GolfShot for Golf News

If you are a fan of you won't have failed to notice the recent upsurge in form of the young Irishman Rory McIlroy. His step into history came about in June 2011 when he lifted the US open Trophy at Bethesda, Maryland, setting several course records in the process.

His is the name on everyone's lips at the minute and one of the worlds' leading sports brands, Oakley, are giving you the chance to meet the man himself. They have once again blurred the line between reality and fantasy and created a Rory McIlroy challenge as part of their You vs series.

After the success of their challenge against top cyclist Mark Cavendish, the second challenge in the series is this one against McIlroy. The first part of the challenge is a question and answer session, where you get to test your knowledge of course management and also your skill in making decisions.

What club would you use on the 5^th hole at St. Andrews is the type of question you will be asked, your decisions are turned into video form where McIlroy plays the round against the round you have played as per  your answers. The video is shot is a brilliant style that gives a cool point of view over the proceedings, and is an incredibly engaging game, with superb graphics and interaction.

This gives you a real insight into the kind of quick decision making is need to get to the top of the golfing game. If you go onto Oakley’s Facebook page and click on like, the game will also be personalised. The competition gets serious at the 18^th hole, if you have made the best decisions, and beat Rory McIlroy, you could be one of the lucky few to meet the charming Irishman and walk around a course with him, and see him in action close up.

Spread the word about this great contest through your social media accounts, and share the link to the great video, which includes a great showcase of some of the best Oakley sportswear including the Fast Jacket eyewear and their superb golfing apparel.

Sponsored Post

Viral video by ebuzzing

It is thought that France will be the odds on favourites to be selected to host the 2018 Ryder Cup as the committee is ready to skirt the emotional sentimental pull because of the loss of Severiano Ballesteros.

The five-time major champion died last week at 54 and had been the patron for the Madrid bid and Baldomero, his brother last week pleaded to have the Cup awarded to Madrid out of sensitivity.

He wanted the 42nd edition to be in honour and tribute of Ballesteros. Seve’s two sons also supported their uncle’s wishes but it looks as if the family will get the disappointing news today when the announcement is made in Wentworth.

The pole position belongs to France with three other countries, the Netherlands, Portugal and Germany as candidates. Of all five Spain have been the only ones to previously host in 1997 when Ballesteros captained the winning team at Valderrama. The bidding committee promised that, that would not be to their disadvantage in the decision making process.

It is the French bid that did the most impressing. Not just because of the Le Golf National being a respected course on the outskirts of Paris, but also because of the private sector and government support. Germany’s economic promises were said to be quite persuasive as well. The announcement will hold interest for players that will congregate for the Volvo World Match Play at Finca Cortesin in Andalusia.

Luke Donald and Lee Westwood will be practicing while the British celebrate having the two top players in the world rankings for the first time in the 25 year run of the rankings. Not bad for a country that had only 1 in the top 100 a decade ago. Donald has to be the odds on favourite but the bloody game often times makes mere boys out of grown men.

Keen golfers and non-golfers alike are challenged to produce the drive of their life to get the drive of their life in a novel competition, which will see someone win a brand new Mercedes-Benz worth £25,000.

Organised by the Golftorium, the UK’s biggest indoor golf centre, the competition is open to anyone who feels they have what it takes to land a hole-in-one.  Golftorium is in Ducie Street, just a few yards from Manchester’s Piccadilly station in the heart of the city, and it provides the ultimate in indoor golf to local golfers and non-golfers alike. The venue also has excellent parking facilities nearby.

The qualifying period takes place between 1 and 15 May, to make the final cut on 22 May. Entry for the qualification is free and participants will be pitching their way to winning the Mercedes-Benz by pitting their skills against the 7th hole at Pebble Beech, which has a famous 100 yard approach to the pin.

To progress to the final, golfers will need to land their chip nearest the pin to make the cut. The 100 finalists will then have the tougher obstacle of landing a hole-in-one at the 14^th hole at Harbour Town, which is a highlight of the PGA tour.

The first lucky driver to complete this challenge will pick up the keys to their new vehicle, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Central.

“We are already getting a lot of interest in the competition and while the first shot is free, extra shots will have a small charge,” said Manchester’s Golftorium director, Craig Woodward.  “All the money raised is going to a good cause; we are donating the money to a newly formed local charity called HAWCS, the Habitat and Wildlife Conservation Society.”

“This is a great opportunity for golfers of any standard to come along and pitch themselves against the competition. Getting a hole-in-one isn’t just about skill, there’s a great deal of luck involved so it’s anyone’s game!”

Craig added: “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate an achievement like this than driving off in a new Mercedes Benz.  It’s a fantastic competition offering the change to win a brilliant prize, have some fun and help charity at the same time.”

More details can be found at www.golftorium.com or call the centre on 0161 228 0681.

Charlie Lidyard - 2009 Winner

The William Hunt Trilby Tour announces its Regional Championship Venues this week in its UK-wide search to find the next Amateur Golf Champion in a 12-part televised series on Sky Sports.

Created by Menswear Designer and golf aficionado William Hunt of Savile Row, the Trilby Tour aims to find the UK’s top amateur golfer and give him a taste of true Pro stardom with a chance to play head to head against the big boys.

Players from all walks of life will get the chance to feel like a golf tour pro for a day as 9 clubs from across England, Ireland and Scotland host the UK’s biggest Amateur televised golf tournament between May-August 2010.

Amateurs face a white-knuckle tournament in a thrilling one day 18-hole game in what is widely acclaimed to be golf’s answer to Twenty20 cricket.

Players must be over 18 to enter and will be kitted out with everything they need for their experience of pro stardom – each receiving a complete William Hunt outfit, a Callaway Bag and Caddy Suit as part of their £250 online entry to the 12-part televised series on Sky Sports.

Each Regional Champion and Eleven Runners-Up will go through to the Amateur Final held at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club on 11 August, culminating in an exciting 3 hole play-off and a unique Winner Takes All Finale. The top three finalists and regional champions will then be invited back on 12 August to play in the Sky Sports televised Professional Trilby Tour.

The Amateur Champion will the following receive as their prize:

Lessons with top coach David Leadbetter,
An exclusive set of personalized clubs by Roger Cleveland of Callaway
The chance to play head-to-head against the top European Tour pros.

Amateurs will play under the the Stapleford rules with a maximum handicap of 18 with a 3/4 (three-quarter) allowance.

Regional Championships will be taking place at:

8-June The London Golf Club
Kent & South East Championship

30 June – The Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire & West Midlands Championship

6 July – Marriott Sprowston Manor
East of England Championship

12 July – Bearwood Lakes
Berkshire & South Central Championship

22 July – The Park
Avon & South West Championship

28 July – Murrayshall
Scottish Championship

4 August – KP Club
Yorkshire & North East Championship

11 August – The Buckinghamshire
Amateur Final, National Championship

Last year’s Amateur Winner 19yr old Charlie Lidyard from Leatherhead, Surrey says ”The Trilby Tour is the only tournament that makes you actually feel like you’re a Pro Tour player. There are a few nerves when you see the cameras and the people watching. Some of the other guys didn’t like the cameras but it didn’t bother me, I actually loved it.” Lidyard’s triumph was further boosted by going on to achieve every amateur’s dream and turned pro the same day.”

Lidyard went on to play against top pros David Howell and Graeme Storm in the Pro Event: “It was a dream experience to play with the big boys.”

Entries are still pouring in and anyone who signs up now via the website www.williamhunttrilbytour.com will join a waiting list.

Unrivalled Christmas marketing extravaganza is set to further expand the reach of Imagine Golf Club – the first online golf community that unites people and places.

Social Networking has been the most successful Internet phenomenon of the decade. Finally Driving Ranges can benefit from this new marketing platform courtesy of Imagine Sports’ golf social networking website. Already proclaimed as a “breath of fresh air” by industry leaders, ImagineGolfClub.com is leading the way with its innovative marketing opportunities that are designed to grow the golf industry.

As the name suggests, ImagineGolfClub.com, is an online golf club that offers golfers all the information and news that they need in one location. Members can create their own profile, communicate simply and effectively with all of their golfing friends, as well as getting all the latest golf news, views, advice, tips and drills – ALL FOR FREE.

The great news for Driving Ranges is that ImagineGolfClub.com is not just a great place for golfers to keep up to date with friends. It also offers search functions that allow members to locate thousands of driving ranges, Professionals, clubs and other golfing destinations all around the world.

Imagine Golf Club offers Driving Ranges their own free micro-sites to promote their services to a worldwide golf community. As well as having this online profile, they can send automated newsletters and earn additional income from online advertising shown on their pages. 3,000 Driving Ranges have already signed up to this service and it is increasing their business because the number of golfers subscribed to the site is very impressive.

Thanks to its social and business networking capability the Imagine Golf Club community already unites over 128,000 golf people and places across the world:

• 90,000 Imagine Golf Club Members
• 3,000 Driving Ranges
• 15,000 Golf Professionals
• 18,000 Golf Clubs
• 1,200 Golf Resorts
• 1,000 Golf Societies

The company’s seasonal marketing campaign includes a competition extravaganza, with prizes worth in excess of £400,000. Visit www.imaginegolfclub.com/competition/xmas.htm to enter. Its Three Wise Men Bearing (Golf) Gifts email promotion also offers members some exclusive prizes and promotions from a range of leading brands including Direct Golf UK, Nike, TrendyGolf.com, Spherical Blade, Asbri Golf and Kevin Murray Golf Photography.