MAY 2024
south africa
ELS SIGNATURE AT ZIMBALI LAKES PGA@VALHALLA WHY YOU NEED A 7-WOOD
LIKE A KID AGAIN BOMB IT HOW TO
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Features 24 Bomb it like a kid again Add metres and take years off your drives. BY PADRAIG HARRINGTON 32 Until Valhalla The five holes that will decide the PGA Championship. BY DEREK DUNCAN 40 You need this club Many of the best players in the word carry a 7-wood, so why don’t you? BY MICHAEL JOHNSON 86 The Swing Maker One move – straightening your trail arm at the right time – can upgrade your entire game. By MICHAEL BREED 94 Sunshine Tour review Ryan van Velzen is new No 1. Top 100 Courses
6 Editor’s Letter Memories of Limpopo courses. BY STUART MCLEAN Mind 10 Zimbali Lakes & Ernie Els KZN North Course project becomes signature course. BY STUART MCLEAN
12 Undercover Caddie When we get too involved,
things get messy. WITH JOEL BEALL
14 Lesson with ChatGPT How does the AI chatbot stack up against the game’s all-time
teaching greats? BY JERRY TARDE
16 Golf Turn-ons and Turn-offs
When looking for love on the course, attraction isn’t the only thing that matters. WITH COLEMAN BENTLEY Body 18 Recapture your swing Use these strategies to get back to your best tempo. BY LYNN MARRIOTT & PIA NILSSON 20 Get your speed right Use this drill for three-foot putts. 100 Shank it on command How to hit hosel rockets so good, you'll never do it again. BY SAHITH THEEGALA 104 What’s in my bag PGA Tour’s Nick Dunlap. WITH MICHAEL JOHNSON
50 Return of the Golf Digest rankings
Six years on, criteria changes have impacted its evolution. BY STUART MCLEAN 64 Country Club sits out Too early for renovated course to be included. 68 Five new entries Jackal Creek, Magalies Park debut in Top 100.
70 How Courses are Ranked All six criteria are explained.
72 Plattners celebrate 30 years of Fancourt ownership.
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TEE SHEET how to play . what to play . where to play . MAY 2024
PINNACLE POINT The clubhouse and 18th hole at Pinnacle Point in the Garden Route.
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EDITOR’S LETTER E Memories of Legend and Hans Merensky
T he Top 100 course rankings have been synonymous with Golf Digest since they were first published in 1998, and they return in this issue for the first time since 2018. If you happen to have retained a copy of the print issue of the March 2018 GDSA, it’s interesting to compare how the rankings have evolved in the past six years. 92 courses have remained in the rankings, which says much for their continuity and the fact that the last new course to be opened in SA was Olivewood in 2016 – it is No 96. There is no queue of new courses knocking on the door to depose those already there, as there were throughout the first decade of the new millennium. One of the eight courses to have exited the rankings was Legend Golf & Safari Resort in Limpopo, which opened to great fanfare in 2008 with an unusual design model where 18 well-known international golfers each “designed” a hole. These celebrities also made regular PR appearances at Legend to play the Extreme 19th, a radical one-off hole which attracted global attention because it required a helicopter ride to the top of a mountain to tee off, aiming for a green some 300 metres away at the foot of the precipitous drop. Another attraction at Legend was an extra 9 replicating famous par 3 holes, an idea
time. Few raters have had the chance to play it. The renovated DCC could almost be classified as a new course such are the breadth of the design changes, and Golf Digest has a policy that newly built courses need to have been open for play for three years before being ranked. In DCC’s case a year should be sufficient for it to be eligible again. Stuart McLean stuart@morecorp.co.za
subsequently copied at Leopard Creek. Sadly, the course and the entire resort closed little more than a decade later. There is always the possibility Legend might rise again. Another once famous Limpopo golf destination, Hans Merensky Country Club in Phalaborwa (see Page 79), has been rehabilitated and re-opened after falling on hard times. It was named after a geologist- cum-prospector who developed what became the largest vermiculite mine in the Phalaborwa area, growing a big town around it. Dear old Hans lived in colonial times, however, and his name has been removed and replaced with one, Ba-Phalaborwa, that doesn’t have much of a ring to it for a course that sits on the boundary fence of the Kruger National Park. Imagine if Leopard Creek had been named Ba-Malelane. These rankings coincide with the recent renovation of Durban Country Club by Golf Data. DCC was No 4 in the 2018 rankings but had slid alarmingly to No 24 in the SA Top 100 website’s rankings following the 2022 floods. Disappointingly for anyone hoping to find out where DCC might rank now, the course has been omitted from this year’s Top 100, as it would have been premature to include it just two months after re-opening. It has also been the preserve of mostly members in that
POWER VIDEO SERIES One advantage of a digital magazine is that we can include links to GD Schools instructional videos. We have been doing this since the first issue. On Page 92 there are links to 3 videos by Michael Breed in his article The Swing Maker where he explains an interesting theory on gaining more distance off the tee.
Back issues of the GDSA digital magazine can be found by registering on the MyGolfLife website.
EDITOR STUART MCLEAN DESIGN ELINORE DE LISLE MEDIA SALES RICHARD ROWE
GOLF DIGEST USA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JERRY TARDE, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MAX ADLER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR PETER MORRICE, INTERNATIONAL EDITOR JU KUANG TAN TEACHING PROFESSIONALS: TODD ANDERSON, MARK BLACKBURN, CHUCK COOK, HANK HANEY, BUTCH HARMON, ERIKA LARKIN, DAVID LEADBETTER, CAMERON MCCORMICK, JIM MCLEAN, RENEE POWELL, RANDY SMITH, RICK SMITH, DAVE STOCKTON, JOSH ZANDER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS: AMY ALCOTT, RANDY MYERS, NICK PRICE, JUDY RANKIN, LUCIUS RICCIO, BOB ROTELLA, BEN SHEAR, RALPH SIMPSON, DR ARA SUPPIAH
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Designed in a loop that runs for over 7,500 metres, the course is the 2nd longest in the world and boasts no less than eleven water features. As challenging as it is rewarding, to play it is to walk in the footsteps of legends; Blair Atholl has twice hosted The Investec South African Open Championship – a DP World Tour Event. And fittingly so: it has been ranked the number 1 golf course in Gauteng, has received the Top Club Award for environmental compliance and good governance, and its halfway house has been declared the finest in the country. An essential bucket-list golfing destination, the estate is an oasis of serenity on whose greens golfing history has been made. Whether a scratch golfer or a handicapped player, we invite you to test your mettle on the verdant greens of one of the most extraordinary courses on earth. To discover more, and to learn about our exceptional dining and beverage offerings, visit blairatholl.co.za, reach out to us at paulm@blairatholl.co.za, or telephone +27 (0)11 300 5700 today. Pro Shop cell and WhatsApp line: 065 526 1166.
Lying at the heart of an expansive estate through which the Crocodile River lazily runs, the immaculately kept course was conceived of and designed by none other than the legendary Gary Player. So taken was he with the beauty of the property and its surrounds that he and his family made the former farm their home for more than twenty years. Now a remarkable 153 species of birds reside where Mr Player once did, as do free-roaming warthog, jackals, and a wide variety of antelope.
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MIND / NEW COURSES
The par-3 fourth hole at Zimbali Lakes has been completed as a “show hole.” Below: Ernie Els and Robbie Marshall.
Ernie Els adds greater stature to Zimbali Lakes KZN North Coast project stresses playability.
By Stuart McLean
T he KZN North Coast has po- sitioned itself as a major rival to the Western Cape as a pre- mier golf tourism destination with the announcement that Ernie Els is bringing his international brands to the Zimbali Lakes residential estate project. Zimbali Lakes will become an Ernie Els Signature Course in a deft move by the developers following the initial design and construction of the 18 holes by Golf Data. The collaboration was
only confirmed in April. Thanks to IFA Hotels & Resorts, master developers of Zimbali Lakes Resort, the link will cre- ate worldwide golfing interest in the re- gion, which has already been boosted by Golf Data’s renovation of World Top 100 course Durban Country Club. The quality and variety of courses can easily go head-to-head with what the Garden Route is offering. And the announcement follows closely on the news of Club Med’s first beach and
bush resort planned for South Africa, at Tinley Manor 25 kilometres further north of Zimbali Lakes. Zimbali Lakes is less than a year away from opening, in April 2025, and will be a spectacularly exciting course to play due to the rolling terrain on which it has been sited. “The Lakes, being tropical and by the ocean, with stun- ning viewpoints, instantly reminded me of Hawaii, and the Kapalua resort where I competed on the PGA Tour at
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handicaps have an array of forward tees to choose from. “The tee shots will gen- erally be stress-free,” said Els, “and it’s the approach shots into greens which will be more challenging.” One hole, the par-3 fourth, has been completed as a “show hole” for potential property buyers to view or even play. It’s set in a beautiful valley, 150 metres from an elevated tee over coastal forest and stream to the green. It looks inviting to play because of the way in which the large green is framed by closely mown grass in front and on the sides. It will be a demanding tee shot into the wind, yet with room to re- cover. The greens complexes are overall larger than normal with gentle undulat- ing slopes. The bent grass on this green is in fabulous condition, evidence that it can be grown successfully at a coastal KZN course. The same strain of bent has been used at Durban CC. What a contrasting putting experience com- pared to other KZN courses relying on paspalum grass. Els himself loves the previous hole, a long par 5 which skirts the vast lakes on the lower level of the property which will be a feature and host recreational watersports, although nothing mo- torised. The opening hole flows down to the lakes, and No 2 and 3 border it before some lengthy climbs to the top of the hills. It is a continuous 18 rather than two loops of nine, and there will be one starting tee. Unlike neighbour- ing Zimbali Country Club, which is for members and hotel guests only, Zim- bali Lakes will prioritise day visitors. It’s a cart course, due to long hauls over different levels of elevation. Wide paths are already in place for a smooth ride. The walk from the fourth tee to the fourth green would dissuade any- one from thinking they can walk here and there. Ernie is likely to be a regular visi- tor at Zimbali Lakes in coming years. He likes the Ballito area – “my dad brought us here as kids for holidays” – and is launching an Els Performance Golf Academy to tie in with the Zimbali Lakes sports centre – attached will be 60 Academy apartments – and even contemplating a home of his own here. Plus, there will be The Big Easy Bar & Grill at the sports club. That may provoke an anxious reac- tion at Fancourt where he has been part of the scenery for the past 30 years.
the beginning of every year,” said Els, who was visiting Zimbali Lakes for the first time. “It’s going to be windy here at certain times, just like it is in Hawaii, but we’ve made the course as playable for everyone as we possibly can. “I’ve followed this project from many years back when it was first being dis- cussed. It’s good to be working with Robbie Marshall (Golf Data chairman) and his team again. We’re old friends, as they built my first course for me at Oubaai. And Wayne Krambeck (Zim- bali senior vice-president, operations) started out at Fancourt when we were both much younger.” “Ernie has brought immense value to the end product,” said Marshall. All 18 holes are laid out, awaiting the planting of 17 greens with Super 7 bent grass which will happen in June during the cooler winter months. Els played three holes, and demonstrated how friendly the course can be thanks to its emphasis on playability. The fair- way on the par-4 fifth is wide enough to land a passenger jet, extended by limit- ing semi-rough and shaped so that golf balls will roll away from the sides into the middle. And, unlike Ernie’s other local de- signs at Els Club Copperleaf, Oubaai and Highland Gate, golfers will be pleased to know there are a minimal amount of bunkers. However, there are forced carries over deep ravines and wetlands due to the nature of the topography. This will delight the better golfer, while high-
Els with Wayne Krambeck (right) and Dave McGregor of Zimbali Lakes team.
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M
MIND / ON TOUR
STARE DOWN Shane Lowry ( left ) and Joe LaCava exchanged heated words after the caddie’s celebration at the Ryder Cup.
Undercover Caddie When we get too involved, things get messy
J oe LaCava was in the wrong for his celebration at the Ryder Cup but for the right reasons. I remember fellow caddie Mitchell Knox once telling me, “If they’re talking about you, you’ve messed up.” That applies to LaCava’s zealous lingering on Saturday at Marco Simone after Patrick Cantlay dropped that ridiculous putt. LaCava was essentially right in the line – and in the face – of Rory McIlroy before he attempted his final putt of the match. You’ve seen the video and likely the one of a frustrated McIlroy in the car park later that night. What the tele- vision networks failed to show is how long LaCava’s peacocking truly lasted –
around 90 seconds – and how close he got to McIlroy. Keep in mind that all the distractions McIlroy has dealt with dur- ing the past two years while remaining graceful. You must act egregiously to cause McIlroy to snap like he did. It sounds like LaCava apologised and all is good between the two. The thing is, I feel like LaCava got a raw deal because he wasn’t the provocateur that he has been made out to be. I wasn’t in Italy for the Ryder Cup, but I’ve talked to players and caddies that were, and I’ve been in a few myself. Ryder Cups are as emotionally charged as this sport gets, and everyone on the grounds feels that electricity. Hell, I once saw a Euro- pean rules official give a fist pump after
Ross Fisher holed a putt. That type of provinciality gives the proceedings an edge, which I love. That edge also puts people on edge, and sometimes a line is crossed. On that Saturday in Rome, it wasn’t just the crowd’s behaviour towards Cantlay that was getting cruel. Shane Lowry – who is a damn good bloke – got way too carried away in the after- noon session as a spectator. It’s not just the cheering or chest-pounding; Low- ry was practically prancing down the 18th hole like he was auditioning for the Nutcracker at his local community theatre. That’s his right, and you could argue that type of emotion is why Eu- rope continues to kick America’s ass
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for months with the putter, and it was midway through a major. Though the player was in conten- tion, he could have been leading if a few putts had dropped. I was off to the side, chatting with a friend but keeping an eye on what was happening on the green. This cad- die holds himself in high regard and envisions himself as a teacher. After the player missed several putts from 10 feet, the caddie mentioned something about the player’s left foot being slightly open. Both the teacher and player shot him a similar look. That look . . . well, have you ever been mov- ing furniture, and the furniture is stuck on a corner, and an onlooker suggests, “Hey, maybe try turning it?” Yeah, that’s how the caddie’s advice was taken. My favourite caddie-not-know- ing-his-station story comes from the Korn Ferry Tour. A player had a high finish, one that essentially locked up his PGA Tour card. This happened to be at a site where the caddie went to college, so the lo- cal newspaper worked that angle hard. The caddie was not used to getting media attention and went overboard in describing his role in the player’s performance. The ar- ticle that came out made it sound like the caddie was the reason the player earned his card. Players and caddies are a team, and we can play a big part in the success of our player. We let the players say that, not us. At the next event, the caddie got to the tour- nament site, and the player had arranged for several players and caddies to hold pencils as micro- phones and, taping with their cell- phones follow the caddie from the car park to the range to “interview” him. The caddie found it funny – I think – but the message was sent. What do all these stories tell us? As a caddie, you’re right only if the player thinks you’re right. If you think that’s wrong, you’re in the wrong profession. – with joel beall
in this competition. The flip side is that if you’re going to act like that, you can’t be upset if your opponent tells you to shove it. Cantlay doesn’t emote and has no appetite to engage in con- troversy. LaCava, though, clearly thought Lowry and the Europe- an crowds did his player wrong. LaCava’s celebration was over the top, but he wasn’t being a poor sport in victory. He was just try- ing to stand up for his guy. Every player wants that support from their caddie. Almost every cad- Once, there was a scoring issue with a top player, and one of the caddies decided to intervene. die I know acknowledges LaCava went too far, but we’re all proud of him for standing up for what he thought was right. After all, this wasn’t the first time a caddie over- stepped his station. Once, there was a scoring issue with a top player, which was pointed out by his playing partner in the tent after the round. It was an honest mistake that happens all the time. Both players, seated at the scoring table, started to go through the round, hole by hole, making sure everything added up. One of the caddies – and this is a caddie every casual golf fan knows by name – decided to intervene, hovering over his player and point- ing to one of the holes in question. The other player turned his head towards the caddie and calmly but sternly said, “Excuse me, the play- ers are taking care of this.” If that sounds prickish, I won’t debate you, except the player who said it is one of the nicest guys in the game, and the caddie, well, not so much. Even the nice guys have no patience for caddies who step over the line. Another time, I saw a caddie – also a big name in our line – work- ing with his player and the player’s coach late at night on the green. This player had been struggling
I like to say “success leaves clues.” Using the Gears motion-tracking system and studying what the best players do, we’ve found a commonality in most pros’ backswings that might seem contradictory to what you’ve been told to do, but it’s key to sequencing, timing, and power generation. High-level players start their swings with a lot of speed early off the ball and then slow down as the club approaches the top. Amateurs, often under the direction of taking the club back “low and slow,” do the opposite. Their takeaway is too deliberate and their transition is too quick. The result is they often lose control of the swing during the change-of-direction phase. To make your backswing more effective, try this drill: Grab your driver and mimic a follow-through position where the club already has passed impact and your trail foot’s heel is off the ground. This is the new start position for your backswing (above left). Replant your heel and take the club back quicker than you’re used to but let the speed die as the club approaches the top (above right). Work on this move for a bit and when it feels comfortable, expand to making through- swings to complete the task. I think you’ll find this puts newfound energy and flow into your swing and syncs everything up. – WITH RON KASPRISKE SHAUN WEBB, one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America, is at Athletic Motion Golf in Winter Garden, Florida. WHAT TECHNOLOGY HAS TAUGHT ME LOW AND SLOW IS NOT THE WAY TO GO BY SHAUN WEBB
Undercover Caddie once got into a shouting match with a player over a football bet.
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M MIND / THE NEXT ONE’S GOOD
My Golf Lesson with ChatGPT How does the AI chatbot stack up against the game’s all-time teaching greats? By Jerry Tarde I’ ve tried everything to hit the ball further. I’ve taken lessons from Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, I signed up and took my first lesson. I went for the premium edition: Twenty bucks a month and I could ask as many questions as I wanted, no waiting. The mission was simple: How can I increase my swing speed? The answer came back literally in a second:
gone to clubfitters, nutritionists and personal trainers and joined a couple of those upscale Manhattan gyms. I’ve done Pilates and yoga. I got tips from Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer and Annika Sorenstam. I’ve even played in a member-guest with the renowned sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella – suffice it to say, I didn’t learn to be my own best friend. The search for distance finally led me to ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot that everyone’s talking about.
Bob Toski, Jim Flick, Sam Snead, Paul Runyan, Shelby Futch – well, it would be easier to list the pros I haven’t taken a lesson from. Harvey Penick showed me his little red book. I spent a week with Jimmy Ballard. Ben Hogan of- fered to give me his secret (then didn’t). I’ve tried the pink shaft in my driver. I subscribe to Golf Digest Schools. I’ve
(1) A good warm-up routine can help increase flexibility and range of motion, which in turn can lead to a faster swing. A dynamic stretching routine can help loosen up your muscles and joints and get your body ready for the swing.
ILLUSTRATION BY SAMI SARAMÄKI
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(2) Building strength in your core, back and legs can help generate more power. Exercises like squats, deadlifts and lunges can help improve your over- all strength. (3) Plyometrics, such as jumping and bounding exercises, can help improve your explosiveness and speed. (4) Working with a golf coach to improve your swing technique can help you generate more power. This sounds like a lot of work, and I don’t have patience, so I asked, “How can I hit the ball further without exer- cise, in 25 words or less?” “Focus on good ball contact and tem- po, use a longer club, tee the ball higher, and adjust your ball position forward.” That’s too many moving parts, I said. Just give me one swing thought. “Maintain a smooth and balanced tempo throughout the swing, rather than trying to swing too hard or too fast.” Simpler still, give me one word to think about. “Tempo. This word encompasses rhythm, timing and pacing and can help you maintain a smooth and con- trolled motion throughout your swing.” I’ve tried that. It doesn’t work. What should I do? “When all else fails, you may try in- creasing the loft on your club, using a lighter shaft, teeing the ball higher or experimenting with a more aggressive swing tempo.” Maybe I should just go forward a set of tees? “Moving forward to a set of tees that better matches your skill level and driving distance might be a good strat- egy to improve your golf game. Playing from tees that are too long or too diffi- cult can lead to frustration, slow play and a less enjoyable experience on the golf course.” It won’t be long before I’ll be able to input a video of my swing and artifi- cial intelligence will offer diagnostics, but for now I’m engaged in a dialogue on my iPad. In some back and forth, ChatGPT suggested I stay hydrated to prevent fatigue. I asked if alcohol would help, and it emphatically said no. What about smoking weed? It wouldn’t even discuss “illegal substances.” We then considered what different pros would tell me to do. It said Hogan might strengthen my grip, Harmon
ty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there, and don’t throw it away. While this (Hawking) quote may not seem directly related to golf, it highlights the importance of perseverance and find- ing purpose in life. These values can be applied to your golf game as well. Keep practising and working on your skills, and don’t give up if you’re not hitting the ball as far as you’d like.” Kind of like placing a mirror in front of a mirror, I asked what Jerry Tarde would tell me.
might widen my backswing, Leadbetter might stabilise my lower body “while allowing my upper body to rotate ful- ly.” Tiger Woods would say to “practice with a purpose.” John Daly would tell me to “grip it and rip it.” I had another thought: I asked it to give me a distance tip from Donald Trump. “I’m sorry, but as an AI language model, I cannot provide political con- tent. Additionally, I am programmed to remain neutral and unbiased on all topics.” Some golfers I know should take that advice.
It replied: “Jerry Tarde, the editor-in-chief of Golf Digest, emphasises the im- portance of proper clubface alignment at address to achieve a solid and accu- rate shot. One of his tips is to align the clubface with the intended target line, while also aligning your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to that target line.” Hmmm. I don’t disagree with this, but I don’t remember ever say- ing it, either. I also wouldn’t take a lesson from myself. Then it hit me. For the
I asked what Bill Mur- ray would tell me. It re- plied too fast: “He might encourage you to ‘Be the ball,’ a famous line from his character in the movie ‘Caddyshack.’ While this may sound silly or uncon- ventional, by visualising your shot and embodying the ball’s trajectory you can gain greater clarity and confidence in your swing, which can trans- late in greater distance.” (Our fact-checker notes
Jerry Tarde treats the subject playfully here, but the opportunity and threat posed by this AI technology cannot be overstated.
lesson to end all lessons, I should go to the Bard of Hibbing, the Voice of a Generation. Can you give me a tip in the form of Bob Dylan lyrics, I asked. The cursor paused for only a second, and then came this reply: When it comes to hitting far down the fairway, There ain’t no shortcut, ain’t no easy way. But you gotta try hard, swing with all your might, And focus on that ball, keep it in your sight. You gotta loosen up, don’t be too stiff, And don’t forget to breathe, don’t hold your breath. Keep your head down, and your eyes on the prize, And when you make contact, it’ll be a surprise. So don’t think too much, don’t get in your head, Let your instincts take over instead. And with practice and patience you’ll see it’s true, That hitting it further is within reach for you.
that it was Chevy Chase’s character, not Murray’s, who said the line, proving that even ChatGPT isn’t infallible.) I then asked it to give me a tip in which each word began with a suc- cessive letter of the alphabet. This is a party trick I knew ChatGPT likes to play. It answered instantly: “Always balance core drives each follow-through, grip hands inside joints. Keep loose mus- cles. Now, practice quick rotations, square target under. Visualise win, x-pect yardage zestfully.” My wife was an English major, so I asked for a tip in iambic pentameter: Swing through the ball with rhythm and grace, With every motion in its proper place. Keep your tempo smooth, your balance true, And watch the distance of your ball accrue. Trying to get more cerebral, I asked what Stephen Hawking would advise. “One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is emp-
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MIND / THE LOOP M
Golf Turn-ons and Turn-offs When looking for love on the course, attraction isn’t the only thing that matters By Coleman Bentley
HE’S A FOUR BUT PAYS HIS GOLF BETS IMMEDIATELY.
SHE’S A NINE BUT NEVER REPLACES HER DIVOTS.
SHE’S A SEVEN BUT HER GLOVE LOOKS LIKE IT SURVIVED THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD.
HE’S AN EIGHT BUT ROCKS PERSONALISED IRON COVERS.
HE’S A NINE BUT CALLS IN RULES INFRACTIONS WHILE WATCHING GOLF ON TV.
HE’S A SEVEN BUT ALWAYS “FINDS” HIS BALL.
HE’S A 10 BUT DRESSES LIKE PAYNE STEWART UNIRONICALLY.
SHE’S AN EIGHT BUT LINES UP EVERY PUTT FROM BOTH SIDES.
SHE’S A THREE BUT HAS A LODGE AT FANCOURT.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY SEAN MORRIS
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BODY / GOLF DIGEST SCHOOLS B
RECAPTURE YOUR SWING Use these strategies to get back to your best tempo By Lynn Marriott & Pia Nilsson
1 Ride your go-to shot
AT SOME POINT OVER THE course of 18 holes, you’re like- ly to lose your good swing. It
for as long as necessary
happens to even the best players. You miss a few fairways, and before you know it, that smooth, rhythmic swing you brought to the first six holes is suddenly gone. Here’s the good news: No one ever loses their swing. It’s still there, you just must learn how to rec- ognise when it goes bad and get out of your own way. Try our three strategies to help you find it again as fast as possible.
● Obsessing about your swing when it goes awry is only going to make things worse. If you know you’re going to lose it, have a strategy or plan B for getting it back. For example: What is a shot you know you can hit in the fairway or onto the green? Maybe it’s a knockdown shot, as Pia is demonstrating above. Lean on your go-to shot until you get your feel back and leave the detailed swing analysis for after the round.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JD CUBAN
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2 Swing at 40-to-60 percent of your maximum speed ● Many golfers get very quick when they lose their swing, so it’s good to slow everything down, especially your tempo. When you get over the ball, take a few deep breaths, long exhales, and relax your upper body. Then, have the feeling that you’re swinging at 40-to-60 percent of your maximum speed. This calmer tempo will help sync up your arms and body and get you swinging normal again.
3 Play with your feet together for better balance, control ● Some of our students have discov- ered that the easiest way to regain their feel is to play a hole with their feet close together ( right ). This simplifies your motion and gets you more centred and in balance. It also helps you feel more present in your body, so you don’t start overthinking. After playing a hole with your feet together, try narrowing your normal stance, and if that feels good, then go back to standing wider.
LYNN MARRIOTT AND PIA NILSSON , both Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers, are co-founders of VISION54 in Scottsdale.
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BODY / PUTTING B
GET YOUR SPEED RIGHT Use this drill to turn three-footers into gimmes By Jason Baile
for many golfers, a three- foot putt is anything but a gimme, especially when the
pressure is ratcheted up and the putt is for birdie or a crucial par to extend the big weekend match. The mistake a lot of amateurs make with this length putt is that they don’t hit the ball firm enough. They try to cozy the ball up to the hole because they fear another three-footer coming back. Conse- quently, the ball doesn’t have enough pace to hold its line. They also tend to play too much break, which effectively shrinks the size of the hole. What is the perfect speed for mak- ing more of these three-footers? The following drill will help you dial in just the right amount. Find a relatively flat three-foot putt on the practice green, and place three balls down. Putt the first ball as slow as you possibly can but with just enough forward momentum that it trickles over the front edge of the cup (bottom left). Now putt the second ball at a faster speed so that it will hit the back of the hole and drop in with- out lipping out (bottom right). Then hit the final ball at a speed between the first two. It should have just enough pace so that it carries to the centre of the cup (bottom middle). That’s the speed you want on all three-footers – nothing too soft or too hard but firm and right in the middle. Perform this drill regularly in your practice and before you play, and you’ll no longer have to fear these short knee- knockers ever again. – WITH DAVE ALLEN JASON BAILE , a Golf Digest 50 Best Teacher, is the director of instruction at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Florida.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JENSEN LARSON
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ADD METRES AND TAKE YEARS OFF YOUR DRIVES BY PADRAIG HARRINGTON PHOTOGRAPHS BY JENSEN LARSON
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PADRAIG HARRINGTON’S DRIVING STATS
2023 298.8
2007 293.2
Average driving distance (yards) Driver clubhead speed (mph)
118.49
116.24
I PLAY IN PRO-AMS ALMOST EVERY WEEK, AND MEET LOTS OF GOLFERS about my age – I’m 52 – who love the game and have the goal of retiring soon and playing more golf. The problem is many can barely carry the ball 180 metres. In 15 years, they might struggle to fly it 150 – and if that happens, they’re going to get frustrated and likely end up hating the game at a point in life when they should be enjoying it more than ever. It’s one of the reasons I created the YouTube Channel, “Paddy’s Golf Tips.” I wanted to offer some hope to golfers who are getting older and not hitting the ball the way they once did. I felt that way about my game, too, so I did something about it. Working hard on speed with my coach, Michael Jacobs, I’m now swinging faster and hitting it further in my 50s than I was in my 30s – seri-
ously! Here, I’ll share some of the things I learned about how to combat the negative aspects of aging. If you’re over 50, the time to train is now. If you sit back, you risk becoming that golfer who only carries it 160. It’s the old “use it or lose it” adage, and it’s so true when it comes to training those fast-twitch muscles necessary for speed. Read on, and I’ll help you regain some of that pop you lost off the tee. – with luke kerr-dineen
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DRILL: GRIP THE HANDLE MORE IN YOUR FINGERS Grip changes are universally loathed, but this adjustment is crucial for speed. Rest the handle more in the fingers of both hands ( far left ) instead of mostly in your palms. This provides a lot of freedom when you swing. To test it, hold the club in the fingers of your gloved hand and let your arm hang by your side ( left ). Note how you can move the club with just your hand and wrist. Your arm doesn’t have to move like it does when you rest the club in your palms. Also experiment with grip styles that promote more suppleness. I use a “double overlap.” The pinky and ring finger of my right hand are on top of my gloved hand. Give it a try.
FEEL: STAND TALLER AND
MORE RELAXED How you address a ball greatly impacts your ability to swing the club fast and free. One thing I learned a few years ago as I chased more speed, especially off the tee, is that you’re way better off feeling relaxed at setup than if you stand rigidly over the ball – which is how I was taught as a kid to get into my address posture. I now stand more upright with my rear end tucked underneath my slightly rounded shoulders ( right ). To stay loose, I’m always moving before I swing, especially my feet. Standing taller and more relaxed when you address the ball will help the fluidity of your swing. Getting all tense and hunched over is a real speed killer.
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DRILL : SWING CROSS-HANDED TO FEEL HOW TO TRANSFER ENERGY In Ireland, I grew up playing the Gaelic sport of hurling. In that my practice golf swings cross-handed ( above ) to
is wasted. When you get older and can’t move your body like you once did, relying on this release – using your hands to give the ball a good whack – becomes much more important. This drill helps train that.
the clubhead. Swinging cross-handed helps you feel that energy transfer. What it does is force the club to release past your hands as you swing through the impact zone. You’re releasing all the energy into the ball so none of it
work on more speed. Let me explain why. You can generate all the power in the world with your arms and body, but that doesn’t matter if you can’t transfer it out to
sport, I grip the hurley with my left hand lower than my right, the opposite of how you’re supposed to hold a golf club. I got used to that grip, so now I’ll often make
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FEEL: TURN OFF YOUR BRAIN TO UNLOCK YOUR INNER ATHLETE Golfers sometimes get lost in swing tips and thoughts, focusing on the right positions instead of remembering an important aspect of hitting golf shots: You want to feel as athletic as possible and swing without much, if any, conscious thought. We instinctively know how to move to do all sorts of things, but in golf, our brain often gets in the way. To unlock your body and get in more of an unrestricted state, it helps to perform other dynamic motions. For example, a right-hander who swings left-handed has no frame of mind to interfere with the raw movement. Athleticism takes over. Another way to free yourself is by casually throwing golf balls onto the range (left). You’ll feel that stretch in your arms and body as you wind up, that big step towards the target before you throw, and an unwinding of the torso and hips around your posted leg as you release the ball – that move is just like an athletic golf swing!
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DRILL : TAKE A STEP TOWARDS BIGGER DRIVES I’ve played entire tournaments step-
club back but before you reach the top of the swing, take a big step towards your target ( above, centre ), plant that foot, and then swing through ( above, right ). This drill might feel
than you might think.) I have a good drill to improve your timing.
gave me more speed and power in that deep, thick grass. Side-stepping like this helps if you struggle to transfer weight into your lead foot at the optimal time. (Tip: It should happen in your swing a little sooner
ping laterally towards the target as I swing. I even did it in the US Open at Winged Foot in 2006. Every time I was in heavy rough, I’d take a little step with my left foot on my way through. It
Tee up a ball and address it with your feet together about a stride-length behind where you normally would (above, left). Stay that way as you take the
strange initially, but it’s great for more power.
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FEEL: GET OFF THE BLOCKS LIKE A SPRINTER I can tell how good most golfers are before they even swing. You just have to watch them move. However, I will say that bad golf swings aren’t always the result of aging or poor physical fitness. Nowadays, many amateurs are getting their golf instruction on social media from people they’ve never heard of. A common piece of bad advice is to stay down and swing in the same posture you started in at address. When I see golfers trying that, they might manage to stay down, but they can’t move or turn freely. They’re in big trouble. Instead, I’d much rather see you rising up as the club moves through impact. You want to squeeze your glutes and thrust up with your legs, which in turn whips the club through impact. As you swing down, use your trail foot to push off the turf like a sprinter coming out of the blocks (left). That’s how you pick up some serious swing speed and hit one way down the fairway past those cocky kids!
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Last 10 PGA Champions 2023 Brooks Koepka Oak Hill 2022 Justin Thomas Southern Hills 2021 Phil Mickelson Kiawah Island 2020 Collin Morikawa Harding Park 2019 Brooks Koepka Bethpage Black 2018 Brooks Koepka Bellerive 2017 Justin Thomas Quail Hollow 2016 Jimmy Walker Baltusrol 2015 Jason Day Whistling Straits 2014 Rory McIlroy Valhalla South African Champions 1994 Nick Price Southern Hills 1992 Nick Price Bellerive 1972 Gary Player Oakland Hills 1962 Gary Player Aronimink
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The 351-yard 13th.
UNTIL
VALH LLA The five holes that will decide the PGA Championship BY DEREK DUNCAN • PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRIAN OAR
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alhalla Golf Club outside of Louisville, host of the 2024 PGA Championship, from May 16-19, is a course defined by rich topographical variety and pointedly modernist architecture. Designed by Jack Nicklaus in the mid-1980s, the layout covers two distinct sections of land: a flood plain in the bend of a river known as Floyd’s Fork and hilly, upland terrain that plunges through hardwoods and former pastureland. The architecture is creative and stern, with defined targets and rewards for powerful driving. Artistic flourishes come in the form of fescue- carpeted mounding throughout the first nine and naturally occurring limestone used to bulwark greens, streams and water features. Previous PGA Championships at Valhalla – 1996, 2000 and 2014 – finished suspensefully on 18, a reachable par 5 with a split fairway second shot. Late-game theatrics are certain to be in store again, but to get there players will have to survive these equally distinctive holes.
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"WINNING COLOURS" HOLE 2 / 500 YARDS / PAR 4 Much of the first nine is constructed to look like rambling Midwestern prairie with the holes switching over former agricultural fields. The second hole occupies a separate environment, levelled into the wooded hillside on the far side of Floyd’s Fork and bending left around a sunken wetland. Members play the double dogleg as a par 5, but it’s a monstrous par 4 for the PGA Championship, one that registered as the most difficult hole in 2014 with a stroke average of 4.36. Drives must try to push as far into a narrow neck of fairway as they dare while hewing towards the hazard to shorten the approach into a green set over an embankment that falls steeply into a stream.
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“LONG SHOT” HOLE 6 / 495 YARDS / PAR 4 It sometimes seems the only viable architectural defence in an age of routine 330-yard (302m) drives is to cut off the fairway. That’s what the sixth hole does. Floyd’s Fork bisects the hole, capping drives at 300 yards, and any tee shot that goes right or through the fairway tumbles into a deep ravine. Players will club down to put the ball in play, then face an approach of about 200 yards – front hole locations are accessible, but birdies will become scarce the further the flag moves back. This was the second-most-difficult hole in 2014 with a 4.35 stroke average.
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“THE LIMESTONE HOLE” HOLE 13 / 351 YARDS / PAR 4 The 13th is one of the most unique holes in the PGA Championship rotation. The green is structured like a silo that has been plopped in a moat and shorn a third of the way up, its base ringed in limestone rock while water trickles down a newly constructed façade of limestone to the right. The reason the green is built so high is to keep the putting surface above the flood line because the site is at the lowest point of the second nine. Missing the fairway in the bunkers or bluegrass rough makes hitting the 558-square-metre target more difficult, and most players will hit irons and hybrids for position, though a few will try to hit drives as close to the hazard as possible and pitch on from there.
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“JULEP” HOLE 15 / 435 YARDS / PAR 4 There aren’t many level stances at Valhalla, but the 15th fairway glides like the smooth backstretch of Churchill Downs racetrack along a creek called Brush Run. The creek can catch drives flared right, but its primary role is to set up one of the course’s most exacting second shots as it bows against the front of the angled green before circling around to the right. The approach must find land between a fronting bunker and another bunker left, and a ridge running onto the putting surface creates an elevated back section. Expect to see at least three hole locations set along the right edge of the green where bogeys outnumber birdies at a two-to-one clip.
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“PHOTO FINISH” HOLE 18 / 570 YARDS / PAR 5 Drives off an elevated tee must find fairway between a bunker and a limestone waterfall hazard. Hole locations on the boomerang green with three exaggerated levels should impact how players approach the second and third shots, especially if they need to make birdie or eagle. In 1996, Kenny Perry’s bogey here put him in a playoff with Mark Brooks, who finished with a 4 and then birdied the hole again 20 minutes later for his first and only major. Tiger Woods and Bob May both birdied it in 2000 to cap matching 31s on the second nine, then traded pars in their three-hole playoff until May needed another birdie to stay alive. Phil Mickelson closed with a birdie and a final-round 66 in 2014, but Rory McIlroy, playing in near darkness and hitting up while Mickelson waited to play his third shot, made a par from the left greenside bunker to win by one.
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7-wood’s greens-in-regula- tion percentage was higher in 28 of 40 instances (70 percent). Like many trends in golf equipment, adoption on the PGA Tour has helped accel- erate the momentum with amateurs. Five years ago only a handful of 7-woods were in play on the PGA Tour, but today some 30 per- cent of tour players have one in the bag. Although about a third of the field still uses a hybrid and another third of the field a 2- or 3-iron on any given week, the 7-wood is closing in fast, and regular golfers are noticing. “When people found out Dustin Johnson was using one, it took away a lot of the stigma and hesitation,” says Chris Marchini of Golf Galaxy. “It opened up the dialogue with a lot of our customers.”
Arne Thomas remem- bers the moment when he realised he had found a valuable addition to his bag. Playing Oakmont Coun- try Club where he carries a 2.4 index, Thomas stood 186 metres out on the slightly uphill par-5 ninth. The hole was playing into a breeze with the pin behind the front-right bunker. Lengthy shots into firm, undulating greens require two things seemingly at odds with each other. They need to be hit long and with sufficient height to stop quickly on the green. The club Thomas pulled from his bag: a 7-wood. “When that ball went up in the air and landed so soft- ly on the green, it amazed me,” says 56-year-old Thom- as. “I had never been able to go after that pin before. I had to play left of the sand and try to run it up with a 4-iron. I can scoot a long iron the same total distance, but the carry distance and height of
the 7-wood allows me to hold greens I would otherwise be rolling over. It has become my go-to club.” “Go-to club” is a seismic shift from the days when just about any male golfer daring to use one would be subjected to ridicule. Today, however, it is difficult to find a manufacturer of fairway woods that does not include an option at 21 degrees (the typical 7-wood loft) or high- er in its lineup. The club has gone from a novelty to a necessity for many golfers. Data collected by the golf-stat-tracking company Arccos reveals how much a 7-wood can benefit golfers of all abilities. The company measured the greens-in- regulation percentage for players using a 7-wood and a 3-hybrid (the most logi- cal comparison club) across handicap ranges (scratch to 25-handicap) and distances (130 to 200 metres). The
BY E. MICHAEL JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPH BY DOM FURORE HEADCOVER BY DORMIE WORKSHOP
MANY OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD
CARRY A 7-WOOD, SO WHY DON’T YOU?
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Johnson is just one of several elite players who carry a 7-wood. Adam Scott, Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann have 7-woods. Pat- rick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele use 7-woods for certain courses. JJ VanWezenbeeck, direc- tor of player promotions for Titleist, says the 7-wood in- creased in popularity among the game’s best for a few rea- sons. “Major-championship- type setups or courses with four par 5s bring in part of the experimentation,” he says. “But sometimes play- ers such as Max Homa put a 7-wood in play, get a win, and other players are like, Oh my gosh, this club can do so much.” The PGA Tour has al- ways been to some extent a copycat tour. A two-time major champion like John- son playing one catches the attention of other players, or someone will play with another tour pro and see him pull a club out and hit a shot he wasn’t expecting. “When they’re told it’s a 7-wood, it piques their interest, and that’s when we get the phone calls saying, ‘Hey, I played with so and so, and I’d like to try one.’ That happens a lot,” VanWezenbeeck says. Ease of use is another big reason. Although many would consider a hybrid easier to hit than a 7-wood, Kenton Oates, PGA Tour rep for Ping, disputes this. “The 7-wood is an easier club to spin than a hybrid,” he says. “It has a higher peak flight than a hybrid, and it’s more consistent for left-to-right ball flights, especially with how we tend to build them for our tour staff. We often build 7-woods an inch short- er than typical – 41 inches
SWING LIKE IT’S A MIDDLE IRON “One of the main mistakes players make with a 7-wood is setting up as if they were about to hit a driver – with a forward ball position and tilted shoulders,” says CJ Nafus, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher. “You should set up with the same ball position as a middle iron, with the ball below the logo on your shirt. When you swing, keep your shoulders pretty level ( above ). The attack angle at impact should be level to slightly downwards.”
INSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE BOYLE
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