First appearing on our golf courses more than a decade ago, the sight of a grass mower quietly and independently going about its business was initially a real eye-opener. Nowadays, you see them regularly and barely blink an eye. As the number of mowers increases and their capabilities improve, so the impact on the way courses are presented is being seen. But what is really going on behind the scenes and is their increased presence good or bad for the game?

To help find some of the answers, we spoke to Andrew Lees at Husqvarna, a major manufacturer of professional robotic mowers. Somewhere in the region of 150 golf clubs in the UK and Ireland are currently using the company’s mowers as part of their course maintenance operations. Here, he talks through why the sight of robot mowers is increasingly common and how they help greenkeepers improve the conditions golfers are enjoying.

Why are so many clubs investing in robotic mowers?

The first answer is that robotic mowers change how and when turf maintenance can take place. Because they operate autonomously, they are not limited by staffing hours or daylight, and this allows courses to mow overnight or between periods of play. This in turn reduces early-morning pressure on greenkeeping teams and allows surfaces to be prepared without disrupting golfers.

The ability of such machines to cut little and often is a key distinction. Instead of removing large volumes of grass in a single pass, robotic mowers maintain turf incrementally. This supports healthier growth and encourages denser swards, leading to more consistent playing conditions.

Precision is another real advantage. GPS-guided systems allow robotic mowers to maintain fairway edges, semi-rough transitions and architectural lines to within a few centimetres. Over the course of a season, this helps preserve the original design of a course far more consistently than manual mowing, where small variations can gradually but significantly alter playing areas.

The machines are also significantly lighter than traditional ride-on equipment, enabling operation in wetter conditions and potentially reducing compaction. This allows courses to mow earlier in the season and later into the year, extending playable windows without damaging the turf.

What are the benefits to individual, club golfers?

The most noticeable benefit is the improvement in playing surfaces. More frequent mowing can lead to greater consistency, improved presentation and healthier turf throughout the season.

As mentioned, then because robotic mowers are quiet and compact, they cause far less disruption during play. Overnight mowing also reduces the need for early-morning course closures or rushed preparation before tee times.

One of the most significant golfer benefits is the extension of the playing season. Courses that previously struggled to maintain fairways during early spring or prolonged wet weather are now often able to remain open and playable for longer, delivering better value to members. There is also plenty of anecdotal feedback suggesting improved ball presentation and more consistent lies, linked to the way turf responds to frequent, light cutting.

What are the positive environmental impacts?

Well, from both a manufacturing and operational perspective, robotic mowers represent a lower-impact approach to turf maintenance. Husqvarna’s professional robotic mowers are designed and engineered in Europe and manufactured in the UK at a facility powered by renewable electricity, with zero waste to landfill.

The mowers operate on electricity and can be powered by renewable energy, producing zero direct emissions. Energy consumption is significantly lower than that of conventional fossil-fuel machinery, and this helps courses reduce their overall carbon footprint.

Low noise levels are another important factor, which is one that most golfers will greatly appreciate. Robotic mowers can operate at night or during play without disturbing golfers, nearby residents or wildlife, and this again reduces the need for concentrated maintenance windows.

What are the key benefits to golf clubs and their greenkeeping teams?

The most immediate benefit is time. Robotic mowers take on repetitive mowing tasks, allowing skilled staff to focus on areas that require expertise and judgement, such as greens, bunkers, tees and detailed presentation work.

Operationally, robotic mowers are managed digitally via apps and desktop platforms. This allows multiple team members to monitor machine activity, adjust cut heights, change work areas and respond quickly to weather events by adjusting schedules or parking machines remotely.

How is AI changing the capability of robot mowers?

This year Hursqvarna has launched an AI-powered vision technology accessory for some of our models. It provides AI assisted object avoidance giving more machine uptime and enhanced safety for both humans and wildlife. The solution also works at night using Infra-Red lighting. This is just a first step and I expect to see a greater use of AI as and when we launch new solutions to the market.

If I told you that the rules of golf are being changed to require every hole on every course in the world to be of the same length; that every bunker must have exactly the same dimension; that fairway widths must be uniform on every hole; and that putting surfaces be of the exact same shape worldwide, you would think either that I had gone mad or you’d be checking the date at the top of this article to see if it was published on April 1st.

Yet there is one dimension on a golf course – and one dimension only – that we accept unquestionably as having to be the same on every course everywhere in every circumstance. That is the size of the hole cup.

Why?

One of the beauties of golf is that it takes so many different forms in so many contrasting landscapes, courses of vastly different styles and, yes, dimensions. You can get a WHS index from playing a nine-hole course of 750 yards or from playing an 18-holer that stretches to 8,000 yards.

Everything can be different from one hole to another, and from course to another, except the actual dimension of the hole cut into the putting surface.

Golf at is was

It used not to be this way. Courses used to be able to determine their own hole diameters, just as they were able to decide where to cut the holes in the green, where to place the tee markers, where to position the bunkers, how to maintain various parts of the course, and all the rest of it.

They can still do all the rest of these things.

But in 1891, The R&A decreed that the size of a hole cup was to be 4.25 inches, a size chosen after careful consideration and much mathematical modelling. Well no actually. It was because that was the diameter of an old bit of drainpipe that happened to be lying around at Musselburgh.

At some courses this new hole size was a vast reduction on what they had been used to playing to. Hole cup sizes of up to 7 inches in diameter had been used on some famous and highly regarded courses. Nor was the hole size necessarily the same on all 18 holes of these courses.

Only once in several decades of golfing can I remember playing a hole where the cup was anything other than 4.25 inches in diameter.

It was when a temporary green was in operation – a semi-random section of fairway with divots in it, where the ball did not run easily across the bobbly surface. As a way to make putting over this testing terrain less farcical, it had an extra large hole.

As an aside, and on the same principle, anyone ever thought about having a larger hole when a green has just been hollow tined?

Encouraging children into golf

Another scenario where a larger hole may be more appropriate is the beginners’ course. How are children taught golf – it’s rarely on the putting green, but on the driving range, where they are instructed in the swing basics.

Then then head out for their first game, often on a cheap and cheerful par-3 course and rack up a dispiritingly high score, mainly on the greens. Younger children especially often lack the concentration to putt competently.

A larger hole would better reward the good approach shot, the execution of the swing they have been taught. Give them a chance of making some pars to fire their enthusiasm and sense of achievement. Keep them interested and coming back.

The course that Jack built

Jack Nicklaus has done did exactly this at Muirfield Village, putting on events with the holes 8 inches in diameter.

He explained: “The idea is to try to encourage juniors, women and elderly seniors to play and stay in the game. The juniors get instant gratification with that 8-inch hole.”

Nicklaus recognised that “The core golfer isn't going to want to play that, but I'm not interested in changing the game for the core golfer. We just want to introduce the game to more people, to keep people in the game and have them enjoy it. The game is supposed to be fun.”

When, at one 19th hole, I mentioned the idea of having a larger hole size, a chap opposite immediately jumped in with: “Ridiculous – where is the challenge in making a 12-foot putt then?”

Ignoring that he had not so much missed my point as not allowed it to be made, this got me thinking. I had not played with this fellow, but he was a 15 handicapper.

I also knew that with putts between 10 and 15 feet, those of the PGA Tour hole fewer than 1 in 3 of these on average. That is the best golfers in the world playing on some of the truest putting surfaces.

So I would hazard that this 15-handicapper rarely holes a 12-footer. A larger hole would make the challenge more relevant for him.

Anyway, if that was his only worry, then if the hole were enlarged by 50% in diameter the same challenge he believes he enjoys from 12 feet, would be replaced by those putts of 18 feet. The same challenge; the same almost certain miss.

Greater rewards for the better putters

Some believe that a larger hole, rather than reducing the skill level required on the greens to win, would increase it.

Gene Sarazen was in favour of a larger hole, explaining that: “A crack player and one just average are playing. The average player puts his ball on the green, say, 20 or 25 feet from the cup. The expert is closer, say, 12 to 15 feet. But each will take two putts and halve the hole. If the cups were bigger, the average player still would take his two putts but the expert would knock his in.”

Larger holes would alter the nature of putting. Much of it is lag putting, defensive play to avoid a three-putt. But would a larger hole encourage more players to actually try to hole their longer putts? Would it make the play more attacking, more interesting?

Speed of play

Would a large hole cup increase the speed of play, not only in fewer putts, but by people keeping the flagstick in?

A rules change to allow putting with the stick in was designed to speed up play. Often it does the opposite as some in the group want to putt with it in; some with it out. So players go to and fro to the hole, taking out and putting in the flag, with attendant wear on the immediate hole surrounds.

Could a larger hole persuade more golfers to keep the pin in and so speed up play? Their main gripe, that the flagstick takes up too large a proportion of the hole space thus impeding the ball dropping, would be weakened. Indeed, could they now even accept being required to do so by the rules?

I am not advocating a universal increasing of the hole size. But golfers are often keen to try new formats as a way to spice up a game on a familiar course – five-club challenges, hickory club competitions and the like. So why not occasionally look at holding a competition with a larger hole cup?

Hypershell X is not only the world’s first outdoor exoskeleton but it is also the first exoskeleton for the everyday consumer, designed for anyone who walks a lot.

It is made by Hypershell, an outdoor tech company focused on enhancing human performance. The company’s mission is to empower people to move farther, stronger, and smarter — with technology that blends seamlessly into the way people move.

The range of Hypershell X exoskeletons work by the AI MotionEngine taking inputs from over a dozen sensors integrated into the exoskeleton to predict your next step, and modify how much power assist the motors give. Over time it adapts to your stride signature so it gets better at predicting your next step, making the exoskeleton feel smooth and natural to wear.

Hypershell X reduces fatigue, physical exertion and boosts leg strength. As such, it can help users build up and retain their stamina. It can also help those who are now less mobile to carry on with their outdoor activities.

The Hypershell exoskeletons are durable: Hypershell Go X and Pro X are good for 3,000km under normal use, and the Hypershell Carbon X for 4,000km. They are also powerful, being able to provide up to one horsepower.

The Hypershell X is a lightweight, AI-powered wearable exoskeleton that enhances movement and reduces effort for outdoor activities and daily endurance. It is foldable for easy transport and weighs as little as 1.8 kg.

Each battery only weighs 400g, and can provide up to 17.5km per charge. It takes just 35 minutes to charge the battery up to 50% and to get to 100% will take 88 minutes with 65 W PD fast charging.

A special promotion running to June 30, 2025 means you can even get a battery free of charge with your purchase.

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While links golf dominates the Golf Monthly UK & Ireland Top 100, this is largely because it’s where the game began; where the land was cheap and the initial investment was made. The second most popular and recognised for its many attributes perfectly suited for the sport, is heathland. With a little more protection from the elements, greater variations in topography and the opportunity to prepare the very best conditioning, this is now the preferred style of many discerning golfers.

One prime example that sits proudly in the Golf Monthly Top 100 is the glorious Sherwood Forest Golf Club, a few miles north of Nottingham. Founded in 1895 but moving a mile or two eastwards to its current, idyllic location in 1912, the course has benefited from the design genius of two of the greatest golf course architects of all time, Harry Colt and James Braid.

It was Colt who laid out the original routing on the new site having reported to the club that “the soil and natural features of the land are eminently suitable for the construction of a really good golf course.” Fifteen years later, and improvements in ball and club technology meant that the course needed some changes.

Braid, with five Open Championships to his credit, was engaged to add length and make other corresponding changes. He made few to the opening holes, reasoning that he wanted golfers to be kept engaged, but plenty from a new green at the 7th onwards. The enduring result is a course of style and timeless beauty.

As you would expect, it covers a gently undulating plot of springy, perfect turf. The heather can be challenging, so it calls for strong and accurate driving. Most of the fairways are lined by swathes of purple and a wide variety of trees, though continued clearance is restoring its original heathland nature evermore.

The opening four holes loop back round to the clubhouse before you then head way out into the open forest. The holes from seven round to fifteen occupy a Site of Scientific Special Interest, and the soil is so free-draining that the course is eminently playable at any time of the year. Throughout, the bunkering is attractive and very well positioned, and the gentle undulations all offer up a wonderful round of golf. Find the green and you are rewarded with putts that are fast and true.

As you can see on the club’s brand new website, when the heather is in its pomp in late summer, it is eye-catchingly scenic. Throughout the rest of the year, the course is merely lovely! It is always a delight to its many happy members and to its very welcome visitors. To find out more, visit sherwoodforestgolfclub.co.uk

The World Handicap System (WHS) was brought in in January 2020 as The R&A and the United States Golf Association wanted a universal system which would “enable golfers of different abilities to play and compete on a fair and equal basis, in any format, on any course, anywhere around the world.”

The basic concept behind WHS was to reflect that courses are not of equal difficulty. Therefore always giving a player the same number of shots as a handicap regardless of the strength of the particular challenges posed by differing courses was not logical.

This is particularly pertinent as handicaps tend to be awarded based upon play on one course only: the player’s home one. If this course is easier than most, the player’s handicap is likely to be artificially low. Worse, especially to for those who like to cry ‘golfing bandit!’ at anyone doing well, a difficult home course may mean that someone gets more shots than seems fair when playing elsewhere.

To combat this, three types of ratings are employed to assess the difficulty of a course: Course, Slope And Bogey Ratings.

Also, no more does a player have a handicap which they take everywhere. Instead it is a Handicap Index which they take with them, and this gets translated into a number of shots at each course based upon various calculations rooted in this trio of ratings.

The Course Rating and Bogey Rating go towards calculating the Slope Rating. The Slope Rating is then used to determine how many shots a player receives via the Course Handicap, which in turn gives the Playing Handicap.

This is how the various building blocks work:

Course Rating

Course Rating, which is expressed in strokes and to one decimal point, represents the expected score for a scratch golfer. As such, the Course Rating score is often very close to the total par for the course. This figure tends to be widely publicised by a course.

Bogey Rating

The Bogey Rating of a course is much less rarely publicised, although it is also used to calculate the Slope Rating. Bogey Rating is the measure of playing difficulty for a Bogey Golfer (defined as a player who has a Course Handicap of approximately 20 for a male and 24 for a female).

Slope Rating

The Slope Rating is an indication of the relative difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch players compared with the difficulty experienced by a scratch player. The Slope Rating is calculated by subtracting the course rating from the Bogey Rating, and then multiplying by a constant. This constant is 5.381 for men and 4.24 for women. So, for men, the formula is:

(Bogey Rating−Course Rating) × 5.381 = Men′s Slope Rating

Take our WHS quiz!

Course Handicap

This is the theoretical number of shots a player gets based on that player’s Handicap Index and the Slope Rating of a particular course.

Playing Handicap

This is the actual number of shots a player gets. Some competitions have a recommended percentage of the Course Handicap that a player gets. For example, in a Stableford competition, players normally get a Playing Handicap that equates to 95% of their Course Handicap.

This golf quiz asks you to name the players with the most Women’s Majors titles.

Whereas in the men’s game there are four well-established Majors played annually, in the women’s game the history of Majors is both more recent and more complicated. The first men’s Major was held in 1860; the first women’s Major only in 1930.

The number of women’s Majors held each year has varied from one to five, and currently stands at five. Which events are considered a Major in the women’s game has also fluctuated over time. In all, eight tournaments have held Major status but, just to add to the confusion, some annual events have been considered a Major at certain points on their history, but not at others.

The first women’s Major was retrospectively declared to have been held in 1930, and was the Women’s Western Open. This event ran until 1967 and all the winners of it have been declared Major champions by the LPGA, which itself was only founded in 1950.

The Titleholders Championship is the second oldest Women’s Major, but also no longer exists. It was founded in 1937 and was last played in 1972, and all its winners have been deemed Major winners by the LPGA.

The US Women’s Open, which debuted in 1946, and the LPGA Championship, which started in 1955 and is now known as the Women’s PGA Championship, are the next two oldest Majors.

The du Maurier Classic was classified as a women’s Major from 1979 to 2000, but now, under its new name of the Canadian Women's Open, it is not. It was replaced as a Major by the Women’s British Open, now known as The Women’s Open, which had debuted in 1976 but only its editions since 2001 have been considered to be Majors by the LPGA.

In 2013 the Evian Championship, founded in 1994 as the Evian Masters, was granted Major status by the LPGA. This means the current five Women’s Majors are it, the US Open, Women’s Open, Women’s PGA Championship and the Chevron Championship (which has had different sponsorship names in its history so at various points has been called the Nabisco Dinah Shore, Nabisco Championship, Kraft Nabisco Championship and ANA Inspiration).

Can you name the top 10 of Women’s Majors by number of titles? Just to make it harder for you, as 10th place is shared by four golfers, there are 13 golfers to name in toto.

More golf quizzes

• Golfers With The Most PGA Tour Wins
• Solheim Cup Players In 2024
• Every Major Winner Of This Century
• The Top 10 Women's Major Winners
• Hole In One Stats And Facts

As the AIG Women’s Open crowns its champion golfer for 2025, there's also a fiercely contested prize for the low female amateur. The Smyth Salver is an equally coveted trophy in the amateur ranks, and four players will be vying for the title at Royal Porthcawl this year: Meja Ortengren (Sweden), Paula Martin Sampedro (Spain), Carla Bernat Escuder (Spain), and Jeneath Wong (Malaysia).

The list of former winners is as illustrious as the AIG Women’s Open champions itself, with many going on to become successful professionals in the game. Here are a selection of them.

Lydia Ko - 2012 & 2013

Lydia Ko was just a teenager when she won the Smyth Salver in 2012. Being only 15, she remained an amateur for another year, and shared the Smyth Salver title with Georgia Hall in 2013 before finally turning professional. It turned out to be the right decision, as she seamlessly transitioned into the professional game and made an instant impression.

By the age of 17, the New Zealander became the youngest player in the history of professional golf (male or female) to reach number one in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, achieving this feat at 17 years, 9 months, and 9 days old. Ko has since become one of the most successful female golfers of all time, winning over 30 titles worldwide including three Major championships - the 2015 Evian Championship, the 2016 Chevron Championship, and the 2024 AIG Women’s Open. In 2024, her already illustrious career reached new heights when she qualified for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame, making her the 35th member and the youngest ever to achieve this incredible honour under the current criteria.

Michelle Wie - 2006

American Michelle Wie was another child prodigy whose talent shone from an incredibly young age. At just 10 years old, she became the youngest player in history to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. She continued to break records, becoming the youngest winner of the US Women’s Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for an LPGA Tour event.

In 2005, at 15 years old, she blew the field away to win the Smyth Salver at the Ricoh Women's British Open, finishing in a tie for third place overall. She turned professional shortly after, and her tour debut was met with a whirlwind of media frenzy and huge sponsorship deals; everyone, it seemed, wanted a piece of her. Throughout her career, she accumulated 5 LPGA Tour victories, including her most significant win, her first and only Major at the 2014 US Women’s Open. In 2019, Wie married and became known as Michelle Wie-West, and she and her husband, Jonnie West, now have two children.

Anna Nordqvist - 2008

Anna Nordqvist has a history of making a strong impression from the very beginning. She clinched the Smyth Salver for low amateur honors at the 2008 Ricoh Women’s British Open, and that same year, she was part of the winning Swedish team at the European Ladies’ Team Championship. Her collegiate career at Arizona State University was equally stellar, earning her National Golf Coaches Association Freshman of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year by the end of her first year.

Given that impressive amateur background, it was hardly a surprise when, in only her fifth start on the LPGA Tour, Nordqvist secured her first professional tournament win, and a Major, at the 2009 LPGA Championship. This quick success led directly to her selection as a captain’s pick for the Solheim Cup. Fast forward to today, and she's now preparing to captain Team Europe herself in the next edition of the match in 2026. Her career boasts a remarkable 16 professional wins, including three Majors. Her most recent Major triumph came at the 2021 AIG Women’s Open, solidifying her status as one of the game's greats.

Leona Maguire - 2016

Leona Maguire showcased her talent at the 2016 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn, where she clinched the Smyth Salver, finishing tied for 25th overall. Her collegiate career at Duke University was equally stellar, earning her National Golf Coaches Association Freshman of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year by the end of her first year.

Given that impressive amateur background, it was hardly a surprise when, after turning professional in 2018, Maguire quickly made her mark. She boasts 5 professional wins to date, including two on the LPGA Tour. Maguire's star shone brightest at the 2021 Solheim Cup, where as a rookie, she put on a record-breaking performance, earning an incredible 4.5 points out of a possible five, the best-ever by a Solheim Cup debutant. Her best Major finish to date was tying for fourth place at the 2022 AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield, a performance that further solidified her place among golf's elite

Atthaya Thitikul - 2018 & 2019

Given just how much she has already achieved, it's hard to believe Atthaya Thitikul is still only 22 years-old. The Thai superstar was a mere 15 when she first burst onto the scene, making the cut and claiming the prestigious Smyth Salver at the 2018 Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. A year later, she did it again at Woburn, securing the prize for a second time and finishing in the top-30 overall.

Thitikul has since had an absolutely phenomenal start to her professional career. She boasts an impressive 18 professional wins, including 5 on the LPGA Tour. Her incredible run took her briefly to the top of the Rolex Women's World Rankings in 2022, making her one of the youngest ever to achieve that feat. In 2024, she made history by winning the CME Group Tour Championship, earning a prize of $4 million. This, along with her other consistent results throughout the season, pushed her total earnings to an incredible $6,059,309 for the year, setting a new record for single-season earnings on the LPGA Tour. Her best finish in the AIG Women’s Open to date was tying for seventh place at the 2022 Championship at Muirfield.

Lottie Woad - 2024

When you look at the names on the Smyth Salver, you see future Major champions. And the 2024 recipient, Lottie Woad, is certainly following in illustrious footsteps, arriving at Royal Porthcawl as one of the hottest players in the game.

The English star, still only 21 years old, won the Smyth Salver at the 2024 AIG Women's Open held at St Andrews, finishing as the low amateur with an impressive tied-10th place finish overall. This came after a whirlwind year in her amateur career, including a victory at the Augusta National Women's Amateur in April 2024, where she became the first European winner of the event. She also rose to become the world's number one amateur in June 2024 and was awarded the prestigious Mark H. McCormack Medal.

Woad turned professional recently and has made an immediate, electrifying impact. She made history by winning the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut on the LPGA Tour, becoming only the third player ever to win their first professional start on the Tour.

Smyth Salver Winners in the last two decades (& their score total)

2024 Lottie Woad 287

2023 Charlotte Heath 295

2022 Rose Zhang 285

2021 Louise Duncan 281

2020 NO EVENT

2019 Atthaya Thitkul 284

2018 Atthaya Thitkul 300

2017 Sophie Lamb 282

2016 Leona Maguire 284

2015 Luna Sobron 287

2014 Emma Talley 294

2013 Georgia Hall & Lydia Ko 294

2012 Lydia Ko 297

2011 Danielle Kang 290

2010 Caroline Hedwall 291

2009 NO EVENT

2008 Anna Nordqvist 285

2007 Melissa Reid 296

2006 Amy Yang 301

2005 Michelle Wie West 278

2004 Elisa Serramia 294

2003 Rebecca Hudson 287

Ask most avid golfers to name the four Major championships in the men’s game and most do so easily - the Masters tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. Ask the same question of the women’s game and many of us get confused, especially if titles have changed due to new sponsorship, plus there are five to remember.

The additional ‘Major’ is the tournament formerly known as The Evian Championship, and is now The Amundi Evian Championship. The fact is that when the LPGA made the decision to elevate the Evian Championship to major status in 2013 it came under, excuse the pun, major criticism, both from fans and players alike. In the LPGA’s words, “The LPGA did not add a fifth Major championship to change history, alter discussion or make the accomplishment of a grand slam more difficult. We added a fifth Major to create an incremental opportunity for the women’s game.”

So what was the reasoning behind it? It actually goes back more than two decades and has to do with the unhealthy habit of smoking. In 2001, the du Maurier Classic, held in Canada, lost its primary sponsorship after that country passed severe restrictions on tobacco advertising. The tournament, now known as the Canadian Women's Open, is still a regular event on the LPGA Tour, but no longer designated as a Major. As a result, the LPGA elevated the AIG Women's Open to major status to replace the du Maurier Classic.

As the women’s game has a more, let’s say fluid, history of Major championships (there have been as little as two and as many as five) the LPGA simply saw an opportunity to elevate the status of the Evian Championship to a Major and in doing so promote the women’s game globally and did so.

But what about the history books I hear you say? The decision to add a fifth Major was not without controversy. In doing so the LPGA made it more difficult to win the career grand slam and also, it could be argued, diluted the status of LPGA players who captured a career slam in the four-Majors era who never had a chance to compete for the newest addition, the Amundi Evian Championship, post 2013.

Yet the LPGA had a sensible response to this argument too: “For players (active or retired) who have won four different Majors in their careers, the LPGA has and will continue to acknowledge them as having a Career Grand Slam. And for players (active or retired) who have won five different Majors available in their careers, the LPGA has and will continue to acknowledge them as having accomplished a Super Career Grand Slam.” 

However, given the very chequered history of women’s Majors (in 1968-78 there were only two Majors, and in 1967 and 1979-82 there were only three) it’s probably fair to say that it doesn’t matter so much to the fans of tradition. Even the first woman to win a Major did so 20 years before they formally existed. The LPGA is certainly more international than the PGA Tour. So it makes sense that in adding a fifth Major they are doing so outside the United States, though considering the balance of power in women’s golf, perhaps Asia should be next and add a sixth Major? Watch this space!

Did You Know?

During the four-major era, six women completed a "Career Grand Slam" by winning four different majors, they are: Pat Bradley; Juli Inkster; Annika Sörenstam; Louise Suggs; Karrie Webb; and Mickey Wright. 

During the five-major era, Inbee Park became the first woman to complete the "Career Grand Slam." Even though there has been some debate surrounding whether Park has actually accomplished this feat, as she won The Evian Championship in 2012 before it officially became a major in 2013, LPGA acknowledged Park to have successfully achieved a "Career Grand Slam.”

The LPGA recognises Karrie Webb as its only "Super Career Grand Slam" winner, since she is the only golfer to have won five events recognised by the LPGA as majors. 

A Major championship is the most coveted title in the sport of golf. Winning a Major is seen as the pinnacle of a golfer’s career, the ultimate accolade. The list of the women’s Majors has changed several times over the years but as of 2023, the order in which they are played is as follows:

The Chevron Championship

The first Major of the season takes place in the spring and this year it was won by American Lilia Vu in dramatic style in a playoff. The 25-year-old Californian finished with two birdies to get into the play-off then yet another birdie putt rolled in from 10 feet at the first play-off hole against Angel Yin. The Chevron Championship, formerly the ANA Inspiration was until this year played at Mission Hills in the California desert and was famous for the celebratory leap into Poppie's Pond that the winner always took, usually with her caddie and family members. Not wanting to let that tradition die, Vu took a giant leap into the water at The Club at Carlton Woods to celebrate her victory!

KPMG Women's PGA Championship

This year's championship, played at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey, was won by Ruoning Yin, who became only the second Major winner from China and received a payout of $1.5 million from the record-breaking $10 million purse. This is another Major that has no set ‘home course’ so to speak and has changed venue every year since the PGA of America partnered with the tournament in 2015 and it became known as the Women’s PGA Championship. Before then the tournament was formerly known as the LPGA Championship and it was held at a consistent venue every year. As part of the change a new title sponsorship agreement with KPMG boosted the winning purse and a commitment from American broadcaster NBC now guarantees TV coverage of the weekend rounds, dramatically boosting its global profile.

U.S Women's Open

The oldest of the five women’s Majors, established 77 years ago in 1946, the U.S Women's Open is the only event to have been recognised as a Major by the LPGA since the group's founding in 1950. Organised and run by the USGA, the 78th edition of the tournament will be played this year from July 6-9 at Pebble Beach, California. 

Like the AIG Women's Open, the U.S. Women’s Open is is open to any professional or amateur female golfer with a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4 to attempt to qualify (if not already exempt). Interestingly there is no upper age limit for qualifying, so in recent years the tournament has had its youngest-ever qualifiers, namely 11-year-old Lucy Li in 2014, and 12-year-old Lexi Thompson in 2007. There have been a record-breaking number of applicants for this year’s tournament. The USGA has accepted a record total of 2,107 entries, including 13 champions and all top 25 players in the world. The U.S. Women’s Open has only ever had two British winners. The last time it was won by a Brit was way back in 1997 when English professional Alison Nicholas took the title. Dame Laura Davies won it 10 years earlier in 1987.

The Amundi Evian Championship

This relatively new women’s Major is named after the tournament’s host course, the Evian Resort in Evian-Les-Bains, France. It’s organised and run by the Ladies European Tour and takes place from July 27-30. See our “Why Does The Women’s Game Have Five Majors?” for the explanation of its addition to the major rota.

The Evian Resort course is arguably the most dramatic of the major venues. The average elevation of the course is approximately 480 metres (1,575 ft) above sea level with spectacular sweeping views overlooking the nearby Lake Geneva to the north. There are 120 places for the world’s best players to take part in this year’s championship. It has never been won by a British competitor before. Last year’s champion was Canadian Brooke Henderson who narrowly took the title by one shot and in doing so picked up the $1 million winner’s cheque.

AIG Women's Open

Organised and run by The R&A and traditionally played on one of the best British courses. In the early days is was harder to attract the most prestigious host venues so Woburn Golf Club became the home of the event for seven straight years - 1990 to 1996, as well as in 1984 and 1999. However, as its prestige increased, more of the links courses that are in the rotation for The Open Championship, such as Turnberry (2002) and Royal Lytham & St Annes (1998, 2003, 2006) hosted the tournament, in addition to Royal Birkdale (2000, 2005, 2010). In 2007, the tournament took place at the Old Course at St Andrews for the first time. 

Unlike its male counterpart, the AIG Women's Open has not adopted a links-only policy, which is why this year the caveat goes to Walton Heath Golf Club, a classic heathland course in Surrey, which will host the 47th edition of the tournament from 10-13 August. South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai will be the defending champion after claiming her maiden Major title in exciting style at Muirfield last year, edging out In Gee Chun on the fourth hole of a sudden-death play-off completed in fading light.

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Golf Monthly editor Mike Harris explains why he thinks the Open TV rights moving from the BBC to Sky will be good for golf in the long-term

In a week where the two biggest names in golf - Rory and Tiger - have been in the spotlight with court appearances and injury breakdowns it takes a really big story to grab the headlines and dominate the conversation on social media. The R&A's decision to award the live TV rights to Sky has manged to do that. Here's what I have written for the editor's welcome letter that will be published in the forthcoming issue of Golf Monthly that will be published on February 19...

I write this editor’s letter the day after the news broke that from 2017 the Open Championship will be broadcast live exclusively on Sky Sports, thereby ending 60 years of BBC coverage.

The R&A’s decision to sell Open TV rights to a non-terrestrial broadcaster has predictably split opinion. Letters from readers and debates sparked on the GM forum and social media channels in the hours after the announcement showed there is no consensus on whether this is the right move for golf. Even golf’s two big newspapers, the Mail and the Telegraph, have taken opposite stances.

Detractors of the move are pointing out that as live coverage moves to paid TV, viewing numbers will fall and with that the decline in the number of people playing golf will accelerate as fewer people will be inspired to take up the game. However, in my view the reason the game is in decline has very little, if anything, to do with the level of free-to-air coverage.

Declining Participation

I believe declining participation is down to four things: an 18-hole round takes too long; it’s expensive; it takes a long time to reach a level where playing golf is enjoyable rather than frustrating and, lastly, golf’s image as being stuffy, rules-obsessed, not family-friendly and unwelcoming to newcomers puts people off. In the modern world where time is precious and other ways to spend one’s leisure time and money have never been wider, golf isn’t a compelling enough proposition.

The BBC could broadcast every single European Tour event, but if none of the above issues are addressed then golf isn’t going to reverse the trend of fewer people playing the game. My personal view is that the right decision has been made and the more you look at the detail of the new arrangement, the better the new Open TV deal is for golf.

Following The Open

In addition to first-shot to last-putt live TV coverage from Sky, the BBC will be broadcasting two hours of prime-time highlights every night, plus live coverage on Radio 5 Live. Non-Sky subscribers will be able to take out one-off subscriptions where they can watch individual days or all four online at Now TV. Add to that the free-to-access social media and huge online coverage, including live streams on theopen.com, and come 2017 there will never have been a more diverse range of ways to follow the Open Championship.

Money Talks

The extra cash Sky is prepared to invest undoubtedly made a difficult decision for The R&A much easier. The reported doubling of the annual rights fee from the current £7 million to £15 million could put an extra £40 million into the R&A’s coffers over the term of the deal.

Be in no doubt, the BBC could have afforded to match Sky, but chose not to invest. They seem happier pouring millions into things like football (£204m over three years for Match of the Day rights), celebrity presenters and me-too programmes. Their retreat from live broadcasting of golf has been going on for a long time and in the end left the R&A no option but to sign with Sky.

Judging Success or Failure

Those who have accused The R&A of ‘lining their pockets’ are either firing off glib comments, or are ignorant to where the money will be spent. Peter Dawson, The R&A’s chief executive, has pledged to significantly increase investment in growing the game in the UK and Ireland with the extra revenue from the TV deal. It is the impact that this spending will have that we should ultimately judge The R&A on.

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Golf Monthly Editor's Letter Open 2014 Issue

Editor's Letter Open 2014 Issue

What's in the Open 2014 Issue?

I can remember the first time I walked out to play a round of golf at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, and even though it was 25 years ago, it feels like yesterday. The Liverpool University golf team had (still does have) the privilege of playing its matches at Hoylake, and I had been invited along for a trial. I played to a respectable standard, but more importantly I had a car, so could be useful for driving to away matches or stepping in if anyone was injured, had exams or, more than likely, was too hung over.

I’d only been playing the game a few years and had only really played parkland courses in and around Oxford. Hoylake was very different. Long and unforgiving with deep bunkers, tight lies and fast greens. Overseen by big skies and blown upon by big winds. This was real golf. I shot millions, but loved every second of it. Fortunately, the team had room for a car-driving ‘squad player’.

Over the next three years I played a lot of golf at Hoylake, from frosty winter mornings to glorious summer evenings, and each round taught me something new about how to play the game of golf. Walking around inside the clubhouse I began to develop an appreciation for the history of the game and Hoylake’s contribution to the story. The club and links have not only nurtured the amateur game, but have also provided the stage for some of the finest performances in the history of the Open Championship. The two most famous characters in Hoylake’s rich history are local boys John Ball and Harold Hilton. Their achievements are quite remarkable.

Ball won the Amateur Championship eight times and the Open once. Hilton chalked two Open Championships, four Amateurs and one US Amateur. In 1911 he won the Amateur on both sides of the Atlantic. He also found time that year to launch a new magazine… Golf Monthly. (And I think I have to multi-task.)

I am enormously proud to follow in the footsteps of Hilton, not only as Editor of this magazine, but also as a member of Royal Liverpool. And next month, when the greatest golf tournament of them all returns to the links of Hoylake, I will be brimming with excitement. I know that feeling will be shared by all the club’s members.

Holing out on the 18th of the Championship layout (the 16th as we play it) – surrounded by the horseshoe of grandstands that will be full with 7,000 golf fans – is a special experience and this year saying to yourself “… this one for the Open” will have extra special resonance.

It’s going to be a fantastic week when the Open comes to the Wirral, and our 31-page preview – produced in association with Titleist, along with our exclusive Royal Liverpool Open Strokesaver – will really whet your appetite for the great event.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf 

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter July 2014 Issue

Editor's Letter July 2014 Issue

What's in the July 2014 Issue

So, did you miss him or not? That’s Tiger at The Masters of course. If you did, then you were not alone.

For me, the traditional curtain-raiser to the season lacked its usual punch, and the biggest reason for that by far was the absence of the man who has dominated the tournament since he blew away the field to win by 12 shots in 1997.

In the ensuing 16 years, Tiger has rarely been anything other than centre-stage at Augusta.

This, combined with the tournament’s unique charm, has always made it compelling viewing, and although I did still rack up some serious sofa time over the four days this time round, there was a very real sense that something was missing.

Although I’ve never been a huge Tiger fan – though always an admirer of the way he plays the game – I’ve never doubted his importance to golf.

He adds an edge to proceedings that no other player can currently deliver, and the clearest indicator of the role Tiger plays was underlined by a significant drop in TV audiences for this year’s Masters.

Admittedly, we did get to see a wider cast than usual as a result, but it was undoubtedly missing its leading light.

In a special feature on pages 65-70, Gavin Newsham and Alex Narey look at the impact Tiger has had on the game.

After reading the article, it’s safe to say that I now realise his impact has been even deeper and wider than I had imagined. I’m sure all golf fans will be hoping he is back in action sooner rather than later.

Away from the elite game, I have noticed a real focus this year on the topic of how to grow the game. From articles in the golfing media to discussions over a post-round pint, the belief that the game needs to change in order to halt a severe decline is gathering serious momentum.

I know I have written about the subject already this year, but I make no apologies for returning to it, because until the game starts generating solutions to reverse the trend, I believe the matter remains worthy of everyone’s attention.

Many ideas have been put forth as to how to tackle the issues, but one that has caught my eye recently is the launch of the ‘Campaign for REAL Golf’, with which I believe the Golf Monthly readership will have the most affinity.

The campaign states that its aim is to “revive the original values of golf and encourage today’s players, clubs and administrators to develop a better game to hand on to the next generation.”

The REAL acronym stands for Recreational, Enjoyable, Affordable and Less time-consuming. There can be few who wouldn’t agree the game is at its best when those four principles come to the fore.

One of the driving forces behind the Campaign for REAL Golf was Nick Park. It’s a name with which longstanding readers of the magazine may well be familiar.

A stalwart club golfer with a great interest in, and knowledge of, golf courses and agronomy, Nick wrote many pieces on course matters for Golf Monthly over the years.

I got to know Nick well, and his passion for the game was apparent within minutes of our first meeting. Sadly, Nick passed away recently, but in the Campaign for REAL Golf, his ideas for – and vision of – a better game for all lives on.

The campaign is looking for feedback and ideas from golfers like you and me so I’d urge you to visit realgolfcampaign.org to share your views.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf 

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter June 2014

Editor's Letter June 2014 Issue

After discussions about slow play and dress codes, there’s no topic that gets the members of the Golf Monthly forum tapping away at the keyboard more furiously than news of new golf gear being released.

The appetite for talking about the looks – and possible magical effect – shiny new sticks might have on one’s game certainly gets the debate going.

In recent years there’s been an extra dimension to the conversation, with golfers questioning the increasing frequency with which products are launched and the accompanying performance claims.

These days two years is the longest a product will stay in the line, with many only having a year (or less) on the shelf before being replaced by something promising impressive game-improving credentials.

It’s a gripe we at Golf Monthly recognise, and have acknowledged in previous articles. Our view is that shorter product cycles are here to stay, and the best way to look at the situation is that there will always be innovative new products to buy, and that if you haven’t upgraded your kit for a number of years, the latest clubs will almost certainly offer improved performance.

However, that’s just our view, so when I recently had the opportunity to interview Mark King, the CEO of TaylorMade (pictured, left) – the brand that many point the finger at for releasing new products on a frequent basis – the chance to quiz him on the subject was too good to miss.

To ensure the topics we covered in the interview reflected what golfers really wanted to know, we put a call to action out on the GM forum and our social-media channels. It’s fair to say we were inundated with questions for King.

If you turn to page 58 you can read those that I put to him and the answers he gave, which I know will be of interest. I won’t spoil the feature by giving away his views here, except to say that big golf companies do listen to the opinions of golfers, so do use your voice to air your views in the future.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter May 2014 Issue

Editor's Letter May 2014 Issue

Welcome to your new look Golf Monthly! This issue sees the debut of a fresh design that showcases lots of new sections and features.

Our aim is to offer you even more entertainment and value for money and many of the changes we’ve made are as direct result of the feedback you gave us in last year’s reader survey which over 5,000 of you responded to.

It’s been very much a team effort with everyone contributing ideas and inspiration but I’d like to offer a special doff of the cap to managing editor Alex Narey and art editor Stephanie Atkinson who have led the revamp.

The changes are too many to list individually but my personal favourites include new columns from Tony Jacklin and playing editor, Andy Sullivan, a stunning new section at the front of magazine and a bonus tips section at the back that aims to help you get better, quicker.

Talking of speedy improvement on the last page you’ll find the inspirational story of GM reader Gary Cassells who picked up a golf club for the first time in 2011 and made it to category 1 by the end of last year!

This new ‘I did it’ page has meant the editor at large Bill Elliott’s column has moved home. You’ll now find his wise words on page xx and he’s also written a quite superb piece on rivalry in the professional game and why we need more of it in 2014.

I hope you like the new look and features and please do let us know what you think either by letter, email or social media.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

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The May 2014 issue of Golf Monthly - which showcases a revamped design and a number of new features - is on sale now.

What's more, the new issue includes three free gifts for all those who purchase the print version of the magazine.

We've teamed up with Foremost Golf - the UK's largest golf retail group - to offer readers £20 off any purchase over £100 via Foremost's revolutionary click and collect service.

The new edition also comes with the Official Rules of Golf book, valid until the end of 2015, and a handy quick reference guide - ideal for carrying in your golf bag.

In addition, we're offering two tickets for the price of one for the Manchester Golf Show - which takes place from April 25-27 - and 50 free range balls, courtesy of the Trafford Golf Centre.

As always, those with iPads and iPhones can download the enhanced iTunes issue, which comes with bonus videos, galleries and more. What's more, we're offering 48% off the price of an annual subscription and a 30-day free trial for a limited time only. Click here

The new issue of Golf Monthly features an all-new front section, an in-depth Masters preview, revamped equipment and instruction sections, new columnists and much more. Click here to see a complete list of what's in the new issue.

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Golf Monthly Editor's Letter April 2014 Issue

Editor's Letter April 2014 Issue 

The PGA Merchandise show in Florida every January is one of the highlights in the golf industry calendar – a meeting of the clans where equipment brands show PGA Pros and the golf media their latest, greatest inventions. Heaven for a gear nut like me, who loves shiny new golf stuff.

Usually, the highlight is Demo Day where every golf manufacturer you’ve heard of, and many you haven’t, invite pros, retailers and media to an incredible 360˚ driving range to trial their latest ranges. It really is as cool as it sounds.

This year, though, one event stood out above even Demo Day. Entitled ‘For The Love of the Game’, it was hosted by Mark King, TaylorMade CEO, who shared the stage with some heavyweights of US golf – Ted Bishop, president of the PGA of America and Joe Beditz, CEO of the National Golf Foundation.

The speakers took it in turns to give us their personal ‘warts and all’ pictures of the game.

You can probably guess it wasn’t rosy – dwindling participation among those who do play, and fewer newcomers.

The trio were united over the main reason – golf just doesn’t offer enough fun.

Final word went to renowned business thinker, Gary Hamel. He reiterated the problems golf faced, but then highlighted how other industries facing similar challenges had reinvented themselves.

Music, film, telecoms and banking have been radically reinvigorated by iTunes, Netflix, Skype and PayPal, and all are healthier for it.

Hamel advocates ‘open-source innovation’ where suggestions from anyone and everyone (golfers and non-golfers) are collated and assessed to generate new thinking. The ‘open-source’ platform Mark King hopes will provide the answer is ‘HackGolf’.

This isn’t a society for woeful golfers  chopping it round, but a nod to the business meaning of ‘hack’, which is to generate radical-yet-practical ideas to solve problems.

It’s about tearing up the rule book and inventing new golf formats to act as entry points to the game we all know and love.

That’s not to say established golfers should start taking unlimited Mulligans, dropping back in bounds or putting to bucket holes.

Rather, it’s about the birth of a new form of golf to halt and reverse decline. Changes need to be radical enough to provide a step change to spark and sustain growth in the next decade and beyond. Doing what we’ve always done just isn’t going to work.

The ideas need to venture so far from tradition you’d probably get laughed out of the 19th hole as a heretic if you aired them after the Sunday roll-up.

But if you have any ideas, I urge you to go to HackGolf.org and share them, as long as they involve hitting a ball with a club-type implement to a hole. Beyond that, let your mind run wild!

For ideas to be runners they should address three big issues: golf is very pricey compared to other sports; the current format takes way too long; and for most, it takes a long time to reach a level where enjoyment exceeds frustration.

We should also encourage non-golfing friends and family to share their views at HackGolf as they’re the ones golf needs to entice away from the TV, bike or whatever takes up their leisure time.

I’ll sign off by conceding my last two editor’s letters could be viewed as knocking our sport. But I’m writing about these issues because I want to see the game I love flourish, and effective and lasting change requires radical thinking at every level.

I know everyone reading this loves golf too, so in between honing your slinging draw and signing up for the summer knockouts, can I ask you to spend a little time thinking up ideas to help the game which has given us all so much.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf 

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter March 2014 Issue

Editor's Letter March 2014 Issue 

Regular readers of my letter will know I rarely file my copy any earlier than the last minute, and this issue is no exception.

But less than 24 hours before the page had to be at the printers I have to confess I didn’t actually have anything to write about. By way of mitigation, I’ve had very little in the way of golfing inspiration.

I’ve managed just 27 very sodden holes of golf in the past six weeks, the European and PGA Tours have yet to kick into life, I haven’t changed any of my equipment since November last year, and if the 27 holes are anything to go by, I certainly haven’t found the secret to executing the 40-yard pitch.

Thankfully, salvation appeared in the form of an industry round table I’d been invited to.

More often than not at these sessions we end up telling each other what we already know, but this one was different.

The discussion was led by Syngenta, a leading supplier of solutions to golf courses, which had commissioned a large-scale research project on how to grow the game in the UK.

The most eye-opening stat in the survey was that there could be as many as 8.5 million people in the UK interested in taking up golf.

If only 20 per cent of that number actually became golfers then the game would be in a very healthy position indeed.

But how do we go about attracting them? Well, thanks to Syngenta and its research company GfK, we now have some hard facts to work with.

The big difference between this survey and others I’d seen before was that nearly two thirds of the 3,500-plus respondents were non-golfers, but as they had the desire to take up a new sport and the time to play golf, they were genuine prospects, not couch potatoes unlikely to ever play.

So, rather than golfers telling us what initiatives they ‘think’ might get new people playing the game, these findings offer real insight from outside the game as to what golf needs to do in order to become a serious option for newcomers.

Clubs need to be friendlier, to encourage families, to not be so strict on dress codes and club regulations (including the use of mobile phones), to make it easier to learn the game and to offer greater flexibility in terms of membership.

This insight should be gold dust in the hands of those who run golf clubs, whether the club is in trouble and trying to reverse a declining membership, or whether it’s a forward-looking operation seeking opportunities for growth.

The really good news is that none of the above involves spending any money, merely a shift in attitudes.

Proprietary clubs can, of course, change things far more easily, as owners don’t have committees to answer to. However, it’s my view that the majority of clubs most in need of change in order to thrive, or even just remain viable, are traditional members clubs run by committees.

And this is where the elephant in the room becomes just too big to ignore. At present, the vast majority of committees are made up of long-standing members, and the decisions they make tend to be for the benefit of members like them.

And, to a point, that’s OK because these golfers will have been loyal supporters of the clubs, so have earned a right to have a significant say in the way a club is run.

They’re giving up their time to sit on a committee, some will have been members man and boy, most will have paid a joining fee, put money behind the bar, and represented the club in matches.

Without them the club wouldn’t be what it is today. But in this challenging landscape, it’s not about the past, it’s about the future.

So, you must ask yourself this question: are you really interested in protecting the future of your club and the game in general, or are you happy with the status quo because that’s what suits you?

I don’t pretend that changing established thinking and conventions will be easy but, in the cold, hard light of day, this is about safeguarding the future of the game. Surely nothing is more important than that?

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf 

Golf Monthly Guest Editor's Letter February 2014 Issue

Guest Editor's Letter February 2014 Issue

Do not be alarmed. Michael Harris has not left the building! Hi, my name is Tim Osborn and I have the honour of being ‘Guest Editor’ of this excellent golf magazine.

Let me tell you how it came about. My club, West Hill in Surrey, hosted the Golf Monthly forum day last year in aid of Help for Heroes.

The day was rounded off with some interesting auction items including one to be ‘GM editor for a day’.

As a subscriber for over 10 years, and in the retail news trade for over 30, the chance to see and talk to the team, and experience first-hand the collating and putting together of the magazine, was too good an opportunity to pass up.

I read with interest the features, equipment and especially courses and travel sections every month, and although not a big fan of the tips pages I always hope they will help me to get out of deep bunkers full of soft heavy sand!

When I arrived for the day, I was very interested to see that this issue features a John Daly world exclusive.

He’s an interesting character, and I for one would be delighted to have him in my fourball. Apart from being a world-class golfer, he has that ‘I am my own man and nobody can take away my personality’ aura.

Golf is much richer for people like Daly, and the article opens up his more human and private side as well as highlighting his golfing history. A cracking read!

Having moved around the UK with my career I’ve been lucky to be a member of several clubs, but my main objective has always been to find a ‘golfers’ club’.

As an avid golf club member and single-figure handicapper forever (without revealing my true age) this meant finding clubs that encouraged members old and new to play together in competitions.

I believe one of the best ways for this to work is for all club competitions to be drawn, rather than everyone always playing with the same group of friends.

I have always found that this process brought me into the main body of the club very quickly and easily.

Membership recruitment was highlighted in a major feature in the December issue, and I believe one of the biggest issues for prospective new members is integration.

This is, of course, a two-way process and newcomers need to ‘put themselves about a bit’ to ensure they’re seen as wishing to become inclusive members.

I can safely say my club has got it right, with our competitions hugely supported, and members enjoying playing with different people of varying handicaps and finishing it all with a jar or two in the bar.

I also enjoy my annual golfing trip with friends. The aim is to play some exciting golf on a different course and enjoy nice food, great company and plenty of craic.

In 2013, our itinerary included two top Scottish courses, but what should have been a memorable trip became a bit of a disappointment because of the excruciating pace of play.

I believe the root cause is that venues are trying to maximise revenue by packing too many people on with too short a gap between tee-times.

There seemed to be no vetting of handicaps and as a result too many golfers not good enough to play a hard course struggling round. Nobody, but nobody was called through.

Both rounds took just under six hours. Things need to change, because golf like that is no fun.

As the season draws to a close, my sympathy goes to all those whose golf has not lived up to expectations and my congratulations go to all who have done well.

My personal goal for next year is to take more money more often from my friends in the weekly bounce games as I know their aim is to do the same to me! Good hunting in 2014.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

The new issue of Golf Monthly is available to buy in shops or download via a wide range of digital platforms.

If you have an iPad or iPhone, you can also download our enhanced version of the magazine, which comes with bonus videos, galleries and other digital features.

This month, you can see exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and galleries of our trip to Daly's home in Arkansas, USA, including quickfire questions, a house tour and a guitar performance. To see the enhanced issue trailer, click below.

To access the new John Daly special enhanced edition, download the GM shell app via iTunes: http://bit.ly/Jj3NV1  

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter January 2014 Issue

Editor's Letter January 2014 Issue

As someone who likes chatting about all things golf, sifting through the Golf Monthly mailbag is one of my most interesting duties.

From perennial hot topics like slow play and dress codes, to rules queries and musings on tour golf, reading the letters pages is like sitting in the 19th hole chewing the fat… all afternoon.

This issue is no exception with a broad collection of passionate views, but a handwritten epistle from Mr Gordon Sinclair stood out for me personally (page 8).

He’d been following the regular updates on my home-course golfing woes – 13 consecutive 0.1s and a two-shot increase for those who have nodded off at the back – and urged me to keep my chin up, quoting an inspirational story of how he had turned his game around and hoped I could follow suit.

I was pleased to learn not only that someone other than my wife and the GM sub-editors read my ramblings, but also that, touchingly, Mr Sinclair had felt compelled to write such words of encouragement.

Next day I teed it up in a club competition and am delighted to say Mr Sinclair’s pep talk did the trick – my first sub-80 of the year and a 0.8 cut with CSS going up in awful weather. As you can imagine I’ve been feeling pretty chipper ever since.

Relieved though I was to finally card a score and see my handicap come down, it wasn’t my most enjoyable round this year.

That came two weeks before, in the company of GM’s contributing editor, Rob Smith, with whom I share a deep love of golf courses, real ale and music.

No surprise the round was a lot of fun, then, but if I told you I’d lost you might raise an eyebrow, for rarely does any golfer delight in being beaten.

But I was overjoyed to lose to Rob, who has been struggling even more than I have. His piece in our Open issue about his trials and tribulations revealed just how bad his game had got.

A few years ago he was on the brink of single figures; last year he couldn’t get near his 17 handicap.

To help get Rob back on track we arranged for new custom-fitted clubs and lessons from one of our Top 25 coaches, and those who have followed his blog will know he has been swinging it better, though rarely converting it into good scores, as aptly demonstrated on our recent visit to Royal Porthcawl to celebrate GM colleague Jezz Ellwood’s 50th birthday.

Wine was taken, songs were sung and bedtimes missed, so we were all a little fuzzy-headed next day. Rob was mixing good shots with bad early on, but his low point came on the par-3 14th where he found a deep bunker.

Taking a big swing, the ball cannoned into the revetted face… and back into his crotch! By the time Neil Tappin and I had wiped the tears from our eyes, Rob had added a penalty shot to his tally, skinned one across the green, then chipped back into an adjacent bunker. It would be fair to say he looked quite downbeat.

When we met five days later at the fabulous Harry Colt-designed Tandridge in Surrey where Rob plays, I’m sure neither of us thought I wouldn’t triumph.

Rob played tidily going out, with a lovely birdie on the short 4th, but I was very steady and three-up at the turn. But Rob then moved up a gear, using his strokes wisely to claw his way back.

His string of pars, followed by a superb birdie at 16 and textbook par on the tough 17th, brought us to 18 all-square.

I made the green in three after visiting the rough; Rob was pin-high in two but plugged high up the face of a bunker, prompting a stance more suited to a mountain goat than a golfer. I sensed another Porthcawl moment! But Rob swung with purpose, and the ball popped out to six feet.

As soon as my par putt ran past, Rob was only ever going to hole his! So I hope anyone struggling with their game will take encouragement from both our upturns in form. If we can do it, you most certainly can too!

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf 

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter December 2013 Issue

Editor's Letter December 2013 Issue

There was a time, not so very long ago, when if you weren’t a member of a golf club you were a second-class golfing citizen.

The lack of a bona fide handicap certificate, or letter of introduction, excluded non-members from playing almost anywhere but municipal courses.

Times have changed and a handicap certificate from your club is no longer the key to the kingdom.

These days, at all but a few clubs, you don’t need to produce a handicap certificate to tee it up. Behave and dress like a recognisable golfer, and only a tiny handful will refuse your hard-earned money.

This fundamental change is a key reason for membership being in decline.

There are now more non-members than members and the nomadic approach is a genuine option for golfers looking for a top-quality experience.

I know plenty of very competitive golfers who play regularly and could afford to be members, but choose not to be.

It is against this rapidly changing landscape we find ourselves writing a feature I never thought Golf Monthly would be writing.

On pages 46–53 we ask you, our readers, should you really be a golf club member in 2014? Golf Monthly has always been for true golf enthusiasts rather than those with a passing interest.

Our readers tend not to be identified by age, gender, social background or ability; instead they are unified by the fact they take the game seriously and golf is a big part of their lives.

For much of our 103-year history you could guarantee ‘enthusiasts’ would be golf club members. But in recent years, the number of Golf Monthly readers who are members of a club has declined, not at the same rate as in the wider game but still significantly.

In a 2008 survey, 87 per cent of readers were members. Our new reader survey (of which more later) will tell us what the figure is in 2013, but my guess is somewhere in the mid-70s, or a drop of around 10 per cent.

So when we ask ‘member or nomad next year?’ it’s not a contrived query setting up the notion that the grass is greener on the non-member’s side only to then knock it down with glee. It is a genuine question to which the answer will vary greatly depending on gender, stage of life and financial circumstances.

The fact you’re a ‘Golf Monthly reader and golf enthusiast’ may well see you naturally inclined to be a member in 2014, but when push comes to shove it’s now far from a foregone conclusion that you’ll renew your subscription or take the membership route if you want to enjoy the game even more next year.

I believe your decision will revolve around personal circumstances and how much your current or prospective club makes membership a good fit for your life.

There’s only so much conforming to standard golf club set-ups golfers can do and as time and money pressures grow, and opportunities to pick and choose where and when to play increase, so do the reasons not to be a member.

So whether golfer or golf club, private or proprietary club, member or nomad, I urge you to read the feature.

It may not give you definitive answers to the questions rattling round your head (most likely at the top of your backswing) but it will provide a clear outline of your options.

For clubs, secretaries, managers and committees, I hope it will give new insight into the landscape and the challenges your members and potential members face.

This is such a cornerstone topic for grass roots golf, and everyone who plays the game has a vested interest in how club membership offerings develop. So I’m expecting a big response to the feature. I look forward to hearing your views.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter November 2013 Issue

Editor's Letter November 2013 Issue

Two discussion threads on the ever-lively Golf Monthly website forum caught my eye recently. One focused on ‘car park’ golfers and the other on whether or not members should be expected to support the bar as a matter of course.

Both debates sparked some passionate and erudite views on both sides and the fact each thread had well over 100 replies, and the discussions were viewed thousands of times, underlines what hot topics anything to do with club membership are.

Opinions seemed poles apart. On one side were those who felt being a member entailed much more than playing golf, and that it was a member’s duty to support the club’s bar and catering operations, not simply turn up, play and go.

On the other were those who felt they’d paid their annual dues, so they could use the club as they pleased.

If that meant turning up, changing their shoes in the car park, going out to play, then getting back in the car to go home and get on with their lives, that was their prerogative.

As a member of three clubs who enjoys the social side of being a member and, crucially, is fortunate enough to have time to do more than just play a round of golf, my natural inkling is to be in the first camp.

But as someone involved in the wider industry, I know the number of golfers finding their leisure time and finances squeezed – and for whom it’s a struggle to make golf fit into their lives – is increasing with club membership and golf participation levels decreasing as a result.

In my view, the game in general and clubs in particular need to move away from the idea that golfers have to conform to accepted norms – whether it’s golf’s default format being 18 holes or subs being the same no matter how much you play – and offer options that better fit the needs of golfers.

There is no quick fix, but in the next issue we will be taking an in-depth look at the topic of club membership and offering ideas for how to reverse the trends.

So whether you’re a club member pondering whether or not to renew, a nomadic golfer considering whether club membership is for you, or anyone involved in running a club, this will be a must-read feature.

As I’ve said in the past, I’m not naturally drawn to the instruction section of the magazine, but as this season has progressed, and my golf has gone south, I’ve found myself looking more and more for tips and advice to help get my game back on track.

At the moment the advice is going in, but I am struggling to put it into practice in competition I’ll spare you the grim details of my latest disaster, save to say I registered my 11th consecutive 0.1 increase.

My handicap graph on the members’ section of the website looks like the FTSE stock market graph of the 1980s and ’90s with a relentless upward trend.

I’m now just two bad rounds away from a handicap of 8 – if that happens, I will be two shots higher than when I joined my new club in August 2012.

If you’re in the same boat as me, then I hope you’ll find a few tips and nuggets of advice here to help get your game back on track.

But even if you don’t, I’ll leave you with a tale of woe involving one of my golfing friends that will hopefully bring a smile to your face.

On the last hole of the September medal, his drive came to rest in a tricky spot behind a tree. Ever the optimist, he attempted, in his own words, a ‘particularly high-tariff shot’ round the tree.

It rebounded off the trunk, hit him, then hit his club before ricocheting into the ‘bund’ never to be seen again.

Dropping another ball, and now playing five, he proceeded to hit his next shot OOB. In the end he did well to make 11. Golf, don’t you just love it!

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf 

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter October 2013 Issue

Editor's Letter October 2013 Issue

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago to the day I remember heading off to play golf, waterproofs not even packed but already on, all set to face yet another ‘summer’s day’ of golf in the UK.

2012 really was miserable, wasn’t it? A year on, and I pen my editor’s letter in late August after four months of near-perfect golfing weather.

Unsurprisingly, the good weather has encouraged golfers to get out and play more often, and the latest research by industry experts Sports Marketing Surveys Inc shows that the number of rounds played since May this year is significantly higher than last year.

I certainly know I’ve been teeing it up even more than usual this year, as long sunny evenings and dry weekends have allowed me to get more games in.

I would love to report that more golf has equalled better scores and a reduction in my handicap, however the opposite is the case. I have managed to record eight consecutive 0.1 increases this season.

My nadir was reached in the August medal, when not only did I return a score of 91 (a round 20 over par), but I was obviously so desperate to get to the bar for a consoling drink afterwards that I failed to put my card in the box after inputting my score in the computer.

As a result, I was banned from the next two competitions! Perhaps that was the Golfing Gods’ way of telling me I needed a little break from banging my head against a brick wall!

The last few weeks have certainly given us much to talk about in the elite game.

Firstly, there was the widespread condemnation of the idiot fans who insist upon screeching “Get in the hole”, “You’re the man”, “Mashed potato” or other such nonsense every time every player hits the ball.

While watching the final round of the USPGA (in my book, never the most exciting tournament, let alone Major) it got so bad that I had to turn down the TV volume and watch in silence.

Like 99% of golfers I really enjoy team events where the crowd comes alive and injects some partisan passion into proceedings, but the mindless yelling witnessed at Oak Hill has no place in regular tournament golf.

The vast majority of US golf fans and commentators rightly rallied against these brainless shouts, but I think the PGA Tour needs to take a much more proactive approach to stamping out this unwelcome accompaniment to the professional game.

On a more positive note it was great to watch the European team’s sensational win at the Solheim Cup in Colorado.

Having never won on US soil, and with an inexperienced team lacking stalwarts like Laura Davies, I didn’t fancy Lotte Neumann’s chances of leading her team to victory.

However, I and the US team hadn’t banked on the incredible performance of 17-year-old Charley Hull and her teammates.

The European side was simply magnificent, hitting laser-like approaches and then holing pretty much anything they looked at.

The US Team was blown away. I really hope this historic win signals a new era for European ladies golf.

The night the Solheim Cup came back to Europe there was more cause for celebration when 18-year-old Matthew Fitzpatrick became the first Englishman to win the US Amateur Championship since the great Harold Hilton lifted the trophy 102 years ago.

To regular readers of Golf Monthly, Hilton’s name will ring a bell not only for his golfing achievements (twice Open Champion and four times Amateur Champion) but because he was also the founding editor of this magazine.

To think that in 1911 Hilton had time to not only win both the Amateur and US Amateur Championships, but also start a golf magazine, is quite amazing.

I’m sure he would be very disappointed by the playing standard of his latest successor, but hope he would at least enjoy the magazine!

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter September 2013 Issue

Editor's Letter September 2013 Issue 

To me, this year’s Muirfield Open had it all.

Glorious weather; a superb links playing hard and fast; a Sunday leaderboard featuring the world’s elite; and, in Phil Mickelson, a winner of the highest calibre who carded the week’s equal best round to win, providing further proof that the East Lothian links identifies the best of the best.

Less happily, we also saw a penalty for slow play. The recipient was Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama who was docked a shot in the third round.

He could feel unlucky to be the only one as, having followed several groups around the glorious sun-baked links for four days, I found it hard to see why more slow-play penalties weren’t being issued.

Too many pros amble along, presumably trying to follow the mind coach’s advice of not getting ahead of themselves.

When they reach their ball there’s the consulting of the yardage book, the conferring with the caddie, the relentless practice swinging, and the twitching about that may or may not form part of their officially laborious pre-shot routines... before finally the shot itself!

If less than 97 per cent perfect the shot is often followed by a deep exhalation of breath, some sort of self-berating, possible reprimanding of the caddie and the studious analysis of some element of the swing path that wasn’t quite right.

Watching this process in the flesh was enough to make you want to head back to the Open Arms, grab a refreshing beverage and watch play on the big screens, where the TV producers are at least able to cut from shot to shot and spare viewers the full extent of faffing that goes on.

Back to Mr Matsuyama. His penalty was for a second bad time in his round. Things came to a head at the 17th when he took two minutes 12 seconds to play.

Yes, that’s right – two minutes, 12 seconds from the time it was his turn to play until he actually hit the ball.

Few fans will have had any sympathy, but playing partner Johnson Wagner did. So incensed was Wagner that he initially refused to sign Matsuyama’s card in protest.

“We were moving at a lovely pace for twosomes on a Saturday,” he said, as if to condone his partner’s actions in particular, and the slow play that blights tour golf in general.

The full irony of Wagner’s words was brought home next day when I was lucky enough to have an invite to play the links.

One of our group asked the caddies what their ‘best time’ round Muirfield was. “One hour 45,” came the reply.

“The members like to keep it moving.” We laughed heartily, for about as long as it took Matsuyama to play that shot!

Slow play is, of course, not limited to the elite game. At club level it’s bad and getting worse if recent letters from GM readers and chat on our online forum are anything to go by.

Always a hot topic, the increase in comments has been noticeable.

I’m sure the better weather we’re now enjoying is having an impact, as more and more golfers head to the course, but the underlying issues are the same whatever the weather.

If only it were simple to fix, but as our ‘GM asks’ feature (p68-69) says, there’s no easy cure because the problem has so many facets.

Everybody should be doing their bit though, at the very least being aware of their group’s pace relative to others.

I don’t believe anyone goes out intending to hold people up, but I do think many golfers are oblivious to what’s going on around them or don’t see themselves as slow.

If you do find yourself holding up the group behind, the basic rule should be to invite them through if the course ahead is relatively clear, then focus on keeping up with them rather than merely staying ahead of the group behind.

It won’t solve golf’s slow play problem, but it will make the game more enjoyable for all concerned.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter August 2013 Issue

Editor's Letter August 2013 Issue 

No element of the game has the ability to prompt joy and despair in such equal measure as putting. The sense of elation you get from watching a long putt track across the green and drop into the hole is one of the game’s greatest feelings.

On the flip side, the frustration you feel leaving a long putt woefully short, or the despair (and sometimes rage) that accompanies the missed tiddler is enough to make you want to take up crown green bowls.

However, the good news is that no matter how technically correct or otherwise your full swing is, any golfer – regardless of age or handicap – can become a good putter.

In addition, putting is probably the easiest department of the game to improve and, as such, it’s a proven shortcut to shaving shots off your handicap.

To help you become a ‘boss of the moss’, we’ve dedicated 36 pages of this issue to all things putting.

To improve your technique, there’s a collection of tips and drills to help hone your stroke and develop that all-important feel.

For those who struggle with the mental side of putting, there’s some fascinating insight from renowned mind coach, Karl Morris, that will help those with the yips to overcome their putting demons.

While grooving a better technique on the greens is the quickest route to fewer putts, we also know it’s crucial that the putter you hold in your hands inspires confidence and works well with your stroke, so we’ve put more than 100 of the latest models through their paces.

There’s an almost overwhelming range of putters on the market these days, from classic blades to futuristic designs that incorporate more technology than your driver.

Testing the current crop of putters was an eye-opening experience, and if you’re looking for a new flat stick that might help change your fortune on the greens, you’ll be glad to hear that there’s something out there to suit your eye, stroke and budget.

What better example to underline the importance of good putting than Justin Rose’s magnificent win at Merion in the US Open.

Justin has always had one of the strongest tee-to-green games in world golf, but on a number of occasions his less-than-perfect putting has let him down – most recently at this year’s Masters.

However, a recent change of putter and a more confident stroke saw him average an impressive 30 putts a round on the treacherous Merion greens, only three-putting a handful times.

Rose has always been one of the most popular players with his peers, fans and the media, and his maiden Major victory was greeted with universal delight.

His fantastic play was a delight to watch, as was the way in which he carried himself during the four days and delivered his winner’s speech. To me, he really did embody everything that’s good about our game.

Golf Monthly’s editor-at-large, Bill Elliott, who once beat a teenage Rose over nine holes at North Hants, winning £1 off him in the process, has written a wonderful piece on Justin’s career and his marvellous US Open win.

Fortunate timing means that this issue also features the newest Major champion answering reader questions in our popular Question Time feature.

We spoke to Justin a few weeks before the US Open, but his answers, particularly on the topics of nerves and dealing with pressure, give a great insight into why he coped so well in the final round and, ultimately, outlasted all his opponents to win what I’m sure will be the first of a number of Majors.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter Open 2013 Issue

Editor's Letter Open 2013 Issue

For me, one of the highlights of the BMW PGA Championship was attending the Golf Foundation Awards.

Amid all the glamour and glitz of the European Tour’s flagship event, this was a chance to shift the focus temporarily away from the world’s top golfers on to grass roots golf.

The Golf Foundation, as many will know, is a charity committed to getting young people into the game, with the awards acknowledging the immense hard work of volunteers, PGA pros, junior organisers, school teachers and local authority officers in turning its vision into reality.

Watching the winners accept their awards, you couldn’t help but be moved and inspired by their efforts.

For many of you, your introduction to golf was probably via the well-established route of family member or friend. But many youngsters don’t have the benefit of that encouragement, and the Golf Foundation’s work provides their first golfing experience.

At this entry level, the Foundation focuses on school, community and traditionally hard-to-reach city projects. If golf is to grow, it will be through projects like those spotlighted at the awards, more of which on our website and in our next issue.

As a club member, the award I could relate most to was the Gus Payne Award for the club raising most for the Foundation.

This year’s winner was Woburn in Bedfordshire, raising £2,320. It did so by asking members to donate £2 as part of their annual subscription levy. Simple but effective.

Even in tough times, £2 is a modest sum – far less than a premium golf ball or post-round pint. Yet if we all made this small gesture, the impact on golf development would be huge.

The Foundation would have far greater reach, and more clubs would be finding their way into the hands of youngsters who wouldn’t ordinarily come into contact with golf.

For some, a Foundation-funded session will spark a life-long love affair. For others, it’s just a few hours away from football or computer games.

Either way, the wider benefits are meaningful, as a core Golf Foundation goal is to introduce young people to some of the ‘skills for life’ golf instils so adeptly.

We golfers take honesty, respect, cooperation, self-motivation, concentration and perseverance seriously. But in wider society, they often seem in short supply.

Golf is a great way to learn these skills and traits, so even those who don’t go on to play the game will still have benefited enormously.

There’s no downside to the Golf Foundation’s work, so it was very disappointing to learn that the number of clubs making donations is in serious decline.

Last year, just 441 clubs donated in this way, down nearly 50 per cent on 2006. And, whereas in 1994 £187,754 was raised, last year the figure was just £41,560.

The reasons for this huge drop are varied, although it’s certainly not because UK golfers are averse to raising money for charity. But it’s a trend that needs to be reversed if the sport is to grow and thrive in the long term.

So how can you help? Club members should ask their managers if the club currently donates to the Foundation. If not, ask for it to be put on the agenda of the next AGM or committee meeting.

The £2 levy is the easiest way, but entry fees from nominated competitions work well, too. And if you’re a captain in 2014, why not make the Foundation your nominated charity?

If you’re not a club member, you can donate via the safe and secure method of text message (text ‘Golf19 £2’ to 70070).

I believe it is every golfer’s duty to make an effort to help grow the game, so future generations have the opportunity to get from it what we have.

Would you not want them to share those experiences and feel the same joy the game has given you? I’m sure the answer is yes, in which case the easiest way to help is to support the Golf Foundation’s essential work.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter July 2013 Issue

See what is in the July 2013 Issue

I type this issue's welcome note on a glorious evening in early May. The sun is streaming through the window and a warm breeze carries the smell of grass clippings.

By rights I should, of course, be down at the club practising, or having a pint on the patio, but deadlines are deadlines and hopefully there will be plenty more sunny evenings this summer in which to hit balls and enjoy an ale.

Goodness knows golf deserves this decent weather after what many in the game have described as the worst winter in living memory.

There were times when I thought the rain would never stop, and the courses never dry out. And while golfers can now look forward to the season, clubs are still counting the cost.

To get an insight into the true impact the weather has had on club golf, I'd point you in the direction of Jezz Ellwood's excellent "GM asks..." feature on page 80.

Be warned though, it isn't a pretty read. Looking forward I'd urge readers to make an extra effort to get down to support their clubs and PGA pros in the coming weeks and months - they've rarely needed us more than they do right now.

The improved weather coincided, as it so often does, with The Masters. However, this year it seemed as if the traditional Augusta roars were replaced by the sound of some collective sharp intakes of breath.

First when Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang was singled out and penalised for slow play, and then when Tiger Woods escaped disqualification courtesy of what seemed to be a very favourable decision by the Augusta Rules Committee.

It's fair to say these two incidents dominate this issue. We have printed a selection of the many letters and emails we received from readers on the topics; Kevin Barker of The R&A's Rules department assesses Tiger's drop; editor at large Bill Elliott gives his forthright verdicts on both incidents; and, as you'd expect, columnist Wayne Riley certainly doesn't hold back when it comes to sharing his thoughts on Guan's slow-play penalty.

For the record, I'm with Bill on his assessment of the Tiger situation, and Wayne on the slow-play penalty. But my wider view is that neither decision reflected well on the game.

I usually relish fighting golf's corner when it comes to discussions with non-golfers who often seem to delight in knocking our game. However, I have to say I didn't really feel I had much ammo in the locker this time.

At Augusta the game of golf, and its rules, were made to look, at best, inconsistent and, at worst, deeply flawed.

We haven't even had the chance to reflect on the fact that with Adam Scott's win the anchored-stroke/long-putter combo celebrated a Grand Slam of Majors and that Tianlang used an anchored stroke to great effect.

The latter is more significant in my view as it clearly underlines the governing bodies' motivations for the proposed rule change.

Finally, to complete a rather round-the-houses editor's letter, I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome one of the game's most popular figures, Ernie Els, to the fold as Golf Monthly's latest columnist.

I would have led the fanfare in the last issue, but for once I'd filed my copy early and with the ink on the Ernie deal not quite dry I didn't want to tempt fate. However, with Ernie now fully on board, I can say how fantastic it is to have a four-time Major winner and the current Open Champion giving us insight into his golfing life and sharing his views on the game.

email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

Sharpen Up Your Short Game

Having the confidence to attack the flag from 100 yards and in, and the skills to get the ball up and down, is the secret to lower scores.

That's why we have dedicated 30 pages to the art of the short game. From tips and drills to reviews of the latest wedges, there's a wealth of information to help you improve your scoring skills.

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter June 2013 Issue

See what's in the June 2013 Issue

If I can't sleep at night my usual trick is to play a round of golf in my head. Almost always I will opt to tee it up a Royal North Devon where I'm lucky enough to be a country member, and given one final round, it would be the course I would probably opt to play.

When it comes to the bit where I'm deciding what line to take over the cavernous Cape Bunker on the 4th, I'm normally in the land of nod. However, for the last few nights not even a full 18 holes and a couple of post-round pints of Tribute have been enough to get me off.

Two things have been nagging at my mind and causing this insomnia, and ironically both are golf related. The first is the ever-decreasing standard of my short game (too upsetting to discuss here) and the second is the thorny issue of dress codes - a subject on which we have a special ‘GM asks' feature in the June issue.

A part of me wants to say it doesn't really matter what people wear to play golf or have a drink afterwards, so long as they are playing golf and supporting clubs by spending money at the bar. I want to see our sport flourishing; I want to see club bars packed with members and guests; and I desperately want golf to reach out to new people, and show them what a wonderful game it is.

The reality is that participation levels are dwindling, many club bars are empty and it's getting harder to recruit new golfers. And while I don't lay the blame for that solely at the door of dress codes, they can seem restrictive, at odds with modern society and therefore liable to create barriers - either to new people wanting to get into golf, or club members popping down for a drink because they are wearing a pair of jeans.

The other part of me says that dress codes provide welcome order to an increasingly haphazard world where everybody seems to do as they wish. We should champion the fact that our game is built around history, tradition, respect for the rules of the game and that dress codes are a key part of that. As such, we shouldn't have an issue conforming to well-established standards and that the newcomers we want to attract are those who can respect the rules and etiquette of the game, including dress codes.

The truth is - of course - my view lies somewhere in the middle. However, I feel strongly that dress codes need to be reasonable and logical, and I don't think that's currently the case at some clubs. There is no off-the-peg solution, and for that reason I feel the topic is worth a point on the agenda at the next committee meeting or AGM of every golf club in the UK and Ireland.

The discussion might last just a couple of minutes, and everyone may agree the current guidelines are in keeping with the club's traditions and outlook. There might be a minor change to what visiting groups and societies should wear in the dining room, or perhaps a more relaxed, casual code could be introduced on certain nights to encourage a better attendance at social events. Or, in some cases, it might be that a total root and branch change of the club's on- and off-course dress codes is required to help stimulate new memberships, or revive flagging bar and restaurant takings.

The key is for as many stakeholders to discuss and debate the issue and find a middle ground where traditional and modern views can be expressed and taken into account when the issue of dress codes is in the best interests of the club.

Whatever is decided, I think the most crucial thing is that the dress code policy is clearly communicated to members and visitors alike so there's no room for misinterpretation that can lead to confusion and embarrassment.

I welcome your views and opinions on the subject, and I look forward to printing a selection in future issues.

The Celebrity Cup at Golf Live 10-12 May

Golf Monthly is delighted to be the official magazine media partner of Golf Live in 2013. This year the event will be held at the fabulous Celtic Manor Resort in Wales from 10-12 May. New for 2013 Golf Live is The Celebrity Cup, which will run over the three days with some well-known sports personalities, plus film and TV stars, taking each other on in a battle of the home nations.

The Celebrity Cup isn't the only attraction at Golf Live, there are masterclasses from golfing superstars, as well as a chance to see and test new equipment from the major manufacturers. For more information and a chance to win a fantastic competition, go to www.celebritycup.co.uk  

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter May 2013 Issue

See what's in the May 2013 issue of Golf Monthly

When I joined GM in 2004, the issue that included our Masters preview was always viewed as the real start-of-season edition. Published in early spring, it coincided with the time when many golfers were getting back into the swing of playing regularly. The evenings spent watching the Masters on TV could be relied upon to get even the most fair-weather of golfers heading for the garage to dust off the sticks.

On tour, it seemed like little of real significance ever really happened before the players made their way down Magnolia Lane. However, a lot has changed over the past decade, and it now seems that by the time the Masters comes around, an awful lot of water has already passed under the bridge in the world of professional golf.

Arguably never more so than this year. In mid January, golf's worst-kept secret, Rory McIlroy's switch to Nike, was officially revealed amidst much razzmatazz in Abu Dhabi, and ever since then he seems to have hogged the headlines.

Missing the cut by three shots in Abu Dhabi had many questioning both the decision to change equipment and his focus. A month later, he made a meek first round exit in the WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship, and the following week he walked off the course during the second round of the Honda Classic - a tournament he was defending.

The criticism of Rory's actions at the Honda was quick, severe and justified. Thankfully, he made a full apology and I believe will have learned from the incident. Who knows, his awful start to the year might have refocused him, and by the time you read this Rory may have won a tournament and got in gear for Augusta.

As if the Rory-related news wasn't enough to keep us golf scribes closely acquainted with our keyboards, PGA Tour boss, Tim Finchem, got us back to work when he issued a statement to say the tour opposed the governing bodies' proposed ban on the anchored putting stroke.

Finchem said he did not feel a ban "was in the best interests of golf or the PGA Tour". There had been rumblings of discontent from the other side of the Atlantic, where the anchored stroke is more widely used, but I for one was genuinely surprised to see the PGA Tour drawing up the battle lines. It was a relief to see the European Tour issue a statement two weeks later supporting the proposed rule change.

Commissioner Finchem was, of course, only doing his job and acting on behalf of the players who he represents, a significant number of whom obviously felt their ability to compete would be fundamentally compromised if the ban becomes law in 2016. I'm afraid I don't have a lot of sympathy for them.

Not only would they have nearly three years to get used to a conforming stroke, but it seems very much like their stance is founded on short-term self-interest rather than the long-term integrity of the game, which is what I believe The R&A and USGA had as the overriding aim when they announced the proposed rule change.

Only time will tell how this one will play out, but I sincerely hope it will not be in a court with the authority of golf's rule makers being challenged, and a possible bifurcation of the Rules on the cards. In my view, that would be a terrible thing for the game.

What is for sure is that all of this early-season activity certainly adds extra spice to the Masters. How will Rory, and indeed Tiger perform? Will the Masters be won for the first time by a golfer using an anchored putting stroke? Add to that the now annual wave of optimism (more justified than ever this year) that a home-grown player might win the Green Jacket, and you have the ingredients for a fascinating Masters.

It's going to be all the more exciting because our editor at large Bill Elliott will be tweeting from Augusta for GM. Regular readers of his column, and mine, will know I've been trying to encourage him to share 140 characters of insight for a while now. To date, he's managed to sidestep my advances. No longer. How does he feel about it? Well, to be honest, he doesn't know yet. We're playing golf together tomorrow, so I'll tell him then.

Email michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter @MikeHarrisGolf

As British and Irish golfers we are truly blessed with some of the greatest courses in the world not only on our doorstep, but also accessible to the ordinary club golfer who is prepared to pay for the privilege. However, like most good things in life, the best come at a cost. Be it a special holiday, a bottle of fine wine or a meal at a great restaurant, the higher the quality of the product or service, the higher the cost. And the reality is that just as most of us can't afford to go on expensive holidays, drink fine wine or visit a top restaurant every week, most of us can only afford to play at a Top 100 course once or twice a year.

What, then, to do for all the times during the year when you fancy a round of golf away from your home track, but don't have the resources to splash out on a premier course? Take a bow, the ‘hidden gem'. The hidden gem tag is bestowed on a great many courses (often incorrectly in my opinion), but for the purposes of compiling our list of 100 of the finest of this genre, we have excluded any course featured in our current Top 100 (and ‘Next 100') rankings, published in the December 2010 issue.

We look in greater depth at what constitutes a hidden gem but broadly speaking they are defined by their ability to provide a great golfing experience at a very affordable price. And the good news for us is that the British Isles boasts scores of such gems, many, no doubt, just a modest drive from your home. Having got ourselves a definition, we needed to find someone to whittle down over 200 contenders to the final 100.

Enter Golf Monthly's resident golf course aficionados, Jeremy Ellwood and Rob Smith, who have played 535 and 695 different courses respectively. While both have played almost every course in our Top 100, the majority of tracks they have teed it up at would better fit the ‘hidden gem' mould. Hidden gem courses are also the type that our top British and Irish tour pros grew up playing on.

In recognition of this, we have peppered our reviews with the thoughts of six top European Tour players - all of whom are ambassadors for FootJoy, who have supported the hidden gems feature. Among the six are none other than the current world number one, two and three golfers. Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy all learned their trade on their local courses, and they provide a fascinating insight into the hidden gems that helped make them the golfers they are today.

We believe that this combination of expertise and insight will result in the most useful guide to the ‘real' courses of the British Isles ever produced by a golf magazine. But, very much like our Top 100, we don't profess our list to be definitive. Course lists and rankings must possess a degree of subjectivity, so we'd welcome your thoughts on the courses we have included, and also any favourites of yours that we may have missed.

Welcome to your November issue of Golf Monthly magazine. Even though it was 24 years ago, I can still remember the first round of golf I played on a proper golf course as if it was last week. Fed up of watching us break every health and safety law going by playing golf around the school grounds, one of our resident golfing teachers decided a trip to a real course would be just the ticket to nurture the interest of three aspiring young golfers, while at the same time avoiding damage to either school property or fellow pupils.

The venue for my debut was Broome Manor, an excellent municipal course on the outskirts of Swindon that boasts none other than Golf Monthly's playing editor David Howell as its most famous protégé. But back to my round... My first shot was one that lives long in the memory. A stone cold top with a Wilson Staff 5-iron. If I close my eyes, I can still feel the sensation in my hands and can picture the ball trundling 30 or 40 yards down the fairway.

Thankfully my second shot was significantly better, and I advanced the ball 150 yards further. I walked off the 1st green very proud of the eight I'd just made. The rest of the round was typical, I'm sure, of the first rounds I expect many Golf Monthly readers had, with the odd double-digit score mixed in with plenty of bogeys, doubles and triples peppering the scorecard. My final tally was 117 shots. But in amongst those 100-plus blows were the three I took at the short par-4 10th, where the trusty 5-iron, followed by a 7-iron (these are still two of my favourite clubs in the bag), saw my ball come to settle some 12ft from the flag. Somewhat unbelievably my putt dropped and I'd made my first ever birdie. It's difficult to explain quite how excited I was, save to say I really did think I'd got the game cracked after two and a bit hours on a proper course.

No matter what your handicap, carding a birdie is a special feeling and puts a real bounce in your step as you stride off to the next tee. For the beginner it's highly motivating, showing you what you're capable of. For the skilled golfer, it's the currency you want to be dealing in. A solid round can become a really good one with the addition of a few birdies.

For advice on how to make more birdies, who better to turn to than world number one Luke Donald. As I write, Luke currently leads the scoring averages on both the European and PGA Tours. This incredible feat is due in part to his fantastic scrambling, where he manages to get up and down for par when he misses the putting surface. But this year, the key to the low scores is his ability to make more birdies, and while putting well is obviously important if you're to make birdies, the most fundamental skill required is the ability to hit the ball as close to the flag as possible. On page 73 of the Golf Monthly November issue, Luke gives you a personal lesson on how to attack with confidence and maximise your chances of making a birdie.

For those of you who, like at GM, enjoy a small wager on their golf you'll doubtlessly equate making a birdie to chalking up a 'bit'. To say that on GM office outings the number of 'bits' you've made determines how good a day you've had on the course is only a slight exaggeration, but I know that even a couple of the team who profess not to read the instruction pages in the magazine will be reading this feature with great interest because it might just make them a few quid next time they tee it up.

Whatever your motivation to make more birdies, I hope Luke's advice does the trick.

What else is in the November issue?