The article below was written by Jack Backhouse of National Club Golfer.

Golf is primarily a hand, wrist and arm sport, so we should always begin our path to improvement by ensuring that these things are at least giving us a chance of hitting good shots rather than causing poor ones. In the video below, PGA Pro Jack Backhouse explains exactly what amateur golfers do wrong and how to correct it.

3 wrist movements

It is important first to know the three different ways in which the wrists can move in the golf swing, to then learn if you do too much or too little of any of them.

Ulnar/radial deviation. This is the classic wrist cock straight up and down movement where the club works straight up and down.

Flexion and extension. This is the cupping/bowing movement of the wrists which would move the club head side to side.

Rotation. This is literally the twisting of the grip that just rotates the golf club open and closed.

All golf swings have some amount of all three of these movements, but what is important is having the right amount for your intentions in the swing.

Common faults

The biggest fault I see on the range teaching amateur golfers full time on the driving range is too much wrist cock, which leads to a cupped wrist. This means that the wrists don’t flex or extend enough in the golf swing, which always results in an open clubface at impact.

We know that the most common ball flight issue in amateur golfers is a dreaded slice, then we know we need to close the club face earlier in order to correct it.

If we know this is the case, we should be trying to use our wrist to have a stronger face in the backswing, to produce a more closed face at impact, to fix a slice.

You could do this by having a stronger grip, but if you already have a strong grip it might not be suitable to do so. Most golfers on tour have a flat to bowed (flexed) left hand throughout the swing.

Trail wrist extension

We should all be trying to achieve some amount of trail wrist extension in the backswing. Most tour players achieve 30-40 degrees of extension in the swing, where most amateurs only get to 10-15 degrees.

This not only gives us more speed potential as you have to release these angles prior to impact, it also gets the club head more behind the hands throughout the swing, which improves our club path and helps us hit a straight shot.

To achieve more wrist extension throughout the swing, you need to hinge the club up 45 degrees to the ball to target line in your takeaway. This puts you in a great position to maintain the wrist angles throughout the rest of the swing.

Wrist rotation

This should be used as a directional tool. More rotation helps hit the ball more left and less helps you hit the ball more right.

Most golfers have a lot of wrist rotation to make up for the lack of trail wrist extension, so it should be managed appropriately throughout the swing depending on the dispersion of your shots.

In this video I give a couple of drills that help you learn what correct wrist action is throughout the swing, so be sure to watch that to learn more in detail.

The article below was written by Matt Chivers of National Club Golfer.

Many golfers enjoy an alcoholic drink after a long 4-hour slog on the golf course, but is it necessary to neck several cans while playing? National Club Golfer’s (NCG) team offer their two-pence worth.

Golf is not only one of the great sports but one of the great social sports.

This accolade is significantly complemented by the concept of the clubhouse, a place for members and visitors to enjoy refreshments before and after they play.

More often than not, you’ll find a bar in the clubhouse that serves alcoholic beverages which go down very well after you’ve walked several kilometres, hacking your ball around long grass for 4 hours.

However, some players take the sport’s social qualities to the next level by taking beers and other drinks out on the course when they play. I’ve played with the odd partner or two carrying a hip flask.

Should this be allowed? Why would you take drinks out on the golf course and compromise your performance? Or is this a boring interpretation of something that’s all part of the fun? Is there any harm in having a sip of alcohol on the golf course and enjoying yourself?

NCG, a team with a huge bank of golf experiences and memories, has thought about it and written their views on the subject of drinking on the golf course.

Drinking on golf course debate: Is it necessary? Is it just a bit of fun?

Matt Chivers

I’ve had a can or two on the golf course before, but this was largely down to peer pressure from my dad and brother while on a trip to Le Touquet in France. The beer was warm and I stood drinking it thinking it was largely pointless.

Most of the time, the point of drinking is to get drunk, and I don’t get the point of doing that on the golf course. It’s not a practice I’ve seen that much, but I know it happens and it’s just pointless.

Turn up hungover, fine. You can do what you like after you’ve holed out on 18. Sip at the halfway hut, go for it. But getting through several cans on the golf course just feels cringey and deliberate. It’s usually a practice on golf holidays with your pals. Have we got any beers to go around with? Hopefully not, I won’t be having one anyway.

Tom Irwin

Drinking on the course should be outlawed. There’s plenty of time to drink after your round if you really must. Golf is a civilised sport for civilised people, the consumption of any food or beverage should take place at a table. No one wants to see me openly masticating.

Golf is a sport, so how can that statement possibly be taken seriously if you can participate half cut? Whilst we are at it, we should ban any refined carbs from the halfway hut.

Matt Coles

As a sober man, I couldn’t care less if my playing partners wanted to drink on the course. Any drinking has to be done in moderation of course, as golf is a sport and having drunken golfers taking up divots and messing about on the fairways isn’t acceptable.

However, if golfers want to take a few cans out on the golf course with them to enjoy themselves as they play 18 holes, why should we stop them? I’m sober, so it gives me more chance of beating them, right?

The article below was written by Steve Carroll of National Club Golfer.

Michael Atkinson profiles the extraordinary career of the prolific golf course designer – one of the stalwarts of the golden age of architecture.

Henry Shapland Colt, more commonly known as ‘Harry Colt’, was born in Highgate in London in 1869.

As a youngster, he learnt the game and played golf at Worcestershire Golf Club where he was taught by Douglas Rolland, a former stonemason turned professional golfer from Scotland, who was also a relation of the five times Open Champion, James Braid.

Colt developed into a proficient amateur golfer, with a deep love of the game.

He studied law at Clare College, Cambridge, joining the Cambridge University Golf Club and becoming its captain in 1889.

Following university, he was admitted to the bar and for several years was a partner at a law firm. During this time, Colt became a founding member at Rye, a club which had opened with a basic course in 1894.

Respected as a very capable player and elected as the club’s first Captain, alongside Douglas Rolland (who was appointed the club’s first professional), Colt would be asked to lay out a new course at Rye in 1895.

That opportunity and experience at Rye, where he would become the Honorary Secretary, would eventually take Colt away from his law career and lead him to a full time focus on golf course design.

In 1901, Colt, by this stage an established member of the R&A and its Rules Committee (he had won the R&A Queen Victoria Jubilee Vase in 1891 and 1893), applied and became Sunningdale’s first Secretary, a post which he held until 1913.

During his time at Sunningdale, Colt reworked holes on the course (the original Willie Park Jnr designed ‘Old Course’) and his revisions received much praise, further encouraging his interest within the design sphere.

After his departure as Secretary, Colt would retain a strong connection to Sunningdale, eventually designing what would become its ‘New Course’, shaped from an independent nine hole course known as ‘Sunningdale Heath’, completely remodelled and extended to 18 holes, which was unveiled in 1923. He was Club Captain in 1924.

With his early involvement with Sunningdale, requests for Colt’s golf design ideas increased. He would meet Dr Alister MacKenzie, a founder member of Alwoodley and its first Secretary.

MacKenzie was also the course’s designer, the magnificent creation opened in 1907, setting MacKenzie on a path to becoming one of the most revered golf architects of all time, later producing the world renowned Augusta National, amongst many others.

Harry Colt: How respect led to partnership

When MacKenzie proposed his design for Alwoodley, it was not immediately approved, the club’s committee requesting Harry Colt be invited to review the designs and reassure the club that the designs were suitable.

Harry Colt duly provided his thoughts and it was an introduction that with mutual respect for each other’s ideas would lead to an eventual formal partnership with MacKenzie, alongside Charles Hugh Alison.

Alison was the Secretary of what is now known as Stoke Park, the original courses there designed by Colt and opened in 1908. After collaborating for a number of years, these three individuals would form the firm of Colt, Mackenzie and Alison, set up immediately after the conclusion of the First World War.

By this stage, Colt’s name was already associated with a myriad of revered courses. He had created the design for the much admired Swinley Forest, between Sunningdale and Ascot, which opened in 1911.

His reputation had also reached further than the British Isles. Founded in 1876, making it one of North America’s oldest clubs, the Toronto Golf Club in Canada turned to Colt to redesign its course, which was unveiled in 1912.

That same year Colt’s creation at the Country Club of Detroit was opened for play. He created the ‘Vert’ course at Golf de Saint-Cloud in Paris, one which provides views of The Eiffel Tower and has now gone on to stage the French Open on 14 occasions.

Colt would work on the design at St George’s Hill, which was formally opened in 1913. Colt’s creation in the Home of Golf, St Andrews, would also be revealed in 1914, with the opening of The Eden Course.

Back across the pond, Colt would be asked to cast his eye over George Crump’s designs for Pine Valley in 1914, although the course would not be opened until a few years later and he would also be retained by the Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ontario to design the course at their newly acquired home, officially revealed in 1916. 

Involvement in designs inevitably slowed during the First World War, but picked back up following its conclusion.

In the mid 1920s, Colt would design both the East and the West Course at Wentworth, evolve the course at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland and design the course at Royal Belfast, his creation there opening in 1926.

By this stage, Alister MacKenzie had branched out on his own, separating from the partnership with Colt and Alison in 1923. In the years that followed, Colt and Alison would gain input and support from John Stanton Fleming Morrison, who would be made an official partner in 1928, forming Colt, Alison & Morrison.

Later in this decade, Colt would redesign the links of Country Sligo, the course today known as the ‘Colt Championship Links’ in honour of its creator.

Harry Colt: ‘Thoughtful and considered’ from Muirfield to Portrush

Much of Colt’s work is evident on historic Open Championships venues – he modified eleven of the holes at Muirfield in Scotland’s East Lothian, as well as undertaking renovations at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Liverpool and Royal St. George’s.

The 153rd Open in 2025 will be staged at Royal Portrush, founded in 1888. Back in 1929, the club enlisted Colt’s services which would result in the official opening of the Dunluce Links, in 1933, the track over which The Open is played and one which has also hosted six Senior British Opens. Colt would also shape Royal Portrush’s second course, the Valley Links.

Colt’s design style was thoughtful and considered, with great attention to detail. He believed that ‘the designer of a course should start off on his work in a sympathetic frame of mind for the weak, and at the same time be as severe as he likes with the first-class player.’ 

Generally, he favoured easing you into the round with the opening holes, lighter bunkering and few forced carries. He pushed for variety on a course, not wanting any two holes to be similar in shape or style.

He would write that ‘immediately when we attempt to standardize sizes, shapes, and distances we lose more than half the pleasure of the game.’

He was careful to produce different ways for all levels of golfers to approach a hole, but always aiming for holes to fit into the landscape on which they were built as if they had always been destined to be there: ‘I firmly believe that the only means whereby an attractive piece of ground can be turned into a satisfying golf course is to work to the natural features of the site in question’.

With regards to greens, he understood that ‘the majority of players desire to hole out in two putts on each green if they are putting well. They desire to experience some little difficulty in doing so, because otherwise they would derive no pleasure from success. Therefore a perfectly flat green would not satisfy them. On the other hand, when they have avoided the bunkers of the fairway… and have played their ball on to the putting green, they do not like to find it is lying in a severe form of hazard’.

Colt stopped designing in 1939 and died in 1951 aged 82 in Berkshire in England. He is credited with turning golf architecture into a profession, as well as inspiring and influencing other great designers that were up and coming during his prime, including Donald Ross and AW Tillinghast. 

During his extraordinary architectural career, Colt and his partners designed or remodelled more than 300 golf courses across the globe.

He is admired for so many of his courses, adding to aforementioned ones, the likes of Northamptonshire County, Tandridge in Oxted, Brokenhurst Manor, Camberley Heath in Surrey and Edgbaston.

Despite the prolific and much admired nature of his work, he remained intensely modest, famously describing the revered Swinley Forest as his ‘least bad’ course.

Colt has left an indelible mark on so many of today’s globally renowned and admired courses, both in his homeland and throughout the world. 

Golfland Ireland and Goflland Scotland

Michael Atkinson is the co-author of Golfland Ireland and Golfland Scotland, which are available to buy now at golfland.shop.

These stylish guides to all the courses of Scotland and Ireland feature photography by David Cannon.

There are many popular formats of golf, played in both the professional and amateur game to keep things interesting for players and spectators. Four ball is one of those formats. It’s super popular for amateur players, but is also used in both the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup.

But how does it work and what are the rules of four ball in golf? Here, we’ll look at four ball golf rules, so you can get to grips with it for your next round.

What is four ball in golf?

Four ball is a type of golf format where four players play. They are split into two pre-determined pairs, with each player playing their own ball. It works like this:

• Two partners compete together as a side/team
• Each player plays their own ball
• A side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole

How does four ball differ to foursomes?

Foursomes is another format of golf featuring four players, split into two teams. The difference with foursomes is that the pair of players play with just one ball, taking alternate shots with the same ball.

Is four ball scored using stroke or match play?

You can score four ball using either stroke or match play. It’s up to you and the people you’re playing with. If you want to replicate the format played by the pros, though, match play is the format most famously used in the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup.

With match play, your team’s best score on each hole goes against the opposition team’s best score to determine which team wins the hole. With stroke play, your final score consists of the total of each individual hole’s best score.

Four ball in amateur golf

If you fancy playing a four ball with three of your friends the next time you hit the golf course, you’ll want to know how to score it.

Each player records their gross score on a hole, on a single scorecard. You then need to identify which player got which score. If you have two different handicaps in your team, the score will be valued differently in line with your handicap.

On each hole, you can choose to record both players’ scores or just one. Whilst you’re playing a hole, if one player can’t beat the score of their partner, they don’t need to hole out and should pick up.

Four ball golf rules and handicaps

The rules around handicaps in four ball golf depend on whether you choose stroke play or match play.

With stroke play, each player is given 85% of their handicap allowance. So, if Player 1 has a handicap of 12, they will be given 10 shots in four ball stroke play competitions (12 x 0.85 = 10.2, rounded down to 10).

It gets a little more complicated with four ball match play games. The handicap allowance is 90% of the difference from the lowest handicap golfer in the match.

Take the example of Golfers 1 and 2 with handicaps of 5 and 9 forming one team. They’re playing against Golfers 3 and 4, with handicaps 11 and 13. Golfer 1 has the lowest handicap, so gets 0 shots. The other players then subtract 5 from their handicap and multiply this difference by 90%.

Golfer 1: 0 shots (lowest handicapper)

Golfer 2: 4 shots (9 – 5 = 4 x 0.9 = 3.6, rounded up to 4)

Golfer 3: 5 shots (11 – 5 = 6 x 0.9 = 5.4, rounded down to 5)

Golfer 4: 7 shots (13 – 5 = 8 x 0.9 = 7.2, rounded down to 7)

Confusing? It can sometimes be a little difficult to get your head around at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.

What order do you play your balls in four ball golf?

You play alternate shots in four ball golf, but you can choose for your strongest player to go first. In the above example, Golfer 1 would likely go first. They would then be followed by the strongest player on the other team, Golfer 3. Golfer 2 would then tee off, followed by Golfer 4.

Is four ball golf good for amateur golfers?

Four ball golf is one of the best formats for amateur golfers to play. You get to play with three of your golf buddies, making for a fun, social time on the course. Plus, it caters to golfers of all abilities, with the four ball golf rules around handicaps and the fact you only take the best score on each hole.

So, that’s the basics of four ball golf. Now you know how to play, why not grab three of your friends and hit the course for a spot of four ball?

Why is core stability important for golf?

A strong and stable core is the foundation of an effective golf swing. It’s essential for power generation, balance, and injury prevention.

The core, comprising muscles in your abdomen, lower back, hips, and pelvis, enables golfers to transfer energy efficiently from the ground through their body and into the club, resulting in powerful and controlled shots.

Core strength also supports balance and stability throughout your swing. When your core is strong, you can maintain a stable posture and proper alignment during the swing, reducing sway and improving precision.

Not only does this consistency improve shot accuracy, but it also helps prevent common injuries, such as lower back strain, which can be debilitating for golfers. For instance, Koepka has highlighted the importance of core strength in managing his back injuries and optimizing his performance.

Sean Murphy’s Expert Advice on Core Stability

According to Ultimate Performance’s Sean Murphy, personal trainer in Manchester, golfers should prioritize core stability over pure strength to improve swing mechanics and longevity on the course. “The key isn’t just about how hard you can hit, but about how controlled and efficient your movements are,” he explains. Below, he outlines some top exercises to help golfers boost core stability.

Core Exercises for Golf

1. Planks
Murphy’s take: “This classic move is underrated. Holding a plank strengthens deep core muscles, supporting better posture during your swing.”

• How to do it: Hold a forearm plank for 30-60 seconds, ensuring your body remains in a straight line.

2. Russian Twists
Murphy emphasizes rotational control: “Golf is all about controlled rotation, and Russian Twists train your body to twist powerfully but in a controlled manner.”

• How to do it: Sit with knees bent, feet off the floor, and twist a weight side-to-side, maintaining a strong core.

3. Dead Bugs
Murphy: “Dead bugs help you stabilize your spine while moving your limbs, which is crucial for maintaining form through your swing.”

• How to do it: Lie on your back, alternate lowering opposite arms and legs while keeping your lower back flat against the floor.

4. Bird Dogs
“This move not only builds core stability but also trains coordination and balance, both essential in golf,” says Murphy.

• How to do it: Start on all fours, extend one arm and the opposite leg, then alternate.

Why Core Training Should Be a Priority

Top professional golfers incorporate core training into their fitness routines to optimize swing mechanics and prevent injuries. Regular core stability exercises improve energy transfer from the ground through your body, allowing for greater power and control.

Additionally, golfers who strength-train their core can increase their swing accuracy and distance by 20%, as well as lower their risk of injury by up to 50%.

By focusing on core stability exercises, golfers can expect more consistent performance, improved shot accuracy, and a reduced risk of injury—ultimately leading to better scores and longevity in the sport.