Living Golf

SHOW #78

Celtic Manor – A Year to Go

Golf’s blockbuster attraction is a year away from arriving at the Celtic Manor and to mark the occasion the two men who will be leading the battle between America and Europe are making a special appearance at the venue for the next year’s event. Justin Armsden catches up with U.S capt. Corey Pavin and Euro leader Colin Montgomerie on how they are preparing for the big event.

As part of our coverage we will look at some of the changes made to the Celtic Manor course as it prepares to host thousand’s of spectators during the week of the event. We will study the changes in depth as we compare pictures taken from an earlier Living Golf show before the multi-million dollar redesign got underway.

EUROPEAN TOUR CEO GEORGE O'GRADY-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

It has been one of the toughest years on record for the European Tour, culminating with being forced to reduce its prize money for the marquee Race to Dubai and Dubai World Golf Championships. Justin Armsden sits with the tour CEO to discuss what has unfolded, the Ryder Cup preparations and the road ahead for the tour into 2010.

FIRST EVER DOUBLE AMPUTEE TO EARN PGA MEMBERSHIP

Life as a touring professional is pretty tough for able bodied competitors, especially when you are just starting out. Just earning your tour card is a bridge too far for many players. But Don Vickery has become a pro and he is a double amputee. Living Golf retraces Vickery’s story from the accident that nearly killed him to becoming and inspirational beacon of hope for all athletes and those who fall on hard times. CNN’s Patrick Snell will file a feature piece after spending the day with Vickery at Wilmington Island Golf Club, located in Savannah, GA.

MEADOWS MUSINGS

This month our technology pro Chris Meadows will put the ‘Motocaddy’ to the test at the Grove. This is a new GPS technology that you put on your golf cart, meaning it knows where it's going and can follow you hole-to-hole, also tracking distances off the tee and to the green.

ST. ANDREWS - THE HOME OF GOLF

Golf’s ruling bodies want to see more from our pros so they are about to make life tougher. From the start of the new season grooves in irons will be reduced so they have less control and will require more skill to work the ball The move will take them back a few years to times when technology had far less impact on the game. Alex Thomas explores the move as he joins 3 time Ryder Cup winner Paul McGinley at the historic 18th hole at St Andrews where the Irishman plays with hickory clubs to emphasis what the change to grooves will mean.