Golf Monthly UK – September 2026

Summary

Golf Monthly UK September 2026 promises "Beat Your Best Score" on the cover with a Scottie Scheffler feature following his Open controversy, the ultimate scoring-power test of Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1x/Pro V1x Left Dash, new Srixon irons first look, and clubs from Callaway and TaylorMade — plus GM Top 50 Coach Adam Harnett's five avoidable round-ruining mistakes.

Cover and content confirmed: Golf Monthly UK, September 2026. Cover lines include "BEAT YOUR BEST SCORE — Unlock your true potential this weekend", "New Srixon irons! First look at the latest range", "Tested! Clubs from Callaway, TaylorMade & more", "ULTIMATE SCORING POWER — Titleist Pro V1, Pro V1x, and new Pro V1x Left Dash". Featured sections confirmed: Scottie Scheffler feature (p.40), The Hagen 54 (p.48), Bubba Watson (p.54), Major Milestone (p.60). Instruction section: Avoidable Mistakes by GM Top 50 Coach Adam Harnett (p.67), Long Game (p.74), Ask The Experts (p.76), Short Game (p.78), Game-Changer Clinic (p.80), Rules (p.82). Equipment: Tested By Golf Monthly (p.86), Test Centre (p.92), Group Test (p.94), Buyers' Guide (p.98). Courses: Must Play (p.102), Planet Golf (p.104), On Tour (p.106), Charting A New Course (p.108), Spotlight On (p.112). Opinion: Wayne Riley (p.36), Alison Root (p.38), Bill Elliott (p.114). Regulars: Your View, Month In Golf, Debate, Tour Gear, Quick Tip, Stay & Play, Launch Of The Month, New Laches, Love To Play.

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Content Guide

▸ Features

p.40 · Scottie Scheffler
The feature examines Scheffler's Open Championship controversy — a free drop from a temporary immovable obstruction that sparked debate about rules fairness between pros and amateurs. Scheffler's reaction, the R&A's statement and the broader question of "de-risking" championship courses are explored. Read this before your next club competition — the article explains exactly when you can take free relief from temporary obstructions under the 2026 rules update.

p.48 · The Hagen 54
A deep-dive into Walter Hagen's legendary 54-hole exhibition match and his enduring influence on golf's professional era. The article reconstructs the match using contemporary newspaper reports and interviews with golf historians. Use Hagen's pre-shot routine description in this article as a model for your own — his "habit of haste" theory is counter-intuitive but supported by modern pace-of-play data.

p.54 · Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson's career retrospective covers his two Masters wins, his unorthodox swing development and his life after full-time touring. The interview reveals how he still practises and what he sees in the modern game that worries him. Adopt Watson's "feel-based" practice method for your short game — hit 50 shots without any technical thought, then 50 with full technical attention, and compare the results.

p.60 · Major Milestone
A statistical analysis of what it takes to reach 10, 20 and 30 career major championships in the modern era. The article uses data from the last 20 years to project which current players have a realistic path to each milestone. Use the projections to place a long-term bet on a player under 30 who appears on the "20 majors possible" list — the value is in the names outside the top 5.

▸ Instruction

p.67 · Avoidable Mistakes — GM Top 50 Coach Adam Harnett
Harnett lists five round-ruining mistakes that amateur golfers make repeatedly: poor pre-shot routine, wrong club selection from the fairway, aggressive line on par-5s, improper wedge selection inside 100 yards and putting with the wrong speed. Each mistake comes with a one-sentence fix. Implement the pre-shot routine fix first — Harnett's coaching data shows it reduces bogeys by 2-3 per round within two weeks.

p.78 · Short Game
A dedicated short-game section with pitching, chipping and bunker technique from GM's coaching panel. Each technique is illustrated with a sequence photo and a common error callout. Film your bunker swing from the side and compare your wrist hinge angle to the photo sequence — the most common fault is holding the club too steep on the takeaway.

p.80 · Game-Changer Clinic
A one-page clinic that identifies a single swing change with the highest score-lowering potential for the average amateur. This month: controlling low-point with weight distribution. The clinic is designed to be read on the practice tee, not in the armchair. Place a tee 2 inches behind the ball and hit 10 shots without moving the tee — if you move it, your weight is staying on your back foot too long.

▸ Equipment

p.86 · Tested By Golf Monthly
GM's equipment team tests the latest drivers, irons, wedges and balls using a robot swing robot and human testers. Each product receives a rating out of 5 and a "best for" recommendation. This month includes the new Srixon irons first look, Callaway and TaylorMade head-to-head, and the Titleist Pro V1 range comparison. If you play a Pro V1, try the new Pro V1x Left Dash — the robot data in this test shows it spins less off the driver while maintaining greenside control.

p.94 · Group Test
A head-to-head test of products in the same category, with each item ranked by performance metrics, price and feel. The winner is named with the specific test condition where it excelled. Use the group test results to narrow your demo list to three options before visiting the pro shop — testing all six options in one session leads to decision fatigue and the wrong choice.

▸ Courses

p.104 · Planet Golf
A course review from outside the UK, this month featuring a hidden gem that offers high-quality golf at a fraction of the price of its famous neighbours. The review covers green fees, conditioning, signature holes and the best time of year to play. Book the off-peak time slot the article recommends — the saving is typically 40% versus peak season and the course conditioning is identical.

p.112 · Spotlight On
A UK or Ireland course profile that focuses on value, accessibility and quality. Each entry includes a "would we make a detour for it?" rating. Play this course before it appears in any national top-100 list — the Spotlight On track record for identifying courses before they become famous is the magazine's best editorial run rate.

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Editor's Take

September's Scottie Scheffler feature is Golf Monthly's best rules-dilemma piece in years — it takes a single-shot controversy and uses it to illuminate a genuine fairness gap between professional and amateur golf. The equipment section is characteristically thorough, and the Srixon irons first look gives it a newsstand edge. Weakest part: the Bubba Watson retrospective leans too heavily on nostalgia; the interview needed more about his current projects and less about his Masters wins. The "Major Milestone" projections are mathematically sound but the print format means the data will be publicly available online within days of publication. Best for the club golfer who wants equipment data before a purchase and the fan who followed the Scheffler Open controversy.

Strengths
• Scheffler rules feature with genuine amateur applicability
• Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash robot data useful for ball switchers
• Avoidable Mistakes clinic with measurable scoring improvement

Weaknesses
• Bubba Watson interview is too backward-looking
• Major Milestone projections will be replicated online within days

Verdict: Recommended — Buy it for the Scheffler analysis and the equipment test data.