North Your local golf magazine for grass roots golfers Local golf news for golfers in Scotland, Northern England and North Wales A great year ahead for Golf in East Lothian - see inside for more details on the Scotland’s Golf Coast Festival www.golfeastlothian.com Golf North Spring/Summer 2015 Use your smart phone to scan the code or go to our website. www.golfnorth.co.uk 18 − 24 October 2015 Celebrate the Perfect Golf Experience Join us for a week-long series of events, where you can Book any of the events before 1 July 2015 and receive a enjoy some of the world’s finest links courses, embrace 10% discount on all prices by entering code GolfSou10 the challenge of picturesque parkland courses and experience the heritage of a golf destination we have been perfecting since 1672. 18 − 24 October 2015 Celebrate the Perfect Golf Experience Join us for a week-long series of events, where you can Book any of the events before 1 July 2015 and receive a enjoy some of the world’s finest links courses, embrace 10% discount on all prices by entering code GolfSou10 the challenge of picturesque parkland courses and experience the heritage of a golf destination we have been perfecting since 1672. North <RXUORFDOJROIPDJD]LQHIRUJUDVVURRWVJROIHUV Welcome Local golf news for gofers in Scotland, North England and North Wales A great year ahead for Golf in East Lothian - see inside Welcome to our first ever issue of Golf North for more details on the Scotland’s Golf Coast Festival www.golfeatlothian.com North – Spring/Summer 2015 Magazine! Our sister publication, Golf South, has been providing local golf information to the South of England for five years now and we thought it WELCOME was about time the North had a magazine of its Use your smart phone to scan the code or go own. The idea behind Golf North is simple. We to our website. want to provide you with a Golf North magazine www that reports on golf at a local level. We will of .golfnor th.co course bring you the odd spot of national and .uk international news, but the main focus in these www.golfnorth.co.uk pages are the events and competitions in local golf clubs. Golf North 21 Forbes Place To make a magazine like this, we need you! Paisley Whatever has happened at your local course, from Renfrewshire Scotland a monthly medal result to a major refurbishment, PA1 1UT we want to hear about it. No story is too small for Tel: 01235 856300 us. After many years reporting on this fantastically Fax: 01235 468427 diverse sport, we know that every ball hit, every Email: [email protected] score carded and every penny raised for the Captain’s charity matters. © Golf North Any reproduction of any article or advertisement in whole or part is not permitted without prior written consent of the publishers. • Bar open 24 hours • Golf locker room • 24 hour Brasserie menu • Situated in town centre • Feel good Health Club • Dedicated golf co-ordinator • Sports channels in bar including major golf events • 22 courses within a 20 mile radius including Open Qualifiers FROM JUST * Golf North wants to report on the £135 things important to you. So if you are per person for a two night break including bed and breakfast and Please quote the club secretary, an event organiser "GNM2015" up to 3 rounds of golf at the time of or just a player who thinks we should (based on 2 adults sharing). enquiring know about something happening in *offer subject to availability, terms and conditions apply. your area drop us a line at The quickest way to book: [email protected] Telephone: 0844 815 9005 (option 0) We look forward to hearing you. In the Email: [email protected] meantime, enjoy your first ever Golf www.mercureayr.co.uk North Magazine. 4 GLASGOW AIRPORT - YOUR GATEWAY TO SCOTLAND’S GOLF Only 50 minutes drive to Gleneagles or opt for the frequent direct trains from Glasgow City Centre. Also the perfect gateway to the iconic courses of Loch Lomond, Trump Turnberry and Royal Troon. Discover more at glasgowairport.com/golfinscotland TRUMP TURNBERRY GOLF COURSE PHOTOGRAPHY BY WWW.CHRISCLOSE.CO.UK Golfers warm up for Yes!!!! NATIONAL NEWS NATIONAL You can play the 30ft Putt Challenge, anywhere part of National Golf Month So the idea is simple. To raise awareness for National Golf Month, brand new, experienced or complete novices are being encouraged to have a go at taking a putt from 30 feet! The plan is to make the 30ft Putt Challenge as newsworthy as Ice Bucket Challenge. It gets the nation trying golf in a fun way. The 30ftPC will help get non golfers trying golf as everyone can become involved as little skill is needed. It breaks down barriers and perceptions of playing golf and can be played anywhere and only requires a putter and one ball to participate. How to Play the 30ft Putt Challenge MAKING THE HOLE HOW TO PLAY A4 Sheet of paper is required if not playing on a Measure out 30ft golf course. Either putt to a hole on a golf course Draw a hole – 4 ¼ in diameter (10.8cm). or use a Or place your A4 sheet of paper or cup anywhere you cup/mug fancy makes an extreme putt and play until the ball Then cut out the hole. rests over the hole – cup in golfing jargon! Colour the area around the hole in green. It’s a test of fun and some skill – it’s not how many Name your course – could be any name – your putts you make that wins the prize. company, pub, favourite place etc. It’s the participation – as the winner is drawn on the 31st May 2015. THE RULES After taking the Challenge register your name & putts taken online at or similar. Golf course – not needed. Competition ends 31st May 2015. Play anywhere and open to everyone. The decision of the judges on the winning putts will Play in pairs, groups or teams. be final. Open to all – non golfers to professional tour players. Register your putts online. WHERE TO PLAY Load your Video Selfies on FB or Twitter. • Play on a golf course • High Street • Extreme location • Office IT’S A CHARITY EVENT Charity Donations to – Dementia UK As well as raising awareness for National Golf Month, you can also use your 30ft Putt Challenge to raise money for Dementia UK. The charity is fully behind the 30ft Putt and you can easily set up a page on 6 JustGiving to raise money at the same time as raising awareness. So get putting! I still think we Well I told you we need The search for have the best to enter The Walnut Tour four ball in the to find out - It’s only £40 the UK’sContents Best Golf country. deposit now as well Team begins in May Lets do it! National News �������������������������������8 The Walnut Tour pages 12-13 WITH A TWIST... Ladies Golf News �������������������������14 What makes up a great four ball? Is it low or high handicaps, young or old, club mates or best mates?Junior Golf News . .17 Well this year, in support of Prostate Cancer Prostate Cancer’s key theme this year is and Men United, The Walnut Tour and the aboutScotland bringing friends together – West and what ��������������������������� SECURE18 YOUR TEAMS PLACE search for the UK’s Best Golf Team swings better way than playing golf with your into action at 17 great golfing venues all over mates, having fun and playing for the title of the country. But don’t be fooled this is not the UK’sScotland Best Golf Team. – East �����������������������������FIND34 OUT IF YOU ARE one of the plethora of standard matchplay Entries are limited to 20 teams per venue so events. This tournament is for teams of 4 and to secure your teams place simply go to THE uk's Best Golf Team you can enter one or 17 events from May to www.walnuttour.co.ukScotland and– Northsign your team ������������������������� 63 September and gives you the chance to find TEAM’S INCLUDE: BUILDERS, GOLF CLUB MATES, SOCIETIES, Sir Nick Faldo page 51 up now, its just £40 to secure your place out just how good your team is while having FIREMEN, BUSINESS OWNERS, FARMERS, CHEFS ETC... with a total price for entry of £200 per team. fun with your friends, meeting new ones England –North East �������������������76 Think about it that’s £50 per person for great, and most importantly raising awareness and competitive, fun golf, food, prizes and help WHO’S IN YOUR DREAM TEAM? funds for Prostate Cancer and Men United, support Prostate Cancer. If there is a better something the vast majority of golfers will be England – Yorkshire . .81 way to spend £50 we would love to know. well aware of. See you at The Walnut Tour soon. Oh and there’s a twist. Rather than the usual North Wales ���������������������������������86 walnuttour.co.uk best 2 from 4 scores or standard matchplay, Men United. The Walnut Tour is adding to the fun factor by [email protected] making the events a mixture of Texas Scramble Products ���������������������������������������94 and the exciting new format – Twister. Golf Breaks ���������������������������������100 Win a golf getaway page 78 What’s On . .102 Editorial_PRINT.indd 1 24/03/2015 12:24 WIN a GolfBuddy page 96 Prodigy comes of age with Masters win NATIONAL NEWS NATIONAL Twenty one year-old Jordan Spieth has led the field from start to finish at The Masters and gained his first Green Jacket.