Monday, December 28, 2015

How to play the Maramarua Golf Course



First hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The first hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue Tees is a 274 metre par four and is the number 17 stroke hole index. It is a straight forward hole where you tee off from an elevated tee and the green is on about the same level as the tee. But to get to the green you walk down the hill and back up it. In the summer it is a driveable green to the long hitter but in the winter you will be left with a shot just under 100 metres to the green which you are unable to see because you are hitting slightly up hill. The biggest trouble on the hole is if you miss it badly on the right you will be finding yourself with tree trouble. But if you miss it badly to the left you will more than likely find yourself with a clear shot over the trees from the adjacent thirteenth fairway. But sometimes your drive can leave you in a position where you don’t have a full second shot and you will have to improvise to play your chip shot. Once on the green you will face putts that have tricky little breaks in them from left to right or right to left depending on which direction you are putting from. On the whole it is a relatively tame hole to begin with and the single figure player would be disappointed if he didn’t walk off with a birdie.    
 
Second hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The second hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue Tees is a 132 metre par three and is number 15 stroke hole index. It is a very different hole played in the summer to the winter. In the summer the ground to the left and right of the green gets so dry that if you don’t hit the green on the full your ball will bounce left and right down the slopes. It leaves a very difficult chip to get up and down for your par. But in the winter the ground is so wet that if you miss the green left or right it doesn’t move far and sometimes plugs in the ground. There is a mound that runs across the green on the front left hand side that also causes the ball to have a severe kick to the left in the summer. But sometimes it can kick the ball towards the green if you hit the side facing the green. For the single figure player it is only a pitching wedge to an eight iron in the summer depending on the wind direction but in the winter into a strong south westerly wind it can be as much as a six iron. The tee is slightly elevated and you have a full view of the green. Once on the green you will face lots of slopes as the green slopes from back to front and is slightly two tiered. Most players would be happy with a par on this hole, but a very good tee shot can lead to a birdie as can a long putt being holed. 
 
Third hole at Maramarua Golf Club looking from 220 metres to the green
The third hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue Tees is a 438 metre par five and is number nine stroke hole index. It is a slight dog leg from left to right. The tee shot is blind as you are hitting up a slight hill. A straight drive is required because if you miss it left you will be chipping out of the tall trees on the left and if you miss it right it will leave you in a dilemma whether to hit down the first fairway or go under, through or over the trees to get back to the third fairway. It plays a lot different in the summer to the winter. In the summer the single figure handicap golfer can easily reach the green in two shots with a mid to short iron as long as he/she hits a straight drive. In fact any straight drive could run an extra 50 to 100 metres. The only problem is the fairway slopes to the right and if the drive is badly sliced it could run into the trees on the right meaning your second shot would just be chipping out back to the fairway. In the winter the hole is out of reach into two shots except for the extremely long hitters. Two well struck shots will leave the single figure player with a short iron for his third. Once on the green you are faced with a green with a huge slope on it from back to front. And it has a slight false front on it as well. If you leave the ball above the hole you can be faced with a slick downhill putt from left to right. The single figure player would be looking to make birdie here but a par is still a good score. 
 
Fourth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The fourth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue Tees is a 308 metre, par four and is number thirteen stroke hole index. The main trouble on this hole is the water hazards down the left hand side. But it is tree lined down the right hand side so a shot in the fairway is the best option as it generally is on any hole. For the single figure handicap player that is a long hitter he usually tries to drive the green and give himself a chance at eagle which in the summer he is more than likely to hit than in the winter. But if he doesn’t hit the green he can leave himself with a tricky chip shot to get up and down. The smart option is too laid up with a mid to long iron and give yourself a short wedge shot for your second. For the golfer with a severe hook it is a difficult hole because there is a tree positioned right of the fairway about 60 metres from the tee. But it can be hit over so it is not really a problem to the skilled drawer of the ball. This hole changes in the winter to the summer within winter a shot hooked badly wouldn’t have enough roll out to go in the water but in the summer it more than likely would. The wind plays a huge part in the hole as well and usually blows hard off the right hand side and from behind. But occasionally the easterly makes it a much longer hole than it usually is. Once on the green you will find the green slopes from back to front with a huge right to left break or left to right depending on which direction you are putting from. Holing putts less than ten feet on this green can be tricky. The single figure player would be disappointed if he didn’t birdie this hole but on some occasions a par is a great score. 
 
Fifth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 220 metres to the green
The fifth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 465 metre par five and is the number five stroke hole index. The main trouble on this hole off the tee is the hazard all the way down the left hand side that stops about 90 metres short of the green. It also is well guarded on the right hand side by trees and some of them are rather tall. The fairway way has a severe slope to it from right to left and in the summer when the grass has turned to brown and is tinder dry a drive that seemingly started down the centre of the fairway can end in the hazard on the left. But in the winter it is not a problem keeping you ball in the centre of the fairway because parts of the fairway get so wet that on a fully hit drive the ball still plugs in the ground. So a drive missed well to left will find the hazard and will properly mean a penalty drop but if you are really lucky you may be able to play it back out to the fairway. A drive missed well to the right could mean just chipping back to the fairway but you might be lucky to find a gap through the trees to get back to the fairway and still have a chance of hitting the green in three shots. For the single figure handicapper the green is in reach in two shots with a fairway wood or long iron but sometimes in a very strong tailwind it can be reached with a mid iron. But if you choose to lay up you will be faced with a short wedge shot or a bump and run chip shot to a green that slopes severely from back to front. There is a bunker on the front left and bunkers on the left side of the green that you will have to watch out for. Also on the right hand side there are lots of small trees and it leaves a very difficult up and down. Once on the green you need to give yourself an uphill putt because a downhill putt is very hard to judge the speed. Also putting across the green has severe breaks from right to left and left to right. The single figure player would be looking to make birdie but par is still a good score. 
 
Sixth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The sixth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 149 metre par three and is number eleven stroke hole index. It is played off an elevated tee to a green that has bunkers on the left hand side that have some very high lips on them so they are best avoided at all times. You get a full view of the green from the tee with it being elevated. There are some medium height level trees on the right hand side that are about 60 metres from the tee but don’t really cause any problem to the skilled drawer of the ball because he can easily clear them. There is a huge hill on the right hand side that will kick the ball that has been missed to the right hand side on the green and sometimes next to the pin in the summer!! So the miss on this hole is definitely to the right. But in the winter the ground is so wet the ball won’t bounce anywhere. Club selection on this hole for the single figure player can be from as little as a pitching wedge with a strong westerly behind the player to a five iron with a strong easterly wind in your face. Once on the green you will be faced with a green with some very tricky breaks. The green slopes from right to left and some of the putts can be very quick!! A birdie on this hole is very good and can be achieved with a great tee shot or a long putt holed!! A par is always a good score on this hole with a birdie being a bonus. 
 
Seventh hole at Maramarua GC looking from 220 metres to the green
The seventh hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 336 metre par four and is number seven stroke hole index. The tee and the green are on the same level but about just over 200 metres from the tee there is a dip in the fairway. Also there is a water hazard on the left hand side of the hole where the dip is in the fairway which will catch out the single figure golfer that has a bad hook. Also on the right hand side there is a large tall tree about 200 metres from the tee that will come into play with the player that slices the ball. And a real bad slice can land in the hazard on the right, but you can also be lucky and have a clear shot to the green. In fact the single figure player would be better to hit a long iron or a rescue wood that wouldn’t reach the dip in the fairway and it would still leave a mid to short iron to the green. But in the winter only the extremely long hitters would reach the dip in the fairway and you will be playing a mid iron to the green. For the second shot if you managed to avoid the tree on the right and the hazard on the left you will only have a short wedge to the green in the summer but it is a blind shot. There are bunkers on the left and right of the green but they only have a small lip on them so if you have a good lie you should be able to get up and down. And there is a hazard on the far left for the player who hooks really bad!! The green is one of the biggest in area on the course so you will need to be exact with your approach shot if you want a small birdie putt!! Once on the green you will be faced with another green that has tricky breaks in it. The green also has little humps and hallows to putt through. A par is a good score on this hole but a birdie is very achievable as well. 
 
Eighth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 135 metres to the green
The eighth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 371 metre par four and is the number one stroke hole index. This hole is a dog leg to the left and has a large lake in the front of the green. It is the number one stroke hole for a reason. It is well tree lined down the left hand side and also the right. There is also a hazard down the left hand side that a badly hooked drive will land in. The single figure player that hits a slightly drawed or faded shot in the middle of the fairway will leave a mid to short iron to the green in the summer but in winter a well struck drive down the middle could mean you still have to lay up because it is a huge carry over the water hazard in front of the green that if emptied would have hundreds of balls in it!! This hole on the second shot is extremely intimidating to even the skilled player having to carry the water hazard to make the green and has ruined many a good start to the front nine!! Apart from the water hazard at the front of the green it doesn’t really have much trouble at the right, left or back except for the badly sliced shot that could land in the hazard on the far right hand side. The green is two tiered with a severe downhill slope in the middle. When the pin is placed on the top tier it increases the difficultly of the hole because there is not much margin for error between landing on the top tier, just missing the top tier and having the ball roll to the bottom and landing over the green that will leave a very difficult up and down for your par. But when the pin is placed on the bottom tier you can use the slope off the huge hill in the middle of the green to roll the ball back towards the hole and a birdie is very achievable. The green slopes majorly from back to front!! With the huge almost vertical slope from the top tier to the bottom tier!! If the pin is on the bottom tier the putting isn’t too hard but it is best to have an uphill putt. Because downhill putts can get away on you very easy. Side hill putts also have a lot of break in them and can be difficult to read. But if you are on the top tier and putting to the bottom tier you really have little chance and have to hope to hole a fifteen footer or more back up the hill for par. If the pin is on the top tier and you manage to land your ball on the top tier depending on where the pin is a two putt should be achieved but is not guaranteed. But if you are on the bottom tier putting to the top tier it is an achievement to two putt!! There have been some horror stories of four and five putting on this green!! A birdie is an awesome score here, a par is brilliant and a bogey won’t hurt you at all. 
 
Ninth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The ninth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 508 metre par five and is the number three stroke hole index. It is one of the longest par five holes in Auckland especially in the winter. It is one of the most intimidating tee shots in Auckland Golf with SH2 running all the way down the right hand side and is out of bounds beyond the fence line!! And from the tee until about 280 metres out down the left hand side are three water hazards!! So there is no bail out on this tee shot and you just have to hit a straight shot!! If you are confident with the driver then hit it but I don’t think it is the smart play at all because you are bringing in the Out of Bounds on the right and the hazard on the left into play. A long iron or rescue wood could be a smart and safer option. This hole like every hole plays a lot different in the winter to summer. In the summer with the right wind the extremely long hitter can reach the green in two shots with a wood or long iron. But in the winter you can hit three really good shots and not make the green. The wind is a huge factor on this hole and when a westerly blows at about 30mph the whole hole becomes even more difficult!! But when the wind blows from the north easterly direction the tee shot is much easier and the green is very reachable for the low handicapper in two shots. If you managed to find the fairway the job is only half done with the internal out of bounds now coming into play on the left from 135 metres to the green. But there is still a lot of room to lay up your ball up in the fairway.  The fairway slopes from left to right so a hooked shot will counteract the slope. But a slice will keep going with the slope. It is best to lay up to the left hand side of the fairway because that will open up the green. But if you are on the right hand side of the fairway you will have to come over the green side bunkers that surround the front and right side of the green and the green is also surrounded by two bunkers at the back. Over the green is also out of bounds!! The low handicapper will face between a wedge and a seven iron in the summer for his third shot but in the winter into a strong head wind it could be as much as a three iron or he may not even reach!! The green is slightly sloped from back to front with a severe slope on the front right when putting from the back of the green it can fool a lot of players with the ball sometimes run off the green!! The easier pin placements are when the pin is placed on the left hand side with the slope on the hill to the left of the green kicking the ball right in the summer months back onto the green. The hardest pin placement in my opinion is when the pin is placed on the front right directly over the front right green side bunker and on the back right makes it hard as well. This entire hole requires lots of concentration with a par being an extremely good score and sometimes a bogey is nothing to turn your face up at either. But in the right conditions a birdie is very achievable!! But ask players who have been a member here for a long time and they will tell you about a disaster that they have had on this hole!!
 
Tenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The tenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 386 metre par four and is the number four stroke hole index. It is a slight dog leg from right to left with the fairway sloping from right to left as well. It is tree lined on the left and right hand sides from the tee to green but the trees get more denser from about 150 metres into the green on both sides of the fairway. If you can play the ball from right to left you will utilise the slope of the fairway and get more run out on your shots in the summer. But the shot played from left to right can be just as much affective on this hole. The wind also has a huge affect on this hole with an extremely strong west to south-westerly making the hole play extremely long and a north easterly making the hole play extremely short. The single figure golfer could find himself with a wedge to a very long iron or even a three wood for his second shot pending the wind direction. In summer like most holes the hole plays much shorter but in winter the hole can sometimes be out of reach to even the single figure golfer. The green is slightly raised in the front meaning in the winter the ball that seems to of certainly made the green can stop in the slope before the green. There is also a large tree that is just off the fairway about 90 metres from the green that comes in to play if you miss the fairway to the right hand side.  It you miss the green on the right hand side you will face a relatively easy chip shot depending on the lie. But if you miss the green on the left or long you will face a chip shot that is blind and will make getting up and down difficult. The green slopes from left to right and has some very tricky to read breaks in it. The green is also quite long meaning if you are on the front of the green and putting to the back pin placement you could easily three putt. A par is a good score on this hole with a birdie being a bonus. 
 
Eleventh hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The eleventh hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 173 metre par three and is the number twelve stroke hole index. There are trees and scrub all down the left hand side and a tree plantation all down the right hand side just up to the green. It you hit over the green too far it is out of bounds. The hole has a right to left slope on it so once the ball hits the ground in will more than likely bounce left. So a fade is the shot to play here to counteract the slope. But a draw can be played if you aim it just on the tree line on the right and curve it back. In the summer it can be as little as a six iron down wind and as much as a two iron into the wind. But in the winter it is usually a four iron and sometimes a two iron or rescue wood into the wind won’t even make the green. A good shot in the winter won’t run forward much as the ground in front of the green becomes very soft. Chipping from the right and back of the green can be tricky due to the downhill slope. But chipping from the left is back into the slope and is much easier to control. Putting is extremely difficult on this green as it slopes from right to left quite severely. There is hardly a straight putt on this green!! If you are on the front and the pin is on the back you will be happy with two putts. A birdie on this hole is excellent and a par very good. 
 
Twelfth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 160 metres to the green
The twelve hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 336 metre par four and is the number ten stroke hole index. You can’t see the green from the tee because you tee off on a slight downhill that goes up and then down to a gully. There is out of bounds all the way down the left hand side with some small trees all the way down the right hand side to about 200 metres from the tee and a small tree that is about 200 metres on the left just off the fairway. On the right there is a tree plantation to about 100 metres off the tee. And after that there is various trees scattered down the right hand side of the fairway to the green. And there is one big tree to the right that guards the missed tee shot to the right and will mean you just have to play out to the right or chip back to the fairway if you get behind it. Again this hole is a lot different from winter to summer. In summer on a strong westerly wind the single figure golfer can drive over the gully onto the flat of the fairway. In a very strong north easterly wind the hole can play very long. But in winter you will only make the gully. The second shot is usually a blind shot to the green hitting off an uphill lie. In the summer it is a short wedge to a mid iron. But in the winter it can be a mid to long iron. The green has no real trouble around it but if you miss it way over the back you will be out of bounds. But the green is a tricky one being two tiered and it is similar to the eighth hole in that way but the slope is less severe. And the bottom tier is much smaller than the top tier. This makes putting very difficult if you are on the wrong tier. Sometimes even though you are on the bottom tier putting to the top tier the putt doesn’t need to be struck as much as you think. If you are on the wrong tier putting to the other tier a two putt is very good. A par is still a very good score on this hole but a birdie is very likely as well. 
 
Thirteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The thirteenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 295 metre par four and is the number sixteen stroke hole index. It is similar to the first hole as the tee is on about the same level as the green. But to get to the green you have to walk down and up a steep hill which is more severe than the first hole that runs parallel to this hole. This hole like all holes plays very different depending if it is into a head wind or down wind. Into a very strong west south westerly wind it can be as much as a drive and an eight iron in the winter. But in the summer with a strong northerly wind behind your back the single figure player if he hits the ball straight and long can possibly roll it onto the green. On the left hand side there is a hazard that comes into play for the extremely bad hooked shot properly only the very high handicap will visit it. But from about 120 metres from the tee on the left is a large tree plantation that is best avoided but sometimes you can manufacture a shot from it and get it on the green.  On the right hand side there is a big tree about 100 metres from the tee which could cause a problem for a golfer with a severe hook. But the skilled drawer can hit over it. From 100 metres from the tee to up to the green on the right hand side there is small to medium length trees that will cause you problems if you miss it just to the right. And right next to the green on the front right there is a very large tree that also causes lots of problems. If you miss way right you will have a clear shot from the first fairway. But you will need to hit it high to clear the large tree near the front right of the green. The second shot can be very difficult into a strong west south westerly wind because the back of the green is very exposed and it can be hard to get you balance while playing your short iron shot and you sometimes have to take two more clubs than usual. There is no real trouble around the green but it is better to miss on the left because if you miss on the right or back there is a huge slope that makes getting up and down tricky. Once on the green you will find the front of the green has a slight false front and the green has a little slope from back to front. It is quite a big green so you just hitting the green is half the battle and sometimes you are faced with a birdie putt over forty feet and it can be hard to two putt. All in all it is a simple hole that the single figure handicapper should birdie but if you get out of position a par can be a good score.  
 
Fourteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The fourteen hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 157 metre par three and is the number fourteen stroke hole index. The tee and the green are on the same level but to get to the green you have to walk down through a valley. In the summer time you can bounce the ball back onto the green off the mound at the back because the ball will roll back down. But in the winter it rarely rolls back. The low handicap player can uses as little as an eight iron downwind when the strong south westerly wind is blowing but as much as a three iron into a strong easterly wind. You must carry the ridge to reach the green. If you don’t the ball will roll back down the slope and you will be left with an extremely difficult chip shot to get up and down for you par. There is not really much trouble around this hole with no bunkers and water hazards but there is a small tree on the left which can cause some problems if you miss short left. Once on the green you will be faced with putts with small tricky breaks in them. And the green has a small ridge in it that runs through the middle of it meaning some putts can be extremely quick coming down it. And when the pin is put on the front part of the green it makes it extremely difficult to get the ball close. The low handicapper would be content to walk off with par but a birdie is also achievable. 
 
Fifteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 220 metres to the green
The fifteenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 390 metre par four and is the number two stroke hole index. This hole is one of the toughest holes on the course for a reason. In the summer the low handicap golfer can easily drive down the ridge to the ninety metre mark and hit a wedge into the green. But in the winter a good drive and a long iron or fairway wood will still come up short of the green, leaving a short chip to green to get up and down for the par. Like all holes the wind plays a huge part in the hole and when it is blowing from the north east the hole plays much shorter than when blowing from the south west where it whistles right down the hole in the players face. There is trouble down the left hand side in trees but if you hit a bad hook you may still have a second shot because the trees open up at about 250 metres from the tee. There is also trouble down the right hand side with trees and about 250 metres off the tee there is a plantation of trees that you would not want to go in because it would mean just a chip out back to the fairway. Once up at the green there is trouble on the left with a big slopping hill and small trees that would make a ball going down there very hard to get up and down. And that is if you can find your ball at all. There is also trouble with small trees over the back of the green but it takes a really bad shot to get there. Once on the green you will find a green that slopes from back to front with some very tricky breaks. And the front part of the green is like a false front and when the greens are running very quick it will roll right off the front down to the fringe. This is a very hard hole that if you walk off with a par you will be very happy but in calm conditions you can also achieve a birdie but in extremely windy conditions a bogey is a good score. 
 
Sixteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 200 metres to the green
The sixteenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 449 metre par five and is the number eight stroke hole index. This hole is a sharp dog leg from left to right. You tee off from a very elevated tee and the green is on the same level as the tee. The dog leg turns sharply left to right at about the 200 metre mark. When the tees are played right at the back the player that slices the ball will have to flirt with the tree on the left with their tee shot. Also at the 200 metre mark off the tee the fairway becomes flat after a huge rise up the hill. In the summer time the low handicapper can drive his ball over the hill and it can roll out to 300 metres but he better hit his drive straight because if he slices it he will be out of bounds and if he draws it too much he will be through the fairway in the trees. But in the winter it will take a very good drive to reach the top of the hill and you will have no problem worrying about your ball rolling through the fairway too much. Again the hole changes pending the wind conditions. When it is blowing south westerly the hole plays much short to when it is blowing north easterly. The trouble down the left hand side is a clump of trees about 180 metres off the tee and once the hole dog legs there are small to large trees all down the left hand side until ninety metres from the green. The trouble down the right hand side is Out of Bounds that runs from the tee to the green and there is a clump of trees placed at the 200 metres from the green that prevents the long drivers from taking a more direct line to shorten the dog leg. The second shot is very difficult as well and becomes more difficult in the summer because the ground gets so dry that a shot just missed slightly left rolls right down to the bottom of the hill leaving a blind shot for their third. But a second shot missed right can roll out of bounds off the slope to the right. The green can be hit in the summer with a mid to long iron but in the winter it is out of reach for the shot hitters and the very long hitters can reach sometimes. The smart option is to lay up to the ninety metre mark and hit a short wedge into the green. Once on the green you are faced with a big green that slopes from back to front and it is slightly two tiered. The green like the rest of the greens has some very tricky to read breaks in them and the wind also plays a huge part in the putting because it is the highest part of the golf course. A par on this hole is a great score but a birdie or even an eagle can be achieved by the low handicap player!!
 
Seventeenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The seventeenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 250 metre par four and is the number eighteen stroke hole index. It is a driveable hole for single figure handicap player in the right conditions but for the average golfer it is out of reach but on strong tail wind and when the ground is extremely dry in the summer a long straight drive can roll onto the green. You tee off out of a narrow Shute with trees on the right and one big tree on the left that cause the player problems if he has a bad slice. The slope of the fairway is severely from left to right that in the summer if the ball lands in the middle of the fairway it will roll into the right rough. Also up at the green there is a huge clump of trees on the left hand side that the player trying to drive the green has to take on if he is to drive the green. But if he can draw the ball in from the right hand side he won’t have to deal with the trees and will also counteract the left to right slope that becomes more severe up by the green. In the winter the hole is only driven by the extremely long hitters. And a drive that lands in the fairway most always stays there. You can also be faced with a very difficult chip shot over or under the trees on the left to try and get the ball on the green. Some people tee off with a mid iron to leave a full wedge into the green. The hole is tree lined all down the right hand side and on the left hand side if you hit a really bad hook there is small trees that will mean if you hit in there you will just have to chip back to the fairway. Also the green is above the fairway meaning that if you are short in the fairway you will have a difficult chip shot up the hill to the green. Once on the green you will be faced with a green that slopes from left to right with tricky breaks in most of your putts. This is a very easy hole if played the right way and the single figure player will be disappointed if he doesn’t walk off with a birdie. Most players in the club can say they have made at least one eagle on this hole at some point in time!!
 
Eighteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee
The eighteenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 350 metre par four and is the number six stroke hole index.  It is a great finishing hole and is tree lined down the left and right sides. You tee off on an elevated tee down to the fairway. It favours a draw for the right handed player off the tee but you can still play a fade if you take the trees on. There is also a water hazard on the left hand side that will catch the badly hooked drive just over 200 metres off the tee. If you miss the ball too much to the right off the tee shot it can be okay because your ball will land in the fourth fairway and will leave you with a clear shot to the green as long as you can clear the trees. Again the wind plays a huge factor in the hole and when it is played into a strong westerly wind it can be a drive and a long iron but when it is blowing a north-easterly wind it can be just a drive and a short iron. And in Summer like all the holes on the course it plays much shorter to the winter where a drive down to the 135 metre marker is very good. The hole plays uphill to the green and it is usually one more club than you think it is. Once on the green you will be faced with a green that slopes from back to front and there is a false front on the front of the green that will roll the balls back off if not cleared!! There is also out of bounds on the back right of the green. The green has some tricky breaks in it from right to left and left to right and the outside deck up top off the club house in the Summer time often sees a little bit of friendly heckling from the players watching that have finished their rounds!! 

Maramarua Golf Club is well worth playing and is situated less than an hour from the Auckland CBD and Hamilton CBD and just under two hours from Tauranga. It is a must play golf course for all serious golfers!!

Monday, December 21, 2015

Golf Events from the Weekend 20th December 2015



Well it was another awesome weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the Asian Tour headed to the Philippines for the final event of the 2015 season and it was the Philippine Open presented by ICTSI and it was played on the Luisita Golf & Country Club, Philippines. It carried a good prize purse of US $300,000 for the taking. Marcus Both (Australia) was the defending Champion and was keen to defend his title. And it was the golfer by the name of Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) who scored rounds of 67-5, 69-3 and a brilliant final round of 66-6 for a fifty four hole total of 202-14 in the rain shortened event due to poor weather from the recent Typhoon that struck the Philippines and he won by a single shot for his maiden Asian Tour win of his career. He earned US $54,000 for the win and finished in twenty third position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $166,204 earned from the fifteen events he played in. Anirban Lahiri (India) won the 2015 Asian Tour Order on Merit with US $1,139,084 earned from the nine events he played in. Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) will be happy with his three rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 66-6 in the final round!! 
 
Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) hits an iron shot during the final round
Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) played a brilliant final round of 66-6 which included a front nine of 35-1 which saw him birdie the par four, fourth hole, par five, fifth hole but his lone bogey came on the par three, sixth hole and he made the turn at minus nine and was three shots behind the leader. Scott Barr (Australia) went out in 33-3 and made the turn at minus twelve and was leading by three shots. Himmat Rai (India) went out in 32-4 and made the turn at minus seven and was five shots behind the leader. Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand) went out in 34-2 and made the turn at minus nine and was three shots behind the leader. 

Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) played holes ten to fourteen in an amazing four under par which included birdies on the par four, tenth hole, par five, twelfth hole, par three, thirteenth hole and par four, fourteenth hole and he moved to minus thirteen and was now leading by a single shot. Scott Barr (Australia) played holes ten to fourteen in even par which included a birdie on the par four, fourteenth hole and a bogey on the par four, tenth hole and he remained at minus twelve but was now one shot behind the leader. Himmat Rai (India) played holes ten to fourteen in two under par which included birdies on the par four, tenth hole and par four, fourteenth hole and he moved to minus nine and was now only four shots behind the leader. Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand) played holes ten to fourteen in three under par which included birdies on the par four, tenth hole, par five, twelfth hole and par three, thirteenth hole and he moved to minus twelve and now was only one shot behind the leader. 

Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) played holes fifteen to seventeen in one under par and it included a birdie on the par five, sixteenth hole and he moved to minus fourteen and was now leading by two shots heading to the par four, seventy second tee. Scott Barr (Australia) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par which included a birdie on the par four, fifteenth hole and a bogey on par three, seventeenth hole and he remained at minus twelve and was now two shots behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy second tee.  Himmat Rai (India) played holes fifteen to seventeen in two under par which included birdies on the par four, fifteenth hole and par three, seventeenth hole and he moved to minus eleven and now was only three shots behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy second tee. Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par which included making three straight pars and he remained at minus twelve heading to the par four, seventy second tee. 

Himmat Rai (India) who was playing a few groups ahead of the final group made a good birdie on the par four, fifty fourth hole and finished the fifty four holes on minus twelve and was two shots behind the winner. Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand) who was playing in the group ahead of the final group made a solid par at the par four, fifty fourth hole and finished the fifty four holes at minus twelve and was two shots behind the winner. Scott Barr (Australia) who was playing in the final group with Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) made a very good birdie up the par four, fifty fourth hole and finished the fifth four holes at minus thirteen and was one shot behind the winner. Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) stood on the par four, fifty fourth tee with a two shot lead and knew a par was all he needed to gain his maiden Asian Tour win. And he did exactly that with making an easy par four and he finished the fifty four holes at minus fourteen to win by a single shot!! He scored 31-5 on the back nine which was brilliant!! He got a huge hug and high five from his caddie!! 

He was interviewed by the local television reporter and told him “I’m glad the Philippine Open is my first Asian Tour title,” he also said “I’m really happy that my name will be on this prestigious trophy alongside some of the legends in golf in Asia’s oldest National Open.” He also said “I gave myself a goal at the start of the day which was to shoot a 66 or lower. There are a lot of birdie chances and people can make a move. I was one-under after the turn and I thought I lost some ground. I knew I needed to go out with all guns blazing,” And he also said “You have to take your defeats as a positive and remind yourself that it is part of the process. It definitely made me a stronger golfer mentally. It helped a lot that I had already saved my Asian Tour card for 2016 earlier this year. I knew I was playing for the win”. “I played really well here before and I won on this course on the local circuit. I’m without words really. I’m happy and glad with the victory,”
 
Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) kisses the Philippine Open Trophy he won!!
Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) agonisingly missed out on a first Asian Tour win at the 2014 Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Chinese Taipei when he was defeated by Prom Meesawat (Thailand) on the second play-off hole. His runner-up result and one other top-10 earned him a full card for 2015, the first time he had achieved the feat in his young career. His best moment in 2012 came on home soil at the ICTSI Philippine Open where he went into the final round, one shot back of Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat (Singapore). He had a round to forget though after closing with an 81 which eventually saw him take a share of eleventh place. He missed out on his full playing rights for 2012 when he ended the 2011 season in 62nd place on the Order of Merit, a mere US$250 short of Keith Horne (RSA) who sealed the last full tour card. Miguel’s Tabuena (Philippines) highlights for the year came at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters where he finished fourth. In 2013, Miguel’s Tabuena (Philippines) best placing was a tied sixth result at the Solaire Open on home soil. The teenager finished in the top-40 of the 2011 Asian Tour Qualifying Final Stage in Thailand as an amateur and subsequently turned professional in February. The highly rated teenager was also a silver medalist winner in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in 2010. Due to his playing schedule, Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) is home-schooled. Apart from his maiden win on the Asian Tour this past week he has also won seven times previous on the Philippine Golf Tour and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2012 ICTSI Splendido Classic, Philippines, 2012 Eastridge Classic, Philippines, 2014 ICTSI Manila Masters, 2015 Splendido Classic, Philippines, 2015 ICTSI Rancho Palos Verdes Classic, Philippines, 2015 ICTSI Open Championship, Philippines, 2015 Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open, Philippines. Let’s hope he can continue this form into the 2016 Asian Tour season and perhaps achieve his second Asian Tour win? I wish him all the best for 2016 Asian Tour season. 

Coming in solo second position on 203-13 after fifty four holes was Scott Barr (Australia); he earned US $33,000.00 for his efforts and finished in forty ninth position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $90,870 earned from the fifteen events he played in this season. He will be happy with his three rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 66-6 in the second round which included a front nine 30-6!! And it was also the equal low round of the day!! But he will be disappointed with how he played the back in the final round when he was leading with only scoring 35-1 especially the bogey he made on the par three, seventeenth hole!! But he will also gain a lot of confidence out of this runner up finish and with it he kept his full playing status for 2016 on the Asian Tour. Scott Barr (Australia) enjoyed three top-10s in 2014 to safely keep his card for the twelfth successive season. He has come close on several occasions to winning his first title. In 2012, he led at the SAIL Open before finishing third. Scott Barr (Australia) qualified for his second Major Championship appearance at the US Open in 2011. He also enjoyed a solid season in 2010 with two seventh place finishes at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters and Mercuries Taiwan Masters and a second place finish at the Iskandar Johor Open. In 2009, Scott Barr (Australia) was tied fifth at the Brunei Open and equal seventh at the Macau Open. In 2008, the Singapore-based Scott Barr (Australia) enjoyed a tied eleventh and joint twelfth finish in successive weeks at the Johnnie Walker Classic in India and Maybank Malaysian Open. Finished tied sixth in the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters at the end of the season. In 2007, he registered six top-10s. In 2006, he finished runner-up at the Macau Open for the second time in four years. In 2005, Scott Barr (Australia) enjoyed his career season to date so far. The Aussie savoured a second place finish in the Okinawa Open and Thailand Open, where he lost in a play-off to Kiwi Richard Lee (NZL). He shot an albatross in the Maekyung Open in Korea. In 2004 Scott Barr (Australia) achieved a career high when he qualified for the British Open. Prior to that, he played on the Australasian Tour from 1995 to 1999 but quit playing after a water skiing accident saw him suffer a neck injury. He became a teaching professional in Singapore Island Country Club but got his big break in 2003 when he played in the Macau Open. Led after the second and third rounds but was caught by Scotland's Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) in the final round and then edged out in the play-off. The man from Canberra says he enjoys the stock and real estate markets. He has started a business in Singapore dealing with barbeque grills and has spent time doing TV commentary. Let’s hope he can continue this form into the 2016 Asian Tour season and achieve his maiden win. I wish him all the best for the 2016 Asian Tour season. 

Coming in tied for third position at 204-12 after fifty four holes was Himmat Rai (India); he earned US $16,950.00 for his efforts and finished in thirty first position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $139,473 earned from the twelve events he played in this season. He will be happy with his three rounds this week that were all under par especially his 63-9 in the final round which was the low round of the day and the tournament!! Himmat Rai (India) (born 18 May 1987) is an Indian professional golfer who won the 2011 ISPS Handa Singapore Classic. He has also won the 2009 PGTI Players Championship on the professional golf tour of India. Himmat Rai (India) broke through in a big way when he won the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic in style, prevailing in a five-way play-off that stretched over six holes at Orchid Country Club in 2011. He holed a 25-foot birdie to pip Filipino Elmer Salvador for his first Asian Tour title. Also registered top-10s at the Panasonic Open India and Hero Indian Open. His best result in 2012 was tied fourth at the Queen’s Cup in Thailand followed by another top-10 at the Yeangder Tournament Players’ Championship in Chinese Taipei. It was a mixed season for Himmat Rai (India) in 2013 where his best result was tied ninth at the Avantha Masters on home soil. He regained his playing privileges with a tied-twelve place finish at the 2015 Qualifying School. He was introduced to the game by his father at the age of six. Took the game of golf seriously at the age of 12 and won his first title on the Professional Golf Tour of India two years after turning professional. He is one of the most methodical golfers on Tour. I wish him all the best for the 2016 Asian Tour season. 

The other player to tie for third position was Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand); he also earned US $16,950.00 for his efforts and finished in fifty sixth position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $ 77,873 earned from the fifteen events he played in this season. He will be happy with his three rounds this week that were all under par especially his first and final rounds that were both 67-5s!! Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand) (born 1 November 1988) is a Thai professional golfer who plays on the Asian Tour and the European Tour. Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand) was born in Chantaburi, Thailand. As an amateur, he won tournaments in Asia, Australia and the United States. His most notable win came at the 15-17 age group event at the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, California. He won the 2005 Double A International Open on the Asian Tour at the age of 17 years and five days, becoming the youngest person to win on the Asian Tour. He trailed by five shots going into the final round but forced a playoff with a final round of 67 which included three birdies on the final holes. He defeated Shiv Kapur (India) in a playoff to win the tournament. The win also made him the third amateur to win a professional tournament in Asia. He turned professional right after the victory. Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand) won his second event on the Asian Tour at the 2006 Crowne Plaza Open. He was two shots back with three holes left in the tournament and birdied holes 16 and 18 to force a playoff. He defeated Prom Meesawat (Thailand) and Lin Wen-tang (Taiwan) in the playoff. As a rookie on tour, he finished in twenty ninth on the Order of Merit. He almost picked up his third Asian Tour victory at the 2007 Midea China Classic but fell to Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand) in a playoff. He finished twentieth on the Order of Merit in 2007. In 2008 he recorded four top-10 finishes and finished in 38th on the Order of Merit. He earned his European Tour card for 2009 by finished tied for twelfth at qualifying school. Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand) won his third event on the Asian Tour at the 2009 Queen's Cup. He entered the final round a stroke behind the leader but a final round of 67 (-4) including three birdies on the last five holes saw him win the tournament by a margin of three strokes. I wish him all the best for the 2016 Asian Tour season. 

Rounding out the top nine in tied for fifth position at 206-10 after fifty four holes was Seukhyun Baek (South Korea); he earned US $ 8,922.00 for his efforts finished in sixty ninth position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $51,091 earned from the eleven events he played in this season and unfortunately he failed to keep his full playing status for the 2016 Asian Tour season. He will be happy with his three rounds this week that were all under par especially his final round 66-6 which was blemish free and included a front nine 32-4 where he had four straight birdies from the fifth to eighth holes!! Seukhyun Baek (South Korea) was denied his maiden Asian Tour win in 2014 when he was pipped to the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters by Anirban Lahiri (India), who eagled the last hole for a one-shot win. The Korean also missed an opportunity at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in 2013 where he led up till the fifteenth hole in the final round but settled for third place after dropping three shots in his last three holes. He enjoyed one of his best seasons ever by finishing in ninth place on the Order of Merit after posting eight top-10s. Seukhyun Baek (South Korea) earned his Asian Tour card in 2010 at the Qualifying School. He burst into life with a tied tenth placing at the King’s Cup in Thailand and surprised even himself when he took the second and third round lead at the Hero Indian Open and was on the brink of victory but faded with a final round 73 to finish in second place, two strokes from the champion Rikard Karlberg of Sweden. Seukhyun Baek (South Korea) has been based in Thailand since 2004 and speaks fluent Thai as well. Let’s hope he can regain his full playing status back for 2016 Asian Tour at the qualifying school in early January. I wish him all the best for the 2016 Asian Tour season. 

Also tied for fifth position was Simon Griffiths (England); he too earned US $ 8,922.00 for his efforts finished in 122nd position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $10,242 earned from the four events he played in this season and unfortunately he failed to keep his full playing status for the 2016 Asian Tour season. He will be happy with his three rounds that were all under par especially his second and final rounds that were consecutive 68-4s!! Simon Griffiths (England) finished sixty sixth on the Order of Merit in 2010 but fought his way to a tied twenty fifth outing at the Qualifying School in Thailand in January of 2011 to regain his playing rights. He started the year with four straight cuts and his best result of the year came in tied eighth place at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Chinese Taipei. In 2012, Simon Griffiths’s (England) best result was a tied eleventh finish at the King’s Cup. The Englishman produced his best performance on Tour when he finished tied second at the Volvo China Open in 2008. The result was enough to help him seal his Tour card for 2009 as he ended the year in twenty first position on the rankings. Simon Griffiths (England) started 2009 strongly with a tied eleventh place at the Asian Tour International in Thailand. One other top-10 at the Indonesia Open and four top-30s helped secure his 2010 Tour card with a forty sixth place finish on the Order of Merit. Simon Griffiths (England) made his debut on the Asian Tour in 2006 and enjoyed a flying start with a tied fifth finish at the Aamby Valley Asian Masters in India. He went on to register a tied tenth finish in the Brunei Open. In 2007, he safely kept his card by finishing forty fourth on the money list, thanks to a second place finish at the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters. Partnered Ross Fisher (England), a multiple winner on the European Tour, and won back-to-back titles at the Sunningdale Foursomes in England in 2003 and 2004. He picked up golf at the age of seven at the famed Wentworth Golf Club in London where his father is a member. Has played on the European Challenge Tour where his best finish was seventh at Formby Hall Challenge in 2003. Let’s hope he can regain his full playing status back for 2016 Asian Tour at the qualifying school in early January. I wish him all the best for the 2016 Asian Tour season. 

Also tied for fifth position was Jeunghun Wang (South Korea); he too earned US $ 8,922.00 for his efforts finished in ninth position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $218,988 earned from the sixteen events he played in this season. He will be happy with his three rounds this week that were all under par especially his first round 67-5!! Jeunghun Wang (South Korea) enjoyed a stellar season in 2014 where he didn’t miss a single cut in sixteen Asian Tour events. He came close to winning the Dubai Open before settling for second which was his best result on the Asian Tour. He led by one with one hole to play on the last day but dropped a double bogey to lose to Arjun Atwal (India).  He also contended in the Resorts World Manila Masters. He lived in the Philippines for six years when he was a junior golfer as it was “cheaper” for his golf career. His close affinity with the country has seen him do well in all Asian Tour events staged in the Philippines since 2013. He has one PRO WIN: (1) 2014 Mission Hills Haikou Open, China. AMATEUR WINS: (5) Carlubang Amateur Open 2010, DHL National Golf Championship 2011, Philippines Amateur Championship 2011, YoungIn Univ. President Cup 2010, Sports Chosun Cup 2010. Let’s hope he can continue this form into the 2016 Asian Tour season and I wish him all the best for the 2016 Asian Tour season. 

Also tied for fifth position was Niall Turner (IRL); he too earned US $ 8,922.00 for his efforts finished in fifty eighth position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $70,440 earned from the ten events he played in this season. He will be happy with his three rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 68-4 in the second round!! He will be also really happy that he secured his full playing status for the 2016 Asian Tour season. Niall Turner (IRL) made his Asian Tour debut in 2011 and claimed three top-20s in his first nine months on Tour. Made a strong start to 2012 when he contended for the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic before finishing third. He also finished top-20 in three other events during the season. Niall Turner (IRL) is one of the tallest players on Tour. He was an avid tennis player before turning his attention to golf. He won one professional tournament on the ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR which was the 2014 Linc Group Jakarta Classic. I wish him all the best the 2016 Asian Tour season. 

The final player to tie for fifth position was Keith Horne (RSA); he too earned US $ 8,922.00 for his efforts finished in fifty ninth position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $69,977 earned from the eleven events he played in this season. He will be happy with his three rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 68-4 in the second round!! He will be also really happy that he secured his full playing status for the 2016 Asian Tour season. Keith Weller Horne (RSA) (born 9 June 1971) is a professional golfer from South Africa. Keith Horne (RSA) was born in Durban and had a successful amateur career. In 1993, Keith Horne (RSA) won a Silver Medal at the World Games in Spain. He turned professional in 1996. After turning professional in 1996, Keith Horne (RSA) immediately joined the local Sunshine Tour, the richest professional golf tour in South Africa. His first professional win came in 1998 at the Vodacom Series: Kwazulu Natal. After that, he had a few off-seasons until he won a few unofficial Pro-Ams in 2003. His second official win came in 2007 at the MTC Namibia PGA Championship. He won again a year later at the Nashua Golf Challenge. Keith Horne (RSA) also holds membership on the Asian Tour, where he has yet to win. In 2010, a runner-up finish in the Joburg Open, and a top-10 finish at the Singapore Open, both events which are co-sanctioned with the European Tour meant that Keith Horne (RSA) earned enough to have a full European Tour membership for 2011. In 2012, he picked up his fifth victory on the Sunshine Tour at the Telkom PGA Championship. He picked up two more wins in 2014 and one in 2015. Keith Horne (RSA) married his wife Karen in September 2000. He has two children, born in 2002 and 2007. He currently resides in Alberton. He has won eight times to date so far on the Sunshine Tour with his most recent win coming at the 2015 Sun City Challenge. Let’s hope he can continue this form into the 2016 Asian Tour season. I wish him all the best for the 2016 Asian Tour season. 

The top sixty three golfers on the 2015 final Asian Tour Order of Merit kept their full playing status for the 2016 season. And the happiest golfer this week apart from Miguel Tabuena (Philippines) was Unho Park (Australia) who finished in sixty third position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $61,847 earned from the nineteen events he played in this season and his full playing status on the 2016 Asian Tour season is secure!! The least happy golfer this week was Phachara Khongwatmai (Thailand) who finished in sixty fourth position on the final 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $60, 688 earned from the thirteen events he played in this season and he will now head back to Asian Tour Qualifying School in early 2016 to try and gain his full status back for the 2016 season. 

The Asian Tour recommences in mid January 2016 for EurAsia Cup presented by DRB – HICOM which is played on the Luisita Golf & Country Club, Malaysia. It carries a huge prize purse of US $4,800,000 for the taking. It is a Teams event between Europe and Asia in a Ryder Cup Style Match Play format and is only the second playing of the event. The first matches are played on Friday 15th January. The inaugural event was a tie; the Cup was shared between the teams!! I will report back the final result once it is known. 

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings this week and for the final time in 2015 and coming in at Number One Position for the thirteenth week of his career is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off  his solo fourth position at the Hero World Challenge two weeks ago and also his tied for second position at the Emirates Australian Open three weeks ago with 11.68 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jason Day (Australia) who is fresh off being part of the 2015 Team Internationals Presidents Cup narrow loss to Team USA ten weeks ago in South Korea and also his tied for tenth position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola twelve weeks ago with 11.12 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy (NIR) who is fresh off his win four weeks ago at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and the Race to Dubai title for a third time in his career and also his tied for eleventh position at the WGC – HSBC Champions six weeks ago with 10.97 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for fifteenth position at the Thailand Golf Championship one week ago and also his win two weeks ago at the Hero World Challenge with 8.11 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five on the Official World Ranking Points list standings this week is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who is fresh off his solo second position at the Nedbank Golf Challenge two weeks ago and also his tied for fifty ninth position at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai four weeks ago with 7.45 Official World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his fortieth week of another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after finishing in tied for seventh position at the Franklin Templeton Shootout one week ago with his partner Retief Goosen (RSA). This week he gains one place and rises to fortieth eighth position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 2.64 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember the most important shot in a game of golf is the shot you are about to play!!

This being my last golf blog of 2015 I would like to thank all the readers for their support over the past year and I will be back in the second week of January in 2016 to start my weekly report of Golf Events from the Major Professional Tours from around the world. Have a safe and Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year for 2016!! 

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com, ladieseuropeantour.com, asiantour.com