This Week In Golf: May 22 - 28

Catch up with all the latest news from around the world in golf

This Week In Golf: May 22 - 28

Harrington wins Spirit of Golf award

Padraig Harrington has received the Golf Foundation’s ‘Spirit of Golf’ Award at Wentworth in recognition of his “outstanding contribution” to the sport and for inspiring so many young players over the years. 

Padraig now joins an illustrious cast of previous recipients of the award, which includes Gary Player, Tony Jacklin, Lee Westwood, Tom Watson, Darren Clarke, Justin Rose and Laura Davies.

David Howell becomes The Grove ambassador

The Grove welcomes multiple European Tour winner and former Ryder Cup player, David Howell, as its first golf ambassador.

Related: The Grove course review

Howell, a five-time winner on the European Tour, BMW PGA Champion in 2006 and an important member of two winning European Ryder Cup teams, will work closely with The Grove as it continues to build on its reputation as one of the UK’s finest, open-to-all resorts.

David Howell said: “I’ve been a long-time fan of The Grove, both as a visitor staying in the hotel and as a golfer playing the championship golf course, which is famed for its all-year-round playing condition. There are very few five-star pay and play golf venues in the UK that create a premium experience that is delivered in a relaxed, friendly way, but The Grove has been at the top of its game, delivering this day-in, day-out."

And the putter went...Ping

Ping’s new book, And The Putter Went…PING, takes an inspiring and comprehensive look inside the family-owned company that revolutionised the way golf equipment was designed and manufactured. 

Related: We meet Ping's founding father and son

The book chronicles Ping’s heritage and its on-going efforts to advance golf technology for the benefit of golfers of all skill levels. It takes readers behind the scenes of a genuine American success story that began in the family garage of Karsten Solheim, a Norwegian immigrant and mechanical engineer who invented the PING putter in 1959.

 Limited to 100 copies across the United Kingdom, And The Putter Went…PING will be available through authorised PING retailers for £100 or leather bound at £300.

Las Colinas in the running to be Spain's best golf course for third year in a row

For the third year running, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has been nominated by the World Golf Awards in ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’ category.

Having won the title in 2015 & 2016, the resort just south of Alicante is going for a hat-trick of victories at the ceremony, being held this year in Spain between 23^rd and 26^th of November. This year’s awards will again be determined by a public vote with Las Colinas facing strong competition from 22 other Spanish nominees for the top accolade.

Adare Manor to undergo extensive revamp

Adare Manor in South-West Ireland, set within a 842-acre picturesque estate, is currently undergoing an expansive, no-expense-spared refurbishment. 

Currently celebrated as one of the top parkland golfing experiences in Ireland, the existing course will be entirely restructured upon its debut.

Related: 10 best courses in Ireland

NEW FEATURES INCLUDE:

• An extensively renovated 72-par / 18-hole course
• State-of-the-art and cutting-edge SubAir technology
• A new arrival experience
• Driving range
• Caddy programme
• Clubhouse

Harrington re-creates his famous 5 wood shot at Birkdale

Padraig Harrington returned to Royal Birkdale on Monday ahead of the 146th Open Championship which returns to the Southport links in July.

The Irishman re-enacted his defining shot on the 572-yard par-5 17^th hole that clinched his second Open title in 2008 by hitting the new Wilson Staff D300 5-wood club from the same spot on the fairway.

His tap in eagle nine years ago followed birdies on the 13^th and 15^th to post a flawless back-nine of 32 and end the challenges of Greg Norman and Ian Poulter to retain the Claret Jug.