Good news club swingers good news. Golf guru Joe Hagan, the man who cured the Webitors incurable slice, has released his book. “Nail It with 3skills golf” is an impressive tome that is sure to benefit golfers of any ability.



At first we were a little annoyed that the secrets that had been divulged to us are going to be on the open market. We aren’t just being selfish but if everyone reads this book they’ll get better at golf, which means by comparison we appear worse at golf. Actually, that is a bit selfish.



We implore you to pick up a copy, available from Hersham Village Golf Club (01932 267666) or www.3skillsgolf.com.

You can also find out more by joining the 3skills group on facebook or check out My Swing Hell in GOLFPUNK31 out now.

Get involved.

8/29/2007 12:47:46 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Blog Master General James has been banging on about a couple of dustbin lids who are well good at golf. We reckon he's jealous and a little in awe. But mostly jealous.



Both balls flew true in the air, landed on the green and released like laser guided missiles towards the hole. It can’t happen, it won’t happen and yet it did happen.

Ulverston Golf Club juniors are in what some would call (including me) a bit of a purple patch. Still searching for my first hole-in-one this story does stick in the throat but after three in three weeks these juniors just can’t miss. However incredible that feat is, it is nothing compared to the fact that two of them were one after the other, in the same group, on the same day. And it doesn’t stop there.

Luke Allonby, 17, and James Taylor, 16, didn’t just get their aces on a poxy, wedge hole but a 188 yard monster that would challenge any golfer.

I just can’t help but feel a little sorry for them because they had to celebrate with a nice glass of coke. I’m sure they made up for it with that bottle of White Lightening down the park after though, or maybe even returned to the scene of their triumph under the cover of darkness. Either way guys keep going like that and this won’t be the only time your name is in lights.

"TWO Ulverston golfing partners landed consecutive aces on the same par three on the same day — but could only celebrate with a round of Coke.

Teenagers Luke Allonby and James Taylor were paired during the same competition at Ulverston Golf Club when the unthinkable happened.

The odds on playing partners managing successive holes in one are estimated at a staggering 17 million to one.

The two were playing in the junior medal competition, the Wilkinson Trophy.

Luke, 17, teed off first at the 14th hole, described as a difficult 188-yard par three.

His ball flew straight and true through the air, landed, rolled along the green and into the hole.

Then the unthinkable happened. Playing partner, James, 16, repeated the feat.

And there were plenty of witnesses."

For more on this story click here...

8/22/2007 10:47:45 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

On the eve of the USPGA talk has again returned to the World No.1. The New Zealand Herald’s website has a piece about how TW is majorless so far this season and must take advantage of his last chance in 2007 in the pursuit of his Herculean goals.

The last time somebody questioned Tiger he went and blew all away before him. Personally, I suspect history to repeat.

”A year without a Tiger major is a bit like a year with a European major winner - not a one-off, but a definite rarity.

That's the intriguing possibility when the golfing caravan pitches up at its last stop of real significance this season, the USPGA Championship at Southern Hills.

Defeat in the state of Oklahoma this week would mean that for only the fourth time in his 11 complete seasons as a professional, Woods will have drawn a blank. Turn out the lights? End this farce? Tiger is finished?



Well, not quite, but still a pretty unpalatable prospect for this competitor of the most voracious of appetites…

For more on this story click here…

8/8/2007 3:51:45 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

With the USPGA starting this week Mechelle Voepel has been seeing what the three rookie major winners of 2007 have been upto.

”Winning a major championship is every golfer’s dream. Some will tell you, though, there is a hidden cost. Specifically, greater demands on your time.

But you’re not going to hear any complaints from this year’s three first-time major winners. Zach Johnson (Masters), Angel Cabrera (U.S. Open) and Padraig Harrington (British Open) — who will be grouped together for the first two rounds — are very much enjoying the wave you get to ride after a major title….”


Will there be fresh finger prints on the Wannamaker Trophy?

For more on this story click here…

8/7/2007 3:49:51 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

An interesting yarn about a seven year old golfing prodigy. According to his mum Galven Kendall Green’s victory in the US Kids Golf World Championships is pre ordained. Not just because of the huge amounts of work he puts in or undeniable natural talent. Although they both contribute she puts part of his success down to the lucky numbers in his birth date. I mean if that’s all it took….

”His mother thinks that his auspicious birth date is one reason for Malaysian golf prodigy Galven Kendall Green's phenomenal victory in the US Kids Golf World Championships.

The seven-year-old, who was born on Aug 8, 1999 (8/8/99), beat 111 other players in his age group on Saturday, making the nation proud with his second international title.


Lucky (and talented) lad.

Last year, he became the first Malaysian to win the prestigious international junior world golf tournament (under-6 category) in San Diego, California.

Mum Vivienne Beh quipped that the “ong” (lucky) numbers of Galven’s birth date could very well have contributed to his success…”

For more on the amazing Galven Green (the golfer not the clothing make) click here…

8/6/2007 3:47:19 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Bob Gillespe has penned a piece on Carolina Golf about the joys (and pain) of being a golfer over 50. It’s an interesting read even for whipper snappers like myself. So a bit of respect please and listen to what the old fellow has got to say.

”I still remember the phone call from my mother shortly after my 50th birthday. "How are you feeling about (turning 50)?" she asked. Fine, I told her. "Oh, good," she replied. "Your father went totally to pieces when he hit 50." Thanks for sharing that, Mom. Seriously, the best thing about hitting the big 5-0, at least for golfers, is that whole "mulligan" business. In professional golf, you turn 50 and you start playing the Champions Tour, against a crew of guys who now call you "junior." Most of the money won on the Champions Tour usually comes in the first three-to-five years after 50; then, unless your name is Hale Irwin, the descent starts, and it's not pretty. And there's really not an equivalent bonus when you hit 60; you're just getting old, pal….”


An Older Golfer
For more on this story click here….

8/5/2007 3:44:49 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Now the dust has truly settled on the open, Jean Van De Velde has chucked his two euros in about the differences between this years event and his fateful tournament of 1999.

” I'm Jean Van de Velde, and I can't believe my eyes. The soggy final round of the 2007 Open Championship is on TV, and the cameras are showing Carnoustie's 18th hole from every angle. Or at least they say it's the 18th hole. Where's the boomerang board that smacks two-iron approaches backward across the Barry Burn? Where's the knee-high rough that swallows golf balls without even a hint of a burp? Where are the swarms of African tsetse flies and the blinding smoke from brush fires set by the R&A? When I famously blew my three-stroke lead on the 72nd hole of the 1999 Open, the 18th was so tough that you needed a team of Navy SEALs to get across the Burn. Paul Lawrie, who beat me and Justin Leonard in a four-hole playoff, celebrated by getting a tattoo: I BIRDIED THE LAST AT CARNOUSTIE. And it wasn't only the 18th hole. The fairways at the '99 Open were 12 yards across at their widest point, the greens were overseeded with ornamental cactus, and the par-3s had pot bunkers--between the tee markers! Only one guy equaled par in the first round, and that guy, Rod Pampling, shot 86 on Friday and missed the cut by three strokes. The headline writers dubbed it carnasty, and it was. When I jammed home my clutch putt for a triple-bogey 7 to gain the playoff, I joined Paul and Justin at six-over-par 290. It was the highest winning score in an Open since 1946, when Sam Snead won with the same number at St. Andrews…..”

For more on this story click here…

7/28/2007 3:06:17 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Raise a glass of Rioja and toast adios to one of the most exciting golfers of any generation. Severiano Ballesteros the swash buckling Spanish matador has decided to hang up his Ecco World Class Saddle GTX’s.



A few po faced golf fans feared Seve would grow old disgracefully following a difficult year after returning from injury. But we prefer to revel in the genius of one of the greatest shotmakers ever to swing a wrench. Everybody has got their favourite Seve moment be it his part in Europe’s breakthrough Ryder Cup victory in 1985, his major wins or the odd Cinderella story out of a car park. Furthermore, Severiano’s wayward brilliance was a big influence on GOLFPUNK editor Owen Blackhurst’s decsion to try golf in the first place, so the Spaniard has a lot to answer for. In fact Owen still rates Ballesteros as his favourite golfer of all time.



So we implore you all to search the net to find out as much about the man as you can and dig out your GOLFPUNK 27 to go over our Top 20 Seve Moments.



Doff your cap to the legend that is Seve Ballesteros and I am sure he will be Representing… For All The GOLF PUNK’s All Across The World in an issue near you soon.

To find out all things Seve click here…
To find out most things Seve click here…
To find out more about The Matador’s retirement click here…

7/16/2007 5:23:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Not for the first time in his all-conquering decade in professional golf, Tiger Woods followed in the footsteps of the great Jack Nicklaus yesterday.

But, it wasn't a spectacular bunker shot or a tournament-winning putt on this occasion, it was a championship presentation to K.J. Choi.

"Here's your trophy, big guy," said Woods, who watched as Choi kissed the silver-colored replica of the Capitol.

For the second time in five weeks, the biggest South Korean star of the PGA TOUR soaked up the cheers as the prized guest at a golf party thrown by one of golf's greats. Having accepted the crystal trophy from host Nicklaus at the Memorial in late May, Choi persevered in an adventurous back nine for a three-stroke victory Sunday at Woods' inaugural event, the AT&T National.

"This tournament is just too big for me to really absorb right now," Choi said. "But it's a very big win for me, and definitely the biggest win of my career."

But even Choi's victory -- with the accompanying $1.08 million first-place check that equaled the one he got at the Memorial -- couldn't overshadow Woods, who turned his first tournament into a red, white and blue spectacle of military tributes and Fourth of July patriotism. In return, the huge galleries all but worshipped Woods' every move, thanking him endlessly for bringing the TOUR back to the Washington area.

"It's been a perfect week," Woods said.

Perfect, with one obvious exception: He was never really in contention at his own event. His putter let him down Thursday (73) and Saturday (69), and his 66 on Friday wasn't enough to compensate. Seven strokes behind as Sunday dawned, Woods played a final round of even-par 70 that was more celebratory than competitive.

Still, the crowd of 37,211 didn't seem to mind.

"I didn't get a 'W,' so that was frustrating in that sense," said Woods, who finished tied for sixth at 2 under. "But this tournament in general has been a bigger success than anyone could have imagined."

Woods wore several hats during the week, juggling daily organizational meetings in between rounds while also dealing with the joys of becoming a father, but no one had any qualms when he proclaimed the event a success. Servicemen from all branches of the military served as announcers at the first tee and 18th green. A huge American flag welcomed the leaders Sunday as they headed down the 18th.

Choi added to the international flair, attracting a substantial gallery of Korean-Americans that cheered him in his native language. One fan held a sign with a Korean flag with the words "Go Tank," a reference to his nickname. He's also known for learning golf from an instructional book in Korean that featured pictures of Nicklaus, a present from a physical education teacher who thought the teenage Choi might have a gift for the game.


KJ Choi and bag man (bag man right).

There's now no question that Choi, 37, has that gift. He shot a final-round 68 for a 9-under 271 total to win for the sixth time on the PGA TOUR, the most victories by an Asian-born player.

For more on this story click here…

7/9/2007 4:05:39 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

So there you have it Welsh wizard Becky Brewerton carded a seven-under-par 209 to win the GOLFPUNK Ladies English Open by three shots, trousering 24,750 Euros in the proesses. This was Becky’s first victory on the Ladies European Tour after knocking on the door with 16 top ten finishes including four runner up spots in the last four years.


Next stop Sweden

A clearly emotional Becky said, “It means so much to me. I’ve been trying for so long. To finally do it is just unbelievable, unbelievable”, “I can’t believe it. I’m just in shock.”

So congratulations again Becky and here’s hoping this victory will boost you into the Solhiem Cup team. Roll on Sweden.

For a full round up of the leader board click here…
For more on the GOLFPUNK Ladies English Open click here….

7/8/2007 3:58:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

There is an old sporting adage that goes, “If your good enough, your old enough." It’s usually applied to youth taking their chosen field by storm. Well every now and then there is a story that reminds all these protégés that they did not invent being good, sporting excellence has been around longer than 1985. In response to yesterdays blog about how ankle biters are taking over the golfing world. Here is a tale from Shaun McGuckian showing that the kids aren’t getting it all their own way.

Go on Shaun, drop some science (for our older readers that means please educate them).

"Press coverage of the ladies’ game is forever saturated by stories of talented youth: Kiran Matharu, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressell and more recently, and ridiculously, the 12-year-old Maguire sisters.

But for all the column inches devoted to these talented young trailblazers, none could recall many stories of success.

But one lady who certainly can is senior citizen Arlene McKitrick. A Florida native and now well over 70 years of age, she has a whopping 136 amateur tournament victories to her name.


At least I get to choose when I go to bed.

Despite only taking up golf at the age of 30, Arlene won her first tournament in three years, and in a career which is still going strong 40 years later, has amassed 90 club and event championships, and a spectacular 46 consecutive senior wins.

Bookmakers wouldn’t be crazy enough to give you odds on an Arlene McKitrick victory.

Even chronic diabetes hasn’t stopped Arlene’s journey towards amateur immortality.
So when next you read of ‘the next big thing’ in the ladies’ game, spare a thought for the ladies of the game who go unsung. And for now join us in singing the praises of the incredible Arlene McKitrick.

For up to date information on what’s going on at the GOLFPUNK Ladies English Open click here…
Take advantage of our cracking 2 for 1 ticket offer by clicking here…

7/7/2007 3:50:15 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Kids huh, they are a right lairy lot. We asked Joel the new fresh faced, kettle shy (apparently he has a caffeine allergy) workie to write us a blog because we wanted to go home early and nip off to the post office.

He came back with a critique of occasional golfing phenom Michelle Wie.

Personally I think he's got some good points but it's a bit harsh, but I'll let you make your own minds up. We'd love to read your comments.

Take it away Vikki Pollard...

"In professional sport, if a player is injured they don’t play. Managers, particularly in football, would rather play it safe and ensure their players’ fitness for consequent games than risk making the injury worse.

Why should golf, or specifically Michelle Wie, be any different? Wie injured her wrist in early February whilst jogging (If that’s possible) and despite the healing process being relatively fast, her performances have suggested that her comeback was premature.

Wie’s results since her injury have not reflected the $10m investment made by Nike and Sony. Yet she still pulls in the crowds. Her participation in men’s PGA tour events has been widely criticised as she has failed to make the cut in any of them. She has not yet won a LPGA tour event either. The view amongst the golfing world is that she should prove herself amongst the women before trying her luck against the men. And rightly so.

Five weeks ago, Wie withdrew from the Ginn Tribute with two holes to play. The LPGA Tour has a rule that a player shall lose their playing privileges for the year should they shoot 88 or higher. For Wie, the required task of finishing one-over par for her last two holes to keep her LPGA Tour membership this year was apparently all too daunting and prompted her withdrawal.

Wie isolated her injured wrist as the culprit. But it begs the question: Why was she playing in the first place?

This week, Wie was playing in the second round of the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles. Once again her injury forced her to retire on 17-over par at her 10th hole in the second round. Twelve year-old amateur Alexis Thompson was already in the clubhouse on 16 over; an impressive score for one so young.

A slightly cynical but plausible reason for her withdrawal was that Wie may not have wanted to finish below the 12-year old and withdrew to save embarrassment. But Wie maintains that it was her wrist that was the deciding factor.


'Shell's seen better days'

"I definitely have to re-evaluate," said Wie. "I don't want this to happen again. Sometimes you just have to take a step back to make a step forward.''

But Wie’s problem is that people expect so much more from her. Whether that is her own doing or that of her sponsors is another matter, She has been constantly in the spotlight of women’s golf since her arrival on the scene two years ago and now people are beginning to wonder whether it is justified."

7/3/2007 5:12:01 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Kids huh, when they are not spending your hard earned tax on “education" and “healthcare” they are winning golf tournaments previously reserved for adults.

Ryo Ishikawa, who shares his name with the villain from first person shoot ‘em up Shogo: Mobile Armour Division, won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup on Sunday. Ishikawa became the first teenager to win on the Japanese Men’s tour and the first amateur winner since Masahiro Kurmoto took the Chugoku-Shikoku Open title 27 years ago.

More impressively he beat the previous record held by a young Spaniard by the name of Severiano Ballesteros who won the Japan Open in 1977, fifteen years before Ishikawa was born.


Ryo Ishikawa, annoyingly good at golf.

Here’s hoping this talented dustbin lid goes on to emulate Seve’s carreer. Or at the very least keep his room tidy. Tut, Kids.

To find out more Ryo Ishikawa’s prodigious talents click here or here….

5/21/2007 3:34:32 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

After hearing the latest office whinge about, “I would be a brilliant at golf if I was consistent from 140 yards”. We have decided to ban moaning in the office.

With this in mind we think you should find out a bit more about the life of Todd Demsey. A man with the world at the end of his niblick before more pressing ‘real life’ issues took precedence.

A promising career has been side tracked by debilitating back pain and a brain tumor. Despite these set backs he is battling his way back with the sort of attitude that should make people who throw their putter into ponds because of a three jab hold their heads in shame.


Hard as Nails

On his golfing rehabilitation he says:
"It puts things in perspective," Demsey said. "I used to live and die on every shot. It's still my job. It's what I love to do. It's not quite as important to me as it was before all this. But I feel real lucky to be able to play golf for a living, especially after back problems and a brain tumor. I have nothing to complain about."

If he has nothing to complain about we at GP Towers certainly don’t.

For more on this story click here
....or here.

5/16/2007 10:47:04 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

I first heard about this story about a week ago, however it only became really interesting yesterday when my playing partner got stung on the mouth after a bee made it’s way into his can of pop. Apart from being incredibly funny it ignited debate on the usefulness of insects and what can we realistically sacrifice in the pursuit of golf.



What do you think?

“An initiative to help to save some of the UK's rare bumblebee species has been launched by Syngenta. A number of farmland bumblebees are perilously close to extinction due to loss of habitat. However, by developing sections of a field into a clover-rich legume area, known as a field margin, farmers can very rapidly increase populations of even rare species by providing bees with vital food sources. Such legume margins have been proven to restore habitats for endangered bumblebee species while also contributing valuable points towards Entry Level Qualification allowing farmers to qualify for agri-environment scheme points. Seed mixtures developed specifically for Operation Bumble Bee are designed to provide maximum pollen and nectar for foraging bees and insects throughout the summer."
For more on this story click here…

4/16/2007 9:55:47 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Police are hunting a midnight golfer after he ruined a bowling green while practising. The late-night enthusiast carved out more than 200 divots when he climbed into the grounds under the cover of darkness last month. Despite increasing the number of patrols, police in New Milton, Hampshire have not been able to catch the suspect. "If anyone sees a youth or individual carrying a golf club walking along the street they should call us so we can challenge that person," a spokesman said.

1/16/2007 11:48:38 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said she has no knowledge of drug use among tour players.

This may seem like a sad state of affairs, but there have been some interesting tales of rife drug abuse in both amateur and professional games around the world. Someone has to start the trend and it will be interesting to see what the results of this program are and whether other tours will follow suit.

The LPGA Tour said Wednesday it will begin testing players for performance-enhancing drugs in 2008, a move that makes it the first major golf tour to announce a drug-testing program.

"While we have no evidence to date that any of our players are using performance-enhancing drugs, we need to have a very clear policy and a program in place," Bivens said. "We want to take a proactive role."

Players learned of the decision with the announcement.

Annika Sorenstam, the top-ranked women's player, said she had no problem with the decision, yet called it "sad that we have to have testing."

"Golf is not like other sports," said Sorenstam, who was tested in college. "I believe in this sport. I believe in the people out here. ... I don't think you're going to see anything out here, so it might be a waste of time. But if it's peace of mind for people and if we need to prove that the LPGA's clean, then let's do it."

11/16/2006 12:03:26 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Fresh from the Reuters website and the world of absurd ventures...

Seeking the perfect holiday gift for the golfer who has everything? Try flavored golf tees.

U.S. inventors John Packes and Ramon Peralta have come up a product line called Tasty Golf Tees in various flavors including mint, cherry, strawberry, and grape.

Mint is the strongest-tasting flavor in the range.

"It will knock out the foulest of cigar, beer breath within five seconds," Packes of Norwalk, Connecticut, told Reuters on Tuesday.

Packes said they came up with the idea while walking along the fairway one day and noticing that many golfers popped a tee in their mouth as they headed to the next hole or waited to tee up.

Tasty Golf Tees, which cost about 25 cents each, are made from uncoated wood, which is sanitized and flavored. They look and play like regular wooden golf tees.

"Some people just look at you funny," said Packes. "'Do you really put it in your mouth?' They give it a shot and say 'This is kinda cool.'"

11/15/2006 6:04:29 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0]