Machynys Peninsula, a relatively new Jack Nicklaus design on the outskirts of Llanelli, is routed in two distinct loops with a parkland front nine and an inward half that has more of a links feel beside the sea.
The standard scratch score here from the tournament tees is three-over-par, so you know Machynys Peninsula can be set up for some serious competitive golf, and indeed, it has hosted the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe every year since it opened for play.
The shaping of the layout has included the creation of 25 acres of new lakes – salt and fresh water – 12 miles of irrigation pipes and six miles of drainage pipes, to ensure the course is in top condition all year round.
History
The modern links on Machynys Peninsula was opened in 2005 with a hefty budget of $3.5 million shelled out for the layout and an even greater sum of money spent on the clubhouse.
However, money alone can never ensure success with a new golfing project as location has a large part to play in determining whether a new course will attract rave review, but the stunning site that Machynys is built on as good as guarantees its position as a “must play” venue in Wales.
Gary Nicklaus acted as chief designer on behalf of his father and his favourite hole is the 451-yard 16th which, as he says, “is played across the lake from right behind the clubhouse [and] is probably one of the most beautiful holes on the course”.
He adds: “The view from the green of the whole bay is spectacular, whether the tide is in or out.”
He is also especially proud of the 4th, 5th, 16th, and 18th.
Why it’s special
The large and airy clubhouse is superbly fitted out with a spa and brasserie and there are excellent views out over the course. For a golfing test of this standard, the green fees are also remarkably reasonable. If you haven’t yet been, a round here goes highly recommended.
Where does it rank?
317th in GB&I, 25th in Wales, and 8th in Swansea.
Where is it?
Based in Machynys, just outside Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Machynys Peninsula is not far from the M4 motorway that runs through South Wales.
Get in touch with Machynys
For more information about the club and course, visit its website or call them on 01554 744888.
The above article was originally published by our partner National Club Golfer.
Parkland golf. Tricky one to be honest. We have been through this.
The ball doesn’t move on the ground. Water hazards. They are a problem. You can’t get up and down from a pond. Wind is not your friend on a parkland. You can’t work with it, run the ball in, or use the ground. And the grass grows, a lot.
That isn’t to say all parklands are bad. There are lots that are brilliant. When you find a good parkland though, you tend to remember it. I was last at Chart Hills in 2005 and I remember it as an incredibly well bunkered, strategic, and varied test. So, as its reopening following huge renovation coincided with my trip to The Open at Royal St George’s, I couldn’t resist dropping in for a look.
It is definitely in Kent. By which I mean it is absolutely in middle of the Garden of England. Once you drop off the M20 you drive through the opening credits of the Darling Buds of May. Meaning you arrive in a good mood having spent the last 20 minutes thinking about Catherine Zeta Jones.
There is the rarefied air of a grand facility, sweeping drive, turning circle, bag drop, epic range, enormous club house. It has that ‘find a bag tag in your boot 6 months later‘ feel to it.
The golf course is as I remembered – well put together and exceptionally bunkered. It is not enormously long, choose between 5,503 off the reds, 5,891 from the yellows, or right up to 7,132 off the back tees. We played off the blue tees which, at 6,530 yards, is plenty. They are ’90s championship yardages, and with the recent sand topping applied to all 18 fairways we are getting plenty of run out despite a wet summer.
Originally a Faldo design it is still brilliantly bunkered and presents you with lots of options from nearly all the tees. There are very few stop signs and genuinely many ways to approach each hole.
The first a sweeping left to right dogleg par 5 is a great example. You could hit any club off the tee depending on how much you want to try and take off the corner, and you can see it all unfolding in front of you. It is excellent use of the land.
Then there is the cute par-3 16th which is 125 yards to a tiny little island green. Deliciously unexpected.
The new owners, who also own the Prince’s complex on the Kent coast, are taking a step-by-step approach to the reimagining of the golf course.
The fairway work is complete. Next will come all 18 greens and there is certainly some tree removal and rough management to do.
The team from Prince’s are proper golfers and understand the work that is required. Anyone who has played their 27 coastal holes will note the excellent work they have done there over the past three seasons.
When they have finished with Chart Hills, my suspicion is that it will be re-established as one of the very best parklands in England. Pop Larkin would be proud.
The above article was originally published by our partner National Club Golfer.
It’s fair to say most of us could do with a little extra clubhead speed, a few extra yards off the tee, and more wedges into greens.
Research suggests that as clubhead speed increases, handicap goes down. However, a great number of golfers are ‘leaving significant miles per hour on the table’. That’s the view of strength and conditioning coach Jamie Greaves. So, what can you do about it?
Plenty, as it happens, and the good news is you can increase your clubhead speed in the comfort of your own home. Golf lessons can help, of course, as a loss of speed can also be attributed to poor technique. However, some simple power and strength exercises can also help to unlock your clubhead speed potential.
‘Just a 4mph increase in swing speed could potentially mean ten extra yards of distance, so there is a huge opportunity for golfers to save multiple shots off their scores each round just by adding a bit more speed,’ says Greaves.
Here, the fitness guru shares his top 5 ways to improve your clubhead speed.
1. Squat Jumps
This exercise is simple but extremely effective in improving lower body power.
Start in a standing posture, then drop into a quarter squat position and explode up. Each time, you should land softly in that same quarter squat position. You don’t want to land with the legs straight or in a deep squat position and don’t sink into a squat that’s too low before trying to explode up.
I work with lots of senior golfers, and one of the great things about this exercise is that you don’t need to leave the ground, or you can hold onto something so when you land you don’t have to worry about balance. This is a nice entry point before you gain more confidence and start to jump more aggressively.
2 Backpack Lateral Lunge
Begin by standing and holding a weighted bag – perhaps a bag of practice balls.
Take a lateral step to one side and load into the heel and hip of that leg whilst the other leg straightens. Simultaneously push the bag out in front of you to act as a counterbalance and allow you to get deeper into your lateral lunge.
It’s important that you plant the whole of the stepping foot onto the floor and load into the heel. You must also try to stay strong and tall through the torso to avoid rounding excessively. Drive back off the stepping foot with intent each time and perform repetitions on both sides.
3 Elevated Push Up (Eccentric)
Now we’re concentrating on the upper body.
Imagine screwing your hands into a box or bench to stabilise the shoulders, and let the elbows track nicely. Lower down slowly and under control, and then push back up aggressively. Try not to extend or round excessively as you move, and don’t let the elbows flare out too much – keep them tucked in. You want to feel like the body moves as one whole unit on each repetition.
This exercise is really easy to manipulate. When the hands are higher, you have less body weight to push. Lower the hands when you feel ready, and the exercise will become harder – so maybe try push ups on the stairs first, and then move down the steps.
4 Banded Thruster
If you don’t own a resistance band, make sure you get one – it’s a great bit of kit that’s used by lots of Tour pros.
Start standing with the band under your feet and on the back of your shoulders. Drop down into a small squat and drive up aggressively pushing the band to the sky. If you experience discomfort behind the head, simply perform the same motion with the band on the front of the shoulders.
This is a great power exercise for golfers. The power starts in the ground and comes up the body and out through the arms, and it mirrors the same sequence as you get in a golf swing. Obviously, with the golf swing, there’s rotation involved, but this teaches the same sequence.
5 Banded Bent Over Row
Start standing with the band wrapped under your feet, gripping the band in each hand.
Soften the knees, push the hips back, and tilt over, keeping the torso strong. Row up and in, bringing the elbows towards the hips and pausing briefly at the top each time.
The idea is to stay in posture as you row, not round through the torso. Neither should you row up too high.
What I like about this exercise is that it helps you to develop a strong, solid posture.
Watch the game’s best players in action, and you’ll struggle to find one who doesn’t have a pre-shot routine of some kind.
Why? Well, they’ll tell you that having a consistent drill ahead of each shot helps them to focus, and that when the pressure is on or the nerves are jangling, a structured routine keeps them in the moment.
Some critics argue that having a good pre-shot routine only make you good at… well, pre-shot routines.
However, whilst such drills won’t rid your game of certain shots – like the wild slice or duck hook – it’s widely accepted that they have certain benefits, and that golfers of all levels should have a pre-shot routine of their own.
These drills needn’t take long. In fact, they probably shouldn’t exceed more than 15 to 20 seconds, and once you have a drill that you’re comfortable with, it needs to be your ‘go to’ before each shot. Stick with it and use it for each club in the bag.
Here’s everything you need to include in a pre-shot routine.
Stage 1: Think
Observe the professionals closely and you’ll note how there are several distinct stages to their pre-shot routine.
It starts with the ‘thinking’ stage. The player will decide which shot to play and what club to hit, taking into account what’s in front of them and what the wind might be doing.
Employing this strategy will, in theory, allow you to focus on playing the shot when you step forward.
You might want to start considering the above a few yards back from your ball, perhaps by your golf bag. Doing so will help you to cover each stage properly.
Stage 2: Feel
So, you’ve decided on hitting driver.
When you take a couple of steps forward, you’ve put the thinking part to bed. Now you’re going to get a feel for the shot you’re about to play.
It’s not uncommon for club golfers and high handicappers to take a good few mighty swipes at this stage, but the better players tend to rehearse a certain move.
The idea is to build that confidence for the shot you’re about to play. It might be you have a move that helps you to play a cut, or a position you like to feel in your backswing. Crucially, you’re not doing any more thinking at this stage – rather, you’re visualising the perfect shot, whether that’s a soft fade or a slinging draw.
At this point, we should advise you to begin your pre-shot routine, especially steps 1 and 2, while playing partners are playing their shots, rather than waiting until it’s your turn to play.
Stage 3: Play
With all your prep work done, the final stage is the execution of the shot itself.
Many amateur golfers and high handicap golfers will twitch about too much at this point, spending too long focusing on the ball and not the target.
Ideally, you don’t want too many swing thoughts running through your head. Just check your set-up, take a couple of looks, and pull the trigger.
Rehearse it
Not everyone has the same pre-shot routine, but most Tour professionals would have a variation of the above, where they do their thinking before stepping forward.
They may have a trigger word, a point at which they know they’re ready to play the shot.
It takes time to perfect pre-shot routines – they’re not just cobbled together in a hurry, or at least they shouldn’t be.
To find a pre-shot routine that works for you, it’s generally recommended that you rehearse it on the driving range before taking it to the course.
Keep using it on the range when you’re practising, too, so that it becomes second nature.
Stick with it
Finally, once you’re comfortable with your pre-shot routine, don’t be afraid to put it into action.
Better players and professionals have a very structured routine that they use on every shot.
Amateur golfers may start off with one, but they tend to flit between the full version and something different, often ending the round without even using one.
Regardless of what level you play at, a pre-shot routine can help you to focus. The professionals have one, so why shouldn’t you?
The Surrey/Berkshire border is a heathland hotbed and home to many of the UK’s best golf courses.
In fact, scroll through most rankings, and you’ll find more ‘top 100’ golf courses in Surrey than any other English county.
Sunningdale tops most lists as, despite having a Berkshire postal address, it’s affiliated to the Surrey Golf Union.
We’re going by postcode here, which gives us extra wiggle room to include one or two other beautiful Surrey tracks – all of which are well worth playing when you’re in the Home Counties area.
1. St George’s Hill (red and blue)
This Harry Colt classic opened for play in 1913, and many consider its mesmerising design to be his greatest work.
Colt fans will appreciate the many trademark bunkers that are often deceiving on the eye, especially when lined by swathes of gorgeous heather. And with the magnificent pines that line the undulating fairways, this is as close to heathland perfection as you can get.
Visitors are advised to leave plenty of time before teeing off to enjoy the view from the clubhouse – it whets the appetite more than most. When you get going, you won’t play a single ‘weak’ hole.
Looking back and you’ll struggle to select a favourite, although the par-3s are truly wonderful.
The short 8th might just edge it, though, challenging golfers to play across a valley, up and over heather and sand.
Surrey’s most famous golf course needs no introduction.
There was a time when Wentworth hosted three professional tournaments every year, hence why so many golf fans have such fond memories of this Colt treasure. Many of us grew up watching the likes of Seve, Bernhard Langer, and Nick Faldo compete here in the Suntory World Match Play Championship.
Now, the West Course is home to the PGA Championship, the European Tour’s flagship event – therefore, visitors can expect a stern test.
Over the years, it’s undergone several changes, and these haven’t all been well received. In fact, despite numerous multi-million-pound alterations, the course has rather fallen from favour.
Even so, it’s still a very special place, and when you sweep down the narrow roads into the sumptuous Wentworth estate, you know you’re in for a treat.
3. Walton Heath (Old)
It’s getting on for 120 years since this classic heathland opened for play with a match between the greats Taylor, Vardon, and Braid.
Since 1904, Walton Heath has had many other famous members on its books, including Winston Churchill and legendary cricketer W.G Grace, and several prestigious events have only elevated its status.
As well as the Old Course hosting 23 World Match Play Championships, it’s here where a star-studded US side trounced GB&I 18½ – 9½. It’s 40 years since that Ryder Cup, and today Walton Heath stages US Open qualifying.
This wonderful course demands precise ball striking and a surgeon’s touch around the greens, which Eddie Pepperell displayed en route to winning the British Masters here in 2018.
Not many people get to play Queenwood – it’s reserved for a rather small membership.
In fact, if you were lucky enough to play here, you’d likely find yourself rubbing shoulders with celebrities, high rollers, and Tour players – all of whom no doubt make full use of its world-class practice facilities.
This exclusive club opened for play 20 years ago. David McLay-Kidd designed the course, and, by all accounts, it’s rather special.
The landing areas are relatively generous, and the large greens are immaculate – although much can be said of the entire course. Queenwood is the definition of ‘millionaire’s golf’, and if you ever get the chance to play it – maybe Hugh Grant will invite you – then you should jump at the chance.
5. Hankley Common
Situated on a Site of Special Scientific Interest, this gem is a must-visit if you want to say you’ve played Surrey’s best golf courses.
Its life began in 1897 with nine holes before, in 1922, James Braid advised on an additional nine. Then, in the early 1930s, Colt made further alterations. Improvements continue to this day, even though it’s hard to find a fault in this course.
The fairways are lined with heather, birches, oaks, and pines, and the putting surfaces are slick and true. Meanwhile, the free-draining turf gives Hankley a certain links-like feel. If you’re greedy, you could argue that there’s room on this majestic piece of land for another 18, but let’s just be thankful for this tremendous design.
James Braid was the club professional at Walton Heath from 1904 to 1950, and it’s a place that had a special place in the Scot’s heart.
You’ll see why when you tee up here – it’s bursting with character. Both the Old and New courses are intertwined, and they boast many of the same qualities. However, in the eyes of many, the latter course edges it because of the slightly sterner test it provides.
After a gentle start, the New becomes progressively more challenging, and in truth, neither course could be considered straightforward.
The heather is ever-present and features some intimidating par-4s, including the 5th, which can only be described as a bit of a brute.
For the best experience, treat yourself to a 36-hole day and make your own comparisons.
7. Worplesdon
Worplesdon is another classic heathland that may be overshadowed by one or two others on the famous ‘Surrey Sandbelt’. That said, anyone in this part of the world will tell you how good it is – and plenty more golfers who have travelled from further afield.
This course has been made even stronger over the last decade, too. One significant design change has been the complete renovation of its 80 bunkers, which has re-established large heather areas, as well as bunker lines and drainage.
Heather and pine characterise the course, which has a wonderful natural feel. If you could only play one course for the rest of your life, this is the sort of place you’d choose.
As well as oozing a certain charm, the club always offers a warm welcome.
The youngest of the ‘W trio’ – Woking and Worpleson being the other two nearby – West Hill offers a strong test from start to finish.
An old-fashioned beauty, it looks every bit as glorious from the train (you’ll wish you were out there as you commute in and out of London) as it does when you pull into the small car park, at which point you know you’re somewhere special.
If you’re anticipating a few ups and downs, as the name would suggest, don’t be deterred – it’s a very pleasant walk.
The real test comes in keeping out of the heather and away from Brookwood stream, which lurks on a few holes.
Majestic specimen trees also line most of the holes. Not only do they frame the fairways beautifully, but they also serve as a constant reminder that you must remain accurate.
9. Woking
Nearby Woking, designed by Tom Dunn, is the oldest of the trio of ‘Ws’, dating back to 1893.
More recently, Tim Lobb created a thrilling new 16th hole, which plays across a pond to a treacherous green framed by towering pines.
This is no time to be indecisive with your club selection, but by the time you reach this point of the course, you’ll be only too aware of how important strategy is.
It’s not just the golf course that will live long in the memory – the pavilion clubhouse, painted white and green, has a unique look and charisma. Be sure to sit on the terrace afterwards and discuss what you’d have done differently.
You might wish you’d left the driver in the boot of your car, as the heather is particularly nasty.
The late, great Peter Alliss was a huge fan of Hindhead, and many fancy it should occupy a higher position than it does on some of the existing top 100 lists.
Its location is a dream for golfers and golf course architects, with the Devil’s Punchbowl – a large hollow of dry sandy heath – to the west of the course and Surrey’s second-highest hill – Gibbet Hill – looking down on it.
It sounds perfect, and the design takes full advantage of the natural topography, with the front nine sweeping through the valleys and the back nine providing a test of your hillside golf.
Take the tee shot on 17, for example, a right to left sloping fairway, which is one of the toughest to find. Whilst the front nine might be the most dramatic, Hindhead is a joy throughout and one to add to your list of Surrey ‘must plays’.
11. Wentworth (East)
Although the West course may grab the most headlines, the East is immensely enjoyable, too. In fact, many consider the East to be superior in terms of course architecture – and it’s certainly a little friendlier for the average player.
The East was the first course Colt built at Wentworth, and two years after it was born, it hosted the second unofficial match between the American and British professionals. This 1926 contest is widely recognised as a precursor to the Ryder Cup.
To score well here (as is the case with most Colt layouts), you’ll need to be creative and find the right spots on the fairway from which to attack the greens, as the putting surfaces are anything but simple.
However, with a handful of short par-4s, the East always offers hope that you can steal back a shot or two.
Famous amateur golfer Samuel Mure Ferguson was responsible for designing this terrific layout in Addlestone.
It might not get the same recognition as some of its high-profile neighbours, but that won’t bother any of its members one bit.
By today’s standards, it’s not a long course – a fraction over 6,000 yards – but ignore the par-68, for six of its holes are more than 400 yards long.
It’s short in comparison to the many championship courses in the area it may be. But it’s accuracy that you require, not brute strength, unless you stray into the heather.
Playing here is a real treat, and the trees that line the fairways give each hole an individual feel. The same can be said of many courses, but it’s particularly evident at New Zealand.
13. Tandridge
Ask someone who’s visited this delightful Colt layout for their thoughts, and it’s quite possible they’ll mention the food – the famous Tandridge roast is something else.
It would be unfair to dwell on the food, as good as it is, for the course is every bit as delicious.
Golf at Tandridge is a game of two halves, with the flatter front nine a strategic test and the latter more dramatic.
A special mention must be given to the par-3 13th, which tops 220 yards and kicks off a rollercoaster final six holes. You’ll come to a spectacular climax on 18, where you tee off from a tee complex in the trees on the top of a hill.
If you really want to enjoy the roast that’s waiting for you, don’t go right.
When you tee up at The Addington, you’re just ten miles from London.
Although you’ll feel a lot further away from the hustle and bustle of city life as you negotiate the beautiful fairways, you’re never normally too far from another wonderful view of the metropolis.
For many, The Addington, is John Frederick Abercromby’s finest creation, and it remains largely unchanged since it opened for play in 1914.
It’s a delight to play all year round, and because of the sandy base it drains beautifully, making it the perfect place to enjoy a winter round.
Mature pines and birch trees are as much a feature as the sprawling heathland, making for some truly memorable holes.
15. Camberley Heath
Set in 135 acres of spectacular undulating heathland, Camberley Heath may be a wonderful place to enjoy a stroll, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Many a shot will strike fear into the casual golfer, whose eyes are often drawn to the towering pines and thick heather. In short, you need to be fairly precise to score well here, and it demands commitment on every shot.
It’s another Colt masterpiece and another visual delight, with its par-3s one of the many highlights.
At just 162 yards from the tips, the 2nd offers proof that the shorter one-shotters are often the most memorable. The large sloping, tiered green is protected by two deep bunkers, and it’s every bit as daunting as a 220-yarder.
A ‘good shoulder turn’. It’s a term we often hear in relation to the golf swing. However, it’s not the shoulders doing the turning – rather, it’s the upper body that turns, and the ‘shoulders come along for the ride’.
That’s how strength and conditioning coach, Jamie Greaves, views it, although that’s not to underestimate the importance of the shoulders. Greaves is keen to stress that many of the best shoulder exercises for golf focus on improving external rotation.
‘A lot of issues with the golf swing I see amongst amateur golfers come from a lack of external rotation of the trail shoulder’, says Greaves, who works with a number of Tour professionals as well as club golfers.
‘I’ll see players who are really rounded through the shoulder blades. The joint itself doesn’t sit in the best position, and that restricts your range of motion, which in turn limits the power you can generate and how far you’re able to hit the ball.’
This lack of mobility is especially evident amongst senior golfers, many of whom suffer because their shoulder joint has been ‘set in its ways’ for upwards of 40 years.
‘It’s that flying right elbow’, explains Greaves. ‘It doesn’t mean senior golfers can’t play good golf, but you want to see that right elbow folding under a bit more. That’s where that external rotation comes in.’
Before you get the dumbbells out, Greaves highlights one other point.
‘From a strength and power point of view, you want your shoulders to be strong, but no more than any other part of the body – so I say the same about the legs and chest. It’s about being well-rounded.’
With that in mind, here are the best shoulder exercises for golf, moves that will help you to improve both strength and external rotation.
Should you find it difficult to picture these exercises, click the links and watch the videos for a clear explanation.
Shoulder Assessment
This is a great place to start, as you can use it to see how well your shoulder rotates.
Begin standing with one shoulder, wrist and elbow in a 90-degree position at shoulder height. Then, rotate the forearm behind you as much as you can to externally rotate the shoulder.
Next, rotate down as much as possible for internal rotation. It’s important not to just flick the wrist, lean from the torso, or let the shoulder ‘hike up’. Make a note of your range of motion and repeat this range of motion on the other side.
Shoulder Diamond ER
This is another of my favourite exercises – it’s a simple mobility move to increase external rotation.
Start by lying face down with your forehead resting on the floor and have both hands just in front of your head, with the arms bent at 90 degrees to form a diamond shape.
From here, keeping the elbow pressed into the floor, lift your hand up as much as possible to externally rotate the shoulder.
Be sure to pause at your end range before lowering and repeating on the other side. Continue to alternate sides, externally rotating as much as you can and ‘owning’ that end range of motion each time.
When performing this exercise, you need to ensure that you don’t lift off the floor with your torso as you move. And don’t compensate by just flicking the wrist.
To progress this exercise, raise your hands off the ground in the start position – you can use a yoga block if you want. This helps you to work in an area closer to your end range throughout the movement.
Another option is to externally rotate both shoulders at the same time, but whichever variation you use, perform controlled reps with minimal compensations, pausing at end ranges each time.
Swimmer
Begin by lying face down with your fingertips behind your head and your forehead on the ground.
From here, you want to draw the elbows back, and lift the hands off and hold. Straighten the arms and then bring them behind you, making sure they remain straight and that you naturally rotate them about halfway.
Place the hands on your lower back, draw the elbows back, and lift off. Straighten the arms behind you and then bring them back up to the start position.
As you perform this motion, it’s crucial that you keep the rest of the body flat to the floor. The higher you move the hands up your back, the more challenging the internal lift off becomes, so be sure to pick a suitable level.
Finally, go slow and controlled, and feel the motion through the shoulders.
Arnold Press
Start seated with your back supported on a bench and holding the dumbbells in the top part of a bicep curl position.
Then, rotate the dumbbells out before pressing overhead. Reverse the process, lowering the weights down slowly and under control.
You want the entire motion to happen at the shoulders, so try not to let the elbows drop too much as you rotate, and make sure to lock the arms out overhead as you press.
It’s also important that you ensure the dumbbells don’t drift out to the side, you don’t arch excessively through the spine as you press, and that you don’t dip the head forward as you rotate the dumbbells.
Stay strong in your original starting position and rotate and press with intent on every rep.
For more golf exercises and advice on how you can improve your game, visit jggolffitness.co.uk.
