Well here we are and the first month of 2014 already behind us and leaving just 11 months to Christmas.

We’ve seen the staging of three European Tour events and four on the PGA Tour.

In Europe it has been the Spanish dominating with Pablo Larrazabal and Sergio Garcia winning back-to-back while in the States Jimmy Walker won for a second time in capturing the Sony Open.

We had rules controversy in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and a week earlier Charl Schwartzel played one of the most remarkable shots ever seen.

So here is the first of my Monthly Medal winners for 2014.

GOLFER OF THE MONTH – Pablo Larrazabal.

Spain’s Pablo Larrabal captured a third Race to Dubai title in overcoming the likes of Major winners Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

McIlroy could look back to a two stroke penalty on day three and Mickelson to a ‘double hit’ in the final round.

So all credit to the Barcelona-born Larrazabal, and also his wonderful post round comments:  “I have just beaten two of the three most talented guys in my era, and in the last era, as well in Phil Mickelson and Rory.

“I was sitting at the presentation ceremony I said to myself:  ‘Pablo?  What are you doing here?’

“I’ve got Rory McIlroy on my left and I am shaking the hand of Phil Mickelson on my right.  It’s very special for me.”

SHOT OF THE MONTH – Charl Schwartzel

There was some amazing shots in January with Joost Luiten recording an albatross in the Volvo Champions and Brandon Stone grabbing his first-ever pro career hole-in-one during the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Of course, England’s pint-sized Steve Webster kick-started his second round in Doha holing his second shot for an albatross.

But the standout shot of the month was Charl Schwartzel’s truly remarkable shot from a bitumen roadway alongside the 16th hole during the third day at the Volvo Golf Champions 2014.

As you can see from the video, Schwartzel’s blind shot off the roadway and over trees pitched just inches from the cup and leaves acclaimed TV commentator Dougie Donnelly gasping for words.

It just has to be awarded European Tour ‘Shot of the Month’ for January 2014.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH – Adrian Flaherty, Tournament Director, Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

There’s no questioning that after more than 17 years since turning pro and Tiger Woods continues to create enormous interest and excitement where ever he competes.

That was evident when Woods competed in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

And Tournament Director, Adrian Flaherty was spot on when ahead of the event he remarked:  “Anyone who has ever visited Emirates Golf Club, and I mean kings, queens, presidents or prime ministers, no one attracts more attention coming here than Tiger Woods”.

GORILLAS IN THE BAGGAGE HALLS – Durban Airport &/or Dubai Airport

Gorilla’s in the Mist was an award winning hit movie.

Also a big hit were the gorilla’s working in the baggage hall of either Durban Airport or Dubai Airport and smashing my driver in half when the clubs packed in protective foam rubber inside a carry bag arrived in the UAE.

A special thanks to Paul Moos of Callaway for repairing the club.

And while on Dubai Airport a huge thumbs down to Dubai Airport Customs officials working Emirates Terminal 3.

The staff are easily the slowest and most disinterested in the world in processing passports.

Our Doha to Dubai flight was just 45 minutes in duration yet we spent the same amount of time waiting to clear customs.

It’s simply not good enough, and despite some 50 lanes for arriving passengers to file into, measures need to be taken to speed-up processing time for those visiting the UAE.

BEST NEW GOLF COURSE PLAYED – Steenberg GC, Cape Town.

I’ve been fortunate in travelling to South Africa for the Volvo Champions to play a handful of courses.

Three of the six courses I have played were designed by Peter Matkovich – Princes Grant, Cotswold Downs and Steenberg.

I’ve spoken before of my joy in playing Princes Grant to the north of Durban and now after visiting Steenberg I’ve added another course to my list of favourites.

Steenberg was designed by Matkovich in 1996 and is laid out in the Constantia wine growing region on the Western Cape and just a 20 to 30 minute taxi ride from the heart of Cape Town.

The course is surrounded by vineyards while the the stunning Silvermine Mountain stands like a sentinel overlooking the layout.

It is a stunning lush green course where very hole is different and every hole a new challenge.

Matkovich is a not a name familiar outside of South Africa but from my experience in playing three of his design courses he certainly deserves wider appraise.

BEST HOSTS – Dave and June Murphy

It is very rare when absent covering tournaments to enjoy the comforts of home but that’s the scenario each year when we travel to Doha for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

June spoils us with home cooked meals and husband Dave says never to ask if you want a drink at the bar.

It is a week we always look forward to and the real shame is the week passes all too quickly.

However the memories of being made to feel so welcome in June and Dave’s house will stay with us till we head back to Qatar in 2015.

BEST GOLF COURSE PLAYED FOR 1ST TIME – Royal Cape, Cape Town.

I was determined after transiting through Cape Town on route to Durban last year that on this occasion I would spend a few days in South Africa’s southern most city.

Tony Louw, the Director of Golf at Royal Cape and South Africa’s oldest golf club (1885), arranged for me to take part in a member’s day on the Saturday afternoon.

For what I can remember, the golf course was superb and on a day also I posted my first birdie of 2014 – driver, pitching-wedge to 10 feet at the par four, 17th.

However what took place over the course of next few hours in and around the clubhouse remains a little vague.

Suffice to say the Castle’s were great and I also have three new friends to play golf with should I get back to Cape Town.

THE JOKE’S ON YOU AWARD – Joke teller at Volvo Champions Pro-Am function.

Someone should have reminded the joke teller employed to entertain guests at the Pro-Am  function on the eve of the Volvo Champions event that if he’s going to tell a joke involving a particular brand of vehicle he should refer to the vehicle as a Volvo.

It went over like a lead balloon when the person in question told a joke involving Tiger Woods and a motor vehicle but referred to the car as a BMW!

PUNTER OF THE MONTH – DUBLIN BUS TRAVELER

Paul McGinley recalled an incident ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship that involved him recently while in Dublin on Ryder Cup duties.

McGinley was dressed in his Ryder Cup blazer and ventured out onto one of the city’s streets hoping no one would spot him.

However there was one fellow who picked out McGinley straight away and it was this punter sitting in the top deck of a Dublin bus.

McGinley also spotted the chap who was fighting hard with both hands to pry open the window of the bus.

Unfortunately for McGinley he was successful and with the chap shouting down to Europe’s Ryder Cup captain:  “McGinley?  You’re the dogs bollocks!”

RED NECK AWARD – Jerry Kelly.

Scotland-born caddy Dave Renwick is one of the most experienced and respected caddies working on any the main tours.

I’ve known Dave for more than 20 years and I was the first he spoke to shortly after he had ended the third round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship caddying for Ricardo Gonzalez.

We now know what transpired and with Rory McIlroy being hit with a two-shot penalty for not taking ‘full relief’ from a spectator walkway early in round.

While Renwick’s actions in waiting to the last hole to mention the breach to McIlroy were widely applauded on the European Tour, a US-based golf website sought to whip-up a storm in speaking with caddies and players on the PGA Tour.

Most agreed with Renwick with the glaring exception of red neck Jerry Kelly who remarked:  “Waiting until the 18th really sucks”.

BEST NEW MOVIE WATCHED- RUN MILKHA RUN.

Mikha Singh is the father of India professional golfer Jeev Mikha Singh and his life has been portrayed in a movie released last year – Run Milkha Run.

It’s the life story on one of India’s most famous athletes.

I first watched the movie on my Emirates flight from Dubai to Cape Town, and I was so impressed with the movie, and at times is very emotional, that I found myself watching it for a second time on the return flight to the UAE.

The movie is as good a movie I’ve seen for some time and I cannot recommend Run Milkha Run enough.

TRAVELER OF THE MONTH – Karl MacGinty.

How many ways can there be get from Dublin, Ireland to Durban, South Africa.

Good friend and colleague, Karl MacGinty once again endeared himself to everyone when he detailed his travel route to the Volvo Champions event.

Dublin, Ireland via Ryan Air to Bucharest.  Bucharest via Air Dubai to Dubai.  Dubai to Rwanda via Air Rwanda. Rwanda to Johannesburg and finally Johannesburg on to Durban.

It was hardly surprising Karl’s suitcase did not arrive with him in Durban but then someone was looking after him as it turned up a day later alas wrapped in plastic.

Karl rightfully dined out on the journey all week, including remaking to Padraig Harrington how much he liked the look of Rwanda.

However Harrington responded:  “But Karl.  How could you tell if it’s a nice country when all you saw was the view from the airport lounge?”

CADDY OF THE MONTH – Pat Cashman

When Padraig Harrington’s regular caddy Ronan Flood took ill during the second round of the Volvo Champions in Durban a 65-year fellow Irishman on holidays in South Africa took over.

Pat Cashman has known Harrington long before he turned pro and is a member of the same club in Dublin as Flood.

And after taking over caddying duties at the eighth hole, where Harrington had a double bogey, Cashman performed a very amicable job despite plenty of ‘Caddy?  Can we have a club?’ jibes from his mates.

BIG (WEIGHT) LOSER AWARD – Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke looked near unrecognizable when he arrived in Durban to compete in the Volvo Champions.

The former Open Champion confessed he’d lost nearly four stone after a chance meeting with a fitness trainer at one of his corporate outings in Belfast.

“I took a look at myself in October and thought I was getting fat, so it was time to make a change,” he said.

“But I wouldn’t call the fitness program I am on as radical as I still had a few pints with my mates over Christmas that would suggest it’s not radical.”

And while Clarke was a big loser weight-wise, the local Oxfam store was the big winner clothes-wise.

BEST HOTEL OF THE MONTH – STAYBRIDGE RESIDENTIAL SUITES, YAS MARINA

What a discovery – the Staybridge Residential Suites at Yas Marina – and our choice of hotel during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The hotel is more like a home away from home – two double on-suite bedrooms, lounge room, kitchen, washing machine and fridge made the week so much more relaxing than the run-of-the-mill hotels organisers seem to select for the media.

WORST CAR RENTAL FIRM – NATIONAL CAR RENTAL, DOHA AIRPORT

National Car Rental at Doha Airport needs to take a serious look at the state of the cars it rents out.

Admittedly, the car got us to and from the Doha Golf Course each day but how an international firm can rent out a car in such poor and disgraceful condition continues to surrise me.

There was 12 items I listed on the complaints form so intending to hire a car at Doha Airport – be warned.