IN THE FebRuary 2010 ISSUE COVER STORY BACK IN THE SADDLE After more than a decade of consistent excellence, it surprised everyone to see Stuart Appleby’s struggles in 2009. As Brendan James writes, a career revival is on the way. INSTRUCTION BASICS FOR BETTER BALL-STRIKING When it comes to the full swing, the secret is to keep it simple. Golf Australia teaching editor Sean Somers shares his guidelines to keep your ball-striking on track. FEATURES 20 FEARLESS PREDICTIONS FOR 2010 Absent Tiger, new stars, St Andrews and Pebble Beach majors ... it’s shaping up to be an intriguing year. Here’s what will happen. CITY DRIVING Play nine at a world-famous course, without travelling very far from the office? Jeff Centenera made the short walk from Golf Australia headquarters to Sydney’s newly opened golf simulator. MOONAH CLASSIC PREVIEW STEVE KEEPS ON SMILIN’ A Tour pro with no status anywhere would typically be glum. Not so for Steve Allan, who is keeping his chin up and his attitude positive as he prepares to tackle Moonah Links, writes Brendan James. ALPG TOUR PREVIEW CAPITAL GAIN As the women add a new Canberra tournament to their early season swing, ACT native Nikki Campbell talks to Jeff Centenera about bringing some of her overseas success back home. HOLDEN SCRAMBLE REVIEW FOR CLUB AND COUNTRY The Holden Scramble draws clubs from all parts of the nation – and produces winners that don’t even have grass on their greens, writes Jeff Centenera. AUSTRALIAN PGA REVIEW ROBERT ALLENBY’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE After a hectic globe-spanning jaunt, the Victorian proved once more there are few who can outplay him on his home soil, writes Jeff Centenera. TRAVEL & COURSES COURSE REVIEW: PACIFIC DUNES With recent improvements augmenting its superb strategic par-4s, this NSW mid-north coast layout is a must-play, says Brendan James. CENTREFOLD: ROYAL DORNOCH Located in a remote part of Scotland’s far north, Dornoch is a course worthy of study. Its par-3 10th hole explains itself. MELBOURNE, MACKENZIE AND ME One artist to another: musician and golf architechture buff Lloyd Cole travels to Melbourne’s Sandbelt and marvels at the canvas of one of course design’s greatest exponents, Dr Alister MacKenzie. GOLF GETAWAYS This month, a place to stay in New Zealand and Olympic gold medallist James Tomkins embarks on the ‘Round Trip’. EQUIPMENT CLUB TESTS TAYLORMADE R9 IRONS The sleek looks of this iron conceal a host of technology. Our testers get the chance to see the difference on the inside. SRIXON Z-TX DRIVER Srixon’s new big stick features a special type of titanium shaped for maximum effect. How does it go for the test team? GROOVE RULE DEBATE HOW WILL IT SPIN IN 2010? The rule changes are supposed to make the game harder for the world’s elite. John Huggan finds out whether that will be the case. HOW TO PLAY THE HOP-AND-STOP There are few cooler shots, the one-bounce-and-sit spinner. Dane Soren Kjeldsen shows you how he does it. INSTRUCTION TIPS FROM THE TOUR HANDS HIGH LIKE SCOTTY The Swing Doctor, Golf Australia’s resident therapist, looks at what Adam Scott has been doing to get his putting stroke back on track. SWEEP FOR LONGER DRIVES Tee it up higher, and then drive it without dislodging the tee. If you do it like James Nitties does, you’ll find it further down the fairway. PGA PERSONAL LESSONS CHIP AND RUN BASICS Become proficient at the basic chip-and-run, and your scores will definitely go down, says contributing pro Scott Smith. ROPING IN A GOOD SWING To understand the feeling of a correct golf swing motion, try swinging a rope, contributing pro Kurt Stegbauer explains. TEEING OFF: BRENDAN JAMES TOP SHOTS: IMAGES FROM THE WORLD OF GOLF WINNER’S CIRCLE: ROBERT ALLENBY AROUND THE TRAPS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR RULES FORUM: ANDREW LANGFORD-JONES INSIDE THE ROPES: MIKE CLAYTON HUGGAN’S ALLEY: JOHN HUGGAN GOLFOPOLY: GOLF BUSINESS WITH JEFF CENTENERA WANDERING GOLFER: TED LAZARUS PRO SHOP: LATEST GOLF GEAR SUBSCRIPTION: SUBSCRIBE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN EAGLES & BIRDIES’ STAND BAG RESULTS AND RANKINGS COMING UP IN WORLD GOLF