New Post #9 Feature Friday

Hi Friends

Feature Friday is back, a little later than planned but you can blame technology for that, not the author!

Today we have an interview with a 13 time Club Champion from the picturesque Welsh course of Nefyn.

Meet Tudur Evans (a proper Welsh name pronounced TAHD-ih-R) long time member of Nefyn Golf club in North West Wales.

Nefyn currently plays off +1 and if you look at the club champs honors board at Nefyn you’ll see his name, ALOT!

What else we will see a lot is Tudur holding up trophy’’s, this guy is a serial winner.

Q. Talk to me about your golfing background, how you started etc

My Dad was a keen golfer and I remember watching him chipping in the Garden, The game had always been in the family and on both sides. So I picked it up from there.

I started playing properly aged 10, I joined Nefyn where my dad and Grandad were members(My grandad was a member there for 60 years and played till he was 96)

I remember my dad bought me an electric trolley, but then I played with my Grandad and he was in his nineties carrying his bag, so I thought if he can do that at 90 I should be carrying my bag, so had to let the trolley go.

My dad (Emyr) has been Captain and past chairman of Nefyn and Grandad (Dyfed) joined in 1951, was made a life member in 2016 (there are only 4 at the club at any given time) and so far been a member 73 years.

When I started at Nefyn there was a good group of juniors there, about 10/15 of us. My Mum would drop me down the club at 9am and pick me at the end of day, in-between there were loads of cheesy chips, cokes and about 54 holes of golf.

I got down to 14 handicap at 14 years of age, then I was probably off 5 when I was about 15 and i stayed around 3 handicap till I was about 24, something happened then and I’ve been off scratch/plus one ever since.

Q. What Happened to make that jump in your handicap?

I moved to Caernarfon and also joined Caernarfon Golf club whilst still also playing at Nefyn. I started playing a lot with a guy (Chris Roberts) who was doing long drive and was a very good golfer. Nefyn was a very open track where you can smash driver all day, I think playing with him and then playing Caernarfon more, which is tree lined and tricky really helped. I also played a lot more.

Q. What’s your biggest golfing achievement?

I think winning the North Wales Inter Counties Championship in 2019 at Prestatyn.

But I’ve also won the Caernarfonshire County Championship as well

And I have been Captain of the Caernarfonshire scratch county team (2020-2023) and we won the North Wales Inter County team event just on Sunday.

Then I’ve also won 8 Nefyn club champs in a row and 13 in total (ed note: Wow! Thats is some going, Tudur is only 37)

 Q. What would you say has been the biggest event you’ve entered?

I entered the Welsh Amatuer Championship this year at Royal st Davids, that’s probably the biggest.

Q. Who is your favourite all time golfer current?

Tiger Woods but sure everyone says that. I did have the red shirt and Tiger cap back in the late nineties.

I remember when I started playing golf, the 1998 Masters was on, I recall watching that, Mark O’Meara won, then I also remember Sergio running up the fairway in the 1999 USPGA after his shot, from under a tree, I also had an Adidas top like he wore.

Currently I quite like Dechambeau, I watch his YouTube stuff.

Q. Best Golf Holiday destination?

Either Turkey or Scotland - Turnberry was amazing.

Q. What are your top 3 tips for golfers to improve?

• I find that handicap players are always trying to hit the ball too hard, they should learn to club up and hit chippy shots to control the ball

• Get good around the greens, and make your short putts

• Accuracy off the tee is key as will open up more birdie putts as approach shots will be easier

Q. What are you working on in your game?

With 2 young kids, My time is limited so I mainly just play, no time to practice.

Q. Do you have any swing thoughts?

Not really, i just go back to my old lessons and try to go back to those feels/thoughts.

Q. Drive for show or putt for dough?

As with the tips above if you drive it well you’ll give yourself more birdie putts

Q. Do you work with any stats?

No

Q. Do you use a coach/instructor?

Not at the moment but when I was a junior John Pilkington (whos son has played European tour) helped me as did John Froom at Nefyn golf club.

Q. Do you use any training aids?

No

Q. WITB

My equipment is quite a mix,

Callaway Marvik driver

Bridgestone tour stage F 3 wood

Taylormade M3 5 wood (off ebay)

Mizuno clk hybrid (Also off ebay)

I’ve literally just bought some new irons

Ram Axil forged irons, but they only arrived yesterday

Before that was a set of Callaway apex CF 16 I had for about 10 years.

I’ve got the Kirkland wedge set - 50,56 and 60 but I’ve had the lofts adjusted in the pro shop

Q. What would you consider your strongest part of your game?

Everything is pretty steady and probably above average. I think others would say my chipping is the best part of my game.

JT: Great Thanks for that Tudur, Really interesting and a very impressive winning record, Best of luck for the rest of the season,

Seems like winter has arrived in South East England but the forecast is better for the weekend, so hope you all get out and have a knock.

Hwyl,