Book to commemorate 50th Lagonda Trophy at the Gog Magog Golf Club

To commemorate the 50th Lagonda Trophy a photographic record of the event has been produced as a book showing the action, scoring statistics and details of the video message received from Luke Donald. (select the square top right to view full screen)

Luke Donald’s video message to all involved can be seen here.

Message from Luke

Hey, everyone. It’s an honour to be sending you all this video, especially to help mark a special milestone.

50 years of one of the great amateur events in the UK. The Lagonda Trophy at the Gog Magog Golf Club has meant a lot to me personally. I was lucky enough to win it in 1997 and it was a real launch pad in my career early on. I still remember that week vividly. Immaculate fairways, the sense of history, and feeling that this event was more than just a golf tournament. The Lagonda Trophy was one of the stepping stones in my journey from amateur golf to the professional ranks. To reach 50 years is no small achievement. It speaks volumes about the dedication of Clive Smith, the loyalty of the club and volunteers, and the enduring spirit of competitive amateur golf in the UK. The Lagonda Trophy has always been about great competition, tradition, and giving young players a chance to prove themselves on the big stage.

To all the players teeing it up this week, play well, play with integrity and enjoy every moment. This is a tournament with history, and now you are part of it. Good luck to everyone and here’s to a fantastic week of golf

Collectors Limited Edition Sunningdale Book

Sunningdale “A View Through Time” has been published to mark the centenary of the New Course. It includes historic images as well as the very best of Golf Course Photography. A library of more than 500 photographs has been collated over the last 10 years and provides a wonderful record of one of the worlds best golf clubs.

Record win for Langer at the 2019 Senior Open

Bernhard Langer continued to add to his record of the most senior major wins by capturing the 2019 Senior Open with a sensational final round of 66 in atrocious weather conditions. A red hot front nine of 30 and birdies at 13 and 14 saw him take a four shot lead that he protected over the closing holes despite bogies at 15 and 17.

What a great day for golf course photography

Your line is the left hand side of the double decker bus Tom

In his final round at the Senior Open, Tom Watson will have his last chance to take a line on a double decker red bus, a rare occurrence on any golf course but a very visible hospitality spot on the 12th hole at Royal Lytham St Annes golf course this week. His red spotted ball matches the colour of the bus and while a number of players in the field are using bright yellow balls, Tom has stuck with his trusty Callaway ball that resembles a football design

A gallery of Tom Watson images can be found here Tom Watson Gallery

Tom Watson to play his last round in the Senior Open

Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Course will witness the last round Tom Watson plays in the Senior Open. It will be a sad day but will bring back many joyous memories for golf fans that have been delighted by his play for more than 40 years. I am looking forward to another great opportunity for golf course photography and hope to capture a poignant moment.

There is a gallery of images from his second on Friday here Tom Watson Gallery

Cambridgeshire Seniors Championship 2019

Great win on the Wandlebury Golf Course at The Gog Magog Golf Club by Mick Heron

Great round of 73 and then a strong playoff performance against Jeremy Baldwin

Leaderboard is here

Autumn golf Course Photography

Autumn has to be the best time of the year for golf course photography

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The Autumn glow getting ready for golf

The changing temperatures in the Autumn create some early morning views that build anticipation for golf, the question is how long will it take for the mist to clear at the Gog Magog golf club?

Does ladies Golf appeal more to the club golfer

If you plan to attend an event to study golfers with a view to improving your game, should you watch women or men? The close comparison between elite women and low handicap men would suggest that watching the European tour Ladies players would benefit more players. Could mens and women golf be combined in some way to give spectators the opportunity to select the players they will benefit most from watching?

Golf Course Photography does not vary significantly between men and women but the enjoyment of the spectators can be significantly changed.

Great day for golf course photography

The first frost of the year was on the 2nd November at the Gog Magog Golf Club in Cambridge and the unusually dry and warm October has helped the trees keep their leaves for longer than normal. Autumn colour has to be the best time of the year to photograph golf courses, bringing a variety of colours into view with the added bonus that the sun remains low in the sky for most of the day. For the best golf course photographs early light is the best but needs careful planning to check where the light will appear first. A great free resource is the Photographer's Ephemeris it shows sunrise and sunset times and directions utilising images from google earth. There is s free web version and apps that can be downloaded for mobile devices. If you want to be an expert golf course photographer its a great place to start.

Great win for Noren at the British Masters

Alex Noren kept his cool and provided me with some great opportunities for golf course photography at the Grove.

Special golf course photography as Alex Noren plays the tournament winning shot on the 12th

After a great start Noren stuttered around the turn but he held his nerve after a great escape at the 12th the hole that had ended Beef's dream the day before.

Noren provides a great opportunity for aligned golf course photography!

Bernd Wiesberger came so close to another win.

Noren about to pitch it stiff for the win, my favourite golf course photograph of the day

Noren the escapologist leads at the Grove in the British Masters

Noren produced a masterclass in how to avoid a bogey, his long game was not as good as he would have wanted at times but despite some sticky spots he kept a clean card with no bogeys and 6 birdies.

Alex Noren makes another first class escape at the 11th

A great finish with 3 birdies in the last 4 holes produced his second successive 65 and a 3 shot lead. If the tournament  comes down to the closing holes you would not want to bet against Noren as he has played the 17th and 18th in 6 under par for the first three rounds!

Richard Bland seemed conservative today and this will need to change on Sunday if he is to win in a field with many aggressive newcomers hungry for a win and prepared to take risks.

Bland dropped back today with some safe play.

The excitement around the course was not to do with birdies but when would the crowd see "Beeeeef" The was a remarkable atmosphere especially with young supporters desperate to shout Beef and find an opportunity for a high 5.

Beef on his way to the 5th tee

Even with his game under pressure an leaking shots Beef remained positive and smiled his way round the course interacting with the crowd.

Beef acknowledges the cheers at the 6th

What a loss it will be if he leaves these shores for the US PGA tour next year.

Pure British BEEF

Come on Beef we are all behind you, you bring a breath of fresh air to golf.

Beef, everybody loves him

I am looking forward to another great day of golf course photography and hoping for a BEEF charge early on. There are still 25 players within 6 shots of the lead............tough to pick a winner. Whatever happens we know who the crowd wanted to win.

Luke Donald a great host, but did it distract him?

The British Masters is a great tournament revitalised by having great British golfers as the host for the week, Ian Poulter helped make the tournament last year at Woburn and Luke Donald was ever present this week, from the night golf on Tuesday that provided an unusual opportunity for golf course photography to the first class bunker clinic as part of the Master Class series.

Luke plays to the crowd

He has been involved heavily with the tournament promotion in the run up to the event and has been the go to player all week. It my not have been the course for him but The Grove greenstaff have presented it in excellent condition. Missing the cut with disappoint him especially as Poulter scraped through last year but for Poulter it really was his home course, I think the same cannot be said this year. The open layout that requires length is not be a custom fit for Luke's game. The big crowd favourite this week has been Andrew Beeeef Johnson who has been high fiving spectators everywhere and encouraging the cheering from the crowd that has been heard all over the course. Beef is the chant that follows him everywhere and he returns the favour with smiles and plenty of birdies this week. The European tour needs more players like this..... but he has his US PGA card for next year, what a loss.

Andrew Beef Johnson

Richard Bland leads the way

Richard Bland leads by one going into the weekend, but it will be a close contest with 25 players within 6 shots.

The 16th a popular viewing hole

The crowds have been good for the first two days with many tickets distributed free of charge, we are set for a big weekend of golf, but unfortunately without the tournament host.

Luke Donald tournament host

More British Masters Friday images here

Leaderboards can be found here