Spotlight on... UKKO sponsored Pro Neil Chaudhuri

Our fourth Pro spotlight focuses on English Professional Neil Chaudhuri. The format is simple: we ask a few questions, they answer and you get to see what makes them tick.

Neil is wearing the UKKO White Cotton Polo, Black Merino Tank & Black Titanium Belt, all available to buy from our online store.

Your tour/base - Alps Tour

Handicap - Reached +3.3 as an Amateur

What's in your bag? (we like details!)
Driver - Callaway FT5 9 degrees
Woods - Callaway X Tour 15 degree 3 wood and a Callaway steelhead 5 wood (an absolute classic)
Irons - Mizuno MP60s 3-PW
Wedges - Cleveland 588 Tour Grind
Putter - David Whitlam
Balls - Titleist Pro V1x


1. Your ultimate fourball with anyone past & present?
Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.


2. Before the big game, what's on your iPod to get the adrenalin pumping?
Eminem - Till I collapse.


3. Where would you take them on?
St Andrews


4. What's your fairway style - Bling or brogues?
Brogues for sure. Definitely let the clubs do the talking.


5. How would you celebrate your win?
I would treat myself to a new car. Something fast.


6. 1st and last drink on the 19th?
Champagne to celebrate followed by some Jaiger bombs - so much fun!!


7. Your missus has gone out for the evening - what d'you cook?
Spaghetti Bolognase - I love pasta (and that's all I can cook).


8. Your private jet is on the tarmac and ready to fly - where d'you go?
Thailand - I love that country. Beautiful country, wonderful people and hot all year round. It's paradise.


9. Which club's first in your bag?
The big dog. I had a caddy when I played in South Africa who only let me take driver off every tee. "Let the big dog eat" were his exact words. Since then I've loved to give the driver a rip.


10. Who do you hang around with on tour?
The girls in the VIP tents.

11. (i) How has this season been for you so far?
After a dissapointing start to the season, things are looking up - I narrowly missed out on winning my 1st event as a pro in Spain back in June. It was our biggest event of the season on The Alps Tour. I ended up in 3rd place having led the way for most of the tournament. My 66 in the 1st round was the lowest round of the week and it was nice to be in the mix again.

It's my first season as a pro and so it's a big learning curve for me and like all professions, it takes time to work your way up.

11. (ii) What are your main goals for the remainder of the season?
I would love to have my breakthrough win on The Alps Tour. But my main focus is to prepare well for European Tour Qualifying and Asian Tour Qualifying.

12. Where do you want to be in 3 years?
Living the dream on The European Tour.

13. If golf didn't exist, what would you be doing?
Never given it much thought before - but being a nightclub owner sounds pretty lucrative. Bit random, but the amount they charge you in clubs - it's got to be good money!!

Spotlight on... UKKO Ambassador Chris Berry

Chris is one of the original UKKO Ambassadors. We've asked him a few questions to find out what makes him tick...

Your Home Club - Knott End GC
Handicap - 10
Age - 31

What's in your bag
Driver - Taylomade Tour Burner TP with Aldila Voodoo SVS6
Woods - Ping G15 3 Wood with stock stiff shaft, Taylormade r7st 5 wood with DSL300
Irons - Ping i15 with AWT shafts, 1/2 inch long, Yellow dot
Wedges - Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 52 and 58 degree
Putter - Taylormade Rossa Spider/Scotty Cameron Squareback
Balls - Srixon Z Star


1. Your ultimate fourball with anyone past & present?
Darren Clarke - Legend
1980's Seve Ballesteros - Just to see his recovery shots up close
Tiger Woods - Just to be upclose to the best would be awesome

2. Where would you take them on?
Loch Lomond - Beautiful golf course and looks to be a challenge too. Plus plenty of trees for Seve!

3. What club is first in the bag & why?
Putter - You have a love hate relationship with it, but its the club that can make or break your round

4. A crafty beer before the game or in the zone on the putting green with energy drink on stand-by?Putting green

5. Obviously you're wearing UKKO on the 1st - which is your favourite garment?
Its got to be the grey v-neck jumper with purple stitching for me. Although, I am looking forward to the blue with royal blue stitching

6. Any dirty tactics or squeaky clean all the way?
Squeaky clean, of course!

7. You have a 4ft putt to win the game. It circles the cup and drops in - how do you celebrate round the green!?
Just like Seve at St Andrews

8. 1st & last drink at the 19th?
I don't drink alcohol, so its usually a coke

9. To celebrate your win, you fill up the private jet - where do you go?
To see if they will let me join Augusta National!

10. Assuming you don't have a private jet, have a nightmare and lose by the 12th - would you head straight for the driving range or drown your sorrows at the nearest local?
Driving range

11. Why did you want to become an Ambassador for UKKO?
The clothing looked really good and its great to be involved with a new upcoming label

12. If you didn't play golf, which other sport would you be obsessed with?
Football

13. What would you like to see in the next UKKO range?Trousers

14. Apart from becoming an UKKO Ambassador, what's your biggest achievement to date?
Won one of the club majors in 2009 in only my second season at the club

11. What do you want to be doing in 5 years?
Playing off plus handicap and also spending plenty of time with my family

Vanilla Slice - Unorthodox Return to the Fairways

It was all set-up perfectly I pondered, as I looked thoughtfully out upon a suprisingly sun-baked February morning in preparation for the first competitive round since the turn of the decade. Wait, its February and I haven't played golf properly since the year just gone, wow, must be the weather or something. The weather conditions on this Sunday though, were a far-cry from the snow we were treading, and sledging on a mere month ago, although decidedly fresh, the sun offered some comfort as I munched on my bacon sandwich slowing contemplating how the round would go, what score I'd get, and how great it was to be English after the victory the day before. Yet, golf was the order of the day, and the clubs saw a clean, as did the treads, maybe it wouldn't be such a spectacularly poor round after a month out of the game we know and love.

As I slipped on my pristine UKKO garments, and admired each and every thread, I genuinely believed this could be a good start to my golfing year. I stepped out of the door with an air of expectancy about me and breathed in the cool air. Once at the club I realised that there were in fact a catalogue of unfortunate inconveniences surrounding my humble self that could be unfortunate set-backs. After the strains of football the day before I was supported by two gammy knees, a dodgy ankle, as well as a suspect hip, maybe the seemingly perfect scene before was stained by a body less efficient than John Daly before rehab although in fairness visits to the gym during the week to squeeze those extra yards out of the big-dog, and the aforementioned battle in the name of football did serve culprits for the situation.

Cue dramatic turn of events. After the regulation shanks, fats, thins, and many undescribale shots on the range, I found the iota of beauty every man (or woman) to ever don the plus-fours (not necessarily women here), the high draw. Bliss, perfection, any other superlatives you lovely people can muster up, amybe it would be OK, well I let the on-course game take care of that. After the standard pre-match pysche up routine of a chat with playing partners in banteresque scenes complaining, and appreciating sporting results of the day before, I found myself standing on the first tee.

A surprising start to the round started with the seldom seen combination of back to back birdies, before a visit the the timber on the 4th set me back slightly. I managed to get by the rest of the front nine to stay a stroke under the handicap. The back nine duly ensued and after stringing together pars, on the tee numbered 13 I hit a hook curvier than an 80's model into the cabbage, never to be seen again. I just about managed to complete the round unscathed further, and the post-game drink parched the lips on a content golfer, feeling all the swagger in the UKKO threads.

That brings me on to a bit of a tip for golfers one and all. Just because it's cold outside, it doesn't mean you fashionistas, both seasoned and fruitful have to cover up the beautiful garms with the heavy waterproofs and cumbersome jumpers. My advice to you lot would be layer under over the coming cold months, that way your golfing statement can still stand proud atop your torso. Make the investment in a baselayer, wear a thermal vest under that, then I recommend layer over the warmth with a UKKO White Polo and the Berry Longsleeve Cardigan. If that still isn't warm enough, because of the lower neck of the cardi, add the Indigo V-Neck, and defy the weather and maintain fairway style.

Written by UKKO Ambassador Tom Ayling

If you're interested in becoming an UKKO Ambassador, get in touch via email - contact@ukko.com

Spotlight on... UKKO Ambassador Stephen Kent

Stephen has recently become an UKKO Ambassador, so we've asked him a few questions to find out what makes him tick...

What's in your bag
Driver - Taylormade r9 (stiff)
Woods - Mizuno F60
Irons - Mizuno MP-57
Putter - Scotty Cameron Squareback (2thumb grip)
Balls - Taylormade TP Red


1. Your ultimate fourball with anyone past & present?
Tiger Woods because his achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time, Ian Poulter because he is well known for his radical dress sense and i would also choose Ernie Els due to his rhythmical but yet extremely powerful golf swing

2. Where would you take them on?
Wolf Creek, it looks unbelievable.

3. A crafty beer before the game or in the zone on the putting green with energy drink on stand-by?
In the zone on the putting green mainly so i can get used to the speed of the greens

4. Obviously you're wearing UKKO on the 1st - which is your favourite garment?
V-neck Jumper because it is so smart and casual but yet it is also extremely fashionable

5. Any dirty tactics or squeaky clean all the way?
A few dirty tactics but not too many

6. To celebrate your win, you fill up the private jet - where do you go?
Some where in Spain due to the sunny weather and the beautiful golf courses

7. Assuming you don't have a private jet, have a nightmare and lose by the 12th - would you head straight for the driving range or drown your sorrows at the nearest local?
Driving range - i need the practice

8. Why did you want to become an Ambassador for UKKO?
Since it is a fashionable brand of clothing on and off the course

9. If you didn't play golf, which other sport would you be obsessed with?
I would most likely be obsessed with Football as i used to play Football when i was younger for a local team but i then started playing golf and i had to drop out of the team to find time to practice my golf.

10. Apart from becoming an UKKO Ambassador, what's your biggest achievement to date?
Playing in the Ian Poulter invitational since i got invited to play there

11. What do you want to be doing in 5 years?
Just finishing university and then hopefully becoming a PGA teaching pro


Stephen has also given us his insight into how to prepare for the upcoming golf season...

Visit an indoor golf facility. Find golf domes online or in the phone book. Domes are heated driving ranges. Some also offer putting and chipping areas.

Put an indoor practice green in your basement. Kits can be purchased at local golf accessories stores or online. Use the extra space in your home to put up a practice net and hitting area. Get use out of your clubs all winter long.

Find a golf facility that offers interactive simulators. Many offer full rounds of golf, playing well known courses from around the world. Practice with your own set of clubs with their screen and sensor equiptment.

Start a golf exercise program at home or with a qualified golf fitness trainer from a local gym. A trainer can help you keep those muscles used for golfing toned and ready to go.

Play a round of indoor mini-golf. While it's not the same thing, it helps keep your putting skills up to par until you can hit the course in the spring.

Take advantage of playing the course even though it's cold. If the course is open, there's no reason to wait. Dress warm and plan on seeing a lot of bare spots, but you can still have fun and get some good practice in.

New Year's Revolution

So here we are in mid-January and already, the chances are the trips to the gym are lessening and you're struggling to find the motivation to pound the pavement. Yet, this is no cry for you to return your gym wear and hang up those dumbbells just yet, instead use all these big plans for entering the new decade to revolutionise your golf game, you can always get better.

There are two ways to win in golf; win, and win in style. Now I'm sure that most of you out there have one of the two components to golfing greatness, I doff my trilby to those of you who win, and maybe do so without the greatest eloquence or flamboyance, but graft out a result, I have the upmost respect for that. Then there is of course the player who plays with the required swagger to fulfil the win in style catergory, but lacks the 'winning' part of the bargain. Fear not the losing or swaggerless golfer! Make the full commitment, and start the decade as you mean to go on!

The ways to do this are simple, and you shouldn't have to change a thing. The first simple step that you should take is enjoy your golf people! Don't get annoyed about it, if you have fun on the course (abiding by the 180 pages of the R&A rulebook, local rules, and etiquette if at all possible, if not just refrain from breaking other people's property) you will play great golf. So now you know that having a good laugh will help you win know you need style. I'm not saying you need to be Seve or Chi Chi Rodriguez but something inbetween would be the swagerrdocio golfer you're looking for. First step is not the 100 yard low fade round the tree, skimming across the burn and rolling up to the short stuff resting 6ft from the target, nah we wouldn't want you to have that shot in your locker, but if it were fair play to you son. The first step is of course a Trip (to the computer) Around (April to purchase) The (greatest clothing in the) World at of course the UKKO store, get your hands on the clobber that will be one step to you playing great golf.

Look Good. Play Good.

Tom Ayling

Spotlight on... UKKO Ambassador Tom Ayling

Tom has recently become an UKKO Ambassador, so we thought we'd find out what makes him tick...

Your home club - Harewood Downs Golf Club
Handicap - 11.3
Age - 16

What's in your bag (we like details!)
Driver - Cobra X-Speed Pro, Shallow Face, Speeder S Shaft
Woods - Taylormade R9 Ti 3, Re.ax Shaft R
Irons - Mizuno Mx-25 3-PW, Dynamic Gold Sl Sahfts
Putter - Odyessy White Hot XG #7
Balls - Titleist Pro V1


1. Your ultimate fourball with anyone past & present?
I'd have just the one golfer, Seve. The true enigma and passion of the game is typified of the flair of the exceptional Spaniard. Next I'd have Bobby Moore, as a Hammers fan its a no brainer. Legend. Lastly, probably James Corden, the man that is the definition of lad, it'd be a laugh.

2. Where would you take them on?
We'd tee it up at Loch Lomond, quality track in a picturesque setting.

3. Which club is first in the bag?
Probably the big dog - there's no better feeling than destroying the ball down the fairway!

4. A crafty beer before the game or in the zone on the putting green with energy drink on stand-by?
Probably be a cheeky pint balanced by the energy drink halfway through the round.

5. Obviously you're wearing UKKO on the 1st - which is your favourite garment?
It's got to be the Burgundy Sleeveless Cardigan, I love the retro style going on there!

6. Any dirty tactics or squeaky clean all the way?
Despite being notorious in my other sports for playing dirty, when clad in the plus-fours it's all clean.

7. You have a 4ft putt to win the game. It circles the cup and drops in - how do you celebrate round the green!?
Sink to my knees and cry - only joking - probably the solitary fist pump and take the pain of buying the first round back inside.

8. 1st & last drink on the 19th?
Kick off with a pint, and finish with half a Jack.

9. To celebrate your win, you fill up the private jet - where do you go?
En-route to the final destination of L.A stop off in Grenada, a truly surreal place.

10. Assuming you don't have a private jet, have a nightmare and lose by the 12th - would you head straight for the driving range or drown your sorrows at the nearest local?
I'm a grafter, I'd be out on the range.

11. Why did you want to become an Ambassador for UKKO?
The threads are quality, and I really wanted to pen my experiences on golf.

12. If you didn't play golf, which other sport would you be obsessed with?
I'm a rugby and football man, but footy would probably take preference if there wasn't a course on the Earth.

13. What would you like to see in the next UKKO range?
I'd love to see some strides in there.

14. Apart from becoming an UKKO Ambassador, what's your biggest achievement to date?
Golfing or something else? Well golfing would be my Autumn Cup performance the season just gone. Non-Golfing, well i just try and make people have a laugh every day really.

15. What do you want to be doing in 5 years?
I'll probably be in my last year at Uni en-route to Sports Journalism.

New UKKO Ambassador - Chris Berry

Welcome to Chris Berry who's the latest player to join the UKKO Ambassador programme.

Chris plays out of Knott End GC off 9.8

In the Bag: Taylormade Tour Burner TP Driver Ping g15 3 Wood MD Golf 3 Hybrid Ping i15 irons Vokey Wedges Rossa Spider Putter Callaway Tour Bag White Powakaddy.