There are just a few weeks to go before the Barcelona Golf Invitational presented by BOAT and Voly Group takes place at the Stadium Course at Spain’s Camiral Golf & Wellness (14-15 May 2025). Ahead of the event, BOAT visited Staffordshire’s pristine JCB Golf & Country Club to meet event host, Voly Group CEO Ian Flanagan and golf coach Tom Whitehouse to get some last-minute golf tips.
"It has fast greens and plenty of bunkers so it should keep us all on our toes," says Flanagan, keen golfer and co-host for the Invitational for the last two years. Flanagan is CEO for Voly Group, a one-stop solution for yacht and multi-asset management with a software platform that was specifically dedicated to superyachts and UHNWI .
Tom Whitehouse agrees that Camiral will challenge any golfer, "but in a fun way!" A former DP World European Tour professional turned golf coach, Whitehouse, now head coach for Warwickshire County Golf, will be at the event and conducting a warm-up clinic for attendees before they take to the course.
For attendees who have booked their slot at the event, we asked Whitehouse to dispense some Camiral wisdom ahead of the event.
1. How to improve your chip
"A chip shot lifts the ball just enough to clear the ground, allowing it to roll smoothly toward the hole," says Whitehouse. "It's a crucial component of the short game, which typically accounts for 60 to 70 per cent of the shots in a standard round of golf. Chips are also handy in various situations, from short-sided lies to bunkers or thick grass. Mastering this shot is the key to lowering your handicap and you’ll have more confidence in tricky spots to be able to strategically play around the course without worrying about your short game."
Choose your club
When you’re chipping, use a sand iron, pitching wedge or even an 8-iron, but treat it like a putter – you're going to putt, with loft. The idea is to use these clubs like the putter – lift the lie angle up to the angle of a putter; that'll mean your hands will be a little bit higher in address and a little bit closer to the body.
Adjust your stance
Keep your feet close together. Approximately 70 per cent of your weight should be on your left-hand side. Leave it there during the shot. Shift your weight slightly forward, the ball slightly back and your hands slightly ahead of the ball. Position your hands slightly lower on the handle so that you're in more control of the club.
Graze the floor
Keep the action smooth and short. A light grip pressure would really help.
2. How to get out of a bunker – every time
"Camiral is heavily bunkered," advises coach Whitehouse. "So learning how to negotiate high-sided sandtraps is key, as well as learning how to loft the ball up very early and stop it quickly."
Choose your club
Use your sand wedge which is designed to glide through sand. If it’s a deep bunker or a high lip, choose a lob wedge.
Set up your shot
Make sure the ball is forward in your stance. Open up the club face, rotating the club away from you - this will add loft to your swing and it helps you utilise the bounce of the wedge – that rounded part on the bottom of the club that helps it glide through the sand – more effectively. Keep your weight slightly forward, and hold it there during the swing.
Adjust the your weight of your stance
Lean about 80 per cent of your weight on your side facing the target.
Hit the sand first, not the ball
Focus on hitting one or two inches behind the ball – you’re trying to splash the sand under the ball.
3. Mastering a long breaking putt
"You'll face some very quick greens at Camiral and if you aim for the hole directly, you may overshoot. The trick here is to use the slope of the green and let the weight of the ball take it down to the hole."
Read the break
Break means time on the slope – the longer the ball stays on the slope, the more time gravity has to pull it sideways. Assess how fast the green is (you can normally tell this if a light tap sends the ball a long way). Look at the slope in the green and what direction it goes. And use your feet: if one feels lower, that’s the direction of the break.
Decide on where to aim
Find the apex, the highest point on the curve, where the ball should start to turn and aim for that.
Assess the speed you need
A softer stroke will mean a slower putt with gravity kicking in to create a bigger curve. A firmer putt moves more quickly and gives gravity less time to react, so the ball travels in a more direct route.
4. How to improve your drive
"Camiral’s courses are long and there’s a lot of water to carry, so I’m going to show you how to maximise your drive with this useful drill," says Whitehouse. Practice this drill on the range.
Place a spare tee peg in front of your ball
This drill will help encourage you to hit the ball on the upward part of swing arch – this will maximise your launch angle, lower ball spin and lengthen your drive.
Adjust ball position
Place the ball forward just inside your left heel (for right-handed golfers). This gives you the best chance of hitting the ball with an upward angle on your downswing.
Check your stance
Position your feet shoulder-width apart for a wide base which can help with balance and power, but don’t overdo it – keep it comfortable.
Tweak your posture
Tilt your body slightly to the right (for right-handed golfers). This helps you create an upward angle of attack on the ball, which promotes a higher launch with less spin, leading to a longer drive.
Check your grip
Use a neutral grip. Don’t grip the club too tight as this can restrict your swing. A relaxed grip helps you maintain fluidity and speed.
The Barcelona Golf Invitational presented by BOAT and Voly Group will return on 14-15 May 2025, welcoming yacht owners, captains and the wider industry to one of Spain's most prestigious golf resorts. The two-day programme offers the chance to socialise with key players in the industry through golf both on and off the course. To learn more about the event and buy tickets, click the link below.
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