Written by Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.
Simon is also the founder of Media Drive, a leading digital golf marketing agency which he successfully directed from 2008 to 2024.
As a longterm student of the game, Simon takes an analytical approach to both equipment technology and swing mechanics—insights sharpened by two years working in a pro shop under the guidance of experienced professional, Rae Sargent, alongside 15 years in golf course and equipment marketing. His deep understanding of the elite and professional game is further reinforced by his role as the father of elite-level Surrey county player Henry Bale, and by the strategic partnerships he forged with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (DPWT) throughout his career at Media Drive.
He has now turned his full attention to covering all aspects of the sport for Golf Today, regularly attending tour events and visiting global golf destinations to deliver authentic, first-hand reviews and original imagery.
What a Round at Ardfin on the Isle of Jura is Really Like
Ardfin Golf Course is Bob Harrison’s clifftop layout on Scotland’s Isle of Jura. It’s become a true cognoscenti’s choice, generating huge buzz amoung golf purists.
Stuart Grehan Wins 131st Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool
The 33-year-old Irishman from County Louth overcame a slow start and a late rally from American Matt Moloney to claim a one-hole victory in the…
Grehan and Moloney Set Up Ireland vs USA Final at 131st Amateur Championship
Stuart Grehan and Matt Moloney will contest the 36-hole final at Royal Liverpool on Saturday, marking the second consecutive Irish-American showdown for amateur golf’s oldest…
Machrihanish Dunes partners with Cultar Restaurant Group to reshape dining across the resort
The Kintyre links resort has enlisted the Glasgow group behind Michelin-starred Cail Bruich to overhaul food and beverage operations, with local sourcing at the centre…
Wyndham Clark Leads US Open With a Mixed Bag After Titleist Deal Ended
Clark entered 2026 as an equipment free agent and built a multi-brand setup spanning TaylorMade, Ping and Titleist. Halfway through the US Open at Shinnecock…
Matt Fitzpatrick Stays in U.S. Open Contention with Even-Par Round at Shinnecock Hills
The 2022 champion carded nine straight pars on the front nine and kept his composure on the back to sit three under through two rounds,…
Why Jordan Spieth Switched to the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash in 2026
Jordan Spieth rarely changes golf balls. But after 18 months of iron shots coming off too spinny and finishing short, the 13-time PGA TOUR winner…
Bryson DeChambeau Debuts Prototype TaylorMade Driver at U.S. Open After Years With Niche Brands
DeChambeau put a TaylorMade Qi4D Proto 200+ in play at Shinnecock Hills, ending his run with smaller equipment makers. The 7-degree prototype was built for…
OGIO Europe adds new 2026 colourways across Renegade Vault, Alpha & RIG collections
Four new shades join OGIO’s premium hard-shell luggage and backpack lines, while the RIG 9800 and RIG ST gear bags pick up fresh colourways of…
Matt Fitzpatrick’s One Small Putting Tweak Could Be Perfectly Timed for Shinnecock
Fitzpatrick removed a single extra look at the hole from his putting routine before Canada, then rolled in 116 feet of putts on Sunday. At…
Richard Teder Reaches Amateur Championship Quarter-Finals for Third Time in Four Years
Estonia’s Richard Teder fought back from behind in both matches at Royal Liverpool to reach the last eight of The 131st Amateur Championship, crediting a…
Golf at The Hawthorn completes major bunker renovation ahead of Galway Bay Hotel opening
The Christy O’Connor Jnr-designed course has cut total bunker area by 70 per cent, shifting the strategic challenge toward precision and variety.
Quinta do Lago Confirms 2026 Junior Golf Schedule With Justin Rose Final and McGinley Cup
The Algarve resort has laid out a full summer-to-winter junior programme, from beginner camps in June to the 41st Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship…
Guus Lafeber Beats Walker Cup Player on 19th Hole at Royal Liverpool, Keeps Rare R&A Double Bid Alive
The 2025 R&A Boys’ Amateur champion edged Scotland’s Connor Graham in extra holes at The 131st Amateur Championship, staying on course to win both The…
Honma and Bugatti Launch $72,000 Golf Set Limited to 20 Worldwide
The Japanese club maker and French hypercar brand have unveiled a co-branded collection topped by a 13-piece BERES 5 Star set with a five-figure price…
Wilhelm Ryding Tops Stroke-Play Qualifying at The 131st Amateur Championship
Sweden’s 21-year-old posted a nine-under-par 135 across Royal Liverpool and West Lancashire to lead all 288 qualifiers into match play, where major championship exemptions await…
Scotty Cameron Adds Phantom 3.2 to 2026 Phantom Lineup
A compact mid-mallet that blends design cues from four iconic Cameron shapes, the Phantom 3.2 arrives in shops from June 25 at £479, with tour…
FootJoy and Todd Snyder Launch Limited-Edition Premiere Series Marquis and Packard Golf Shoes
Two new limited-edition golf shoes from FootJoy’s sixth collaboration with American designer Todd Snyder go on sale tomorrow, with design cues drawn from Southampton’s coastline…
Best UK Golf Resorts for Couples: Great Golf, Spa Access and Good Dining
Three UK golf resorts that solve the couples’ break brief in different ways, from luxury Perthshire estates to an all-in-one Welsh five-star and a flexible…
Why Golf and Padel Are a Perfect Match for a Mediterranean Break
Both sports run in fours, the climate splits the day neatly between them, and a growing number of Mediterranean resorts now build full packages around…