Reading ‘A Life Well Played’ by Arnold Palmer

A few weeks ago I was given ‘A Life Well Played’ to read; if you enjoy golf and the stories around it as much as I do, you don’t have to be asked twice to read the golfing wisdom of Arnold Palmer.

With the Kings death recently, the contents of the book are made even more poignant by the tributes that were afforded Mr. Palmer. In all the 35+ years I have been golfer I don’t think that I have heard anyone speak ill of Mr. Palmer and this was completely evident in the days and weeks that followed his death.

The book makes for a great read, following Mr. Palmer’s journey as a golfer from first picking up a club to being one of the elder statesman of the game; the insight, wisdom and inside view from the perspective of true professional make it worth the cost alone. If you revered the man, as I did, you have no excuse not to get yourself a copy.

You can buy it for yourself at Amazon or Barnes and Noble (BTW I'm don't make anything out of this; the publisher gave me an advance copy in electronic format)

Now, lets see who's paying attention - the publisher has graciously given me a few copies to give away to readers; email me if you want one, first come, first served :-)

Guest Post: 3 indoor drills you should be doing right now!

For my readers from colder climes, a guest post Maria Palozola, to help you gear up for new season (that being said, it's pretty good advice anyway irrespective of the season you find yourself in).

Still Cold Outside?  

With a couple more months of winter for most people in the states there's still time to make major changes before your season starts.  The good news is just about every part of your game can be improved upon indoors.  I tell my students there really never is an excuse not to practice, because you can work on both your full swing an short game indoors and without even ever hitting a ball.  You need to focus on making a new move first and get that grooved before you start worrying about the ball flight.  If you let the result distract you, it will only slow your progress.  For this reason I absolutely love teaching indoors and having my students hit into a net during the off season. I see them achieve their swing change goals much more rapidly than summer time students.  

Without knowing your own personal game and seeing your swing it's difficult for me to pick from my vast library of indoor drills and customise them to each person's game.

What I did instead is pick my 3 favourite drills (one for putting, one for short game and one for full swing) that can benefit EVERY golfer regardless of their skill level or issues they may have with their technique.  

Top 3 Indoor Drills

Putting - Baseboard Drill

This is by far my favourite indoor putting drill because it really kills two birds with one stone. 

The Baseboard Drill will help you monitor your swing path, but will also help you keep your head and body steady.  

Set Up - Simply put your head against a wall and the toe of your putter against the baseboard. 

Step 1 - Try this first without a ball.   Make slow practice strokes back and forth keeping your head and body steady.  If you are a player that likes to keep the putter moving in a straight line you will trace the baseboard with the toe of the putter.  If you arc the putter, then you can watch the putter head slowly move off the baseboard in an arc on the backswing, return to the baseboard in the middle and then move off of it again in an arc on the follow through. 

Step 2 - Now place a ball in front of your putter head and practice rolling putts with your desired swing path.  

Chipping - Pillow Drill

There aren't a lot of chipping drills you can do indoors, but this is a really useful one. 

With this drill you can work on your technique, but also work on your carry distances to your landing spot.  Hitting your landing spot is the key to rolling balls up tight to the pin for make-able one putts. 

Set Up - Grab the wedge of your choice and a pillow from your bedroom.  Make sure you have a good amount of space and use carpeting or a hitting tarp. You can certainly use real balls, but there is no need as foam practice balls give pretty good feel and will prevent holes in the walls if you shank one!  If you really don't trust yourself line your walls with pillows. 

Step 1 - Place a bedroom pillow about 5 yards away. Chip with your favourite club and practice landing the ball on the pillow. Don't roll the ball to the pillow, but rather fly it there. 

This drill is all about controlling your carry distances.  Once you get the hang things move the pillow progressively 5 yards away each time and then move it closer in again. 

Step 2 - Make a mental note of or chart the backswing length you need to make to fly the ball various distances. 
  
If you learn to control the trajectory and carry on your chip shots, the roll out will be very predictable.

Full Swing - Swing Plane Point Check

To me this is the ultimate indoor drill for full swing and I always try to include it when people ask me what they should do inside over the off season. This is the ultimate perfectionist's drill as it will get your swing on plane helping you hit the ball both straighter and farther.  

Set Up - Grab a mid iron and a second club that you will need to lay on the ground representing your target line.  Placing a tee in the bottom of the grip on the club you will be swinging may help you see where your club is pointing. Take your set up and hover the club in your hand over your target line.   

Step 1 - Start swinging your club back until it is parallel to the ground. This is the first check point.  The club in your hand should not only be parallel or even with the ground, it should be parallel to your target line if you have swung the club on plane.

Step 2 - Hinge your wrists. At this point your front arm (left arm fro right handers) should be even with the ground.  Check here to see if the butt end of your club is pointing back at your target line. If so you are on plane.  If the butt end is pointing in front of your ball, then you are too flat.  If the butt end is pointing inside the ball then you are too steep.  

Step 3 - Complete your shoulder turn and let your arms rise to the top.  Check to see that the club shaft is now parallel to the target line again. 

You can probably see the pattern here.  At all check points your club should be either pointed at your target line or parallel to it. You simply follow the same pattern with your downswing and follow through.

Apply The Antifreeze

Work on these 3 drills to keep the rust off of your clubs and your body while it's still cold outside. Don't fill your first 10 rounds this year with double and triple bogeys simply because you didn't have time to get to the range or there was snow on the ground.  

Instead, hone every part of your game by doing indoor drills for just a few minutes a day.

Maria Palozola is a Top 50 LPGA instructor who was voted by her peers as Midwest Section Teacher of the Year in 2013, 2011 & 2008.  She has taught golfers of all skill levels for more than 20 years and Golf Digest ranks her a Top 5 Teacher in the State. Maria instructs online at http://www.mygolfinstructor.com and offers private lessons in St. Louis at http://www.stlouisgolflessons.com.

Coming soon: Steyn City course review

I was fortunate enough to get invited to play Steyn City this past December on the last day before the course closed before preparations for its grand opening in February/March - to be honest I was completely blown away by the entire experience.

I'll get round to writing something up soon as.

Unfavourable reviews

So I got an email from the current management of the Potchefstroom Golf Club asking me to take down my previously uncomplimentary review of the club (have a look in the archives, it's not pretty).

Hello.
I will like to know if you can remove something from your blog please.
It is about: Friday, 29 December 2006
Courses I've played : Potchefstroom Golf Club : 3/10

If People google Potchefstroom Golf Club the get your info of the golf club and it is not good for the golf club or the shop.
The club and the golf shop is under new management and new owners.

Thanks
Warren

To which I responded

Until I have a chance to play the course again, the review will stand. The current situation does not change the truth of the what happened in the past.

I haven't heard a thing from them - obviously not happy with my approach.

To be fair though, you have to search for 'Potchefstroom Golf Club review' and then the post is toward the bottom of the first page of results - I am not sure how many golfers are adding this course to their could play list and depending on the reviews.

Guest Post: 2014 Masters Style Icons

With excitement now building for the upcoming “Masters Tournament” in April 2014, we take a look at some of the most stylish players taking part in this year’s anticipated tournament.  We know their odds and stats, but which of this year’s player’s will win in the Masters style stakes…..

Bubba Watson

Bubba Watson's exciting and aggressive style of play is sure to make his participation at this year’s even one to watch! Having signed a new clothing contract with Oakley in 2013, we are again sure to see him with a variety of new looks to suit his playing style. Online golf clothing store www.function18.com stock a wide range of Oakley clothing, including a range of items Bubba himself has been spotted in.

Jason Day

This stylish young Australian is definitely a key player to watch in this year’s tournament; in fact it will be pretty hard to miss Jason Day on the fairways. Contracted to wear the bold and bright Adidas Fashion Performance collection, we’re looking forward to seeing him wear some of the key pieces from the brand’s 2014 collection. 

Tiger Woods

Never one to disappoint in the Majors, Wood’s look is always clean cut, fresh and modern. With young Rory McIlroy snapping at his heels, he still remains a great style ambassador for Nike Golf, and his signature plain polo shirts and traditional neutral golf pants are an easy look for spectators to try themselves. 

Rory McIlroy

Head to toe in Nike, we’re sure to see Rory debut key pieces from the new Nike Spring / Summer 2014 collection throughout the tournament in April. As big fans of Nike Golf, in particular their impressive footwear collection, we’re looking forward to seeing what Nike has in store for SS14.  

Guest Post: Golf Winter Checklist

One for my readers in the northern hemisphere.

As the cold weather fast approaches, now is the perfect time to get your winter golfing wardrobe ready for the big chill. From waterproofs to base layer clothing, there is a great range of golf clothing and accessories available to keep you warm and protected on the green this season; 

Base Layers 

It is worth investing in great base layers that can keep you warm this winter. Along with helping to regulate your body temperature in cold temperatures, base layers will also help to enhance your performance on the course, helping to unleash the power of your muscles and your stamina on the green. 

Add Layers

An inexpensive way of making the transition from summer to winter is simply by layering your clothing. Layer a golf jacket over your favourite shirt, and swap your golf shorts for a smarter (and warmer) pair of golf trousers. Online golf store Function18 have a great range of golf jumpers perfect for adding an extra warm layer to your golfing outfit. 

Waterproofs

It goes without saying that autumn and winter are going to be filled with rainy days, so don’t forget to invest in some effective waterproof golf jackets and trousers. Golf clothing brands have incorporated a number of technical innovations to ensure you stay protected even when playing in the rain. Most golf jackets such as those from Galvin Green utilise cutting-edge technical materials such as GORE-TEX® fabrics to ensure great breathability to keep you comfortable as you play.

Hat and Gloves 

Don’t let the colder weather conditions affect your game this winter! Add a pair of gloves and a hat to your golfing bag this season to stay protected. These 2 key items will help retain body heat and keep your body well insulate. Specialist golfing gloves are available from many retailers, which include additional grips and non-slip grip designs to enhance your game. 

Shop winter golf clothing from top brands including Nike, Galvin Green and Oscar Jacobson online at www.function18.com

Courses I've played : The Els Club, Copperleaf : 10/10

Maybe I should start this post with a disclaimer. I am biased, this is my home course and there is nowhere else I enjoy playing in Gauteng more (that includes you River Club).

Ostensibly an inland links design, The Els Club is one of those courses that can be a pleasure to play or a sheer nightmare (I have seen a +1 shoot a 90+ in the wind!), the fairways are wide and generous but the bunkers and rough are penal and the holes are laid out to always take advantage of the prevailing wind in one way or another.

The Els Club is a long golf course, 7400m+ off the tips (it has the longest par 3 and par 5 on the European Tour), all of the low stroke holes generally play in to the wind, there are over 100 bunkers on the course (there is only one hole without a bunker and it ain't all that easy either) and enough water to scare the pants off a high handicapper.

That's not to say it isn't fun to play, most golfers will stay on a fairway and have a decent next shot, the challenge is that all of the hazards have been very cleverly placed and are generally in exactly the right position to catch you out if you are not on your game. The course also has a wide range of tee's which they use to full effect come monthly medal time.

My personal favourite hole is number 6 and its probably also the feature given the number of pictures that have been taken of it (it is both the banner and first picture in the gallery via the links below), it is a shortish par 4, with most low handicappers going off the tee with a long iron or rescue club and hoping they don't draw it into the water which runs parallel to the left of the fairway, higher handicappers might go with a driver but then run the risk of running out of fairway or slicing onto the sloped rough off the right of the fairway making for a seriously challenging second shot.

Every second shot is played over water to a raised green, which slopes sharply from back to front (you run the risk of spinning it back off the front edge if you leave it short and if you are really unlucky all the way back off into the water) surrounded by bunkers, rough and out of bounds. There are many tough pin positions on this green and management like to bring all of the hazards into play.

Walking off this green with a par, feels like a birdie! That being said there is always a good chance of taking the dreaded snowman if you having an off day. A great test of golf for golfers of all abilities.

Having played most if not all of the courses in Gauteng, I also believe that The Els Club has the best management team around, firm but fair and always looking after their golfers - we get to play on a great course every week, we are well looked after and most members I know don't really mind that we have to give it up for a week or two every year whilst the club hosts the Tshwane Open on the European Tour.

In the end, I suppose the nice thing about being a member at the The Els Club is that when ever you play away bunkers don't scare you and the course is never as long, if you have a single figure handicap at the The Els Club you probably deserve it.

I couldn't hope to fully do the course justice but have a look at some of the pictures via Ernie Els's website and that of the estate itself.

Guest Post - Selecting the right golf shoes for you

We all understand how importance comfort is when playing on the green. The average golfer walks around 4-5 miles per hour, now think about how long your average game lasts – and that is a lot of walking! 

Not only is comfortable and stable footwear important for walking, stable footing is extremely important to your performance. Professional golfers take their selection of footwear very seriously, and so should you! So here’s our top guide to choosing the perfect golf shoes for you; 

STYLE 

When it comes to selecting stylish golf shoes, there are 3 main styles on the market – traditional, athletic with and without spikes. Traditional golf shoes are made from leather, are very hard wearing and long lasting, yet lack flexibility and breathability. Whereas athletic golf shoes, both with and without spikes, are lightweight and extremely flexible. Many of the top golf brands including Nike, Adidas, Puma, Footjoy and Oakley supply a wide range of athletic golf shoes , often worn in major tournaments by professionals.

FIT

No matter how great your golf shoes look, if they don’t fit correctly, you will not be a happy golfer! Your new golf shoes should give you space to wiggle your toes, feel secure yet give you room for your feet to breathe. Your golf shoes should be a little tighter than your day to day shoes, as you will need extra support from your whole body when swinging the club – and if your shoes are too loose this can also cause you to slide or loose stability when swinging the club. 

We also suggest getting your feet measured before picking your new shoes – our top tip is to get your feet measured at the end of the day as this is when your feel will be a little swollen. Also many golfers wear extra thick socks for comfort when playing, so be sure to wear the same thickness of socks when trying on new golf shoes. 

PRICE

Golf shoes generally range in price from around £45 to £150 and above. Depending on the amount of golf you play, we suggest weighing up a number of options before splashing out on a new pair of golf shoes. Just because a golf shoe is more expensive, doesn’t mean the best shoe for you, for example Rory McIlroy is a big fan of Nike Footwear, in particular Nike Lunar Footwear, as are many pro and amateur golfer, which are available from around £89.99 [So why do we pay some much in South Africa? Ed]. 

WATERPROOFING 

It may be the height of summer, but you want your golf shoes to last you through all seasons! Be sure your new shoes have a waterproof element to them, as there is nothing worse that wet feet on the green. Many golfers recommend Footjoy, Oakley and Adidas branded golf shoes for sustainability in wet weather. 

SPIKES OR NO SPIKES?

Spikes will give you more grips when playing and are a must on hilly courses. Some say spikeless shoes are more comfortable especially for a short game, but choose based on your swing, environment and how regularly you are playing.

Overall, your golf shoes should provide maximum comfort so you can thoroughly enjoy your game and perform to the best of your ability. To shop a wide range of golf shoes, clothing and accessories visit online golf store www.function18.co.uk 

Golf Jackets vs. the Puffer Caddy

Finding the right golf jacket is very important; not only do you need to be protected from the elements but your golf wear needs to allow you to have freedom of movement on the golf course. When it comes to choosing outerwear for this sport, it can sometimes be quite difficult to find the balance between warmth / protection and flexibility of motion. 

Whilst some golfers opt for the popular puffer caddy for free arm movement, others still believe that a traditional golfing jacket can provide maximum comfort and performance. 

Here we take a look at the pros and cons of both. 

The Golf Jacket 

Although some golfers may prefer to choose a gilet for freedom of movement, there are many golf jackets that could offer the same movement if you know what you’re looking for. The key to finding a decent golf jacket that does not hinder your golf swing is to find the right fit so knowing your own sizing is very important. Trying on a few different brands will help you get a feel of whether you are S, M or L consistently or whether you need to adjust your size choice with each brand. 

Golf jackets should be lightweight and fuss free; a simple cut, basic collar and sleeve to ensure that you can move about as easily as you need to when you’re on the golf course. 

You will also find that many specialist golfing jackets can offer features such as adjustable Velcro sleeves, windbreak technology, interlock fleece lining for extra warmth, moisture wicking properties such as a mesh lining (to keep you dry), or waterproof coating. 

The Puffer Caddy 

A puffer caddy is a sports gilet designed for serious golfers. With free arm movement, the puffer caddy can be very warm to wear when you team with base layers and a decent mid layer. The quilted layers within the jacket are there to keep golfers warm when the weather is bitter but to make sure you keep fully protected, it’s important to invest in the correct base tops or thermals. 

Due to the sleeveless design, a puffer caddy offers the flexibility of being zipped up or worn unzipped without having any restrictions to your golf swing.

Courses I've played: Eye of Africa 7.5/10

This course has so much going for it - a stunning design that makes use of the terrain within which it lives, challenging grainy greens (when they are not hollotined) and somewhat spectacular views.

Unfortunately, its also way out of town, barely has any pre and post round facilities to speak of and it appears from their attitude that some members of the staff would rather be elsewhere. This is a development crying out for its investors to put more money in, to keep up with the stunning (and some not so stunning) houses going up around the course (look to Copperleaf as an example).

That being said, I had a great time playing the course (my second outing) and would gladly take the hour drive south of Joburg again. As mentioned above, the course looks stunning and requires some careful shot making in order to negotiate your way round. It is short by comparison to some of the newer courses in Gauteng and the fairways are quite generous in places but if you hit a long ball and try to overpower the course, you will find yourself in trouble more often than not.

The feature hole for me has to be the par 4, stroke 1, 3rd - a tricky little bugger were you can run out of space to the left, to the right and thru the fairway (if the wind is blowing), with bunkers and out of bounds to be avoided on the left, a hazard running the entire length of the right hand side of the fairway with a raised green for your approach shot. Played off the tee with a driver, you won't have much more than a 9 iron in for your second, but it is uphill (you often won't see the bottom of the pin, on the tiered green) and you have to come in over the hazard. Walking off with a par is very satisfying.

From a looks perspective, I would go for the par 3 16th, a steeply downhill hole, with a game reserve off to the left, a koppjie behind and non-intrusive houses to the left. It looks easy off the tee box but there are bunkers to catch you out and a false front that deals with anything short.

The only reason it falls short from an overall rating perspective is due to the aforementioned lack of facilities and attitude of some of the staff. A move to the large farm house (instead of living in the stables) would make a world of difference. Also trying buying some new buckets for the range, the broken ones look crap.

Guest Post - 118golf.co.uk

Three Ways to Improve your Golf Game in 2012

If you want to improve your performance on the course, here are three ways to ensure you are at the top of your game.

• Analyse Your Game
  
  If you want to get better at golf, the first step is to identify the problems. If you can highlight your weaknesses, you can begin to put together a strategy to fix these issues. Take notes about every game you play and make a list of your victories and losses. Recording information such as this can help you to look at your overall game and make improvements. There are many Apps you can download that can analyse your game for you and they also give you pointers that can help you up your game.

• Put in the Time
  
  Practise makes perfect and if you want to improve, you will have to put in some extra hours. The more effort you put in to a sport, the better results you will see. If you have a club membership, increase your visits or simply increase the length of your weekly session.

• Upgrade your Equipment
  
  If you are playing with worn out clubs, it could be time for an upgrade. Go online to research the best clubs on the market and shop around-you can check out golf clubs for sale while you do!

Just saying - Top 100

I was having a look over Golf Digest South Africa's Top 100 courses list and decided to do a little counting - it appears I have played 69 of those courses (a nice number) - all of the top 10 and none of the bottom 10, 42 of the top 50 and everything within 150km of where I stay (in Gauteng). Time to be a tourist in my own country it appears.

If you are reading Golf Digest, I would love to be part of your review panel!!!

Service may be restored

With the holiday season fast approaching and summer finally making an appearance (although it didn't seem that way on saturday morning), I am going to be playing a lot more golf and (hopefully) writing a lot more reviews.

Courses I’ve Played : Pecanwood : 9.5/10

More often than not most people will only play courses that are close to where they live purely because travelling can be a pain, with traffic, insane drivers, our ever courtoues traffic police and the climbing petrol price, but Pecanwood is always worth the 45 minutes it takes to get there from my house.

Upfront, let me say that the only reason this course did not get 10 out of 10 is due to the fact that it is surrounded by enough mock tuscan/balinese monstrosities to make a grown architect cry, but if you are prepared to forgive the home owners assocations obvious lack of taste in their architectural guidelines (no wonder there are still so many empty stands in the estate nearly 10 years after it opened - even Dainfern with its obvious ego pieces was full up over 2 years ago), you will find a golf course that will challenge you, flatter you and have you coming back for more.

Jack Nicklaus certainly knows how to design a golf course - this was his first completed venture in South Africa (and I doubt he needs my seal of approval), obvoiusly he has had a lot of practice but he put a course in place that never fails to give a golfer a massive amount of enjoyment irrespective of their handicap or ability.

Before we tackle the course, I need to bring to your attention the impact that good service has on the overall experience of a golf club - as you will have seen in previous reviews, a club may have a highly rated course, but if their staff treat you like they are doing a favour by serving you, it definately affects your perception of the course itself. Pecanwood, fortunately doesn't have that problem, every time I have played there (amazingly enough their rates are almost reasonable at R450 + R85 for a half share of cart as a weekend visitor, although this is a bit expensive, it is well within reason for a course of this quality) I have had a world class experience right from entering the estate, to having my clubs taken directly to the starter, through the changeroom and into the pro shop. Well done to Ken Payet and his staff (it is however a bitch not being able to organise rounds at Sun City now that he has left)

The design is very subtle in that the course layout doesn't really dictate how you need to play a hole but provides guidance in the way each fairway is shaped and how the (many) bunkers will come into to play given your shot shape. Almost every hole provides a bail-out route for the higher handicapper and a 'tiger line' for the player who fancies himself as a bit of talent. The course is long, even more so if you are straying off the fairway a lot and having to play out of the kikuyu rough, but most of the time you won't mind being there.

My favourite hole is probably the par 5, 536m (of the club tees), stroke 3 7th. The clubs website
described the hole as follows 'After an intimidating tee shot into a narrow landing zone and a long
lay up shot favouring the left hand side of the fairway, you will have a short iron into a narrow green which is well guarded by bunkers', which doesn't really describe quite how difficult this hole is if you aren't hitting the ball well and the wind is blowing (interestingly the pro tees add another almost 50m to the length of this hole). Off the tee box you are faced with out of bounds (and tall trees) down the right with bunkers short and left of the landing zone which is quite some distance off the tee.

There are very few places on this hole (and on most of the course) where the fairway is flat, so your second shot will most probably be played off an awkward lie. Keep left with your second shot to avoid even more bunkers short and right of the green (don't go to big if you are going for the green though because it is surrounded by pot bunkers and the ones behind are above the putting surface, which slopes away from you toward the front of the green and more bunkers!). The green itself is fairly narrow front to back, but quite wide left to right and has some wicked slopes to it and a bit of a false front to gather shots that fall a bit short. The greens were fairly slow (for Pecanwood) as I played them, but I suspect that the greenkeeper can make them almost unplayable if he wants to.

The other nice thing about this hole is that it is smack in the middle of one of the most challenging combinations of holes on the course, being preceded by a 390m stroke 1 par 4 and followed by a par 3 which is a stroke 5 and can stretch anywhere from 155m to 215m - if you come through these 3 holes, level par or better, then you can certainly feel satisfied with your self (although the 9th is a bit of a damp squib after these 3 holes).

I don't have a hole that doesn't appeal to me as every one seems to perfectly in its place, my only gripe would be that once the greens are full of pitch marks and many bunkers seem to be left unraked, but then I can't really blame that on the course or its management.

The course itself is in excellent condition, but then they are right next to a dam. They have a very nice lockerroom and shower facilities, ample parking, a fairly decent halfway house, a small but well stocked pro shop and a really nice driving range, although the practice green does seem to have been situated as something of an after thought.

For more information, visit
http://www.pecanwoodgolf.co.za/.

Courses I’ve Played : Pinnacle Point : 7.5/10

This is one of those courses that you will either love or hate (and I know families within which this is the case), but you should play if you get the chance (and are prepared to raid the piggy bank), just take lots of balls.

I first played the course just after it opened for public play and it was breathtaking. Some of the facilities weren't finished yet but you let it slide because you feel you had just played one of the most spectacular courses anywhere on the planet.

But as time passes, return visits are made and management changes, decisions get made with financial rewards in mind that detract from the overall experience, for instance you can now only play the course if you are staying on the estate, if you are a platinum member or you are invited by one. Whilst I can see the point (excuse the pun) and the advantages of making the experience more exclusive, the problem is though the cost of playing has gone up 50%, the cost of staying there has gone up 100%+, the cost of drinking has skyrocketed and maintenance standards have slipped; you can’t blame that all on the deteriorating economy (at least not without a smirk on your face) - there is cashing in and then there is ripping you off.

When management crows in its newsletter about being awarded a 5 Star Golf Experience Award and the members beg to differ then you know you have problems.

I have heard a number of opinions, but the one that clinches it for me is from a member (who lives on the estate) who says that no one plays on the course and she battles to find a game because she can’t find someone to play with on a weekend (and a drop in green fees of 40% hasn’t fixed the problem) - something is not right and the management probably need a wakeup call (and to fix the hole in roof with something more than a few sheets of cardboard).

But less of that and more about the golf course. Pinnacle Point is spectacular, breathtaking, stunning and all the other superlatives that come to mind, you can see the sea on every hole, the designer has gone to town with the layout, the service is great (but middling in pockets), the location is spot on, but once you've played once or twice you probably won't feel the pull to play again - let me explain why. I have been lucky enough to play most of the 'big' courses in and around the Knysna/George/Mossel Bay area and the thing is that none of them could hope to hold a professional tournament other than Oubaai (that being said I haven't played any of the courses in Fancourt or George CC but I am working on that), they are a test of your golfing ability but there is something odd about them, like someone was trying to make a non to subtle point. Of all the courses in the area, the one only that looks like it was meant to be there is Ernie Els's Oubaai (much like Gardener Ross, but I'll keep that for another review), the rest just look like someone said 'I have this piece of ground, make a golf course fit onto it'.

The funny thing is though that for all the moaning, I don't just have a favourite hole at Pinnacle Point, I have several, namely the 7th, 8th and 9th combination where you play out over the sea to greens that are tucked up against the edge of a cliff (the effect that the 7th has on you when you first play it, is almost akin to a religious experience - you come over a rise on the cart path from the previous green and are faced with what seems like a 50m plunge from the tee box to the green over the water of an a sea hewn inlet with nothing but the sea and sheer cliffs on three sides of the green).

The 7th looks to be on a par with anything I have seen (on TV) at Pebble Beach, etc. The 8th is a driveable par 4, if you can belt it 280m+ over nothing but water, it’s a brilliant hole and if you are, like me, something of a gorilla on the course, then you will relish the challenge. The 9th is yet another par 3, played over an inlet to a green surrounded on almost all sides by the sea, the trick with this one however is to figure out which way the wind is blowing and figure in how much affect the club house is going to have once the ball gets above it and then pray you have the right club and the right line (the first time we played, my partner was aiming 45 degrees away from the green straight out to sea).

The next combination I enjoy is 12, 13 and the 14th tee box - 12 is a cracker of a hole, off the back tees you probably start about 200m above the fairway (which looks tiny) with a view over almost the entire course and you are playing straight out towards the sea. If you don't trust your golf cart's brakes however, I would proceed down the hill with caution. The 13th is another par 3 where you play over the sea to a green surrounded by water and cliffs, the thing is here is that the green is the size of a postage stamp and surrounded by long grass, bunkers and rocks, not for the faint hearted when the pin is placed up against the right edge of the green!. The 14th hole is Pinnacle Points stroke 2 and as is the case with any stroke 2 par 4, is long, uphill and bloody tough buts it’s not the hole that does it for me, it’s the tee box - it is on the cliffs edge with the sea thundering 50m below you. Trust me, when you play Pinnacle Point take a half a dozen or so water balls with for nothing more than turning sideways and banging them out to sea!

This course also has some really daft holes, like the 6th for instance - it’s a short par 4, with a tee shot over a ravine that is a forerunner of things to come but the fairway is narrow to the point of nonexistent around the landing zone and the green is about 40m long and feels as narrow as 3 to 4m wide in places – the whole hole feels horribly out of place and gives you the feeling that it was an afterthought that was shoe horned in at the last minute or as a compromise.

The par 4 stroke 1 4th is really bland, to the point that it really just looks like a landing strip. I can only guess that it gets its rating because I can see it being unplayable in the wind with it being one of the highest points on the course (then again maybe it just suffers from being between 2 brilliant par 5's that look and feel really intimidating off the tee box, even for a big hitter).

The 15th suffers not from being a terrible golf hole, but by just being a little too bland after all the sights and sounds you have just played through, but my vote for the worst hole goes to the 18th, a par 5 with a hard dogleg left with 175m to go, after you have had to hit it 275m+ (at the coast) to an area of probably no more than 10 square metres, which would be challenge on pretty much any other golf course, except here there isn't a flat or even sloping lie to be had anywhere on the fairway, everything feels like you are about to fall over and the only place you can hope to hit the ball from a reasonably flat lie is covered in deep, clawing grass. Make no mistake, it is a spectacular looking hole to finish on, but to my mind it’s a little over done (and it’s certainly not a stroke 8).

There are a lot of bunkers at Pinnacle Point, but they didn't really seem to come into play (I think I only played from a bunker twice over two rounds, both fairway and greenside), more for decoration than challenge I think, and therein lies the problem with the course, it looks good, it is fun to play (especially when the wind is blowing) but you do feel a little let down after walking off, like something important was missing.

My final verdict - the views where great, the greens were amongst the best I've played and the wow factor you witness when you tell people you have played there is almost worth it - I'd play there again, but I doubt I'd pay, there are just better, more challenging and less contrived courses in that part of the world.

For more details, take a look at www.pinnaclepoint.co.za

Its all coming back to me now

I am not dead, I haven't stopped playing and I haven't moved to another site, I've just been lazy (and injured and trying to start a new business).

But thats all about to change, I have a raft of course reviews stacked up and some juicy news about one of South Africa's premier courses to share (just as soon as I can get it from the source).

I am going to try and do at least one review a week and the first one is going to be a goodie!

[Thanks to Speedcat Hollydale, HP and TonyM for giving me a kick all in the same week]

Courses I've Played : South Downs : 6/10

After playing Glenvista and writing the review, I thought that I sounded like a little bit of a snob having a slight dig at the courses in the south the way I did, so I arranged a game at South Downs Country Club with the brother and a few mates who barely get to play golf and are by no means picky about the courses they tackle, and I have to say that pleasantly surprised is probably the best way to describe the experience we had - I arrived with very low expectations as the course has previously been known as bit of a dirt track and I wasn't initially surprised to find it that way; the pro shop wasn't open yet when we got there, there are no directions to the
tee boxes and the 10th hole (a par 3) looks horrible (although it will probably look much better once the earth works are finished), although they do have nice new parking lot, new carts and their security is well organised.

The course is a classic parkland layout, with wide fairways, lots of run in winter (I will be returning in summer to compare), it has plenty of water and ditches, etc to catch you out but most holes are wide open and have plenty of room (and trees) for you to get yourself into trouble - for the most part the additional hazards are only found on the harder holes. The course will probably play a lot harder and look a lot better in summer

The greens are really good, for the most part they are consistent on the speed front and easy enough to read - expect the 18th which is all over the place and has slopes and lines I wouldn't even expect to find at Augusta it is so tricky; but thats probably my ego talking given how shocking my golf was

For me the feature hole is the par 4, stroke 5, 7th - its relatively short at only 313m but it deserves its rating - you play over a stream, between two wooded areas to a fairway that turns to the right; the stream and trees run down the entire right side of the whole and there is a strategically placed bunker on the left to catch those that don't get the line just right. Getting your drive in the fairway is only
half the fun, if you don't get it in the right place, you limit your opens going in for your second as the approach to the green is guarded by trees (again) on either side of the green, a stream across the front, a bunker down the right and a raised green that pretty much runs everything off it that is not perfectly place. If you add a nasty pin position on the crest of green, you have a nasty little hole that leaves you satisfied if you walk off with a par (and not to unhappy with a bogey if you have
bounced off the back of the green and faced a somewhat tricky recovery shot).

The halfway house is somewhat rustic but the food and service where great and the meal was reasonably priced - a trend carried through the club as a round is cheap and the bar is not at all overpriced, even if a cart cost same as clubs in the north.

Overall then the course is tough but fair, probably very enjoyable if you are a beginner - you can get a big score on a hole, but you won't loose many balls and you won't hold the experience against the course; go and play South Downs Country Club you will be pleasantly surprised; given how the parking lot was packed when we left (AND the number of very expensive vehicles) it contained, I was surprised we got a round at all!

Courses I've Played : Glenvista : 7/10

Glenvista is not one of the courses I normally rush to play, but I am generally impressed every time I do, and with the changes that have already taken place (impressive new pro-shop and half-way house, additions to the bar) and the those that are in progress (new tees) I'll probably make more effort to squeeze in a round down south.

It has always been my feeling that this course has been constrained by its location,
both because it has to make do with the space it has being in a valley and the fact that it is in the south of Johannesburg, it has suffered by the compromises required to shoe horn the course in i.e. a couple of quirky, short par fours (10 & 14) and the fact that it is not located in a glamorous part of town, although by the look of some of the monster houses that surround the course that is probably changing. Growing up in the south (Alberton), you aspired to play in the north, at Wanderers, Parkview, River Club, etc but you ended playing Reading, South Downs and Glenvista.

I have to admit though that my favourite thing about this course are its greens, they are fast but not slick, hold an approach well, are easy enough to read and true once you have a feel for them - they just feel fair. Not so good however are bunkers and tee boxes - the bunkers could do with more sand in them (and golfers with better manners) and the tee grounds need leveling, a bit more attention to detail and not quite so much water.

For me the feature hole is the par 4, stroke 1, 12th - it starts up high, almost in one of the boundary residents back gardens and played off the back tees is a mighty long way. A good drive will get you within mid iron range and if you shape your shot from left to right and start it on the right line then you will have no more than a wedge into an elevated green, that slopes from back to front and right to left, but put your shot too far right and you're out of bounds and on the left you are in the trees or the river and you are probably going to walk away frustrated.

The green has two almost pot bunkers in front of it, but its greater defense is its putting surface - its not wickedly sloped, but has a subtle shape that has you looking for (and finding) lines that are not there and if the greenkeeper is feeling nasty and puts the pin on the harshest part of the slope about two thirds of the way up the green then you will probably walk off without a smile on your face.

The front nine at Glenvista is fairly open even and doesn't present to many hidden challenges even if the holes run right next to each other and the course designer has made great use of the elevation changes on one or two of the holes such the 3rd and the 4th, but the entire feel of the course changes once you walk off the 10th green (which has never been one of my favourite holes, with its quirky long iron off the tee on a par 4 requirement, followed by another long iron) and onto the 11th tee box - the entire course closes in around you and feels almost claustrophobic as you wrestle with the out of bounds and river on either side of most holes with the valley walls and mansions towering above you.

On the bright side, it is nice to see that the Pro is now operating out of decently sized and well appointed shop after being stuck in a poky broom closet for many years, but he still does not have enough golf carts and if you take a caddie be prepared to be irritated, in fact on the day I was there they had to bring caddies in from another course and one of my fellow players caddie pitched up with a hangover to sink a battleship.

If you are looking for a challenge, don't mind navigating around the south of Johannesburg (and a lack of signposts to the club) and are looking for a nice relaxed atmosphere (the new bar is great) then I would heartily recommend Glenvista.

Courses I've Played : Oubaai : 9/10

Oubaai is an Ernie Els signature course and the benchmark (according to their advertising) so I will separate the review into a discussion about the golf course and the overall experience

First to the course itself - its brilliant, Ernie has gone for a links layout here and he succeeds brilliantly, the course almost looks like it was meant to be built into the landscape provided by mother nature. It flows with the landscape and is sympathetic to the existing terrain.

Best of all though is that it is not contrived i.e. it doesn't force you to play tough shots and dictate how you should approach the layout, the designer realised that a wide variety of players need to enjoy the course without being punished for playing it, notwithstanding the weather. Nearly all of the holes, including the low strokes have a bail out area or a safety line and a high risk/reward line for the
better player - how you then choose to play it is up to you - bravo Ernie it makes the game that much more enjoyable and I can wait to play more of your designs.

The course also reacts to the weather as you would expect a links to - it is seemingly benign when the wind is not really there, relying on the uneven lies and the slopes of the greens to keep the golfer in check, but when the wind blows it is an entirely different creature with the valleys and elevation changes creating all new challenges for the golfer as they move their way around the course.

Having played only 4 days after the greens where hollow-tined I didn't really get a good feel for them, but that being said they where better than most courses normal greens with the attention to detail of the ground staff getting them playable so soon afterwards

My favourite hole interestingly enough is not the par 3 17th toward the sea that you see in all the promotional gear, but the par 5 4th, a 490m monster (stroke 4) that looks fairly innocuous and doesn't hide anything from you off the tee, but tempts you take on a set of bunkers on both sides of the landing area for you drive and another set short of the green for those that want to go for the green in two, add that to a green that you can bump and run the ball into in true links fashion with some great big slopes from back to front and left to right with enough slope to let the ball run right back off the green on a downhill putt and you have a great links par 5, requiring you to think your way down the course of the hole, but not overly punishing you if you just want to enjoy the course and take in the spectacle of the feature holes.

Another nice feature is the fact that the course has 9's of 35 & 37, something you don't often see in newer courses

There is a bit of a downside to Oubaai though, the course may be finished and in excellent condition but the rest of the playing facilities are very much a work in progress when I played (I had to take a detour through the driving range just to get to and from the 10th tee/9th green) and the multitude of building sites (and the accompanying shouting, screaming, drilling, grinding, etc) certainly detract from the round - for the moment it is probably better to play this course over the weekend.

Even more curious is the fact that the members have their own club house that visitors can't get to but end up having their half-way at anyway, in addition it doesn't seem like there are any extra facilities that guests don't have access to
in fact it seems like there are less - maintaining two separate pro-shops must be costing someone a fortune, although the restaurant in the visitors club house makes a damn fine breakfast.

My final verdict - if I had the money for a house or just plain old corporate membership (a bit dear at R200k entry & R20k per year) I would probably spend it - this is one course I doubt I would get tired of playing, and if I was invited back I would accept at the drop of a hat.

Also, due to time of year I visited, the course was empty and I got to play entire round by myself - one of life's little pleasures.

The phantom golfer is back in the swing of things

It seems like an eternity since my last post (it was about 13 or so weeks), but now I am back and back in style playing some of the best courses in the country - expect reviews on Pinnacle Point, Simola, Pezula, Kyalami, Centurion, Woodhill and Pearl Valley over the next several days - and to kick it all off a review of Oubaai, my new favourite golf course in South Africa.