Did you know there were major changes to the Golf Rules in 2019?

After much debate over the last few years, the governing bodies sat down and made some drastic changes to the rules of golf.

But which ones were adopted by the R&A and which were made into ‘Local Rules’?

In addition, it is your job to know these rules and ignorance is not a defence!

Here’s a rough guide to the golf rules in 2019…

1. Golf rules in 2019 – When things happen to your ball in play…

– Ball at rest accidentally moves when you are looking for it.

There is no longer a penalty

– Marking your ball, you accidentally move it or the marker

There is no longer a penalty

– Replacing a moved or lifted ball (i.e. identifying your ball)

Ball is placed in the estimated spot not dropped

– Ball in motion hits a bag, club, cart etc

There is no longer a penalty (Ball is played from where it stops)

– Ball is double hit when a stroke is played

There is no longer a penalty

2. Golf rules in 2019 – Taking relief…

– Drop in a specific drop zone or as near to a relief area as possible

– Ball is dropped from knee height

– Ball comes to rest within the club length or relief from the drop, if it does not after two attempts it is placed.

– Club length must be measured by the longest club in your bag.

– Searching for your ball is limited to 3 minutes.

– Any ball embedded (in the general playing area) may be lifted (but not cleaned).

– If you are taking relief you may change your ball

3. Golf rules in 2019 – Areas of the course…

– If a ball is blown by the wind or other, it can be replaced in its original spot.

– A player may repair any damage they see on the green, including spike marks.

– A player can now touch the line of the intended putt.

– A player can now putt with the flag in while on the green.

– Hazards Red and Yellow are now known as ‘Penalty Areas’.

– Players can now remove any debris they find in a ‘Penalty Area’.

– Relief from all ‘Penalty Area’s’ can be lateral if it is unreasonable to go back behind the ‘Penalty Area’. This may need a local ruling.

– Opposite side relief is now removed, so if your ball clears the ditch water hits the bank and fall back into the water. You take a drop within two club lengths from the marked Penalty Area

N.B. The R&A concluded you CANNOT drop for ‘3’ when you hit your ball Out of Bounds (from the Tee Box) unless a ‘local rule’ has been set at the Golf club at which you are playing. TSG has decided to accept this rule on social games BUT not at TSG Major events!

4. Golf rules in 2019 – Bunkers…

– Removal of special restrictions on moving loose impediments: 

There is no longer a penalty if you touch or move loose impediments in a bunker.

– Relaxed restrictions on touching the sand with your hand or club when your ball is in a bunker: 

You are now prohibited only from touching the sand (1) with your hand or club to test the condition of the bunker, (2) with your club in the area right behind or in front of the ball or (3) when making a practice swing or the backswing for your stroke.

– New unplayable ball relief option

For two penalty strokes, you may take relief outside the bunker by dropping a ball back on the line from the hole through where your ball was at rest in the bunker

5. Golf rules in 2019 – Damaged clubs…

– Use of damaged clubs:

You may keep using any club that is damaged during the round, no matter how it happens (for example, even if you damaged it in anger).

– A player may not replace a damaged club unless the player was not responsible for the damage

Current rule:  A player may replace a damaged club if it is “unfit for play” and was damaged in the “normal course of play.”

6. Golf rules in 2019 – Damaged Ball…

– Substituting another ball for a cut or cracked ball:

You may substitute another ball if your ball in play on a hole has become cut or cracked while playing that hole; but you are no longer allowed to change balls solely because the ball has become “out of shape.”

7. Golf rules in 2019 – Other equipment…

– New rule: The use of DMDs (Distance Measuring Devices) is allowed unless a Local Rule has been adopted prohibiting their use.

8. Golf rules in 2019 – Advice and help…

– A caddie is not allowed to deliberately stand on or close to the extended line of play behind a player while the player is taking his or her stance until the stroke is made.

– A caddie may lift and replace the player’s ball on the putting green without the player’s specific authorization to do so

9. Golf rules in 2019 – Pace of play…

– Recommends that a player takes no longer than 40 seconds when set to make their shot.

– ‘Ready Golf’ is encouraged but only when it is safe and reasonable to do so.

– A new “Maximum Score” form of stroke play is recognized, where a player’s score for a hole is capped at a maximum score (such as two times par, a fixed number or net double bogey) that is set by the Committee.

10. Golf rules in 2019 – Playing in the spirit of the game…

– Explains and reinforces the high standards of conduct expected from players and gives Committees the discretion to disqualify players for serious misconduct.

– Committees are given authority to adopt their own code of player conduct and to set penalties for the breach of the standards in that code.

– When a player has good reason to mark and lift a ball to identify it, check for damage or see if it lies in a condition where relief is allowed (such as to see whether it is embedded), the player is no longer required first to announce to another player or his or her marker the intent to do so or to give that person an opportunity to observe the process.

– When determining a spot, point, line, area or other location under a Rule, a player’s reasonable judgment will not be second-guessed based on later evidence (such as video review) if the player did all that could be reasonably expected under the circumstances to make an accurate estimation or measurement.

By  Paul Houghton

For more information on the rules of golf visit – www.randa.org/en/rulesoverview

Crown Golf One Shot – APRIL 2019!

One 40ft Putt, One Chance, One FREE Years Membership to Crown Golf!

The Crown Golf One Shot event on Saturday 13^th April 2019, for any golfer and non-golfer of all ages to attend and try out.

You only get one shot and one chance!

For a day of competition, food, sunshine and great activities it’s not worth missing out on…

You’ll have the chance to win a one-year FREE membership and the GDPs (Golf Development Professionals) will be running complimentary golf clinics as well as family activities for those new to the game.

Crown Golf One Shot – Why Golf?

What can get better than this?

No other sport can bring people together so quickly.

It’s a natural talent, you can play as an individual or in a team.

And you get to see the great outdoors and every game is a new adventure!

It’s very good for both your mental and physical health and such a great sport to be a part of.

It’s a great social activity and a great way of getting people together…

So why don’t you get into golf by winning yourself a FREE one-year membership and seeing this all for yourself?

Crown Golf One Shot – Meet your local Crown Golf Team…

As well as running the Crown Golf One Shot event in the day, all the clubs will be holding different activities on the day such as Beat The Pro, junior 15ft putt,  longest drive competition, junior coaching and other outdoor games.

In addition, depending on the crown golf course you visit, many special guests will be attending and more.

This is a great chance to get to know the amazing, welcoming and friendly team who work there.

You’ll get to see the club itself and see how it’s unique from the rest and you get the chance to meet any potential new golfers.

We would love to see everyone down there family and friends getting involved in such a great event at the cost of nothing.

From a range of 20 wonderful clubs in a wide variety of locations, there is no excuse of not being too far away.

It’s a lovely day out and a perfect way of finding out a new talent you didn’t know you had.

Bringing people together couldn’t get any better than this!

By Emily Latham

More Blogs from TSG – 5 top reasons to try golf in 2019…

Once again, The Social Golfer online golf club and golf community gathered from all over the UK and with some players flying in from Africa for the 8^th The Social Golfer OPEN 2018 (sponsored by Golf News and Golf Escapes).

First held in 2010, this year’s event was held at North Downs Golf Club in South London…

The Social Golfer OPEN Championship…

Despite the driest British Summer in 60 years, the heavens decided that it was 29^th July that the dry spell was to end.

And didn’t we know about it!

However, this didn’t stop 64 golfers battling 30mph winds, squalling rain and, at times only 200 yards visibility.

The event is a great opportunity for TSG members to mingle and ‘be social’ with many of 5k strong UK members (10k+ worldwide) and compete for the much coveted Halliwell Cup donated by Stroke Survivor and British Inclusive Golf Ambassador, Ian Halliwell.

Furthermore, £5 from every entry fee was donated to British Inclusive Golf.

Golf News was very proud to be the Official Media Partner of the day, as the event included a number of golfing challenges and tests.

The Social Golfer OPEN Championship – The Day…

The day’s events comprised, an Individual 18-hole Stableford Competition (Men & Ladies).

A much enjoyed ‘Yellow Ball’ team event, run concurrently with the Straightest Drive and 2 x Nearest Pins.

The Golf News Guest Trophy, Charity Auction and Raffle also on offer.

This year, the event also hosted an indoor ‘Nearest Pin’ competition on North Downs golf simulator, with the winner receiving 2 nights half board at the Isla Canela Golf Hotel in Spain courtesy of Golf Escapes.

The Social Golfer OPEN Championship –  The Winners…

This year’s Men’s winner was Peter Hammond (Hampshire) with 37 Pts and the Women’s winner was Anna Guss (West London & Poland) with 29 Pts. Full results as follows:

Men’s Trophy (Halliwell Cup) …

1st – Peter Hammond – 37 Pts (Won on countback)

2nd – Roger Hurcombe – 37 Pts (British Inclusive Golf)

3rd – Speedy Miller – 34 Pts

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Women’s Trophy…

1st – Anna Guss – 29 Pts (Won on countback)

2nd – Judy Lilley – 29 Pts

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Golf News Guest Trophy…

1st – Jay Penfold (British Inclusive Golf)

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Other winners included…

• NP (3rd hole) – Michael Hanley
• NP(9th Hole) – Paul Langford
• NP in 2(11th hole) – Ian Smith
• Straightest Drive(18th hole) – Judy Lilley
• Nearest to the Sim Pin(sponsored by Golf Escapes) winning a 2-day golfing trip to Spain – Tony Moss
• Yellow Ball Team Winners– Ian Halliwell, Roger Hurcombe, Gary Wilson, Mark Reeves
• Trevor Sandford Trophy – Chip in Birdie – Steve Hunt
• Outstanding Contribution to TSG Award– Brigitte Lockwood

The Social Golfer OPEN Championship – The Charity…

As with all good golf society days, there is often a secondary purpose.

This year’s championship was no exception.

The Social Golfer have always been big advocates in supporting disability golf and this year the members raised over £1200 for British Inclusive Golf.

These monies will go towards helping young kids with autism and other mental and physical disabilities through the game of golf.

 The Social Golfer OPEN Championship – What they said…

Speaking to Golf News after the event here’s what some of the attendees said about the day…

“On behalf of British Inclusive Golf, may I thank you and The Social Golfer community at the TSG 2018 Open, for the warm welcome we received and of course the considerable financial support through the funds raised on our behalf.”

“We are totally overwhelmed by the level of support! All our guys had a marvellous time despite the inclement weather and many new friendships were forged.”  Ian Halliwell – Chairman – British Inclusive Golf

Ian Mullins, Event Director of The Social Golfer OPEN said “Being a golf day organiser can have its trials and tribulations but every year the atmosphere at our events just gets better and better. A big thanks to everyone at Golf News, Golf Escapes and Golf Deals Group for putting up over £1k’s worth of prizes. “

“We hope to grow the event even further in the next 12 months in the hope we can broaden the appeal of the day beyond just our members and guests but include more golfers from all over the world!”

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By Ian Mullins

Read about TSG OPEN 2017 Championship – Click Here

Slater wins TSG PAR 3 Championship and takes 3rd TSG Major title… and now only requires one more for the TSG Slam!

Once again members of The Social Golfer (Online Golf Club & Golf Society) gathered from all over the South East of England to meet and compete at Kent-based Pedham Place Academy on Saturday 9^th June 2018, all hoping to be this year’s TSG Par 3 Championship golfer….

The Social Golfer – Par 3 Championship…

The unique event is played over 27 holes, with the top six players going through to an 18^th hole shoot-out!

More than 30 members of the popular online golf club signed up to the day, making for an exciting competition with…..

• Mark Tucknott (Essex),
• Gary Cartlidge (Surrey),
• Mark Crane (Kent),
• Steve Slater (Essex),
• Chris Ford (Hertfordshire),
• Mike Sleeman (London)

Each finalist had two balls to win their place in the Grand Final, with the two players nearest to the pin on the 18^th Green qualifying!

With only one hitting the green it took a third ball from 5 of the 6 before settling on two finalists Steve Slater (former TSG Masters and TSG Open Champion) and first-time TSG major finalist Mike Sleeman (London).

The Social Golfer – Par 3 Championship – The Winners…

The field ranging from 12 handicappers to 28 and the course (one of the best Par 3 in the South of England) proved to make for a hugely enjoyable contest with Mr Steve Slater winning through!

Other prizes on the day included Wooden Spoon – Ruth Brand, Guest Prize – Val Hammond, NP1 – Peter Hammond, NP2 – Paul Houghton, NP3 – Peter Hammond, NP4 – Chris Ford and Quiz Winner – Peter Hammond

The Social Golfer – Par 3 Championship – What they said…

Speaking after the event Ian Mullins, Managing Director of The Social Golfer said;

“ Once again members joined in with our innovative shoot-out format giving an average golfer the taste of what it’s like to play sudden death. I still can’t believe how nervous some of them looked as they stood on the tee.”

“However, I thoroughly enjoy watching grown men turn into jelly.”

“Well done to Steve, I have no doubts his sights are now set on becoming the TSG MatchPlay champion next!”

“Many thanks to Pedham Place and Tim Milford and his team for once again looking after us so well!”

Read about our TSG Masters 2018 winner…

Having planted my ball on the 7^th green at Peeble Beach (at the TSG Open Championship on a simulator!), the next thing I know I’ve won a golfing trip to Sicily courtesy of Golf Escapes and Il Picciolo Golf Resort.

And having added a few dates to our trip, here’s my review for my fellow Social Golfer members to enjoy….

By Paul Houghton

Il Picciolo Golf Resort, Sicily – location and accommodation, Facilities…

Il Picciolo Golf Resort in the centre of the Mediterranean island of Sicily is situated roughly 50 miles from Catania Airport.

The hotel is over half way up Mount Etna the scenery is spectacular.

The transfer cost is 120 Euros (one way) and takes 50+ minutes.

The hotel and course itself were built in 1989 but sadly the outside of the hotel reflects this and is badly in need of refurbishment.

On arrival you approach a rather dated reception, where details are taken, language is not a barrier but no help with luggage was offered?

Sadly, the first thing to note is the hotel is not overly disabled friendly, some steps are not accompanied with handrails.  However, the rooms are of a good size with on suite bathroom facilities.

They are clean and the chambermaid service is very good.  Towels and shower gel etc changed every day. The room boasts Sky television and a mini bar.  Only four coat hangers per person encourage you to travel light, but there’s plenty of space for clothing and storage is available.

The restaurant was very spacious but a little dark, the staff were courteous but surely on occasion.

The three-course evening meal costs 29 Euros and was very good, most of the time.  The Saturday evening buffet was superb, only the last night did I feel the food was of a poor standard.  The breakfast layout is bland but of good quality.

The service during breakfast seemed more relaxed.  I fell one evening slipping on a discarded cucumber slice and the staff were very quick to act, cleaning up the debris, but alas did not follow up to ask if this disabled man was injured, so we felt could have been handled better.

The hotel catered for coach parties which stayed one or two nights at the hotel, staff seemed more attentive towards them than the longer staying cliental.

The cocktail bar was run by a very efficient member of staff for most of our stay (7 nights) but when she was not on duty, she was replaced by staff who obviously did not enjoy the role.

The drinks were not cheap at £7 for a G & T, we were never offered a complimentary appetiser even though it was part of our deal?! As far as entertainment goes it karaoke style.

One evening a singer sang along to backing tracks until midnight (about 5 hours), alas she was the only entertainment of the week and whilst it was ok, New York New York wears a bit thin after a while!

The spa was very tranquil and ticked many boxes as to treatments.

The staff there were helpful and made it a very enjoyable experience.  Information on the few trips (3) offered was sparse, no leaflets were offered.  A trip up Etna was offered for £100 but no meal made it seem very expensive.  Getting a taxi return to Taormina was over a £100 it was 30 minutes away.

Il Picciolo Golf Resort, Sicily – The staff…

To be brutally honest, overall, the staff communication was a problem the whole week.

There was a power cut one day, no explanation was offered to the guests and we only got into our room by seeking help from a cleaner?

The resort manager (Guy) did make an effort to discuss how our experience was going, he was very friendly and chatted whenever we saw him (he was English) but surprisingly, no other staff engaged to that level, instead, they saved their conversation for Italian guests

Il Picciolo Golf Resort, Sicily – The Golf Course…

The Clubhouse is situated a few hundred yards from the hotel.  Your round can be booked through the hotel, but buggies have to be paid for at the club. The Pro at the club is friendly and his staff are very helpful.

The office doubles with helicopter rides up Etna, so they are not only focussed with the golfers. A spacious locker room is accompanied by shower facilities.  There are drinks machines for refreshments and confectionary.

There had been a fire in the kitchens, so no other food was available at the golf club which was a little disappointing.

However, the Practise facilities are VERY good, a driving range, practice bunker with plenty of sand in it, a dedicated chipping green and practice putting green.  I was given free practise balls – refreshing as that wouldn’t happen in the UK.

A round of golf is not cheap at 85 Euros buggies are 45 Euros.  The course is nicely set out with some challenging holes but the clover (just off the fairways) is four inches long and thick.

Lost balls are inevitable as the fairways are no more than 20 paces.  I felt this was too penial, looking for balls becomes a bit of a chore when you’ve hit a good shot.

It’s a shame as the course has some dramatic holes, but its let down by unkept rough, clover, daisies and very poor signage. A stroke saver is essential for 5 Euros. The slope index does give the average golfer two shots, but it’s the looking for balls that effects your game. #

This is a very undulating course so if you’re going to walk be prepared, the temperature can fluctuate 10 or 12 degrees while you are out there. A fair bit of work needs to address these issues to bring the course up to its best.

However, one thing I will always remember is the scenic backdrop, the views of Mount Etna are spectacular…. and would make me return just to view again.

In summary, Il Picciolo Golf Resort could be an exceptional course but it really needs a lot of work on it to get it above a 3 out of 5 rating.

Would I revisit Il Picciolo?  Probably not until I see improvement in the course, its nowhere near the standard of courses for the same money in Spain or Portugal.

I think its pricing its self out of the market of the average golfer if it wants to attract the better player a lot of work needs to be done to compete with the Algarve etc.

TSG Verdict – 3 out of 5 stars

Following on from Scottish Bob’s blog series on the Oldest Golf Courses of the World by continent in 2017, Bob now turns his attention to some of the lesser known courses around the world, this time its the turn of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club…

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club –  Golfing China…

This magnificent golf course set in the bottom of a valley which faces the famous Snow Dragon Mountains which stands at 18,360 feet in the Yunnan Province of China.

The course was designed by renowned golf course architects Robin Nelson & Neil Hawthorn.

This 18 hole par 72 golf course was opened in 2001 and is the longest regulation golf course in the world, measuring 8548 yards from the pro tees & earning themselves a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Situated at a height of over 10,000 feet above sea level making it the highest golf course in China and the second highest in the world after La Paz in Bolivia standing at 10,964 feet.

However, when playing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, at this height, the ball is known to travel 20 percent further due to the thinness of the mountain air.

The front nine of this golf course has a Scottish feel to it, while the back nine is undulating and mountainous, the back nine couldn’t be more contrasting.

The two sets of nine have completely different characteristics, with the Par 5, 5th hole, standing at 711 yards which is the longest par 5 in the world (Seriously!!).

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club – The Locals …

The caddies are from the Local “Naxi” people who have lived in the area for generations and who wear their traditional costumes.

And no matter where you are playing your shot from you will have spectacular views of the snow -capped mountains.

The 13 peaks of the Snow -covered and sometimes fog-enlaced mountain resembles a Jade Dragon, lying in the clouds, hence the name “Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club”.

In addition, this is also the Southern Most Glacier in the Northern Hemisphere, the mountain range stretches for 22 miles and has a width of 13 miles.

This beautiful place is not just for golfer’s, but with an abundance of different plant species on show and wildlife.

No matter what part of the Snow Capped Mountain you visit, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club is a truly unique place.

Till Next Time…

Scottish Bob’ Davies

More articles from Bob… Golfing in The Antartica …

Every golfer wants to know what their real playing ability is but if you don’t belong to a golf club, how do you obtain a golf handicap certificate?

We asked the team at the TheSocialGolfer.com to explain what they offer the golfing nomad…

How to obtain a golf handicap certificate…

Firstly, let’s set the record straight, a CONGU (The Council of National Golf Unions) recognised handicap is the ONLY official way to get a golf handicap certificate.

However, in many ways, this is expensive, as it requires you joining a golf club, which can cost you upwards of £600 – £2000 per year!

Secondly, a much more affordable option is to join an online golf club like The Social Golfer (TSG)…

The Social Golfer has its own bespoke Golf Handicap Tracking system, which invites you to submit three of your most recent scorecards, following which it will then produce you an official TSG Golf Handicap Certificate.

Thereafter, we recommend members post their scores after EVERY round to maintain their current playing standard.

Our system takes into account both your Gross Score and the SSS (Standard Scratch Score) of the Course and adjusts your playing ability accordingly.

How to obtain a golf handicap certificate – Is it robust and accurate?

Absolutely!

We recently surveyed our members who are club members with a CONGU handicap and compared them with their TSG handicap and a resounding 100% of those asked, said their handicap on The Social Golfer was LOWER than their Club handicap!

How to obtain a golf handicap certificate – Are TSG Handicap Certificates accepted at Clubs and in Open Competitions?

Yes!

Since our launch in 2010, we have never heard of a club refusing our golf handicap certificate either in the UK or Worldwide.

However, whilst some Open Club competitions and Golf Society Days will request a CONGU certificate, many clubs are recognising that with club membership on the decline in recent years, that an online handicap is more than an adequate replacement.

Furthermore, with Club handicaps only requiring you to submit three scorecards per year (total), the TSG handicap system, calculates your ‘actual’ playing standard after every round.

A golf handicap certificate with The Social Golfer costs £24.99pp*

Looking for the birthday or Christmas gift for the golfer in your life?

Buy a membership to The Social Golfer – Click here

*correct at the time of going to press.

TheSocialGolfer.com, the online golf club and social golf network website, held its fifth Social Golfer MatchPlay Championship Final (Sponsored by The Altonwood Group) at the prestigious Addington Golf Club, on Sunday 24^th September 2017…

The Social Golfer MatchPlay Championship 2017 – The Matches & Winners…

The TSG MatchPlay Championship ran similarly to an FA Cup style knockout with participants arranging each round of matches at a course of their choice, with The Altonwood Group offering preferential green fees.

These venues including Westerham GC, Woldingham GC and Surrey National GC throughout the summer for TSG members.

The finalists Andy Attard (Kent) and Chris Knight (Surrey) both worked their way through a field of 64 to secure their place at The Addington, having played six matches across the year.

In addition, the two losing Semi-finalists Judy Lilley (Kent) and Ollie McCormack (London) competed in the third-place play-off.

The final began with Attard (21 Handicap) going 3 up after four holes, meaning novice MatchPlayer Knight (26 Handicap) had a mountain to climb to get the game back. After a valiant effort, Knight managed to remain within two holes of Attard until the stunning Par 3, 13^th but alas it was all in vain and Attard took the 2017 title on the 14^th green.

Third place trophy went to fellow Kent TSGer and current TSG OPEN Ladies Champion – Judy Lilley.

The Social Golfer MatchPlay Championship – What they said…

Attard, commenting on his win said “Many thanks to The Social Golfer for all the time and energy they put into organising this competition. Chris and I had a great final played in true ‘TSG spirit’ here at The Addington today and I am thrilled to be the new champion. Not sure I would have believed you if you had told me I’d be holding the trophy in March… so, maybe I can play golf after all!

Ian Mullins, owner of TheSocialGolfer.com said “As the TSG membership has grown this has become one of our most popular competitions. Big thank you to sponsors The Altonwood Group, lovely course and a worthy champion, what more could we want. Already looking forward to March, when it all starts again!”

Other Winners in 2017 include:

TSG Masters 2017

TSG Par 3 Championship 2017

TSG OPEN Championship 2017

By Ian Mullins

As the players arrived at Farleigh Golf Club for The Social Golfer OPEN 2017 (sponsored by Golf News and Golf Escapes), it was clear from the smiles on the popular website’s members faces this was a day they had been looking forward to.

The Social Golfer OPEN was first held in 2011, following the launch of the online golf club in 2010. The event is now in its 7^th year.

The Social Golfer OPEN 2017 – The Championship…

The event is a great opportunity for TSG members to mingle and ‘be social’ with many of 5k strong UK members (10k+ worldwide) and compete for the much coveted Halliwell Cup donated by Stroke Survivor and British Inclusive Golf Ambassador, Ian Halliwell.

Furthermore, £5 from every entry fee was donated to disabled golf charities.

Despite its humble beginnings, the event is now sold out every year, with 70+ golfers travelling from around London and the UK, and with some from as far afield as Botswana attending.

Golf News was very proud to be the Official Media Partner of the day, as the event included a number of golfing challenges and tests.

The day’s events comprised, an Individual 18 hole Stableford Competition (Men & Ladies), a much enjoyed ‘Yellow Ball’ team event, run concurrently with the Straightest Drive, 2 x Nearest Pins, Putting competition, The Golf News Guest Trophy, Charity Auction and Raffle also on offer.

This year, the event also hosted an indoor ‘Nearest Pin’ competition on Farleigh Golf Club’s state of the art golf simulator, with the winner receiving 3 nights half board at the Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa, Sicily, Italy, courtesy of Golf Escapes.

In addition to the format above, there was also a chance for TSGers to play for “A Trevor”, paying homage to a former member who recently passed away, following a brave fight with Cancer.

Trevor Sandford was the man behind “A Month of Madness on the M25’, whereby he played a different golf course at 31 different junctions of the M25’s, over 31 days in the month of August 2011 raising money for Cancer Research, following the loss of his Pairs partner to the disease. He later wrote a book about his adventure.

Well known for his constant pursuit of the ‘Chip-In-Birdie’, anyone achieving this at future official TSG events , will have their name added to The Trevor Sandford Trophy (donated by TSG members Grge Butler).

They will also receive a medal commemorating the moment, which will be known as ‘A Trevor!’ On this particular day, this was achieved by London based member Pete Mayo!

The Social Golfer OPEN 2017 – The Course…

Farleigh GC is part of the Foxhills Collection and is set on 350 acres in the North Surrey Downs and offers a 27 hole Championship golf holes.

Set in a valley, the course is well-known for its windy conditions and therefore every shot requires careful consideration.

The Social Golfer OPEN was played across the Yellow and Blue courses; the latter having recently seen over £1m of investment, so no surprise that the course played well.  This combination boasts a Par 72, (6,212 yards) and was designed by John Jacobs Associates.

This combination boasts a Par 72, (6,212 yards) and was designed by John Jacobs Associates.

The greens on the day were running at approx. 12 on the stimp-meter meaning3 putts were common.

The Social Golfer OPEN 2017 – The Winners…

This year’s Men’s winner was Roger Ireland (London) with 43 Pts, 2^nd place was Greg Butler (Essex) with 41 Pts and 3^rd was Phil Boyd (Kent) 37 Pts.

The Women’s Trophy was won by Judy Lilley (Royal Blackheath) with 35 Pts and 2^nd place went to African based golfer, Hang Van Den Broeck (Botswana).

There was also Nearest Pin & Straightest Drive competitions. Winners included Lee Benson (Hertfordshire), Ron Woodham (Essex), Simon Lacey (Surrey), Damian Benstead (Surrey) with the Putting Competition going to Phil Boyd (Kent).

The 3-day golfing in Sicily prize was won by disabled golfer Paul Houghton, after putting his ball to within 5ft of the flag at the world famous 7^th hole at Pebble Beach in the three man play-off final.

The Social Golfer OPEN 2017 – The Charities…

As with all good golf society days, there is often a secondary purpose.

This year’s TSG OPEN championship was no exception.

The Social Golfer have always been big advocates in supporting disability golf and this year the members raised over £1k for English Disabled Golfers, Paul Houghton (Disabled Golf Association) and Roger Hurcombe (British Inclusive Golf).

These monies will help pay for their travel expenses and buggy hire fees. In addition, both Houghton and Hurcombe will be competing at this year’s Scottish Disabled Open between 21^st-24^th August 2017 at St. Andrews, wearing The Social Golfer’s team colours.

The Social Golfer OPEN 2017 – What they said…

Speaking to Golf News after the event here’s what some of the attendees said about the day…

“I really look forward to The Social Golfer ‘Majors’ when we all meet up for a superb day. Whether the golf’s good or bad; you cannot walk away from the day without happy memories and a big smile on your face. Thank you to The Social Golfer team; you have completely changed my golfing life!”  Mark Crane (15 H’cap)

“There was definitely camaraderie out on the course and in the clubhouse today. We have made more good friends and always welcome new ones. The Social Golfer always brings us together!” Judy Lilley (20 H’cap)

“What a great day! Perhaps the best TSG Open ever. Great venue, food and company. Such a buzz about the whole day. We were all winners!” Damian Benstead (18 H’cap)

Ian Mullins, Event Director of The Social Golfer OPEN said “Being a golf day organiser can have its trials and tribulations but every year the atmosphere at our events just gets better and better. A big thanks to everyone at Golf News, Golf Escapes, RoboGolf and Golf Deals Group for putting up over £1k’s worth of prizes.”

He went on to say… “We hope to grow the event even further in the next 12 months in the hope we can broaden the appeal of the day beyond just our members and guests but include more golfers from all over the world!”

Golf has seen a significant decrease in participation in the last decade, however, meanwhile, the attendance of LIVE golf events has increased…

Why is this? Better coverage on TV? A better overall LIVE golf event experience?

Or just the fact that technology and the internet has made applying for tickets at these live events much more accessible?

Either way, the number of people who are more committed to watch the world’s largest golf tournaments LIVE is growing….

This has resulted in there being more investment into the way that the sport can be enjoyed by fans.

Here are some of the most entertaining and enjoyable ways of keeping up to date with your favourite golfers and the world’s biggest golf tournaments:

LIVE golf events – Go and watch the sport…

For some people, the only way to enjoy golf is through creating time in their yearly schedule and physically planning to attend a golfing tournament.

Whether you arrange your trip to watch live golf events yourself or use the services of Events International’s open golf championship hospitality, there is certainly something to be said, when you are able to stand only meters way from a golfing legend!

In fact, attending an event like The Open Golf in 2017 is also a great way for businesses to strengthen the relationships with their clients, which only enhances the experience for everyone involved and can help to establish long-term bonds.

LIVE golf events – Online and on mobile…

If you are unable to attend a tournament in the flesh, perhaps the next best way to watch the world’s biggest golfing events is through embracing the technological age and watching online.

Golfing fans that have access to the internet will be able to live stream many of the most popular events on websites.

Similarly, you can take this a step further and look at installing some of the very best apps that will be able to help you stay up to date with the latest golf goings on.

This allows you to be able to watch on your tablet or smartphone and take the experience with you wherever you go.

LIVE golf events – Watch at home…

Nowadays, TVs are HD (and can even come in 3D!) which will allow you to have an exceptionally immersive experience easily.

There are also dedicated channels out there and special sports TV packages that you can look into so that you get the very best experience.

The sound and picture quality is now better than ever, which will ensure that watching the event this way will be almost as impressive as if you were to go to an event in the flesh.

In addition, with HD Ultra and 4K just starting to penetrate the home, our level of viewing experience will only get better and better over the next few years.

However, probably the most impressive way to watch Live golf events in the home is to invest in a golf simulator…. not the most affordable option we know. They start from £20k and can go over £100k…

But having experienced the cutting edge screens available at the PGA Golf Show in January – this really could be the future of golf viewing!

LIVE golf events – Other options….

As the way of Home TV viewing has changed, so has the way Pubs, Bars and Restaurants have altered how they attract new custom… you can even watch Live golf events in your local bookmakers now!

So, regardless of which method of watching golf you choose to use, remember that there is always a solution for you despite your budget or lifestyle.

In addition, staying up to date with the latest and greatest golf tournaments has never been so easy!

by Ian Mullins