tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355968792009-04-12T20:13:25.589+01:00The UK's greatest golf magazine for golf experts and amateurs alike. Great competitions, golf course searches and news, golf holiday information, equipment reviews and much, much more.national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-87257892753967997012008-07-31T13:39:00.003+01:002008-07-31T14:35:16.083+01:00

NO, not that sort of focus and vision. Not the sort which is espoused by the sports psychologists which line the practice grounds of every European Tour practice ground. I'm talking about actual eyesight. I have long pondered undergoing laser eye surgery and for one reason or another - OK, mainly financial ones! - I have never taken the plunge.It moved to the top of my agenda on the first day of

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-35718222414411967952008-07-24T09:51:00.000+01:002008-07-24T09:55:18.949+01:00

IN a week's time the leading lady golfers on the planet will converge on Sunningdale for the Women's British Open.It will be the last Major in which Annika Sorenstam appears as the Swedish legend is retiring at the end of this season.It is a significant blow to the ladies' game. Look at the fuss being made of Tiger Woods missing our Open Championship and the US PGA a month later. Imagine him

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-50962751333710018142008-07-23T09:56:00.000+01:002008-07-23T09:57:12.675+01:00

SO golf's big hitters want golf to be introduced to the Olympics in 2016. My first reaction is: why?Golf is not a sport short of high-profile events. We have four Majors every year, we have even more World Golf Championships every year and we have team events of different guises every year.Do we really need golf in the Olympics? I don't think so. Would the top, top players support it? I'm not so

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-1313105259817473162008-07-17T14:54:00.002+01:002008-07-17T15:01:28.789+01:00

I CAN'T help feeling that an hour after he walked off the course, sandy Lyle will have started regretting his decision to turn his back on the Open Championship 2008.After a hot shower and a stiff drink, I'm convinced the former Open champion will have looked out of the window at his fellow competitors battling the conditions and wished he had still been out there trying to do the same.And I

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-84721070461452590562008-07-16T09:44:00.003+01:002008-07-16T10:02:21.059+01:00

THIS week promises much. Firstly, my beloved Huddersfield Town are rumoured to be close to luring our former star striker Jon Stead back to the club. Enough of League One matters though!Secondly, and more importantly, I will be making a long-awaited Open Championship debut at Royal Birkdale on Friday – and I simply cannot wait.I have been part of the dedicated and hardworking team (!) at NCG

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-48546296380727829942008-07-14T09:41:00.003+01:002008-07-17T15:02:38.281+01:00

1) We don’t have too much Tiger talk. It’s a shame he’s not fit but let’s not remind ourselves of the fact every 10 minutes2) We don’t get too disappointed with Justin Rose when he doesn’t improve (as he almost certainly won’t) on his Birkdale heroics in 19983) The weather is kind – it’s so much better spectating at the course and on TV with the sun on everyone’s back - and not unfair as it was

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-2560138698757844802008-07-14T09:39:00.000+01:002008-07-14T09:40:29.182+01:00

WHILE watching the coverage of the last round of the Barclays Scottish Open I started wondering which of the players I would like to be – or rather in which category of player I would like to be in.Would I prefer to be a big name like Ernie Els or Lee Westwood who are expected to challenge by fans, sponsors, tour officials – and themselves.Or maybe it would be better to be a Ross Fisher or a

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-8592569614782430412008-05-28T13:57:00.003+01:002008-05-28T14:08:11.549+01:00

WE spend a lot of time dissecting whether the greens we are playing on are any good. Fairways also come in for some critical attention too at times. Tee boxes aren’t immune from comment.Not enough focus is put on sand in my opinion though.That thought occurred to me as I played at my favourite Bank Holiday retreat, Colvend in South West Scotland, over the weekend.On finding a trap and jumping

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-49394142304337776032008-05-27T09:07:00.001+01:002008-05-27T11:09:25.141+01:00

THE BMW PGA Championship again provided excellent Bank Holiday Weekend viewing and it was good to see so many of Europe’s leading players enter the continent’s flagship event.Then again, it’s not exactly a hardship to play at Wentworth, be treated like a king and be rewarded handsomely merely for playing all four days. The previous week Adare Manor hosted the Irish Open – this year without a

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-16372157812295429082008-05-22T14:09:00.000+01:002008-05-22T14:12:53.100+01:00

HAVE you ever watched professional golfers in awe, admiring their skills and emulating their swings?Well, I have. And when watching the Italian Open last week, I was pleasantly surprised and extremely envious of England's very own Oliver Wilson, who was forced to putt with his wedge in the second round.The Mansfield-born 27-year-old looked good going into Friday and at six-under looked set for

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-61986171653436792182008-05-01T12:00:00.003+01:002008-05-01T12:06:52.938+01:00

Opinion is often split in this particular debate - when is the best time to play golf? Tee off early and you get the best of the greens, the rest of the day to yourself. Play late and you might be struggling to get round before nightfall and held up by other like-minded nine to fivers. Give me the latter any day of the week.A friend last week made all manner of excuses why he couldn't make a

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-85196536694167828032008-04-29T12:14:00.003+01:002008-05-01T10:13:09.045+01:00

THE answer is 'no', of course. An out-to-in slash across the ball will produce a slice no matter what your ball is teed up on.Incredibly, there was a device - nothing more than a tee with a fuzzy top to it really - a few years ago which claimed it could straighten out your banana shots. We all know, though, that only a better swing can do that. There isn't really an easy answer, although drivers

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-16842280607153467892008-04-24T15:23:00.001+01:002008-04-24T15:54:30.305+01:00

Nobody can play to their handicaps. Or at least not unless they are playing at their home course. Otherwise, short of holing out a couple of times with a five iron, it's scores of between 28 and 34 points all round.And that's before we even start thinking about strokeplay formats.This, to me, indicates that the handicap system is unduly flattering. I don't really think the point of handicaps is

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-20175372624281240062008-04-24T13:13:00.003+01:002008-04-24T14:28:47.142+01:00

IN the offices of NCG we have our very own handicap board. It is, as you might imagine, the source of much amusement, controversy and interest.It is regulated by Editor Dan Murphy and, it has to be said amid all the complaints, he is as honest as he is a fine judge of ability (although to be cut five strokes in one fell swoop is surely harsh?).The handicap committee sat over the weekend after

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-4722251339273243612008-04-10T13:14:00.003+01:002008-04-10T13:20:32.235+01:00

The next couple days promise to be some of the most challenging on the 2008 golfing calendar. We're not taking here about swiring winds, chilly breezes or lightning greens rather a needless necessity to go berserk with the bookmakers.Every year, as Augusta rolls round, I kid myself that there is no need to add to my enjoyment of the Georgia spectacle with a string of outsiders. Best to just sit

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-24340476986984531182008-04-07T14:22:00.000+01:002008-04-07T14:23:29.835+01:00

COLIN MONTGOMERIE’S first target in 2008 was to collect enough ranking points to squeeze into the field for the Masters. He looks to have failed there, barring a late invite) but it wasn't for the lack of trying.Now he turns his attention to ensuring he’s in the Players and subsequently looking forward to the Major which has brought him most success, the US Open, and his favourite Major, The

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-84953385846986720172008-04-01T16:51:00.001+01:002008-04-01T16:53:08.369+01:00

I’VE been the butt of many jokes in the NCG offices so far this year. Nothing new in that I suppose, but this time it has surrounding the lack of time I’ve spent on the course in 2008. Usually I’m getting stick for disappearing for three days on urgent business which simply has to be conducted on a collection of Irish links.However the extensive surgery which has been conducted on my swing has

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-70339766208119845772008-04-01T16:34:00.005+01:002008-04-01T16:41:12.528+01:00

The German PGA Tour star showed his talent by shooting his best round of the week using borrowed clubs...We often hear about tour pros only using the very best equipment available and then spending hours working with the experts to make it perform just the way they want it so it was heartening to hear about Alex Cejka's experiences at last week's Zurich Classic in New Orleans.The German, who

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-86352242533074161402008-03-25T16:52:00.003Z2008-03-25T16:55:34.382Z

I woke up on Thursday morning to the surprise news that the BBC had regained the rights to televise Formula One. Like most sports fans brought up on Murray Walker commentating on Nigel Mansell and who finds it sad that the Beeb has lost so much world-class sport, I welcomed the development. Plus there’s also the brilliant theme tune.Then I started thinking. Wouldn’t the BBC have been better

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-7541075851753779932008-03-20T12:54:00.003Z2008-03-20T14:18:11.730Z

Just like every year, I can't wait for the Masters to begin in a couple of weeks.But just like every year, I am also slightly anxious. Because ahead of every Major, but most of all this one, if Tiger opens up with a 67 then as far as I'm concerned it's all over bar the shouting.Now let's get one thing clear - I'm not one of those morons who claims the game is somehow the poorer for this genius

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-88513336711328738062008-02-28T09:13:00.002Z2008-02-28T09:26:17.897Z

10 things that struck me about the WGC Matchplay last week:1) From the moment Tiger escaped from his opening round match against JB Holmes, you got the feeling he was going to win the first WGC event of the year.2) Why do players (like Stewart Cink) putt like gods in previous rounds and then as soon as they play against Tiger start missing five-footers?3) I know it's played in the middle of the

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-4294176007380141682008-02-22T09:53:00.002Z2008-02-22T10:18:39.883Z

I'M slightly worried about this year. Like every other season in golf, there are plenty of things to look forward to. The Majors and the Ryder Cup stand out of course and already we've had a couple of outstanding tournaments on the European Tour.But I'm not sure we can trust Tiger's rivals to be just that: challengers to hi throne, men who make him win tournaments rather than the world No 1

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-61914153348132884392008-02-19T09:56:00.002Z2008-02-19T10:19:46.950Z

WHY are we not really, really excited by the start of the World Golf Championships for 2008? This week the matchplay leg of the WGCs takes place and it really should be a tremendously exciting event. Yet, after we've done the office draw and we've argued over who's got the best batch of players (this year I got David Toms, Anders Hansen, Jim Furyk, and Jerry Kelly which I'm quietly happy with),

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-55630346983104651072008-02-08T10:56:00.000Z2008-02-08T11:20:37.592Z

Until very recently, it was accepted golfing wisdom that in the era of Jack Nicklaus (1960s and 70s) there fewer good players than there are now in Tiger Woods' prime (mid 1990s to the present).This has always coloured the debate as to which is the greatest.For the first time, this assumption is currently being questioned.Now, comparing anything across eras, be it the state of the British

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35596879.post-80488008227189390742008-02-05T09:53:00.000Z2008-02-05T09:56:53.390Z

THE media are often accused of being obsessed with Tiger Woods. For instance, I love Sky Sports’s coverage of golf but have heard others complain that it is too focussed on the world No 1.I disagree. I think the concentration on Woods is as justified as it is welcome. He is a phenomenon in sporting terms never mind golfing ones, so let’s see as much of him as possible.Everyone should wake up to

national club golferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14421458015143270074noreply@blogger.com2