Today's Golfer

the most important ranking we’ve done?

What do you think is a ‘reasonable’ price to pay for a round of golf? When I say a reasonable price, I don’t mean a once-in-a-lifetime round at Augusta National, where people would often pay whatever it takes to play there. I’m talking about courses where you can pick up the phone and book a tee time, including every Open Championship venue (you’re looking at £195 to play the Old Course this summer, for example). We’ve asked that question a lot over the years, and the answer is always “around £50”. Less than you might imagine? That’s why we’ve produced the first proper ranking of GB&I courses you can play for £60 or less. As proud as we are of our other Top 100 lists, this is possibly the most important (along…

short & sweet

If you haven’t yet embraced short forms of golf, more courses like this might just convince you. Played out to a coastal backdrop, this stunning creation is inspired by some of the courses in Scotland and Ireland – the vast sand dunes and bunkers are a bit of giveaway – and has been designed by US architect Bill Coore (of Coore & Crenshaw) to be played in just 90 minutes. The 14-hole layout, known as the Bougle Run, includes a dozen par 3s and two 4s and forms part of the Barnbougle Golf Resort in Tasmania, which is already home to two of the best golf courses in the world. On this evidence, you might want to make that three.…

rose’s mission to champion women’s golf

If women’s golf needed a cheer-leader, they appear to have found it in Olympic champion Justin Rose. After stepping up to plug the gap in the LET schedule with the launch of the inaugural Rose Ladies Series last summer, Rose and his wife, Kate, have put their money and name on the line again in a bid to grow the game. Running in three blocks from now until the end of September, the 2021 Rose Ladies Series resembles a mini golf circuit with the backing of blue-chip sponsors and 11 one-day events, three more than before. New courses on the bumper UK schedule, which was supported by Solheim Cup stars Georgia Hall and Charley Hull last year, include links classics Hillside and Royal Birkdale. Each of the first 10 18-hole shootouts, of…

the bargain hunter

COBRA XL CART BAG NOW £99 This lightweight and durable bag is a great value way to carry all your gear around the course. FAZER PRO COMPACT PUSH TROLLEY NOW £149 This lightweight trolley can fit into the smallest of spaces. It has a simple folding action and comes complete with an accessory station. CALVIN KLEIN COTTON ZIP NECK SWEATER NOW £39.99 This CK sweater is crafted from soft cotton that provides a comfortable layer for year-round performance. BRIDGESTONE TOUR B XS TIGER WOODS EDITION 2 DOZEN FOR £70 The ball Tiger Woods uses – they even have ‘TIGER’ stamped on the cover. RIFE RX2 ALL WEATHER GLOVE 3 FOR £20 Constructed with a synthetic leather material and with cabretta leather in the thumb and palm to increase performance and durability. These deals are available now at www.americangolf.co.uk…

around the clubs

Midnight madness Members at Morley Hayes in Derbyshire were so eager to tee off on March 29, the club hosted its first-ever midnight charity tournament. The event saw eight teams of four players competing across seven holes on the floodlit Tower Course using glow-in-the-dark golf balls. A silent flare was even let off at 12.01am to start the event, which raised around £2,500 for Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre. Enter the Dragon Not content with opening two golf courses in the last two years, the five-star Vattanac Resort in Cambodia has just started offering night golf across nine of the 18 holes on its West Course. The ‘Dragon Turn’ is named after the lake that lingers in the middle of three holes, and ranks as the only floodlit golf course in the country.…

your questions answered!

In trying to identify your ball, are you allowed to clean it without penalty? Robert Baker, email Rule 14.1c states that cleaning is allowed only as needed to identify a golf ball. Otherwise, a ball lifted from the putting green may always be cleaned and the same goes for anywhere else on the course, except when it is lifted: 1. Because it interferes with play. 2. To check if it is cut or cracked. 3. To see if it lies in a condition where relief is allowed. The penalty for cleaning a ball when it is not allowed is one stroke. Can I use an alignment aid on the golf course to help take my stance? Ginny Walton, Berkshire While most coaches would probably recommend that you do so on the driving range, on the course you are prohibited…