SANTA CLAUS GOLF CLUB sits on the Arctic Circle, in Rovaniemi, Finland, the official hometown of the jolly old elf. Reindeer wander over the course. Reindeer sausage sandwiches are on sale at the halfway-house but Dasher, Dancer & Co. aren’t bothered, they know they are needed for Christmas Eve. Hardy members and visitors play from February until April on a 9-hole snowy layout, which crosses the odd frozen lake. Snow golf rules limit the number of clubs to max 3 irons and a putter.
The staff at the club double as Santa’s helpers, sorting letters to him from all over the world at the Rovaniemi Post Office. It’s rumoured that Santa enjoys the odd round of golf, but not on the 24th December, when he ‘springs to his sleigh, to his team gives a whistle’ and off they all go on their annual world tour.
HOSTED IN DUBAI for the second time, (Why is it never Skegness) the 2021 World Golf Awards saw Augusta National take the World’s Best Golf Course trophy. Las Colinas won Best Golf Resort in Spain (again) which will really get up the noses of Sotogrande, Valderrama and La Manga. Spain’s Best Golf Hotel crown was awarded to La Finca Resort for the third year running,
Trump International Golf Links claimed Scotland’s Best Course award, and his pride and joy Turnberry got Scotland’s Best Golf Hotel, which should give that humble soul some compensation for losing the White House.
THE EUROPEAN TOUR is to become the DP World Tour. The new-look Tour will see total prize money break through the $200 million mark for the first time. It will become truly global, with 47 tournaments in 27 countries including the UAE and Japan, and an expanded Rolex Series including the Dubai Desert Classic, Genesis Scottish Open, and season-ending DP World Tour Championship. There is a new minimum prize fund of $2 million for all Tour sanctioned tournaments. It’s all a long way from the Sunningdale Foursomes.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR has got to be Colin Morikawa. Although he just missed becoming World No. 1 at the Hero Challenge he still managed to birdie 5 of the last 7 holes to take the DP World Tour Championship along with the Race to Dubai last month, after capturing The Open in July, shooting a final-round 66 without a bogey to defeat Jordan Spieth by 2 shots at Royal St. George’s. In an endearing victory speech in which Morikawa thanked his parents, brother, girlfriend, coach and caddie and applauded the crowd for applauding him the crowd even forgave him for calling it The British Open.
Also worth a mention: Old Lefty Mickelson taking the PGA Championship aged 50 with a final round 73. Not forgetting Jon Rahm, who was compensated for withdrawing from the Memorial with a 6-shot lead after testing positive for Covid by winning the US Open at Torrey Pines two weeks later.
THE 2021 LEGENDS TOUR was set to end in Mauritius on December 12th with the MCB Championship and the Alliance ProAm with competing ‘celebrities’ winning €100,000 for their charity. Harry Redknapp, Dan Walker, Georgie Bingham, Glen Johnson and Tony McCoy are said to be deeply disappointed that their week at the luxury Constance Belle Mare Plage on the Indian ocean as ambassadors for the beano – sorry – tournament has been postponed due to Covid. I bet they are.
GET YOUR DELIGHTED expression ready for unwrapping those Christmas golf gifts: ball markers printed with “May the Course be with You,” golf balls stamped with “Jingle Those Balls,” tees printed with “Have a Tee-rrific Christmas.” Then there’s the shot glass with “Dad’s best Shot” on it and the putter-shaped bottle/tin opener. Not forgetting “Dad’s Lucky Golf Socks.” You’ve got a drawer-full from last year, but who cares, it’s Christmas.
A very Merry Christmas to all, and great golfing in 2022.
Contact Mick for regripping/repairs, 638 859 475.
Just to say that the generous golfers of Orihuela Costa raised over €8000 for the RBL this year. Many thanks to everyone for a great effort!
