DANNY WILLETT will host the Betfred British Masters from 5th-8th May at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield. Originally known as Moxhull Hall, The Belfry was a manor of the Knights Templar until they were expelled from England in 1277.
In 1959 a Mr. Jimmy Burns bought the house for £18,500 and turned it into a hotel catering for wedding receptions and performances by The Moody Blues, Led Zeppelin and Status Quo. After the Belfry was sold to a shipping company in 1974 Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas were commissioned to turn the 15 adjoining potato fields into the Brabazon and Derby golf courses.
In 1977, The Belfry became the PGA’s official home, and the Hennessy Cognac Cup took place on the Brabazon Course in 1978 between Gt. Britain and Ireland and Europe. The inimitable Seve put the course on the map at the par 4 10th. He watched Nick Faldo hit an iron into the perfect position from which to pitch over the water onto the green, then reached for his driver. The ball soared 280ft over trees strategically placed to discourage such a shot and landed 8ft from the hole. A plaque records the achievement.
In 1985 the Belfry hosted it’s first Ryder Cup: Tony Jacklin’s Europeans against Lee Trevino’s U.S. team, Sam Torrance’s 20 ft birdie putt giving Europe victory by 16.5 to 11.5. The Belfry has hosted the Ryder Cup four times, and has seen the tournament won twice, lost and tied.
World Golf Awards gave the Brabazon Europe’s Best Golf Course gong in 2021, the Belfry got Europe’s best Golf Hotel and then the presenters got carried away and awarded it the Worlds best Golf Hotel as well, which must have pleased owners Goldman Sachs, who really need the business!
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER and his caddie Ted Scott treated Augusta National as a walk in the park as the World No.1 romped home at the Masters, unlike Tyrrell Hatton (prone to flouncing off) who complained it was ridiculously difficult and duly flounced off. Scott knows Augusta, he caddied for Bubba Watson when Bubba won the Masters twice.
The Scheffler/Scott team have marked up 4 PGA Tour victories and Scheffler has pocketed just over $9 million this season, with Scott’s 10% cut working out at approximately $900,000. Scheffler and Scott apparently first met at bible studies. Looks like their prayers were answered.
PHIL MICKELSON will be defending his PGA Championship title at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 19th-22nd May. The original host course, the Trump National Bedminster N.J. was pulled from the schedule after the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Southern Hills has hosted seven majors but none since the 2007 PGA Championship won by Tiger Woods. The land was originally donated in 1936 by an oil multimillionaire (Jed Clampett?) who wanted a family-friendly club with horseriding trails and skeet shooting, and of course a ‘Ceement Pond.’ Thousands are expected after 2021’s limited attendance, but Donald Trump will probably prefer to be 24 hours from Tulsa.
FEATURING DESCENDING LOFT TECHNOLOGY (DLT) SIK Putters enable the golfer to present the putter face at a consistent launch angle to the ball thereby creating a more predictable ball roll and getting better distance control.
DLT involves four flat surfaces milled into the putter face descending in loft by one degree from top to bottom. (Normally) used by Bryson DeChambeau. Approx. £550.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU slipped on a marble floor in Saudi Arabia while playing table tennis and injured his hand. After withdrawing from several tournaments he missed the cut at the Texas Open and at Augusta. “I can’t do any speed training and I can’t practise for hours like I have to in order to figure stuff out,” he moaned.
His hand has been operated on by “World-renowned hand surgeon” Dr.Thomas Graham. Even so, you can bet Bryson spent weeks studying the procedure and informed Dr. Graham he knew a much better way to do it. Cue anaesthetist.
Until next time, Happy Golfing.
Contact Mick for regripping and repairs. 638 859 475.
You can also visit https://mickthegrip.blogspot.com
