By Josh Thornton
Al Mouj Golf is famous for its lengthy par-5s which require several well-struck blows if you are to walk off the hole with a par or better. A problem that many of our members and visitors face when playing these long holes is the second shot where the ball is sitting on a flat part of the fairway. You’ve got the green light to have a go at the green but it’s a tough call deciding whether to sacrifice distance and play several iron/ hybrid shots safely down the middle or pull out a longer and riskier fairway wood. If this conundrum sounds familiar, then you’re not alone. Let’s look at what you can do to improve your ball striking with fairway woods ‘off the deck’ to bring birdies, or better, into play.

Centre of Gravity
As well as the correct ball position (aim for a ball inside your leading foot), your centre of gravity is key to crisp fairway shots. In a golf context, it’s a complicated term but can be simplified as a description of where your weight moves to during the swing. For fairway woods, your weight must move more to the front leg at the point of impact, around 80 per cent (see main right). It’s critical that your hips turn to create this weight movement, not sway from side to side.

Put this all together and you have an angle of attack that allows a positive impact with the ground, without taking a large divot, that will send the ball sailing towards a green that once used to feel out of reach. —with Kent Gray

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Josh Thornton is a PGA teaching professional at Al Mouj Golf. For more information, visit almoujgolf.com

The post VIDEO: Flush your fairway woods appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It was a dream opportunity for the Scotsman. An opening 77 wasn’t too shabby considering the inevitable nerves and while he missed the weekend following a second round 83, he took much away from the experience against some of golf’s biggest names.

Indeed, Troup hopes to qualify for the second staging of the Oman Open at his home club from Feb. 28-March 3 when Dutchman Joost Luiten will be back to defend his title. Presuming he can get through qualifying – no cinch with the likes of his Al Mouj colleague Josh Thornton also in the running – Troup believes he has the experience to give the cut a decent nudge.

Watch: Josh Thornton’s shot-by-shot guide to conquering Al Mouj Golf’s picturesque par-5 12th hole

Chances are he’ll face shots like this one on Al Mouj Golf’s stunning par-3 11th hole. Here Troup shows you why leaving your most lofted wedge in the bag is often the smart play when you short-side yourself, especially when faced with a steep-ish recovery shot.

Practice this simple bump and run and you’ll enjoy a highly recommended stay and play at Muscat’s best course – ranked No.3 in Golf Digest Middle East’s Top 10 courses ranking – even more. And join us in wishing Troup all the best if he does make back to the European Tour event.

The post VIDEO: Try this short-sided bump and run from Al Mouj Golf pro Steven Troup appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Don’t be lulled into any false sense of security as you step onto the 12th tee though. It might be picturesque but this is a hole that can also pack a punch, especially if there is a breeze rolling off the Gulf Of Oman. With water left, it’s easy to leak your tee shot right, let alone when the wind plays up. From there par becomes problematical, especially if your tee ball ends up in the collection of bunkers positioned just off the right edge of the fairway.

Thankfully, Josh Thornton is here to help you negotiate this potentially nervy tee shot, and indeed the entire hole. Check out the PGA Professionals’ impressive wedge work towards the end of the video and be sure to book a stay and play at Al Mouj Golf, one of the Middle East’s most under-rated courses even given its lofty ranking in our Top 10 courses ranking.

The post WATCH: Your shot-by-shot guide to conquering Al Mouj Golf’s picturesque par-5 12th appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.