struggle to recall the adjustments you need to to need you adjustments the recall to struggle you f

approaches to the ball.” the to approaches

“Different lies require different require lies “Different

Play Your Best Your Play

BASICS

15 / 2017 JULY / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA

soft. and high it hit

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PERCHED LIE PERCHED

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you to swing the the swing to you

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BUNKER LIE BUNKER

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BURIED LIE BURIED

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When hitting a pitch pitch a hitting When

FAIRWAY LIE FAIRWAY 16 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTO BY ADAM VOORHES Circle of Trust Finding the right ball starts HOT LIST with evaluating GOLF BALLS your game he 212 balls on sale Any ball that helps your short at GolfGalaxy.com T represent various constructions, feels and, of game should top your list. course, prices. But how do you decide what’s best for you? A good place to start are the balls on the 2017 Hot List. Then consider adopting the three-part Hot List testing process we used. (Blacking out the logos, like we did, is up to you.) ▶ The middle-iron test: This shot offers clues to how the ball launches, how far it travels and at what angle it lands. ▶ The 30-to- 50-metre test: If the shot you typically play from this distance is a chip-and-run, spin might be less important to you than feel. But if you want to hit a shot that checks and stops quickly, then a mul- tilayer ball with a urethane cover is must. ▶ Around-the- green test: Good chips and pitches are crucial to scoring. The ball that helps you execute these shots the best should top your list. What about the driver? Think of it this way: At least 80 percent of your shots aren’t tee shots. Solve short-game shots first. Then, if two balls are close, by all means opt for the longer and straighter one. On the following pages, we break down the market into two categories: balls which cost R40 and more, and those under R40. Now, go get your search started. ▶ ▶ ▶

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 17 Play Your Best | EQUIPMENT If you want to hit chips that check, a urethane cover is a must. ▶ OVER R40 ▶ UNDER R40

bridgestone callaway srixon srixon taylormade b330/330-s/rx/rxs chrome soft/x z-star/xv ad333 tour tp5/x

R50/R40 The B330 R50 Chrome Soft R50 A new dimple R40 This new low- R60 Making golf balls and B330-S are made was a success, but pattern and rede- compression model is like baking cakes: for faster swingers some didn’t like its signed cores (the features less spin More layers add com- (170 kph or more). pillowy feel. Solving Z-Star’s is softer; the on tee shots and plexity – and greater The B330-S is for that issue is Chrome XV’s is larger and a higher ball flight rewards. That’s the those wanting a little Soft X. Both models softer) help the ball with the irons. The idea behind these more spin. At R10 have a dual-core, carry further. A new tour-quality urethane five-piece balls. We’ll less a ball, the B330- four-piece construc- cover coating (13-per- cover with a high- spare you the chem- RX and B330-RXS tion with a urethane cent softer than the friction coating pro- ical-engineering talk. are for sub-170-kph cover. However, the X previous version) duces extra grab on The TP5 is softer with swings. The RXS is provides a firmer feel helps friction on short short shots normally a mid-launch. The softer and spins more with a more penetrat- shots. Fast swingers reserved for elite TP5x is firmer with a on short shots. ing trajectory. will like the XV. balls. higher launch.

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ feel ★ ★ ★ ½ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ demand ★ demand ★ ★

taylormade titleist titleist wilson titleist project (a) pro v1/v1x nxt tour duo urethane nxt tour s

R40 The urethane R65 Titleist shows R45 The ionomer- R40 Wilson has R45 This two-piece cover produces the it’s in command of blend cover helps the claimed to have the companion to the kind of greenside- its technology with ball feel soft, but the softest ball in golf. As NXT Tour features a checking spin that subtle but significant large dual core and others pursued that softer version of Ti- can help average improvements. A new its soft inner core are title, Wilson took the tleist’s ionomer-blend golfers – who miss dimple design on the real technological next step by adding cover for those who far more greens than the four-piece V1x story behind this ball. a urethane cover. The want a little extra they hit. But the lower- promotes a higher The result is a higher result here is a ball spin on short-game compression core is trajectory, and the ball flight with less that feels soft (the shots. The lower- formulated so it’s soft revamped three-piece spin and more dis- core compression is compression core (for feel) and resilient V1 comes with a re- tance for the longer only 25) and provides means shots through- (for faster ball speed). formulated core for clubs. Who couldn’t a little tour sauce on out the bag will feel less spin. use a little of that? short shots. slightly softer.

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

18 / JULYJUNE 20172017 // GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZAGOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA balls listed alphabetically in price categories ●PHOTOS gold ●BY silver NAME THE BALLS THAT CHANGED THE BALL.

The revolutionary Chrome Soft™ and New Chrome Soft X™ will change your expectations of how a Tour ball should feel and perform. The Dual SoftFast™ core has redeﬁned golf ball performance by simultaneously elevating speed and feel for an unbeatable combination of distance, workability and spin control.

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olvik are known principally Tour. It has never been seen there at the end of July. Watson, who for- V for coloured golf balls, and before, although it is popular on merly used the Pro V1x, first took the South Korean manufac- the LPGA Tour. The Pro Shop cur- notice of Volvik while watching the turer made a significant signing this rently stocks the Volvik S3, Vivid World Long Drive Championship, year with Bubba Watson agreeing and Long Long, and the four-piece where all the competitors were to play the S4 model on the PGA S4, at R55 a ball, will be available using Volvik coloured balls.

20 / JULYJUNE 20172017 // GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZAGOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA balls listed alphabetically in price categories ●PHOTOS gold ●BY silver NAME Z-Star_FCFP_GD 2017-01-17T11:24:31+02:00 The Golf Life | COURSES

Mashie Golf at CCJ Short course provides fun for all

BY STUART MCLEAN

22 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA ountry Club Johannesburg, which already has two 18- C hole courses, has added a new golfing dimension for its members with the recent opening of the 9-hole “Mashie Course.” Built by Golf Data on a hillside ad- The Mashie Course at CCJ. In the foreground are the sixth joining the 18th hole of the Woodmead (right) and seventh holes. layout, a short walk from the clubhouse, the Mashie is a fun experience which will appeal to all age groups because of its easy playability. With holes varying in distance between 70 and 130 metres (the tees are generously large and include mats), it can be completed in 40 minutes by a threeball, carrying no more than a few wedges and a putter. While the distances are short, the greens, mostly on the small side, provide some chipping and putting challenges with their slopes. Cynodon grass was planted on the greens, for sustainability. Members can use it as a warmup before teeing off for a full round, to hone their short games, or those who haven’t had enough golf could wind down on the Mashie after a round. It’s a perfect place to settle any golfing bets which have perhaps been tied after 18 holes. Importantly, though, the Mashie Course will be of great value to families, through introducing young kids to the game and interacting with their parents or grandparents over 9 holes of a course where everyone can hit the greens in regulation. Beginners will also benefit. There are no water hazards to worry about, just bunkers and rough. And there will be the added delight of making aces now and again. Sadly, very few of these compact quick-to- play facilities exist at South African golf clubs*, even at resorts or estates. That’s either because the properties were cramped for space or extras such as these weren’t seen as a priority. But the Mashie experience is what golf needs more of right now to further grow the game. * San Lameer on the KZN South Coast has a Mashie Course, and Riviera Golf Club on the Vaal River, among Top 100 clubs, plus Langebaan Country Estate on the West Coast. Huddle Park in Johannesburg has a Par 3 course.

Do you know of a Mashie Course you can tell us about? Email [email protected]

PHOTO BY JAMIE THOM GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 23 The Golf Life | MR X ‘There are maybe 20 guys who deliberately fudge their mark within a half-inch.

Ask any player about cheating, and they’ll all tell you the same name. I was paired with this notorious individual recently, and I witnessed it. Using his hand to obscure the distance behind the ball, he picks up his coin so fast that you almost can’t be certain of what you’ve just seen. But when you see it enough times, it becomes pretty obvious. What’s more, this was just after the anchor ban, and he was using a long putter. He wears baggy shirts, but I could tell that he was anchoring. After the round, we got into a heated debate in the scoring trailer when I refused to sign his card. He claimed that if the end of his grip touched his chest, it was accidental. The way the rule is written, it’s all about intent, and an official signed his card. This dude knows he’s a cheat, and he knows that everyone knows he’s a cheat. No one wants to be paired with him or play practice rounds with him. Often you see him dining alone. Back to what Phil said. I’d say there are maybe 20 guys who deliberately fudge their mark within a half-inch. It’s hard to be de- finitive because the guys who do it are very good at it. Besides, I’m busy reading my putt. Even if you’re paying close attention, it’s difficult to call someone out when the area of contention is the width of a small coin. You can tell an official to watch a guy, but only in the majors do we have an official with Undercover Tour Pro every group. We’re a gossipy bunch out here. But the Cheats are hard to catch, but we reality is, players often aren’t ostracised because the stories might circulate only within know who they are small groups of friends. Just the other day, a buddy told me one ’ve played in only one Masters, and this year I watched from from a recent weather delay. The horn sounds, home. Half my life I spend at golf tournaments, so usually the and my buddy and another guy elect to fin- I last thing I want to do is tune in, but the limited commercials ish the hole. The third player, whose ball is and the beauty of that place get me. The world was excited about in a gnarly divot hole in the fairway, chooses to stop. The next morning, when they re- all the stars on the Sunday leader board – Serge, Rosey, Scotty, Rickie and sume the round, my buddy is waiting by the Jordan – but I was pulling for Charley Hoffman. He’s a friend, and I think green and says to his caddie, “No way this it’s a more amazing story whenever a journeyman wins. mother------puts the ball back where it Earlier in the week, I remember nearly spitting out my drink when was.” Sure enough, the shot comes sizzling I read what Phil Mickelson said in his press conference. His quote was, into the green and spins back 10 feet – which is impossible from a divot. The guy goes on to “I know a number of guys on tour that are loose with how they mark the finish well that weekend and rakes in a bunch ball and have not been called on it. I mean, they’ll move the ball two, three of money and FedEx Cup points that should inches in front of their mark, and this is an intentional way to get it out have gone to someone else. of any type of impression and so forth, and I think that kind of stuff needs Should my buddy have said something, to stop.” to protect the field? Maybe, but nothing would have happened. These guys know Now, if there’s anyone prone to hyperbole, it’s Phil. The truth is, there’s who they are. Karma will come around. exactly one guy who is known to mis-mark his ball by two or three inches. – WITH MAX ADLER

24 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA ILLUSTRATION BY DOUG CHAYKA 23667TPumaMedia_Gol 2017-03-29T16:04:14+02:00

ninety9cents 23667T/E The Golf Life | THINK YOUNG/PLAY HARD

Back from the Brink It has been 10 years since Anton Haig won a European Tour event and was the youngest player (20) in the top 100 of the World Ranking. What followed was a downward spiral of poor form, injuries and substance abuse which almost cost him his life. He’s now reformed, fit and back winning tournaments.

By Barry Havenga

ON BEING WORTH OVER only drug I didn't try was heroin. Before R20-MILLION IN 2007 entering rehab (for the second time) in I won 310 000 Euros for my career break- 2015 I was on methamphetamine (crystal through moment at the 2007 Johnnie meth), had been hospitalised twice for Walker Classic in Thailand, beating Rich- over-indulging and often had thoughts ard Sterne and Oliver Wilson in a playoff about self-harm and ultimately ending ANTON HAIG (Retief Goosen was fourth and Ernie Els and my own life. Once my golf career started AGE 31 David Frost T-6). I was 20 and suddenly had going south, I didn’t know what to do BORN White River, Mpumalanga plenty of money to behave badly. I kicked without it. Golf was my life – it was all

back and found out what winning was all I knew. RESIDES Dainfern, Gauteng about, inviting 90 people to a game reserve CAREER Won 2003 SA Amateur in Mpumalanga for my 21st birthday party ON ADVICE FROM ERNIE ELS at 16, and two SA Junior titles two months later. I had endorsement deals Ernie knew I liked to party. We were both (2003 matchplay and 2004 with equipment manufacturers and a luxury clients of ISM and I interacted with him, strokeplay) before turning pro watchmaker, and was exempt into World Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke. Ernie at 18. Two Sunshine Tour Golf Championship events with no cut. told me that if I went on a night out, I victories, 2005 Seekers Pro-Am At the end of 2015 I was broke. would have to work twice as hard on my and 2006 Namibia PGA, before game the next day. When you’re 21 you can winning 2006 Malaysian Masters

ON HAVING A WEAKNESS FOR do that, but I took it too far and it obviously on Asian Tour. Took affiliate all caught up with me. It was no secret I ‘SOCIAL EVILS’ membership of European Tour I have always found it difficult to find the enjoyed the party scene. I thought I was a and won 2007 Johnnie Walker off switch. I couldn’t just have one beer – bit of a rock star and got out of hand. I was I had to get hammered. I had my first young and didn’t know how to deal with all Classic in Thailand. Won on Big cigarette at 14, smoked weed for the first the attention I was getting. I lacked the life Easy Tour in 2013 and had five IGT time at 15 and tried cocaine at 19. The skills to deal with fame and fortune. Challenge Tour wins the last year.

26 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA STUART FRANKLIN/GETTY IMAGES QUICK FIRE • Window or aisle? Window • First person to call in a jam? My mom, Lorraine. • Test match at Lord's or Twickenham? Lord’s. • First car? VW Golf 4 TDI • Current car? VW Polo TSI • Favourite TV shows? Vikings, Game of Thrones. • Lowest round? 61 in a social round at White River CC, 62 at ERPM in an IGT event in 2016. • Best friends on tour? Dylan Do- cherty, Rhys West. • Strongest player mentally on tour? Danie van Tonder. • Most naturally gifted on tour? Jean Hugo. • Longest hitter ever seen? Not many people have knocked it past me; Alvaro Quiros is probably Happier days. Anton Haig with Ernie Els when playing on the European Tour. the most consistently long hitter I’ve played with. ON BEING A BAD INFLUENCE in my cervical vertebrae. An operation could have alleviated the problem but my • First thing you bought after first I feel embarrassed, ashamed and guilty that Matt’s golf career did not go as planned. doctor advised me to not continue playing pay cheque as a pro? No one is ever a sure thing in this game, professionally. At the same time I had After I won the 2005 Seekers but I certainly contributed to him not taken a ‘mutually agreed probation period’ Pro-Am at Dainfern, I took a bunch reaching his full potential as a professional. from the Sunshine Tour. For six months I of friends to Sun City I gave him his first cigarette and offered worked as a talent scout for ISM. for a raucous weekend. him a ‘joint’ for the first time. (Kent no

• Who would you like to be stuck longer plays competitively, and works in ON IGNORING MEDICAL ADVICE In 2012 I received a Facebook message in a lift with, living or dead? the golf industry as a tour operator.) from British businessman Philip Manduca, My girlfriend Lauren. ON A LIFETIME OF INJURIES who wanted to help. He sponsored me. I • Which celebrity would you My downfall was self-afflicted, but the spent time at Fancourt with a swing coach sacrifice to zombies? I’m an mental anguish of enduring numerous in- and biokineticist, and then Spain on a boot easy-going guy now, and become juries also played its part. I was born with camp. Improved conditioning saw me lose an accepting and non-judg- deformed hips and a leg-length discrep- 10 kilograms which alleviated stress on my mental person since rehab. ancy of 1.25cm and had problems with neck, back and hips. I made two starts on both my knees which prevented me from the Asian Tour and got an invite to the playing contact sports at school. After win- Alfred Dunhill Links Championship ON TURNING PRO AT 18 ning the ‘double’ of SA Amateur and SA where I finished T-13 (and partnered I joined the pro ranks on September 1, Junior Matchplay titles in 2003, I joined Manduca in the pro-am). But the come- 2004 and signed with International Sports my Central Gauteng teammates at the back was short-lived. My health deterio- Management (ISM). I first played on the U-23 Interprovincial and, during a game rated and I played a handful of events on European Challenge Tour and smaller of touch rugby, tore ligaments in my knee. the Sunshine Tour in 2013. Euro Pro circuit in England. At the I’ve had numerous surgeries since I was a beginning of 2005 Matthew Kent, SA’s teenager but the most humiliating was for ON HITTING ROCK BOTTOM No 1 amateur and a close friend, turned a deviated septum in my nose because of I had two stints in rehab. First at The pro and signed with ISM. We shared a my prolonged use of cocaine. Sporting Chance Clinic, a British charity flat near Manchester and travelled across in Hampshire founded by Arsenal foot- Europe playing on the satellite tours. But ON RETIRING FROM GOLF AT 25 baller Tony Adams to provide specialist we didn’t enjoy the life. The weather was At the end of 2011 I was ready to walk addiction and recovery facility for athletes. terrible and I missed my family and friends away from the game. My shock announce- But I still didn’t know what to do without back home. We were professional athletes ment came after an MRI scan revealed I golf. There was nothing to drive me and but living like students. At 18, I required had a severe osteophytic impingement in I spiralled out of control again – abusing better guidance. my neck, combined with a bulging disc alcohol and drugs – which prompted two

DAVID CANNON/ GETTY IMAGES GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 27 The Golf Life | THINK YOUNG/PLAY HARD

Playing the IGT Tour this year. Right: Johnnie Walker champion in 2007.

close friends to phone my mother, telling within two months on the IGT Tour. I her I was going to die if there wasn’t an had a new philosophy about the game. I IN THE BAG immediate family intervention. always played my best golf when my mind was free, so the constant goal is to get Driver: TaylorMade M1, ON THE SLOW ROAD TO into a good headspace on the course. In 9.5 degrees RECOVERY the past when I had a bad round it would Fairway: TaylorMade M1, affect me for days. Now golf is not my life, I entered the South Coast Recovery Centre 14.5 degrees in Margate (KwaZulu-Natal) on February it’s just my job. It no longer defines me. 5, 2015 and exited exactly one year later. Hybrid: Titleist 917 H2, I was told I was only going to spend a ON BEING A RECOVERING ADDICT 19 degrees month there, but that was never going to be My new life could not be busier. There are Irons (3-PW): TaylorMade PSi enough time. I was too far gone. I treated five people I speak to on a daily or weekly Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind the first month like a holiday and my re- basis who are integral to me not relapsing: bellious nature came to the fore, disrupting My girlfriend, pastor, addiction counsellor, (52, 56, 60) lectures and causing chaos at the centre. psychiatrist, and Narcotics Anonymous. Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Lauren and I met in rehab. She has been One day the proverbial penny dropped Ball: TaylorMade TP5 and I began relating to the other patients’ sober for three years and is a wonderful struggles. source of inspiration. We’ve been together play on this very competitive tour. I have for a year and help each other constantly a Big Easy Tour card after finishing 59th ON FINDING FAITH with the support and love required to be a at Sunshine Tour Qualifying School. The I was fully institutionalised and for the recovering addict. My desire to use drugs top 5 on the Order of Merit at the end first time in my life was able to unpack and alcohol is gone, but complacency of July earn main tour cards, so that’s an several deep-rooted issues. The first of is the killer. I have to identify negative immediate goal. I have also written letters which was my golf career that I had thrown thoughts and addictive behaviour early to Sunshine Tour chairman Johann Rupert away, then the abandonment issues I faced and counter it immediately. I get on the and executive director Selwyn Nathan re- while growing up. I didn’t have a normal phone to someone in a heartbeat. questing invitations. I’ve had financial sup- upbringing. I was sent to boarding school port from my parents, Dimension Data, In- at 11 when my mother moved to Australia, ON BEING A GOOD INFLUENCE vestec, TaylorMade and Dainfern member and I failed to matriculate. I was good at I am very involved with Narcotics Anon- Stuart Conway, so I'm on the right path. being rebellious. In retrospect, playing golf ymous, attending meetings in Bryanston I’m working with fitness specialist Garth and turning pro as a teenager was damaging to help others battling or recovering from Milne and biokineticist Tanya Kearney at in that I missed group activities. I was a addiction. I have returned to the South Serengeti and my body now feels like it social person, but was in a lonely profession. Coast Recovery Centre to speak with can handle tournament golf again. Four months into my rehab in Margate, I patients, imploring them to keep fighting. There is hope. I am proof of that. I have was baptised and surrounded by like-mind- ON THE DREAM OF A ed Christians which aided my recovery found fulfilment in giving back and hope one day to start a foundation to help fur- EUROPEAN TOUR RETURN tremendously. I’m in the final year of an exemption into ther. (Part of Haig’s talk at the centre has the final stage of European Tour Q School been posted on YouTube.) ON RETURNING TO GOLF in November because of my Johnnie

I burned some bridges with people who Walker Classic victory and subsequent

believed in me, so I will let my clubs do ON THE REST OF 2017 injuries. I’ve got to work twice as hard the talking now. After exiting rehab I be- I won consecutive events on the IGT Tour now – having emerged from 10 years of gan practising again and won three times in April and May and will continue to negative headspace – but I’m ready for it.

28 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA CJ DU PLOOY • DAVID CANNON/GETTY IMAGES THEY PLAY THE ONLY TOUR BALL WITH 5 LAYERS. SHOULDN’T YOU? The Golf Life | TRAVEL If you nap after landing, just be sure it’s a brief one.”

Improving Your Long Game

LPGA star Jessica Korda’s advice for frequent fliers

ou know that ••• ••• so I make sure I sleep a lot on feeling when water isn’t a hazard squeeze your feet the plane. That way when I Best thing you can do on a I always wear compression Y you get off a land, it makes me think, It’s travel day: Hydrate. Drink socks on flights. These help time to work now; it’s daytime. plane and your body is water the day before the with circulation and keep ••• heavy and you’re totally flight, on the way to the your legs from feeling puffy don’t lie down for long exhausted? When you airport, on the plane and after and heavy. I also take one I do a little workout after I’ve the flight. Most people don’t fly as much as I do, you baby aspirin every six hours arrived to help my body feel drink enough water during a on long flights. It keeps you figure out ways to awake. While I’m dealing with normal day. It’s even more from feeling achy. the time change, I like to work combat the fatigue and true on a travel day. When ••• in an hour-long nap in the af- illness that can follow I’m on the flight, I’ll add trick yourself ternoon. The important thing long flights. Maybe my some vitamin C, too. By If you’re landing in another about napping is not overdo- drinking enough, you’re time zone, fool your body by tips can help you. ing it. Don’t take a nap and helping your body cope with setting your clocks to the then fall back asleep. You’ll the stress of travel, and you’ll local time where you’re never adjust to the new time get off the plane feeling fresh. going. My flights usually have zone, and you’ll miss all the me landing in the morning, fun of the new place you’ve just travelled to. – interviewed by keely levins

Four-time LPGA winner Jessica Korda flew more than 200 000 kilometres last year to tournaments worldwide.

30 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA ILLUSTRATION BY BOB CROSLIN ASK GOLF DIGEST | The Golf Life Greg Norman all perform most everyday tasks cack-handed while playing golf from the starboard side. Some think playing opposite from your given handedness lets your stron- ger, dominant side lead the swing. But does it really give you an edge? Truth is, most righties hit from the right side and vice-versa. Holes dogleg both ways, and every major manufacturer makes clubs for lefties and righties. We say: Which- ever side you tend towards, go with it.

What happens if you hit into a bunker and the ball is submerged in water? Free relief no closer to the hole? Call it a water hazard and take a one- stroke penalty? Play as it lies? ▶ ▶ ▶ The first thing we do when this happens is complain about our misfortune I was trying to get a read on my putt when my and try to cast blame on others: “The drainage at this course is terrible!” That partner bladed his shot from off the green. His ball usually makes us feel a little better. Q ricocheted off my putter and stopped about five Once we arrive at the shot, there are metres from the hole. He made the putt for par, a few options. Sure, you can play it as halving the hole. What’s the official ruling on that? it lies. Or, under Rule 25-1b(ii), you get free relief. The new spot can be no Your partner needs to get Are there any pros who are left- closer to the hole, and you must drop it his act together. He can’t handed but play golf right-handed within the bunker. If the bunker is full be banging the ball off you A and/or right-handers who hit left? of water, you find the point of maxi- and your equipment. That’s Is it an advantage or a disadvan- mum available relief – no closer to the a one-stroke penalty under Rule 19-2. tage playing this way? hole – with the least interference by Things would have been different if your ▶ ▶ ▶ the water (two centimetres, say, versus partner had struck your opponent’s put- Until Phil Mickelson came along, people totally submerged). ter. In that case, under Rule 19-3, there nicknamed Lefty really were left-handed. Still not finding a suitable place to would have been no penalty. He could Phil is naturally right-handed, as is 2003 hit? You can take a penalty stroke and have replayed the shot or carried on from Masters champion Mike Weir. The re- remove the ball from the bunker. Go where it landed, whichever he preferred. verse – natural lefties who play right- back as far as you like. Just be sure to (Note: Under the new proposed changes handed – is even more common. Among drop it on the line between the hole to The Rules of Golf, there would be major winners, Johnny Miller, Nick and where your ball originally came no penalty either way. Play it as it lies. Price, Curtis Strange, David Graham and to rest. GETTY IMAGES

THE BALLS THAT CHANGED THE BALL.

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 21

Booming Bryanston excels Best club in annual John Collier Survey

ryanston Country on golf carts in the ballroom, Above: The 18th green and 10th tee at Bryanston Country Club. Club in Central there were treasure hunts on Below: The BCC team with the John Collier Award certificate, from B Gauteng is the 2017 left, golf director Graeme Ronald, course superintendent Ronnie the course, and junior sports Cousins, and general manager Paul Leishman. winner of the 10th annual programmes,” he said. John Collier Survey, for good “There has also been a relax- governance and environmen- ation of the dress code and stiff tal compliance among South rules, so the club is now a fun African golf clubs. Bryanston place to be at. We serve great stood out as the exceptional food and Bryanston is serious candidate among several strong about service – we do regular contenders. member surveys and measure This accolade comes on top performance at all levels. We of Bryanston having a record have a fantastic team of pas- financial year, and reaching a sionate management, commit- new high of 3 000 members. tee and staff. It has grown from strength to “In the past year there has strength in recent years, thanks been extra focus on the golf to clubhouse refurbishments course, and course architect and a strategy of being a coun- Mark Muller and Golf Data try club that is the centre of did a course audit. A Grounds the community. Committee was formed last General manager Paul September and tasked with the Leishman said there was a big responsibility for oversight of focus on family at the club, the sustenance of the course with unique activities for kids. and other facilities; a medium- “We created drive-in movies to long-term role that covers

32 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA 25 YEARS OF SANLAM CANCER CHALLENGE

The Sanlam Cancer Challenge is one of South African golf’s environmental compliance great success stories, and this year, underpinned the club’s licence the 25th anniversary of the to operate.” Reviewers had been partnership between the event and impressed by Bryanston’s the Cancer Association of SA, the balanced approach to sustainability, support of club golfers is being celebrated. Each year since 1993, by the club’s governing body, hundreds of Sanlam Cancer its environmental committee, Challenge club competitions have the management team, and in raised valuable funds for CANSA. particular, Paul Leishman Members of more than 400 clubs have and Course Superintendent got behind it, and the prize for the Ronnie Cousins. best players has been qualifying for “They excelled in a range the National Finals, first played at San of issues, including turf and Lameer and now hosted at Sun City. water management, biodiversity “We are proud of the partnership planning and monitoring, plus and the difference this has made in the ongoing battle against this there were improvements in disease,” said Sanlam Sponsorship supply chain management, Manager Gary van Loggerenberg. education and training, and “From the first competition 25 years commitment and action in ago to what we have today, every outreach programmes.” golfer who has supported this event Special mention was made can also be proud of the role he or she in Collier’s report of two KZN has played to ensure its success.” North Coast clubs, Prince’s Grant, The annual fundraising effort, and last year’s winner, Umhlali which exceeds R3-million, contributes CC. While Prince’s Grant’s more than 10 percent of CANSA’s annual budget. It helps fund 11 greenkeeping team showed CANSA care homes, 5 TLC impressive reporting of data, facilities and 9 mobile clinics, every waterways, greens, trees, etc. Umhlali again illustrated an year supporting 15 000 people The conditioning is much improved, ongoing commitment towards affected by cancer. The Challenge and we look forward to hosting the sustainable improvement. has also alerted more awareness of Premier Interprovincial for the first There was a 39 percent cancer, helping to take the message time in September.” This is the first response rate from golf clubs, and of the value of healthy lifestyles and SAGA event since Bryanston held a 27 percent national compliance preventative screenings to over the 1977 SA Amateur. level. Previous Collier Survey 875 000 golfers. Eight percent of CANSA’s national cancer screenings Collier noted in his report that winners among Gauteng clubs come directly at events. “Bryanston’s programmatical have been Benoni CC, Randpark, approach to good governance and Kyalami and Pretoria CC.

COURSE PHOTOS BY DALE EDWARDS GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 33 Competition

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olf and sleep aren’t a great twosome. You Snooze, You Win G Between the anticipa- d tion of playing and the Testing three sleep-enhancing gadgets game’s early morning start times, it’s often tough to get enough shut-eye. We tested three modern gadgets that promise to help. ••• sense sleep system A coin-size sensor goes on the side of your pillow to monitor your movement. Another object that looks like an oversize golf ball (pictured) sits next to your bed and tracks the environment. They send information to an app that suggests what can be changed – like room temperature, noise, air quality and light – to achieve optimal sleeping conditions. The Sense ($149) also produces calming, ambient sounds to help you doze off. Sadly, those soothing fake bird chirps in golf telecasts are not among them. ••• withings aura-connected alarm clock + sleep sensor About the size of a small bedside lamp, this device emits colours that its manufacturer says encourage secretion of sleep hormones. Sceptical? We were, too, but we found it oddly calming – and the most effective of these three products. While you sleep, a sensor tracks temperature, light and sound levels. The device ($299) also generates a bright wake-up glow in the morning, or you can add music. We programmed Dave Loggins’ “Augusta” Masters theme as our alarm. ••• neuroon mask Neuroon calls itself a “smart” sleep mask. Collect- ing info about your brain waves, sleep patterns, breathing cycles and heart rate, it can tell you a lot about why you’re not sleeping. And it offers advice on combating the problems, unlike some products. In the morning, the mask ($269 at Neuroon.com) re-creates the light of a slowly breaking dawn. It sounds cheesy, but we found this wake-up call soothing and effective. – JOEL BEALL

PHOTO BY VICTOR PRADO GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 35 The Golf Life | PASSINGS

they were not welcome, and sent home. In 1982, nine black professional golfers, including Tshabalala, were awarded membership of the PGA for the first time. In 1990-91, when the National Sports Com- mittee were merging sporting codes, golf was the first body to be approved, and he was elected captain of the PGA, helping unite the PGA and black Tournament Players Association. Injury curtailed Tshabalala’s career on the Sunshine Tour in the 1980s, yet he emerged again in his 50s as a regular competitor on the European Senior Tour. He was a fixture alongside Player in his local celebrity charity events, firstly, the Nelson Mandela Invi- tational, which Tshabalala won in 2004 and 2005 at Arabella, with Ernie Els and Tim Clark as his respective betterball partners, and later the Gary Player Invitational until 2011, after which the betterball format came to an end, and the GPI became more celebrity driven. Tshabalala, of Swazi heritage, loved playing golf, and passing on his immense knowledge to other golfers. He was in- ducted into the SA Golf Hall of Fame at Vincent Tshabalala, 1942-2017 the second ceremony in December 2010, and received a Presidential Sports Award He learned to play in the veld in Soweto from Thabo Mbeki. He was often to be seen at the Ohenimuri course near his home in Walkerville before it closed a rench Open champion in average with the putter, and that’s why he few years ago. 1976, Tshabalala, 75, was a never did as well as he should.” lifelong friend of Gary Player, He nevertheless stunned the golfing Vincent Tshabalala is held aloft after F victory in the 2004 Nelson Mandela who expressed his shock at world when in his second start on the the suddenness of his passing. The two met European Tour he won the French Open Invitational. Below: Displaying his as young boys in the 1950s at Virginia Park at Le Touquet with a 16-under-par total of distinctive cross-handed grip. Golf Club (now Southdowns) in Kibler 272. The course is on the English Chan- Park, south of Johannesburg. “We used to nel, and Tshabalala revelled in the windy practice together, taking turns to hit balls conditions with his low ball flight. A re- and pick them up for each other,” said markable aspect of his victory was that he Player. pulled his own bag on a golf trolley. Young Vincent was a self-taught golfer, Following that win, the “white” PGA who learned hitting balls in the veld in chose him in the two-man SA team for Soweto, honing his unique swing. He the World Cup in California at the end of apprenticed as a motor mechanic. 1976, a selection not met with universal Later, Player helped sponsor Tshabalala approval among PGA members. But Tsha- in his professional golf career, enabling balala turned down the opportunity, saying him to play tournaments in America and it was “window dressing,” which the PGA Australia during the 1970s when he was members interpreted as an insult. However, at the peak of his game. He played in two this was the time of the Soweto riots, and Open championships. “His surname was a Tshabalala, living in Soweto and a public tongue-twister for the Americans! Vincent figure, was uncomfortable being part of was a brilliant driver of the ball (employ- a team backed by an apartheid regime. It ing a distinctive cross-handed grip), one wasn’t long before South Africa was barred of the best I’ve seen, with a swing not from the World Cup. In 1979, in Greece, dissimilar to Arnold Palmer, but he was Dale Hayes and Hugh Baiocchi were told

36 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA GAVIN WITHERS Roberto De Vicenzo, 1923-2017 The man who gave away the Masters

for a 65 on his 45th birthday, 1993, Goalby said, “Roberto, he signed a scorecard kept by because of you I never won playing partner Tommy Aaron the Masters. You were the real that noted a 4 rather than a winner.” De Vicenzo said in birdie 3 made on the 17th a Golf Digest interview (July hole, the resulting official score 2006) that Goalby could have of 66 causing him to resolved it back in 1968. finish one stroke behind “Before they presented him Bob Goalby. with the green jacket, he De Vicenzo’s subdued but could have said, ‘Sorry, I prefer agonised reaction – “What a that we playoff tomorrow.’” stupid I am to be wrong here” His biggest payday in golf – is among the most memo- came at the 1967 Open, but rable sports quotes of the 20th it wasn’t the first prize cheque, century. He remained gra- which in those days was small cious in the aftermath, and the change, £2 100. The Argen- sympathy for De Vicenzo was tine, then 44 (his first Open extended to Augusta National. was in 1948), was so confident Chairman Clifford Roberts about his game that he placed sent him a prize, a sterling- a £500 bet on himself at 70-1 silver cigarette box engraved odds to win. In the last round with the signatures of the he held off Jack Nicklaus previous winners. A group of and Player to win by two. friends from his home club, The £35 000 payout from Ranelagh in Buenos Aires, the bookies was greater than presented De Vicenzo with a any first-place prize he ever custom-tailored green jacket. won. His last visit to the Goalby, the man who won Open came in 2000, when the real green jacket, received at 77 he played in the hate mail following his suc- first-ever exhibition of cess, and was forever at odds champions over four holes with De Vicenzo after that. of the Old Course. He drove oberto de Vicenzo, Player considered De Vicenzo When they bumped into each the green on the 18th, 360 who has passed away one of the best ball-strikers other on the Senior Tour in yards away. R at the age of 94, may he had ever seen. “If he had One of the oldest Open champions, at age 44. have only won one major played more in the United championship in his lifetime, States he would have won a Below: With Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at the 1967 Open at Hoylake, lot of majors, because he knew St Andrews in 2000. but the Argentine has been how to win.” Like Player, classified as one of the game’s De Vicenzo remained fit and legends. By the numbers, he strong well into his 80s, still was golf’s most prolific win- able to hit long tee shots. ner. Between 1942 and 1991 When preparing for he had 231 wins – and fin- tournaments, he had a ritual ished second 127 times – in of hitting 800 balls a day. sanctioned pro tournaments. De Vicenzo’s longevity Most were achieved in Latin in the game was due in part America, but he also won nine because he didn’t receive, national opens in Europe, and or seek, much attention. In six times on the PGA Tour in fact, he is best known for the fewer than 100 attempts. tournament he didn’t win, the A strong man, with brawny 1968 Masters. After finishing arms and meaty hands, Gary the final round with a bogey

GETTY IMAGES (2) GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 37 38 / APRIL 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY NAME

BUTCH HARMON BUTCH HARMON BY THEM • FIX

there has been a lot of emphasis recently on the short game, which is great. Improving your greenside play is a logical way to save shots. At the other end, hitting the driver captures the imagination of every golfer. But in the middle – and what has gotten a little lost – is iron play, which is really the guts of the game. Truth is, if you hit even a decent drive, your opportunity to score depends on what you do with your second shot. Hit the green or leave it in a good place, and you’ll have a great chance. But botch that second shot, and you’re cooked. Let’s take a look at the faults that prevent most average golfers from hitting good

THAT SABOTAGE YOUR IRON GAME – AND HOW TO IRON GAME – AND HOW YOUR SABOTAGE THAT approaches, from the longer irons down to the wedges. We’ll get you making better contact and controlling the ball so you can start turning those FAULTS double bogeys into pars.

WHY YOU MISS GREENS MISS WHY YOU – with peter morrice

PHOTOS BY NAME GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 39 you swing too hard with the long irons

when you have a long iron in your hands, you’ve first, keep your backswing in check. Think got a ways to go – and I’d bet you’re not exactly full of shorter and wider, pushing your hands away from your confidence. Most golfers swing the longer irons back head at the top. Then, start down by shifting to your front too far so they get a bounce effect at the top. That means they side. Get some pressure back in your front foot. And resist the “throw” the club starting down and lose the wrist angle (below). urge to add any extra hit on the ball. Yes, you’ve got to hit a long The throw also pulls you away from the target. Those two things shot, but good contact is the key to distance. The club will build cause the club to bottom out behind the ball. You hit a fat shot or speed through the ball, if you let it. With your weight left and your a drop-kick, or if you do catch it flush, you don’t have much on it. wrist angle intact halfway down (below), you’ll catch the ball first Whatever, you’re not getting to the green. and brush the turf after impact.

stats: how often do 80-, 90- and 100-shooters hit the green? from 115 metres: 64% (80) / 46% (90) / 28% (100); from 140 metres: 54% (80) / 39% (90) / 20% (100); from 160 metres: 43% (80) / 31% (90) / 13% (100). —shotbyshot.com

you try to help the ball into the air

with the middle irons, most golfers think they can you have to get it into your head that hitting down reach the green. The problem is, they try to lift the ball off and through the ball is the best way to produce a high shot. the ground to hit it high. They start by playing the ball too Remember, the instinct to lift usually results in a lower flight far forward in the stance and then hang on the back foot and try to because of poor contact. You need to feel more “on top of” the ball scoop it up. But the trademark look of the lifter is coming up and out at impact, with your chest facing down (above). Play the ball middle, of the spine angle on the downswing (above). Once the upper body make a wide backswing, then drive your entire right side – knee, hip straightens up, the clubhead comes up, too, and that causes thin and shoulder – through the shot. contact, even topped shots. Hitting up on the ball might feel right, Another good thought is to hit with the back of your left hand facing but it’s an absolute killer of solid contact. the target. You’ll stop scooping, I promise.

40 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY JD CUBAN you let your ego dictate club selection

the golfer’s ego is a terrible thing. There’s forget that you once hit a wedge 130 metres. something about saying “I hit wedge into that green” that You must have got lucky and caught it solid with a wild gets players jazzed. But trying to stretch your distances, swing. A better strategy is to take an 8- or 9-iron and use especially with the short clubs, screws up your control. When you a three-quarter action. Centre the ball at address, and swing back want to smash it, you typically play the ball too far back and push without any conscious wrist hinge. Then focus on turning your your hands ahead. You’re trying to turn that wedge into a longer torso to face the target (below). Try for more of a punchy follow- club. On the downswing, the upper body takes over, pushing the through, your hands finishing in front of you or even with your club onto an out-to-in path. The finish is long and tipped back head, not dropping the club down your back. With the short clubs, (below). If you hit it solid – unlikely – it’s usually a pull. control beats speed every time.

you always mess up downhill lies

downhill tee shots are sweet, but when average this one is easy to fix because the changes you golfers face a downhill lie to the green, things get ugly fast. need to make are in the setup. For this to play like a level Usually, they don’t make any adjustments, which pretty lie, fit your body to the downslope. Feel like you set your much guarantees a clunky strike. And if they do anything different, shoulders parallel with the slope – you won’t actually go that far, they lean back – into the hill – because it feels more stable. but that’s the feel you want (above). Position the ball back a little in Try to resist that urge. Leaning back tips your shoulders upward your stance, and aim more to the left because it’s harder to square (above) and promotes hitting behind the ball. Whatever you’re doing the face at impact from a downhill lie. Then just swing down the at address, the downslope is making you feel awkward so you slope. As with all these shots, solid contact is the key. end up making an awkward swing. Swing in control, and you’ll hit more greens.

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 41 BACK TO BIRKDALE!

Royal Birkdale gets its 10th Open Championship from July 20-23, nine years after 500-to-1 shot Greg Norman, then 53, held a one-stroke lead with nine to play before a 77 opened the way for Padraig Harrington’s second of three major championships. Harrington’s final-round 69 was one of only 21 rounds in the 60s all week, versus 39 rounds in the 80s, including an 89 by John Daly. A decade earlier, Daly needed a bogey at the par-4 18th to make the cut in the ’98 Open but took five swings to escape a fairway bunker and made a 10. Beware, everybody.

TELEVISION (SUPERSPORT)

Thursday, July 20 07.30 to 21.00, SS6 Friday, July 21 07.30 to 21.00, SS6 Saturday, July 22 11.00 to 21.00, SS6 Sunday, July 23 10.00 to 20.00, SS6 *Watch Chronicles of a Champion Golfer (6 champions) on Wednesday, July 19 on SS6 from 14.30 to 17.30 South African Shaun Norris, 35, will tee up at Birkdale after winning the JGT Championship on the Japan Tour with a closing 64. It moved him to No 2 on their money-list at the mid- year break, and entry to the Open. Earlier this year, Darren Fichardt, 42, qualified through winning the Joburg Open.

42 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA the par-4 eighth hole features royal birkdale’s signature dunes with the art deco clubhouse in the background.

2008 Padraig Harrington 283 1998 Mark O’Meara 280 * 1991 Ian Baker-Finch 272 1983 Tom Watson 275 1976 Johnny Miller 279 1971 Lee Trevino 278 1965 Peter Thomson 285 1961 Arnold Palmer 284 1954 Peter Thomson 283

* won four-hole playoff with brian watts by two shots

royal birkdale hole yards par

1 448 4 2 422 4 3 451 4 4 199 3 5 346 4 6 499 4 7 177 3 8 458 4 9 416 4 out 3 416 34

10 402 4 11 436 4 12 183 3 13 499 4 14 200 3 15 542 5 16 438 4 17 567 5 18 473 4 in 3 740 36

total 7 156 70

COURSE: DAVID CANNON/GETTY IMAGES THENEWSERGIO AT 37, THERE ARE CHANGES IN HIS LIFE AND HIS GOLF the open • 2017

PHOTOGRAPH JD CUBAN

, EVOLVED IS NOT A WORD that had been associated with Sergio Garcia, but it was just such a golfer who won the Masters. After rallying in regulation before defeating Justin Rose in sudden death, the Spaniard was asked what he was more proud of, the character he’d demonstrated or his actual shots – which just happened to be the best of his life. ▶ “Definitely the character,” Garcia said with quick con- viction. Of course, after months of coming to a belated understanding of how one can cause the other, the green jacket he was wearing offered the final proof. years old,” Donald says. “At the Ryder Cup, he’ll be jumping up on the bed at 6am and yelling, ‘It’s Ryder Cup week! It’s Ryder Cup week!’ But it’s a quality that draws you to him as well.” Adds longtime European Tour impresario Chubby Chandler: “There’s something about Sergio – a playful energy – that will always stay 19.” But that was Garcia’s age when he cried in his mother’s arms after shooting 89 in the opening round of the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie. Later that year at the World Match Play at Wentworth, Garcia threw his shoe in anger, and then kicked it when his manager retrieved it. By the time Garcia had spit in a cup on a Doral green in 2007, his image had been tainted by sour-grape remarks about his neme- sis, Tiger Woods. Spanish journalists would sometimes privately corrupt the nickname of El Niño to “Muy Niño.” (Loose translation: Very much a little boy.) “Growing up as this childhood prodigy, everything was sort of given to him, and some of that shaped the way he was,” says Donald, who remembers a And now the question remains: Was dinner in 2010 in which Garcia spoke of Augusta an isolated sweet spot in time that quitting golf. “And when things didn’t will go down as the biggest achievement of go his way, then he kind of got a little a remarkable career, or something deeper won nine majors, got his first at 34. Phil bit in his own way. He seemed to feel and fundamental enough to make him a Mickelson, winner of five, was 33 when he was the victim a lot. And was slightly historic player? he broke through. Vijay Singh, Nick Price childish at certain times. In a way, his If it’s the former, Garcia will fall under and Padraig Harrington, winners of three, ability made him slower to mature.” that intriguing and rare category of su- were all 35. The narrative tended to obscure premely gifted player whose lone master- Then again, in seemingly every way Garcia’s transcendent talent. Introduced piece only intensified the prolonged tease except for playing in pro events for more to golf at 3 by his father, Victor, a club of all his flawed majors. Someone like the than two decades, Garcia is a young 37. pro, Sergio at 15 became the youngest embattled Tom Weiskopf, whose tour de No injuries, still nimbly athletic enough to win the European Amateur. Less than force at Troon in 1973 contrasted cruelly to play high-level tennis (including hit- two years later, he won a pro event, the with 11 other top-fives in majors, including arounds with good friend Rafael Nadal) Catalonian Open. In terms of hitting five seconds. At the moment, Garcia has 12 and soccer (occasionally joining practices one pure shot after another, Garcia was other top-fives in majors, including four with the third-division hometown team even more a prodigy than Woods. runner-up finishes (see chart). CF Borriol, of which he is president). “We met for the first time in 1990,” But if it’s the latter, Garcia will fulfill “If I stay healthy,” he says, “I think I can says Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. “It was the destiny that seemed clear even before probably play at a good level for another a Spanish 10-and-under, only nine holes. he scissor-kicked up the hill of Medinah’s 10 years.” I remember he showed up playing golf 16th fairway at his first runner-up finish, The increased maturity he demonstrat- in a bathing suit, and I think he beat the the 1999 PGA Championship. Says sport ed at the Masters notwithstanding, Garcia field by nine shots. He was already play- psychologist Bob Rotella: “If Sergio’s actu- also remains a big kid – fond of children, ing a different game. As a ball-striker, he ally learned how to put things behind him pets like his Pomeranian puppy, Bear, and is second to none.” and just play, and it wasn’t just a one-week pranking his friends. Being, as his fiancee, Jose Manuel Lara, a two-time Europe- thing, he’s going to win a lot of tourna- Angela Akins, refers to him, “a goofball.” an Tour winner, recalls an exhibition in ments.” Instructor David Leadbetter, who “He has a very boyish streak to him,” which Garcia, then 15, played with Seve still remembers how the sound of the skin- says Luke Donald, who has been Garcia’s Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and ny 15-year-old’s shots caught his attention, frequent partner in the Ryder Cup, in Miguel Angel Jimenez. “It was very ob- says, “Now I would expect him to win two which Garcia – with a record of 18-9-5 vious that he already hit the ball better or three more majors.” – needs only four more points to become than the other three,” Lara says. “They Historically, only two players in the the biennial matches’ all-time leader. knew it, and so did Sergio.” modern era have ever compiled multiple “He’s always cracking jokes that you The gift endures. “The mechanics of majors after capturing the first at 37 or would crack when you were maybe 12 Sergio’s downswing are more like Ben later: Angel Cabrera, who won the first of Hogan’s than anyone I’ve ever seen,” says two at that age, and Mark O’Meara, who former instructor Pete Cowen. “The won two in 1998 at 41. Ben Hogan, who

46 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA some close shaves

Sergio Garcia has 23 top-10 finishes in 74 major championships:

masters

finish year / site

1 2017 Augusta National T-4 2004 Augusta National 8 2002 Augusta National T-8 2013 Augusta National

us open

finish year / site

T-3 2005 Pinehurst No. 2 4 2002 Bethpage Black T-5 2016 Oakmont T-7 2011 Congressional T-10 2009 Bethpage Black

open championship

finish year / site

*2 2007 Carnoustie T-2 2014 Royal Liverpool T-5 2005 St. Andrews T-5 2006 Royal Liverpool T-5 2016 Royal Troon T-6 2015 St. Andrews T-8 2002 Muirfield T-9 2001 Royal Lytham T-9 2011 Royal St. George’s T-10 2003 Royal St. George’s

*lost playoff to padraig harrington way he uses his shoulders to apply down- the young guys. They’ll play with him for ward pressure on the ball is what the term the first time and make the same comment: pga championship compression is all about.” ‘That’s as flush as it gets.’ ” Keith Sbarbaro of TaylorMade’s tour When Ben Crenshaw hosted Garcia and finish year / site operation says Garcia “hits everything so his father at Austin Golf Club the week good, so naturally, he’s the easiest guy to before this year’s Masters, he got one of his 2 1999 Medinah No. 3 fit in equipment that I’ve ever worked prescient “feelings” about Sergio putting T-2 2008 Oakland Hills with. Every year, I just send the new stuff on a green jacket. “Honestly, it was the best T-3 2006 Medinah No. 3 to Spain – driver, woods, irons, even put- ball-striking I have ever seen,” said Cren- T-10 2002 Hazeltine National ter and ball – and almost always he puts shaw, whose frame of reference and powers everything in play.” of observation are exceeded by few. “The On a staff that now includes Dustin contact, the ball flight, the control, the ac- Johnson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jon curacy, shot after shot, it was so impressive. I Rahm (not to mention Woods), Sbarbaro mean eerily close to perfect golf.” says Garcia “is the best when it comes Garcia being able to access that gift when to flushing the ball. It comes out of the it mattered most is what made the Masters

GARCIA: DOM FURORE (LEFT), JD CUBAN (ABOVE) (ABOVE) JD CUBAN (LEFT), DOM FURORE GARCIA: middle of the club every time. Anyone poignant and satisfying. Upon seeing fellow on this range will tell you that, especially players after the victory, Garcia often got a

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 47 to appreciate and be happy,’ he started to ‘MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME, “DAD, YOU CANNOT BE THAT GUY THAT YOU ARE. make progress.” As Garcia reflected Sunday night at the HE’S NOT READY FOR YOU. DON’T BE TELLING HIM ALL THIS STUFF Masters, in the few seconds he stayed in a reprise of Crenshaw’s 1995 victory crouch THAT YOU’VE TOLD US ALL OF OUR LIVES. IT’S LIABLE TO SCARE HIM OFF.” ’ after the winning putt dropped, among his – marty akins / future father-in-law closed-eyed thoughts were “Some of the moments I’ve had here at Augusta that maybe I haven’t enjoyed as much, and how stupid I really was trying to fight against something that you can’t fight.” bear hug. McIlroy and Danny Willett ad- is definitely quieter.” At this year’s Honda Classic, Sbarba- mitted being brought to tears by Garcia’s a new family’s influence final putt. Says Soren Kjeldsen, who has ro suggested Garcia try the same mallet he catalyst for such a crucial a professional but not close relationship currently used with great success by Day, acknowledgement has been Akins, with Garcia: “It surprised me that I got Johnson and Rahm. Garcia resisted but 31. The couple met in 2015 while emotional. But when you play this game, changed his mind a few weeks later and TAkins was at Golf Channel. A former you know how long the journey can be. put it in the bag at the WGC-Match Play, high school basketball star and scholarship And Sergio has been through a lot. He where he lost to Rahm in the third round golfer at TCU and the University of Texas really deserved it.” in his last event before Augusta. At the in her hometown of Austin, she under- Masters, he wasn’t brilliant, but he holed stands competition and the right way to more majors? out efficiently from short range, and it was encourage Garcia, which she showed at ill there be a new Garcia? It just good enough. Given Augusta’s greens will be apparent if Garcia adds Augusta while giving him a low five after and the occasion, the Masters was a huge he missed a 10-foot birdie putt to win on to his Hall of Fame-quality step up in Garcia’s three-year progression Wcareer victory totals of 10 on the PGA the 72nd hole. from bad to mediocre to decent putter. “Instead of saying ‘Oh, what a shame; Tour and 13 on the European Tour. But the measure for him – as it was when he unlucky,’ ” Garcia said, effecting a whiny lugged the mantel of Best Player Who a change of heart voice, “she was strong, saying, ‘C’mon, you Hasn’t Won a Major all the way to 0-73 – ut for all those strengths in the got this; keep at it. You’re gonna do it.’ It will continue to be the four Grand Slam physical game, where Garcia was was really nice to see that positivity.” events. singularly ill-suited for winning It’s what flows in torrents from Angela’s Bmajors was in his attitude. Lee Trevino’s father, Marty Akins, a former All-America Even when he hadn’t won one, they are the events for which Garcia’s game is old maxim, “The good Lord doesn’t give quarterback at Texas in the early ’70s who suited. anyone everything,” holds up. With Sergio, became a trial lawyer. In his uncompromis- The driver is his best club, his com- the missing piece seemed to be his heart. ing belief in what it takes to be the best, bination of length and accuracy placing Some of it was the discouragement of bolstered by a loquaciousness that in col- him among the perennial leaders in being flung headlong into the propellers of lege earned him the nickname Jaws, Akins strokes gained. “Sergio does what only the Tiger’s prolonged prime, a feeling felt by a has fed his future son-in-law a steady diet straightest drivers do: He returns the shaft whole generation of otherwise ambitious that could be characterised as a parody of plane to the same place it was at address,” players. “My childhood dreams were kind the American sports ethic. Except that for Sbarbaro says. “Most tours pros are slightly of crushed,” says Adam Scott, “because Garcia, who over the years has too often above the plane. It’s why Phil has never Tiger was far and above anyone else’s and infamously blamed fate and other dark been a straight driver. But Sergio has the capabilities for a long time.” forces for losses, it has been a remedial talent and the strength to stay low and on But no player, taking into account corrective. top of the ball.” ability, temperament and expectation, felt “What I told Angela and my other Garcia’s putter has been his worst club the sting as much as Garcia. “It held me kids is that if you think you’re good and for more than a decade, but it probably back a little bit, there’s no doubt,” he says. you think you’re the best and you believe hurts him least at majors, where pars have “But Tiger was that good. I can think that you’re good and believe you’re the best, more value. “Sergio as a kid was one of if he had not been there, I would have then you’ll be the best,” Marty says. “That’s the greatest putters you’ve ever seen,” won more, but probably Arnold and Gary how my dad (legendary Texas high school Fernandez-Castano says. “But by the time and Tom Watson could have said the same coach Ray Akins, grandfather of NFL he was 17, I was reading interviews where thing about Jack Nicklaus.” quarterback Drew Brees) taught me. I tried he said his weakest club was the putter. I Perhaps with Woods off the stage, it to do the same thing with Sergio. There’s believe he talked himself into being a bad became more possible for Garcia to realise not a day that goes by that I don’t either putter and lost confidence. Sometimes the that most of his problems were self-im- send him a text or call him. And tell him guys who hit the ball closest but don’t see posed. that he’s the greatest golfer in the world. the reward can get negative.” Camilo Villegas, who used to room with That nobody can beat him. And that he’s Cowen, who worked with Garcia on Garcia in their early days on tour, said that the best of the best. I keep telling him that his short game in 2010, found him “a bit in down times he would remind his friend, every time I see him and every time I talk fragile” on and around the green. “I sug- “You’re good, you’re talented, so have a to him.” gested he switch to The Claw about five better attitude about this or that and go Well, not the first time Marty met Gar- years ago. He said never; never will do it. from there.” Adds Villegas: “Once Sergio cia, in March 2016, when Angela brought But when he could tell himself it was his accepted all that and said, ‘You know, Garcia to Austin to meet her parents. “No,” idea, he made the switch on his own. He’s the hell with it; I don’t care what people Marty says, “because my daughter told me, got a stubborn streak, but that right hand think, or what the media says, I’m going ‘Dad, you cannot be that guy that you are.

48 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY NAME He’s not ready for you. Don’t be telling birdie, and for a brief instant, Garcia, who fine.” Later, McIlroy would show a photo him all this stuff that you’ve told us all of had a 10-footer that he had expected to of Garcia puckering his lips while standing our lives. It’s liable to scare him off.’ So I be for the win, dropped his head. But in a next to Harrington. waited a couple of months.” dramatic reversal from his career pattern, he Garcia is also connecting with American Garcia has been charmed and awed by gutted in the do-or-die putt. fans in a way he hasn’t since his teenage Marty, who has become his tutor in recre- “This is what I live for,” Garcia said. “I debut. When he made a hole-in-one on ational bow target shooting on the Akins’ love these moments.” Watching on televi- the iconic 17th hole during the Players 600-hectare ranch. sion at home in Spain, Lara said that when Championship, a chant of “Sergio! Sergio!” “Marty is an amazing guy, and he has his the putt dropped, he knew Garcia had was started by autograph seekers – many way that I can work into my way,” Garcia become a different golfer. “I don’t think he of them young fans – after the round. It says. “With the mental stuff, I’ve always would have made that putt two years ago,” was noteworthy because a stricter policy done it myself, no sport psychologists, and Lara says. “I believe that was a big moment.” at the Players to remove fans who yell it’s worked okay. But there were a couple of Four months later, Garcia put on a out derogatory or ill-timed comments things here and there that I could have been ball-striking clinic in Dubai, cruising to was implemented in part because of the better at, and friends and family helped me victory even though he was pressed in the way Garcia had been targeted in a playoff see things by getting through my hard head. last group by Henrik Stenson. Something loss to Rickie Fowler in 2015. Part of the Some weeks my head is going to be calmer had happened to Garcia, suddenly strong, subtext was a widely publicised dispute and better than others, because we know no longer fragile mentally. between Garcia and Woods during the the ups and downs in this game.” It would all play out on Masters Sunday. third round of the tournament in 2013. He remembers the despair that led him Though at first overcome with emotion, he Woods would go on to win the tourna- to say, after a third-round 75 at the 2012 accepted the victory humbly. ment, and Garcia, amid audible comments, Masters, “I’m not good enough . . . I don’t It is Garcia’s new MO. When Woods re- rinsed balls on the 17th and 18th holes in have the thing that I need to have.” cently signed with TaylorMade, Garcia rose the final round. The crowd policy is now In the time he has known Angela, Garcia above past recriminations and tweeted a unofficially referred to as “the Sergio rule,” has adjusted his self-talk to a blend of welcome. After the Masters, Woods offered so to see the opposite response from the Akins-esque optimism and Zen-like accep- his own tweet of congratulations. TPC gallery was telling. tance, both accentuating the positive. It was A few days later, Harrington told an in- Now in such a serene personal place, on display at last year’s US Open at Oak- terviewer about his frosty relationship with perhaps Garcia is primed to capitalise mont. After getting within one stroke of the Garcia, saying that Sergio had been a “sore quickly off the Masters. Perhaps even lead with five holes left before making three loser” after Harrington narrowly clipped repeat O’Meara’s feat by getting another bogeys on his way to finishing T-5, Garcia him at the 2007 Open Championship and major – or even two – this year at the was surprisingly upbeat. the 2008 PGA. But when the two met at remaining venues of Royal Birkdale and “Obviously, there’s a lot of nerves, but McIlroy’s wedding in late April, Harrington Quail Hollow. I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I think that I praised Garcia for taking the high road and “I’m excited to put myself in that handled it quite well, and unfortunately, making what could have been an awkward situation again and see if some of those came up a little bit short. But I’m still happy situation “very easy.” things that helped me win at Augusta, with the week.” “He was like trying to apologise for hopefully will help me win later in the Then during the Sunday singles at the something he said,” Garcia said, “and I was year,” he says. “I can see now that life is Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, Garcia engaged like, ‘It’s fine. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t just little learning processes. And lately, with Phil Mickelson in an incredible match bother me at all. I respect you. You respect I’m just trying to learn as much as I can.” that produced 19 birdies. All even on the me. We’re fine.’ You know, he’s a nice guy. I As the man evolves, so, too, does Srixon_AD333_GD 2017-05-26T12:53:30+02:00 final hole, Mickelson made a 25-footer for think I’m a nice guy, and we can get along the golfer.

PHOTOS BY NAME GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 49

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JULY

turn, my left shoulder going left shoulder going turn, my beard. I usually under my percent 90 than more no swing to but when I want of capacity, theat boomswing I there, out it as I can. Hitting it ball as hard on other off shots, pays hard learned pitches, On a I’ve too. shot that grabslow-flying like bounce. I crazy on the third 58-degreemy take wedge and open which promotes the face, the a high shot. I move But then stance, my in back ball keep on it, sharply hit down —with guy yocom ing my hands ahead through hands ahead through ing my impact. This shot came in hole at on the third handy Troon at the Open Champi was pin The last year. onship a ledge. It beyond back-right asked for a high, soft shot, to be honest, but I screamed one of those grabbers low-flying that bouncedback there once, stopped then skidded a little, went The fans near the hole. It actually looked hard crazy. produce. to er than it was the thing about beefing That’s have all you – game your up shots new Finding you. in it fun. it’s just productive, isn’t / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA JUST FOR DANCING JUST FOR DANCING GOOD RHYTHM ISN’T DRIVES, LOW-FLYING PITCH LOW-FLYING DRIVES, SHOTS THAT BITE, AND WHY SHOTS THAT 381 WORDS ON BIG, DRAWING DRAWING BIG, ON 381 WORDS - - YOUR SWING With With

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▶ T PHOTO BY DOM FURORE BY PHOTO he driver is the key he driver revolves and it game, my to solid balance, rhythm, around contact and timing. I keep my the whole thing swing simple, a beatdone to of “one-two,” the one swinging back and the Some through. swinging two times I music belisten to puts that the right I play fore head. When I in my rhythm needbe to energised, I go with I’m Clan. When the Wu-Tang need and to feeling jumpy I’ll go with a little down, slow Action Bronson. mechanics that have made made mechanics that have that add To big a keeper. drive I tee, go with off the a 10 yards stance my widen I draw. hard a few inches for stability and position feet closed my so my from away right foot is drawn aligned I’m the target line. the right, butto I make sure clubface is aimed dead at my the target. I position the ball my in one inch further back help make contact to stance, while the club is travelling the inside. from down thosepre-swing aspects in it turn and up I load place, loose. I make a big shoulder SWING

DRTO THE

PETE COWEN ON HIS FIVE STARSMAJOR CHAMPIONS, A PRANK WITH A LION AND A TRAGEDY THAT HAUNTS HIM WITH GUY YOCOM early tuesday morning of the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George’s, and Darren Clarke is a mess. He’s trudging towards the range' with his head down and shoulders slumped. When he gets to ITme, I ask, “Are you all right, Darren?”S He says, “No, I’m f------not. I can’t hit the ball. I’m wasting my time. I might as well go home.” I had seen this before in Darren. I had talked him down off the ledge many times. I said, “Look, the weather is going to be terrible, and you’re the best bad-weather player in the world. Why would you think you’ve got no chance? Let’s have a look at you.” After watching him hit balls briefly, I gave him one thing to think about. Within two hours, his demeanour changed completely: “Watch me hit this stinger. . . . Watch me hit this high draw.” It was an incredible exhibition of shotmaking. As he left the range, I said, a little sarcastically, “Are you okay now?” Darren replied, “Yeah, but I still can’t f------putt.” We laughed. He won by three.

i’ve had five players win major my time to be famous came and went. ● ● ● championships while I was working with As a coach, it’s good to be part of some- improving at golf is not that big a deal. them: Darren Clarke, Louis Oosthuizen, thing special. But let’s face it, it’s about I can guarantee dramatic improvement from Graeme McDowell, Danny Willett and the players. 15 minutes a day, without even using a club. Henrik Stenson. Some other very good ● ● ● But that commitment is way out of the range players: Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn, Ser- lee westwood told me that at his first of most people. I spoke recently at a seminar gio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel (before Ryder Cup, at Valderrama in 1997, Seve, attended by 500 Australian club pros. I said, they both won the Masters) among them. who was captain, approached him on the “We’ve long known that exercising 15 min- And now, Thomas Pieters and Matthew practice range and held out some balls of utes per day will add several years to our lives. Fitzpatrick. Over 200 tournament titles cotton. “Lee, I want you to put these in Those of you who have spent 15 minutes dai- worldwide. I’m proud of that, but you your ears before you go to the first tee,” ly over the last 10 years, raise your hands.” Not might have noticed I keep a fairly low he said. “The noise there will be deaf- a hand went up. I said, “If you won’t commit profile. It’s not about me. I had my shot at ening.” Lee replied, “I’ve worked a long 15 minutes to lengthening your very life, what fame when I played professionally for 10 time just to hear that roar. No thanks, makes you think you’ll devote 15 minutes to years during the 1970s. I had very mid- Seve.” Which tells you something about golf?” The problem comes down to actually dling success – I was a failure, really – and world-class players. They love the stage. doing it. It’s a very tough sell.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY SEBASTIAN NEVOLS AT COWEN’S ACADEMY IN ROTHERHAM, SOUTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. my shot / 66 / sheffield / england

● ● ● in them – the perfectionist tendencies, the fascinating thing to me is ● ● ● perhaps – leads them to not being happy as a coach, I can’t look at Adam Scott how all these great players are different. people. When you think about it, there are They’re gifted in varying ways – physically, and not see sort of a puzzle. On one hand, only two things in life that are essential: I see all this natural ability and wonder, like emotionally, temperamentally and ambi- food and shelter. Beyond that, it’s all win- tion-wise. Louis Oosthuizen’s gift was to many people, why he hasn’t been more dow dressing. A new iPhone? New car? dominant. On the other hand, he has ac- never be tempted to change the awesome Bigger house? You’ve got to be kidding. swing that won the Open at St Andrews in complished a lot: Masters champion, WGC If there’s a fact of life I see hit home on titles and wins all over the world. Who’s to 2010. It’s the same basic swing I saw when an almost daily basis, it’s that money and he came to me as an amateur. That’s a gift, say he’s underachieved? You cannot criticise fame do not bring happiness. him. It’s his life. Contentment is not a believe me. When a player has success, there’s always a voice that whispers they crime. can be even better if they make this one ● ● ● change. It can be disastrous, but Louis never when i began teaching other heard that voice. He also has never changed professionals, I immediately formed a fee his priorities in life. His family comes first, structure that is quite different from that of his farm second and golf third. Nothing ‘IF YOU many teachers in America. My company, will ever change that. Top Ten Golf Limited, is a service that is strictly performance-based. I get 4 percent ● ● ● ASSUME TOUR of the players’ tournament winnings, but danny willett’s greatest gift is something that can’t be taught. I’m talking only for finishes in the top 10. If they don’t PLAYERS ARE finish in the top 10, I don’t get paid. I the total absence of stage fright. Did you watch him win the Masters? Here it was, cover all my expenses and am available on the biggest moment of his career and may- UNIMAGINABLY short notice. I’m very proud of this. What be his life, yet he seemed no more nervous other coach in the world of sports has the than if he were playing with his mates at HAPPY AND confidence to structure their fee schedule home. It was incredible. Stage fright is a this way? There have been times when the form of choking, a fear of embarrassing CONTENT, results of my coaching have produced rev- yourself. It happens in everything, from enue for me that the players’ agents felt was singing karaoke to giving a speech to excessive. This led me to add a corollary to I ASSURE YOU my offer: If the player leaves my camp, for playing a weekend round with your pals. Overcoming it is something that can’t be any reason whatsoever, and doesn’t leave taught. It has to be sorted out, alone, the THAT IS NOT a token bit of compensation in place, said way Bernhard Langer did with his yips. player cannot come back. This happened What’s killing Tiger Woods? Stage fright. THE CASE.’ several years ago with a very good player I This great athlete, who once laughed at was helping. A Ryder Cupper who became bad shots and had no self-consciousness at top 50 in the world. The player’s agent rang all, is now terrified of looking like the rest me one day to say his player was going of us. He’s done what most stage-fright to “do his own thing,” was leaving and victims do, which is try to overcome it by choosing not to keep a bit for me intact. I dissecting his technique. That stanches the warned that said player couldn’t come back. flow of creativity, robs from the player’s Some time later, the player’s performance inherent talent. declined. The agent phoned me, asking if I would begin working with his player ● ● ● again. To that I said, “You obviously weren’t tiger woods’ last year as an amateur in some ways was the high-water listening.” I couldn’t take the player back. mark of his swing. He had height on his But good luck to him. He’s a nice lad, and backswing. He had a drop on his down- still a good player. swing that was to die for, a moment of ● ● ● deceleration with his upper body that i dislike putting. It carries too much allowed his arms to catch up. He then weight, scoring-wise. If it were up to me, exploded into the ball in a way that was each putt would count only half a stroke. I incredible. He will never have that again, give you two golfers. Player A hits a 3-iron if for nothing else than age. Age eventually over water to a back-right pin. Hits it to 10 makes everyone look ordinary. feet, then misses the putt. Player B hits a big pull left of the green, pitches it to six feet ● ● ● and holes the putt. Under my system, Player i spend my share of time around miserable millionaires. If you assume A scores a 2 on the hole, while Player B tour players are unimaginably happy and scores 2½. That’s called justice. And it would content, I assure you that is not the case. speed up the game. Many are, but most aren’t. They are healthy, ● ● ● rich and living the dream, but something i helped the Irish men’s team when Rory

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 55 my shot / pete cowen

McIlroy was 13 and 14. I was told there out the bad ones. If your ball buries in a more out of the round, because he’d hit the was this McIlroy kid who was brilliant, bunker on the first hole, hits a spike mark ball great. Graeme spun, looked me in the so when the team came down to see us, I on the second and comes to rest in a divot eye and said, “I’ve got a big one in me, you quickly picked Rory out and challenged at the third, don’t start taking chances. Ride know.” Over the next three days he put on him. “You can’t hit this shot, can you?” I it out and play conservatively. When a run display his particular gift, which is massive said, and gave him a shot only a really good of good luck happens – say, a lucky chip-in balls. Graeme is absolutely fearless. He hits player can hit, a high, soft, 30-yard bunker followed by a 50-foot putt – start rolling the right shots at the right time, and if it shot to a back pin. “I can do it!” he said the dice. Play along with the golf gods. happens to be a demanding one with dire and dove right into it. He couldn’t pull it ● ● ● consequences if he misses, he won’t hesi- off. When I shook my head in an I-told- my best friend on the European tate. When Graeme is on, his courage and you-so kind of way, Rory didn’t show an Tour was David Jagger. Nice player, and self-belief are unreal. ounce of embarrassment. He came right the best practical joker I ever met. David, ● ● ● back at me: “Next time I see you, I’ll be who also was a club pro, got a call from a when i began working with Henrik able to hit it.” A short time later, when friend who had been to a house clearance Stenson, he had sort of a preset move- I travelled to Carton House Golf Club sale and bought the complete stuffed body ment with his shoulders I didn’t care for. I outside Dublin, Rory pounced. “Watch of a lion a hunter had claimed in Africa. decided Henrik should get rid of it, and he this,” he said, and went into the bunker and David ordered the man to bring it over to followed my direction exactly. It wasn’t the played the shot expertly. Even at that time, the club early the next morning. Together, best decision I ever made. It took Henrik Rory felt there was nothing he couldn’t do. in secret, they took the lion out to a far an awfully long time to work through The enthusiasm and certitude with which corner of the course and inserted it into it, enough to make me wonder if it was he’d embrace any challenge proved he was a gorse bush. They went back to the shop, worth it. As it turned out, it was, but it was going to be special. and, as players began showing up to play, a reminder I should think changes through ● ● ● they told them that a lion had escaped from very carefully before recommending them. i played the european tour from the nearby zoo. “The whole town is on the ● ● ● 1970 to 1980, with a two-year break due alert,” David said. “I’m sending you out, but when i see players going through to a back injury. I had a bit of success – I for God’s sake, be careful.” You can guess a wholesale swing change, I worry for beat Tony Jacklin and Peter Butler on the what happened next. A young boy, out with them. When it comes to the golf swing, same day in the Benson & Hedges Match his trolley and clubs, rounded a corner right improvement is good, change is bad. If I Play in 1974. But I wasn’t a world-beater, into the gorse bush and the face of the see an aspect of the swing I don’t care for, and it was tough to make a living. I tied for lion, teeth bared, ready to eat him up. The I usually try to integrate it into the rest of 35th in the 1979 Open Championship – boy ran back to the clubhouse without his what he does, without changing it radically. Seve won it – and didn’t make enough to clubs, almost dying with fright. David, of You can sometimes even make it a strength. cover expenses. I was 57th in the Order of course, thought it was hysterical. This often is better than trying to eliminate Merit and lost money for the year. At the flaw, because that can require a great that point I was 28, had a young family deal of other complex changes. It can set and needed to move on. up an entirely different motion. ● ● ● ● ● ● my first tournament as a pro was i liken the golf swing to a car. in a local assistant’s event. I shot 109-100. During the swing, the whole of your body It was a rather traumatic experience, but ‘IF IT WERE is the engine. The arms, hands and the club I did have the courage to at least sign my are the steering wheel. Your brain is the card. When I talk to kids who come by UP TO ME, driver and provides the fuel. Despite our my academy, I mention that story as I lay efforts, sometimes we start hitting poor out my three Rs for being successful in EACH PUTT WOULD shots. More often than not, the source life. The first R is Respect yourself. Never be of the problem is the car’s transmission, embarrassed so long as you try your best. COUNT ONLY which in a golf context, is the shoulders. Don’t throw clubs or lose your temper; Poor shoulder movement is a huge cause you’re really disrespecting yourself when HALF A STROKE.’ of inconsistency and days where you don’t you do that. The second R is Respect those seem to “have it.” Any command from who helped you. This particularly applies to your brain to your arms and hands can’t your coaches, parents or teachers. Re- be obeyed, because it’s not transferring member that if you disrespect yourself, correctly through the shoulders. It’s one you’re disrespecting them, too. The final ● ● ● of the biggest oversights in golf. R is Responsibility, which sort of goes back on the sunday prior to the 2010 US ● ● ● to my signing for the 109-100. Always be Open at Pebble Beach, I sat with Graeme best shoulders in golf: sergio accountable. Whatever happens, it is not McDowell in front of a TV at a restau- garcia. Sergio lays the shaft down on the anyone else’s fault. Do not buy into the rant near the 17th hole. As we watched downswing far more than anyone, myself blame culture that is ruining the world Lee Westwood win the St Jude Classic, included, would recommend. But the way today. Man up, and you’ll be fine in life. Graeme grew rather quiet and seemed he delivers the club into the ball through ● ● ● to be taking something from it. After the movement of his shoulders is fantas- that isn’t to say luck isn’t a the first round – Graeme shot 71, only tic. When I work with Sergio, I’m never factor in life, or on the golf course. The two shots back of the lead – I casually tempted to touch the way he flattens the secret is to ride the good streaks and wait mentioned it was too bad he didn’t get shaft, because the movement of his shoul-

56 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA ders is so good. Remember, the swing isn’t ing a higher flight with maximum speed. of security has been ignored. I have put about positions, it’s how you move from Is one style better than the other? I shade a great deal of my own money into this one position to the next. Billy Foster, who towards the European way, but depending place. It’s a labour of love, and I carry on has caddied for Lee Westwood, Darren on the player, it can go either way. because I grew up here, still live near here Clarke, Seve Ballesteros, Sergio and even ● ● ● and want to be an asset to the commu- Tiger, will tell you that Sergio is the best is ben hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern nity. But I’m near my limit. There’s an striker of the lot. It’s the way Sergio moves Fundamentals of Golf still relevant? No. I’ve open area near one of our greens, and those shoulders that makes Billy’s observa- read it hundreds of times, and it’s increas- the environmental agency in the UK just tion spot on. ingly clear that what Hogan thought he issued permission for a guy to move a ● ● ● did in the swing isn’t what he did at all. It’s million tons of toxic waste there. Can you my vote for the best swing of all a smart book, and I can absolutely see how imagine that happening, what with all the time: Sam Snead. I played 36 holes with he arrived at his beliefs, but that doesn’t kids running about? It’s outrageous but Sam at a tournament in Kenya in 1980. make it a good how-to manual. Coaches somewhat typical of what’s going on in He shot 69-69. I actually led him after who know what to look for can derive the UK these days. those rounds, and I still have the note he value from it, but average students, no. It ● ● ● wrote for me: “To a wonderful player, Pete will only confuse them. you never heard of david moore. Cowen. Regards, Sam Snead.” Sam in his ● ● ● He was an English kid we toured with prime had this incredible hyper-mobili- one of my favourite students back in the 1970s. An absolute brilliant ty that was unique in that he was strong at the moment is Thomas Pieters. I’ve player, unlimited potential, destined for enough to control it. He was 68 when I taught him since I took part in a Belgian greatness. He could do things with a golf played with him and still carried a 1-iron. golf programme when Tom was 13. He ball the rest of us couldn’t do. In the winter It wasn’t there just for show – he could is unique. It’s rare when a player follows of 1976, there was a series of tournaments drill it. There was the wonderful rhythm, of your instruction without question, but if I in Zambia. Big events, excellent purses. All course, but it also was amazing mechanical- were to tell Tom, “Go stand in the corner the best Ryder Cuppers were in the fields ly. Even with the length and power of his for two hours, and it will make your golf as well as Jack Newton, who had just lost swing, Sam never suffered a serious injury better,” he would head for the corner. I’m an Open playoff to Tom Watson at Car- from playing golf that I’m aware of. That not taking full credit for the success he’s noustie. The towns in Zambia were remote alone says a lot. had so far, because his coach at Illinois, with few hotels, so we stayed with host ● ● ● Mike Small, really turned him into a player. families. A few days into it, David asked mechanically, Sam embodied almost Personality-wise, Belgians seem to either me who I was staying with, and could he perfectly my conception of the full-swing be very strong, driven characters, or they’re possibly arrange to stay with us as well. “I motion resembling a spiral staircase, going not. Tom Pieters is a strong character, and a don’t like the atmosphere of the house I’m back and coming through. Sam’s sequen- strong Belgian is something to behold. in,” he said. “Something is not right with tial coiling and uncoiling was timeless ● ● ● the guy who is hosting us.” I sympathised and without flaw. There was none of this i’m also coaching a Yorkshireman and looked into it, but the house I was in lateral-motion stuff, nor was it simple turn named Jonathan (Jigger) Thomson. He’s 20, was full of guests. A few days later, David then unturn. Sam’s engine was much more a leukaemia survivor, and his pro career is and another pro attended a party at a rugby dynamic than that. You could imprint a well underway. Jigger is 6-9 and, needless club. The host and the host’s wife were silhouette of Sam, and it would be a great to say, quite long. It’s impossible to look at there, and the guy got drunk and accused imprint for anyone to follow today. There’s his sheer size and not wonder if that isn’t David of having an affair with his wife. only one player today who comes close to the future of golf. They say in boxing that a Which was insane, because David scarcely matching it, and that’s Henrik Stenson. good big man will always beat a good small knew them. The husband left. A couple ● ● ● man, and you wonder if one day it might of hours later, when David and another darren clarke at his best is one hold true in golf. player arrived back at the host’s house, the of the two or three best ball-strikers I ever ● ● ● husband opened the front door, drew a gun saw. His ability to hit the ball solidly, to new kids continue to show up at the and shot David in the head. Killed him. My control his trajectory, is fantastic, especially Pete Cowen Academy in Rotherham, but inability to get David into another house with the driver. I prefer a slightly lower, it’s getting harder to get them interested has always haunted me. penetrating, bullet-like ball flight that in golf. We offer footgolf, table tennis, bas- ● ● ● connotes the word drive. I prefer it to the ketball and soccer, anything to get them to if you want to stay young by hang- arcing, rainbow flights you see in some take up golf. I cringe slightly at the other ing around young people, don’t demand other players. The ball flight I like works activities. But with the disappearances of special treatment and oodles of respect. on any course and is especially effective caddies, there are fewer inroads to golf. They’ll want to take the mickey out of you when it’s cold and wet, or when the air We have to try new things. by calling you “old fart” and stuff like that. is heavy. Nick Price had that. So did Ian ● ● ● Let them – it’s a test and a sign that you’re Woosnam. Thomas Pieters has it. it breaks my heart to tell you this, welcome. And give it right back. ● ● ● but my academy has been burglarised 22 ● ● ● europeans, who develop swings in times. It’s not in the best part of town. you never stop discovering things. adverse conditions on courses that often They break in every way possible – last Ever notice how you’ll sometimes put aren’t well-groomed, gravitate towards time was through the roof – and trash the backspin on a buried lie from sand? I’ve controlling ball flight and trajectory. They place. There is nothing here to steal, yet developed a technique for doing that. It has apply pressure on the ball in a more stable, they break in anyway. Not one person has to do with “rippling” the sand. Come over less-manipulative way than the Americans, been caught, and every plea I’ve made to the academy, and I’ll show you how it’s who generally are more focused on achiev- to the police and local councils for a bit done.

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 57 And for my Latest Trick . . . Michael Scholz wins PGA title at first attempt.

e’s known as a flamboyant days with his zany performances, doing you like to get it right.” trick shot artist (right), with an about 100 of them a year. At Stellenbosch, Scholz also got it right H amazing comedic repertoire “Trick shots are the rage on YouTube, when it mattered, having a 10-under-par of quirky stuff, but Michael but in my job I cannot afford to fail total of 206 (67-70-69) for a one-shot Scholz showed that he can also play great performing a trick in front of a live audi- victory over Pretoria professional Pieter conventional golf when he won the PGA ence,” he says. “If you’re doing something Kruger and Rob Wiederkehr, originally National Championship presented by for YouTube, you can do as many takes as from Cape Town, who has been teaching Diners Club. The veteran pro and occasional Sunshine Tour player claimed the Denis Hutchinson Trophy for the first time after having three sub-par rounds at Stellen- bosch Golf Club in the Cape Winelands. “To have my name on this trophy is an honour,” said Scholz. “A few years ago Denis gave me a tip about putting in which he said just swing the club, and it’s made such a difference to my putting. I eagled the par-5 12th hole in all three rounds – that is really unusual.” The PGA Tour had a trick-shot golfer, Wesley Bryan, win the RBC Heritage in April. He and his brother started a YouTube channel featuring their videos. Scholz, 46, was playing in the PGA’s signature tournament for the first time, having only qualified last year as a PGA of SA professional under the mentorship of Dave Usendorff, while he was general manager at The Els Club Copperleaf. Scholz and Usendorff were familiar faces on local TV on the SuperGolf programme (now cancelled), hosting the humorous Dave & Mike Golf 101 segment about the rules. He markets himself as the 40-year-old rookie, and has a website by that name. He’s a big hit at corporate golf

58 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA TRICK SHOT PHOTOS BY JAMIE THOM • SHAWN BENJAMIN INLAND TEAM TRIUMPH IN WEBSTER CUP he Webster Cup is the closest Tannual contest we have in South Africa to the Ryder Cup, and this year it was hosted at Highland Gate in Mpum- alanga, where the 12-man Inland team of PGA club professionals overcame The winning Inland team. From left, Michael Balderstone, Rudy Whitfield, John the Coastal team 14½-9½ over three Dickson, Craig Stickling, Pierre Van Vuuren, Paul Marks, Hans Jonck, Jannes Sik, sessions of foursomes, betterball and Michael Scholz, Martin Briede, David Riddle, Dietrich Uys. singles. It was a tight match until the in Switzerland for several years. Both love for the game is a good fit for the final-day singles, which the Inland shot 71 in the last round after sharing PGA,” said Ficalbi. “Even though he’s not team won 9-3 to regain the trophy, the 36-hole lead with Clinton Grobler your typical associated club professional, a named after former PGA chairman (Ruimsig), who finished fourth on 209. PGA professional is somebody who works Graham Webster, who was present as William Guy (Somerset West) was fifth in the golf industry. That’s what Michael tournament director. The Inland team, on 210. is. He’s an entertainer and he plays golf to led by PGA chairman Paul Marks, PGA Chief Executive Ivano Ficalbi have fun and he represents our brand in an included a mix of prominent teaching was thrilled with the new champion. unbelievable way because he wants more pros, club managers, golf directors “Michael’s outgoing personality and people playing the game.” and head professionals. LOADby kevin chappell G0 store energy, then attack

You might be surprised to learn that your swing has something in common with mine. Just like you, I sometimes struggle to complete my backswing before starting my downswing. I know a lot of amateurs make a short-and-quick backswing, never really loading up, and that causes the downswing to be out of sync and powerless. Believe me, I work on loading on the way back quite a bit and have played my best in the past year or so because of it. So my advice is, spend some time working on powering up your swing. Learn how to create and store energy, so when it’s time to hit the shot, you can go hard and really attack the ball. Let me show you how. —with Ron Kaspriske

60 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA load: feel it in your glutes

As I take the club back, I feel weight shifting into the inside portion of my right foot, by the heel. Also, and this is the key, I can feel the glute LOAD G0 muscles on the right side of my butt contracting. If you lift weights, it kind of feels like a deadlift. I keep turning until those glutes are fully loaded. Doesn’t matter how much the torso rotates or where the clubhead is. Don’t worry about that. Your backswing ends when the glutes are fully loaded. Now you’re ready to go.

go: shift, push and swing

Get the transition into the downswing right, and you can go as hard as you want at the ball. As your backswing ends, make a lateral shift with your lower body towards the target. Feel your weight move into the heel of your left foot. Foot- work is important. Without lurching out of your posture, push into the ground. Feel planted and then just let the club fire through the ball. Simple, right? A great cadence to remember is “load and go.” Now go hit ’em flush.

kevin chappell, 30, is in his seventh season on the PGA Tour. He won the Texas Open in April, his maiden tour win.

PHOTOS BY NATHANIEL WELCH GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 61 Randpark Urban golf destination Randpark Club offers not just 36 holes of golf, but a complete lifestyle experience. By Stuart McLean

olf clubs today face all its bustling activity, is the Randpark Club. There were G new challenges to Redhub cycling studio, a major changes to the cham- Gremain viable and Kidz space, and conference pionship Firethorn layout, successful, and Randpark facilities. Out among the two with Golf Data designer Sean Club has redefined itself courses are running trails Quinn building seven new as the “ultimate urban golf which are used for fun runs. holes. destination” in its quest to There’s a freshness about “The courses needed be recognised as one of the everything. The Golf Shop modernising and flash flood- leading social golf clubs in has been renovated recently, ing from the stream flowing South Africa. while the double-decker through the courses was a The management team driving range has been given major problem on Firetho- and committee at Randpark a makeover and partnered rn, continuously damaging see the club’s role today as with Callaway to offer a new greens and surrounds. The offering its members more state-of-the-art fitting studio, courses were redesigned to than just a place to enjoy retail shop and repair centre. improve these problem areas the singular pursuit of golf, It was relaunched on June 23 and enhance playability,” which the Central Gauteng under new range manager says Francois Swart, General club has done over many Phil Simmons, formerly the Manager of Randpark. years with its impressive golf director at Mount Swart took over the reins 36-hole facility. In recent Edgecombe. at Randpark following the years it has morphed from a Randpark’s metamor- passing of visionary CEO golf club into a community phosis began in 2011 with Doug Bain in 2014. Swart lifestyle club. a R26-million investment had been the club’s food and Complementing the large into the upgrade of its two beverage manager for six clubhouse, on either side golf courses by Golf Data. years, and working together of it, is the luxury Fairway They were modernised and with club president Garth Hotel & Spa, the wedding rebranded in 2013 as the Elliott he is focused on chapel and The Brewery. Bushwillow and Firethorn, to establishing the club as a Inside the clubhouse, with realign the two courses with brand that people associate with quality and enjoyment, resident teaching staff at the The golf villas at Fairway Hotel & Spa. not just golf. Last year he revamped range, and a cycle achieved his Certified Club session with Redhub. We add Manager qualification from value at Randpark. We are re- the Business Management launching the tennis academy, Institute, Georgia State and conferencing is strong.” University, the 13th person in Randpark, with a large South Africa to do so. fleet of 80 carts, is strong in “I see this qualification as hosting corporate “one-stop essential in lifting the club shop” golf days. On the day to the next level,” says Swart. I visited Randpark both “Our aim is to add value courses were being used for a for the member, and create golf day involving 296 golfers, new opportunities for their followed by dinner in the families. A new member clubhouse where the club package at Randpark will in- was catering for 310 guests. clude 3 nights at the Fairway It’s the ability to look after Hotel, a 30-minute custom such big groups that gives fitting assessment with our Randpark a significant edge

62 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA The 18th green of the Firethorn course in front of the Randpark clubhouse. over its rivals. for two South African Opens, matured and the fairways are the importance of the ren- With cycling popular back in 1995 and 2000. It lush again. The green-belt ovations by getting involved among golfers, it’s interesting recently held the Sunshine surroundings at Randpark and investing in the project,” that Redhub have moved Tour’s Final Q School event, make for remarkable pictur- says Swart. “Both are now their bike fitment studio and an IGT Tour outing. esque scenery, and playing great courses and a true test from the Cresta Centre to Randpark is also home to the our courses feels like an for golfers.” The Firethorn a golf club. Randpark has 2 Central Gauteng Golf Union escape to the countryside.” moved up to No 30 in the 500 members, of whom 1 offices, and their Northern The members endured 2016 ranking of Golf Digest’s 700 are full members. The Open is held at the club in four years of work and dis- Top 100 courses. The Bush- two sports are a good fit, and March. ruption during the remodel- willow was No 61. is added value to the Rand- “We certainly would ling of the two courses, and Randpark actually has a park member. be keen to be part of the the club did lose some of third course, although it’s not Swart is ambitious about European Tour if offered an them, especially during the on the property, but a few Randpark hosting another opportunity, and having 36 construction of Firethorn kilometres away at Roosevelt co-sanctioned European Tour holes makes us an attrac- when it was closed for nine Park. They operate and con- event on the new Firethorn tive venue,” he said. “Both months. “I applaud those trol Creek 9, a 9-hole public course, which was the venue courses have now settled and members who understood facility Par 3 course. It’s a

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 63 proper Par 3 layout, not a Mashie, and is frequented by players of all ages and varying abilities, with a relaxed dress code. It’s also the home of Foot Golf in South Africa. Maintenance at Rand- park is supervised by two head greenkeepers, Roger Innes (Firethorn) and Ivan van Heerden (Bushwillow), and they recently initiated a novel monthly challenge to members which involves the two of them playing a betterball match against two members, with the losers having to plant two River Bushwillow trees supplied by the club. The Fairway Hotel & Spa overlooks the first hole on the Firethorn course, and the practice putting greens adjoin the hotel’s outside entertainment area. It is an ideal base for golfers visiting Gauteng. For golf groups there are seven specific golf villas, each with a four-bedroom unit, plus kitchen, lounge and braai area. The king- size bedrooms have their own TV, bath and shower, and can accommodate two people. The hotel restaurant is named Balata, a familiar word for an older generation of golfers who grew up playing golf balls with a thin balata rubber covering.

From top to bottom: The new par-5 second hole on the Firethorn course; Randpark GM Francois Swart with head greenkeepers Roger Innes (left) and Ivan van Heerden (right); A festive crowd on the upper deck of the clubhouse.

64 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA The Life GOOD _ on the course • off the course

Two Highly Regarded, Distinctive 18-Hole Golf Courses Plus a 9-Hole Mashie Course Modern Clubhouse Renowned for Safety and Friendliness Sophisticated Function and Conference Facilities Luxury Fairway Hotel and Spa Golf Tuition and Clinics Golf Shop with Top Brands and Professional Service Floodlit Driving Range Variety of Membership Options Tennis Academy Cycling Studio Running Track Kiddies Play Facility

The Ultimate Urban Golf Destination

011 215 8600 www.randpark.co.za Golfers who Inspire Us Amputee American world champion wins SA Disabled Open crown. By Stuart McLean

appy, smiling faces right leg, he eschews the use ised and run national champi- mine while serving in Iraq. were everywhere of a prosthetic – “it doesn’t onship in the world,” he said. “I went through the same at King David feel natural; I learned balance Pfeifer, 34, the current torture all amputees endure H Mowbray Golf from a young age” – and world champion, shot 70- while in rehab,” he said. Club when 83 golfers from swings beautifully like a tour 70-72 to win by six. He’s a “There were times when I 13 nations competed in the pro around his solitary left good enough golfer to have felt I didn't have anything to Canon SA Disabled Open leg through every shot (see been given a start in a Web. live for. Then a fellow soldier at the Cape Town course in page 74). Afterwards, he bent com Tour event in 2015. He told me to go to the driving May. For the many amputees to pick up two crutches, and lost his left leg to a land- range with him and hit balls. and other disabled partic- walked with them. The late ipants, golf has brought an Seve Ballesteros is his hero, element of fun and fulfilment and Seve would have been to their lives, and they openly proud of this young man. showed their enjoyment Longer off the tee than of the occasion which had anyone else, and straighter brought them together. than Seve used to be, Postigo The champions among had the lowest round of the them did more than just 54-hole tournament, a three- lighten the mood. They also under-par 69 on day one, and entertained and inspired the went on to finish second to galleries, mostly club mem- the eventual winner, Amer- bers, with their remarkable ican Chad Pfeifer, who was skills. Spaniard Juan Posti- defending the title he first go, 21, was the player who won at Zwartkop last year. captured everyone’s curiosity “I’m back here because the and hearts. Born without a SA Open is the best organ-

66 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA FIRST SWING SUCCESS Canon sponsors the First Swing Programme, a successful development initiative of the SA Disabled Golf Association which offers tailor-made coaching to children with special needs, disabilities, debili- tating diseases like Parkinson’s and Cerebral Palsy, deafness, and those who are wheelchair bound. More than 1000 disabled children from 42 schools are currently on the programme overseen by head coach Andrew Corthing. The most promising are nurtured to competitive level. Enrique van Wyk, 16, diagnosed with hemiplegia as a toddler, enrolled at age nine and at King David Mowbray won the Overall Physically Disabled division for handicaps 19-36.

Halfway through the first tournament’s characters, bucket I hit the sweet spot a flamboyant figure at King and it just kept going. I was David Mowbray with his sig- hooked.” nature Mohawk hairdo and All the amputees used flowery tattoos. “I love golf, golf carts to get around the and compete as often as I can course. American Kenny in able-bodied events. There Bontz, 47, a scratch golfer are always a few guys who who finished third, lost his look at me and roll their left leg above the knee to eyes. They’re thinking ‘what cancer. “Playing golf with is this guy doing here?’ And a prosthetic leg, especially I’m like, what do you want those of us who have lost to play for dude? Because our entire leg, is extremely I’m going to kick your butt. draining,” he said. “At the “Chad is an inspiration end of the day you’re sore to so many people. He has and tired. We could never touched the lives of a ton of walk 18 holes.” people as he's played around Bontz was one of the the world.”

◀ The top golfers on the leaderboard displayed four artificial limbs between them as they waited to tee off. ◀ There was a festival atmosphere at King David Mowbray, with national flags and golf carts ringing the practice green. South Africans Reinhardt Schuhknecht and Morne Cronje study a putt in the World Cup. Kenny Bontz relaxes after golf. ▶ With Cape Town’s mountains as a backdrop, Juan Postigo tees off on the par-3 fourth hole at King David Mowbray.

PHOTOS BY CARL FOURIE • NIC BOTHMA (TOP OF PAGE) GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 67

◀ Spain’s Juan Postigo drew the admiration of the galleries with his remarkable balance and swing. World Cup champions Chad Pfeifer and Kenny Bontz, from the United States.

There has been a suggestion it happened. champion Iglin Grobbelaar Canadians Bob MacDermott that Pfeifer, as the champion, The leading South African were the other South Africans and Josh Williams, the 2014 be given a sponsor’s invite overall, in fifth place, was in the top 10. The World Cup SA Disabled Open champion. to compete in next year’s Uitenhage’s Christo de Jager, of Disabled Golf concluded It was played over five rounds SA Open. Based on his play from the Les Autres catego- the week, and Pfeifer and (3 individual, plus foursomes at King David Mowbray, he ry. Playing off a 9-handicap, Bontz were back on the and betterball), and the certainly would give a good he had rounds of 77-77-78. podium for the United States Americans posted a total of account of himself if Herman van Wyk and former with a 42-stroke victory over 581 for the week.

New_Z-Star_Strip_GD 2017-01-17T12:33:16+02:00

68 / MAY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY NAME MUST PLAY COURSES | PRESENTED BY

Did you know? Fact 1 / Club pro Fred Beaver has been at the Wild Coast since it was opened. Fact 2 / The Wild Coast has held an annual Sunshine Tour event since 1984, and Mark McNulty has won six. Fact 3 / There’s a bell on the outside deck of the clubhouse which is rung when golfers fail to clear the water with their tee shots on 18. New Monthly Feature 8 courses you should get to play

WILD COAST SUN - KZN SOUTH COAST WIN A FOURBALL TO This is one of the most unique of the 12th up a steep incline to the resort courses in world golf, a tee of the par-3 13th. These are two THE GOLF COURSE fabulous roller coaster of a layout over of the feature holes at the Wild Coast. OF YOUR CHOICE* undulating Wild Coast topography The tee shot at the par-5 12th can be *Complimentary green fees. which leaves golfers enthralled from scary for those playing the course for Course must be part of first hole to last. The course, ranked the first time. You stand on the edge Lastminutegolf, dependent on No 13 in the last Golf Digest Top 100 of a high precipice looking down on tee times being available. (it has been in the top 10), is virtually the fairway far below, and launch your Which is the highest-ranked unchanged from the day it was first ball into space. The tee shot at 13 has course among the 8 courses opened in 1983. Designed by Ameri- to carry a ravine. Wild Coast Sun, at featured in this issue? can, Robert Trent Jones Junior, it has the remote far end of the KZN South Entries close 31 July 2017. a great mix of exciting holes, includ- Coast, a two-hour drive from Durban ing six par 3s. Today it’s a carts-only (technically part of the Eastern Cape), course, because of the difficulty of is a special experience because of the walking the terrain, but it did start out vistas, the golfing challenges, and the TO ENTER SMS the answer, as a course which golfers walked with great value green fee. And it has one of your name local female caddies. They still assist the most attractive 19th Holes in golf, and address golfers as forecaddies, and bravely the clubhouse perched on a hillside to 41398. venture into the bush to look for way- overlooking the uphill par-4 18th, with ward golf balls. grand views out over the course. A funicular railway, still to be seen, Golf operations manager: used to take golfers from the green Benjamin Leonard.

JOIN PLAYMOREGOLF Are you looking to play your ‘bucket list’ courses? Play fun and unintimidating golf with family and friends? We have the solution for you. A membership to South Africa’s leading golf reciprocity offering includes a choice of 130 courses, at the lowest and most affordable rates. Members receive 10% back on Pro Shop purchases. Join Now (t’s and c’s apply). CONTACT US: Tel: 0861 752 966 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web site: www.playmoregolf.co.za Facebook: playmoregolfsa • Twitter: playmoregolfsa • Instagram:playmoregolf_with_momentum

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 69 MUST PLAY COURSES | PRESENTED BY

ATLANTIC BEACH - WESTERN CAPE

This golf estate In the some of the widest fairways West Coast village of in the Cape. This makes it Melkbosstrand is a desir- eminently playable in the able address for Cape Town wind, and it was chosen by residents wanting proximity the SAGA to host the Chal- to the ocean. Expensive lenge Cup IPT in May. homes line the fairways of a Memorable hole: The course opened at the start par-5 13th is a remark- of the new Millennium. able hole and a great test Atlantic Beach moved up to of golfing ability. A blind No 79 on the last Top 100 tee shot over a ridge must rankings following vastly be followed by an accu- improved conditioning and rate second shot between indigenous bush guarding MILNERTON - WESTERN CAPE a switch of nines. The first hole now tees off in front of both sides of the fairway. Then comes an approach One of South Africa’s most scenic layouts, built along- the double-storey clubhouse, and it’s a superb to a relatively small side the beach in Table Bay, with magnificent views of elevated green. Table Mountain and Cape Town’s skyline. The holes long par 4, played over the edge of a dune downhill to Club manager: are on a narrow strip of links-like land between ocean and Tony Louw. lagoon. The course dates to the 1920s, but was rebuilt in the green. 1997 by Golf Data to accommodate the Sunset Links es- Atlantic Beach has an tate. This is separate to the golf club, with its own entrance. undulating links feel to it, Did you know? Milnerton was ranked No 21 on the first Golf Digest Top and the course was a suit- Fact 1 / Course designer 50 in 1998, and was No 84 in the last ranking. Exposed able British Open qualifying Mark Muller is a member to the wind, it is one of a handful of SA courses with an venue in 2004 and 2005, and is now the course superintendent. out-and-back routing, which means there are two halfway when windy weather gave competitors a taste of what Fact 2 / Louis Oosthui- houses. Like the Old Course at St Andrews, you play away zen qualified for his first from the clubhouse for nine holes, downwind with the pre- they could expect in Scot- land. It has many unique British Open in 2004 vailing summer south-easter, then turn around and return through the IFQ at holes, several with views of into the wind. Golfers starting at the tenth have to drive Atlantic Beach. along a narrow, twisting road through the course to get to Table Mountain. Fact 3 / Visitors can the far end of the property, where there is a practice putting The course has a stay at a lodge near green. reputation for being a fierce the clubhouse, there are You cross a road bridge over the lagoon to reach the challenge, because of the excellent practice facili- clubhouse, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The 19th Hole fynbos which lines the fair- ties, plus a gym and spa. is one of the most festive in the Cape, and the clubhouse ways in places, yet it enjoys includes the popular Maestro’s Restaurant. Milnerton is renowned in the Cape as a wonderful winter venue. The weather is more benign in terms of wind, and the sandy soil means the course is always dry. In summer, it’s best to play in the morning, before the wind picks up. Memorable hole: The par-4 18th is a strong closer into the south-easter. The lagoon flanks the left side of the hole from tee to green. General manager: Mark Schacht.

Did you know? Fact 1 / Five of SA’s greatest golfers have won pro tournaments at Milnerton. The club hosted the SA Masters from 1978 to 1985, and winners were Dale Hayes, Gary Player, Nick Price, Mark McNulty and Tony Johnstone. The lowest round was a 64, by McNulty and American Calvin Peete. Fact 2 / The adjacent beach is a lateral hazard on the first, sixth and 12th, so golfers can play recovery shots from the beach. Fact 3 / There’s a lighthouse on Woodbridge Island, built in 1960, at the entrance to the club. A beacon to follow over the closing holes

70 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA MUST PLAY COURSES | PRESENTED BY

BELLVILLE - WESTERN CAPE

One of South Africa’s hillier courses in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs, undulating holes are a feature of an unusual property in the Welgemoed Valley which has holes in three separate parcels of land, divid- ed by roads. There are four holes overlooked by the clubhouse, first and tenth, ninth and 18th, a lower section of seven holes, and an upper section of another seven. While no longer in Golf Digest’s Top 100, it has been there in the past. It has always been known for outstandingly good greens. The course is relatively short at 6 000 metres by the standards of today’s modern game, but the challenges lie in holding the sloping fairways, and a wide range of uphill and downhill approaches. Water hazards also come into play. It is a popular club and at one stage a decade ago had one of the biggest member- ships in the country. Did you know? Memorable hole: The sixth is a long Fact 1 / Bellville began as a 9-hole course for Afrikaans-speaking golfers dogleg right par 4 played from a high tee, in the 1950s called Welgemoed, and only became 18 holes in 1981. followed by an uphill approach to a narrow Fact 2 / The club has been home to many top Western Province golfers green. in recent years, and has won the Premier League title several times since General manager: 2000. Werner Theart.

STRAND - WESTERN CAPE Did you know? A new modern driveable par-4s and Fact 1 / Strand was the site in 2004 of Ashleigh Simon’s course was built testing par-3s, while historic first SA Women’s Strokeplay and Matchplay double at age 14. She remains the youngest winner of a national title. by Golf Data at Strand, seven holes on the back Fact 2 / Parts of the old Strand course now form part of the opened in 1994, to nine are played on the mini 9-hole Fairview estate course near Gordon’s Bay. replace the original other side of a highway, Fact 3 / Strand might be the only golf club in the country with layout on the dunes of reached by a tunnel after a Putt-Putt facility, a new project. the False Bay shoreline, playing the tenth. The taken over for develop- course has briefly been ment. It’s close to the in Golf Digest’s Top 100, Strand beachfront, but but not in recent years without any sea views. despite the excellent Although built on a condition of its greens. flat, inland site, it’s an It is a regular host venue interesting and varied to Western Province parkland design, with a tournaments, having a strong finishing par- practice range facility 5 18th in front of the on site. clubhouse. A large water Memorable hole: The hazard guards the right double-dogleg second hand side of the fairway, is a highly unusual par and another the front 5, with large trees in the of an undulating raised middle of the fairway, green. and a hidden green that The tree-lined front only becomes visible as nine has an unusual you get close to it. variety of different General manager: holes, dogleg par-5s, Cornie Blom.

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 71 MUST PLAY COURSES | PRESENTED BY

BEACHWOOD - KZN

This unique Durban North golf course became part of Durban Country Club in 1994, and that merger not only saved Beachwood from possible closure, but also resulted in an outstanding upgrade to the 1930s course by Gary Player Design, and a new clubhouse. It has consistently been ranked among the premier courses in South Africa, and was No 33 in the 2016 Top 100 rankings. Beachwood is an environmental gem right on the Indi- an Ocean, but the adjacent beach is mainly hidden from the course by indigenous bush. It’s known as a narrow course where you need to be precise with your shotmaking, and there are plenty of challenging tee shots to be faced at various stages of the round. Sadly, the future of the course is unclear, as Dur- ban CC has decided on selling the land to developers, despite being an area of natural beauty. The good news for now though is that the new owners wish to keep the course open for at least another three years, managed ZIMBALI - KZN by Durban CC. Memorable hole: Like Durban CC, there are a surpris- Zimbali is among the gest Top 100, is an excel- ing number of elevation changes, and the stroke one top three courses in lent challenge, with a great sixth hole must rank as one of the best par 4s in the KZN, a layout which has mix of different holes, but country, played from a high back tee to a fairway which improved in quality, presen- has seldom been used for doglegs left over a stream, demanding two of your best tation and conditioning in tournament play. The most shots to reach a large green. recent years. On the North recent improvement to the Golf director: Don Gammon. Coast, immediately south layout has been the rebuild- of Ballito, the estate is also ing of the sloping 15th one of the most desirable green. It is now much fairer residential addresses in in receiving approach shots South Africa. It is home on this stroke one par 4. to the luxury Fairmont Memorable hole: The Hotel, on the seafront, 18th is one of the best fin- while the boutique Zimbali ishing holes in South Africa, Lodge neighbours the golf a long dogleg left par-4 clubhouse. with bunkers guarding the This is an undulating left of the fairway. The line property, the estate being you take depends on how built on rolling hills next to far you can carry the tee the Indian Ocean, and while shot to avoid the sand. that gives you magnificent General manager: vistas, golf carts are used Gavin Woodroffe. exclusively by golfers to get around in ease and Did you know? comfort. There are some Fact 1 / American sizeable distances from Tom Weiskopf, the 1973 green to the next tee, and British Open champion, Did you know? several hills to negotiate. designed the course, Fact 1 / Part of the front nine skirts a rare mangrove The last seven holes, from which opened for play in swamp, and the property supports a variety of wildlife. the par-5 12th onwards, 1998. Fact 2 / The 18th is a longish par 3, finishing in front venture into the Zimbali Fact 2 / The national of the clubhouse bar. Coastal Forest, a beautiful coastal road used to Fact 3 / Golfers often have to wait on the par-5 17th section of the estate, which run through the course, tee for light aircraft coming into land at neighbouring you can admire from the before being moved to Virginia Airport. elevated 13th tee, looking skirt the golf estate. Fact 4 / Beachwood possesses some of the best down into a valley. Fact 3 / The meat pies bunker design in South Africa. The course, ranked at the halfway house are No 22 in the last Golf Di- highly recommended.

72 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY GRANT LEVERSHA MUST PLAY COURSES | PRESENTED BY

SAN LAMEER - KZN

It is 25 years since Peter Matko- vich first introduced his dynamic style of risk-and-reward course design to South African golfers, at the beginning of the golf estate boom that was soon to engulf this country during the rest of the 1990s. San Lameer Country Club, cut out of tropical bush, rolling hills, and swampland on the KZN South Coast, was a remarkable creation that few golfers in this country had experienced before. San Lameer was the exact opposite of your stereotypical course design. Matkovich made golfers sit up and take notice with multiple water hazards, undulating greens, extreme elevation changes, and a sublime par-3 hole, the fourth, that looked tougher to play than the famous 12th hole at Augusta National. The course remains a fun experience, and still a wonderful challenge with its unique conditioning. It was No 69 in the last comes on the downhill par-3 ninth holes. It has proved a great tourna- Golf Digest Top 100. next to the clubhouse, to a green cut ment venue over the year, and in May Memorable hole: There are many, into the edge of a water hazard. hosted the SA Country Districts. but possibly the most thrilling tee shot Golf director: Meyer du Toit. There has been big investment in renovating the clubhouse and improv- Did you know? ing the course which has taken the Fact 1 / San Lameer was the first Peter Matkovich signature course, and was ranked club to a new level under golf director No 14 in the original Golf Digest Top 50 in 1998. Meyer du Toit. Rounds have almost Fact 2 / Golfing legend Mark McNulty has a home on the estate, where he spends doubled as a result. Under Du Toit’s most of the year. guidance, San Lameer has become a Fact 3 / There is a 9-hole Mashie Course near the beachfront which is fun to play. more playable layout than ever before, Fact 4 / This was the host venue for the Sanlam Cancer Challenge national finals with more generous landing areas, from 1993 to 2009. New_UltiSoft_Stripwhile new2017-01-17T12:36:17+02:00 grass on the greens a few years ago has transformed the

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 73 AMATEUR SCENE

Almero Theron. SUN CITY’S REPUTATION IS BUILT ON TOUGHNESS, AND THEY GOT IT – SAGA “The players enjoyed the experience. They went to Sun City expecting a tough course, and they got it.” SAGA executive director Bruce Younge defended the high scores in the SA Mid- Amateur Championship by saying that competitors had relished playing the Gary Player CC under championship conditions, irrespective of the scores they made. “I was comfortable with the way the course was presented,” he said. “Yes, it was tough, because we were try- Almero stars at Sun City ing to determine the best Mid- Amateur in the country, but Free Stater claims SA Mid-Amateur title it was a fair test of golf where in playoff over Ryan Dreyer good course management from the players was critical lmero Theron 291, which in the context of according to their level of became the the tough conditions at the competence. The rough was A youngest winner GPCC was remarkably good standard for the time of year, of the SA Mid- scoring – there have only been having been cut back from Amateur Championship, and two higher winning scores. Ryan Dreyer. 89mm to 64mm following the first champion from the Third-placed Kevin Sharp the Nedbank Challenge. The Free State, triumphing at Sun (Modderfontein), the No champion admitted that he shape of the fairways and the City in only his second start 2-ranked Mid-Amateur, was had been terrified standing on length of rough has been con- in a SAGA Mid-Amateur seven shots further back in the tee of some long holes, and sistently the same since 2011 sanctioned event. He might third place, and the only other viewing the landing areas. “You when the new fairway irriga- also possibly be the first player to break 300. just cannot guarantee hitting a tion system was installed.” national champion to have Theron had a remarkable driver that straight,” he said. Younge said the length of recovered from scoring a 10 third round. Having made Dreyer, the No 1-ranked the rough was taken into con- on one hole. the turn in 33, he had a 10 at Mid-Amateur, had finished in sideration for the course set- Theron, from Heron Banks the par-5 tenth! That, and a the top-5 in each of his three up, and the back tees had not Golf Club in the Vaal Triangle, bogey at 11 could have spelled previous SA Mid-Amateur been used. “The course rat- turned 30 in February this the end of his hopes, but he appearances, and while his ing was 73, which meant the year, becoming eligible for recovered superbly with four runner-up finish was his best scratch golfer should on aver- Mid-Amateur golf, which last birdies to shoot 72, and stay yet, this was a disappointingly age have had a 72-hole score year saw the age limit reduced within four of Dreyer going close call for him. Having of 292. The winning score was from 35 to 30. A former club into the final round. “I lost kept big numbers off his card one better than that. Higher champion at Parys, he has two balls left off the tenth tee, through the first three rounds scores among the majority of represented the Free State having failed to notice that the at Sun City, nothing worse competitors can be explained Country Districts team, and tee had been moved forward than a 5, he had a 7 and a 6 in by the fact that the handicap has now set his hopes on that day,” said Theron. his final round 76. entry cut-off was at 6. playing for the South African “I took driver off the tee, In a field of 130 of the best “No one suggested that the Mid-Amateur side. when a 3-wood would have Mid-Amateurs, the 36-hole course was unplayable, and In a 72-hole tournament been the better choice. In the cut for the top 65 and ties the majority of comments re- which saw high scoring from final round I didn’t use my came on 24-over-par! The ceived regarding the set-up the field at the Gary Player driver at all, mostly hitting a player who was 65th at the were complimentary!” CC, Theron shot a 72 in hybrid or 3-iron off the tee to end of the week finished on Younge said golfers needed the final round (following keep the ball in play because 55-over. to understand that with the 73-74-72) to tie former SA of the rough.” Defending champion Gerlou Gary Player CC being known Amateur champion Ryan Narrow fairways and deep Roux (Bellville), bidding for worldwide for its toughness, Dreyer and then beat the rough made the GPCC a a hat-trick of titles, finished short rough would have been 45-year-old Killarney veteran gruelling experience for many 20 shots behind the leaders, detrimental to the playing (73-70-72-76) on the third of those who entered. Bunkers scoring 78-76-72-79. The characteristics of the course. playoff hole, with a par at which once bordered fairways average 18-hole score of the “Golfers play the course to the 18th. They had tied on now stand isolated in an top 30 finishers was 77, against experience and enjoy this a three-over-par total of island of rough. One former a course rating of 73. (toughness).”

74 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA SENIOR NEWS 07/17

TOURNAMENT WINNERS MARTIN VORSTER GOLF DIGEST KZN Open, Selborne AMATEUR RANKINGS Scores: 66-69-74-68 (277) (AT JUNE 5) Runner-up: Malcolm Mitchell 67-70-71-71 (279) 1 Kyle McClatchie Serengeti 1668 How he did it: He only turned 15 in January, but Vorster (Pin- 2 Malcolm Mitchell Kloof 1483 nacle Point) played like a veteran to win his first title outside the 3 Matt Saulez Durban CC 1268 junior ranks, having 17 birdies and an eagle. He conceded the 4 Therion Nel Bloemfontein 1224 54-hole lead to Mitchell (Kloof), but went six-under through the 5 Garrick Higgo De Zalze 1122 first 10 holes of the final round to set up victory. Mitchell had 18 birdies and an eagle. 6 Marco Steyn Modderfontein 1112 Notable: Siyanda Mwandla (Mount Edgecombe) had six consecutive birdies (holes 7 Albert Venter Centurion 1018 1-6) in a first round 67 and finished sixth. Jason Broomhead (Durban CC) had back- 8 Clayton Mansfield Durban CC 891 to-back eagles in the third round, a 3 at 10, and ace at 11. 9 Darin de Smidt Krugersdorp 872 10 David McIntyre Eagle Canyon 863 MID-AM RANKINGS DANIELLE IS GAUTENG CHAMP 11 Dylan Kok Woodhill 763 12 Luca Filippi Milnerton 760 1 Ryan Dreyer 80.3 Menlo Park High School matriculant Danielle du Toit 2 Kevin Sharp 72.1 (Waterkloof) is making every start count this year. She 13 Aneurin Gounden Glendower 705 3 Gerlou Roux 66.5 won the North West Championship in February and 14 T Bezuidenhout Rustenburg 699 4 Eddie Wilken 54.0 in May the 18-year-old claimed the Gauteng Cham- 15 Siyanda Mwandla Mt Edgecombe 678 5 Shaun Stapleton 47.3 pionship at CCJ Woodmead with 72-72, by two shots 16 Louis Albertse Dundee 675 from Symone Henriques (Glenvista 73-73). First- 6 David Muller 45.3 17 Christo Lamprecht Pinnacle Point 614 round leader Kaleigh Telfer (Bryanston 71-76) tied 7 Stefan Blommaert 43.4 18 Jason Rossiter Krugersdorp 598 third with Woo-Ju Sun (CCJ 75-72), who went on to 8 Elton James 41.0 win the Free State title a week later with 68-71-66 at 19 Andre van Heerden Walker Park 578 9 M Capuzzimati 39.6 Clarens, by six from Caitlyn MacNab (Serengeti), who 20 Caylum Boon Oubaai 545 10 Donovan Pearse 39.3 had a closing 64, and Brittney-Fay Berger (Kloof). 21 Richard Joubert Centurion 529 22 Philip Kruse Woodhill 514 FIRST MID-AM WIN FOR NALDO 23 Steven le Roux Wanderers 489 Wedgewood and Eastern Province golfer Naldo Claassen, 31, beat Gerlou Roux (Bell- 24 Greg McKay Mt Edgecombe 473 ville) in a playoff to win the Southern Cape Mid-Amateur at Fancourt. Both scored 71-70, 25 Martin Vorster Pinnacle Point 443 with home club member Henk Geldenhuys shooting 76-67 for third place. 26 Allan Lones PEGC 443 27 Jayden Schaper Ebotse 417 ◀ KYLE MCCLATCHIE celebrated his 20th 28 Luke Mayo Mt Edgecombe 379 birthday on May 28 by winning the Brabazon 29 Hayden Griffiths Zimbali 372 Trophy (English strokeplay) at Woodhall Spa, 30 David Nortje Els Club 351 only the fifth South African to claim the trophy, 31 Dean Martin Dainfern 327 following Charl Schwartzel (2002), Craig Rivett 32 Kyle de Beer PEGC 304 (1989), Richard Kaplan (1986) and Neville Sundelson (1974). Leading from the second 33 Franklin Manchest George 302 round, a closing 71 gave him a 10-under total 34 James Pennington Royal J&K 296 of 282 for a one-shot win over three players. Before the UK trip 35 Slade Pickering Pecanwood 286 with the GolfRSA squad (Albert Venter, Matt Saulez and Gar- 36 Gerlou Roux Bellville 281 rick Higgo), the Serengeti member shot 63-67 at Killarney for a 37 Eric Wowor Kyalami 267 seven-shot victory in a Big Easy Tour event. 38 Andrew Carlsson Bryanston 258 ▶ Marco Steyn claimed a Big Easy Tour win against the pros at home club Modderfontein (68-69) in May, his last tournament in 39 Jason Broomhead Durban CC 256 South Africa before taking up a golf scholarship at Wake Forest 40 Nicholaus Frade Centurion 242 University in North Carolina. 41 Jade Buitendag Kingswood 240 42 Karabo Mokoena Modderfontein 239 BRIDGE FUND MANAGER NATIONAL JUNIOR SERIES 43 Burt Gildenhuys Heidelberg 232 A new national junior series of events for boys and girls tees off in Cape Town on July 44 Hans-Jurie Human Oubaai 229 3, and will culminate in two players qualifying for the 2018 North and South Junior at 45 Zab de Jager Klerksdorp 227 Pinehurst in the United States. The Bridge Fund Manager Junior Series, sanctioned 46 Otto van Buynder Blue Valley 227 by GolfRSA, has 18 events across all provincial unions, playing in U-19 and U-13 age groups. Tournament winners in the U-19 division will be invited to their regional final – 47 Chris van Tonder ERPM 226 North or South – with the two regional champions playing their way into the North and 48 E Lambrechts Stellenbosch 225 South Junior. The Golf Development Board will manage the events, and the series has 49 Chris Basson Paarl 223 a strong development angle, with each host union invited to nominate eight SAGDB 50 Keegan McLachlan Silver Lakes 219 players at no cost. TaylorMade will provide equipment prizes.

GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 75 GOLF DIGEST AMATEUR SCENE SURVEY

KZN teams celebrate twice in“W Mayeneed to increase tourism on Surprise victory for KZN women over Gautengthe (KZN) South Coast. Not alot of t was a good month for team golf tourists come heredue to poor golf in KwaZulu-Natal, with marketing. The (Durban) airport move I the women’s team of Michaela Fletcher, Brittney-Fay Berger has not helped us either as it is now and Elsune Roode following up on the further to travel to gethere.” success of the Country Districts men’s team with a notable triumph of their own – SChALk OOSThUIzEN, SANLAmEER in the WGSA Teams Championship at Polokwane Golf Club. KZN were steady in each of the four rounds (two scores counted), equalling par three times, to win by two shots from a powerful Gauteng team seeking a hat- trick of titles. Gauteng had top-ranked Kajal Mistry (1) and Woo-Ju Son (2), plus Kaleigh Telfer (8), but after leading through 36 holes a poor third round derailed them. Fletcher (12) was the highest ranked KZN player, yet the 21-year-old from Maritzburg put in a strong performance with 72-72-69-72 to claim individual honours on 285. With superb support from 17-year-old Berger (ranked 13), who The KwaZulu-Natal team, winners of the Swiss Team Trophy at Polokwane. shot 293 for a share of fourth with Son, From left, Brittney-Fay Berger, Elsune Roode and Michaela Fletcher with WGSA they had a total of 578, good enough to vice-president Sarah Braude. win most years. Fletcher, on a golf scholarship at Memphis University, was in the KZN THREE IN A ROW FOR STEVE WILLIAMS team which last won the title at Mossel Steve Williams, 55, made it three consecutive Senior Amateur wins when he added Bay in 2014. On that occasion she was the Vaal and Fancourt titles to his WP Masters triumph. That gave the Senior No 1 edged by one shot for the Governor’s Cup six wins in his last 10 outings. Williams (Modderfontein) shot 72-69 at Maccauvlei to by Gauteng North’s Carrie Park. Telfer win by four from Colin Hayward (74-71), and 75-69 at Fancourt for a 3-shot win over was individual runner-up on 288, with No 2-ranked Mzuyanda Zingela (70-77). Francois le Roux (De Zalze 71-71) won the Caitlyn Macnab, third on 291, helping Southern Cape title at George by three from Richard Bruyns (River Club 73-72). Ekurhuleni to third place in the teams alongside Casandra Hall and Sarah Bouch.

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The winning KZN Country Districts team. Back row, from left, Koenie Erasmus, Corne van Deventer (captain), Ryno Crous, Graham Fabri- cius and Wynand de Swardt (manager). Front row, Thomas Lovett, Sean Baker, Derek Scullard and Jens Hillerman.

KZN end long drought at Country Districts

waZulu-Natal emerged from the team back to the A section at Nelspruit last wilderness at the SA Country year, and Derek Scullard (Kwambonambi), JUNIORS REGAIN CUP K Districts tournament to reclaim Koenie Erasmus (Umhlali) and Jens Hiller- The SA Junior team won the the Dewar Challenge Shield for man (Noodsberg) were the top perform- Challenge Cup IPT for the third the first time since 2009. After spending the ers, unbeaten in singles. The other team time in five years, by one point last three years in the B section, Corne van members were Van Deventer, Ryno Crous, from Western Province B at Deventer’s team used home course advan- Graham Fabricius, Sean Baker and Thomas Atlantic Beach in Cape Town. tage to edge defending champions North Lovett. They won four of their matches, West on a games countout in a tense final North West, after winning the B section in and halved the fifth against day at San Lameer Country Club. 2012, and then the Dewar for the first time unbeaten WP. The winners The tournament was marred by wet in 2013, have had a great six-year run in the comprised Tyron Davidowitz, weather on the South Coast which pre- SACD, never worse than second, with 20 Bradley de Beer, Reece vented any play the first two days, but the wins, three defeats and two halves. Aldre Ter- Haikney, Christo Lampre- full programme was completed through blanche, Andre van Dyk and Johan Krugel cht, Slade Pickering, Jayden doing away with the foursomes until the were all at the top of the MVP list. Schaper, Martin Vorster and Alex van Wyk. The tournament final day. KZN lost to North West in their Limpopo won the B section (the last time MVP was Haikney (Randpark) opening match, but won the other three, was 2009) with four wins, and their team with 8½ points out of 10. Next while North West surprisingly lost to comprised Jay van der Walt, Morne best with 7½ were Schaper and Boland, who were relegated. Each finished Myburgh (who headed the MVP list), Vorster, plus Central Gauteng’s with six log points, but KZN had 28 game Peter Masehela, Anthony Hawken, Pieter Andrew Carlsson, USSA’s Kyle points to North West’s 26. Peens, Franco Putter, Edwin Mackays and de Beer, and WP’s Adam Botha. KZN retained five players who took the Malebana Pataki.

JUSTIN KLUSENER • GOLF RSA GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JULY 2017 / 77 GALLERY

WINNING LETTER GOLFERS ARE 99.9% HONEST am tired of reading articles in the media about dishonest golfers, so could not resist writing this after having seen another letter about dishonest golfers in I your May issue. I am a member of a golf club since 1990, playing nearly every Saturday, and going on tours with friends all over the country. I am now at my third club, in three different provinces. In all this time I have seen two incidents of cheating. My experience is that 99.9% of golfers are honest and won’t cheat on the course. Club players don’t know the rules, but that is something else. The media should rather concentrate on this. I have never seen anyone who tried to manipulate his handicap, although there have been many articles about so-called ringers. We must accept that certain golfers have the ability to shoot low scores, and some will be more consistent without being fantastic. All these stories about dishonest golfers are possibly keeping newcomers away from the game. Every effort should go into bringing new players to clubs. If you look at the declining member figures at country courses this fantastic game is dying slowly but surely. André Potgieter, Kirkwood, Eastern Cape

CLUB CHAMPION AT AGE 12 12-year-old boy, a 65 from the ladies tees. A Hannes Strooh, has Last year he won the club’s won the men’s club champi- B Division title, and he now onship at Randfontein Golf plays off a one-handicap. Club in Central Gauteng. Dave Horak, MAGICAL GOLF AT UMDONI PARK Hannes, a pupil at Laerskool Randfontein Golf Club am writing to share with you the magical Rapportryer in Randgate, experience I had at Umdoni Park (pictured 12 on March 3, had rounds We believe Hannes to be the above), when I visited there for the first time as of 74 and 75 to win the title youngest winner of a men’s by three strokes. His scores I part of a 32-man KZN South Coast golf tour club championship A divi- called the Stokkiesdraai. Our first two days included a 6 and a 5 at the sion title in South Africa. Our we played at Selborne, which I was impressed with, but I par-3 seventh. This is an records show that Matthew was totally in awe of Umdoni. After driving through the amazing achievement for one Kent was recognised as the so young, and he must be the previous youngest winner, security gate on a gravel road from Pennington you sud- youngest winner of a men’s aged 13 and 9 months, when denly come across the course, and a spectacular clubhouse club championship in South he won the Clovelly Club overlooking the ocean. The contrast between the front and Africa! Champs in 2001. Philip Jonas back nines is noteworthy, whilst the slopes and angles en- Hannes excels at sport at was 13 and 11 months when countered is astonishing. school, particularly athlet- he claimed the Kyalami title The unique layout is truly amazing. Majuba and the Lad- ics, and has been playing for the first time in 1976. Tim der are exceptional par 3s, but my favourite hole (in SA) is golf since the age of five. His Clark was 12 when he won the par-4 stroke 1 17th. The sense one gets from being in father, also Hannes, owns the B Division title at the dense forest, in the bottom of a valley, and just the hole the Ten Acre Driving Range Umkomaas in 1988, in front of you is like seeing a unicorn for the first time. If in Finsbury, south of Rand- and it took him possible can you do a section on unique holes from the top fontein, so he spent his spare another three 100 courses? I know there are different opinions but maybe time there practising every years to win the you can set the criteria. aspect of the game. At the A Division. Morne Burger, Cape Town age of 10 he first represented the Central Gauteng U-13 There are numerous unique holes on our golf courses, yet it would team. Young Hannes learned be hard to define them into a category. However, we will give it a to play without any formal try in a future issue. Older courses like Umdoni tend to have par- coaching, and still uses a ticularly quirky holes because of its hilly terrain, and the lack of hammer grip. He moved to earthmoving equipment back in 1930 when it was built. Among the Randfontein men’s tees modern courses, some unique holes can be found at The Links at at the age of 10, having shot Fancourt, Lost City, St Francis Links, Pinnacle Point, Ebotse Links and Wild Coast, among others.

78 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA 07 / 17

THE MODERN DAY ABUSE OF ETIQUETTE IN GOLF PLEASE IMPORT MORE Slow play, discussed so often in your magazine, is an interesting phenom- GOLF SHOE BRANDS TO SA enon, because there are so many facets Your Shoe Guide (June) included several models to it. There are no simple solutions to speeding up play, even though it would which are not found at local golf retail outlets, and can largely disappear if every golfer obeyed only be bought through websites. Our golf shops seem this maxim: Be ready to play as soon to be locked into selling the same old brands which as it is your turn to play. we have had forever, and not recognising the emerg- Golf started out in Scotland as a game ing new ones. Consumers are losing out as a result of that was played quickly. There are re- these “obligations.” I read on the My Golf Spy website ports of 18-hole matches being played that some of the best golf shoes today come from an in not more than two hours. That could American company called Skechers, which have over- have had something to do with the in- taken Adidas in sales in the US. And yet you can’t buy clement weather, and also the fact that a pair in a local shop. Skechers might not be as stylish people didn’t have time to waste while as some models, but they are rated best for stability, playing golf. There was no such thing as comfort and fit, and that’s what you want most from a “leisure time.” golf shoe. Plus, they’re cheaper than the big brands. However, as golf spread around the Please import them. world, different cultures embraced it, James Bywater, email and played the game at their own pace, particularly in warmer climes. The game became slower and slower with the increasing rise of inconsider- NO LENIENCY FOR PENALTY SCORES ate people, who see the world, and golf andicaps Network Africa aged to retain the penalty score. courses, as their exclusive playground. have had concerning re- Every golf club should have a handi- Golf is a game which has always relied ports of golf clubs show- capper responsible for the equitable on Etiquette to keep everyone happy on H ing leniency to members application of all handicap rules and the course, but there are no penalties if who incur penalty scores. controls. The spirit of the system must you abuse it, other than nasty looks. A penalty score must be issued to a be upheld, and perceived manipula- The modern day abuse of Etiquette is player who fails to enter a score within tion of handicaps investigated. Repeat- one of the biggest changes the modern 72 hours. They are issued to ensure all able good scores by a player must be game has seen. Golfers today largely pay handicaps are kept up to date, and to reflected by an appropriate reduction lip service to Etiquette. stop people from delaying exceptional in handicap. The handicapper should They don’t pay respect to the golf scores. While it is acceptable to remove watch out for particularly high (or low) course, their fellow players, or the Rules. penalty scores in certain instances, when scores in non-competition rounds, or We see that in the brown pitch marks a system error occurs or when a player rounds played away from home, and defacing greens, unrepaired divots on can prove they made every effort to possibly recalculate a player’s handicap fairways, unraked bunkers, and liberties input the score, clubs should be encour- omitting these scores. taken with the Rules. The R&A and the professional tours should have introduced severe penalties for slow play a long time ago, before I DON’T WANT TO RUSH ON THE COURSE tour pros became multi-millionaires and could not agree more with your editorial article on the Futurists (April). celebrities. If the pros were required to Why make it a rushed game? I am 45 and have played golf since 1985. play at something other than a snail’s I am in the legal profession where I endure serious stress due to strict pace, club golfers would do the same. time frames every day. My golf, even 9 holes when I can slip away, Golf would be a better game if there I calms me down and makes me forget the stress of a rushed profession. was a clock counting down on each I will vote against any such changes for what it is worth. Let's hope the hole. The failure of the governing bod- "traditionalists" can keep golf a wonderful game. Riaan Pieters, email ies to take any action is one of the un- fortunate things that has hurt golf, and WINNING LETTER PRIZE has resulted in the situation today where golf is considering shorter formats so Golf Digest and Titleist South Africa have that it won’t take as long. teamed up to offer the sender of the best In years to come, golf might become letter for the month a box of Titleist Pro a 6-hole game played in two hours, V1 golf balls and a Titleist cap. whereas the game’s forefathers would have played 18 holes in the same time. Write to the Gallery: [email protected]. Please include your full name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity Thomas Souness, Cape Town and may be published or otherwise reused in any medium. The Golf Life | CLOSEOUT Closeout : Bad Behaviour Matrix

innocuous ▶ Smoking weed ▶ Flirting with cart girl ▶ Stealing range balls

▶ Ignoring 90-degree rule

▶ Not helping ▶ Not fixing hunt for ball ball mark

Peeing behind a tree ▶

▶ Sex on course at night

▶ Hitting into a group

▶ Playing as a fivesome

▶ Sneaking on common uncommon Peeing in ▶ the open

▶ Manipulating handicap

▶ Hitting into a group on purpose

▶ “Miraculously” ▶ Impersonating finding your ball a member

▶ Breaking a club

▶ Selling weed ▶ Hitting someone with shot ▶ Breaking someone else’s ▶ Not yelling club “fore”

▶ Being creepy ▶ Angrily making with cart girl Sex during the day ▶ divot in green bad

80 / JULY 2017 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA ILLUSTRATIONS BY ZOHAR LAZAR 16_RTX3_GD_FCFP 2016-08-24T13:58:57+02:00

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