Golf Monthly

7 Are tea dances to make holes in turf? (6) 8 Peter or Richard (6) 9 Equipment organisation (4) 10 Italy’s only Major winner (8) 11 Return test to baby daughter first and 1873 Open Champion (3,4) 13 Royal club which will host Open in 2024 (5) 15 Ran

14 Justin Thomas won his 14th PGA Tour title at the Players Championship 5.6 He gained 5.6 shots on the field from tee to green during Sunday’s final round 132 Thomas played 36 holes over the weekend in 12-under-par – a tournament record $2.7m The wi

What’s the pressure like trying to finish off a Players Championship? I’ll tell you what, it’s a lot harder than when there weren’t fans around, that’s for sure. I’m so happy they’re back and I’m so happy to be The Players champion. I fought so hard.

The BBC’s recent Prize Money in Sport study showed that golf is one of only three of the 48 sports included (football and basketball being the others) where at least one major competition does not offer equal prize money for men and women. The sport

The golfing world fell into collective shock in February when news broke that 15-time Major Champion Tiger Woods had suffered significant lower-leg injuries after crashing his car in California. He sustained multiple fractures of his leg and foot and

TaylorMade’s popular range of Spider mallet putters just got bigger as the company has announced the addition of four new models, headlined by the Spider EX. Thanks to its multi-compound construction, TaylorMade says the Spider EX delivers optimal st

You can’t tell anybody how far to take the putter back or how hard to hit it – and, of course, green speeds vary from course to course – so this drill is ideal ahead of a round. You’ll need to adjust your speed on a regular basis if you play differen

Building on the momentum of last year, Skechers has launched its 2021 Go Golf footwear range for men, women and juniors. The shoes have been designed with insights from a host of tour pros, including Matt Kuchar and Colin Montgomerie, and also incorp

With rangefinders soon to be allowed in some professional tournaments, I feel as though a caddie’s natural talent is about to be thrown out of the window. Sure, yardage books have been around for years, but to be able to double check with a mechanism

The beautiful course at La Finca was designed by Pepe Gancedo, formerly one of Spain’s leading amateur golfers. It opened for play in 2002, and its wide fairways and distinct design features make it a delight for all golfers. There are plenty of high

While we were stuck at home working or on furlough, going out on our daily walks or our weekly food shops, greenkeepers were hard at work battling the elements over what was a very testing winter period. When we recently returned to our courses, they

I’ve just got back from Qatar, which was a long way to travel for one week, but I do think it was a worthwhile trip. I started the tournament with four straight birdies and actually played very well over the first two days. I basically made one bad s

The year that Jon Rahm was born – 1994 – Jose Maria Olazabal won The Masters, making a 35-footer for eagle on the par-5 15th in the final round. He then scrambled to save par from the gallery on the 18th to secure a two-stroke victory and the first o

It’s no wonder the Rahm family got into golf after witnessing this event first-hand. For the first time in its history, the Ryder Cup was held in continental Europe in 1997 as 24 of the world’s best descended on Valderrama. Looking to defend the trop

T game of golf has a chequered past when it comes to race relations and equality. But let’s be honest – for a very long time, and until uncomfortably recently, there was overt racism in many areas of the game. Inequality was, sadly, engrained in many

Tommy Fleetwood is going to have a big year – you sense it. He’s had a few already, of course, but there’s a hunger for more. More titles, more Ryder Cups, more Majors, where he’s hoping to go one better than his personal best of second twice. He’s b

Wearable technology is huge in sport. In golf, one item in particular is rapidly catching on. Not only can wearing one benefit your golf, it can also significantly boost your physical and mental wellbeing. It’s called Whoop, a fitness and recovery tr

It may, or may not, come as a surprise that the chief executive of the PGA (photo above) is neither a professional golfer nor a member of the organisation he leads. He is very much a golfer, though, having played off plus figures for 30-odd years. Ro

It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.” So said The King himself, Arnold Palmer. Golf is a sport that elicits an almo

There are many things I don’t understand about golf: gigantic, ugly putters; the popularity of shorts; the current insistence that SMASHING THE BALL AS HARD AS YOU CAN is a good idea. But the thing I really don’t get is practice. Golf courses are bea

Marc Leishman stands 6ft 2ins tall, weighs over 14 stone and carries with him the mid-section of a man who likes the occasional pint (the Aussie does, after all, have his own brand of brew, Leishman Lager). But calling the 37-year-old out of shape wo

Shot on location at West Hill Golf Club, Surrey 1 A hybrid is perfect when trees restrict your backswing because you can just hinge the wrists, come down on top of the ball and bunt it forward slightly more powerfully than with, say, an 8-iron. This

Shot on location at West Hill Golf Club, Surrey 1 The dreaded reverse pivot invariably stems from the player getting too ‘ball-bound’ (inset photo) – they end up focusing so hard on the ball that the body tilts at the wrong angle. Instead of pivoting

1 Set-up. Tommy’s legs are flexed in this athletic posture, ready to play a key role when his swing changes direction. Searching for power isn’t his number one goal, it’s controlling the clubface – one of the reasons why he grips down on his clubs. H

Chris Wallace, Rules manager at The R&A, discusses a very unusual situation from the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, when Jorge Campillo’s ball became wrapped in a divot from another player’s stroke made earlier in the day. Arriving

I had the tendency to be 50-50 on my left and right in my backswing, so I changed to having 70 per cent on my right side, which enables me to shift all my weight to the left side and move through the ball better in the downswing. That gives me more s

Shot on location at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, Spain 1 Set-up is crucial. Ball position should be just a fraction back of centre with a fairly narrow stance – maybe 10-12ins, roughly the length of a golf grip. You don’t want or need it too wide

Thankfully, the Rules of Golf grant you free relief from certain situations that fall under one of the four categories of abnormal course condition (ACC). These four conditions are things which are not intended to be part of the challenge of the game

Q Recently, as I was cleaning my club ahead of my approach shot, I carelessly let my towel slip from my hand. Foolishly, I was standing directly above my ball, with the towel hitting my ball and moving it a couple of inches. I wasn’t sure what to do

1 Fergus lifts his ball to take an unplayable drop. Before dropping, Jezz says it’s an abnormal course condition so free relief, which Fergus takes. What is the ruling? A. There is no penalty.B. Fergus gets one penalty stroke.C. Fergus gets the gener

A combination of excellent ball speed and forgiveness with relatively low spin meant the G410 Plus driver kept its place in our bag for most of 2020. Our testing showed it was one of the fastest and most consistent drivers around, so we were keen to

There’s an awful lot to admire in the upgrade to the King Speedzone iron. Eyebrows were raised when Cobra strengthened the lofts last time around, but they have stayed the same into the new Radspeed iron. Down at address, you’ll notice the generous o

The Odyssey Ten putter launched last year, and while it was not a completely original concept, it impressed us with its stability. It was also easy to align, thanks to the thick white sightline on the flange. Assistance with aim has now been taken up

Our custom-fitted SIM driver was as good as anything out there last year, so we wanted to find out how the performance had evolved with SIM2. Testing them against each other in similar lofts on the Foresight Sports GCQuad showed that SIM was tough to

For those golfers considering investing in a set of Ben Hogan irons, the classic Icon model is understandably hard to ignore. But while its looks and feel might appeal, not every player wants the uncompromising blade-like performance of an iron like

I am off 11 and my iron play needs help. I want a forgiving set that isn’t too big. Suggestions? GM forum member I hear you, possibly because it’s the way I’m heading too. Some of the standout models I would recommend this year are the Mizuno JPX921

With so many players looking for ways to get their golfing fix from home, we ordered four golf training aids from Amazon. They all promise to improve your golf but how do they stack up? Price paid: £15.99 This forced us to be more target-orientated a

What is it? A premium, adjustable ball marker featuring a metal base plate and matching metal adjustable aim finder to help with alignment. GM verdict This more weighty version means it stays in place more firmly when adjusting, making it easier to u

Your stand bag will be with you through the highs and lows of every round, so you need to love what it offers if it’s to be your perfect match. A model that has the preferred range of pockets, weight and level of protection will leave your mind free

Take the mighty links of the Wirral out of the equation and many golfers would rank the fine course at Prestbury among the top three in Cheshire. The club, which reached its centenary milestone in the difficult year that was 2020, plays over a wonder

As I write this, three days after Boris announced his roadmap out of lockdown, a wet round at the superbly revamped Liphook in Hampshire on December 18 is the last time I hit a golf ball in anger or otherwise. Looking ahead, it’s too soon to know exa

Par 33, 2,003 yards GF: nine holes: £10; 18: £15 Offering some of the best-value golf anywhere, this charming and free-draining little nine-holer is perfect for a quick round or practising your short game. It is extremely well maintained, offers easy

With four Opens to his name, Old Tom went on to become a founding father of course design. He created Askernish in 1891 at the age of 70, but partly due to its gloriously isolated location, it changed beyond all recognition. In 2005, course maintenan

As I write, it’s almost here. Tee times are on the horizon. Happy days, although only if you manage to actually get one, as those who play regularly, those who have remembered they used to play and those who want to learn how to play rise as one from

Right in the heart of Scotland’s Golf Coast – East Lothian – Craigielaw is perfectly situated for a trip to play one or more of the bountiful, wonderful courses nearby. It also boasts its own very fine links that is mature well beyond its 20 years. T

This family run business makes for a refreshing and informal change from most golfing set-ups. Its ten rooms are attractive, roomy yet cosy, peaceful and relaxing. Rates are extremely reasonable and include a breakfast pack to go. This characterful g

I’ve read a lot, particularly during this pandemic, and I can’t help noticing how often golf crops up in popular novels, and never in a positive way. As soon as a character, always male, is described as a golfer, you can be sure he will be the bogeym

Since the 2004 publication of what was originally a Top 120, we have refined the process to a point where we have a Top 100 ranking that we genuinely believe is as fair, democratic, comprehensive and contemporary as possible. One thing it is not, is

Welcome to the 2021/22 Golf Monthly Top 100 course rankings. Due to Covid, the process was trickier and took longer this time round, but despite lockdowns and travel restrictions, our dedicated team of assessors and staff managed to make more visits

There’s no getting away from the fact that breaking into our Top 100 or making major moves up the rankings is becoming ever harder. This is partly down to what we feel is their reliability after nearly two decades, and partly the increasing volume of

One of the great things about golf is the tremendous variety of scenery and settings in which it is played. In the UK and Ireland, we’re blessed with some of the world’s most striking, pleasant and stirring countryside and the courses around these is

Over 70 per cent of our Top 100 courses have reported improvement works this time, often extensive. It covers everything from irrigation work to tweaking tees, green surrounds or bunkers and even wholesale remodelling and brand new holes. Some might

Given that the courses in this list are the very best in the UK&I, it follows that they are also the most expensive to play as a visiting golfer. The higher the quality of your product, the more you can reasonably charge for it. Some of the summer gr

Links golf usually offers the best opportunity for playing through the winter months. Bare trees and sodden ground mean some inland courses won’t look or play their best off-season, but there are still plenty that are a year-round delight. This alpha

The idea was simple – choose the best 1st to 18th holes in this edition of our Top 100. Of course, any such hypothetical selection is highly subjective. But we’ve tried to create a fictional course delivering the right blend of ebb and flow, challeng

Our Top 100 is dominated by seaside golf, and one of its finest clusters is England’s Golf Coast in the northwest. This is home to some of the best links courses in the world, including three Open venues: Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lyt

Archerfield (Dirleton) Archerfield (Fidra) Ardglass Ashburnham Ashridge Beau Desert Berkhamsted NEW ENTRY Berwick-upon-Tweed Blackmoor Blackwell Boat of Garten Brora Camberley Heath Carne (Wild Atlantic Dunes) Carton House (Montgomerie) Castlerock (M