Asian Golf – September 2014 by Asia Pacific Golf Group

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(65) 6546 7555

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contact@keppellandhospitality.com

ISSUE

COVER STORY

168

SEPTEMBER 2014

SPECIAL FEATURES 18 Oh How Quickly We Forget! It was not too long ago when the world placed a certain Tiger Woods on the highest pedestal of fame and gave him the adulation that no other living sports personality had ever experienced. He was almost revered like a god and he could do no wrong.

20 The Asian Golf Industry Finally Gets Mapped! The Asian Golf Industry Finally Gets Mapped. In a historic undertaking, the Asia Pacific Golf Group, in collaboration with Golf Business Advisory Services has launched an ambitious research programme to provide market intelligence to the industry. An update on the three milestone surveys.

22 There’s Hope For High Handicappers! One of the biggest challenges faced by high handicap players lies in the process of shaving the first ten to fifteen critical strokes okes from their scorecards.

APGS 2014 – A Brand New D.N.A. For Asian Golf! The countdown for the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit has started and it is stacking up to be one of the best in the series to date. It is a knowledge event that has been programmed to address the most pressing challenges facing the golf industry in Asia and the best qualified speakers have been assembled to provide innovative and cutting edge solutions. as

26 Malaysian Teenager Rocks In America!

58 APGS 2014: Asia’s Gallery Of Fame

Given the nature and demanding rigours of golf,f, not many will make the cut. But for those who have what it takes to o make the grade, the industry must make an effort to create a pathway way for these juniors to realize their full potential.

The Asia Pacific Golf Group G pioneered two prestigious award programmes in 2008 and since then, these thes awards have grown both in importance and Asia Pacific Life-Time Achievement Award for Golf stature. The awards are the A and the Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame for Golf.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS 33 Nike Adds “Modern Muscle” To Its Irons! The “Swoosh” folks are at it again! Cashing in on the current frenzy over their wonder boy’s (Rory McIlroy) success, Nike Golf has launched what they call the new range of “Vapor” irons. In a carefully orchestrated hestrated launch which had the crestfallen Tiger Woods, McIlroy and The Tonightt Show’s host Jimmy Fallon in attendance, Cindy Davis, president of Nike Golff proudly paraded the company’s new irons.

34 Mama Big Bertha Has Spawned Another Offspring! Speak about Callaway’s Big Bertha being fertile – the grand old lady is still going strong since she was first launched in 1991. If you recall, after a successful reign, Callaway retired the brand and cast it away into cold storage.

38 Srixon – A Growing Global Force In Golf! Did you know that Srixon has been making golf balls for more than 80 years! Did you also know that Srixon is the fourth largest golf company in the world?

44 The Fantastic Trio From Taylormade Tay Does you short game suck? Are A you able to sink your putts and show some red on your score card? If you are having problems, check out three new putters from TaylorMade.

46 PING’s G30 Is A Winner AAnd Oozes Sex Appeal! With very little fanfare, which is not unusual for PING, the company introduced its latest bomber – the G30 “Turbulator”. The G30 series provide golfers measurable without sacrificing key performance attributes easurable distance gains w such ass control and forgiveness. forgiven

48 Rogue Counterfeiters terfeiters Bust Busted In China! Two smart guys have got together to develop a dragnet which is designed to bust the problem of counterfeiting once and for all. The Singapore counterfeit busters are Steven Tan and Leonard Wee, young guys who possess the intelligence and tech savvy-ness to use technology to corner and wipe out the bad guys!

ISSUE 168

SEPTEMBER 2014

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM 52 Dazzling New Balinese Beauty Beckons! For those who have not been to Bali, the name conjures up dreamscapes of exotic fantasy punctuated by lush vegetation and stunning ocean surrounds. This cannot be further from the truth because much of Bali is pristine and naturally beautiful even with the throngs of tourists who visit it shores annually.

18 20

64 Black Hat Tips: Focus

REGULARS 6 Asian Golf Editorial Team 8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher 72 Next Issue

GOLF ENTREPRENEUR 28 Fenix – An Inspiring David And Goliath Tale The rag trade is a tough and competitive business anywhere in the world. To succeed, one needs designs that appeal to the consumer, quality in finish, attractive price points, enough demand to justify production scale and the guts guts to fight tooth and nail to survive.

This is a skill set that many successful golfers and even business people have that allow them to get things done efficiently and effectively!

68 Pro Tour Golf College: Could Modern Golf Instruction Be Driving Golfers Away From the Game Instead of Towards it? Over the past three years we have spent countless hours writing golf instruction articles, and we’ve posted well over 150 on our blog at www.protourgolfcollege.com showing you the various ways you can improve the way you learn and practice to improve your golf.

64 68

MIKE SEBASTIAN Chief Executive Officer/Managing Editor

ANGELA RAYMOND President

[ mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

LAWRENCE YOUNG Editor (New Equipment)

[ lawrence@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

[ angela@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

ALICE HO Marketing Executive

[ alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

RAQUEL M. ARCEGA Art Director & Ezine Development

SAIFUL SUFIAN Art Director

[ raquel@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

MYRA PARAS Accounts Executive

[ myra@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

[ sufian@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

WAYNE LWEE Video Editor/Streaming services

[ wayne@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

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07 ASIAN GOLF

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SHARED THOUGHTS

From The Publisher

he Headquarters of Adams Golf finally shut down for good on August 12, 2014, some fourteen years after it opened in 1991. It was founded by Barney Adams, the inventor of “Tight Lies”, the most popular fairway wood of all time. The shutdown comes less than two years after TaylorMade adidas Golf bought out Adams Golf. One wonders if Adams Golf is down for the count or if the brand is going to be put away in cold storage – only to be thawed from a state of animated suspension and brought back to life again when the dark clouds of doom clear over the challenged golf equipment industry?

9 ASIAN GOLF

By now, most in the golf industry are aware of the challenges faced by TaylorMade. The one-time power-house of the golf equipment world, and still the top dog in the business, is said to be going through a “re-structuring” phase in the post Mark King era. In a statement relating to the Adams Golf shut-down, TaylorMade said, “We are also realigning our workforce at TaylorMade to better meet the needs of our business and ultimately, our consumers. This includes investing in new areas to strengthen our brands and strategically approach our future to reinforce our leadership in the industry.” As part of this restructuring, TaylorMade estimates that 15% of the golf division’s

global workforce will be reduced and some industry watchers believe this could mean that virtually the entire workforce at Adams Golf will be given the pink slip. All this comes in the wake of trade reports stating that the company’s sales are off more than 30% through six months of 2014. A major problem concerns large inventories at the retail level and to this Adidas group chief executive officer (Taylormade’s parent company) Herbert Hainer said, “At TaylorMade-adidas Golf, given the inventory that is still in the market, we will carefully look at new launch and introduction timings.” He went on to add, “In addition, we will begin a restructuring programme at TaylorMade-adidas Golf to align the organization’s overhead to match lower expectations for the golf industry’s development. In total, I expect this will impact second half operating profit by 50 million to 60 million euros.” This is not good news at all for the golf equipment industry. TaylorMade is not alone – market watchers believe that things are not necessarily coming up roses at Callaway Golf, the second biggest golf equipment company in the world. While all of us in the golf equipment industry have been aware of the industry hitting hard times, the current blood-letting all started when the giant Dicks Sporting Goods store, the largest retailer in the United States of TaylorMade and Callaway products, fired all the PGA professionals that it employed in the golf sections of its more than 560 stores. “We are selling drivers in our stores this spring for US$99 that were approximately US$299 20 months ago,” Dick’s CEO Ed Stack said after announcing earnings on May 20. Stack said at the time that the company’s overall golf business missed its first-quarter sales plan by US$34 million and that he expected a downward trend for the rest of the year. Are we just beginning to see the tip of the ice-berg?. Is there more bad news to come? Is the next big story going to be worse than this one? One concerned market watcher was reported to have said, “Things are only going to get worse. This is the first shoe to drop.” Ominous words indeed and we hope that for the sake of golf, from this crucible of pain will emerge a much leaner and focused golf equipment industry driven to pick up and grow the game with a new zest.

IT’S CATACLYSMIC! A GAME CHANGER! THE FIRST EVER GOLF INDUSTRY SURVEY COVERING SOUTHEAST ASIA

An Industry Milestone Undertaken By Golf Business Advisory Services and the Asia Paciﬁc Chapter of The CMAA.

EXC EL L E N NT T If you are engaged in the golf industry and would like to participate in this break-through market research project, visit www.golfbas.com

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP PRESENTS

Presented By The Asia Paciﬁc Golf Group Asia Paciﬁc Golf Summit | Asian Golf | Asian Club Business | Asian Golf TV A CMAA-Asia Pacific Chapter Initiative with Golf Business Advisory Services (GBAS) ASIA PACIFIC CHAPTER

SPORTY EXTERIOR. Lightweight hosel: Adjustability with no loss of performance.

CUSTOM-ENGINEERED INTERIOR.

On the outside, the new i25TM adjustable driver says performance and control. Inside, the multi-material driver has the horsepower to match. A CG positioned low and back reduces spin and delivers an extremely high MOI for forgiveness while stabilizing launch conditions to give you the distance you demand. To get the perfect Ă&#x20AC; W ZH RIIHU WKH 3:5 VKDIW IDPLO\ Â˛ VKDIWV HQJLQHHUHG E\ ZHLJKW WR help keep you in the fairway. Of course, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot more to it, so WHVW GULYH RQH DW \RXU 3,1* )LWWLQJ 6SHFLDOLVW RU YLVLW SLQJ FRP

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Fueled by patented Turbulator Technology and a new face material, the G30 adjustable driver is PING’s longest, most forgiving driver ever. In wind tunnel testing, crown turbulators are proven to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase clubhead speed. The T9S titanium face is thinner for higher ball speeds, and it’s lighter to keep the CG low and back for optimal launch and spin. The low/back CG – a proven PING innovation – also increases MOI for unmatched consistency. With 5 loft settings and high-balance-point shaft technology, the G30 is the fastest way to longer, more accurate drives. Visit a PING Fitting Specialist or ping.com. You’ll be better for it. ®

New T9S face material

5 loft adjustments

COVER STORY

13 ASIAN GOLF

New D.N.A.

ISSUE 168

he 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) will once again take the lead role to prepare Asia to effectively manage changing trends in the global golf industry. This year’s Summit will examine various bold initiatives designed to not only meet the challenges posed to the industry but to also come up with innovative measures to help keep golf growing and relevant in a rapidly changing leisure and recreational landscape in Asia. “There is a never-ending stream of negative reports emanating from the West about how the game of golf is being hammered with golfers dropping off the game, rounds played plummeting and revenues nose-diving at golf courses – nothing that we hear is good news,” lamented Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of APGS 2014.

“In Asia, we refuse to be sucked into this malaise – we know that the golf industry is challenged but rather than mope and hang our heads in despair, we need to roll up our sleeves, put on our thinking caps and work on effective solutions before we get hit by the disease that is causing many in the West to pronounce the death of golf!” Sebastian stressed. APGS 2014 will be staged in the bustling city state of Singapore which is widely regarded as a hub for global change – a city that constantly keeps re-inventing itself to stay well ahead of the cycle of change. “Singapore is without doubt the world’s laboratory for change and this is where many new ideas and concepts are born, developed and implemented – it is an exciting city that will provide the golf industry in Asia with a springboard to boldly push Asian golf into new realms of growth and expansion,” he explained. Some of the key areas of business that will be discussed at APGS 2014 will include the following vital topics: Service standards to make golf relevant to a multi-generational clientele;

SEPTEMBER 2014

Dynamic training and development of human capital for the golf industry; Developing the next generation of golfers and club members; Understanding future trends and getting ready for it; The golf industry in Asia needs to be fully aware of future trends that can and will impact the industry and swing into a mind-set to cope with change effectively by confronting challenges with well-trained manpower fully capable of harnessing both technology and new work practices to get the job done. One area that is going to be highly instrumental in preparing for change is a suite of research projects that will provide the industry with timely market intelligence which has heretofore not been available in Asia (read “The Asian Golf Industry Finally Gets Mapped!” on Page 20). “This is only the beginning and the Asia Pacific Golf Group, in conjunction with the CMAA-Asia Pacific Chapter and Golf Business Advisory Services has ambitious plans for 2015 to produce a number of useful market intelligence tools for the industry to use to navigate itself going forward,” Sebastian revealed. APGS 2014 will be a highly focused business conference and is a MUST ATTEND event for any serious stake-holder in golf in Asia.

COVER STORY

New D.N.A.

I recognize the challenge that our industry faces all over the world. The game is not growing and more are walking away from our clubs.” – Gregg Patterson U

L NIE

The e speakers wh who w h have ave been confirmed ed d include a stella stellar line-up of some of the he most brilliant thinkers in the golf industry. ustry. Topping this list is one part of the duo uo who are rated as Asia’s most powerful men n in golf – Tenniel Chu, the Vice Chairman of the Mission Hills Group, the biggest golf resort in the world. Chu will deliver a major address that will show how as the world’s largest golf operator, Mission Hills has brought about a blend of great golfing experiences mingled with the fun and excitement of a resort cum tinsel town experience. It’s like having Pebble Beach, Disneyland and Hollywood all wrapped up in one spell-binding package. This is really a showcase presentation to the world on how to make golf a total experience and to reach out to target groups that go beyond just the golfer. Always entertaining and always at the cutting edge of the club management industry is the effervescent Gregg Patterson, general manager of the Beach Club in California. Popularly known as the “god of love”, he will lead Asia in an adventure to make golf sexy again. A spell-binding speaker who has enthralled thousands all over the world, will give his unique take on how to make the club experience special. “I recognize the challenge that our industry faces all over the world. The game is not growing and more are walking away from our clubs,” said Patterson. In an impassioned appeal, he urged, “We have to make the whole experience of golf and the golf club environment appealing to all generations – baby boomers, Gen-Xers, -Xers, Gen-Ys and the Millennials and this is quite a challenge.” The “professor from Stanford” James G. Prusa has been investing countless hours

son. This man’s vision on what is going to impact the club management industry in the future is priceless. He draws analogies from the corporate world to show how companies who lost their relevance elevan to their respective marketplace ce had to subject subj

15 ASIAN GOLF

on computer simulations to make sense nse of megatrends and how these important nt indicators have a bearing on how the golf lf industry in Southeast Asia prepares for the future. Prusa will help the industry understand how it will be impacted by the megatrends and where the industry should focus preparations for what is fast coming approaching. “The winds of change are speeding up – owners and general managers will either find themselves struggling unprepared or capitalizing on the opportunities with prepared strategies. In which group will you find yourself?” is the question that Prusa will pose to the industry and help make sense of what needs to be done. One of the best business gurus of golf ss guru in the world is undeniably Sanderably Bill Sand

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themselves to the inevitable – total demise. “Being successful in the golf industry will all come down to management being able to sense new directions and harness new energies that can be used to revitalise the industry and keep it on track for continued success in the future,” according to Sanderson. “Bill is an institution with us because he gets it – he fully understands the challenges faced by our industry and he is refreshingly different in addressing these challenges – he is all about a positive mind-set that is focused on producing solutions – he is the guy who will be the invigorating revival tonic and the mixer of the power-cocktail to pump up the industry,” said Sebastian. Another management guru who

SEPTEMBER 2014

ISSUE 168

to make golf competitive so that kids will embrace it instead of walking over to other more team-oriented sports or even the massively large hand-held video games arena which is proving to be more compelling than any other recreational activity available,” said Thiel. According to him, golf needs to take on a mission that is on a biblical scale – to evangelise and get kids excited about the game and to want to learn and play it. To get the ball rolling, the celebrated and renowned three-time PGA Teacher Of The Year and Master Coach of the Mizuno Golf School of Japan will speak on why juniors have to be courted immediately to take up the game.

Being successful in the golf industry will all come down to o management being able to sense new did di rections and harness new energies that can be used to revitalise the industry and keep p it on track for continued success in the future.””

E JO

KE MI

Mike Kerr, chief executive officer of the Asian Tour Stephen Bernhard, chairman, Bernhard & Company Brian Curley, principal, Schmidt Curley Design Andy Johnston, general manager, Sentosa Golf Club Matt Kamienski, PGA vice president and executive director, 2015 Presidents Cup Jeff Blunden, managing director, Golf Business Advisory Services Robert Yeo, chief executive officer and executive director, Singapore Training and Development Association Gary Jones, president/chief executive officer, Destination Media

ROBERT YEO

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Other featured speakers include:

STEPHEN BERNHARD

R SC

R CU

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DY J

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JEFF BLUNDEN

specialises in golf is James Cronk, principal of the Cronk Group. A man who is highly sought after in North America on matters relating to innovative management practices, Cronk believes that in today’s challenged industry, those facilities that are able to articulate their passion for golf will be successful in growing the game, growing their customers and growing their profits. His speech, entitled “WHY GOLF WILL SAVE THE WORLD – Growing the Game One Soul at a Time!” will be an entertaining and educational session where Cronk will rekindle everyone’s passion for the great game of golf. Talking about passion, master golf coach Joe Thiel is the epitome of passion itself. He will focus on the importance of the industry reaching out to kids on a large scale. “We need to make golf FUN and EXCITING for kids to opt for golf. We need

Helping The Golf Industry TO Help Itself To Deliver The Best!

SINGAPORE THE GLOBAL LABORATORY FOR CHANGE.

Singapore, one of the most dynamic and forward thinking countries in the world will be the staging point for the 2014 Asia Paciﬁc Golf Summit. Innovation and cutting edge thinking will lead the thrust of the Summit and it will be powered by a theme that calls for a “New Drive. New Energy. A Revitalised Industry!”

On-line registration IS OPEN NOW! VISIT WWW.GOLFCONFERENCE.ORG

Knowledge Gets Ready To Flow In Singapore! Some of the most innovative minds in golf will be descending on Singapore to share their revolutionary thoughts on the future of the game at the 2014 Asia Paciﬁc Golf Summit.

APGS 2014 is the perfect platform for this exciting discourse on how golf should be managed in the rapidly changing growth dynamics of the region.

Singapore, the host nation for APGS 2014, a truly dynamic and forward thinking global hub is the perfect setting for the event’s theme which calls for a “New Drive. New Energy. A Revitalised Industry”. APGS 2014 is the ideal event for likeminded executives from the golf club industry and golf trade to come together

and network for the common good of golf.

The venue for APGS 2014 is the spectacular Marina Bay Sands Resort, one of the true wonders of the modern world. To share in new knowledge and discover new ways to grow golf in Asia, there’s no better conference anywhere in the region than APGS 2014.

SEE YOU IN SINGAPORE! BOOK YOUR SEAT FOR APGS 2014! WWW.GOLFCONFERENCE.ORG ENDORSED BY

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2014 PGA Championship

19 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE IS ISS SS S SU UE E 168 16 1 68 68

SEPTEMBER SE S EP PT TE EM MB BE ER 2 20 2014 014 14

Rory McIlroy celebrates his one-stroke victory on the 18th green with his father Gerry McIlroy.

It was not too long ago when the world placed a certain Tiger Woods on the highest pedestal of fame and gave him the adulation that no other living sports personality had ever experienced. He was almost revered like a god and he could do no wrong.

ven his much publicized torrid dalliances were quickly forgiven and forgotten. That was a measure of how much golf’s mega star of the 21st Century was loved. But by the time twilight dawned and the Sun shut its eyes on August 10, 2014, almost every inhabitant of Planet Golf went hyper over a new star. The arrival of the man anointed by the golfing gods to ascend to the throne once majestically occupied by the seemingly invincible Tiger Woods.

The dawn of a new era in golf! On this fateful day, Rory McIlroy delivered on the prophecy that he would become the man to dethrone Tiger Woods and herald the start of a new age for golf. For all those of us who witnessed McIlroy make his charge at the 2014 PGA Championship it was a spectacle to behold. Locked in a bitter battle with another 25year old and a 39-year old who was playing the game of his life, McIlroy snuffed them out for good on the finishing holes at the rain-soaked fairways and greens of the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.

While nobody could take away the moment from McIlroy for his historic victory, one could not help but feel the pain of seeing the changing of the guards – to standby and spectate at how adoring fans, ecstatic television commentators and eager press cameramen fly into a frenzy to celebrate the new and discard the old. Just imagine Tiger Woods watching this moment – he must have most certainly felt that this was the point from which he would never return. This is the sad but real end ignominiously reserved for all those who have ascended to the ultimate peak of their given callings. Will the future of golf now rest squarely on the young shoulders of McIlroy? Well, that seems to be the case given the way golf’s pundits are stepping over each other singing his praises. We think otherwise! Give him the time and space to grow and let history be the judge of what is in store for Rory McIlroy.

THE JOURNEY’S JUST BEGUN Lifting the Wanamaker Trophy for the second time also makes McIlroy the third youngest player after Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus to win four majors, just one less than the total won by the late Seve Ballesteros and two behind Nick Faldo. With youth on his side, the journey for the young Irishman has just commenced!

SPECIAL FEATURE

Market Research

There is no doubt in anybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind that to be a major player in virtually any Ă&#x201E;LSK VM NSVIHS I\ZPULZZ (ZPH 4<:; IL a major consideration. This continent is OVTL [V [OL SHYNLZ[ WLYJLU[HNL VM [OL NSVILÂťZ WVW\SH[PVU ^OPJO Z[HUKZ H[ V]LY IPSSPVU 0U JVTWHYPZVU [OL JVTIPULK WVW\SH[PVU VM 5VY[O (TLYPJH HUK ,\YVWL PZ ZSPNO[S` V]LY IPSSPVU 20

21 ASIAN GOLF

nother measure of Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s importance is the value of its combined economic force. Based on the year 2013, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gross Domestic Product registered at a staggering US$19 trillion dollars and growing at a steady rate. While the size of Asia in terms of its population and its GDP is properly chronicled, it may come as a surprise that very little is known in terms of â&#x20AC;&#x153;universally acceptedâ&#x20AC;? market intelligence on the nascent golf industry In Asia. The golf industry in Japan has been properly measured for many years and to a lesser extent, maybe South Korea. But the rest of this massive continent has been untouched in terms of serious, industry wide research. The absence of research and the ready availability of reliable market intelligence have been generally disregarded by most industry players. We do qualify that some research

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projects have been undertaken by certain companies but these have been projects confined to defined groups mostly made up of their own customers. To date, there has been no independent research conducted to determine the state of the golf industry in Asia, trends impacting its development and indicators pointing to its future. However, all this is set to change because of a bold initiative undertaken by the Asia Pacific Golf Group in partnership with the CMAA – Asia Pacific Chapter (CMAAAPC) and Golf Business Advisory Services (GBAS) of Australia. The research project incorporates three very distinct surveys which include: The Asian Golf Consumer Survey The Southeast Asian Golf Industry/Facility Survey The Asian Golf Course Architects Survey All three survey projects are marketdriven and the primary objective is to be able to obtain a good fix on each given area of the industry that is being surveyed. This research comes at a point in time when serious stake-holders in the game are looking for market intelligence to grow golf on the giant Asian continent. “The launch of this innovative project marks the coming of age for the Asian golf industry and more significantly, it heralds the dawn of a new era where finally the golf industry will have credible market intelligence on the size and nature of the golf industry in Asia,” remarked Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group and president of CMAAAPC. “Working with the highly regarded Jeff Blunden and his team at Golf Business Advisory Services in Australia, we are confident that the Asian Golf Survey will provide what the golf industry in Asia has needed for many years,” he added. The one thing all of the stakeholders in Asian golf have in common is the consumer.

Right now the consumer is the king. “As the survey covers participation traits, golf club satisfaction, equipment use and golf travel habits, the outcomes that will emanate from this research will provide great insight into the consumer’s current thinking,” said Jeff Blunden, managing director of Golf Business Advisory Services (GBAS) Blunden went on to explain, “How close the key industry stakeholders, including the national tourism organisations, the equipment manufacturers, the private club managers and the resort owners, are aligned to this thinking, or how quickly they choose to align, will have a large bearing on the future success they do or do not achieve and those stakeholders who can better deliver what the consumer wants will certainly be best positioned moving forward.” Golf Business Advisory Services is one of the leading providers of independent golf industry advisory services in the Asia Pacific market. The firm’s knowledge and expertise is grounded in both market and consumer research, evidenced by the major industry research projects and reports that it has authored in recent years in Australia. The Asian Golf Consumer Survey will poll golfers in the following countries – Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. “It is a very extensive geographic region and we have assembled a large universe to be polled over the next few weeks,” revealed Blunden. It comes hot on the heels of the recently launched Southeast Asian Golf Industry Survey and the Asian Golf Architects Survey, both launched by the same organisations involved with the Asian Golf Consumer Survey. The 2014 Southeast Asia Golf Industry/ Facility Survey will be conducted in ten countries over a two month period. “We will be reaching out to a good cross-sectional

SEPTEMBER 2014

sampling of golf course owners, operators, general managers, golfing managers, course superintendents, the golf trade and national tourism organisations to obtain a good fix on the spread of the industry and a number of important trends vital to understanding the state of the industry,” revealed Jeff Blunden. This inaugural industry/facility survey will form part of an on-going commitment to research by the CMAAAPC and the club industry in the region can expect more specialised research projects to be launched from now on. The countries that will be covered will include the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia. The survey will be very comprehensive and will serve up data that has heretofore not been available to the golf industry. Blunden’s expertise is grounded in both market and consumer research, evidenced by the major industry research projects and reports that he has authored in recent years in Australia. Highly skilled in financial analysis and modelling, with a deep understanding of current industry trends, Blunden’s client base has covered the entire industry spectrum as he has successfully delivered a broad range of feasibility, operational and research projects for clubs, resorts, developers, administration and tourism bodies, banks, and legal firms. Blunden will present some of the key findings of the 2014 Southeast Asia Golf Industry Survey and the Asian Golf consumer survey at the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit to be staged in Singapore from November 14 – 15 which is owned and organised by the Asia Pacific Golf Group. The release of the findings of these research projects will mark a major milestone in the evolution of the golf industry in the region and it will herald a new era in the way the business of golf is conducted.

As the survey covers participation traits, golf club satisfaction, equipment use and golf travel habits, the outcomes that will emanate from this research will provide great insight into the consumer’s current thinking.” - Jeff Blunden

SPECIAL FEATURE

Custom Fitting

One of the biggest challenges faced by high handicap players lies in the process of ZOH]PUN [OL ÄYZ[ [LU [V ÄM[LLU JYP[PJHS Z[YVRLZ MYVT [OLPY ZJVYLJHYKZ >P[O VM HSS NVSMLYZ WSH`PUN [OL ^YVUN JS\IZ Z[HY[PUN [OL ZLHZVU VMM ^P[O H J\Z[VT ZL[ VM Z[PJRZ PZ HYN\HIS` [OL LHZPLZ[ ^H` [V YLHJO [OH[ NVHS >OLU H NVSMLY NL[Z Ä[ PU[V JS\IZ [OH[ TH[JO OPZ VY OLY ZRPSS SL]LS [OL` HYL N\HYHU[LLK [V ZLL PTTLKPH[L HUK ZPNUPÄJHU[ PTWYV]LTLU[Z VU [OL JV\YZL (YTLK ^P[O [OL WLHJL VM TPUK [OH[ JHU VUS` JVTL MYVT J\Z[VT Ä[ LX\PWTLU[ OPNO OHUKPJHW WSH`LYZ ^PSS ÄUHSS` ÄUK [OLTZLS]LZ PU H WVZP[PVU [V SV^LY [OLPY ZJVYLZ HUK PUJYLHZL [OLPY LUQV`TLU[ VM [OL NHTL

here are typically three main types of highhandicap golfers: the senior who has been losing strength and flexibility over the years the recreational player who plays only a handful of times a year the player who has simply been playing the wrong equipment for way too long and can’t improve even with lessons As golfers grow older, their swing speeds tend to slow down and their flexibility decreases. One of the first steps that seniors can take to improve their game is to have realistic expectations. Seniors shouldn’t be playing the same equipment they were using twenty years ago. Most seniors will improve by using clubheads that are designed for the greatest forgiveness and which also compensate for a slower swing speed. The senior player will also notice greater improvement by carrying more hybrids and fewer irons. For example, our #7 hybrid models actually get 10 yards greater distance than our #7 irons with the exact same loft specifications! And having the right shaft is paramount. Most senior golfers need a softer, lighter shaft to compensate for their slower swing speeds – giving the ball more kick when and where it counts most – at impact. That means no more heavy steel. Graphite shafts should be “par for the course” for a senior player. Graphite dampens vibration and is easier on the golfer’s joints. Seniors should also consider the benefit of arthritic grips that will further reduce the vibration of the club upon striking the ball. A qualified fitter should be able to fit any senior with clubs that will help improve their consistency on the course.

23 ASIAN GOLF

As we all know, golf is a difficult game to play. It takes years of consistent practice, which typically includes playing a few rounds or more a week. We know that most people simply do not have the time that it takes to practice and work on their game. For those recreational golfers that only make it to the course a few times a year, your clubfitter will help you find the clubs that will actually make the game easier for you. Clubheads should be very forgiving. Again, having more hybrids and fewer irons in the bag can help. If the recreational player does not intend to take lessons to improve, there are actually clubheads that correct bad swing flaws. For example, if the player has a hook or a slice, there are clubheads that can alter and literally cure those defects. And why not use the tools that can help your game? Again, the shaft choice is important and the recreational player will most likely achieve greater distance and dispersion control with the shaft selected by a bonafide fitter. Surprisingly, many recreational players have taken up the game more seriously after having a few enjoyable rounds with easy to play and very forgiving clubs. The last group of high handicappers is typically composed of golfers that desperately want to play better golf, but they have ill-fitting clubs and no amount of lessons can help them. Often they aspire to be like the pros, so they buy the same type of clubs that the pros are playing – which is obviously the wrong choice of club for their game. Or worse, they bought the wrong set of clubs “off the rack” or an inexpensive set that has no relevance to their game. I can’t tell you how often I talk to golfers who have bought “the latest and greatest” clubs, only to add them to their garage full of other equipment not suited to their game. Why, oh why, don’t they get a perfectly fit set of clubs right from the start? It sure would save them money in the long run, and they would have had years of great play to show for it as well. Tragically, the majority of golfers will instinctively modify their

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The shaft choice is important and the recreational player will most likely achieve greater distance and dispersion control with the shaft selected by a bonafide fitter. Surprisingly, many recreational players have ve e taken up the game e more re seriously after ter er having hav avi ving a vi few enjoyable joyable joy yable rounds ro with wiith easy asy to play ay and nd ve very for forfo giving giv iviing clubs.â&#x20AC;?

SEPTEMBER 2014

SPECIAL FEATURE

Custom Fitting

swings to suit ill-fitting clubs. And every time they go buy a new set of clubs, they tend to buy something that feels â&#x20AC;&#x153;familiar.â&#x20AC;? Of course, if their clubs are too short then when someone hands them something that is the correct length, it may feel a bit odd. It takes a great deal of trust in the clubfitter when being placed into the correct clubs, then to slowly re-train the body to swing naturally. The difference it will make in their game will be almost instantaneous. Finally, the golfer can learn to properly â&#x20AC;&#x153;swingâ&#x20AC;? the club instead of praying that they will â&#x20AC;&#x153;hitâ&#x20AC;? the ball. Finding sticks that give the player confidence and a more consistent ball flight is crucial in lowering scores and improving golfersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; overall enjoyment of the game. And best of all, when fit into the right clubs, lessons finally become relevant. The hardest part of all is finding a professional teacher and professional fitter with integrity that will actually get you into perfectly fit and built clubs. When looking for teachers and fitters, find out how important the fitting is in their program. If it is non-existent, I would recommend you continue looking. There are some very good fitters and teachers out there, and they are well worth the hunt.

Finding sticks that give the player confidence and a more consistent ball flight is crucial in lowering scores and improving golfersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; overall enjoyment of the game. And best of all, when fit into the right clubs, lessons finally become relevant.â&#x20AC;?

ABOUT JENNIFER KING Dr. King is the founder and President of KZG, the #1 Custom ProLine which manufactures equipment distributed solely through qualified professional teachers and professional clubfitters. She has pioneered raising the bar for custom clubfitters around the globe and is a sponsor of the International Professional Association of ClubFitters (IPAC), an association dedicated to raising the bar for the clubfitting profession and to assist the golfing public on where to go and what to expect in a real fitting. If you have a question for Dr. King, please e-mail her directly at jennifer@kzgolf.com and put on the subject line: Asian Golf. You can also find out more about KZG and IPAC on their websites: www.kzg.com and www.ipacgolf.com t XXX L[H DPN and www.ipacgolf.com

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Aaerishna Shasty

Given the nature and demanding rigours of golf, not many will make the cut. But for those who have what it takes to make the grade, the industry must make an effort to create a pathway for these juniors to realize their full potential.

t’s a call for huge commitment and it is left to be seen if national golf associations, the professional tours and other related support groups are prepared to step up to the plate to make junior dreams come true! One teenager who needs special mention is a boy who hails from Malaysia. When Asian Golf first met him in his hometown in Johor Baru, capital city of the southern-most Malaysian state of Johor, he was 11 years old. That first meeting displayed certain characteristics that seemed to indicate that this boy was different – that he was special. Unlike boys his age who are normally hyperactive with their thumbs on hand-held devices like the ubiquitous hand-phone, he was not. As Asian Golf talked about his goals and ambitions with his Uncle Peter (who gave up his job in banking to look after

27 ASIAN GOLF

the boy’s needs in golf ), he looked upon intently and paid attention to everything that was said without showing any signs of being bored. There was a certain sparkle in his eyes – a burning passion to achieve his life’s goal which in his own words is to turn professional someday. Meet Aaerishna Shasty, a star in the making. Known to his friends as simply “Aaeri”, 2014 will go down as a major milestone in his young playing career. A scholar at the prestigious Raffles Institution, arguably one of the finest schools in Southeast Asia, Aaeri took a one-month sabbatical from his studies to go to America to sharpen his game. “It was not easy to get my school to agree but my grades helped to convince them that I could handle the break from studies,” Aaerie chuckled. Backed by the

CIMB Bank of Malaysia, Aaeri devoted himself to a regimen of intensive coaching under the care of hand-picked PGA coaches in San Diego. “The approach towards training juniors is so different in America which explains why that country keeps on producing top quality junior, college and professional players,” Aaeri observed. According to him, the quality of the coaches and the positive approach they take towards training juniors is so very advanced and the time and patience spent on helping a junior is remarkable. “There are no short cuts and it is something that the coaches frown upon,” Aaeri pointed out and added, “the emphasis is on mastering every technique and constantly practicing so as to ensure that every routine is committed to muscle memory.”

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The approach towards training juniors is so different in America which explains why that country keeps on producing top quality junior, college and professional players.” – Aaeri

Another area that Aaeri found unique was the focus on the mental aspects of the game. “My coaches in San Diego place a lot of emphasis on the mental attitude of a player because they believe that a game is often lost in the six-inches of space between the ears.” The 15-year old has come away absolutely convinced that for him to progress in the game, mental strength, aside from the quality of play is imperative for success. “Look at Rory McIlroy – he is the perfect example of mental strength – it is so obvious when he recovers almost instantly from a set-back and that’s what makes a special player totally different – a superstar!” Aaeri is beginning to grow up and shows promise of becoming a well-rounded star golfer and top student. His one-month break in America has delivered the results that he strived very hard to attain. He took

part in the 2014 TaylorMade World Masters Junior Championship in Las Vegas in late July and he aced it. The Malaysian romped home the winner of this closely contested three-day tournament staged in Las Vegas, Nevada and took top honours in the boy’s 15-16 age group. “He was up against a stellar field of juniors drawn from all over the world but Aaeri displayed his championship qualities when he broke away to finish the tournament at the top of the leaderboard,” said Uncle Peter. His winning score to land the world title was 72, 69, 72. The TaylorMade World Junior Masters is a premier golf tournament in the world. Its mission is to provide junior boys and girls of all ages with the most competitive field and the ultimate tournament experience. This professionally managed event by PGA golf

professionals, PGA apprentices and volunteers makes this a must play tournament for all juniors. It is nationally ranked by NJGS, Golfweek, Scratch Player World Ranking, AJGA and R & A world Ranking. “We have a lot of work still to do and the journey for Aaeri has just begun” said Uncle Peter. “The challenge for Aaeri now is to keep his concentration focused and what he needs most of all is competition play because that’s the only way for him to stay sharp.” It is hoped that the authorities responsible for golf in Malaysia will throw their support behind this budding star and provide him all the breaks and opportunities he needs to realize his dream which is to one day play on the PGA Tour of America. Aaeri, we wish you well – you are a star in the making!

GOLF ENTREPRENEUR

FENIX Golf

The rag trade is a tough and competitive business anywhere in the world. To succeed, one needs designs that appeal to the consumer, X\HSP[` PU ÄUPZO H[[YHJ[P]L WYPJL WVPU[Z LUV\NO KLTHUK [V Q\Z[PM` WYVK\J[PVU ZJHSL HUK [OL N\[Z [V ÄNO[ [VV[O HUK UHPS [V Z\Y]P]L

or those who make the grade, the rewards are plentiful but for those who don’t, they risk being discarded and cast into oblivion. It all sounds pretty stark but that is the reality of the trade. Given the tough odds to succeed, one wonders why anyone would still want to plunge into this business. The challenge becomes even more acute when the section of the rag bec trade tra that this feature focuses upon is in the golf industry. tr It is already dominated by ruthlessly competitive giants like Nike and Adidas and together with a host of gi other oth peripheral players, collectively form an eco-system that tha in one word can be described as SCARY! Against this daunting backdrop, a young Scotsman

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It’s been a tough battle but Fenix is winning and making very smart moves and impressive gains. This in itself is a creditable performance and something for a homegrown company to be proud of – a classic battle of David versus Goliath!”

GOLF ENTREPRENEUR

FENIX Golf

decided to make a name for himself in golf apparel and accessories. Back in 2008, Michael Moir launched FENIX, a brand that had ambitions then of becoming a strong niche player in the Southeast Asian region. Why the golf industry? Moir replied without hesitation, “I just saw too many goodie bags left behind in lockers at corporate events and this was primarily due to the poor quality of the apparel and accessories given to golfers.” So, it was quality that got this young entrepreneur fired up to enter the golf rag trade to make a name for himself. It was a rocky ride from the start, fraught with a whole myriad of challenges and problems. “Let me tell you that the problems and challenges are still there but we have learned how to cope with them and stay afloat and keep our heads above water,” Moir chuckled. He and his team are fighters and one thing that they have large doses of is good old fashioned spunk and grit. The early days of the business called for non-stop hard work and a constant struggle to eke out a living based on relatively small orders. “The hard work still continues and in fact, we have to work even harder and make more sacrifices to stay ahead of the curve,” Moir added. Six years after starting up Fenis, the drive to grow the business continues. “We have been cautious in growing the company and my partner and I now work full time in the business and we have done well to grow our business,” is how Moir describes his company today.

Michael Moir (R) in a relaxed mood with Asian Tour star and Fenix Brand Ambassador Scott Hend (L).

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So, it was quality that got this young entrepreneur fired up to enter the golf rag trade to make a name for himself. It was a rocky ride from the start, fraught with a whole myriad of challenges and problems.“Let me tell you that the problems and challenges are still there but we have learned how to cope with them and stay afloat and keep our heads above water” – Michael Moir

SEPTEMBER 2014

GOLF ENTREPRENEUR

FENIX Golf

On competition, which incidentally is very fierce in this sector of the golf industry, Moir said, “We don’t get drawn into competition with the big global players and we focus on our strengths and relationships rather than trying to better what others are doing – we have a unique service to offer to our customers and remain confident that we can continue to build on this.” One area that places a lot of stress on Fenix, especially at the retail level concerns its ability to compete against the big brands who provide all stocks on consignment. “We get around this challenge by holding inventory at our warehouses so that we are able to refresh stocks much more quickly,” Moir revealed. Fenix has an impressive product line which includes golf polo shirts, tee-shirts, shorts, trousers, belts, caps, umbrellas, golf and sport bags and compression sports underwear and outerwear. All designs are created by a talented in-house design team with the bulk of the manufacturing done in Thailand. Fenix products are available in most countries in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and parts of Africa. “We are looking at expanding into other markets in North America and Europe and we expect to be in more than twenty countries by 2016 and we aim to build Fenix into one of Asia’s top apparel and accessories brands,” is Moir’s outlook for the company. It’s been a tough battle but Fenix is winning and making very smart moves and impressive gains. This in itself is a creditable performance and something for a home-grown company to be proud of – a classic battle of David versus Goliath!

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EQUIPMENT FOCUS

SEPTEMBER 2014

Nike Vapor Irons

The “Swoosh” folks are at it again! Cashing in on the current frenzy over their wonder boy’s (Rory McIlroy) success, Nike Golf has launched what they call the new range of “Vapor” irons. In a carefully orchestrated launch which had the crestfallen Tiger Woods, McIlroy and The Tonight Show’s hostt Jimmy Ton To Fallon in attendance, Cindy Davis, Fal Dav avis, paraded the company’s para co ny’s ne new ew iro irons. rons.

NIKE ADDS “MODERN MUSCLE” TO ITS IRONS!

ike Golf is referring to the Vapor irons as a blend of detailed craftsmanship of Nike’s master club builder, Mike Taylor; the engineering expertise of The Oven (Nike’s R&D facility in Fort Worth); and the imagination of Nike designers. The result; a family of irons featuring a pinnacle Nike innovation called Modern Muscle. Modern Muscle is a modification of a standard muscle-back design that moves the iron’s centre of gravity to the centre of the clubface, crafted to yield more efficient and pure strikes. The innovation has already contributed to a major championship victory when Rory McIlroy put a prototype Vapor Pro Combo 2-iron (MM Proto) in the bag and went on to win the 2014 Open Championship.

“Our engineers and designers at The Oven have been working with Tiger Woods for quite some time to evolve this innovation and bring it to the golf athlete,” said Rob Arluna, Nike Golf’s Global Golf Club Business Director. “We started with the traditional blade and asked what could be done to enhance its performance and modernize the design while maintaining a traditional, pure look at address. We made the Vapor Pro blades feel and perform better with a technology advantage over the traditional blade. We then extended that innovation and design to Vapor Pro Combo and Vapor Speed.” With a modernized take on the classic blade profile, the Vapor Pro is Nike Golf’s most precise iron to date. The Vapor Pro Combo has the clean lines and workability of a blade with the power of a distance iron – resulting in the ultimate blend of precision and power. The Vapor Speed delivers pure power for the golf athlete who wants maximum distance and forgiveness through the set.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Callaway’s Big Bertha V Series

Speak about Callaway’s Big Bertha being fertile – the grand VSK SHK` PZ Z[PSS NVPUN Z[YVUN ZPUJL ZOL ^HZ ÄYZ[ SH\UJOLK in 1991. If you recall, after a successful reign, Callaway retired the brand and cast it away into cold storage.

hen, all of a sudden, Big Bertha as a brand was resurrected earlier this year with the launch of two new drivers – the Big Bertha and Big Bertha Alpha. Although these drivers are still relatively new, Callaway has opted to add another sibling and they’ve called it the Big Bertha V Series. Interesting! One wonders if we really do need another driver given the tough times the club industry is experiencing right now. This is really a highly subjective area and we thought that rather than us answer the question, we’d throw the challenge to Callaway. As a result, here are some interesting questions that help explain the birth of yet another Callaway driver - the new Big Bertha V Series.

So, let’s get a move on – what’s the story behind the new big stick? Well, according to Callaway, the Big Bertha V Series is a super lightweight driver that’s going to help maximize distance for players who want (or need) more speed. The

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And from a “big picture” level, we now have a lineup of drivers that bring different qualities to the table, but all of them are built to maximize distance. No matter what type of player you are, one of them is probably the perfect driver for you.”

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Callaway’s Big Bertha V Series

aerodynamic design, lightweight materials, hyper speed face, refined components, lower drag - all this technology is in Big Bertha V Series to enhance your speed. Put simply, Callaway’s talking faster swing speed and ball speed so that you hit the ball a long, long way!

Faster swing speed and ball speed – that’s got to mean only one thing – greater distance. Is this really the case? “You bet, you can even think of it as Speed Optimized Technology,” is Callaway’s instant response. This is validated by the fact that the Big Bertha V Series weighs as low as 290 grams which means more clubhead speed. That’s not all – Callaway claims that the aerodynamic shaping lowers drag through the entire swing to give you…wait for it, more clubhead speed. A hyper speed face produces higher ball speeds all across the face and the lighter forged composite material in the crown leads to higher swing speed and ball speed. That’s where the distance comes from!

How about the forgiveness factor – is this another built-in quality of the Big Bertha V Series? Hey, you better believe it - this driver is very forgiving too! You can hit it all over the face and it’s still going to be long and accurate off the tee. And of course this driver offers OptiFit Technology with a combination of 8 different loft (-1, S, +1, +2) and lie angles (draw or neutral) to choose from. Callaway’s not kidding you when they claim that you will get speed (lots of it), forgiveness and adjustability from the V Series.

So far so good. Now, here’s a real poser. Since the launch of the Big Bertha and Big Bertha Alpha, sales have been strong at Callaway. Why the need for another driver and why now? The answer is dead simple. It’s all about more distance for golfers! According to Callaway, “No two players are the same, so while an extreme low spin driver like Big Bertha Alpha might maximize distance for one golfer, another golfer might need more speed to hit their longest drives.” Sounds very logical. Here’s where it gets more interesting. Callaway states that on an individual level, the Big Bertha V Series is likely THE choice for players with low swing speeds who want to create more speed to hit the ball farther. “And from a “big picture” level, we now have a lineup of drivers that bring different qualities to the table, but all of them are built to maximize distance. No matter what type of player you are, one of them is probably the perfect driver for you,” Callaway explains. Makes good sense alright – it breaks away from the old one driver fits all rationalization! So much for the new Big Bertha V Series. Oh, before we forget, in case you’re wondering what the “V” stands for, we are told that it is supposed to represent “velocity”.

What else has the Big Mama delivered? How about a cool set of fairway woods bearing the same “V” insignia? 36

37 ASIAN GOLF

You hit the nail on the head on this one! “Absolutely” is Callaway’s answer. “The V Series Fairway Woods are our friendliest Bertha Fairway Woods - they have Speed Optimized Technology through an advanced, lightweight aerodynamic clubhead design to deliver maximum clubhead speed, ball speed and distance,” according to the company. It’s also important that you understand that the Hyper Speed Face increases ball speeds across the face, and pay attention to this - a Modern Warbird Sole reportedly makes them more versatile from everywhere. Callaway points out that its high launch design increases launch and that this makes the club its most forgiving, most friendly Bertha Fairway Wood.

Guess what – Callaway is calling the fairway woods its new “Heaven-wood” which is a throw-back to [OL ÄYZ[ NLULYH[PVU VM [OL )PN )LY[OH MHTPS` 3L[»Z ÄUK V\[ TVYL MYVT *HSSH^H`& Callaway’s take is that the new “Heaven-wood” is a great addition to any player’s bag. The unique configuration (20.5° loft, 43” shaft) can provide more consistent distance and tighter dispersion than you might get from a standard 4-wood and 7-wood setup. “It’s a club that will give you confidence and plenty of options,” declares Callaway. The Big Bertha “V” series will be arriving at a golf store close to you in October. So, if you are looking for that elusive extra distance and if you want to give your confidence a boost, just be patient and wait for a few more weeks for the new beauties from Big Bertha!

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EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Focus On Japanese Golf

Did you know that Srixon has been making golf balls for more than 80 years! Did you also know that Srixon is the fourth largest golf company in the world?

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Srixon produces an extensive range of golf balls designed to cater to the varying playing needs of golfers. The company is a firm believer that golfers should play the ball best suited to their individual needs and as such, considers golf ball fitting of prime importance.”

ow that you’ve been brought up to speed on Srixon we thought we’d poke around the company to find out a little more about what makes Srixon tick. Srixon is the sports arm of the giant Sumitomo Rubber Industries of Japan, the owner of Dunlop Tyres and one of the world’s major conglomerates. It is an established force in the golf equipment industry and a technology leader. For those of you who possess good memory power, Srixon was the pioneer of “balata golf balls” and were the acknowledged leaders in this category of golf balls. We were told that Srixon is the owner of the only “super computer” in use in the golf industry for exact tolerance and

performance testing. Apparently, it’s similar to the super computers used by Mercedes Benz and BMW for performance testing of their motor vehicles. Very impressive indeed! Another piece of trivia relates to the fact that Srixon has emerged as the world’s leading developer of golf ball technology - with over 700 patents taken out worldwide. The company is a firm believer in research and development and has been driven to seek out new designs and technologies as evidenced by the number of patents it holds. The big push for an edge in technology started in the mid 1990’s when Srixon opened its Golf Science Centre for state of the art testing and research. For a better sense and understanding of

Srixon’s standing in the Southeast Asian marketplace, Asian Golf established contact with the company’s regional headquarters located in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. The man we spoke to was Tomihiro Ieda, managing director of Srixon Sports Asia. Srixon attaches a great deal of importance to the Southeast Asian golf market which according to Ieda has “the potential to be the biggest growth market worldwide”. Expanding on this bullish outlook, he said, “Indonesia and Myanmar would be considered the fastest growing markets in the region at the present moment but we cannot deny the fact that all the countries in the region are also growing very much faster than we have expected.” Ieda is quick to point out that the

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Focus On Japanese Golf

commitment and dedication of Srixon’s distributors in the region are the factors that are driving the brand’s growth in Southeast Asia. “Srixon golf balls have been accepted tremendously well in the region and this is largely due to the fact that there is market recognition of the quality and performance of our golf balls which are manufactured in a state of the art manufacturing plant which utilises the best production technology combined with very stringent quality control,” Ieda pointed out. Srixon produces an extensive

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range of golf balls designed to cater to the varying playing needs of golfers. The company is a firm believer that golfers should play the ball best suited to their individual needs and as such, considers golf ball fitting of prime importance. Ieda, who is a staunch believer in ball-fitting explained, “If a golfer would get fitted for clubs, there is no reason why a golfer should not be fitted with a golf ball that is suitable for him - each golf ball model is manufactured to different specifications to suit different levels of golfers based on their respective skills and as such we cannot expect every player to have the same distance off the tee and same spin rate around

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We treat Never Compromise as a niche product because its appeal is to very discerning golfers who place a great of importance in putter performance.” -Tomihiro Ieda Tomihiro Ieda

the green.” It sure makes sense and this is why Srixon is a major proponent of golf ball-fitting. Besides being a leader in golf balls, Srixon is also a force in golf clubs. There is a full range of Srixon golf clubs that are used by top professionals like Graeme McDowell and the former LPGA World number one Inbee Park. Other brands in its stable include XXIO and Cleveland. XXIO is a top prestige Japanese brand which is rated amongst the best golf clubs produced in that country. “Golfers in Southeast Asia are now beginning to understand the very high product quality and performance standards that are built

into the XXIO range of clubs and we believe that market demand will grow for this brand in the region,” Ieda said. Commenting on Cleveland Golf and its rich heritage in wedges, Ieda said, “Much improvement has been made to the wedges with new face designs, new grooves and we have also used laser milling in the production of these wedges.” He added, “We have been able to bring about the combination of Japanese technology and Cleveland’s proven know-how and expertise in wedge design to take Cleveland’s wedges to a whole new level of quality and performance.”

There is still another famous brand under Srixon’s umbrella and that is the Never Compromise range of putters, “We treat Never Compromise as a niche product because its appeal is to very discerning golfers who place a great deal of importance in putter performance,” Ieda concluded. The Srixon story is a fascinating one that is built around quality, innovation and high-end technology. Together with its stable of products, it is only headed in one direction and that is to stamp its leadership role on the global golf market.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

TaylorMade: Putters

It is said that golf is a funny game. Sometimes you shine like a professional and then there are other times when your game sucks. Even the professionals are not spared by the ups and downs of the game. Look at the top golfers who ply their game on the professional tours – there are times when they can do no wrong with their drives and then, their form drops and their game resembles that of a weekend hacker.

ne area of the game that affects a lot of golfers is their putting, the serious money-end of golf. More often than not the most expletives that are uttered during a round of golf occur on the greens especially when putts go awry. Like every part of the game of golf, one’s skill level determines the quality of game that is played and how this impacts the end result. Putting is perhaps the one aspect of golf that lets down most golfers – professionals and amateurs alike. While skill plays an important part in the putting phase, the same can be said of the equipment used. The right putter can make the difference between a good score and a score that one will want to forget about instantly. So, what’s a good putter? Where do you start? In this special report, Asian Golf checks out a family of putters from 44

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“E Eacch off th hese e puttters prom mote e an extrremely stable e putting g strrok ke, to o help p gollferrs de eliv ver a con nsiste ent rolll tim me aftterr tiime.”” – Tom mo Bysttedt

TaylorMade. One year ago, the company released the most stable putters it had ever created – the counterbalanced Daddy Long Legs and the counterbalanced Spider Blade. Shortly after this launch, it expanded its counterbalance putter offerings to include the Spider Mallet and the ultra-stable Ghost Spider Si. And now, TaylorMade has launched a new series of counterbalanced models of the Daddy Long Legs, Spider Blade and Spider Mallet, each with Tour-inspired aesthetics. Crafted from the insights of TaylorMade Tour Professionals, the new designs feature an enhanced colour scheme, including a luxurious black finish and white tungsten heel/toe weights, which frame the ball at address. A matte-black shaft and high-polish sole round out the premium aesthetics. Absolutely cool! “The new tour-inspired cosmetic is visually stunning, while also delivering the ultimate in stability and performance,” said Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s director of iron, wedge and putter cre-

ation. “Each of these putters promote an extremely stable putting stroke, to help golfers deliver a consistent roll time after time.” Daddy Long Legs is the most stable putter in the trio, with an MOI of more than 8,500. The high-MOI design resists twisting at impact to protect ball speed on off-centre hits, promoting a reliable roll regardless of where the ball is struck on the face. At more than 5,200 MOI, the Spider Blade offers the stability of a mallet putter in a blade shape to promote outstanding twist-resistance and distance control on off-centre hits. “TaylorMade research indicates that the Spider Blade is 50% more stable than traditional blade-style putters,” explained Bystedt. All three models feature a heavy steel frame, and tungsten heel and toe weights, all designed to raise the MOI to deliver increased head stability. Commenting on the performance of the new putters, Bystedt said, “To optimize counterbalance technology, golfers should grip two to three inches below the top end of the grip when assuming a normal stance, posture and address.” According to him, by doing so, more weight is “above” the golfer’s hands, which is key for increasing stroke-stability. Because players should grip down, each new counterbalanced putter is offered in two lengths: 38” and 35”. The 38” is for players who traditionally use a 34”-36” putter, while the 35” option is for players who traditionally use a 32”-34” putter. The new Daddy Long Legs, Spider Blade, and Spider Mallet are offered in a single bend 35” or 38” shaft.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Product Test – PING G30 Turbulator

With very little fanfare, which is not unusual for PING, the company introduced its latest bomber – the G30 “Turbulator”. The G30 series WYV]PKL NVSMLYZ TLHZ\YHISL KPZ[HUJL NHPUZ ^P[OV\[ ZHJYPÄJPUN RL` performance attributes such as control and forgiveness. 46

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verything that PING said its new G30 driver would do turned out to be spot on! Asian Golf’s equipment editor, Lawrence Young took out the Turbulator with a 10.5 degree loft and he returned from the golf course with a grin that stretched right across his normally cheerful disposition. “Man, this new driver is something else …. It is just incredible. It’s awesome!” Now, Lawrence is a guy who knows a thing or two about golf clubs as he plays off a strong 11 handicap (not bad for a 58 year old). For the past two years, he has been terrorizing seniors on the region’s fairways with his Bubba Watson Limited edition PING G20 “pinkie”. He drives the G20 a country mile but the G30 caused him to desert his previous love and strike up a new romance with the “Turbulator”. “I missed out on PING’s G25, as I was absolutely convinced that the G20 was the ultimate weapon of choice for me,” said Lawrence. “But like a star-struck little boy, I just could not resist the craving for the G30.” When PING sent over a bunch of clubs from the G30 series, the first thing that caught Lawrence’s attention was its aesthetics. “I simply fell in love with the blue head cover, the shaft, the battle-ready grey finish on the club head and those turbulator strips that made the club look like it came right out of a race car assembly line,” observed Lawrence. Before he took the driver out on the fairway, he conducted a test run at the driving range and this is how he recorded his observations: When taking up position for impact, the driver head rests nicely on the ground behind the ball ready for launch. All the golfer needs to do is to align his grip, hands, body and legs and strike – it is one of the easiest drivers that I have hit in a long while! The sound generated by the G30 is very confidence-inspiring and one can’t help but

SEPTEMBER 2014

I simply fell in love with the blue head cover, the shaft, the battle-ready grey finish on the club head and those turbulator strips that made the club look like it came right out of a race car assembly line.” – Lawrence Young feel good after a strike. It’s a very satisfying, and gratifying sound even on off centre hits! In terms of distance and accuracy – a typical drive took off like a drone on steroids and just kept flying through the air. Most of my drives reached the fence of the outer perimeters of the range and this is how far I was driving my ball. Not many drivers can hit the driving range fence but the G30 does it easily. Just amazing! Lawrence put the G30 out for other golfers to try at the range and everyone who had a go, without exception experienced greater distance than what they were normally accustomed to. Most just could not understand the extra distance they were getting with the G30 but it was proofpositive and validation that the extra swing speed due to the turbulators do work! In summary, Lawrence said, “Ping has again got its act together and the G30 series is a class act and a hard one to beat!” Meanwhile PING introduced its “turbulator” technology at the conference of the International Sports Engineering Association in England. The presentation was made Erik Henrikson, Ph.D., Head of Fitting Science at PING. Henrikson delivered the findings from a paper co-authored with Paul Wood, Ph.D., PING’s Director of Engineering, and John Hart, Ph.D., Senior CFD Engineer at the university.

Henrikson said one question guided PING’s development of Turbulator Technology: Can we improve aerodynamics without sacrificing key design factors like trajectory, centre of gravity, moment of inertia, and coefficient of restitution? Henrikson presented charts, flow dynamic imagery, and videos showing how player testing plus wind-tunnel studies at Arizona State University verified that clubheads with turbulators increase clubhead speed compared to those without. “The strategy behind turbulators was to improve aerodynamics and speed without compromising performance elsewhere,” Henrikson said following the conference. “We did it, proving that golfers can hit the ball farther with improved accuracy and control, which intrigued many conference attendees. Our peers at this conference are some of the smartest people in sport science; they came to see innovative ideas that produce meaningful results, with data to support our claims. We heard a lot of positive feedback from attendees, some of whom were excited to put Turbulator Technology to use in their own golf games.” Total scientific validation of PING’s cutting edge “turbulator” technology!

The strategy behind turbulators was to improve aerodynamics and speed without compromising performance elsewhere,”

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Authenticlub

Rogue Counterfeiters Busted In China! The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group; the industry watchKVN OHZ YLWVY[LK [OH[ *OPULZL SH^ LUMVYJLTLU[ \UP[Z OH]L Ă&#x2026;\ZOLK V\[ JV\U[LYMLP[LYZ in June and July and seized about 62,000 counterfeit pieces of golf merchandise, golf club heads, shafts and grips in addition to golf apparel and other accessories.

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There is an urgent need for a company to be the authentication bureau of choice for consumers so that they can have peace of mind when purchasing new or used clubs and we are that company.” – Steven Tan

his problem has been persistent over the years and there seems to be no end to counterfeiting. Is this really the case? Well, we don’t think so! There is a solution and it’s just waiting to be discovered in Singapore.

Enter The Golf Vigilantes! Two smart guys have got together to develop a dragnet which is designed to bust the problem of counterfeiting once and for all. The Singapore counterfeit busters are Steven Tan and Leonard Wee, young guys who possess the intelligence and tech savvyness to use technology to corner and wipe out the bad guys! They call their company “Authenticlub” and the product platform is known as “AuthentiGolf” – get it? Cool! They are all about authenticating the real thing so that you can be darn certain that you’ve got the real McCoy when you put down your cash on the counter to purchase a golf club anywhere on the Planet, online or offline. How fascinating – why has it always got to be young guys who get all the bright ideas! Seriously Steven and Leonard are experts at what they do. “As golfers ourselves, we have often heard about how people have been duped into buying fake clubs and this triggered an action plan which sent us on a seek-and-find adventure for a solution,” said Leonard. So, what was the solution? Now, get a

hold of this – just conceal an RFID chip in a golf club at the point of manufacture! That’s it? Brilliant idea! Why should ideas like this only percolate and bubble over through young heads? It’s not fair! What the heck – who cares so long as the golf industry can grab the bad guys and lock them away for good! “There is an urgent need for a company to be the authentication bureau of choice for consumers so that they can have peace of mind when purchasing new or used clubs and we are that company,” declared Steven. According to Leonard, they have conducted extensive R&D to ensure that their RFID chips do not affect a club’s playability and that it is robust enough to withstand high heat and impact. So how does AuthentiGolf work? Great question! And here are the answers: RFID chips, in the form of labels measuring 5x5cm and a thickness of 0.4mm are inserted into golf clubs during the manufacturing process. Using a near field communication (NFC) enabled phone or a compatible RFID reader with Authenticlub software installed, users can scan the tag which then connects with the company’s cloud server. The cloud server searches for the unique tag ID and if it exists in the database, it will display the data which could

include, date of manufacture, brand, type, weight etc. If the tag data is not present in the server, you’ve been dealt a dud! If a tag is present but no data is held on the company’s server, it will not be authenticated by Authenticlub’s server. And in the unfortunate circumstance that this happens, you’ve got a bum deal on your hands! “We use RFID tags with unique identity and encryption codes and unlike barcodes, QR Codes or holographic stickers, our tags are not visible to the naked eye and cannot be photocopied or re-printed,” revealed Leonard. Hey, that’s the work of a genius – the Authenticlub RFID chip is counterfeit-proof! Leave it to the young guys to come up with revolutionary ideas to rock the world! “We make it extremely difficult and costly for counterfeiters to try to counterfeit these tags,” Steven stressed. So, what’s the golf industry waiting for? C’mon guys, beat a path to Singapore (if you haven’t been here yet, you’d love it) and strike a deal with Leonard and Steven. After all, as they claim, “we are one of the first in the world to use secure and reliable technology which is readily available to businesses and end-users, using RFID and cloud technology, now available on your google smartphone.”

GROW

JOE THIEL Three-time PGA Teacher of the Year

THE GAME!

Japanese golf giant Mizuno is on a mission. A mission to grow the game of golf in Southeast Asia. 0L]XQR LV PDNLQJ VLJQLÀFDQW LQYHVWPHQWV LQ WKH HVWDEOLVKPHQW RI WKH IDPRXV 0L]XQR *ROI 6FKRRO SUHVHQFH LQ NH\ FHQWUHV WKURXJKRXW WKH 5HJLRQ

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MIZUNO GOLF SCHOOL

GROWING GOLF AND CREATING FUTURE CHAMPIONS! Mizuno Singapore Pte Ltd – 51 Changi Business Park Central 2, #06-01, The Signature Singapore 486066

IRONS

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Tel: +65 6589 9461 Fax +65 6589 9489

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ASIAN GOLF TOURISM

Bali National Golf Club

For those who have not been to Bali, the name conjures up dreamscapes of exotic fantasy punctuated by lush vegetation and stunning ocean surrounds. This cannot be further from the truth because much of Bali is pristine and naturally beautiful even with the throngs of tourists who visit its shores annually.

A Dazzling New Balinese

BEAUTY BECKONS! 52

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ne travel writer recently said, “Bali is so picturesque and immaculate it could almost be a painted backdrop.” Again, this is no exaggeration - it has rice paddies tripping down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soaring up through the clouds, dense tropical jungle, long sandy beaches, warm blue waters, crashing surf and friendly people who don’t just have a culture but actually live it. An expatriate resident on this island describes it this way, “In Bali spirits come out to play in the moonlight, every night is a festival and even a funeral is an opportunity to have a good time!” This month, the Golf Tourism spotlight falls on Bali and to be more specific on one of the island paradise’s spectacular golf resort – the newly reconstructed Bali National Golf Club. Prior to its extensive multi-million dollar renovation, the resort already enjoyed an international reputation as a world class golf resort. Asian Golf will be visiting the new course and club-house in the near future, but felt that it would be timely to get a first-hand walk-about the facility from the man who managed the renovation from ground zero.

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM

Bali National Golf Club

The following is the full interview with Bruce Jellard, long time general manager of the resort and now, advisor to the owning company:

Asian Golf: How long did the renovation process take? Bruce Jellard: The golf course reconstruction works commenced in late May, 2012 and were completed and planted, ready for grow-in in late 2013. The reason we talk of reconstruction rather than renovation, is that while the golf course routing plan of the now re-named Bali National Golf Club is similar to that of the old, save for holes 15, 17 and 18 which were redesigned and moved. It has been a complete reconstruction of the golf course from the drainage upwards. This included a new drainage and irrigation system, the re-shaping of all fairways and roughs, new lakes, fairway and green complexes including new greens on all holes. All landscaping on the golf course and around the club-house and residential villas have been redesigned. AG: How do you look back on the reconstruction of the entire course and club-house. Has the investment delivered the desired results? BJ: Yes, to date we are very pleased with the response to Bali National Golf Club by all golfers. The new layout and quality of the golf course have both received extremely positive responses. The club-house enjoys a stately front entrance with an open courtyard welcoming all golfers and guests. Our new Pro Shop is well stocked and this is where all golfers register for golf, while inspecting the latest golf merchandise available in Bali. The entry level of the club-house also enjoys an almost immediate view of the 18th hole, which is visible looking through the restaurant from the front entry courtyard. AG: What was the amount of the total investment? BJ: Approximately US$ 12,000,000. The reconstruction was planned and designed by the award-winning firm of Nelson, Haworth Golf Architects while the management of the golf course reconstruction was undertaken in-house. The club-house was designed by Singaporebased MAPS Design.

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In Bali spirits come out to play in the moonlight, every night is a festival and even a funeral is an opportunity to have a good time!” AG: What has the reaction of members been like? BJ: The reaction of the club’s Founder Members has been very positive, both as to the member experience and their referrals of golfing friends to membership for the 2nd Tranche. For this tranche we have recently launched a prestigious founder membership, not to exceed 25 members; and, the Founder Membership is now closed. AG: Let’s look at each service area individually starting with golf operations. How have things changed insofar as golf operations are concerned? BJ: The principal use of the basement of the new Clubhouse is our Golf Cart Barn, which is adjacent to the Starters Office and golf cart/ caddie assembly area. The new facility is having a very positive effect on our business as we see rounds of play increasing steadily each month, since we reopened for play on March 1, 2014. AG: What is the total number of caddies employed by the club? BJ: We have contracted our caddies from a specialist caddie training company and we have some 120 caddies available at all times and if additional caddies are required for tournaments we can expand this number to 140 or 150, allowing for forecaddies if requested. AG: For your carts, which brand do you use? BJ: We have a fleet of 80 units of Club Car Precedent Golf Carts, all equipped for 2 players and 2 caddies, together with beverage coolers.

BALI NATIONAL GOLF CLUB Kawasan Wisata Lot S-5, Nusa Dua, Bali, 80363, Indonesia Tel: +62 361-771791 Fax: +62 361-771797 Email: info@bngr.co Website: www.BaliNationalGolfClub.com

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM

Bali National Golf Club We also have four 4-seater Club Car Precedent Golf Carts for our villa service.

AG: What sort of turf have you planted on your fairways and your greens? Is this a change from the old course? BJ: For our fairways and roughs, we have planted the Paspalum Salem turf variety and our greens feature TifEagle grass. All grasses are new and we have replaced the previous wall to wall Bermuda 329 variety completely. AG: Next, let’s look at your food and beverage services - give us a sense of what you offer golfers and guests and the sort of experience that is on offer? BJ: We have a new kitchen and new menu offering an enticing range of snacks, lunch and dinner items, together with the ability to cater for tournaments and events and functions. We have a Golfers Cafe and Terrace overlooking green # 18 with terrace views all the way back to the 18th hole tee box. The club also has a VIP Lounge and Meeting Room and two half way houses on the golf course, in which we can provide F & B services to suit our guests’ requirements. AG: In summation, the old course and club-house had a very special attachment to many people. How do you think those who knew the old facility will receive the new facility? BJ: To date, the comments from all players, including the club’s previous following, have all been positive, with much “wow” over the new facilities.

To date, the comments m from all players, pllayers including incl the club’s previous following, have all been positive, with much “wow” over the new facilities.” – Bruce Jellard 56

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2014

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ASIA PACIFIC GOLF HALL OF FAME

THONGCHAI JAIDEE

There is no doubt that the greatest golfer in Southeast Asia is the fabulous one-time soldier turned professional golfer, Thongchai Jaidee. This rugged and naturally talented golfer from Thailand has been for a long time, the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best having won on the Asian Tour and the European Tour and currently ranked inside the top 50 best golfers in the world. For his outstanding achievements in golf and his contribution to society as a whole, Thongchai is being inducted into the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is a world class professional golfer and a multi-faceted personality who has matured from his humble origins into the best professional golfer ever to have come out from Southeast Asia if not all of Asia and we are very proud to have the honour of bestowing the highest award in the industry on Thongchai,â&#x20AC;? declared Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of the Asia Pacific Golf Summit. Thongchai as he is popularly known in his native country, and the rest of the world, is now an all-round accomplished professional who ranks as amongst his countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest sportsmen and golf ambassador. His odyssey in golf started as a young boy when he learned how swing with a homemade club he fashioned out of a bamboo branch. At 19, he joined the Royal Thai Army as a paratrooper

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ASIA PACIFIC GOLF HALL OF FAME

MURDAYA WIDYAWIMARTA (PO) The Chairman of the Indonesian Golf Association will be inducted to the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame. The Indonesian billionaire, who owns golf courses in his country, has helped initiate various initiatives to grow the game of golf in Indonesia, including the promotion of golf tourism. Under his leadership, golf has experienced exponential growth in the sprawling republic. Until recently, he was the President of the Indonesian Golf Course Owners Association (APLGI). His flagship company is Central Cipta Murdaya which is a diverse conglomerate and one of its companies is well-known for being the Indonesian manufacturer of Nike shoes.

where he remained for 11 years during which time he was permitted to spend time working on his golf game. At age 30, he left the army and turned pro and this is where his adventure in professional golf began. “My ambition when I turned pro was to become a world class golfer in the shortest possible time,” he revealed to me during an interview, “but the journey was not easy as I had to do battle with the best in Asia, Europe and even the U.S.” “The frequent competition against the best in the game gave me the confidence and courage to compete at the highest level in golf and I know that this adventure to stay at the top of my game will continue so long as I play golf,” Thongchai said. After some fifteen years at the top end of the professional game, the small but powerfully built Thai super-star has carved out a track record in professional golf that would be the envy of many of his compatriots. As a relative late-starter, he has won major tournaments on both the Asian Tour and the European Tour. Just on prize money alone, Thongchai has made over US$10 million dollars and he expects to continue to add to his bank account. “I still have a lot to give and I believe that the best in my game has yet to come,” he declared confidently.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2014

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

JOE THIEL

The man who will be honoured with the 2014 Asia Pacific Life-Time Achievement for Golf is very special to the golf industry. Joe Thiel is one of only some 200 golf professionals in the U.S. who has earned the prestigious PGA Master Professional designation. Thiel has earned the PGA Teacher of the Year award three times - in 1993, 1995, and again in 1997. He has also been honoured as one of the Top 100 Teachers in America and named as being amongst the Top 50 golf instructors in America. Some of Thiel’s greatest successes in teaching are visible in Asia. While teaching in Japan and Korea, Thiel shaped the careers of some of Asia’s finest golfers and many of his students are internationally known professionals, enjoying successes on tours in Korea, Japan and in the United States. US Open Champion and World Golf Hall Of Famer Se Ri Pak, US Amateur Champion and 19-time Tour winner Michiko Hattori, and 38-time professional winner and 6-time JLPGA leading money winner Yuri Fudoh are among the more than 30 LPGA players he has tutored. Thiel is also the Master Coach of the Mizuno Golf School of Japan. There is perhaps no one more passionate about golf and the teaching of the game and its life values to youngsters than Joe. The 37 year veteran has the spunk and get-up of a kid and all that he really cares about is having an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives using golf as his platform. Kudos and plaudits for Joe from fellow professionals and students are profuse and impressive. “Joe is one of the most dedicated and qualified golf professionals I have ever known. He has taught some of golf’s finest players around the world and is continually searching for new ideas that will help golfers of any level,” said Mike McGetrick,1999 PGA Teacher of the Year. The recipients of the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame and the 2014 Asia Pacific Life Time Achievement Award will be honoured at a special award ceremony that will be conducted during the Awards Gala Banquet on November 15 at the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore. 60

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ASIA PACIFIC GOLF HALL OF FAME

TUN AHMAD SARJI BIN ABDUL HAMID One of Malaysia’s most illustrious public and corporate officials will be inducted into the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame. This special honour is being bestowed upon Tun Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid, Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). PNB is Malaysia’s biggest fund management company which operates a number of unit trust schemes with offices in Singapore, London and Tokyo. Besides his numerous directorships in corporations and public organisations, Tun Ahmad is also the Chairman of the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM). Under his leadership, PGM’s objectives are to promote the sport of golf and to contribute towards its enjoyment and growth in Malaysia. As a show of confidence in Tun Ahmad, the Malaysian government appointed the PGM to become the local coordinator of The EurAsia Cup, the annual Ryder Cup format tournament between Europe and Asia. “Malaysia has benefitted greatly from hosting The EurAsia Cup and it has reinforced Malaysia’s capabilities to host a sporting mega-event placing our great nation firmly on the global sporting calendar,” is how Tun Ahmad reacted after the inaugural Eurasia Cup clash ended in a draw. Commenting on his induction to the Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame, Tun Ahmad said, “I am honoured by the decision to induct me into the Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame, and God willing, I will attend the 15th November 2014 occasion.”

SEPTEMBER 2014

SPECIAL FEATURE

Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2014

To Vietnamese labour hero Le Van Kiem, there is nothing more satisfying than providing a helping hand to people in need. “I have seen and been involved in wars in my country and this has taught me a life-long lesson to believe that there is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”

his passion to help the less fortunate is a very special quality and Mr. Le stands out as a shining example of a man who has devoted the rest of his life to philanthropy. Turning seventy years old soon, the Vietnamese entrepreneur is also very passionate about golf. He owns two golf courses in Vietnam and Laos respectively and is also committed to helping the development of junior golf in the ASEAN countries. For his commitment to golf and charity, the Asia Pacific Golf Group has elected to honour Mr. Le with a

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special award – The Asia Pacific Philanthropy And Golf Personality Of The Year Award for 2014. “Mr. Le fully deserves the award because what he has done so far represent acts that have never been done by anyone involved in the golf industry in Asia,” said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner of the Asian Golf Awards programme. To date, Mr. Le has given away more than US$40 million to charity and he has also pledged US$5 million to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish The Vietnam Health Fund.

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Earlier this year, American billionaire Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft cemented a deal with Mr. Le to set up a Vietnam Health Fund. Both Mr. Gates and Mr. Le have agreed to jointly commit US$10 million over five years with Mr. Le donating US$1 million annually and The Gates Foundation matching each donation dollar for dollar. “We are delighted to be working with Bill Gates on this worthy project which will benefit many people in Vietnam who need help with health care,” said Mr. Le. “What Mr. Gates has initiated in Vietnam will most certainly result in more Vietnamese people coming forward to help improve healthcare for our people,” Mr. Le explained. And he went on to add, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” Mr. Le will be honoured at the 2014 Gala Awards Banquet that will be held in conjunction with the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit that will be staged at the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore.

SEPTEMBER 2014

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Black Hat Golf Tips

¯HUK `V\»SS IL ÄUL ( NVVK MYPLUK VM TPUL HS^H`Z YLTPUKZ TL [V -6*<: IV[O PU NVSM HUK PU SPML 64

65 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 168

This is a skill set that many successful golfers and even business people have that allow them to get [OPUNZ KVUL LMÄJPLU[S` HUK effectively! How it relates to golf? If you can FOCUS more on making putts, your score will be great! “Less than 29 and your ZJVYL ^PSS IL ÄUL¹ That is the number of putts you should have for 18 holes and you’ll most likely have a great day!

SEPTEMBER 2014

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Black Hat Golf Tips

s you watch the Ryder Cup this month, you’ll see the main difference in who wins the matches by the ability to make putts, especially those from 12 feet and less. That is what separates the winning tour players from all the others. The confidence displayed by the winning players is remarkable. Students have asked me how they can build that confidence and make more putts. I highly recommend the circle putting drills - in which the golfer putts balls from different spots around the hole working around the hole in a circular pattern. Such putting drills all work in basically the same way: The golfer putts from short distances, typically no more than a few feet; the golfer tries to make a lot of putts in a row without missing; and if the golfer does miss, he or she starts over. When doing so, go through your pre-shot routine, crouching behind the ball. Vision the “line” and focus on that line that you will roll the putt on. This is an important step that must be practice. Now, standing over the ball and ready to putt, vision the “line” again.

;OL ILULÄ[Z VM [OLZL [`WLZ VM W\[[PUN KYPSSZ HYL JSLHY! 1. Fundamentals, technique, mechanics - if you want to make a lot of putts in a row, you have to focus. Such focus helps hone your skills and sharpen your technique. Because you have to start over if you miss. Circle putting drills apply pressure - the type of pressure you’ll feel out on the course during a round of golf. That’s going to help nerves. 2. And such putting drills build confidence. If you make 100 2-foot putts in a row, then the next time you have to sink a 2-footer to win a hole or a tournament, you’re going to make a more confident stroke.

To become the best putter you can be, find the nearest Certified PGA Teaching Professional and ask them how they teach putting.You will be surprised at all the different ways it is taught. I would suggest you find an instructor who will spend time with you and takes the time to talk to you in common sense and understandable language. I do not mean just one 45 minute instructional session.You should invest in at least several sessions with your instructor to gain trust and confidence in the way you putt. Here’s a simple quote that will give you an objective to achieve.

ABOUT TONY MEECHAI Born and brought up in the United States, Tony Meechai won his first golf tournament at the age of nine. He began working in the golf industry when aged 15 and competed in various Mini Tour and PGA Tour qualifiers after turning professional in 1994. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University and a degree in Marketing and Professional Golf Management, he has made a name for himself in Asia over the past decade, during which time he has served as Director of Instruction at Thailand’s Heartland Golf Schools and Springfield Royal Country Club as well as presenting tips on numerous region-wide golf television shows. Recently, he founded the Tony Meechai Golf Academy that combines a curriculum including academics and golf education for aspiring Tour professionals. Programmes are in conjunction with international institutions throughout the world. For further information, please visit www.tmggolfeducation.com

www.tonymeechaigolf.com 66

67 ASIAN GOLF

%GUV &QWTUG KP $UKC 3CEKæE Best Course in Thailand 2002 – 2010 1st Runner-up 2010 & 2011 1st Runner-up 2011 & 2013 Best Clubhouse in Asia Best Par-3 Signature Hole (#6) Best Championship Course 2001 – 2003 in Asia 2008 Eight times since 2000

Website: www.thaicountryclub.com

E-mail: inquiry@thaicountryclub.com

Tel: (66 38) 570 234

Fax: (66 38) 570 225

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Pro Tour Golf College

COULD MODERN GOLF INSTRUCTION

BE DRIVING GOLFERS AWAY FROM THE GAME INSTEAD OF TOWARDS IT?

David Milne (left) and Lawrie Montague (right).

69 ASIAN GOLF

Over the past three years we have spent countless hours writing golf instruction articles, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve posted well over 150 on our blog at www.protourgolfcollege.com showing you the various ways you can improve the way you learn and practice to improve your golf.

ISSUE 168

SEPTEMBER 2014

What we have found from a sample of our students we asked about this is that they believed that many golfers are departing from the game because they simply do not see a reasonable return on their investment in golf lessons.

ur primary motivation has always been (and always will be) to help you learn how to gain more benefit from the way you go about practicing to improve your golf skills, in your quest to lower your golf scores and your handicap. Why?... Because your time is a very precious resource and we want you to learn effective methods to fast-track your improvement process so you gain a deeper enjoyment and satisfaction from learning, playing and improving your golf. It is partly because of this that our focus has purposely steered right away from the golf swing instruction arena because we have noticed that there is so much stuff already circulating around the internet that we believe our message would surely get lost as it travels through the heavy atmosphere of nouns, verbs, adjectives, similes and metaphors that attempt to describe how someone should swing the golf club to improve their shot-making. We sometimes wonder if all this conflicting information revolving around golf swing instruction is making the learning and improving of golfers more difficult than it needs to be.

3 Big Reasons Golfers Are Leaving the Game I’m sure you are well aware of the fact that golfers are leaving the game in big numbers for a variety of reasons; and the three main reasons appear to be: 1. It’s an expensive game to learn and play 2. It takes a relatively long time to play 3. It’s a difficult game to learn and play competently

Should Learning How to Play Golf Be An Expensive Exercise? There are other factors of course, but these three are at the top of most lists. Expensive, difficult and it takes a long time to play sums it up perfectly. Today people don’t have the time they once had to spend endless hours trying to perfect some aspect of their golf swing technique. They want to play the game of golf on a golf course, not think about how to play it. And this leads me to my point. If they choose to stay and play it’s because they can either play competently already, or they are willing to invest consider-

able time, effort and money to learn how to. The bottom line is that there is a significant investment required for you to improve your golf skills, and we’re not just talking about the time element, but the actual dollar cost. What we have found from a sample of our students we asked about this is that they believed that many golfers are departing from the game because they simply do not see a reasonable return on their investment in golf lessons. They invest the dollars and expect to play better on the golf course sooner rather than later, and for many it just doesn’t happen. So this quite often leads them to trawl golf instruction websites and YouTube channels looking for free golf instruction tips to satisfy their thirst for improvement. And who can blame someone for looking for another way of obtaining improvement for less time, money and effort? They do not see the value of spending 30 to 45 minutes (or longer) standing on a driving range working on a swing drill and hitting balls with an instructor once a week, and then paying them as much or more than they would pay a plumber or electrician to solve a problem for them. They simply don’t see the value in a

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Pro Tour Golf College

comparative sense; that golf instruction for many seems a lot more expensive since they know that what they pay the plumber or electrician is likely going to solve their problem. At the end of the golf swing problem, many still have the golf swing problem!

Hi Tech Learning or Hi Tech Confusion? Many golf instructors are now investing their dollars into the latest golf swing diagnostic technology, which they house in buildings that might resemble the type of place you take your BMW or Aston Martin to have it serviced by a specialist team of technicians. These golf swing diagnostic centres have grown more popular over the past few years as technology has evolved, improved and got cheaper to buy where they are quite common now. I wonder if in the not too distant future you could almost expect to see that the golf instructor/technician who works with you will have a lab coat on instead of a golf shirt and be armed with a Ph.D. from M.I.T? This golf swing technician would plug you into various types of technology and you would hit a few shots--possibly into a computer generated image of a golf range or hole, and their computers would perform some complex computations and the data that spits out from a printer would determining whether your body motion, golf swing technique and ball-flight were operating as efficiently as they should. After this they supply you with the corrective measures required for you to improve and you are sent on your way. Back in the days when Ben Hogan was playing, I bet it would have sounded like science fiction to him, but of course today it’s a reality.

Are Golfers Sick, or Just Sick and Tired? Golfers learn perfectly, they are not sick or broken in some way, and they certainly don’t need to be fixed. So the basic question here is whether amateur golfers who want to play better on the golf course needs this type of teaching model? Do we want golf instruction facilities to resemble hospitals where you go and get plugged into machines to diagnose your perceived problem with the same clinical approach? We believe an important part of the improvement process that would lead to faster progress and more satisfaction is 70

71 ASIAN GOLF

(PHOTO BY CHRIS GRAYTHEN/GETTY IMAGES)

being diluted from golf instruction to where instead of benefiting from a less is more approach to improvement, it is replaced with a more is less approach to improvement. What we are talking about is meaningful communication—the simple act of communicating, connecting and building rapport with golfers using language skilfully and creatively with the express purpose of helping the golfer to achieve his or her goals faster by offering them less confusion rather than more. Let’s not forget that learning and improving golf is more of a creative process than an intellectual one.

Personalize Every Lesson And because every golfer learns in his or her own best way it is still the responsibility of the golf instructor to step into the shoes of their student and do their best to understand the world of golf from their student’s eyes. The golf instructor’s primary role becomes one of reorganizing their students experience and understanding of golf in such a way that they learn to play more competently on the golf course faster. Golfers don’t care how much you know or can show you know, until they know how much you care about them. And to care about them is to care about what they want from the game of golf, and it is always unique and different every time.

Golf Teaching or Golf Learning Golf teaching models appear to be replac-

ing golf learning models and there is a big problem looming for golf instructors if golfers are going to be encouraged to stay in the game and invest their hard earned dollars to keep improving their skills to play better on the golf course. We believe that the real skill that golf instructors need to continually hone and develop their communication ability so they can impart meaningful, impactful and personalized communication that positively influences every golfer they work with to learn faster and more effectively. We know that much of the technology that is used today can be extremely helpful to communicate teaching points, but when it replaces the critical student to teacher communication bridge to where there is little or no rapport in the relationship, improvement is going to be more challenging for the golfer to obtain their goal than ever. Let’s not allow golf to go from being a wonderful game to learn, play and enjoy with friends and family to an ongoing science experiment where the goal is to make golfers fit into a teaching model that has some scientific certification or endorsement. Let’s communicate and connect more meaningfully with every golfer we come across and help them to play golf better on the golf course. After all, golf is still a game to be played on the golf course and our mission as golf instructors is to help our students to get them out there enjoying this great game for the rest of their days. Lawrie Montague and David Milne - Pro Tour Golf College

Golfers d a i r s e a P Come and Discover What h Playing Golf in Paradise d Really Feels Like Long Thanh Golf Resort is a true paradise for any golfer. Two world-class golf courses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one that traverses hilly terrain while the other meanders through spectacular lakes. Both the Hill Course and the Lake Course are fascinating showcases of breath-taking landscapes

populated by a wide array of flora and fauna. Golfing in Long Thanh Golf Resort is an experience of world-class golf combined with a unique brand of service and the warmth and friendliness of Vietnam. All this delivered in a tranquil setting located in the southern economic triangle and just 40 minutes from Ho Chi Minh Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centre.

Long Thanh Golf Resort -A Golf Paradise Like No Other! www.longthanhgolfresort.com National Highway 51, Tan Mai 2 Hamlet, Phuoc Tan Village, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam Tel: +84 61 3 512 512 Fax: +84 61 3 512 513

An Inside Look At The New Mission Hills

ASIAN GOLF ISSUE 169

Everyone knows that Mission Hills in China is the world’s largest golf complex. However, the group is now looking at transforming golf and making it into a sport and recreational activity that is entertain-based and with an all-encompassing reach of potential customers in all age groups. This is revolutionary. Don’t fail to check out the new D.N.A of the famed Mission Hills Group.

The guys from Acushnet, the parent company of the Titleist brand will be revealing all the juicy facts about their next big thing this month. The focus will be on the brand new generation of the 915D2 and 915D3 drivers. The big deal about the new 915s will be a slot on the sole of the driver which advance reports are calling the “active recoil technology”. Find out more in Asian Golf’s drill down in October.

For the latest developments on the eighth staging of the Asia Pacific’s most important golf conference, read the October issue of Asian Golf. We’ll bring you totally up to date on this major international conference on the future of golf.

ASIAN GOLF

For all the latest news and views from the Asian golf scene, subscribe to Asian Golf – Asia’s most powerful golfing voice!

Japanese Brand Mizuno Unveils Its Power Weapons! Want the low-down on what Mizuno has lined up for 2015? Check out the pages of Asian Golf – we’ll bring you the very latest on what’s new and exciting from the House of Mizuno.

www.asiapacificgolfgroup.com

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AUSTRALIA

HONG KONG

KOREA

NEW ZEALAND

SINGAPORE

THAILAND

MIZUNO CORPORATION AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Tel: +613-9239-7100

ICHIKAWA SANGYO CO, LTD. Tel:+852-2428-5965

MIZUNO KOREA LTD Tel:+822-3143-1288

SPORTS NETWORK LIMITED TEL: +64 9 479 8632

R.S.H.(SINGAPORE) PTE LTD Tel:+65-6746-6555

CHINA

INDONESIA

MALAYSIA

PHILIPPINES

TAIWAN

I.C.C. INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED Tel: +66-2-293-9000

MIZUNO(CHINA)CORPORATION Tel:+86-21-3222-4688 #317

PT MITRA ADIPERKASA TBK Tel: +62-21-574-5808 ext. 195

R.S.H.(MALAYSIA) SDN BHD Tel:+ 603-5123-2668

MASTER SPORTS CORPORATION T: +632.757.3160

MIZUNO TAIWAN CORPORATION Tel:+886-2-2509-5100