Asian Golf 172 issuu by Asia Pacific Golf Group

ISSUE

172

COVER STORY

JANUARY 2015

All of us in Asia understand colonialism because at various points in time in the history of the Continent, some of the countries in Asia were occupied by foreign powers. Let’s take our industry – the golf industry. The colonials first introduced the game in exotic possessions of theirs like India and the Malay states which is now Singapore and Malaysia. The game’s heritage in Asia is therefore an ancient one. Unfortunately, while the colonials have long returned to their homelands, heritage and tradition of the colonials have lingered on.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS 38 Tom Tom Golfer: Navigation Power On Your Wrist! Is there no limit to what technology can do for golf? Well, based on what just flew in over the transom, it looks like there is most certainly no limit!

40 KZG OS-II Driver: It’s A Miracle – The Golﬁng Gods Have Heard Our Pleas! What’s the most difficult club to hit in most golfers’ bag? It’s got to be the driver because it’s a frustrating piece of equip-

ment to handle, especially for the majority of club players. It’s also the bane of some of the world’s top golfers, including Tiger Woods. Just consider the number of times you have hooked, sliced, topped, missed or duffed the ball so poorly.

42 Nike Golf Digs Deep Into The Core DNA Nike Golf Southeast Asia threw quite a fling for the media and its distributors recently in Bangkok, the Swoosh brand’s business hub for the region. In typical Nike fashion, it was all about style and panache as it proudly rolled out its family of golf clubs, apparel and accessories for 2015.

48 Callaway Chrome Soft Ball: Eureka! Chip’s Got A Doozy Where do you see the biggest and bloodiest battle being fought in the golf industry? We’ll give you three guesses. Will there be a lot of carnage in the battle for driver supremacy? Do you reckon that it will be a deadly duel to the last man in the irons category? Or do you believe that it will be bombs galore in the putter trenches? If you picked any one of the above you are totally off the mark! Believe it or, the battle that is brewing is a fierce tussle for share of market in the golf ball category. It is said that the dimpled ball accounts for a whopping US$1.2 billion in sales and it’s also said to be growing.

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JANUARY 2015

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM 58 Laguna Phuket Golf Club: Grand Old Lady Gets A New Look Laguna Phuket Golf Club has won a string of awards for its resort facilities, it’s club house and it’s golf course. In response to the high acclaim it has received, its owners decided to embark on a major renovation of its course and facilities. This has all been done and the golf course is back in full bloom again, better than ever!

62 Black Hat Tips: Start the New Year by Getting Behind! 64 Pro Tour Golf College: The 4 Golf Success Factors That Will Fast-Track High School and College Golfers to the Pro Tour 50 TaylorMade AeroBurner Family: TaylorMade Burner Technology Takes Full Flight!

SPECIAL FEATURES

Who was the guy who declared that there will be a slow-down in the release of new products from TaylorMade? That’s now proven to be a whole load of nonsense because news from Carlsbad shows clear proof that the company’s “theatre of innovation” is prolific as ever!

18 How Would Nostradamus Look at 2015?

57 TaylorMade R15 Family: TaylorMade Reprised!

Michel de Nostredame (aka Nostradamus) was a 16th-century French “seer.” We don’t have many seers these days. Nostradamus studied astrology and various “occult” sciences and used those to predict the future. He’s best known for The Prophecies, a collection of French quatrains published in 1555.

24 Asia’s Golf Role Models – Setting New Standards

It’s a blast from the past! How exciting to see the birth of new products that have emerged from the crucible that has been the depository of years of cutting-edge technology. Drawing from the depth of knowledge at its disposal and creating new products that are paradigm shifters just goes to show the innovative powers and versatility of TaylorMade as a very unique manufacturer of some of the best golf equipment in the world bar none!

Ask any businessman operating anywhere in the world what is his most important resource to ensure a successful operation and the most probable answer would be human capital. Why human capital you may ask? Well, in this day and age, quality workers is the one single factor that makes the difference between a successful business and an also ran.

28 Father & Son Tournament Ignites! Vietnam has taken ownership of the Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tournament by staging a spectacular inaugural event in Ho Chi Minh City. The two-day tournament played on December 6 and 7, was hosted by golf’s leading philanthropist Mr. Le Van Kiem and the award-winning Long Thanh Golf Resort in Vietnam.

REGULARS 6 Asian Golf Editorial Team

8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher

68 Next Issue

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 ]

MEDIA PARTNERS

Photographers

GETTY IMAGES

Contributing Professionals

IMG ACADEMY, TONY MEECHAI, CHRIS SMEAL, DAVID MILNE & LAWRIE MONTAGUE (PRO TOUR GOLF COLLEGE), NICK RANDALL, STEVEN GIULIANO

Correspondents

ROBIN BARWICK (EUROPE), RISHI NARAIN (INDIA)

Contributing Editors

TERRY ANTON, ALAN CAMPBELL, KATHERINE ROBERTS, AAERISHNA SHAHSTHY

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE! BEST COURSE IN THAILAND (2nd Runner Up) TOP 3 IN ASIA: GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Stacey Walton WINNER: BEST DIRECTOR OF GOLF OPERATIONS: Stuart Daly WINNER: BEST GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Minachai Srichanya WINNER: BEST CADDIE OF THE YEAR: Kannika Namthong

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SHARED THOUGHTS

From The Publisher

Happy New Year! While we send you greetings for a wonderful new year, we sometimes wonder if golf is going to be in for a good year especially after most of the industry has scrapped through 2014 somewhat battle-scarred.

e’d like to kick off the New Year with some of our thoughts as it relates to the game’s greatest icon - Tiger Woods. Have you noticed how the industry has clung on to Tiger in the hope that he will recover fully and ascend to his one-time greatness as the world’s most powerful athlete and to regain his lofty throne in golf? We have two words for this – Dream On! All good things have to eventually come to a bone-crunching halt – in some cases sooner than later. In the case of Tiger, let us not detract from the fact that history will judge him as one of the greatest athletes of the modern era of sports. What he has achieved is almost a super human feat but the sad truth of the matter is that this fellow is human, and as such, is susceptible to the challenges and ravages of time and the toll that this natural phenomenon wreaks on the human physiology. The Tiger era of excellence was marked by standards that were never before seen or heard of in professional golf. Generally speaking, Tiger changed the face of the professional game by transforming it to look sharp. He introduced physi-

9 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 172

cal fitness. He demonstrated the power of strength. He showed all of us the importance of focus, practice and hard work. He changed the way golf is played forever! Tiger started a revolution and today, the majority of the young guns who dominate the sport are all physical specimens who embody strength, power, discipline, focus and that insatiable desire to win and win and to keep on winning! Tiger made all of this happen and in the process, he also upped the ante in the area of rewards. The kind of money that professional golfers stash away on a weekly basis in their bank accounts today makes a total mockery of what the past greats of the game were paid. Most of the guys who ply their game on the PGA Tour have stashes of moola locked up in safe deposit boxes. And the irony of this is that most of us don’t even know the majority of these guys. Who cares anyway! Tiger was the one man who made this all possible! At the height of his game, Tiger had the power to draw thousands to the battle arenas where he pulverized his competition. Millions more around the world roared and pumped their fists like Tiger every time he slam dunked a putt. This was the draw and appeal of Tiger. But that’s all a thing of the past now. He made a comeback at his own invitational a few weeks ago and ended up at the bottom of the 18-man field. There were glimpses of the old Tiger but it was faint. He tried but that old magic was not there and we feel that he will never be able to get back to his former greatness. There will be the occasional blip of excellence here and there but it will not be sustainable. Remember that this great athlete has had innumerable injuries and has gone

under the knife more times than we care to remember. While he may look physically “repaired”, our take is that his body will not be able to endure the level of play that he has to subject himself to if he is to reign supreme again. Just watch his new swing – it is scary and it is bound to send him for surgery if he does not watch it. Tiger has given all of us his best. He has entertained us. He has astonished us, And he has held us spellbound. Let’s cherish all of this as memories that can never be taken away. Let us remember Tiger as the talent that we were all privileged to witness in action. There will never be another Tiger ever again. The mould that was used to cast him has been destroyed! Tiger, keep on playing but don’t risk it. Enjoy the game for what it’s worth but refrain from doing battle at the level that only you know. Let others create the spectacle, if they can, but get on with what destiny has in store for you. Go design golf courses so that those of us who admire you (and there are legions of us out there), will be able to experience the joy of playing on a Tiger Woods designed golf course! Thanks for the memories.

JANUARY 2015

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COVER STORY

A Wake-up Call!

All of us in Asia understand colonialism because at various points in time in the history of the Continent, some of the countries in Asia were occupied by foreign powers. Some like the Kingdom of Thailand managed to get by without acceding control to foreign powers. *VSVUPHSPZT PZ KLÄULK HZ [OL LZ[HISPZOTLU[ exploitation, maintenance, acquisition, and expansion of a colony in one territory by a political power from another territory. It is a set of unequal relationships between the colonial power and the colony and often between the colonists HUK [OL PUKPNLUV\Z WVW\SH[PVU ([ ÄYZ[ [OL countries followed mercantilist policies designed to strengthen the home economy at the expense of rivals, so the colonies were usually allowed to trade only with the mother country. 12

13 ASIAN GOLF

n the 21st Century colonialism is a thing of a bygone era or at least that is what most of us in Asia have been led to believe. Instead of political control, Asia has knowingly or unknowingly fallen prey to powers from the West. Just look around and see the boundless and wanton consumption of virtually everything that is decadent in the West. Fast foods are a perfect example – it is being devoured as though we in Asia have been starved from good local food. The variety of Asian food in itself is almost infinite but we have opted to go for hamburgers, French fries and coffee blends which hail from Seattle! Whether it is fashion apparel, accessories, entertainment of all kinds and life-styles – we in Asia are now shamelessly aping the West and there seems to be no end in sight. You get the drift – it is sad but it is a trend that we all seem to have to accept and live with. The question that needs to be asked is do we necessarily have to? Do we have a choice? Can we not take charge of our own destinies? We like to think that the answer is in the affirmative on each and every count! Let’s take our industry – the golf industry. The colonials first introduced the game in exotic possessions of theirs like India and the Malay states which is now Singapore and Malaysia. The game’s heritage in Asia is therefore an ancient one. Unfortunately, while the colonials have long returned to their homelands, heritage and tradition of the colonials have lingered on.

ISSUE 172

Why should the game once enjoyed by the sheep herding shepherds of Scotland be reserved exclusively for the well-heeled and well-monied minorities?

JANUARY 2015

COVER STORY

15 ASIAN GOLF

A Wake-up Call!

ISSUE 172

Most of Asia clings on to the original exclusive and elitist model of operating a golf club which is still the modus operandi in many country clubs in the western hemisphere. We need to ask ourselves – do we need to cling on to these traditions or should we break free and open up the game to anyone who wants to enjoy the game of golf. We should not adhere to the picky practice of looking at social backgrounds, schools attended, and status before anyone is allowed access. This is archaic thinking and if anything at all, it is stifling the growth of golf in Asia. Let’s take a more enlightened and progressive outlook and dump the country club model and look at golf clubs as a place for people to come together and enjoy the wonderful game of golf. Why should the game once enjoyed by the sheep herding shepherds of Scotland be reserved exclusively for the well-heeled and well-monied minorities? If clubs change their business model, not only will it help with their bottom-line performances but it will also help expose the game to more people thus helping to grow the game of golf. It is a no-brainer, but it takes some bold initiatives on the part of owners, management committees and club management to do what’s best in the interest of the game. Remember, these clubs are in Asia; invariably owned by Asians and we need to take charge and bring about change. If they choose to maintain the status quo, then let’s all sit back and watch the game wither away! Related to growing the game of golf is the sporadic talk

that we hear about the need to grow the junior game of golf. We say sporadic because that’s precisely what it is. Whatever initiatives that are in place to grow the game amongst juniors is a very shallow effort that rarely reaches out beyond the realm of the country club set. If you check out the kids enrolled in junior development programmes throughout the region, you will notice one thing – they are “fat” kids mainly drawn from the country club set. While somewhat commendable, this is not good enough to grow the junior game. National golf associations, club owners and operators need to urgently step up to the plate and reach further afield to pull in more juniors. Education ministries of Asian countries and schools should be engaged to help spread golf to the widest possible junior audience in their respective countries. After all, there is no other game in the world that teaches honesty, integrity and inculcates a set of values that all kids can benefit from. Let’s not wait for the so-called selfanointed gate-keepers of golf to initiative junior development programmes for us in Asia. We are totally capable of doing this ourselves and all it

JANUARY 2015

COVER STORY

A Wake-up Call!

takes is a firm resolve and conviction to do something for our kids. Note that most “junior development programmes” that try to come to Asia have strings attached. One such programme that represents one of the richest golf organisations in America tries to instruct a few kids in Asia by conducting periodic clinics in one Asian country. A guardian of one of the kids enrolled in this programme told us in disgust: “It’s ridiculous really – they send out coaches who try and train the kids and all that they do in the short time that they are here is to confuse the kids and once they leave, that’s the end until the next round which invariably comes months later. These bootcamps do more damage to the kids because they are constantly relearning the game due to the lack of any continuity in the training and all that it does is to enrich the coaches whom we are told are paid a handsome stipend!” Come on Asia! Do we need to subject our kids to these so-called “experts” and their training programmes? It is obvious that it’s all about lip-service and we are the suckers! It’s time that we took the coaching of our juniors into our own hands. Asia has many quality coaches who can help – for example, Tony Meechai, a qualified PGA coach is terrific in handling juniors. Tony is a Thai-American and is one of the finest coaches around to teach youngsters. Joe Thiel, a great and accomplished PGA Master coach says this of Tony: “This

that golf operates in, in Asia. There is no quick fix, one-programme fits all approach that can be put in place to work in Asia. Asia needs customization and English is not the way to deliver the training message. For the upgrading of human capital, Asia needs to conduct education through local languages and there’s no short cut around this! Equipment manufacturers and suppliers to the industry have a responsibility to fulfil. No longer can they sell big ticket items to Asian clubs and leave the training to their distributors and dealers who invariably are businesses that don’t possess the right mix of skills and suitably qualified manpower to provide quality training to end-users. Quick workshops by manufacturers will not do it. A concerted effort needs to be made to help golf clubs train their staff and to make them totally competent to handle their respective jobs on their own without having to depend on consultants who are attached to manufacturers via an umbilical cord! Asian club general managers, golf course superintendents and other key personnel must become totally independent and selfreliant because only then will we be able to take charge of what happens in the golf clubs and on the courses of Asia! Some serious steps have been taken and soon, the golf club industry will be able to access quality training and education directed at all levels of workers within the club industry. This is being made

National golf associations, club owners and operators need to urgently step up to the plate and reach further afield to pull in more juniors.” guy is a treasure and not only is he a skillful teacher but also a man who is passionately committed to junior golf development. He is right here in Asia and he should be one of the people who should be engaged to drive junior golf development in Asia.” Well, you have heard it from one of the world’s very best. The man who started the South Korean golf revolution by introducing Se Ri Pak to the world. Thiel works with Mizuno of Japan to help grow junior golf throughout Asia and Mizuno, as a quality name in golf, is ready to take on the challenge to help with the growth of junior golf. So, what are we waiting for? The nucleus of a junior programme is already there. We have the talent, the commitment and the corporate support – let’s get it on. Asia – take charge! Another area where Asia needs to take charge is in the area of human capital development for the golf industry. While the golf industry is a multi-billion dollar business in Asia, there is virtually no institutionalized presence for the development and training of human capital to help staff the industry with properly trained and qualified manpower. Whether it is the management of a club house or the maintenance of a golf course, Asia is faced with a challenge of having sufficient suitably trained and qualified personnel to run the business. After all, a sustainable and profitable business is totally dependent on having the right work force and the golf industry is no exception. Workers in the golf industry need on-going education that will equip them with the proper skillsets and knowledge to perform at optimum levels. We cannot train and educate the people in our industry with cookie-cutter programmes from the West – these programmes don’t fit especially in the non-homogeneous markets 16

17 ASIAN GOLF

possible by the Club Managers Association of Asia whose mission is to help train, educate and certify those employed in the golf club industry. “We have been very successful in putting together best-ofbreed education partners and together, we will be providing world class training and education to the club industry throughout Asia,” revealed Lawrence Young, CMAA’s Director Of Education. What the CMAA is doing is tangible proof of Asia taking charge! More such Asian-based organisations should come forth to make their contributions because every small effort counts towards the realization of a movement that will see programmes initiated in Asia by Asians to help Asian golf clubs cope and handle with the challenges and opportunities going forward. What we are advocating is not an initiative that is discriminatory in any way, shape or form. All we are standing for is to make the club industry self-reliant so that it can take charge of every sector within the industry and be in absolute control of its own destiny. External help will always be welcome but they must be prepared to share and help in the dissemination of knowledge and expertise that will make the industry in Asia stand on its own feet. It’s about time! Asia is a global force and any student of global megatrends will tell you that the combined wealth, population and market size of the continent will be the biggest single force on the planet. Everything points to us taking charge of our own destinies. So, let us unite and move towards growing the game of golf in Asia the Asian way! (In the next installment, we will look into the development of golf courses and the professional game of golf and the role that Asian multi-nationals need to play to accelerate the growth of golf in Asia).

ISSUE 172

JANUARY 2015

SPECIAL FEATURE

Forecast 2015

19 ASIAN GOLF

f we had access to this legendary “seer” today, we wonder how he would assess the outlook for the golf industry in 2015? Viewed in the context of what has transpired in the last twelve months, he would most probably mark up the report card for 2015 in red ink. But forecasts and prophecies aside, 2015 looks like it is going to be a mixed bag for the golf industry – some good mixed in with the not so good. Let’s kick things off with a read on the golf equipment side of the industry. The learned James Koppenhaver of the highly respected Pellucid Corp which keeps watch over the health of the golf industry in North America told Asian Golf, “I hate it when logical thinking takes me to a place like the fact that there’s another round of pain more than likely in this train wreck we call oversupply.” He was making reference to the oversupply of equipment that has hit manufacturers like TaylorMade and Dicks Sport Goods which had to fire more than 500 PGA professionals who staffed its golf outlets last year.

Comparing the current slump in the golf industry with the housing crash in the United States some years ago, Koppenhaver said, “It’s interesting and sad to see that when the housing market got out of whack, market forces moved in swiftly and severely to correct it. While it was really ugly, it didn’t take that long and the losers took their lumps and that was it”. However, he explained that with the golf industry, “we have a situation that’s prolonging, it doesn’t feel like it’s hurting as badly but we’re going to be here a really long time at this pace and with the macro forces in place that are holding back that inevitable correction.” He went on to add, “In the meantime, folks have to make tough decisions on whether they’re positioned to survive (the slight majority) or they’re one of those who are just delaying the inevitable. What’s funny is some number of those are banks and financial institutions, not individuals, and they’re extending the game as well hoping something good will happen.” One of the reasons why Koppenhaver

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JANUARY 2015

It promises to be a hugely exciting 2015 for Mission Hills Group as many of our major mixed-use entertainment developments open to become family destinations for all generations” – Ken Chu is respected is because he is honest in his appraisal of trends “They might eventually catch a small break (either an industry flattening or slight uptick or finding a buyer stupider than them) and escape with less of a haircut but I doubt it will be enough to offset the opportunity cost of the capital they’ve had tied up in the interim trying to not take a big a bath. But, at least the optics on the surface and to the general population won’t look as bad!” Some of the equipment manufacturers

that Asian Golf spoke with seem relatively bullish about 2015. President and chief executive officer of Callaway Golf, Chip Brewer kept his forecast short and sweet: “I am always bullish on Callaway and we have an incredible product lineup including a golf ball that we think could be a real game changer; but, since we are public, I should probably pass on anything more specific.” COBRA Golf’s president and chief executive officer Robert Phillion responded with optimism: “COBRA Golf is continuing to lead

the industry in personalization and customization, helping us make our colourful mark on the industry, through performanceenhancing products that help golfers of all levels enjoy the game. The Fly-Z family is already in strong demand from retailers, has received positive reactions from our PGA Tour athletes, and brings strong opportunity from our Asian markets as we gain share.” Closer to home, the outlook for 2015 seems to look bright although many in the industry took a real pounding in 2014. The

SPECIAL FEATURE

Forecast 2015

My “crystal ball” for golf development in 2015 is still a bit cloudy, but if the recent survey of our ASGCA members is any indication, I believe 2015 will continue to see positive growth.Yes, the days of unrestricted growth in golf development in the big markets like China and the USA may be over, but a steady growth rate of new and remodeling worldwide may prove to be more sustainable for all.” – Lee Schmidt most powerful man in golf in Asia, Dr. Ken Chu, chairman of the giant Mission Hills Group in China is the epitome of optimism: “It promises to be a hugely exciting 2015 for Mission Hills Group as many of our major mixed-use entertainment developments open to become family destinations for all generations”. He added, “Amplifying Asian family values, which is in line with our corporate mission, Mission Hills continues to inspire and promote the three H’s - a happy, healthy and harmonious lifestyle for all. When you visit Mission Hills in 2015, you will truly indulge in our “Golf and More” offerings from championship golf courses, “retail-tainment”, dining, theme parks, hot springs and spa in an eco-friendly, sustainable environment”. Dr. Chu’s bullish outlook for 2015 is shared by his sibling, Tenniel Chu, vicechairman of the Mission Hills Group who reckons that the “the future of in China and Asia has never been brighter”. “Our country’s golfing population continues to expand rapidly and we are delighted to be at the vanguard of this trend with our industry-leading junior golf programmes

and policies, which includes allowing players aged 16 and under to use three of our courses free of charge, all year round.” He went on to say,”Golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016 will further enhance its popularity in China and, as we produce more elite players to act as inspirations and role models, we can expect to see the sport go from strength to strength.” The kingdom of Thailand continues to be the top draw for golf in Southeast Asia and it is also home to one of the region’s most popular golf clubs, Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin. Its general manager Stacey Walton holds out a very optimistic outlook for 2015: “Thailand has come back to a more stable position since Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has brought reform to the current economic climate and addressed the changes required in the conduct of business affairs. This stability in the country is good for golf tourism which is now set to rebound throughout the first half of next year.” Walton is also optimistic that long awaited tax reforms may be on the cards and this will come as a tremendous positive development as golf courses in Thailand pay

a premium rate of tax. “From a club management perspective we will experience more technological advancement whether it’s online reservations, mobile applications and golf equipment,” Walton added. Down Under in Australia, the mood seems to be cautiously optimistic. Michael Orloff, the founder of Golf Industry Central reports: “The Australian golf market looks to be settling down heading into 2015, though a few new trends are emerging.” He explained, “The “super club” model is getting some traction with a few clubs looking at merging with other local ones to form one entity and in other areas non “golf” related clubs are taking over distressed properties and adding additional value to their membership and all in all it is much more positive vibe in general than it was this past 24 months.” In the area of golf course development, the president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Lee Schmidt, principal of the award-winning Schmidt-Curley Design said, “My “crystal ball” for golf development in 2015 is still a bit cloudy, but if the recent survey of our ASGCA members is any indication,

From a club management perspective we will experience more technological advancement whether it’s online reservations, mobile applications and golf equipment” – Stacey Walton 20

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I believe 2015 will continue to see positive growth. Yes, the days of unrestricted growth in golf development in the big markets like China and the USA may be over, but a steady growth rate of new and remodeling worldwide may prove to be more sustainable for all.” 2014 has definitely been a challenging year for the golf industry on a global scale. For many, it has been tough. Based on what financial institutions are telling us, it’s reasonable to expect that economic trends will be more of the same in 2015 with perhaps a modest improvement. However, it’s unlikely that this will in any way enhance the odds of golfers having additional disposable income to increase their respective play frequency rate, join a golf club. Or rush out to buy a new set of golf equipment. As one close industry watcher recently observed, “So as we end one year and prepare for yet another, hope will be a constant. It remains to be seen what reality has in store for anyone of us!”

JANUARY 2015

PGA Tour TV viewership took another plunge during the 2013-14 season, with average weekend numbers declining 18 percent on NBC and 14 percent on CBS and this trend is expected to continue into 2015.”

www.asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com

No Wonder Golf’s Industry Captains Talk To Us!

Look Who Is Talking To Us!

John Solheim

Bob Bettinardi

Tim Clarke

Only The Captains Of The Golf Industry – That’s Who! It’s quite an achievement to have

Solheim Sr.; Bob Philion, President

state of golf today. These are the

landed exclusive interviews with

of Cobra Puma Golf; Cindy

people who are moulding the

the men and women who are at

Davis, President of Nike Golf; Bob

future of golf and no one can read

the pinnacle of the golf industry

Bettinardi President of Bettinardi

the pulse of the industry better

today.

Putters and Tim Clarke, President of

than these industry captains.

Wilson Golf. Only Asian Golf has been able to

The movers and shakers of golf who have spoken to Asian Golf

Powerful men and women who

bring you this treat – yet another

include Callaway Golf’s CEO Chip

have shared with us their thoughts,

measure of our standing in the

Brewer, PING’s Chairman, John

views and perspectives of the

global golf industry.

ASIAN GOLF – A PRODUCT OF DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION Pushing The Boundaries Of Change Beyond The Limit! A member of the Asia Paciﬁc Golf Group Print Digital On-line Apps Video Streaming Conferences Education

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2014 APGS Wrap-Up

25 ASIAN GOLF

he golf club industry is no different. The quest for excellence in delivering the best golfing experience to a golfer is very reliant on the people working behind the scenes of a golf club and how they pull together to deliver a quality experience. At the recently concluded 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit held in Singapore, one of the highlights of the Asian Golf Awards was the introduction of a special award category that recognized some of the best employees in the club industry throughout the continent. The category included the following awards:

Best Club General Manager Of The Year Best Director Of Golf Operations Of The Year Best Food And Beverage Manager Of The Year Best Golf Course Superintendent Of The Year Best Club Caddie Of The Year

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We in the industry believe that this is a historic initiative because more than ever, we need to grow the level of service within the golf club industry and what better way is there than to recognize the dedicated men and women who strive so hard to help position of our clubs at the leading edge of the industry.” – Stacey Walton “We elected to include this new award category into the Annual Asian Golf Awards because we felt that the time had come for the industry to recognise and celebrate the best of the best so that these individuals can serve as role models for others to emulate and also serve as a benchmark for clubs to use to motivate their staff,” explained Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner of the Asian Golf Awards. “We in the industry believe that this is a historic initiative because more than ever, we need to grow the level of service within the golf club industry and what better way is there than to recognize the dedicated men and women who strive so hard to help position of our clubs at the leading on, general manager edge of the industry,” said Stacey Walton, of the Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.

The award for Best Cub General Manager was won by Harald Elisson of

the award winning Black Mountain Golf Club. “I’ve known Harald Elisson for many years. He’s an outstanding leader. The organization he runs is first class and professional. He has really set the benchmark for Asian golf clubs. When you play Black Mountain, you get the feeling that you are playing the best in Asia. The professionals return year after year and have even made Black Mountain there home because it’s such a fantastic and complete facility-maintained at the best all the time”, is how Asia’s top teaching professional Tony Meechai described Elisson.

HARALD ELISSON Black Mountain Golf Club Best Club General Manager Of The Year

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2014 APGS Wrap-Up

STUART DALY Banyan Golf Club Best Director of Golf Operations

The man who walked away with the title of Best Director of Golf Operations is Stuart Daly of Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin Thailand. This is how a member described Daly, “This man is the consummate professional. He is up early every day of the week and he goes about marshalling his team to be totally ready to welcome golfers. Under Stuart, nothing is left to chance. He makes certain that everything is ready to go and that the course is in the best shape not only for tournaments but for general play at any time during the course of the year. That’s what makes him so special and so invaluable!” There is no denying that Daly runs a tight ship at the Banyan Golf Club. His management style is reflected by the awards that some of his team received at the Asian Golf Awards ceremony.

MINACHAI SRICHANYA Banyan Golf Club

Best Golf Course Superintendent

The Best Golf Course Superintendent title went to Minachai Srichanya, a Thai national. And this is how Daly describes him: “Minachai has been part of the team at Banyan Golf Club since the pre-opening stages and has been involved at all stages of the golf course development. Minachai is one of the best planners I know and follows his maintenance programmes religiously. He is always open to feedback from our members and players and is constantly on the look-out to improve the state of the turf on our course and to train and develop junior members of his team.” 26 6

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KANNIKA NAMTHONG Banyan Golf Club Asia’s Best Club Caddie Of The Year Another of the award winners also so comes from Daly’s stable. She is

Asia’s Best Club Caddie Of The Year – Kannika Namthong is also yan from Thailand. “The team of caddies at Banyan Golf Club is our biggest ambassadors and e eff golfers judge their experience based on the nnika ficiency and friendliness of the caddies. Kannika is one of the most sought after caddies and is highly skilled. She’s a tremendous asset to our club and will be a big influence on how we train our caddies in the coming years as she is the standard by which we want everyone else to conduct themselves.”

RICKY GUO JINWEI Mission Hills Group Best Food & Beverage Manager Of The Year Food and beverage is a vital area of any golf club’s operations and Mission Hills Group is no exception. As the world’s largest golf resort, keeping thousands of golfers properly fed and entertained is a massive challenge. However, the 2014 Best Food and Beverage Manager Of the Year award winner takes it in his stride. This is how Tenniel Chu, vice-chairman of the Mission Hills Group described the award winner Ricky Guo Jinwei: “Ricky’s success in being named Best Food & Beverage Manager Of The Year is richly deserved and is indicative of the high standards he sets at Mission Hills Haikou, where feedback from guests is usually excellent. While we are always delighted when our colleagues are recognised with individual awards, we do place strong emphasis on the team and I’m sure Ricky would be the first to pay tribute to his colleagues, both within the F&B operation and beyond, for their outstanding contribution.” Asia’s first batch of golf club role models have been recognized. Very high standards have been set and this can only result in better things to come in the year ahead.

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Father & Son Tournament

The Father and Son Golf Tournament started in 1995 when the Father and Son Challenge was launched as an annual two person golf tournament for PGA Tour and Champion Tour golfers and (usually) their sons. It was played at Champions Gate Golf Resort in Florida from 1995 to 2008. The event’s name became somewhat inaccurate as Fuzzy Zoeller teamed up with his daughter Gretchen in 2005 as did Bernhard Langer with his daughter Christina in 2013 and Arnold Palmer partnered one of his grandsons Sam Saunders. The junior team members ranged from middle school age up, and included a few with tour golf careers of their own. The tournament is played over 36 holes for the Willie Park Trophy, in memory of the father and son British Open champions Willie Park Snr and Willie Park Jnr.

ietnam has taken ownership of the Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tournament by staging a spectacular inaugural event in Ho Chi Minh City. The two-day tournament played on December 6 and 7, was hosted by golf’s leading philanthropist Mr. Le Van Kiem and the award-winning Long Thanh Golf Resort in Vietnam. While the event draws its pedigree from the original Father and Son Challenge Tournament, the local organisers decided

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to transform the tournament into a total family affair. “The core of the event focused on father and son teams but in the spirit of promoting family fellowship, we decided to open up the tournament to accommodate family members and their relatives,” said Lawrence Young, tournament director. With this flexibility of pairings, there were father and daughter teams, husband and wife teams and a number of different mix and match combinations drawn from members of extended families.

“This new format of fathers and sons and relatives provided for a lot of fun and camaraderie and the feedback that we received has encouraged us to continue with this format in future years,” declared Nguyen Huu Thanh, general manager of the Long Thanh Golf Resort. A total of seventy pairings competed in the inaugural event. Teams came from the home country, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. In his opening address, the host,

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Father & Son Tournament

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Father & Son Tournament

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I am pleased to announce that the Asia Pacific Father And Son Tournament will be an annual tournament staged at the Long Thanh Golf Resort.” Mr. Le said, “This is a historic moment for the development of golf in Vietnam and it is very encouraging that the event has attracted such good support from so many countries.” He went on to add, “Based on the response that the inaugural event has enjoyed, I am pleased to announce that the Asia Pacific Father And Son Tournament will be an annual tournament staged at the Long Thanh Golf Resort.”

Commenting on the tournament, Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group said, “This is a dream come true for the visionary Mr. Le who has always wanted to promote Vietnam as a major force in golf and in golf tourism.” The participants in the tournament were feted to a gala welcome reception and a gala awards dinner and the winners went home with valuable prizes while

everyone else went home with gifts. “This was the best tournament that I have participated in – the atmosphere was fun, the food was great and the organization was very professional,” is how Cha Boo Ho from South Korea described the event. Some of the tournament prizes included diamond jewellery, Mercedes Benz C-Class cars and villa plots worth in excess of US$300,000 each as hole in one offerings.

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Father & Son Tournament

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Father & Son Tournament

This was the best tournament that I have participated in – the atmosphere was fun, the food was great and the organization was very professional.” – Cha Boo Ho | South Korea

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1st Runner Up: He Tea Vinh & Tea Sorachuay (Cambodia)

2nd Runner Up: Kyung Heum Yeon & Rachel Yeon (Korea)

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3rd Runner Up: Tran Van Tam & Tran Duc Trung (Vietnam)

4th Runner Up: Nguyen Thi Bao Quyuh & Hanako Kawasaki (Vietnam/Japan)

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INNOVATION

Distinguishes leaders from followers

FAST TRACK SLIDING WEIGHT SYSTEM In 2007 Mizuno introduced a sliding weight system called Fast Track – to alter a driver’s draw/fade tendency. Over seven years we learned that Fast Track was even more useful to alter a drivers spin rate and launch angle – helping players of different swing speeds hit their maximum distance with the new JPX850 driver

#piercingblue

Innovation explained in 50 seconds

JPX850.com

BORON GRAIN FLOW FORGED When our 1025E Pure Select mild carbon steel could take our Grain Flow Forged heads no further, our engineers spent 6 years researching how to incorporate Boron into the manufacturing process. The result is a material 30% stronger – allowing greater design freedom and dramatically increased ball speeds. All you’ll see is a different number on the sole.

#invisible

SHOCK WAVE SOLE PLATE It’s tough to make a fairway wood face that reacts like a driver – the frame is too small. After years of thinning the face with new materials, we found the greater solution lie in enabling the entire head to ﬂex. The JPX850 fairway woods new Shock Wave sole contracts and expands on impact – allowing the entire clubhead to deliver energy to the ball.

#shocked

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

TomTom Golfer

Is there no limit to what technology can do for golf? Well, based on what just Ă&#x2026;L^ PU V]LY the transom, it looks like there is most certainly no limit!

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he product that revealed itself to us this month looks like a handsomely crafted wrist watch. While it flashes the time of day accurately, this is not one of its primary functions. Its real value-for-money functions are built around its outstanding global positioning system (GPS). Sound the drum roll guys and roll in the TomTom Golfer! What? You heard me guys, it’s time to unravel the TomTom Golfer, a nifty looking golf GPS that wraps around your wrist. It’s a fabulous neat little package and if you don’t want to use it for the purpose it was designed for, then just put it on as a fashion accessory that will be bound to become a conversation piece. That’s how cool it is! Seriously, the TomTom Golfer (that’s its real name) is a GPS sports watch designed to make it easy for golfers to improve their game. How so, you may ask? Well, it flashes up unique course graphics which show accurate distances to hazards and lay-ups and the best possible approach to the green. Now how smart is that! It takes the whole guessing game right out of planning a shot and this is what most golfers will kill for! The company behind this ingenuous product answers to the name TomTom also. It is a Dutch company and is a global leader in navigation and mapping products. With its vast experience and knowledge in GPS technology, the company has designed the TomTom Golfer to help golfers plan their game and to make quick informed

JANUARY 2015

With the TomTom Golfer on your wrist, you will know every inch of a golf course. You will be able to hit the perfect approach shot and no golfer can deny how gratifying an experience this can be.” decisions on their next shot through the aid of full-screen graphical visualisations and wireless access to critical course data. Now, if you think all this is too technical for you, just flush this negative thought right out of your head – the TomTom Golfer can be operated by a toddler (well, maybe that’s an exaggeration), but all the same, it’s a cinch to use! With the TomTom Golfer on your wrist, you will know every inch of a golf course. You will be able to hit the perfect approach shot and no golfer can deny how gratifying an experience this can be. Another special feature of this GPS sports watch is that it has pre-loaded course data from 34,000 international golf courses – that’s like virtually every course in existence on the planet! How the heck can so much information be jam-packed into such a tiny little device? Simply incredible! Before you charge out of the front door to purchase your own TomTom Golfer, you should know that this gem of a device is intended for golfers aiming to improve their game and to help them to consistently

record lower scores. It’s all about planning your next shot and as the golf legend Ben Hogan once said, “the most important shot in golf is the next one”. And this is precisely what the TomTom Golfer does – it helps you set your course strategy by providing ata-glance graphics to help you make quick and smart decisions on your next shot. Man, these Dutchmen are smart chaps! Is it cumbersome to wear on the wrist during play? Nah! It is super lightweight and slim in appearance. In a nutshell, the TomTom Golfer offers: Greenview – graphics of the green and hazards. Hazards – graphics depicting distances of hazards on the fairway. Green distances – precise yardages to front, centre and back of green. Round tracking – keeps track of score, distance and time taken per round. Lay-up – distances to lay-up points. OK, now that we’ve told you everything you need to know, you can charge out to get yourself your personal TomTom Golfer. Put it on, turn it on and surprise your flight mates!

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

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KZG OS-II Driver

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here’s no denying the fact that drivers are hard to hit because they exacerbate any flaw in your swing. If you have a slight slice or hook with a low iron, hit a driver in the same way and you’ll be spending the best part of your round hunting through the long grass for your ball. So is there help in sight? Is there any hope for those of us who are driven to madness with our drivers ever being able to get the big stick under control? Well, it looks like the golfing gods have heard our pleading bleats and have beamed down the KZG OS-II driver. In case you are wondering what the OS-II is, it is a product of superb engineering from KZG, the manufacturer renowned as a supplier of equipment only through the finest professional club-fitters and teachers in the industry. The new OS-II is an offset driver that is

specifically designed for high handicap players and beginners who struggle to launch and keep the ball in play. Alleluia! Praise the golfing gods! Now, all golfers with a slow swing speed will be especially thrilled by the distance they can achieve with the OS-II. “It’s time to grow the game,” declared Jennifer King, President of KZG. “And the best way to do that is to give players a club that is ideal for their game. Our new OS-II driver is just one of our ten driver models and is definitely our “easiest-to-play” model due to its forgiveness, offset and variety of loft options,” she explained. How is the ease of play achieved? Does it engage with adjustable heads? Her immediate retort was, “No adjustable head here!” Dr. King was very emphatic about differentiating the OS-II with all other “game improvement” adjustable drivers on the market. She pointed out: “The last thing we want is new players changing the specifica-

It’s time to grow the game,” declared Jennifer King, President of KZG.“And the best way to do that is to give players a club that is ideal for their game. Our new OS-II driver is just one of our ten driver models and is definitely our “easiest-to-play” model due to its forgiveness, offset and variety of loft options.”

tions of their clubs every time they mis-hit one off the tee. Our worldwide network of qualified fitters will perfectly fit the golfer so that they’re free to focus on more important tasks like getting their swing into a groove.” The offset and closed club face is cosmetically concealed giving the OS-II a traditional appearance at address. The face insert is heat-treated forged titanium creating the maximum legal rebound. Ideal lower centre of gravity weighting assures an easy and high launch. “The OS-II also offers a solid “crack of the bat” sound preferred by most players; along with a solid, meaty feel,” added Dr. King. High handicap players who slice the ball, and stronger players who swing from outside-in with a late release will both discover that the OS-II is a great fix. “Golfers who tend to close the face through impact or have a slower swing speed will certainly appreciate the higher lofts available in this model... up to 14º /SL and 16º /XSL and most importantly it conforms with the official rules,” Dr. King pointed out. What a sense of relief. Now any golfer can keep the ball off a driver in play. Thank you golfing gods – you’ve made the day for many golfers. Check out the KZG OS-II driver at an authorized KZG custom fitter in your location.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

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Nike Golf Going Forward

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Nike Golf Southeast Asia threw quite a ﬂing for the media and its distributors recently in Bangkok, the Swoosh brand’s business hub for the region. In typical Nike fashion, it was all about style and panache as it proudly rolled out its family of golf clubs, apparel and accessories for 2015. One trend was very noticeable at this bash and that was the almost deliberate emphasis on apparel and accessories. The grandest introduction seemed to be reserved for Nike Golf apparel – and why not! After all the brand leads all the other golf brands when it comes to apparel and it makes a lot of good business sense to show-off and brag about golf’s number one apparel brand!

efore it is forgotten, the big show was staged in Bangkok to introduce the media and distributors to Nike Golf’s exciting new Vapor range of drivers, woods and hybrids which seemed to come across as an after-thought. This perception could be totally off the mark but that’s how Asian Golf read the situation. Anyway, the Vapor range of clubs are all fantastic products of innovative engineering and this includes all three drivers, the full set of fairway woods and the

hybrids. What is notable about the Vapor range is that it was designed and built from the ground up by the “new engineering team” led by Nate Radcliffe who was hired away from Cleveland Golf to take over from the legendary Tom Stites who was the chief club designer from the day Nike Golf was set up in 2001. Stites who had been re-engaged as a consultant and “Chief Imagineer” most probably had a hand in the creation of the Vapor clubs. While the Vapor clubs mark a milestone in Nike Golf’s

JANUARY 2015

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Nike Golf Going Forward

evolution, we feel that the company is at a crossroads of sorts where it is seen gravitating towards the highly successful core business model which is driven by its global leadership in sports shoes and apparel and accessories sectors. It makes sense to emulate the core business as it already has a proven formula for success. It is interesting to note that over the last six years, sales for Nike Golf have remained steady while still trailing top brands like TaylorMade-adidas Golf, Callaway Golf and Acushnet. Sales were US$725 million in May of 2008, and US$789 million through the fiscal year ended May 2014. The 2014 numbers were about equal to 2013’s figure of US$792 million. Growth has been languid to say the least. But we think that this is all set to change now that Cindy Davis has “retired” from the post as president of Nike Golf. To “retire” at age 52 was difficult to comprehend as we could not see Davis sitting on the veranda of her home in a rocking chair knitting a

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sweater! After a respite, Davis is back in business serving on the board of directors of Buffalo Wild Wings – a chain sports bar and chicken wings restaurant in North America. After the Davis era, Nike scoured its executive wing to seek out a perfect person imbued with the right Nike DNA to lead Nike Golf. That executive has since been found and he is Daric Ashford, the new president of Nike Golf. Ashford was until recently general manager of the Jordan Brand for North America and is a 21-year Nike veteran. Daric is an out and out consummate Nike insider. “Daric’s leadership has helped to deliver strong revenue growth and expand the Jordan Brand. His proven track record, along with his experience in global categories, makes him ideally suited to leading the golf business,” said Jayme Martin, Nike’s vice president and general manager of global categories. Based on this, Nike Golf has a man at the helm who has a deep understanding

of the core values of Nike and we think this will serve as a strong ballast as he leads the company’s charge to gobble up market share in the golf sector. We think that the new man will prove to be a game-changer for the company that boasts a stable of today’s greatest golfers – phenoms like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Michelle Wei. We believe that Daric will change mindsets and in good time, he will get the golf industry to think of Nike not as just a company renowned for running shoes but as a brand known for quality golf products! This is bound to happen and in fact, it is already happening. For all intents and purposes, Nike Golf is really the “new kid” on the golf equipment block. While the company has scored well with soft goods in the golf sector, they have some catching up to do with hard goods. This will change especially with products that bear the “Vapor” branding. Central to Nike Golf’s big push in 2015 we think is going to be the company’s

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“Oven West” based at Nike Inc’s corporate headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. The “oven” is where Nike Golf sparks it research and development programmes and it’s where revolutionary new products are “baked” so to speak. “Oven West” is complementary to the original “Oven” located in Fort Worth, Texas where the company bakes it golf clubs. What’s different about this new R&D facility is that it is entirely devoted to the development of golf balls. Nike Golf is onto something with this R&D facility and we see it as a bold affront to the golf industry. It is an in-your-face challenge which irreverently tells the world that Nike Golf is ready to take on the big boys in the golf ball business. The golf ball sector does not play out in a crowded arena like the golf club business. It is a smaller field that accounts for a sizeable global revenue base and we think that Nike Golf is going after market share in this sector. Again, it’s a plausible business manoeuvre that can and will help the company

beef up its otherwise lack-lustre earnings. What we see coming out of this facility is already impressive. Take the RZN line of golf balls – four different designs and if you want to become a believer, we urge you to put these balls to the test. At Asian Golf, we did a range test with a select group of golfers and the consensus was unanimous – “these are terrific balls!” Chemical maker DuPont is said to be providing the resin base, and Nike’s engineers say that despite the fact that the raw material costs more than rubber, it’s easier and faster to use, cutting down on labour. The fact sheet states that the new material allows the outer layers of the ball to better grip the core, minimizing air within the ball to create more energy at impact and this is supposed to help average golfers, particularly those with an off-centre swing. Now, can you see a definite sales pattern emerging? These guys have got their act together and they are confident that the RZN balls are simply going to fly off the shelves and

We can now see Nike Golf’s strategy going forward. Drawing from their strengths in golf apparel and footwear, the Swoosh boys have built a well-rounded company that is now fully mature and grown up in golf. With the power of the Vapor stable of clubs and the RZN golf balls (which we are told are actually tested by being shot out of a canon-like device), Nike Golf is set to hit the ball right out of the park and set new goals for itself.”

JANUARY 2015

help Nike Golf bite off a piece of the golf ball revenue pie! We can now see Nike Golf’s strategy going forward. Drawing from their strengths in golf apparel and footwear, the Swoosh boys have built a well-rounded company that is now fully mature and grown up in golf. With the power of the Vapor stable of clubs and the RZN golf balls (which we are told are actually tested by being shot out of a cannon-like device), Nike Golf is set to hit the ball right out of the park and set new goals for itself. It’s about time Nike Golf – go out there and hit a bunch of home runs in 2015!

DARIC ASHFORD PRESIDENT OF NIKE GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Nike Golf Going Forward

BEN LEWIS GENERAL MANAGER FOR NIKE GOLF SOUTHEAST ASIA/PACIFIC

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EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Callaway Chrome Soft Ball

Where do you see the biggest and bloodiest battle being fought in the golf industry? We’ll give you three guesses. Will there be a lot of carnage in the battle for driver supremacy? Do you reckon that it will be a deadly duel to the last man in the irons category? Or do you believe that it will be bombs galore in the putter trenches? If you picked any one of the HIV]L `V\ HYL [V[HSS` VMM [OL THYR )LSPL]L P[ VY [OL IH[[SL [OH[ PZ IYL^PUN PZ H ÄLYJL [\ZZSL for share of market in the golf ball category. It is said that the dimpled ball accounts for a whopping US$1.2 billion in sales and it’s also said to be growing.

ow that you have a sense of what the golf ball market is worth, you will understand why Chip Brewer, Callaway’s sharp president and chief executive officer has decided to lead his men into battle to blow up the ball market and to chop away a large chunk of the pie as the valuable spoils of the war. Under Brewer’s command, the turn-around

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at the once most dominant player in the golf equipment industry is beginning to show positive signs of clawing back its dominance. After being a laggard for a number of years, Brewer, has put his magic wand to work and the products that are coming out of the legendary brand that the late Ely Callaway built is stirring up quite a buzz. The latest buzz-generator is the “Chrome Soft Ball”. Launched just before Christmas 2014, it looks

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like a “miracle” ball. Callaway is pitching this new ball as the mother of all game changers. Some industry watchers are asking if this revolutionary offering from Callaway could be the ball that changes the golf ball? Well, ASIAN GOLF spoke with its North Americanbased correspondent and he seems wildly enthusiastic about what he has seen and heard about the Chrome Soft ball. He reports some stunning characteristics: The ball is really long off the tee; It is incredibly soft at impact; It’s spin control around the greens is remarkable; Features like these are going to result in one crazy development – it’s going to cause a massive demand frenzy amongst golfers of all skill levels. This is how Callaway spins the story. Its web site plugs the Chrome Soft ball as possessing the following magical features: Low Spin Off The Tee For Exceptional Distance – Low spin off the driver for maximum ball speed and distance. The core is the key to long, straight distance off the tee, and Callaway’s optimized HEX Aerodynamics makes Chrome Soft even longer by reducing drag and increasing lift. Low Compression For An Incredibly

Soft Feel - The low 65 compression lets a golfer compress the ball on iron shots for an incredibly soft feel, and it’s amazing around the greens. Now, all golfers can compress the ball like a Tour player. Excellent Control - A high level of control for aggressive shots into the green comes from the soft feel and the Tour Urethane Cover. It’s built for consistency that a golfer can depend on with every shot. SOFTFAST™ Core - Reduces spin and retains energy off the driver to maximize ball speed and distance. And the low compression lets a golfer compress the ball on iron shots for incredibly soft feel. Mantle Layer - Helps retain the energy stored in the core, which translates to faster ball speeds. Soft DURASPIN™ Cover – Callaway’s softest, most durable cover grips the clubface for excellent control into and around the green. HEX Aerodynamics - Optimizes lift and reduces drag to help increase distance. “The firmer feeling golf balls have become the benchmark for distance and allaround tour level performance,” said Dave Bartels, Callaway’s senior director of golf ball R&D. “But most golfers would agree that soft balls feel better. In the past it’s always

JANUARY 2015

come at a penalty to performance.” Bartels believes Callaway’s Chrome Soft ball could challenge the existing benchmark. “Golf ball designers have realized that you can create low compression balls to reduce spin with the longer clubs,” he explained. “With SuperSoft, the soft core compresses yet still retains its energy and restores its energy as it regains its shape to generate fast ball speeds. It doesn’t lose its energy.” Bartels noted that the standard tour ball typically has a compression of around 90; however, Chrome Soft, due to its SuperFast core, has a compression of around 65. Now that the performance facts are known, it cannot be denied that Callaway has literally redefined the golf ball, and is serving as the guiding beacon for a whole new category of golf ball. As of now, the Chrome Soft is the only ball with the SoftFast Core with low compression and the Tour Urethane cover. We believe that there is no other ball that combines all of these special characteristics into one doozy of a golf ball! Any final words Callaway? With Chrome Soft, no golfer will ever have to choose between feel and hitting it farther anymore. We have one word for you Callaway – EUREKA!

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

TaylorMade AeroBurner Family

Who was the guy who declared that there will be a slow-down in the release of new products from TaylorMade? That’s now proven to be a whole load of nonsense because news from Carlsbad shows clear proof that the JVTWHU`»Z ¸[OLH[YL VM PUUV]H[PVU¹ PZ WYVSPÄJ HZ L]LY

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An nd The e Ta aylorrMa ade e Re epris se Con ntin nues s! The iconic “Burner” franchise returns with the introduction of TaylorMade’s most aerodynamic driver and fairway and rescue clubs with the largest speed pocket ever! he company that prides itself as the “makers of the No. 1 driver and No. 1 fairway wood in golf” has unveiled the AeroBurner franchise – a matte white coloured driver, fairway and rescue club trio that feature an improved Speed Pocket and advanced aerodynamics to promote effortless distance for all player types. “For the golfers who missed the phenomenon that was RocketBallz, or for those who are ready to upgrade to more speed and distance in their metalwoods, AeroBurner is what you are looking for,” said Brian Bazzel, Senior Director of Product Creation for Metalwoods. “We’ve drastically improved the performance of the sole’s Speed Pocket and significantly improved the aerodynamics to deliver maximum speed to the golfer,” Bazzel continued. The name “AeroBurner” derives from the product’s advanced aerodynamics, a performance

variable that TaylorMade R&D members have long obsessed over in their quest to engineer fast driver heads. To accomplish this, AeroBurner metalwoods feature an “Aero hosel,” (small fin located at the heel of the club to reduce drag) a raised centre crown and rounded toe section. All three of these variables work as a system to improve aerodynamics and lower drag force. Next, the AeroBurner family has the largest Speed Pocket ever, which enhances the sweet spot and protects ball speed on mishits. Now, here’s the product drill-down, starting with the driver. The driver’s biggest advancement is its new Speed Pocket which is twice as big as the JetSpeed (first driver to feature the technology). Unlike JetSpeed, AeroBurner drivers do not have loft sleeve technology which offers loft and lie adjustability. This allowed TaylorMade’s engineers to extend the length of the Speed Pocket across the entire sole for maximum performance. The AeroBurner driver also features Inverted

We’ve drastically improved the performance of the sole’s Speed Pocket and significantly improved the aerodynamics to deliver maximum speed to the golfer.” – Brian Bazzel

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

TaylorMade AeroBurner Family

Cone, a technology used in every TaylorMade driver since the R500 Series in 2002. The Inverted Cone milled into the inner side of the clubface promotes higher ball speed on off-centre hits. Finally, the AeroBurner driver features an ultra-light 50-gram TM1-215 Mitsubishi Rayon shaft. The longer, lighter shaft and light grip adds up to less than 295 grams of total club weight, promoting faster swing speed. Balancing the club to a slightly higher swing weight improves feel of the club and promotes faster ball speed. For Global specification, it comes with Matrix Speed Rul-Z shaft and adds up to less than 300 grams of total club weight. Rounding out the AeroBurner metalwood franchise is the fairway wood and rescue clubs, both featuring the largest Speed Pocket in combination with an extremely low and forward centre of gravity (CG). The Aero Burner fairway is a culmination of years of technology development in the fairway wood category. This technology first came into market in 2008 when TaylorMade determined that there was still significant opportunity to achieve more distance in fairways if both the ball speed could be increased and the spin could be reduced. As TaylorMade engineers developed the Speed Pocket prototypes, they discovered that sole slots could also dramatically reduce spin, especially if combined with a low balance point CG projection which can be accomplished with low forward CG. “The original RocketBallz represented a breakthrough in performance which started a whole new replacement cycle for fairway woods, said Bazzel. “We have continued to pour R&D resources into better understanding the potential of flexible sole boundary conditions which has led us to AeroBurner, a fairway with our largest Speed Pocket ever. We are now achieving driver like launch conditions with a fairway wood.”

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The Aero Burner fairway combines the size of the RocketBallz fairway channel with the technology of the through slot of the JetSpeed fairway to produce an ultimate Speed Pocket. Compared to the original RocketBallz, the AeroBurner has a face size that is 2.5mm shallower for better playability from the turf. The AeroBurner also has a 2X larger sweet spot (COR) compared to JetSpeed. The AeroBurner 3-wood is equipped with a TM1-215 Mitsubishi Rayon (S, SR, R flexes) measuring at 43.25” (USGA length measurement method). The overall length has been shortened from previous fairway offerings to increase its playability while maintaining the speed from new head advancements. Next, let’s check out the AeroBurner rescue club. It has a larger Speed Pocket like the fairway wood. Like the driver and fairway wood, it has the same white crown with black contrasting face, and crown alignment features to help with accuracy and consistency needed for hybrid clubs. AeroBurner fairways and Rescue clubs share the following: Ultra-high strength, Ni-Co 300 Super Alloy Steel The largest Open Channel Speed Pocket Precision-cast crowns with our Thick-Thin crown technology Shallow face and low-and-forward CG location with refined crown curvature and sole camber The AeroBurner series from TaylorMade is destined to take ownership of a very special place in the golf equipment hit parade for 2015. Watch it soar!

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

TaylorMade R15 Family

he newly launched R15 is a perfect example of a product that traces its origin from TaylorMade’s vast technological know-how. It draws its pedigree from the company’s successful “R” series – a brand mark synonymous with more than a decade of heroic, gamechanging metalwood products. “R15 harnesses our world-class portfolio of technological advancements engineered over the last 15 years,” said

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Brian Bazzel, director of product creation at TaylorMade. “It performs incredibly in a package that looks great, sounds great and can be easily fitted to any player. Everything we know about the metalwood, we’ve put into R15; golfers will see that, feel it and sense it with every swing. It’s a special driver.” Put bluntly, the R15 series is the company’s most technologically sophisticated, high-performance metalwood franchise ever. The family includes a

driver, fairway and Rescue clubs. Why did TaylorMade bring back the “R” franchise? It starts with breakthrough adjustability and the R15’s lower and more forward centre of gravity (CG) location. Empowering the golfer to adjust weight in a driver head is a landmark innovation that TaylorMade brought to the golf industry more than 10 years ago with its r7 Quad driver. Through the years, company engineers have increased the amount of weight that can be distributed while also

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EQUIPMENT FOCUS

TaylorMade R15 Family

simplifying the process to enhance the golfer’s experience. With its new Front Track system in R15, adjusting a TaylorMade driver has never been quicker or easier: Inside the track system are two sliding split weights that weigh 12.5 grams each (25g total). The R15 club head has 5g more discretionary mass to maneuver and is 4g lighter than the popular SLDR. Using TaylorMade’s torque wrench, the golfer can loosen and slide the weights to the heel for a draw, to the toe for a fade or split for maximum stability. Additionally, R15 incorporates the company’s most adjustable loft-sleeve, giving golfers the ability to alter their face angle, lie angle and loft preference to affect side-to-side trajectory. A simple rotation of the loft-sleeve with the torque wrench allows the golfer to change the loft +/two degrees. Together, the sliding split weights and loft-sleeve enable golfers to adjust their R15 driver with extreme precision. Key to the performance of the R15 is the low and forward centre of gravity (CG) – a strategic placement of weight first seen in SLDR which promotes faster ball speed with less spin. R15 has an even lower and more forward CG thanks to the Front Track system, which is 12mm closer to the leading edge with 40 more grams of weight forward. In total, 75% of the mass is in the front of the driver. Low forward CG in combination with the more forward track and redesigned sliding weights in the R15 helps to reduce spin by about 100 to 200rpm and increase launch

R15 series is the company’s most technologically sophisticated, highperformance metalwood franchise ever. 56

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by 0.5 to 1.0deg compared to the SLDR 460. According to TaylorMade, it research indicates that a 17-degree launch angle and a 1700 rpm spin rate promote the best combination of carry and roll-out at every swing speed, culminating in maximum distance under normal playing conditions. The designs of both the R15 460 and the R15 430 represent the next step forward for all golfers to achieve maximum distance through optimal launch conditions. The larger, 460cc version of R15 is for the player seeking maximum forgiveness and confidence on the tee, while the R15 430 has a shape that strongly resembles some of the most coveted drivers from the company’s past. The address size is noticeably smaller to appeal to players who prefer a smaller address view. The R15 430 is also the lowest spinning driver offering. The R15’s crown comes in a very appealing satin white finish, with a contrasting black PVD face and sole. The strong contrast between the crown and face make it easy to align the face accurately at address. TaylorMade expects the majority of its tour players to play R15 with a white crown. A gloss black version will be offered exclusively in R15 460 in Global specs only. Complementing the drivers are the fairway woods and hybrids

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in this series. Available in three lofts – 15˚, 19˚ (20.5 ˚ GL only), the R15 fairway is the company’s most adjustable fairway to date. Featuring the same Front Track system as the driver, the R15 FW utilizes a single 25-gram tungsten weight that can slide easily to promote a draw or fade using a TaylorMade torque wrench. The Front Track also performs like a Speed Pocket, increasing the sweet spot and decreasing the spin rate. Like the driver, the R15 FW comes with a 4° loft sleeve for maximum loft adjustability. The R15 fairway and Rescue clubs have been refined by extensive input from TaylorMade’s stable of staff professionals to be suitable for the best players in the world. Similar to the original Rescue club from TaylorMade, the new R15 has a “peanut” head shape, commonly preferred by tour staff professionals. The smaller shape (99cc) offers more versatility than a conventional size hybrid and is preferred by players who like to shape their shots. TaylorMade has also incorporated an open channel Speed Pocket into the R15 Rescue club, which promotes more ball speed and reduced spin. Built with a Mitsubishi Rayon shaft, the club also features a 3-degree loft sleeve allowing the golfer to customize distance gaps between fairways, Rescue clubs, and longest long iron. TaylorMade engineers worked to ensure this club has a more neutral biased ball flight which guards against left misses that can sometimes occur with hybrid clubs designed for higher handicap golfers. The R15 series are available throughout Asia right now. It will be offered in both white and black (custom fitting only) and features a desirable, playable pear-shape in two head sizes – 460cc and 430cc. Asian specs come available in four lofts – 10°, 11°, 12° and 14°.

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ASIAN GOLF TOURISM

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Laguna Phuket Golf Club

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Laguna Phuket Golf Club has won a string of awards for its resort facilities, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s club house and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf course. In response to the high acclaim it has received, its owners decided to embark on a major renovation of its course and facilities. This has all been done and the golf course is back in full bloom again, better than ever!

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM

Laguna Phuket Golf Club

he revamped Laguna Phuket championship golf course, which has re-opened after a full makeover, has a “real sense of place and belonging” according to its designer, Paul Jansen. “In making changes to the original course [which first opened in 1993], I wanted to create a story that is full of adventure. I want golfers to explore the property and discover the many outstanding features gracing it as I did through the design and build stages,” Jansen says. “Not only has this been achieved, but the course is now more strategic and certainly more memorable.” “The best golf courses have a character all their own and require golfers to think their way around the site. Laguna Phuket certainly has all this,” Jansen explains. “At 6719 yards from the back tees, it isn’t long by modern standards, but is strategic enough to challenge better players and provide enjoyment for resort golfers. So it ticks all the boxes. It is definitely not a ‘bombers’ course” “The number of bunkers has been reduced – to only 37 –but each one is positioned to influence play. This hasn’t compromised the course, but has provided the opportunity to embrace existing features in determining playing strategy – such as water bodies and outstanding trees.” “We put great emphasis on contouring the land to add strategic and visual interest. This is another way of making players think about their shots.” The project, which has revitalised the layout that hosted the 2009 Thailand Open, showcases unique features which include wood ties on some steep fairway edges and traditional Thai fishing boats placed in watercourses. According to Jansen these visual elements have enhanced memorability and character. Laguna Phuket Golf Club is part of Asia’s first and leading integrated resort, located on Phuket’s Bang Tao beach. The 1000acre complex includes Banyan Tree villas, Dusit Thani, Angsana and Outrigger hotels and is within easy access of Phuket International Airport.

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We put great emphasis on contouring the land to add strategic and visual interest. This is another way of making players think about their shots.”

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Architect Paul Jansen on the grounds of the revamped golf course.

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Black Hat Golf Tips

Happy New Year! ;OL NVSÄUN ZLHZVU PZ UV^ OLYL

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know many of you have made New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resolutions and want to get ahead in your livesâ&#x20AC;Śin golf this yearâ&#x20AC;ŚIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like you to startâ&#x20AC;Śby getting behind! Yes, in order to play more consistent and better golf, I have always had success with students who discipline themselves to start their pre-shot routine, by GETTING BEHIND the ball! The biggest difference between a tour player and an average golfer doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t involve the actual swing. If you watch a tour player go through his pre-shot routine, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll almost never see him walk in from the side and make a practice swing right next to the ball. He faces the target from behind the ball, to visualize his shot, and most likely make a few gentle practice swings with his eyes on the target before stepping in. When you approach from the side, it distorts your view of the target and messes up your aim. Some players also tend to keep their feet in place after a practice swing and then reach for the ball to hit it. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another good reason to start your routine from behind. So remember, review your pre-shot routine by starting with getting behind the ball and proceeding with your preshot routine. Do it with each shot so it becomes routine!

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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 Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Pro Tour Golf College

THE 4 GOLF SUCCESS FACTORS That Will Fast-Track High School and College Golfers to the Pro Tour

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

It is quite likely that you are reading this article because you want to become a professional tour golfer, and right now you are in high school or college and you spend a lot of your available time practicing and playing looking for ways to play better sooner so you can achieve your goal. What is the Key Performance Factor that Enabled Jordan Spieth to Become So Good at Such a Young Age?

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ou watch a lot of the pro tournaments on TV or on your computer, and you see young male golfers like Jordan Spieth and female golfers like Lexi Thompson on the leader board at big tournaments, and you wonder what it will take for you to be that golfer. But are you are confused? You might be a little confused because of all the conflicting information on the internet and TV about what it takes to become a successful golfer. And who could blame you, after all one golf expert will say this, and another will say that, and the TV commentators will say something else. So you probably scratch your head wondering how you will be able to sort out what you need to know, so that you don’t waste your valuable time working on things that won’t help you. So where do you start? What do you need to know to become a successful professional tour golfer?

We Will Get You on the Right Path Well, in this article we will clear up some of the confusion for you and set you on the right path to learn how to travel safely and get your chance to earn a tour card and compete successfully on a professional golf tour. Firstly we will assume that you are already a very competent golfer. This means that you already can and do score in the low 70’s, and possibly even the high 60’s in tournaments. If you are not at this standard yet, this article will still be extremely helpful for you. Our goal in this article is to share with you the first of 4 Golf Success Factors that we have found to be vitally important for you to achieve your goal of becoming a successful professional golfer. The reason we can do this is because we work with ambitious amateur and professional golfers at Pro Tour Golf College virtually every day, and we spend a lot more time working with these golfers than most golf instructors would spend in a year working with their best students because our program affords us the opportunity to work with our students for 25 to 30 hours each week over 10 week periods. When you spend 250 to 300 hours per semester working with elite amateur and

professional golfers, you tend to notice the dynamics that help them to make progress, and conversely you also notice the dynamics that hinder their progress.

The 4 Golf Success Factors Over the next four articles, we will share the 4 Golf Success Factors which will help you to continuously improve your goal score. What we propose is to distil down all the possible factors to the most important ones that we have discovered help young golfers make faster progress.

;OL .VSM *VUÄKLUJL -HJ[VY (\[OLU[PJ :LSM )LSPLM HUK *VUÄKLUJL A few years ago a comprehensive survey of players and caddies was conducted on the European Tour by Genworth, a Lifestyle Protection and Mortgage Insurance Company who have sponsored ‘Statistics’ on the European Tour since 2007. Now what was interesting when we read this report was the response to the question “what is vital for success?” and the answer given by the 41 European Tour professionals who responded to the survey. 74 percent of these excellent golfers rated Self Belief as the most important attri-

bute for success, which was closely followed by Mental Frame of Mind at 53 percent. Think about it, of all the factors that influence success, they recognized that self-belief was the most important attribute, followed closely by Mental Frame of Mind, and we completely agree.

2. What is Self-Belief? But what is self-belief? When I looked up the definition of self-belief in the Collins English Dictionary it was defined as; “confidence in oneself and one’s ability.” That’s sounds about right doesn’t it? Self-confidence as it relates to your golf development describes the amount of certainty you have in your ability to perform your golf skills under pressure, and to also critically evaluate situations and make effective decisions. It also describes your self-worth, or the level of respect you have for yourself and your abilities. The reason these European Tour players rated Self Belief so highly is because they know that you can have all the ability and skill in the world, but it means nothing if you lack the confidence to follow through, that you don’t believe you can perform those skills when it matters most. Over the years we have seen many ex-

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Pro Tour Golf College

cellent golfers who had all the tools except enough belief in themselves, which is sad because we never got to see them live their dream and become a successful tournament golfer.

*VUĂ&#x201E;KLUJL >OLU P[ *V\U[Z PZ 2L` Many elite golfers can produce excellent scores when playing with their friends in familiar environments like playing their home course, but the same golfer in an important tournament will often crumble like a deck of cards. So the number one Golf Success Factor is The Golf Confidence Factor, your strong belief in yourself and your ability to play to the best of your ability when it counts. This factor truly determines how far you will go in the game of golf and every great golfer in history has displayed The Golf Confidence Factor.

>(9505. So what in our experience is the number one biggest destroyer of your golf confidence? Making major swing changes after the age of 20 years old. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right, if you want to get to the tour sooner than later, and you have played competitive golf for 5 or more years, and you have achieved a high level of competence in your ball striking, we have found that undertaking complex golf swing changes (where you tamper with the fine motor controls you have developed over your career) 66

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will do more harm than good to your golf confidence. You simply have to understand that as you get older you must be very careful with any swing change work you wish to perform with your golf instructor. By the time you become a tour golfer it is almost impossible to find the time to perform the type of swing change work that you have read Tiger Woods makes. Tiger had the time, resources, record and money to fully commit himself to the

task and this puts him in a different situation to most golfers. History also shows that the majority of elite golfers who undertake major swing changes when they get to the tour rarely play better, and usually never recover to reclaim their original standard. Have a good look at our Golf Swing Change Model below to understand the implications of making complex swing changes at the wrong time in your development cycle.

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4. The Golden Scoring Standard You see the idea is for you to get your shotmaking ability over a season to tour average in tournaments long before you go to tour school. Driving Accuracy Average ....................(60 to 65 Percent) Greens Hit in Regulation Average .......(66 to 70 Percent) In-fact you should have your shotmaking capability to tour average at least 2 years out from going to tour school. The 2 years leading into tour school should by devoted to playing lots of tournaments, gaining valuable tournament experience and working on all your scoring skills within 100 yards of the flag. Always remember that your success on tour will always be subject to your ability to score consistently in the low 70’s over a season. This is your most important consideration when developing your golf skills and ability. You build your golf confidence by working on your mental strategies, golf skills, and your golf score to improve your competitive ability. Your aim should be to move your game towards The Golden Scoring Standard of 70, and literally everything you do in the 2 years prior to attending tour school should be aimed at nothing else. The closer you get to 70 in tournaments the more success you will experience. The following 5 Golf Confidence Strategies will help you to build authentic self-belief and confidence in yourself and your game.

1. Don’t Trash Talk Your Game When you finish a round of golf only discuss the strategies that would have improved your score for that day. Do not provide golfers (or anyone else) with a post-mortem of all the bad shots you played. Refrain from commenting negatively about your game. No one wants to hear about your bad shots and unlucky bounces. Build the habit of talking only about the good shots you played, and the strategies that would use to produce a better score for the day.

2. Walk Tall and Proud like the Champion Your Are Push your chest out, raise your eye line so you are looking way down the fairway and

not at your feet, avoid slouching, and walk briskly and without delay. Walk as if you were 6 inches taller with a neck brace on. If you are not playing your best it is even more important that you do this. Build the tall and brisk habit into your walk and you will see your world differently, and you will play differently as well. Have a look at Adam Scott and his tournament posture. Notice carefully the way he walks and plays. Jordan Spieth modelled himself on Adam Scott when he was still in high school and you can see the similarities when you watch him play.

3. Dress Like a Tour Star Iron your clothes, polish your shoes and wear clothes that make you feel better about yourself. The image you portray not only sends out positive messages to others, but it will make you feel good about yourself. A good rule of thumb is to “spend twice as much to buy half as much.” Buy quality clothing that lasts longer, quality clothing keeps its colour and wear-ability. Pay a little more upfront and you will get a lot more for your investment in the long run.

4. Be Prepared to Play Make-sure that you are prepared to play properly before every round of golf, and even when you go to practice. Get to the golf course at least 90 minutes before you tee-off mentally and physically prepare yourself for the day. Good preparation increases your confidence because you give yourself the time needed to stretch, go over your course

notes and hit warm up shots and putt before you play. By giving yourself the time to get ready to play, you will reduce some of the normal anxiety you experience prior to hitting your first shot. This reduction in anxiety can make the early difference to your round to help you build momentum to give you your best chance to play your best.

5. Play Golf with an Attitude of Gratitude Lastly be thankful for all that you have achieved from golf, and be complimentary of others and their efforts to get better. Be above the small mindedness and pettiness of others by not joining in their conversation. You will gain little from hanging around golfers who only want to talk negatively about them-self and others. You are training to become a world class golfer, and you should start acting like one now. Great golfers have a presence about them, a rock-solid inner confidence and belief in their ability, and they know that they have the strategies and skills to handle the normal adversity associated with the game, and also rise to the occasion when they need to. Work hard on your self-belief and confidence, and practice the 5 Golf Confidence Strategies everyday, and you will be well on your way to becoming the confident and capable professional golfer you wish to become. See you next month for part 2. Lawrie Montague and David Milne - Pro Tour Golf College

ASIAN GOLF ISSUE 173

ASIA’S GOLD STANDARD UNRAVELED!

re you aware that the Asian continent now accounts for nearly close to 5,000 golf clubs stretching all the way from Japan in the north, Pakistan to the west, Irian Jaya to the south and the Philippines to the east. This is a huge geography with a population to match! Each year, the Asian Golf Awards parades out the best of the best at the annual awards celebration. The 2014 awards was held at a grand event staged in Singapore in November 2014 at the posh Marina Bay Sands Resort. There was a massive turn-out of the winners in each category and the February issue of Asian Golf will dedicate this edition to the top achievers of the latest awards. It’s an issue not to be missed!

Bettinardi Has More “Rolls Royces” For 2015! Bettinardi Golf has introduced 10 new putters for 2015 in a range it claims will “raise industry standards in cosmetics and precision”. Asian Golf offers a full review of the new additions. 68

ASIAN GOLF

The makers of the most winningest ball in golf have just unveiled their latest in the highly successful Pro V series. The 2015 model is something to be tried to be believed. We will have all the details specially packaged for you in February.

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

www.asiapacificgolfgroup.com

CONSISTENTLY VOTED AS THE BEST COURSE IN THAILAND

Owned and managed by The Peninsula Hotels and often voted as possessing the “Best Clubhouse in Asia” and “Best Course in Thailand”, Thai Country Club is less than 45 minutes from downtown Bangkok and is renowned for having the friendliest staff of professionals in the Kingdom committed to providing the Ultimate Golfing Experience. For registered guests of The Peninsula Bangkok, We are happy to arrange a tee-time at a substantial reduction from our normal visitor’s rate. Extend your business trip in Bangkok, or book a get-away golfing package. When it comes to exclusive golfing with impeccable hospitality – we play off scratch.

1997 Winner: Tiger Woods

VOLVO MASTERS

ASIA

2005 Winner: Shiv Kapur

2006 Winner: Thongchai Jaidee

2007 Winner: Prayad Marksaeng

2008 Winner: Lam Chih Bing

1998 Winner: Vijay Singh

Thai Country Club www.thaicountryclub.com Tel: +66 (38) 570-234 inquiry@thaicountryclub.com The Peninsula Bangkok www.peninsula.com Tel: +66 (2) 861-2888 pbk@peninsula.com