From the South African Open
The European Tour visits many countries and many spectacular courses and this weeks venue just 50km northwest of Cape Town is up there with the best. Pearl Valley Golf Estates is set amongst some of SA finest vineyards and flanked by stunning mountain backdrops on every side. The course has a par of 72 and can be stretched to just short of 7500 yards.
Titleist Staffers in the field this week include Grégory Bourdy, Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey, Soren Hansen, Martin Erlandsson, Mikko Ilonen and Paul Waring.
Click here to view the slideshow
After a good week at Leopard Creek last week Grégory Bourdy successfully made the short flight to Cape Town but unfortunately his clubs didn’t. Grégory had to wait until Tues afternoon for his tournament winning MB irons to show up before hitting the practice ground.
Paul Waring made his 2010 season debut this week. The SA sunshine was a far cry from The Belfry in late November when Karl Arthur and myself met up with him to do some 909 metal testing, Paul has moved into 710 CB irons and C-C Vokey wedges during the short off season but was yet to find a 909 driver which he was totally happy with.
After a couple of hours testing we were able to identify the launch and spin issues Paul was facing and built him the following driver. I caught up with Paul this week at Pearl Valley and the 909 has gone straight in the bag.
Model: 909 D3
Comp: 8.5
Shaft: Grafalloy Blue
Flex: Standard X – Stiff
Length: 45″
Grip: SPIDERMAN 60R BLUE
Grip Size: 2 + 1
Swing Weight: D5.5
Tipping: 2″
Paul has also moved away from the belly putter this week into a standard-length SC Newport.
Model: Studio Select Newport
Shaft: Stepless Straight Tip
Length: .SC34″
Grip: SC Red Cord
Grip Size: 0 + 1
Loft: 4 Degree
Lie: SC 71 Degree Std
Weights: 15 grams
South African Staffer Branden Grace was back in his homeland, after a year of travelling around the world. Unfortunately his Titleist Staff bag was looking a little worse for wear, so SA’s Leadership Executive, Leonard Loxton, had arranged delivery of a new one for the 2010 campaign. When you look at what his caddie, Shane, is carrying around on a week to week basis it’s easy to see it’s not going to be light work!!!
Staffer Martin Erlandsson looked in great form on the range this week and has ordered a back up driver for the coming season.
Model: 909 D2
Comp: 8.5
Shaft: Fubuki 63g
Flex: Standard X – Stiff
Length: 45″
Grip: SPIDERMAN 60R WHITE
Grip Size: 0 + 1 UPS
Swing Weight: D3
Tipping: 1.5″
Staffer Callum Macaulay has been using his C-C Vokeys for a little while know and all the practice he has put in with it has taken its toll, so a new one was ordered this week.
Model: Spin Milled C-C
Finish: Tour Chrome
Comp: 260.08
Shaft: Dynamic Gold
Flex: Standard S300
Length: 35″
Grip: Tour Velvet 58R
Grip Size: 0 + 1
Swing Weight: D5
Loft: 60 Degree
Lie: 64 Degree Standard
Stamp: Callum
The Tour now takes a well earned week off for the festive period before returning to South Africa for the African Open at East London GC on the Eastern Cape.
Cheers!
Phil Dimmock
Add comment December 18th, 2009
