Golf Live: don't miss out

This year's Golf Live event at Celtic Manor promises to be the best yet

Golf Live 2011
(Image credit: Mark Newcombe/Visions In Golf)

From May 10-12, Golf Live will return for its fourth consecutive year, and, for the first time, it'll be hosted at 2010 Ryder Cup host venue Celtic Manor.

It was first staged at Stoke Park in 2010 and, since then, it's become one of the most talked about events in the golfing calendar.

No other event in golf lets fans get so up close and personal with some of the game's biggest stars.

As event ambassador Colin Montgomerie said before the inaugural Golf Live:

"Golf Live is a unique and exciting concept. Not only will it provide amateur golfers with an action-packed golfing day out, it will allow them to get closer than ever before to tournament pros and learn about how we play the game.

I don't know of any other golf event that will provide such spectacular entertainment and instruction."

Monty was spot on, and, four years later, Golf Live has grown considerably in stature.

With fewer and fewer European Tour events being staged in England, Golf Live has an extremely important role to fulfil - not only to offer valuable instruction in a fun, relaxed atmosphere, but to attract new faces into the game.

It is hard to appreciate just how talented the top golfers are, and seeing them in the flesh could well inspire the next generation.

This year, Monty will be joined by three-time European Tour winner Soren Kjeldsen, who will be making his Golf Live debut, and renowned trick-shot artist Paul Barrington.

Some of the game's top coaches will also be on show at the Main Theatre and Golf Live Theatre, giving masterclasses, trick shot sessions and academy-style lessons, amongst other things.

What's more, there will be a Cleveland/Srixon short-game area, a Junior Golf Academy, daily competitions and a huge tented village, where more than 100 brands will be showcasing their latest equipment.

Golf Live really is the best and most complete game-improvement forum, and anyone that hasn't been is missing out on three days of great fun and unparalleled interaction.

The Celebrity Cup is also a new and exciting feature this year. Teams of celebrities from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland will battle it out in a round-robin format.

The likes of Rob Brydon, Kenny Dalglish and Sir Steve Redgrave have already signed up, which promises to make the esteemed Golf Live more exciting than ever before!

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x