
Manic Monday
Aug 26th, 2019
It’s Manic Monday, so here is a very quick round up of all the results and stories from the weekend on the PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA and Women’s European Tour.
It’s Manic Monday, so here is a very quick round up of all the results and stories from the weekend on the PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA and Women’s European Tour.
We must say we like the look of the new Stewart Golf HottMitt. Who wouldn’t want toasty warm hands on the golf course? The mobile phone or device holder and charger does look like a bit of techfoolery (Is that a new word? - Ed) but each to their own. But might there be other uses?
This weekend the biggest winner’s cheque on Tour were nabbed by Jon Rahm on the European Tour and Kim Sei-young on the LPGA Tour. Check out how both closed out their respective events and raked in a rather obscene amount of cash.
Derek The Donkey, GolfPunk's grumpy horse-envier once again delivers his 'Joke of the Week'. As you know he likes nothing better than a proper good laugh as long as it's at someone else's expense...
GolfNow the biggest online tee time agency in the golf industry has grabbed an even bigger share of the market following the acquisition of EZLinks Golf by GolfNow owner, NBC Sports Group. Part of the EZLinks Golf portfolio is the online tee time booking platform TeeOff. So, what does this consolidation signal to the golf industry?
A golf club is counting the cost of a horrific attack on their greens by mindless vandals. Seven of the greens at Oldham Golf Club were hacked at with what appears to have been a golf club or clubs. The distressing pictures were posted by the club on their social media feeds.
Honma, that premium brand from Japan has just launched its first shop in Paris. However, it is no American Golf, or standard pro shop, and it would not look out of place on London’s Bond Street. In fact, we would not be surprised if we saw George Clooney walking out of it with a Nespresso in one hand and a Honma wedge in the other.
Derek The Donkey, GolfPunk's grumpy horse-envier once again delivers his 'Joke of the Week'. As you know he likes nothing better than a proper good laugh as long as it's at someone else's expense...
It's GolfPorn time! This time we're at the famous floating green at the 14th hole of the Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort, Idaho.
There has been much debate about parity for women golfers and there have been attempts to move in the right direction, for example the Jordan Mixed Open and the ISPS Handa World Invitational promoted by Niall Horran’s Modest media. With all respect to these other events, finally, there is a big one with some serious money attached.
We love a bit of luxury at GolfPunk, particularly if someone else is paying, but the idea that you could actually use clubs that cost the price of an average family car is not something which we could ever comprehend.
We love a good 14 club challenge at GolfPunk. We’re not very good at them but watching the pro’s go at it is always a scream, especially when they manage to hit the green with a putter or equally unsuitable club!
10th hole West Cliffs Golf Links, 372 yards, Par 4.
Poor old Bio Kim. The Korean who is leading the money list on the Korean tour, has been handed a three-year suspension for raising his middle finger at members of the crowd at the weekend. This seems a rather harsh punishment and will cost the young man a lot of dosh.
The 6:57 to East Grinstead trundles out of Clapham Junction. I’m on board with my Café Nero’s black americano in hand (other coffee brands were available) and a copy of City AM on the table in front of me. Today’s mission, to seek out a gem of a course that I have known about for years but never played. The course in question is Tandridge Golf Club and I have heard good reports about the course and, in particular, the famous lunch – more of that later!
Businessman Jeremy Ord from South Africa's had an outrageous slice of luck when playing the short 13th hole at Kingsbarns Golf Links. Ord was playing alongside professional Branden Grace in the team event in Scotland when he came close to a hole-in-one following a number of lucky breaks.
The Sanderson Farms Championship from the Country Club of Jackson delivered another first-time winner when Sebastian Munoz saw off 2019 Rookie of the Year, Sungjae Im, on the first hole of a playoff. It was the Columbian’s first tour victory and follows the win by Joaquin Niemann of Chile at last week’s win at the A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier.
Following the debuting of the Titleist 2020 branding at the FedEx Cup playoffs the rather sleek looking bags are being launched on the European Tour at this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. We still want one!
Following close on behind the launch of their Go Faster Turbo Woods Cleveland have unveiled the Launcher HB Turbo Irons. Built for more speed and more precision and targeted specifically at improvement players the irons deliver maximum forgiveness and an easy-to-hit to profile.
Cleveland have been on a bit of a role when it comes to launching wrenches recently. Their CBX 2 wedges kicked it off, followed by their amazing Frontline Putters and the Huntington Beach range. Now, two years on from their return to the woods and irons market they are releasing the Launcher HB Turbo woods which they say are “sleeker, faster, and more forgiving” which is exactly what you want!
Gleneagles 13th hole The Queen's Course. A par 3, 140 yard piece of GolfPorn!
With stunning views of the China Sea along with the city skyline Sentosa Golf Club is home of the Singapore Open and more recently has been the venue for the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
Cleveland wedges are definitely always in the mix when you think about premium tour products and we loved their recent CBX 2 launch aimed at the slightly more regular golfers amongst us. What they aren’t as well known for are their top of the line putters and perhaps, with the new Frontline range, that is about to change?
What happens when you pair one of the world’s biggest pop stars with the world’s number two golfer at a Pro-Am event? Well it’s no joke but what you actually get is a lesson in bunker play in the middle of the round, oh and a very near miss!
We often read about how a club has been designed for the tour players and is now being released to us mere mortals and, to be honest, it sells a great idea that by adding said stick to our bag will result in us playing like Brooks, Tiger or Rory. Sadly, in real life this is rarely the case so the idea that Cleveland have launched their CBX2 wedges with the majority of golfers in mind is a refreshing change of pace.
Local favourite Stephanie Meadow will take a four shot lead into the final round of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational. The 27-year-old from Jordanstown, Northern Ireland shot a six under par 67 to sit on ten under for the event, four clear of England’s Eleanor Givens. In the men’s event, Damien Perrier of France and Todd Clement of England lead the field by a single shot following another long day with rain delays at Galgorm Castle.
Reports indicate our erstwhile Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Boris Johnson MP, has been learning to develop his golf game as part of a strategy to help him secure a trade deal with the US and presumably other nations headed by golf addicted leaders.
Scotland’s Craig Ross and England’s Eleanor Givens are the first round leaders lead in the The ISPS HANDA World Invitational, both carding an impressive 6 under par. Ross shot an impressive birdie free round of 64 Massereene Golf Club while Givens had seven birdies and one solitary bogey in carding a 67 at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
It has rather flown under the radar but yesterday the ISPS HANDA World Invitational event for both men and women teed of at Galgorm Castle Golf Club and Massereene Golf Club. A first for golf in Europe as women will play alongside (sort of) the men and will play for the same money.
In 2018, Prince’s unveiled the newly-redeveloped Himalayas nine having undertaken a significant redesign by renowned international golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert. A year on, the results are looking pretty impressive.
Ok we are not going to let this one drop. Slow play is killing our game and the lead must come from the professional ranks. In the second round of the Northern Trust, Bryson DeChambeau took it to another level.
The European tour has been pretty creative with its content of late, who can forget the ‘Content Committee’ or Eddie Pepperell’s prank on Matt Wallace. By far our favourite though are the ongoing 14 Club Challenges.
As majors go, the AIG Women’s British Open was a classic. Hinako Shibuno, the 20 year old Japanese rookie, who had never set foot in a tournament outside of her home country holed, in some style we might add, a 20ft putt on the 18th to secure the title. Just moments before Lizette Salas had missed a much shorter chance in front of an amazing crowd.
How fast do you think you could play a par five hole? Well the world record stood at one minute and thirty three seconds when the European Tour decided to see if any of their boys could beat it. American Sean Crocker, Belgian Thomas Detry, Ireland’s Paul Dunne and Italian Guido Migliozzi to take on the record for the ‘Fastest hole of hole of golf by an individual’.
One of golf´s great masterpieces, severe, fascinating, beautiful and without weakness...... Continuing the theme of everything Ireland, GolfPunk looks back to one of its favourite courses south of the border, Waterville Golf Club - You Little Beauty!
Old Head of Kinsale Golf Links, Co. Cork, Ireland 12th hole (Courcean Stage) Par 5 564 yards
There is no other way to say this but last week was a killer. The workouts alongside a heavy workload and a couple of work functions were tough (its important at this point in case our other halves are reading to emphasis these soirees were work related and we really didn’t enjoy them!). However, we made it through to the other side and are looking forward to next week!
Well it’s been a pretty exciting week for golf on the island of Ireland. First, Shane Lowry’s spectacular win at the 148th Open in Northern Ireland and then the magnificent Adare Manor in County Limerick has been announced as host of The Ryder Cup 2026. Not too shabby!
A front nine of such resplendent grace, your heart could stop and you would not notice... In the week the Open comes to Royal Portrush GolfPunk recalls its splendid neighbour Portstewart Golf Club - You Little Beauty
For the first time it feels like we are getting really serious about this whole programme as we start to see real gains physically and we appear to be getting fitter, faster at the exercises and stronger overall. Plus, this week’s WOD was both a killer and also immensely satisfying to boot, which are words we never thought we would say!
The Open is less than a week away and so what better than a fine bit of Golf Porn from the fantastic links at Royal Portrush. 15th Hole, Par 4, 426 yards
Derek The Donkey, GolfPunk's grumpy horse-envier once again delivers his 'Joke of the Week'. As you know he likes nothing better than a proper good laugh as long as it's at someone else's expense...
Robert Rock of England came close to being only the second man to shoot 59 on the European Tour. After a string of five consecutive birdies, Rock had an eagle chance at the 18th hole at Lahinch to achieve the historic landmark. His long putt from the edge of the green went agonisingly close but missed on the left, leaving Rock to tap in for his sixth consecutive birdie, a back nine of 29 and a third round 60.
Let’s start with an admission. We know that our Fitness Friday article is going out on a Monday and we kind of dropped the (medecine) ball but we have a good excuse honest. So, we’re a smidge late but following the maxim, better late than never, here you go!
Normally a round of mini golf is a rather relaxing and sedentary activity. You saunter around putting that ball through a few windmills or similar unusual obstacles often with a beer in your hand and not a care in the world as you watch family members miss that putt for the umpteenth time. In fact its supposed to be so safe that it’s become a drinking based activity with places like Junk Yard Golf or Swingers popping up everwhere!
So Muirfield or to give its proper title, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, has formally invited women to join the club as members for the first time since voting to change the club’s rules in 2017.
Now we at GolfPunk are not averse to admiring the fairer sex both on and off the golf course but even our eyebrows were raised when we were given the heads up about an event called ‘The Sink the Pink – Big Boy And Bigger Golf Day!
Derek The Donkey, GolfPunk's grumpy horse-envier delivers his 'Joke of the Week'. He likes nothing better than a proper good laugh as long as it's at someone else's expense...
The weather has been rubbish so far this year (on both sides of the pond it seems) and it’s got the team dreaming of sunnier climbs. The Maldives is always a luxurious option (especially if you're feeling flush), but there was never a need to take the wrenches….UNTIL NOW!
Congratulations to Gary Woodland who stood firm under the pressure of a charging Brooks Koepka, the world number one and winner of four of the last eight majors he had played in. Others launched a challenge, most notably England’s Justin Rose, but all faded away as Woodland stuck to his task.
It’s often said that for brilliant break through musical artists that the second album is the difficult one. So too has been the second week of our six-week GOLF.WOD designed plan fitness plan as the initial giddy optimism of the first week gives way to the brutal reality living a more virtuous existence and the need for hard work and sacrifice.
Derek The Donkey, GolfPunk's grumpy horse-envier delivers his 'Joke of the Week'. He likes nothing better than a proper good laugh as long as it's at someone else's expense...
The maxim that you can’t teach old dogs’ new tricks has firmly been dispatched this week as the “Lab Rats” as we have affectionately been called have truly turned over a new leaf, at least for the next 6/7 weeks are concerned.
I think it safe to say that the GolfPunk team are not exactly regulars at their local gym. When it comes to preparing for a round of golf its usually a bacon sarnie, washed down with a few cups of coffee, a couple of swishes with an 8 iron behind the first tee and away we go.
It’s an early rise for us on day two and a slightly thick head, that Schnapps for the road wasn't a great idea after all! After an excellent breakfast at the hotel we are off to experience two more courses. It will be an entirely different experience from the first day as the courses are located in undulating valley landscapes.
“Fancy playing in Bavaria?” came the call. Visions of steins of beers and shouts of prost from froth moustachioed faces sprung to the mind as I nodded furiously. Ok grab your clubs you’re off to The Quellness Resort.
Welcome back to part two of our Friday Fitness feature as the GolfPunk team get back to working on improving their waistline and their game! This time we are going for the current GP Team's favourite exercise and one that has ramped up the competitive tension at GolfPunk Towers.
Last night at our team get together we were discussing all things golf and one of the team asked what our Top 5 golf related movies were sparking heated debate until the boss put his foot down and decided what they were and also the order (which was perhaps even more hotly contested as you will see!).
Its only two weeks until The British Golf Show which is the only free event for golfers this summer. Taking place at Wycombe Air Park, High Wycombe over the 17th and 18th of May, the event boasts over 150 exhibitors and plenty of fun both inddors and outdoors.
Welcome to GolfPunk’s latest regular feature - Fitness Friday - where we detail the exercises the team are doing in an effort to get both golf fit and ready for the looming summer golf tour where, god forbid, shorts maybe the order of the day!
The resident GolfPunk Tipster, Nick Fleming, picked 2nd place Julian Suri at last week’s event in Morocco. We are hoping he will go one better this week with his selections for the Wells Fargo Championship from Quail Hollow, Charlotte, North Carolina and the China Open. Both events will be on Sky and look to provide some good entertainment.
So, the Pro pairings at the Zurich Classic have had to select walk up music for their entrance on the first tee should they make the cut for the final two rounds. GolfPunk has not been that enamoured with the choices and so have come up with their own Top 5.
It was an early alarm for the final day of the Stena Line Media Masters 2019. As we stumbled down to another fine breakfast at the Druids Glen Hotel thoughts turned to the eight singles matches which were to take place at Powerscourt Golf Club. I had heard great reports of the courses at Powerscourt and so was looking forward to another great test of golf. I was not to be disappointed.
Having found a new and relaxing way to reach the Emerald Isle, by ferry across the Irish Sea, Team GB headed out of Dublin on their way to their base for the Stena Line Media Masters. The 5 star Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort is set in 360 acres of countryside between the Wicklow Mountains and the Irish Sea and is only some thirty minutes from Dublin.
Etiquette - “The customary code of polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession or group.” There were certain sporting maxims when we grew up. Football is a gentleman's game played by thugs, and rugby is a thug’s game played by gentlemen. Cricket and golf were games for protaganists who played with a significant side order of honour.
The call came through: “Can you play in the Masters?” Thoughts like ‘is the Pope Catholic?’ came to mind as they followed up with the “Media Masters – Stella is inviting you.” Panic sets in as I wonder if I know a Stella and what the wife might say. “No, the Stena Line Media Masters” and so began the adventure.
I’m probably going to get shot down in flames for this one, but I am going to put it out there, Mr Woods is a lucky golfer. It may be golfing blasphemy akin to suggesting the Beatles, excluding their early stuff, were not that good or suggesting that David Beckham was actually not all that brilliant.
As the freshly blooming azaleas of Augusta National Golf Club mark the arrival of the northern spring, the golfing world’s attention turns towards Georgia, USA, for the first men’s Major of the year – the Masters Tournament, which has been supported by Rolex since 1999.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has announced it will be offering free golf bag luggage on its flights to Abu Dhabi with immediate effect.
SRIXON® has unveiled its new state-of-the-art Tour Truck. The truck will be attending various demo days across the UK before making its Tour debut in May at the British Masters.
Seven lucky golfers are heading to this week’s Masters to battle it out for a million dollars – all hoping they can land another ace to change their life.
Over to GP's ace golf betting tipster, The Golf Spiv, (AKA Nick Fleming):
No matter what game you play, gambling is always fun, especially when played with friends. Imagine mixing the game of golf and gambling over it.
Olympic record-holder (shooting an incredible 61 in Brazil 2016) Maria Verchenova brings us the latest in her award-winning series of fitness videos for GolfPunk. It's time to stop being a plank and get your core, arms and everything maximised to the extreme!
Great to deliver a winner again for GolfPunk readers; nervy stuff but Paul Casey held on to win at 26/1 at last week’s Valspar Championship!!
Guests can combine world-class golf with an array of luxury lifestyle facilities when booking a golfing break at Portugal’s Quinta do Lago resort this spring – with three-night, two-round hotel packages available from €338 per person including buggies.
Chang Hsin-chiao is relishing the prospect of facing off with Chinese Taipei compatriot Chen Ting-yu and Indian Keshav Mishra in what promises to be an intriguing final-day showdown at the 13th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.
The 25th anniversary edition of the RMB 20 million Volvo China Open will once again be tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association and the European and Asian Tours when the tournament is staged at The Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen from May 2-5.v
GOLFBUDDY is introducing the latest generation of golf GPS devices this spring, as it launches the aim W10 GPS watch and the Voice 2 GPS.
The first four Professional Golfers’ Association, We Love Golf events for 2019, have been hailed as a huge success after 135 women and girls braved the wind and rain to take part in four golf taster events held across the Great Britain & Ireland.
We've all had a bad haircut or three over the years, but the pictorial evidence is probably buried deep down in some box of memories only to be opened when suitably drunk. The PGA Tour pros don't have it so lucky...
Great to see Rory McIlroy winning the Players Championship last week. Our selection Tommy Fleetwood led well into the final round but faded to finish 5th. Two televised events this week but the EuropeanTour event low key so we concentrate on the Valspar Championship on PGA tour.
The luxurious and picturesque Argentario Golf Resort & Spa (www.argentarioresort.com) has joined The PGA’s growing list of exceptional branded resorts as the ‘PGA National Italy’.
If you want t really REALLY good laugh, take a look at this brilliant compilaiton of golf fails from the 'cart jumping maniac' to the lake dancing bafoon!
Titleist is continuing its support of dedicated golfers across the UK & Ireland by rolling-out its Loyalty Rewarded promotion once again in 2019.
Whether you are cashing in $2 skins for Nassau team junk, two down presses or any other expensive or complicated golf game, playing golf is always a bit more interesting when there’s cash involved.
Let this be a warning to you – never tamper with your golf equipment during a competitive round. Harold Varner III did exactly that and unwittingly got a two-shot penalty during the opening round of The Players after making an equipment change that was influenced in part by the actions of a walking official.
Introducing Belinda Whent, PGA professional and England amateur international. Belinda joins our GolfJunk Editor Daniel Owen in the golf-geekery department and will be bringing us her take on the latest equipment every issue.
It's back. They say that golf's '5th major' is the hardest tournament to win. It has the best field of the entire year and it all kicks off today at Sawgrass. Here we have all the best tips to turn your pennies into pounds...
Women’s Golf Day will return for its fourth year on June 4th 2019 in what promises to be the largest single-day celebration of Women’s golf that the world has ever seen.
Online ticketing is now open for this year’s British Golf Show, which takes place May 17th-18th at Wycombe Air Park.
We all long to hear success stories of people in various fields. There are top professional golfers who have soared so high and The Golf Punk team sought to learn how they made it to the levels they are at today, and below are the betting stories of the best golf gamblers.
The great players won everything right? Well, not the USPGA they didn't. The USPGA proved elusive for many serial major winners. Here's the Top 7 players never to win the PGA.
British golf trolley manufacturer Stewart Golf has delivered a fleet of 60 of its flagship X9 Follow machines to Taiwan’s most prestigious golf club.
Leading golf club rental agency Clubs to Hire is now offering Titleist products for the first time.
The Argentario Golf Resort & Spa (www.argentarioresort.com), one of the most highly-regarded golf destinations in Tuscany, Italy, has opened a stylish new Club House in time for the 2019 golf season.
Following a series of high-profile events and after hosting some of the best players in the world from the PGA, European and Ladies Tours, Abu Dhabi is now looking forward to welcoming golfers from around the world for one of the best seasons yet in the Middle East region.
Unlimited golf in an idyllic setting is the mouth-watering prospect that awaits golfers taking up Verdura Resort’s invitation to book a stay-and-play break at the exclusive Sicilian venue this spring.
Today Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) announced that Francesco Molinari, the reigning Open Champion and 2018 Race to Dubai winner, has joined its Tour Professional Staff.