Inside: Golf Australia August 2016

Golf returns to the Olympics this month and the August issue of Golf Australia previews the tournament in Rio by profiling the four Aussies competing and looking back at the 1904 gold medallist. Straight from Royal Troon, we outline the key moves Henrik Stenson made in winning the Open Championship, while Jordan Spieth reveals his scoring secrets.

FEATURES

OLYMPIC GOLF PREVIEW: GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Four Australians will attempt to be the first golfers to claim an Olympic gold medal in 112 years when they take to the new course in Rio de Janeiro during one of the 2016 Games’ most controversial sporting inclusions. Brendan James and Steve Keipert report.

OLYMPIC CHAMPION: THE LYON KING

It is 112 years since a golfer received an Olympic gold medal. That player was an oddball Canadian amateur named George Seymour Lyon, who took down all before him and then walked on his hands to the trophy presentation. Dale Concannon explains how he did it.

THE OPEN REVIEW: STUNNING STENSON

Henrik Stenson could easily have walked away from golf 15 years ago when his game went into rapid decline. As Brendan James reports from the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon, Stenson fought through other slumps along the way and now is a record-breaking major champion.

TRAVEL & COURSES

COURSE REVIEW: WOODLANDS GOLF CLUB

Occasionally overlooked in appraisals of the elite Sandbelt courses of Melbourne, Woodlands is a club on the rise thanks to a supreme layout and savvy approach, as Damian Shutie reports.

MY FAVOURITE COURSES: JANE CRAFTER

The former LPGA Tour veteran-turned-TV analyst is loyal to her roots while including several Northern Hemisphere classics among her top-ten layouts.

GIPPSLAND GEMS

Victoria’s Gippsland is renowned for its natural attractions and the historical towns scattered throughout. But, as Brendan James discovered, it also stands as the state’s most underrated golf destination.

TOP-100 SPOTLIGHT: NEW SOUTH WALES GOLF CLUB

One of the country’s – and the world’s – elite courses remains as popular as ever, even with recent peripheral tweaks. And there’s exciting news to come for its most iconic hole.

TOP-100 SPOTLIGHT: RANFURLIE GOLF CLUB

The early Mike Clayton-designed layout in Melbourne’s south-east offers plenty of space for high-handicap golfers to roam but requires astute angles of attack in order for expert players to score well.

INSTRUCTION

JORDAN SPIETH: MY SCORING SECRETS

The World No.3 exclusively reveals what you can learn from his double major-winning game.

GET IN THE HOLE!

Better putting is the fast way to lower scores. This is how to improve yours.

TWO WAYS TO READ GREENS

Whether you rely on feel or method, a better read will see you find the cup more often.

EQUIPMENT

PLAYING WITH … GARMIN APPROACH S20 AND TRUSWING SENSOR

Editor Brendan James put this latest GPS device through its paces and liked every aspect of it – plus its high-tech accessory.

BLADE RUNNERS

The most creative arm of the equipment realm provides golfers with ample options, yet looks often trump suitability in many players’ minds as which putter suits which golfer has never looked so complex.

PLAYING WITH … SUPERSTROKE SLIM 3.0 PUTTER GRIP

Adapting to an oversize grip was straightforward for editor Brendan James, who rediscovered his putting touch and feel with one.

PLAYING WITH … ODYSSEY MILLED COLLECTION RSX PUTTER