Year: 2019

Andermatt, Switzerland by the Travelling Lady Golfer

ggg127web6th November 20191 commentGolfing Holidays, Lady Golfer

Golf in the Swiss Alps?
With an easy flight to Zurich then just under a 2 hour transfer to Andermatt, it is quite achievable for a few days away

Arriving at the Radisson Blu I was greeted and led to my apartment, rarely do I get the opportunity to be let loose on an apartment, but this one was stunning. The apartments are, in the main, privately owned but sub-let back to the Andermatt Swiss Alps property company, who were my hosts for the duration my stay. My modern one bedroom apartment had everything, just drop your bags and make yourself at home.

A coolish damp day started with breakfast in the Restaurant Biselli, where I met fellow journalist from the UK, from the start a friendship was formed, in short they were a laugh!

This new part of Andermatt, is a collection of alternatively designed buildings whose architecture had been the product of many, creating an alps village with a subtle nod to tradition; some may have window shutters, quirky building shapes, or hazard looking zig-zag decorations, altogether quite new, quiet eclectic and quite refreshing.

Skechers Go Golf Womens Golf Shoes

ggg127web6th November 2019Comments OffProduct Reviews

PRODUCT

GO GOLF BIRDIE WOMENS GOLF SHOES

MANUFACTURER

SKECHERS

PRICE

RRP £60.00

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

SKECHERS® H2GO SHIELD WATERPROOF PROTECTION
SMOOTH LIGHTWEIGHT SYNTHETIC UPPER
DURABLE GRIP TPU BOTTOM PLATE
GOGA MATRIX® OUTSOLE PROVIDES SUPPORT AND TRACTION FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION
LIGHTWEIGHT, RESPONSIVE 5GEN® CUSHIONING
SKECHERS GOGA MAX® CUSHIONED COMFORT INSOLE
GUSSETED TONGUE PROVIDES ADDED PROTECTION
REPLACEABLE SOFTSPIKES® FOR MAXIMUM GRIP
SPIKES ARE REPLACEABLE USING SOFTSPIKES® STEALTH PIN SYSTEM*

^{*SOFTSPIKES® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF SOFTSPIKES LLC}

FEATURES

SMOOTH SOFT SYNTHETIC UPPER IS DURABLE AND EASY CARE
SIDE STITCHING AND OVERLAY DETAIL TRIM
CONTRAST COLOURED SOLE TRIM
LACE UP FRONT
SOFT FABRIC SHOE LINING
CUSHIONED COMFORT INSOLE

WARRANTY

TBA

WHAT WE THINK

IT IS RARE THAT I CAN PUT ON A PAIR OF GOLF SHOES AND THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE STRAIGHT AWAY. COUPLE THIS WITH MY FEET BEING SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN MOST WOMEN IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO FIND A SHOE THAT FITS WELL. SKECHERS HAVE OVERCOME THIS LARGER SIZE PREJUDICE AND PROVIDE A GOOD ARRAY OF SHOES AND SIZES TO CHOSE FROM FOR THE FEMALE GOLFER.

I WAS SENT THE GO GOLF BIRDIE SHOES IN BLUE WITH A PINK TRIM, SUFFICIENTLY GIRLIE ENOUGH YET PRACTICAL IN THE COLOUR CHOICE. THE GO GOLF BIRDIE SHOES ARE WATERPROOF, SO THEY WERE NOT WORN MUCH OVER THE DRY PERIODS OF THE SUMMER MONTHS, INSTEAD FAVOURING THEM FOR THE WETTER DAYS. THEY ARE ENTIRELY WATERPROOF AND HAVE SEEN ME THROUGH A YEARS WORTH OF GOLF, ALBEIT SPORADIC DUE TO SEASONAL USAGE.

I POSTED ON INSTAGRAM THAT THE SHOES WERE DUE FOR A REVIEW AND HAD MIXED COMMENTS BACK, MOST WERE POSITIVE ON THE LOOKS. I HAVE ALSO HAD LADIES ASK ME ABOUT THEM WHEN I HAVE BEEN WEARING THEM, THE RESPONSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN POSITIVE. ONE COMMENT ON INSTA WAS THAT THEY SPIKES DID NOT LAST, BUT TO BE HONEST I HAVE NOT HAD THIS ISSUE, MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USED CONSTANTLY, ONLY IN WET OR WET UNDERFOOT WEATHER CONDITIONS?
WHILST NEGATIVE COMMENTS WERE MINIMAL ANOTHER ONE WAS THAT THEY LOOKED PLASTIC. THIS ‘NEWNESS’ WORE OFF AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THOUGH.

HAVING BEEN WEARING THE SHOES FOR JUST OVER A YEAR, WITH THEM BEING MY GO-TO SHOE FOR WET GOLF, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THEY HAD SPLIT ACROSS THE TOP OF THE TOE, WHERE THE TOES BEND AS ONE WALKS NATURALLY.

I DO NOT REVIEW GOLF PRODUCTS IMMEDIATELY, AS A REGULAR LADY GOLFER, I REVIEW THEM AFTER A PERIOD OF USAGE AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY. IS IT REASONABLE TO EXPECT MORE THAN JUST OVER A YEARS USAGE OUT OF A SHOE THAT AVERAGES OUT TO BE MAXIMUM USAGE OF ONCE PER WEEK?

NATURALLY I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN, BUT HOPE THAT THIS IS A ONE OFF INCIDENT AS SKECHERS DESERVE TO BE MARKET LEADERS IN WOMEN’S GOLF SHOES FO THE PRICE, THE VARIETY OF STYLES AND LOOK AND OF COURSE THE SIZE RANGES.

FOOTNOTE

AFTER WRITING THIS REPORT, SKECHERS HAVE ADVISED THAT THE SHOES WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT QUESTION AND THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RAISED.

A NEW PAIR OF SKECHERS SHOES WERE OFFERED AS A REPLACEMENT.

Japan

Golf Guru Group9th October 2019Comments OffUncategorized

In the evolving world of golf, new destinations are popping up all over the world, new countries are marketing themselves as golf friendly, whether they are or not, but one trip last year stands out in my mind above all the rest – my golf trip to Japan.

Flights are direct from the UK to Tokyo, but my final destination airport was Nagoya via Hong Kong. Arriving at Nagoya was like arriving into a shopping mall with exceptional cleanliness, shops and restaurants to divert the weary travellers eye, but my eye was firmly set on my bed for that night!

Somewhere on mainland Europe- but where and why?

Golf Guru Group30th August 2019Comments OffUncategorized

The Travelling Lady Golfer

Where am I?

Formerly the land was designated as a Formula 1 track
Unimaginatively originally called the Green and Red Courses
Built with the vision for the venue of the 1997 Ryder Cup
Gallardo – “one of the finest golf venues in the World’
Situated on mainland Europe

If you haven’t guessed by now it is of course PGA Catalunya, Spain and one of the finest examples of an all inclusive resort I have seen.

IGTM, Morocco

Golf Guru Group8th August 2019Comments OffUncategorized

I am delighted to announce that I have been nominated to cover IGTM in Morocco this year on behalf of Reed Exhibitions. As the Travelling Lady Golfer and bringing the female golfers perspective to the table I look forward to representing golfers globally at this annual event.

IGTM 2019 UNVEILS HEADLINE SPEAKERS TO “GROW GOLF TOGETHER” IN MARRAKECH

www.IGTMarket.com

What do women want from their golf travel?

Golf Guru Group23rd July 2019Comments OffUncategorized

I am frequently asked what can hotels and golf courses do to attract this evolving audience of golfers. Asked to write for the IGTMarket website run by Reed Exhibitions, this is what I had to say:

Whilst women’s equality on the golf course and equal playing rights remains a priority for most progressive businesses wishing to embrace this focussed audience, women’s golf travel still remains a bit of an untapped marketplace, but growing in popularity with golf tour operators now seeing this as a worth while and lucrative focus.

As a former golf tour operator, safety and security whilst traveling was and should be an uncompromising given.

Speaking to industry experts and ladies who travel this is what else needs to be factored in to please this discerning group of emerging golfers:

VOLVIK GOLF BALLS

ggg127web6th July 2019Comments OffProduct Reviews

PRODUCT

VOLVIK VIVID LITE

MANUFACTURER

VOLVIK

CONTACT DETAILS

PRO SHOP/DISTRIBUTOR

DISTRIBUTOR

GOOD PRO SHOPS

PRICE

RRP ~£27.00/DOZ

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

N/A

FEATURES

SOFT FEEL
MATTE COATING
VIVID TECHNICOLOUR
55-85 SWING SPEED
MILD SOFT FEEL
HIGH TRAJECTORY
LIGHTER SOFTER CORE
VOLVIK DIMPLE DESIGN
CONFORMS TO USGA AD R&A RULES

WHAT WE THINK

GIVEN THE TIME TO REVIEW THE BALLS, I HANDED THEN OUT TO TWO LADIES OF A MID 20 HANDICAP AND WE PROCEEDED TO PLAY 9 HOLES TOGETHER, EACH OF US HAVING A DIFFERENT COLOUR.

THE COLOUR RANGE WAS POSITIVELY REMARKED UPON BUT CONCERNS WERE RAISED BY THE LIGHT BLUE AS A BALL TO SEE IN THE SKY? THE PINK AND YELLOW WERE EASIEST COLOURS TO SEE ON A COLD MARCH MORNING
FIRST THOUGHTS WAS IT LOOKED RUBBERY BUT PLAYED FINE, GOOD WITH THE SHORT GAME BUT FROM A GOLFER WHO IS A GOOD SHORT GAME PLAYER, IT WAS NOTED THAT THEY DIDN’T PLAY ANY DIFFERENTLY TO AFFECT HER STRENGTH IN THE GAME.

A GOOD PUTTING BALL. I LENT MY PLAYING PARTNERS MY PUTTER TO SEE IF MY EXPERIENCE OF THE BALL BEING SOFT OFF THE FACE WAS PECULIAR TO MY PUTTER, IT WAS FELT THAT THE SOFTNESS OF THE BALL WORKED IN ITS FAVOUR, THIS WAS NOTICED FOR PUTTING PARTICULARLY.

BEING MID 20 HANDICAPPERS, THE OTHER LADIES FELT THE BALLS RESPONDED PROPERLY FOR THEIR PLAYING ABILITY.

THE BALLS WERE QUITE DIFFICULT TO CLEAN IN THEIR MATT COLOUR, HOWEVER, IT APPEARED THAT THEY DIDN’T CUT OR SCUFF AS EASILY.

SHORT VIDEOS AND POSTS WILL BE PLACED ON INSTAGRAM SARAH.FORREST360GOLF – GO CHECK THEM AND MORE OUT FOR ALL THINGS GOLF

Sanremo – The Travelling Lady Golfer reveals the best of golf and more in this part of Italy

Golf Guru Group21st June 2019Comments OffUncategorized

The Travelling Lady Golfer – San Remo

Just as the F1 Monaco Grand Prix flashes by, so did my short golf break in San Remo, Italy. An easy flight into Nice, France and a short 25km drive East is a gentle reminder as to how close the European countries are, as the the French Riveria blends into the Italian Rivera with a blink of the eye.

My final destination – The five star Royal Hotel San Remo, deeply rooted in this majestic place perched on the hillside overlooking the Liguria coastline towards the Mediterranean sea.

Arriving late, the shutters were down in my hotel room, so I awake with a slightly weird feeling that I had no idea where I was, with just chinks of sun shining through the small gaps in the shutters bought me back to my sense as I lept out of bed like a child, eager to open the shutters. Only then did I appreciate the beauty of not only the hotel room itself shrouded in Italian opulence, but the room framing the distance view towards a picture postcard blue sea.

6 top tips on how to bag some cheap, if not free golf!

Golf Guru Group14th May 2019Comments OffUncategorized

By thinking outside the box, you can play golf for free or cheaply anywhere, here’s how:

1. Reciprocal – if you are a member of a golf club it is likely that your home golf club will have reciprocal arrangements with other golf clubs. Surprisingly, these partner clubs are not necessarily local to you, so you can take a few days away and play some great golf courses. Some clubs even have overseas reciprocal courses, so build you next holiday around that and really maximise your next trip.

Please don’t just look at me and make assumptions? Golf club fitting; then and now

Golf Guru Group1st May 2019Comments OffUncategorized

A free 7 iron and a selection of hand me down clubs from neighbours and friends got me out playing the game of golf many moons ago. They were perfect, they were mine and they got me going in the sport I still love to play today. In those days my handicap was dropping at a considerable rate so progression from this eclectic mix of golf clubs was rapid.

I didn’t really know where to start to get new clubs, someone suggested American Golf, so off I toddle, credit card in hand. The bonus was the Callaway rep was there, Callaway were one of the brands I was told were good, so I was delighted to see him there. One look up and down and he handed me a ladies 7 iron. I walked out.

PGA Merchandise Show – my top picks for 2019

Golf Guru Group8th February 2019Comments OffUncategorized

As always it is a pleasure to attend the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, and this year was especially exciting with the offerings on the table from established suppliers and also the new innovative products.

Salted Smart Shoes

There are so many training aids on the market, but this one struck me as particularly useful, why? because it’s the shoes you wear. Golf shoes are a fundamental part of the game but have you ever considered wearing a shoe that gives you stats back to an app on your phone? With sensors embedded into the soles to track feet pressure and distribution of your weight transfer and balance, there is no getting away from the stats which are fed back to an app! Instructions provided to analyse the stats which are visual to determine not only your weight balance and transfer but also left to right and front to back balance readings are given too.