David Ledingham

Hello Golfers,

Welcome to another edition of our newsletter.

In this week’s mail we look back on an exceptional Open Championship, when you should play for position off the tee and explore the difference between game-improvement and players' irons.

Enjoy this week’s read!

Pro's news

An Italian job well done

Well that was intense, wasn’t it?

The 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie saw Francesco Molinari become the first Italian to ever win a Major, after seeing off challenges from the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Tiger Woods.

What was particularly impressive about Molinari’s victory was his mental strength – being in the same pair as Woods in the final round naturally invites huge galleries, but the Italian refused to buckle under the added pressure.

13 pars over the first 13 holes in very tricky conditions laid the platform for a final round of 69 – by no means the lowest round of the week, but on a day where players such as Jordan Spieth were struggling, it was very much a case of slow and steady winning the race.

There was nothing too spectacular about Molinari’s round, bar his excellent birdie on the 18th, but his putting was exemplary. One highlight was his two-putt from 90 feet on the 12th – a masterclass in lag putting and a moment which meant he kept his momentum going.

Molinari’s first Major victory sees him climb to 6th in the world rankings, whilst Tiger’s best 72-hole total at a major since the 2012 Open was enough for him to once again enter the top 50. It was thrilling to have Woods competing again on a Sunday – it may now be a case of ‘when’ as opposed to ‘if’ he adds to his haul of 14 Major trophies.

Danger!

Are you the type of golfer who considers the danger ahead of you and plans accordingly, or do you pull a driver from the bag on every par-4 and par-5 without a blink? If you’re the latter then you need to read on.

Consider the danger
You hear pros talk a lot about the ‘smart shot’ in their post-round interviews. If you’re on the tee and there’s a bunker, ditch or other hazard around the distance that your driver or fairway wood normally flies, then make sure you change club to one that takes the trouble out of play, as displayed in this graphic. While you’ll have a slightly longer shot to the green, you’ll greatly reduce the chance of a big number.

Know your numbers
Of course, key to all of this is knowing how far each of your woods carries. If you’re looking to add more distance and control to your game, come and test the Callaway XR Speed driver, XR Speed fairway and Rogue X hybrid. If you have a fitting we can hit all three in a range of different specifications until we find your ideal set-up for the course.

watch our video >

Which model is best for you?

It goes without saying that each brand has several iron models in its range because each one offers something different. This is where tapping into our expertise can be really useful. During a fitting we can explain the pros and cons of each iron set and help you to discover the model that is perfect for your game.

Titleist AP3 iron

If you’re looking to upgrade to a more workable iron as your handicap gets lower, you shouldn’t overlook the Titleist 718 AP3 model. During a fitting we can test it in multiple shafts and against more forgiving irons like the 718 AP1 or more compact irons like the 718 AP2 to see which look, feel and ball flight you prefer.

Titleist AP1 iron

If you’re seeking more distance and forgiveness, we think you’ll be drawn to the Titleist 718 AP1 iron, which has a larger headshape and powerful face. During testing we can look at your consistency and yardages with this and other heads and shafts to ensure you leave with a set that’s ideal for your game.

explore Titleist's range >

Spotlight: Callaway Chrome Soft TruVis

If you were a fan of the previous generation TruVis, which helped to increase focus and visibility by maximising your view of the golf ball, then you're going to love this.

The new and improved 2018 Chrome Soft has greater ball speed and reduced long-game spin compared to last year's model, increasing distance throughout the bag. Couple this with two TruVis colour options (white/red and yellow/black) and you have a ball that will be going in a lot of golf bags this summer.

watch our video >

Motocaddy M-Series electric trolley range

Video of the Week

In our final Tips from the Tour video, we take a look at how to play out of the bunker when your ball is plugged. Remember these few simple tips and you'll be getting up-and-down in no time.

Thank you for reading, have a great week everyone and see you on the course!

St. Augustines Golf Club
Cottington Road
Cliffsend
Ramsgate
CT12 5JN

Phone: 01843 590222

Visit my website
Visit the club website
Contact me
Your profile

This email was sent to you by David Ledingham and is provided as a service for the members and guests of St. Augustines Golf Club and the customers of the St. Augustines Golf Club Pro Shop and has been supported and sponsored by advertisers in this mail and by our partner suppliers: Foremost Golf, UK's largest golf retail group, delivering value through expertise for the Club Golfer

® The Crest is a registered trademark of The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited