Buzzin Golf

Padraig Harrington & Colin Montgomerie discuss 'The Ultimate Open 18'

Which is the greatest opening hole in golf’s Open Championship, or the best around the turn, or indeed the finest finishing hole?

These are questions golfers ask and debate up and down the land. HSBC, celebrating its first year as Patron of the Open Championship, decided to take that debate a step further by engaging two of the world’s finest golfers of recent times, Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie, to create a course of the finest holes in Open Championship golf, “The HSBC Ultimate Open 18“.

HSBC asked each of the players, who with 35 Open appearances between them know a thing or two about Open Championship golf, to produce an 18 hole Open Championship course, using holes from the nine courses on the current Open rota. Their brief was simple: to create a genuine Championship course in terms of length and par and with the sequence of holes corresponding to the actual hole number on the respective course, as played at The Open. They were then pitted against one another in debate, with the BBC’s Andrew Cotter keeping order, to produce the HSBC Ultimate Open 18, potentially the greatest of Open courses, were it to be played for real!

Padraig Harrington commented:

“I really enjoyed the whole process as it’s a discussion we often have. But taking it to the next level, actually to create a whole course, was a real challenge, as well as a lot of fun! There are so many great golf holes on all the Open courses that it’s sometimes hard to pick out one above another. I chose to look at both the design of the hole and the strategy required to play it while, of course, my emotions came into play. My own personal experiences, including the great weeks I enjoyed at Carnoustie and Royal Birkdale, and the history and theatre that I feel when at the home of golf, St. Andrews, for example, were definitely part of my decision making. I’m sure not everyone will agree to every selection – Monty certainly didn’t!”

Both players brought a rich experience to the table. Irishman Padraig Harrington has won two Opens (‘07 and ‘08) and played in 14. Colin Montgomerie holds course records at St Andrews and Carnoustie, finished second in the Open at St Andrews in 2005 and has played an incredible 21 consecutive Open Championships. But they also brought a different approach.

“I focused purely on the quality of the hole, though undoubtedly those that suit me better, the 12th at Royal Birkdale for example, came ahead of others.” said eight-times European Order of Merit Winner, Colin Montgomerie.

“I found it a fascinating exercise and I’m sure plenty of players, professional and amateur alike, will come up to us at Sandwich to tell us we got it wrong. But that’s one of the reasons why we love The Open, because we have nine wonderful courses which all bring their own challenge, their own unique qualities to bear. I look forward to the debate to come!”

The final HSBC Ultimate Open 18 course they agreed on is certainly a challenge to ponder. At 7,264 yards, it’s comparable to this year’s Open course at Royal St George’s, Sandwich for example. But it’s the par 3s that really stand out, with four of the toughest to be found on any course.

Group Head of Sponsorship, Giles Morgan, said:

“HSBC has been involved in golf at all levels since 2003 and in HSBC’s first year as Patron of the Open Championship, we wanted to do something to celebrate one of the unique features of the event which include the wonderful group of links courses on which the Championship is played. Just imagine a round of golf that includes The Postage Stamp, Barry Burn and the Road Hole – sounds good, doesn’t it? We hope that golf fans everywhere will enjoy the HSBC Ultimate Open.”

The Cascades Golf and Country Club

If you are looking for a golf course that offers sensational views as well as a challenging round with a difference, then you may like The Cascades Golf and Country Club, known as the “Red Sea Treasure” in the sensational Soma Bay.

The Cascades Golf and Country Club set within the boutique destination of Soma Bay offers world class golf in fantastic sunshine all year round. Designed by one of the ‘Big Three’, this spectacular Gary Player designed desert-style links course consists of an 18-hole, par 72 course, a PGA golf academy and an extensive driving range. Nestled in the centre of the course is the beautiful Residence des Cascades, making Soma Bay a perfect year round escape for the whole family.

Described by golfing legend Gary Player as the “Red Sea Treasure” the Cascades is the very first championship course in the Middle East, and has recently been ranked as the best golf course in the world, outside of Europe, for the third year running by the readers of “Golf Journal”. Offering spectacular scenery and lush green fairways, rugged desert mountains and azure blue water, the excitement of the course is as memorable as the views!

As well as the 18 hole, 72 par course, the immaculate Cascades also boasts a 9 hole, 3 par course for less advanced players, and a 60 bay driving range. For those who fancy trying their luck in an amateur tournament, this July The Cascades at Soma Bay is gearing up to host two of the most hotly anticipated tournaments in the golf circuit:

The Cascades Tournament

Red Sea Open Amateur Championship: 5th – 7th July 2011
Based on gross stoke play, this event is available for people with handicaps of six or better for men, and 14 or better for ladies.

La Residence de Cascades is offering a six night, seven day package from $1,065 per person (approximately £654pp), based on two people sharing a double room, half board, including green fees for the five days plus one tournament fee.

Soma Bay Stableford Tournament: 8th & 9th July 2011
Following the Open Amateur Championship, the format of the Soma Bay Stableford Tournament will be Net Stableford scoring, with no handicap limit.
La Residence de Cascades is offering a three night, four day package from $645 per person (approximately £396pp), based on two people sharing a double room, half board, including green fees for three days and one tournament fee.

The boutique hideaway of Soma Bay offers a range of other fantastic activities if guests and their companions need to resist the temptation of the golf course for an hour or too. For active guests, the worldclass kite surfing, snorkelling and diving will never fail to please, and the world-renowned thalasso-therapy spa will unwind and relax guests before a stroll or swim at the pristine natural sand beaches.

It is the first time since the official golf world rankings began in 1986 that the top 3 positions have been taken by British golfers.

Three British golfers head up the official world rankings as Germany’s former no.1, Martin Kaymer drops to fourth after failing to finish in the top eight in the BMW International Open in Munich yesterday.

Following his U.S Open victory Rory McIlroy moves up to a career best third place behind Luke Donald (first) and Lee Westwood.

This is great news ahead of the 140th British Open Championship which this year is being held at the Royal St. George’s Golf Course in Sandwich in Kent, the Garden of England on the south-east coast, in two weeks time.

Rory McIlroy will go into the British Open as one of the favourites, and it will be good to see how he copes with the pressure post that fantastic display of golf at The U.S Open when he led from round 1 and never once showed a loss of concentrate or bottle as he had on the final round of the U.S Masters in April at Augusta.

The U.S Open was Rory McIlroy’s first major win after several near misses and five years of dealing with the heavy burden of expectancy and praise from many of his contemporaries and commentators alike.  Unfortunately, I think if anything the pressure is going to be greater as everyone looks to see if Rory McIlroy can begin to pull away from the rest of the field and dominate the next few years of golf in the same way as Tiger Woods had before him.

If anymore incentive was required, it has been announced that the winner’s cheque for the British Open is now £900,000 as prize-fund money increases to £5m.

Some high profile PGA players will be missing the AT&T National in the U.S to play The Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness as a warming up for the Open Championship.  Those PGA players making the trip across the pond include Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker, who join English golfers Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell and Justin Rose.

The Barclays Scottish Open starts on Thursday 7th July with Round 1 of The Open commencing on Thursday on 14th July.

I am really looking forward to this year’s British Open and hope the heat wave continues so the top golfers in the world can do battle with each other, rather than the conditions.

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The 2011 US Open was won in spectacular fashion by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy by eight strokes. He was the youngest winner for some 88 years but the youngest ever US Open Champion was John J. McDermott in 1911 at the tender age of 19.

Many commentators are suggesting that now Rory McIlroy has won his first major title he will dominate the future of golf for some years to come, filling the void left by Tiger Woods in the past couple of years following a recurring knee problem and a breakdown in his personal life.

McIlroy has got much to live up to if he is going to be as successful as Tiger Woods who has won three US Open titles in 2000, 2002 and most recently in 2008 when he was playing with the knee injury that subsequently had him miss the rest of the 2008 season.  Since his return Tiger Woods had failed to find his form and is now in danger of dropping out of the top 20 world ranking.

Rory McIlroy will need to win the US Open a further three times to equal the record of four wins jointly held by Willie Anderson, A-Robert T. Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.  The latter being a mentor to the young Irishman over the past two years.

The next major championship in the golf calendar is the British Open which this year is being held at the Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent.  So why not go online and buy a new set of golf clubs learn to play the shots the pros make look so simple.

You can buy the same golf clubs, balls and clothes as Rory McIlroy at Direct Golf.

Yesterday Rory McIlroy won the US Open, his first Major victory with an amazing -16 and eight shot lead.

22 year old Rory McIlroy became the youngest player to win the US Open for 88 years and the first to lead at the end of all four rounds since Tiger Woods in 2002.  In doing so he will have wiped the memory and pain of his disaster at Augusta where he was in a similar position after three rounds, only the fall apart on the final day.

Though he is still only 22 years old, big things have been expected of Rory McIlroy since he turned pro in 2007 at the sprightly age of 17.  The weight of expectation was placed on his shoulders when Tiger Woods stated that McIlroy was the future of golf.  And though over the past four years he has come close, he has never been able to keep in the zone for four days solid; until now.

On completing his final round, 2010 US Open champion, fellow compatriot and close friend Graeme McDowell said Rory McIlroy was the best golfer he has ever seen.  Strong words coming from a man who has played with Tiger Woods on several occasions.

Rory McIlroy has now officially arrived on the world stage.  The US crowds love him and with a deflated Tiger Woods, the biggest sponsors in the world will be queuing up to have a piece of his fame.  But it could have been so different if he had cracked under the pressure, as he did at Augusta in the US Masters in April when he went into the final day with a four stroke lead and finished in joint 15th after a final round of 80. If the same choking capitulation had happened to Rory McIlroy yesterday at Congressional it may have had a lasting psychological effect.  That is something McIlroy had been working on among other things with golf legend Jack Nicklaus who has acted as a mentor to McIllroy over the past two years.

As it is, this morning Rory McIlroy wakes up to realise it wasn’t all a dream after winning his first Major championship and with it will no doubt be the favourite to win next month’s British Open Championship at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, Kent.