AG186-March2016 by Asia Pacific Golf Group

N E W V O K E Y D E S I G N®

S M 6 W E D G E S.

PROGRESSIVE DESIGN. P R E C I S I O N P E R FOR M A N C E.

LOW CG: 46°–52°

MID CG: 54° AND 56°

HIGH CG: 58°–62°

PROGRESSIVE CG FOR SUPERIOR DISTANCE CONTROL AND FEEL. Precision in your wedge game requires precise technology in your wedges. New Vokey SM6 wedges feature an innovative, progressive center of gravity that’s placed in the optimum position for each loft to provide players with more consistent distance, trajectory control and better feel. Learn more about new SM6 wedges at Vokey.com 46 – 52 – 56 – 60 –

JORDAN SPIETH

08 F Grind 08 F Grind 10 S Grind 04 L Grind

52 – 12 F Grind 56 – 14 F Grind 60 – 12 K Grind

JASON DUFNER

48 – 08 F Grind 54 – 08 M Grind 60 – 04 L Grind

JIMMY WALKER

titleist.asia

ISSUE

186

MARCH 2016

If there is one event during the golfing calendar year that brings the golf club industry together in Asia, it has got to be the highly coveted Asian Golf Awards. 2016 marks the seventeenth straight year for this prestigious pan-Asian recognition event for the golf club industry in the region. Voting starts on March 1.

THE ORLANDO 2016 POSEDOWN! 32 The Big Drill Down In the interest of promoting a better understanding and awareness of the different golf balls introduced by Titleist, ASIAN GOLF is offering this special capsulized review of each of the model that comes complete with advice on the suitability of each ball type to a given player’s skill-set.

34 Anser Legacy Enters A New Phase

32 34

6 Asian Golf Editorial Team

To mark the 50th anniversary PING has unveiled two new Anser putters that advance the legendary Anser design handcrafted decades earlier by founder Karsten Solheim. The new TR 1966 Anser and Anser 2 arrive as PING is celebrates the iconic Anser model’s 50th birthday.

8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher

68 Next Issue

SPECIAL FEATURE 18 Callaway Re-Structures In Asia – More Focus And More Muscle Callaway Golf Asia is now part of the three new “super” regions made up of the Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africas, and Asia. Southeast Asia has been brought under the Asia region. Callaway Golf in Asia, the new unit will conduct its business through subsidiaries in Japan, Korea, China (Shanghai).

22 The Anatomy Of A Successful Re-branding Renovating a golf course alone is not enough. It has to be coupled with a rebranding programme that will serve as a huge pull to attract more golfers and this is where a solid marketing programme with appropriate strategies is vital. The large BRG conglomerate in Vietnam has just completed a highly successful rebranding exercise with one of its clubs and it is reporting very positive results.

24 The Dilemma – Long Irons Or Hybrids? What’s The Option? Asian Golf’s dedicated section on club fitting is proud to present part-two of a six part series in this month’s edition. The focus this month calls to question whether the traditional long irons should be replaced by hybrids which seem to becoming the anointed substitutes for long irons.

28 Public Golf – A Work In Progress Currently there are only three public facilities around India – a country of 1.21 billion people – although many private clubs do offer public access on weekdays, space permitting. The interest among young people is very high in India. But there are just not enough places for them to go and play.

38 Love Your Wedges And They’ll Love You Back! New Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled 6 wedges are out. It represents the next step in wedge innovation and establishes a new performance standard by improving in the three key areas of wedge play: distance gapping, shot versatility and spin control.

GAME-IMPROVEMENT 62 “Smack” To Understand Good Balance! I must say that what I have shared with you so far has been received very well and this is indeed encouraging. For this month, I am going to focus on how you can go about getting a good balance which is vitally importantly in golf – Tony Meechai

64 Pro Tour Golf College: How to Pressure Proof Your Golf Practice (Part 1)

42 The Edgy Look Continues! FootJoy the number one brand in golf shoes has launched its latest model – the FreeStyle, arguably FootJoy’s most imaginative and distinctive shoe ever. It draws its inspiration from the “red eye tree frog” and is said to help golfers benefit from increased freedom of movement when swinging the golf club.

48 Pinnacle – Top-Shelf Performance Pinnacle has fired up its drive into 2016 with two new ball offerings which it declares have been engineered with proprietary core technologies to deliver category-leading performance with extraordinary distance.

52 Bridgestone Gets Tough And Plays Hard Bridgestone Golf, one of the industry’s heavyweights has rolled out an arsenal of new products for 2016. Available under the JGR product category, the JGR driver, woods and hybrids are revolutionary in technology and are major game changers.

56 These Balls Of Steel Have Momentum! Back in 2013, Asian Golf produced a special report on a new company with a revolutionary product. Since then the start-up has been developing a cult following by being a brand that represents BEING MORE and doing MORE and it regards itself as the epitome of an underdog story that represents a lot of what resonates with people - perseverance, determination and yeah … a little swagger! Read all about OnCore and their golf balls.

MIKE SEBASTIAN Chief Executive Officer/Managing Editor

ANGELA RAYMOND President

[ mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

[ angela@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

RAQUEL M. ARCEGA Art Director & Ezine Development [ raquel@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

WAYNE LWEE Social Media/Video Editor

LAWRENCE YOUNG Editor (New Equipment)

[ wayne@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

MYRA PARAS Accounts Executive

[ myra@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

Contributing Professionals

[ lawrence@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

ALICE HO Marketing Executive

[ alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

TONY MEECHAI, DAVID MILNE & LAWRIE MONTAGUE (PRO TOUR GOLF COLLEGE), JEFFREY BOSE, JIM PRUSA (INTERNATIONAL ROVING EDITOR)

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SHARED THOUGHTS From The Publisher

t the time of writing, there was no word on whether the Asian Tour was on the verge of tipping over and jumping into bed with the European Tour. From what we have been able to glean so far, it seems that negotiations are still underway. ASIAN GOLF is keeping tabs on this matter because we believe that it is a very important issue which impacts two fronts – the future of the professional game in the geographic footprint covered by the Asian Tour and the future of its playing members. What is a tad bothering is that the talks don’t seem to be moving fast enough even though there is a new board of directors at the helm of the Asian Tour. I was having a chat with one of the tour’s partners recently and this party more or less confirmed that the merger was going to be a done deal. However, he had one disclaimer which seemed to indicate that there were two camps amongst the playing members. One school of thought is said to favour 8

9 ASIAN GOLF

the Asian Tour taking the plunge and becoming bedfellows with the much larger European Tour while the other faction was in favour of going it alone. The question that begs an answer is whether the Asian Tour can remain a viable and independent tour? This leads to another potential messy can of worms issue. Can a merger be taken off the table? We think not! Everything is not truly transparent especially when it comes to matters relating to the overall health of the Asian Tour. One wonders if it has obligations and liabilities to parties unknown to many of us. If there are indeed pressing obligations and liabilities that need to be addressed, then really, we can see a merger coming through. It is going to be inevitable, no matter what anybody says. The clock is ticking and in the interest of the professional game in Asia and the players, let’s hope that a fair and equitable decision is taken before too long. While the merger talks are on-going, it seems that external parties like the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) is not keen to

increase its involvement in co-sanctioned events abroad. In a strong message of resistance, the Japanese body has declared that it would remain opposed to any radical changes to Asia’s “organizational structure”. This obviously relates to the Asian Tour. This affront is a solid show of unity between the JGTO, the China Golf Association, the Korean Tour and the Australian PGA, all of whom are equal partners in OneAsia, the other upstart that is vying for space and dominance on the Asian Tour’s landscape. In a recent Reuters news report, a senior JGTO official, Kenji Tanaka, was stated as saying that China, Australia, Korea, Japan and others “were better off running their own circuits rather than signing up to a single overlord”. If the JGTO and its brothers-inarms have it their way, we are in for a rocky ride as far as professional golf is concerned in our neck of the woods. At least it would promise more excitement, intrigue and drama involving guys with agendas laced with suspicion, jealousy, greed and whatever else that motivates them to do what they do!

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SPECIAL FEATURE 2016 Asian Golf Awards

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13 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 186

MARCH 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE 2016 Asian Golf Awards

THAI COUNTRY CLUB

BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB

ANVAYA COVE GOLF AND SPORTS CLUB

BANYAN GOLF CLUB AND RESORT , HUA HIN

HORIZON HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS

ISSUE 186

It is the only event in the Asia Pacific that is celebrated at a special gala awards dinner where the winners are honoured with special mementoes and certificates – it is undeniably the industry’s version of the Hollywood “Oscars” – a pageant designed to celebrate the best amongst the best in Asia.” – Angela Raymond

t is peerless and it is a unique, stand-out event that commands incredible support from both the industry and golfers alike. “While there are wannabes out there giving away awards, the Asian Golf Awards is the only event of its kind that has a proven track record and longevity that has lasted the test of time,” explained Angela Raymond, president of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of the Asian Golf Awards. “It is the only event in the Asia Pacific that is celebrated at a special gala awards dinner where the winners are honoured with special mementoes and certificates – it is undeniably the industry’s version of the Hollywood “Oscars” – a pageant designed to celebrate the best amongst the best in Asia,” she added. It is the only event where the outcome of the final selection of the winners is determined by a public, on-line poll that is conducted over a period of three months. “The Asian

Golf Awards is not a recognition event that is determined by a select group of self-opinionated so-called experts – it is a public poll and like all democratic processes, the final outcome is determined by the popular vote,” explained Raymond. Participation in the Asian Golf Awards on-line polling is not rocket science. Like any marketing campaign, a lot is dependent on how the poll is promoted to a club’s respective target audiences. “There are many ways to promote the poll to different target audiences – just use the link and send to your club members and guests seeking their support,” explained Alice Ho, marketing executive with the Asia Pacific Golf Group. She went on to explain, “It would be wise for clubs to actively promote the award and polling procedure throughout the three month period - like any effective marketing campaign, reminding your target audiences is key.”

It’s the “Oscars” of golf where excellence is recognised within the industry.” – Stacey Walton, managing director of Banyan Golf Club and Resort in Hua Hin

MARCH 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE 2016 Asian Golf Awards

The 2016 on-line voting cycle for the Asian Golf Awards will kick off on March 1 and will end of May 31, 2016. The categories covered will include:

BEST IN ASIA-PACIFIC CATEGORY

1. Best Golf Destination in Asia Pacific 2. Best Golf Club Experience in Asia Pacific 3. Best Club Food and Beverage Experience in Asia Pacific 4. Best Course in Asia Pacific 5. Best Championship Course in Asia Pacific 6. Best Golf Resort in Asia Pacific 7. Best Clubhouse in Asia Pacific 8. Best Maintained Course in Asia Pacific 9. Best Pro-Shop in Asia Pacific 10. Best New Course in Asia Pacific 11. Best Managed Golf Club in Asia Pacific 12. Best Value for Money Experience 13. Best Locker Room/Male or Female in Asia Pacific

14. Best Course Architect in Asia Pacific 15. Best Public Golf Course In Asia Pacific 16. Best Renovated Course Of The Year

COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY

1. Best Course in Brunei Darussalam 2. Best Course in Cambodia 3. Best Course in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) 4. Best Course in Chinese Taipei 5. Best Course in India 6. Best Course in Indonesia 7. Best Course in Japan 8. Best Course in South Korea 9. Best Course in Laos 10. Best Course in Malaysia 11. Best Course in Myanmar 12. Best Course in Middle East 13. Best Course in the Philippines

14. Best Course in Singapore 15. Best Course on the Sub-Continent (including Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan & Sri Lanka) 16. Best Course in Thailand 17. Best Course in Vietnam

SPECIAL CATEGORY OF THE YEAR

1. Best Club General Manager Of The Year 2. Best Golf Manager Of The Year 3. Best Food & Beverage Manager Of The Year 4. Best Golf Course Superintendent Of The Year 5. Best Caddie Of The Year 6. Best Marketing Communications Manager Of The Year 7. Best HR Manager Of The Year

The 2016 Asian Golf Awards Gala Prize presentation dinner will be held in the Thai resort city of Hua Hin which is home to some of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top award-winning golf courses. The date for the Gala Awards Banquet is October 30 and it will be part of the 2016 Asia Pacific Golf Summit. 16

17 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Callaway Golf

19 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 186

MARCH 2016

Speak to any golfer anywhere in the world and the one brand name that is best remembered would most probably be Callaway. Why so, you may ask? Well, for decades, Callaway Golf dominated the global golf scene and it was led by perhaps one of the industry’s greatest visionaries - Ely Reeves Callaway Jr. The late Mr. Callaway had three successful JHYLLYZ ¶ ÄYZ[ PU [L_[PSLZ UL_[ PU ^PUL HUK ÄUHSS` PU NVSM /L PZ WLYOHWZ ILZ[ YLTLTILYLK for his contributions to golf and it was under his watch that the legendary “Big Bertha” branding was created. Since the banner years of Ely Callaway, the company has had a number of challenges which has witnessed major structural changes in the company. The last change took place in 2012 when the company’s board of directors appointed Chip Brewer as PresiKLU[ HUK *OPLM ,_LJ\[P]L 6ɉJLY :PUJL )YL^LY»Z [HRL V]LY OL OHZ THUHNLK [V ¸JSLHUZL¹ the company from its previous baggage and seems to have set it back on the right track.

hip Brewer, a seasoned golf executive has turned Callaway around and the listed company has begun showing a profit. Its full year 2015 financial results exceeded its expectations. Last year, Callaway claims to have continued to gain market share and drive improved operational efficiencies. As a result, the Company exceeded both its full year net sales estimate of US$835 - US$840 million with final results coming in at US$844 million in net sales. “Overall, 2015 was a strong year for Callaway Golf,” commented Brewer and he went on to add, “We demonstrated our ability to grow market share across multiple product categories, while at the same time realizing operational efficiencies and increasing profitability”. Speaking about 2016, Brewer said, “As we enter 2016, we are on solid footing from multiple perspectives and thanks to our improved market share and brand momentum we feel we are positioned to capitalize on any future improvements in industry conditions or foreign currency exchange rates.” With this positive outlook, Asia is expected to take on renewed importance in this projected big push forward by Callaway.

For a sense of what is planned for Asia, ASIAN GOLF caught up with Alex Boezeman who is the president of Callaway Golf Asia which is now part of the three new “super” regions made up of the Americas, Europe/ Middle East/Africas, and Asia. Southeast Asia has been brought under the Asia region. According to Boezeman, who has more than one decade of experience with Callaway Golf in Asia, the new unit will conduct its business through subsidiaries in Japan, Korea and China (Shanghai). “In Southeast Asia we have consolidated our operations into one distributor which is Leonian. Callaway will work directly with Leonian, who will cover Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar.” Leonian is a large Japanese corporation which bought out a Singapore based company that had a presence in most of Southeast Asia and a fairly large business base in golf. The collaboration with Leonian will bring with it many positives and according to Boezeman, the immediate impact will be felt in timely product availability. “Launch timing of new products will now be available at the same time as the subsidiaries, information to market these products will be more in-depth with Leonian, and marketing activities and materials will be consistent with Japan’s. Also, the region will have

SPECIAL FEATURE Callaway Golf

Junior golf is important for the future of golf itself, to turn around the trend of the declining golf population and we are investigating ways to best help this segment.” ready access to Japan/Asia products specifications that fit the Asian golfer better”. More products with Asian specifications is great news for golfers in Southeast Asia who see this as both a timely and positive development. Locked in with this is Callaway Golf’s intention to address the needs of a neglected consumer group – women golfers. “Women golfers are an important part of the market so in addition to our global product offering which is the Solaire range for women, we have a specific Asian women’s brand called Filly. On top of that for the better women golfer we offer ladies specifications on our products like XR. We feel this important market has not been tapped fully so in addition to the clubs, our soft goods and apparel often match the clubs as women tend to be more fashion conscious,” Boezeman explained. With a heightened presence in Southeast Asia, Callaway, in conjunction with Leonian will be looking into junior

golf development. According to Boezeman, “Junior golf is important for the future of golf itself, to turn around the trend of the declining golf population and we are investigating ways to best help this segment”. Going forward, Boezeman holds an optimistic outlook for the region in 2016: “We feel under the current difficult external environment we should focus on our strengths - the biggest being product development - we feel that by trying and hitting our products golfers can see and tell the difference and would like to take the opportunity of developing the full potential of the Southeast Asian market by educating golfers in this region about Asian specification products through more timely launches, better service, more product information and marketing activities”. Welcome back to the region Callaway Golf! Only good can come out of this re-structuring and with a partner like Leonian, look out for better days ahead!

More products with Asian specifications is great news for golfers in Southeast Asia who see this as both a timely and positive development.”

20 0

21 A 21 ASIAN SIA S IA AN NG GOLF OLF

SPECIAL FEATURE BRG Vietnam

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

In marketing speak, rebranding basically is a strategy in which a new name, term, symbol, design, or combination thereof is created for an established brand with the PU[LU[PVU VM KL]LSVWPUN H UL^ KPÉ&#x2C6;LYLU[PH[LK PKLU[P[` PU [OL TPUKZ VM JVUZ\TLYZ PUvestors, competitors, and other stakeholders.

23 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 186

t is not often that we see a rebranding exercise take place in the club industry in Asia and when this happens, we think the story should be told. The story that we have selected to unravel is that of the successful rebranding of an eight year old golf course that was given a major makeover and successfully brought under a corporate brand. This is the tale of the Doson Seaside Golf Resort in the Vietnamese city of Hai Phong which has taken on the name of BRG Ruby Tree Golf Resort. BRG is its original owner but this was not reflected in the branding previously. It should be pointed out that the Hanoi-based BRG organization is widely regarded as the fastest growing golf brand in Vietnam which in itself is considered to be a major growth region for golf. Besides the rebranded BRG Ruby Tree Golf Resort, the group is also the owner of the award winning Kings’ Island Golf Resort in Hanoi and the newly opened, twin-green Legend Hill Golf Club designed by Nicklaus Design.

Commenting on the rebranding strategy, BRG’s Director of Golf Development and Property Business, Mark Reeves said, “This is our corporate strategy for ease of identification moving forward and BRG at the front of the name will become synonymous with “quality assured golf and service.” With BRG now as the overarching brand, it has embarked on providing a unique multiple club membership called the “Golden Hattrick”. According to Reeves, it is an exclusive offering and the only one of its kind in Vietnam. “With this multiple membership card, members can enjoy the facilities and services at three BRG golf resorts with a total of four challenging and totally differently styled courses. This is offered at a basket annual fee that is lower than most single course fees,” Reeves explained. Returning to the rebranding of DoSon to its new identity as BRG Ruby Tree Golf Resort, Reeves said, “BRG Ruby Tree is part of our larger “BRG Coastal City” project that includes, golf, a Hilton Double Tree hotel, a coastal theme park, a walking street for retail and a collection of sea-view and coastal homes.” Rebranding involved totally upgrading the course involving turf condition, bunker strategy, landscaping, lake edging and some adjusted features like tee complexes. “The clubhouse has been re-decorated and we have upgraded our check-in, adjusted the face of the building, upgraded our coffee shop and restaurant, added a new members’ cafe bar and created a new

MARCH 2016

alfresco experience on the terrace to the rear of Hole 18.” Reeves was also quick to point out that the rebranding strategy also included a new service training programme that has been implemented with staff attitude adjusted to deliver a more personal, five-star experience to members and guests. Since the rebranding, the property has been a massive hit with both visiting and local golfers. “The number of rounds played has increased 32% since December 2015 and continues to rise compared to year on year performance,” Reeves revealed. The name “Ruby Tree” was drawn from an indigenous tree that is known for its vibrant red flowers that blossom throughout the year and it is part of the golf course’s landscape. “It’s so beautiful that the course was recently named as “The Best Golf Walk in Vietnam” after its convenient green to tee routing and soft undulating fairways that make returning to the tradition of pacing the links more healthy and fun than ever,” Reeves pointed out. Now that all three golf properties have been aligned under the BRG brand, the group expects to continue to pioneer new, exciting initiatives in the game and bring back real member benefits. The rebranding of the new BRG Ruby Tree Golf Resort serves as an excellent template for many of Asia’s ageing golf courses to emulate to help inject new vitality into the industry. Well done BRG!

SPECIAL FEATURE PING Custom Fittingg

(ZPHU .VSM»Z KLKPJH[LK ZLJ[PVU VU JS\I Ä[[PUN PZ WYV\K [V WYLZLU[ WHY[ [^V VM H ZP_ WHY[ ZLYPLZ PU [OPZ TVU[O»Z LKP[PVU ;OL MVJ\Z [OPZ TVU[O JHSSZ [V X\LZ[PVU ÔL[OLY [OL [YHKP[PVUHS SVUN PYVUZ ZOV\SK IL YLWSHJLK I` OÌYPKZ ÔPJO ZLLT [V ILJVTPUN [OL HUVPU[LK Z\IZ[P[\[LZ MVY SVUN PYVUZ ;OLYL HYL THU` ZJOVVSZ VM [OV\NO[ VU [OPZ PZZ\L HUK ^L [\YULK [V [OL THU TVZ[ RUV^SLKNLHISL HIV\[ [OPZ TH[[LY MVY [OL HUZ^LY /L PZ 1LɈYL` )VZL ^P[O ÔVT ^L HYL JVSSHIVYH[PUN [V WYVK\JL [OPZ ZLYPLZ VU JS\I Ä[[PUN )VZL PZ LTPULU[S` X\HSPÄLK HUK HSZV [OL YLJPWPLU[ VM [OL WYLZ[PNPV\Z (ZPHU .VSM (^HYKZ ¸)LZ[ *S\I -P[[LY 0U (ZPH¹ JP[H[PVU ;OL MVSSV^PUN HYL OPZ [OV\NO[Z VU ÔPJO YV\[L `V\ ZOV\SK [HRL VU SVUN PYVUZ ]LYZ\Z OÌYPKZ! “Should I be replacing my long irons with hybrids? If so, what hybrids should I be getting? What distances can I expect with a new hybrid?

hese are questions I hear frequently when I fit golfers at our PING Performance Centres in Southeast Asia. Hybrid clubs, also known as utility clubs, entered the golf equipment market in the late 1990s and have steadily found their way into the golf bags of the majority of golfers, from beginners to tour professionals. Hybrids have helped thousands of golfers who have trouble with either lower-lofted irons or higher-lofted fairway woods.

25 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 186

But adding a hybrid/s indiscriminately into any golfers set can cause as many problems as it solves: If the golfer already carries fourteen clubs in his bag, which club should he remove? He may end up with two or more clubs that travels the same distance. Before telling a golfer if he/ she should be putting hybrids into his/her golf bag, we need to answer a few basic questions first: How far is he hitting his long irons, i.e. #3, #4, #5 (perhaps even #6) irons and fairway woods, i.e. #3, #5, etc? What are the carry distances of each of his long irons and fairway woods? What type of trajectory pattern is he experiencing with his current long irons: low, medium or high? Most golfers I meet, save for highly skilled players who compete at the highest levels, have difficulty answering the above questions knowledgably. Fortunately, at our PING Performance Centres, we are equipped with the very intelligent PING nFlight fitting software. Among other features, this software allows the club-fitter to determine distances, trajectories and other information required to do an accurate Gapping Analysis for golfers. So what is a gapping analysis? Gapping analysis is an exercise to map out the distances (carry, as well as total distance) and trajectories of each club in a golfer’s bag. Before the availability of launch monitors, tour professionals used to measure and record these distances/ trajectories manually/visually. It was tedious work but they all came to realize it was worth the effort. With launch monitors becoming readily available and more

affordable, gapping analyses can be done for almost all golfers at practice facilities, outdoors or indoors. However, very few golfers actually go through the exercise as it requires them to hit a series of quality shots with each and every club in the bag!

MARCH 2016

PING nFlight provides a huge advantage by allowing a golfer to do a complete gapping analysis of his entire bag by hitting only three clubs! With this amazing system, virtually every golfer can have the analysis done, literally in less than 15 minutes!

SPECIAL FEATURE PING Custom Fitting Once the distances and trajectories have been mapped, it will become obvious where the “gaps” in the golfer’s set are. These are large chunks of distances where no club in the bag is suitable for. Consider the following scenario (very typical of a 15-handicap golfer): CLUB 1) 2) 3)

Driver 3-wood 5-wood

4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11)

3-iron 4-iron 5-iron 6-iron 7-iron 8-iron 9-iron PW

12) 13) 14)

SW LW Putter

AVERAGE TOTAL DISTANCE 212m 188m 186m GAP 163m 162m 159m 153m 144m 132m 120m 109m GAP 78m 59m

his PW and SW (31m), I will have this golfer try some gap or utility wedges. These come in lofts of 50, 52, and 54-degrees. We will be looking for a gap-wedge that he can comfortably hit about 95m, the midway distance between the existing PW and SW. If he does add the gap-wedge to his set, he will now have 15 clubs in his bag. I will therefore recomTRAJECTORY mend removing the 3-wood High Very Low Medium Very Low Low Medium Medium Medium Medium-High Medium-High High Very High Very High

In this case, there are two obvious gaps in the set: 1. Between the 5-wood and 3-iron (23m differential). If faced with a 175m Par 3, this golfer does not have a suitable club. He either has to hit a very soft 5-wood or try to “kill” a 3-iron, neither of which a high percentage shots. 2. Between the PW and SW (31m). If faced with a 90m approach shot, he has no choice but to hit a very easy PW, usually ending up hitting fat or thin and off the green. Apart from the distance gaps, the trajectories of his 3-wood, 3-iron and 4-iron are either low or very low. These are not good clubs to have when he needs to carry hazards or obstacles. In this case, I will ask this golfer to hit a few shots with a #3-hybrid or a #4 hybrid. Hybrids have longer shafts and designed to hit the ball higher. If he is able to get 170m-175m with a medium trajectory with a 3-hybrid, I will recommend he consider replacing his 3-iron with this hybrid. With the switch, he now has a smaller gap of 11m-16m between his 5-wood and his new 3-hybrid. It also leaves a more manageable 8m-13m gap between the new 3-hybrid and his 4-iron. To address the sizeable gap between PING has repeatedly been voted the leading brand in club-fitting by golfers and club-fitters the world over.

27 ASIAN GOLF

from this set as it is going very marginally further than the 5-wood, but with very low trajectory. He is better off using the 5-wood for distances between 180m-190m. The below is one example of how good club-fitters with proper fitting tools can use gapping analyses to help many golfers today. I encourage you to visit a professional club-fitter to have your set analyzed and start playing better golf soon!

Wedge Selection Chart: How many wedges do you need?

Using modern fitting tools like the Foresight GC2 launch monitor and PING nFlite fitting system, PING club-fitters can help golfers analyze their distance “gaps” and recommend practical and meaningful solutions.

THE CLUB FITTING LEADER

"One Set at a Time" 52%

15%

PREFERRED 3-TO-1 OVER THE NEXT CLOSEST BRAND Source 2006 Golf Datatech Custom Fitting Survey

PING has conveniently located Performance Centres in Singapore to serve golfers’ equipment and fitting needs.

SPECIAL FEATURE Country Report â&#x20AC;&#x201C; India

The last 20 years have been a boom time for Indian golf with the rise of a solid group of top international pros, ranging from the pioneering Jeev Milkha Singh to current star Anirban Lahiri. But what most of these star players have in common is that they are a product of either military or private courses. With just over 200 courses in the country, and more than half of them on land belonging to the army, navy or air force, public golf in India remains a work in progress.

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MARCH 2016

– A WORK IN PROGRESS

urrently there are only three public facilities around India – a country of 1.21 billion people – although many private clubs do offer public access on weekdays, space permitting. Rishi Narain, a former touring pro who now works as a golf consultant, estimates there are about 40 courses in the country built on tea and coffee plantations – most of them nine holes – as well as 50 full-size courses. Of those, 25 are championship courses with about six to eight being of international quality. “Golf hasn’t caught the fancy of government officials, they would rather build a park,” said Narain, a member of the team that won the gold medal for India at the 1982 Asian Games. “I think it is the pressure on land in the urban areas. There is such a land shortage and the city governments find it very difficult to justify putting out 100 acres to build a golf course for a wealthy elite class when hundreds of thousands of people need affordable housing.” Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design (PCD) has designed and redesigned courses all over India and throughout Asia. He believes that the country will have to take a far more “commercial approach” to creating golf venues than China or the Middle East due to land availability and cost. “Many of the new golf course projects are fitting into township developments of between 100 to 500 acres and are often either executive nine holes or par-three golf courses,” said the Australian whose current projects include a redesign of the Peacock Nine at Delhi Golf Club, among others.

The good news is that most of these courses welcome juniors, new golfers or visitors, so it is creating a new wave of people playing golf right across the country. There are at least 12 such projects happening across India, including our Blue Ridge Golf project, a nine-hole, par-three course in Pune with a golf academy and driving range surrounded by 24-storey apartments.” BLUE RIDGE GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Country Report – India

We need industry associations to push the agenda with the government,” said Narain. “The interest among young people is very high in India. There are fantastic junior golf programmes all over the country, lots of junior tournaments, and a lot of interest among parents for their kids to learn how to play golf. But there are just not enough places for them to go and play.” “The good news is that most of these courses welcome juniors, new golfers or visitors, so it is creating a new wave of people playing golf right across the country. There are at least 12 such projects happening across India, including our Blue Ridge Golf project, a nine-hole, par-three course in Pune with a golf academy and driving range surrounded by 24-storey apartments.” Despite having a land mass of nearly 3 million square kilometres, making it the eighth biggest country in the world, acquiring land is perhaps the biggest detriment to the growth of golf in India. 30

31 ASIAN GOLF

Landowners traditionally pass down their holdings through generations of families, and it is often divided into smaller parcels in the process. For an aspiring golf club owner looking to amass enough land, he may have to deal with hundreds of small landowners to realise his vision. Veteran designer Ronald Fream has been creating courses in India since the mid-1990s. He says the red tape to building a course in India can be a nightmare with unscrupulous real estate agents and landowners driving up the price, delays to get land titles and the bureaucracy, corrup-

tion and bribery involved. Water supply is another huge issue. Despite this, he remains big on the potential for Indian golf and suggests courses in the seaside state of Kerala, the tea gardens in Assam and Tamil Nadu and the foothills of the Himalayas, among others, be built to stimulate tourism growth. “If land can be secured in a suitable location, if government approvals can be obtained, clear titles, enough dependable water supply and adequate funding to cover construction, some form of golf might emerge to make the formula work,” said Fream, stressing that a multi-use approach to a property was essential. “Having a broad market product offering within a housing, shopping mall, hotel, business park complex could provide options for a private, semi-private, tourist, daily-fee club.” With about 15 courses – most of them nine holes – under construction around the country at present, Narain said there were many positives to take for the growth of the game in India. There is currently a land bill in parliament that if passed will hopefully make it easier for bigger parcels of land to be put together for sporting purposes. In addition, the Professional Golf Tour of India offers a circuit of about 20 tournaments annually, while the fledging India Golf Industry Association and the Indian Golf Union are working together as drivers for the growth of the game. “We need industry associations to push the agenda with the government,” said Narain. “The interest among young people is very high in India. There are fantastic junior golf programmes all over the country, lots of junior tournaments, and a lot of interest among parents for their kids to learn how to play golf. But there are just not enough places for them to go and play.” With PCD contracted to design an18hole layout at Dwarka, a new facility being planned by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the second public course in the capital after Qutab, Ryan said the interest was definitely there for accessible facilities. “PCD have also designed the new 18-hole public golf course in Navi Mumbai called Kharghar Valley Golf Course for the CIDCO Development Authority. Both CIDCO and DDA are government authorities so their support of public golf is excellent as they also see such golf projects as positive environmental initiatives.”

Titleist tleist BBalls alls 22016 016 POSEDOWN Tit

The annual golf merchandize circus has come and gone. Over 1000 exhibitors participated in this year’s massive show-and-tell extravaganza and as always, the big draw were the booths of the major manufacturers of golf clubs. Every organisation had something to show and shout about. Asian Golf would like to showcase all of the brands but space limitations restrict us to writing about those new products that we think will make a mark this year. We’ve decided to call our review the BIG EQUIPMENT POSEDOWN. In bodybuilding parlance, a posedown is a period during contests when contestants pose to demonstrate their physique and muscular development, often including all contestants on stage together attempting to outdo their fellow competitors. So, we thought we’ll bunch the big brands together for an editorial posedown. Enjoy!

63 6 3 A ASIAN SIA S AN G GOLF OLLF O OLF LF

2016 POSEDOWN Titleist Golf Balls

Titleist, the biggest name in golf balls has kicked VɈ ^P[O H WHJRHNL VM UL^ NVSM IHSSZ [OH[ ]PY[\HSS` JV]LYZ L]LY` WLYMVYTHUJL JH[LNVY` PU the golf ball business. In the February edition of (:0(5 .63- HSS VM [OL UL^ VɈLYPUNZ MYVT ;P[SLPZ[ ^LYL ZOV^JHZLK HUK P[ PUJS\KLK P[Z UL^ 5?; ;V\Y 5?; ;V\Y : =LSVJP[` HUK [OL +; ;Y\:VM[

33 ASIAN GOLF

ust to refresh your memory, it will be worth pointing out that every new Titleist golf ball is the end result of a rigorous R&D process rooted in golfer research and feedback, technological advancements, intellectual property leadership and comprehensive prototype testing and validation. The driving force behind Titleist’s goal is the company’s commitment to deliver the best performing product it possibly can. Nothing is left to chance – for the 2016 range of new golf balls, more than 34,000 golfers from around the world received

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prototype golf balls representing the NXT Tour, NXT Tour S and Velocity for on-course evaluation. From this exercise player feedback was then gathered and shared with the Titleist R&D team. This, according to Matt Hogge, who is the Director of Product Implementation at Titleist, is invaluable as it shows that while performance can be measured with robots and instruments, “ultimately we measure our performance by the feedback we receive from golfers”. In the interest of promoting a better understanding and awareness of the different golf balls introduced by Titleist, ASIAN GOLF is offering this special capsulized review of each of the model that comes complete with advice on the suitability of each ball type to a given player’s skill-set. The advice is provided by Tom Hutton, Titleist Golf Ball Product Manager.

FIRST ON DECK IS THE NEW NXT TOUR. The 2016 NXT Tour has a larger inner core, which produces greater distance on longer shots and it also has a softer feel. The outside of the ball is a Fusablend cover, formulated by Titleist to produce the best combination of feel and

distance and is said to provide golfers the best short game control outside of Pro V1. PLAYER SUITABILITY – “The NXT Tour is the perfect golf ball for golfers looking for a golf ball that delivers great short game control, and exceptional distance. Its lower spin with the longer shots, will help those golfers who generate too much spin, get more distance,” said Hutton.

NEXT IS THE NXT TOUR S – The 2016 NXT Tour S has been reformulated to include a softer cover and core, giving golfers great distance and soft feel. Again, the Fusablend cover ensures great short game performance. PLAYER SUITABILITY – According to Hutton, “A golfer, who is looking for a ball that will perform well around the greens, but who also wants something that offers a soft feel and great distance, would find this golf ball ideal for his game”.

THE TITLEIST VELOCITY. The 2016 Velocity is faster and longer than the previous model regardless of a player’s swing speed. It offers longer distance on all shots. A special characteristic is said to be

MARCH 2016

its high launch which results in a steeper angle of decent and great stopping ability on the green. PLAYER SUITABILITY - “The Velocity is great for golfers looking for exceptional distance across all shots,” explained Hutton.

FINALLY, THE DT TRUSOFT. The DT TruSoft is the softest golf ball Titleist has ever produced. The soft core leads to low spin with the longer shots, and thus provides excellent distance. PLAYER SUITABILITY – “If feel is the number one thing you look for in a golf ball, DT TruSoft is the one for you. Golfers looking for soft feel and great distance will benefit from using DT TruSoft”, Hutton pointed out. One thing is for sure with all the new Titleist golf balls – each new product has been engineered for consistent flight and feel on all shots. We suggest that you discover the right golf ball for your playing style by actually experiencing the difference a Titleist golf ball makes in your round.

If feel is the number one thing you look for in a golf ball, DT TruSoft is the one for you. Golfers looking for soft feel and great distance will benefit from using DT TruSoft.” – Tom Hutton

2016 POSEDOWN PING TR 1966 Anser

The Anser putter legacy is perhaps one of the most fascinating product stories in golf. The design for this trend-setting putter dates back to 1966 when the founder of PING, Karsten Solheim sketched it on a 78 r.p.m. vinyl record jacket. That is the canvas that Solheim, a Norwegian-born engineer who ^VYRLK VU QL[ Ă&#x201E;NO[LYZ HUK TPZZPSL N\PKHUJL Z`Z[LTZ HM[LY World War II, used to sketch the Ping Anser putter.

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few weeks later, Solheim brought the club to the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open and piqued the interest of players such as George Archer, Kermit Zarley and Gene Littler – all who soon put it in play. In March of the following year, Solheim would receive a patent for what would come to be perhaps the most iconic putter model the game has ever known. Fifty years later, that original design continues to be a hit with tour players and amateur club players. It is perhaps the most copied putter design in the world today. To mark the 50th anniversary PING has unveiled two new Anser putters that advance the legendary Anser design handcrafted decades earlier by founder Karsten Solheim. The new TR 1966 Anser and Anser 2 arrive as PING celebrates the iconic Anser model’s 50th birthday. PING Chairman & CEO John Solheim, who helped his father build the original Anser model in the family’s Scottsdale, Arizona garage as a teenager, said the goal was to strike a balance between advancing the game’s best putter technology and giving golfers a sense of the Anser’s history. “Karsten’s groundbreaking Anser design was genius because of how well it performed and how different it was. Golfers had never seen anything like it. He hand-shaped every detail of it until it was perfect in his mind. The Anser changed putter design forever, and it still influences putter manufacturers worldwide 50 years later because of its unparalleled success and popularity.”

MARCH 2016

Karsten’s groundbreaking Anser design was genius because of how well it performed and how different it was. Golfers had never seen anything like it. He hand-shaped every detail of it until it was perfect in his mind. The Anser changed putter design forever, and it still influences putter manufacturers worldwide 50 years later because of its unparalleled success and popularity.” In developing the new putters, PING engineers relied on 3D scans of the original Anser and Anser 2 to analyze the subtle contours and radius details that Karsten personally shaped into the designs using his mill and hand files. Each of the new models is engineered with that same attention to detail and performance that has made the Anser the winningest model in golf history. The new putters get their name from PING’s True-Roll (TR) face technology. The precision-milled face design provides unmatched ball-speed consistency, the key to holing more putts and reducing 3-putts. Like the original, the new Anser model includes a sound slot in the sole and appeals to golfers who prefer no alignment line, more rounded heel and toe contours, and a slightly thicker top line. It offers a manganese bronze PVD finish. The Anser 2, distinguished by a stainless steel blast finish, has a single white alignment line on the flange that simplifies aiming. Its heel and toe contours are less rounded than those of the Anser and its top rail is narrower.

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2016 POSEDOWN Vokey Wedges

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Every new set of golf clubs normally come with at least two wedges – one for pitching and the other to get out of sand bunkers. Sometimes, you’ll discover a third wedge which is marked with the alphabet “A” – an approach wedge designed to help you lob your ball onto the green from the surrounding apron. Today, better golfers and touring professionals carry up to four wedges in their bag which gives you an idea as to the importance of these clubs which play a major role at the money-end of the game.

ne name that stands out as a giant amongst wedge makers is Vokey and its designer is Bob Vokey who is a legend in his time. Working under the Titliest banner, Vokey is very passionate about these clubs that bear his name because as he sees it wedges are required to hit so many

different shots - bunker shots, fairway shots, lob shots and little pitches. Hence, he feels that wedges need to be versatile to address the needs of every player pointing out that it’s never a matter of one size fits all which explains why Vokey offers a big number of options when it comes to wedges. The legendary designer has kicked-off 2016 with a whole new family of wedges

– the new SM6 which according to him provides precise distance control, enhanced shot versatility, maximum spin and superior feel. What more can a player ask from his wedges when there is so much versatility available from the SM6. Commenting on the new wedges, Vokey said, “These are the best wedges we’ve ever made - our engineers have

2016 POSEDOWN Vokey Wedges These are the best wedges we’ve ever made - our engineers have taken everything I’ve learned working with tour players, PGA pros and amateurs over the last 20-plus years, everything (Vokey Tour Rep) Aaron Dill has learned from being on tour week in and week out, and brought it to life with technology that will help golfers at every level of the game. SM6 really is the total package.” – Bob Vokey taken everything I’ve learned working with tour players, PGA pros and amateurs over the last 20-plus years, everything (Vokey Tour Rep) Aaron Dill has learned from being on tour week in and week out, and brought it to life with technology that will help golfers at every level of the game. SM6 really is the total package.” “The detail and precision that’s gone into SM6 is off the charts,” Aaron Dill said. “We’ve taken everything into consideration while really focusing in on the centre of gravity (CG). This is technology that you can actually see on the wedge – technology that tour players are raving about because it is helping them control their trajectory, hit their number more consistently and ultimately score better.” The models available include the following specifications: Q Low Loft (46º-52º) Q Mid lofts (54º & 56º) Q High lofts (58º-62º) The other special feature of SM6 are the sole grinds which have been tuned through Vokey’s work with the world’s best shot makers, providing golfers of all skill levels with improved shot versatility for their swing type, shot making style and course conditions. (For a sense of the five grinds available, visit http://www.titleist.com.sg/ golf-clubs/wedges/sm6#specs ) The SM6 received instant validation

from tour players and amongst the first to react was current world number one Jordan Spieth who said, “With the higher CG on my 60 degree SM6, I can miss a shot out of the rough and it’s still going to go around the same distance. That’s important, because with certain lies it’s tough to know what the ball’s going to do. You’re just not always going to hit it on the centre of the face. To be able to have that inconsistency on your first strike but still see the consistency in the ball control, that’s something that’s going to be an advantage over anybody else we’re playing against.” His sentiments were echoed by top PGA Tour professional Jimmy Walker who said, “With the new SM6 wedges I’m able to be more precise. I’ve got a lot better distance control into the green. Being able to hit your number consistently and having the reliability in your wedge is big. Distance control is everything the closer you get.” He went on to add, “I’m always excited to get anything new from Bob, because I enjoy the fact that Bob gets out and talks to us on the golf course at tournaments. He comes out quite frequently and really likes to hear the feedback. And with his righthand man, Aaron Dill, who’s out here every week, they both are really in there, hands on, trying to put the best product in our hands that they can.”

With the higher CG on my 60 degree SM6, I can miss a shot out of the rough and it’s still going to go around the same distance.” – Jordan Spieth 40

41 ASIAN GOLF

THIS IS FREESTYLE. UNLEASH YOUR POWER.

Introducing the FreeStyle golf shoe. It’s comfortable and cushiony. It bends, twists, and moves with your swing for a greater grip from heel to toe at all angles. Like a tree frog. But on the ground. So, no matter what kind of lie you have, FreeStyle is like a launch pad that can give you greater swing speed and extra yards. Unleash your power. www.footjoy.com.sg

FootJoy SEA

2016 POSEDOWN FootJoy Freestyle

HYPERFLEX TJOY FOO

43 ASIAN GOLF

Flashback circa 2014 – this was when we saw Hunter Mahan kitted with a pair of golf shoes that was so revolutionary that it sent out loud signals that the golf shoes industry was going to be turned on its head. Its design was dramatic. It had a sole that gave one the impression that it had enough grip to permit the wearer to dance on the ceiling. And unlike anything before it, the new shoe sported a brand’s logo boldly imprinted on its side. This was the world’s first look at the totally unconventional, break-through FJ HYPERFLEX! By early 2015, this game-changer was introduced to the world and it marked a conservative company’s bold entry into a new age – an age marked by change lead by exciting technological innovation.

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FootJoy the number one brand in golf shoes has launched its latest model – the FreeStyle, arguably FootJoy’s most imaginative and distinctive shoe ever. It draws its inspiration from the “red eye tree frog” and is said to help golfers ILULÄ[ MYVT PUJYLHZLK MYLLKVT VM TV]LTLU[ ^OLU Z^PUNPUN [OL NVSM JS\I

2016 POSEDOWN FootJoy Freestyle

YPERFLEX is now an established brand within the FJ family and just to jolt your memory, its design was inspired by a suspension cable bridge in Boston, Massachusetts - the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge. FJ’s R&D team, in studying the design of the bridge noticed that the cables formed a grid of tremendous strength and support, all while maintaining a sleek, lightweight and technical appearance. This led to the development of FlexGrid which consists of a tight-knit, lightweight, soft, flexible, waterproof mesh which allows for maximum comfort, breathability, flexibility and airflow. That layer is (literally) supported by the very noticeable FlexGrid exoskeleton “cage” which conforms to the foot and allows it to flex and expand but is also strong enough to keep the foot from rolling laterally during the golf swing. The end result is a very unique shoe that wraps your foot in the comfort you expect from an athletic shoe with the support of a highperformance golf shoe. About a year later, still bent on pushing the bar higher, FJ’s highly resourceful R&D engineers have been at it again. This time around, after marveling and drawing from a man-made engineering feat, the bright guys at FJ turned to Nature. And guess what? They drew inspiration from the “red-eye tree frog” which is said to generate incredible gripping power on any surface. Like the bridge earlier, Nature has helped foster the birth of F.R.O.G.S. – an innovative outsole technology, where traction elements increase ground contact points

45 ASIAN GOLF

FreeStyle is arguably FootJoy’s most imaginative and distinctive shoe ever and will particularly help golfers who would benefit from increased freedom of movement when swinging the golf club.” – Doug Robinson throughout the swing in all weather and underfoot conditions. And the new offering for 2016 from FJ is FreeStyle – a radical new category of golf shoes that is built on the F.R.O.G.S. technology which incorporates a super-flexible new SoftMaxTM translucent outsole that offers both a softer feel and extra grip, while a new FTFTM 3.0 midsole compound is the brand’s softest and most comfortable yet. The Softspikes Tour LockTM system and new translucent Pulsar cleats deliver exceptional low-profile grip with a dynamic, frog-like flex. At the launch, FJ’s regional brand manager Timothy Yoong said, “The new

FreeStyle is yet another masterpiece conceptualized by the FJ Shoe Product Team. It’s the ultimate combination of both form and function at its best. These shoes not only look strikingly good but also provide the usual renowned FJ superior in-shoe comfort; incredible flexibility and an outstanding grip performance that will allow the golfer to play to his best with complete confidence.” In an ASIAN GOLF test, it was discovered that the FreeStyle shoes do help generate maximum power by providing greater freedom of movement throughout the golf swing.

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“Through internal testing it has been determined that some players can benefit from structured, stable shoes (like ICON Black™ and DryJoys Tour™) to help quieten their lower half and maintain control while maximizing performance, yet this testing also found there are others who want to be able to roll uninhibited throughout their swing. Freedom of movement for these types of players equates to increased power and the construction of the

Freestyle shoes deliver the most mobile characteristics of any category in the FJ lineup,” Yoong explained. “FreeStyle is arguably FootJoy’s most imaginative and distinctive shoe ever and will particularly help golfers who would benefit from increased freedom of movement when swinging the golf club,” said Doug Robinson, FJ’s vice president of Design and Development Worldwide. “By drawing inspiration from a tree frog

MARCH 2016

and emulating their incredible grip and flexibility properties in the texture and functional elements of an outsole, our design and development team has created something truly unique in the golf shoe market.” FreeStyle is available in five colors including 3 BOA Lacing System: White/Grey/ Charcoal; Black/White/Grey; Navy/Orange/ Lime (BOA); Grey/Navy/Berry (BOA),; Black/ Lime/Grey (BOA).

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Experience technology that can help you shoot lower scores. NXT Tour has a new, larger center dual core designed to produce low spin and fast ball speed for even longer driver and iron distance. This new core technology combines with a soft Fusablend cover for excellent shot stopping control and soft feel. NXT Tour S has a new softer core and cover formulation producing its softest feel yet. Along with remarkably softer feel, NXT Tour S delivers outstanding distance in the long game and commanding scoring performance for precision in the shor t game. Your game matters and this is performance innovation that matters.

titleist.asia

2016 POSEDOWN Pinnacle Golf Balls

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Here’s a pop quiz to tease your brain. Can you name the second best-selling golf ball in the world? Are you stumped? Alright, rather than subject your brain to more pressure we’ll give you the answer. The world’s second best-selling golf ball is said to be a brand called Pinnacle. This company which has been around for more than 40 years is owned by Acushnet, the parent company of Titleist, renowned globally as the manufacturer of the highly successful Pro V and Pro V1 golf balls. Pinnacle is UV ZSV\JO PU [OH[ P[ VɈLYZ ]LY` H[[YHJ[P]L WYPJL WVPU[Z HUK JVU[PU\LZ [V RLLW P[Z WYPJLZ SV^LY [OHU JVTWL[P[VYZ [V JVU]PUJL WSH`LYZ [OH[ P[Z WYVK\J[Z Z[PSS VɈLY [OL ILZ[ IHYgain in both distance and feel. What began in the 1970s has thrust Pinnacle into golf’s forefront as the second-best selling ball behind only its “sibling” - Titleist.

innacle has fired up its drive into 2016 with two new offerings which it declares have been engineered with proprietary core technologies to deliver category-leading performance with extraordinary distance. The two new models have been introduced to

the market tagged as the new Pinnacle Rush and the incredibly soft feel Pinnacle Soft. “Pinnacle Rush is either longer, or longer and softer, than other top selling distance competitors. Pinnacle Soft is longer and softer than the leading competitive products positioned as extremely soft or low compression,” said Michael Mahoney,

2016 POSEDOWN Pinnacle Golf Balls

Pinnacle Rush is designed to max out a golfer’s distance potential. It’s a distance-focused construction with a low compression core and a firm cover. That combination gives you high initial velocity off the clubface with very low spin, which is the perfect recipe for hitting it long.”

51 ASIAN GOLF

Acushnet’s Director, Golf Ball Product Management. The New Pinnacle Rush is said to help golfers hit the ball farther with every club. It is designed with proprietary high-energy core technology that produces fast ball speed for extraordinary distance on all full swing shots. Rush utilizes an advanced icosahedral dimple design with 332 dimples to deliver a consistent, powerful ball flight, while its soft, durable ionomer cover provides great feel. “Pinnacle Rush is designed to max out a golfer’s distance potential. It’s a distance-focused construction with a low compression core and a firm cover. That combination gives you high initial velocity off the clubface with very low spin, which is the perfect recipe for hitting it

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Pinnacle Soft is designed for the golfer who wants soft feel on every single shot. It’s the softest core we’ve ever manufactured, combined with one of our softest cover blends. The ball just feels fantastic no matter which club is in your hands.” – Scott Cooper

long. And because Rush has a lower overall compression than most other distance balls, it provides a very playable feel,” said Scott Cooper, Titleist R&D’s Product Development Manager. “We design, engineer and manufacture every Pinnacle golf ball ourselves. That’s a huge advantage which allows us to deliver the distance and performance these golfers want along with exceptional consistency.” Pinnacle Rush is available in both White and Optic Yellow. On the other hand, the New Pinnacle Soft is engineered with a high-energy, extremely low compression core – Pinnacle’s lowest compression core ever – that delivers extremely soft feel along with low spin for long distance. The proprietary core formulation combines with an incredibly soft ionomer cover to produce the softestfeeling Pinnacle ever made. Soft’s advanced icosahedral dimple design with 332 dimples ensures an ideal, consistent flight. “Pinnacle Soft is designed for the golfer who wants soft feel on every single shot. It’s the softest core we’ve ever manufactured, combined with one of our softest cover blends. The ball just feels fantastic no matter which club is in your hands,” Cooper said. “Yet

this is still a Pinnacle golf ball, and when golfers tee up a Pinnacle they expect long distance. We’ve made sure that this new construction, from the core to the cover to the aerodynamics package, still delivers on that expectation.” Pinnacle Soft is available in White (with black play number). All Pinnacle golf balls are designed, tested and manufactured by Acushnet Company’s world-class R&D and Operations teams – representing more than 20,000 years of golf ball-making expertise – in the company’s own state-of-the-art research, testing and manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts. The result is best-in-class quality, consistency and performance, shot after shot and ball after ball. “Pinnacle has been a longstanding leader in its segment of the market. Given our extensive performance testing of these products, we expect that this lead is likely to grow,” concluded Mahoney.

2016 POSEDOWN Bridgestone

Before we do the drill down on Bridgestone Golf’s 2016 products, we feel that the JVTWHU` ULLKZ [V IL WYVÄSLK HUK IHJRNYV\UKLK WYVWLYS` ZV [OH[ YLHKLYZ \UKLYstand what this company stands for. It’s Japanese in origin and is part of the giant Bridgestone corporation - a US$32.5 billion organization and the #1 rubber manufacturer in the world. Bridgestone Golf was founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi HUK ÄYZ[ WYVK\JLK NVSM IHSSZ PU 0U P[ IYHUJOLK V\[ PU[V THU\MHJ[\YPUN NVSM clubs and a full range of golf equipment, utilizing both the Bridgestone and Precept IYHUK UHTLZ )YPKNLZ[VUL .VSM [VKH` PZ YLJVNUPaLK HZ [OL IHSS Ä[[LY PU NVSM

or years Bridgestone dominated the golf equipment market in Asia - Japan in particular - under the brand name Tour Stage. Japan is the second largest golf market in the world, and Tour Stage was, year in and year out, a top 2 or 3 brand in both golf balls and equipment. In 2014 the Tour Stage name went away as a result of a global branding exercise. The parent company killed off Tour Stage in order to unify its global golf business under a single brand name: Bridgestone Golf.

53 ASIAN GOLF

So, as you can see, Bridgestone is no Johnny come-lately to the golf industry. It has an impressive pedigree and its products are acknowledged to be amongst the best available anywhere today. ASIAN GOLF received some of the company’s new products which were marched out during the recently concluded PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. Bridgestone, as always, had a very large pavilion at the annual mecca of golf. The show-piece product was the new JGR driver that helped brand ambassador Brandt Snedeker secure a top three spot at

the 2016 Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Maui. “The Bridgestone JGR Driver is without question the longest and most accurate driver I’ve hit,” said Snedeker. “I’m excited about the added yardage and I now know that even my misses will still have a great shot of finding the fairway. I can’t wait to see what this driver can do for my game in 2016.” The new Bridgestone JGR driver is said to utilize revolutionary technologies to deliver longer distance and more forgiveness. In a test drive, the JGR proved to be extremely fast and very forgiving. It’s

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2016 POSEDOWN Bridgestone The Bridgestone JGR Driver is without question the longest and most accurate driver I’ve hit,” said Snedeker. “I’m excited about the added yardage and I now know that even my misses will still have a great shot of finding the fairway. I can’t wait to see what this driver can do for my game in 2016.” apparent that Bridgestone engineers really outdid themselves, as the JGR is not only incredibly forgiving, but also extremely fast and high launching. Combine that with the ability to optimize spin for players of all skill levels, expect this driver to find its way into many golf bags. That’s how good this JGR driver is! The increased distance and forgiveness that the JGR Driver provides is achieved through three proprietary technologies which are:

1 F.A.S.T Crown

The Flex Action Speed Technology (F.A.S.T.) crown is extremely thin near the clubface and progressively thickens towards the club head rear to enable the crown to slightly flex at impact creating higher launch and increased repulsion where players impact the face of the club most often, above center.

2 speeDARC

A pair of internal arc-shaped ridges provides increased sole rigidity and better stability for the F.A.S.T. Crown to flex against,

55 ASIAN GOLF

leading to higher launches and extreme ball velocities.

3 Power Milled Face Bridgestone’s patented face milling pattern works to reduce the golf ball slippage and increased spin problem that all competitor drivers today face. The newly improved design has been enhanced for the JGR Driver. Milling is spaced further apart at the top of the driver face to maintain spin, while the milling is tighter and rougher at the bottom of the driver face to decrease spin on mishits. In addition, a new vertical milling pattern is utilized on the heel and toe of the face to further stabilize the ball on mishits. The milling combines to reduce spin for straighter and longer drives. Complementing the JGR driver are the new JGR fairway woods and hybrids. Like the driver, the new Bridgestone JGR Fairways and Hybrids rely on revolutionary technologies to deliver faster ball speeds, higher launch angles and more overall distance than ever before. Both the woods and hybrids offer players an unbelievable amount

of forgiveness on mishits and impressive distance off the tee or the turf. The JGR hybrids rely on F.A.S.T. Crown and speeDARC technologies to produce faster ball speeds and higher launch for more distance from a variety of lies, but do not include the Power Milled face in order to increase spin for these green attacking clubs. Completing the package are the new Bridgestone JGR Hybrid Forged Irons which again use innovative technologies and materials to deliver longer distance and more forgiveness, while maintaining the buttery feel golfers have come to expect from forged irons. The irons have been developed for players who want the feel of a forged iron, but need more forgiveness and the JGR irons deliver unmatched forgiveness, launch and distance due to their incredibly low and deep centre-of-gravity and face design. All the JGR clubs are now available in the market.

FIRST CLASS TRADITION

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 KVÛ[VÛ HUK PZ YLUVÛLK MVY OH]PUN [OL MYPLUKSPLZ[ Z[HɈ VM WYVMLZZPVUHSZ PU [OL 2PUNKVT JVTTP[[LK [V WYV]PKPUN [OL <S[PTH[L .VSÄUN ,_WLYPLUJL For registered guests of The Peninsula Bangkok, >L HYL OHWW` [V HYYHUNL H [LL [PTL H[ H Z\IZ[HU[PHS YLK\J[PVU MYVT V\Y UVYTHS ]PZP[VY»Z YH[L ,_[LUK `V\Y I\ZPULZZ [YPW PU )HUNRVR VY IVVR H NL[ H^H` NVSÄUN WHJRHNL >OLU P[ JVTLZ [V L_JS\ZP]L NVSÄUN ^P[O PTWLJJHISL OVZWP[HSP[` ¶ ^L WSH` VɈ ZJYH[JO

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

2016 POSEDOWN OnCore

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owever, two spunky guys, with the testicular fortitude to match that of Hercules, the son of Zeus, decided to take on the giants of the golf ball industry and give them a run for their money. The two guys are Bret Blakely and Steve Coulton – who thought that making the game of golf more enjoyable through innovative products like a hollow metal core golf ball was a great idea! The company they established was OnCore and the product was the revolutionary MA-1.0 golf ball, a product of years of R&D work covered by three issued patents and a lot of trade secret know-how, with millions of investment dollars behind the technology. It is the only ball employing a hollow metal core. There is no other ball in the world that can offer the same performance benefits to golfers of all skill levels, and despite numerous challenges and objections, the ball was deemed “conforming” by the USGA. Being declared conforming by the USGA gave the world’s first hollow metal core golf ball validation and the license to fight for its own space in the golf ball industry. Asian Golf was one of the first golf publications to write about the company and to review its product back in October 2013. It has not been an easy ride for OnCore and one writer observed that what Blakely and Coulton endured over the years is reminiscent of what it is like trying to play golf professionally and actually “make it” on a professional tour. Asian Golf felt that since we first broke the OnCore story, the time was right for a follow-up and we caught up with Blakely who is an avid fan of the business book, “Blue Ocean Strategy” where the message is don’t swim in the red sea of competition but rather make them irrelevant by creating your own Blue Ocean strategy. The following are excerpts from the interview:

2016 POSEDOWN OnCore ASIAN GOLF: Give us a quick re-cap on what’s been happening at OnGolf since you rolled out the hollow core golf ball. What has market acceptance been like and the fact that you have continued in the business since your launch says something about the product. You are obviously doing somethings right? BRETT BLAKELY: Ground-breaking innovation is what the hollow metal core is and it has been accepted incredibly well. The interest and curiosity the product provides has helped us gain some significant traction and visibility. It has also collected quite a few accolades including top three finalists for the ING Media Awards for product ingenuity award last year amongst other major recognitions. The interest from both the industry and consumers alike has provided the foundation we needed to continue doing what we do best….being one of the most innovative, fresh thinking and millennial focused brands in golf. The great thing about OnCore is that the people behind it are as much of a story as the technology it’s bringing forth as well. We feel that we are truly creating a cult following within the sport.

AG: You have just unveiled the new Avant golf ball – what’s the USP behind this new product? BLAKELY: The USP in our eyes is that we have created a low compression distance ball at a low price point that performs like a premium ball. Although the price point and two-piece construction suggest it is a lower tier ball, our testing thus far has shown otherwise. The simulator companies at the 2017 PGA show were all given the new ball to hit and let guests of the show hit and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Several of the pros came by the booth to tell us

59 ASIAN GOLF

how it was outperforming all the other low compression balls.

AG: >P[O (]HU[ `V\ OH]L LɈLJ[P]LS` entered into an area of the ball business that is highly niche and competitive – the low compression ball. Give us a sense of how you think Avant will stack up against the more established big name brands in this sector of the business? BLAKELY: So far our testing has shown that it not only stacks up, but is outperforming its low compression competitors. We believe this is because of our unique softcell technology. It is important to remember that as of last year we brought on two of the industry’s best golf ball designers. One in the core development space and the other holds the most dimple pattern patents in the industry. These guys helped create the best balls ever made including the Pro-V1 and now they have been developing ours. The Avant is the creation of some brilliant minds and their reputation speaks for itself.

AG: Can you speak to the unique “soft cell” technology that seems central to your Avant golf ball? BLAKELY: Our soft cell technology is a proprietary chemistry in the core composition that provides the combination of softness and high coefficient of restitution. It is showing incredible distance and desirable spin.

AG: With the arrival of Avant, does this mean that your unique “hollow metal core” technology will take a back seat to low compression balls? If not, what more can we expect from the exciting “hollow metal core” technology?

BLAKELY: Not at all. We are already in the process of developing our tour ball that will be launched in 2017. This will be the first Tour ball ever created using hollow metal core technology. The core will be about half the size and provide and entirely different set of performance benefits. This will be the ball that OnCore has been working for years to develop! With the launch of that expected at the 2017 PGA Show we will be coming with something special and it will show just how much you can do with our hollow core technology.

AG: Give us an assessment of the golf IHSS I\ZPULZZ ¶ [OL ÄLSK ZLLTZ [V ILcoming over-crowded. In this context, ^OH[»Z NVPUN [V THRL [OL KPɈLYLUJL for success? Are consumers looking for technology, performance or price points? BLAKELY: Performance is needed and price point is sought after. I believe this is where we really intend to stand out with our three golf balls. Each has been and is being developed to be the best in breed while being offered at price points that are lower than the best competitors in that ball category. Under promise and over deliver is what we are all about. We want the trial of golfers and we know the price points make it accessible and the performance makes it desired.

AG: Does OnCore plan to remain a ball company or are there plans to diversify and enter into other areas of the golf business? BLAKELY: OnCore has no plans in getting into clubs and other equipment. It will always have a focus in developing the highest performance and most innovative golf balls. Where our brand goes beyond golf balls is in the lifestyle component of it. We really are developing a cult following by being a brand that represents BEING MORE and doing MORE than the other companies. We

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We really are developing a cult following by being a brand that represents BEING MORE and doing MORE than the other companies. We don’t look at differences in people, products or society as a negative but rather it is what makes life beautiful and interesting.” don’t look at differences in people, products or society as a negative but rather it is what makes life beautiful and interesting. We are the epitome of an underdog story and we feel we represent a lot of what resonates with people - perseverance, determination and yeah … a little swagger!

AG: OnCore has more or less paid its dues and is generally considered part of the golf ball eco-system. That said, share some of your thoughts on compelling reasons why the uninitiated amongst golfers should try out your products? BLAKELY: We hope that they will try our

products NOT because we are amongst an endless list of companies that tell you what you want to hear, but because we are a company that gives you what you actually want! Claiming innovation and performance with no real substance behind those claims would be a sure path to failure. We have risked everything to try and make a name in one of the most competitive industries in the world and our only chance of success relies on delivering something unique, something better, something MORE than every other ball company. We are now a part of the golf ball eco-system because we don’t market to golfers…we just tell them the truth. Our commitment to bringing forth the best and

most innovative balls is paired with our commitment to be different and to stand for something real. We want our customers to be partners in our success – getting more from OnCore than just golf balls. Extraordinary customer service, loyalty programmes with real rewards, an open channel of communications to the company’s founders if they want to compliment or complain! Our commitment is to the growth of the game, to giving back to our community and others any way we can and finally to using our platform to create the brand that we have envisioned since Steve and I first conceived of OnCore in a 3rd floor walk-up apartment on Broome Street in NYC!

What OnCore has done is introduce an entirely new set of options in designing a ball by incorporating proprietary metal alloys with ultra-high performance polymer blends that shift the weight of the ball towards the perimeter, increasing the inertia and reducing the amount of side-spin. A reduction in side-spin leads to straighter shots and lower scores.

GAME IMPROVEMENT

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As you are already aware, my focus this year is to try and make all of you understand the principles and techniques involved in playing golf and playing the game well. I must say that what I have shared with you so far has been received very well and this is indeed encouraging. For this month, I am going to focus on how you can go about getting a good balance which is vitally important in golf. BALANCE - It is very common for players to tell us that they would like their ball flight to be more consistent. To do this the club must be consistent in the way it makes contact with the ball. When we swing, the club is square to the target line when it arrives at our centre-line. If we shift our weight to our back foot, our centreline moves to our left. Now, when the club arrives at the ball the club is facing left. This requires us to re-shift our weight forward. If that shift is too late the ball goes left. If it is too early, the ball goes right. The timing of the shift is a key factor in ensuring that we remain consistent. To gain consistency, I would like to suggest that you try this. At address, set-up with your weight balanced between your right and left foot. When you arrive at the end of your backswing, you should still be balanced. You will stay balanced until the club passes your centre-line and the club’s momentum pulls you forward onto your front foot. Some players are told that shifting their weight is a way to add power to their shots. From my experience, that’s not the case. To prove this to yourself, stand in a doorway with the wall in your centre. Now repeatedly smack the wall with increasing force. What you will find is that you do not shift your weight at all. The increased force comes from rotation not from shifting. Everything else is natural. So, to make sure you make an effortless and simple golf swing, keep your balance and reduce your inconsistency.

Some players are told that shifting their weight is a way to add power to their shots. From my experience, that’s not the case.”

ABOUT TONY MEECHAI Born and brought up in the United States, Tony Meechai won his first golf tournament at the age of nine. He began working in the golf industry when aged 15 and competed in various Mini-Tour and PGA Tour qualifiers after turning professional in 1994. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University and a degree in Marketing and Professional Golf Management, he has made a name for himself in Asia over the past decade, during which time he has served as Director of Instruction at Thailand’s Heartland Golf Schools and Springfield Royal Country Club as well as presenting tips on numerous region-wide golf television shows. His signature Black Hat Golf Camps and Schools offered at various clubs in Thailand, including Lotus Valley Golf Resort, portrays the unique curriculum and teaching philosophy. Recently, he co-founded the International Preparatory Golf Academy at The American School of Bangkok, which combines an academic and golf education program for junior golfers. Voted 2015 Top 3 Best Professional Golf Coach in Asia Pacific, he continues to strive to grow the game of golf in Asia. For further information, please visit www.tmggroupasia.com or email to tony@tmggroupasia.com.

www.tmggroupasia.com

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College

The question we get asked most frequently is “how can I improve my practice skills so I can improve my scoring when I play on course?” David Milne (left) and Lawrie Montague (right).

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t Pro Tour Golf College, we use a unique golf training system http://www.protourgolfcollege.com/elite-golferimprovement-system.html that we developed which comprehensively assesses a golfer’s skills in 6 major categories, and 18 sub categories, from short put-

PUTTING SKILLS Short Putts

1 64

65 ASIAN GOLF

ting to driving from the tee through to golf course management. We do this to determine a golfer’s skill baseline in each category.

Practice on the Edge of Your Capability Once we know what their baseline is for each skill category we design their training

GREENSIDE SKILLS

sessions with the explicit intention of helping them to practice right on the edge of their capability. Why is this important? Well, in our experience most golfers we observe daily really don’t know how to practice to improve the way they play on the golf course.

GREENSIDE TROUBLE SKILLS

APPROACH WEDGE SKILLS

Long Putts

Extra Long Putts

Chip Shots

Pitch Shots

Bunker Shots

Lob Shots

Rough Shots

Buried Bunker Shots

Short Wedge

Mid Wedeg

Long Wedge

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www.ProTourGolfCollege.com You see, in order to improve your golf score, you need to be able to effectively transfer your skills into course play, and to do this you need to put your skills under an increasing amount of pressure when you practice. The big idea here is to practice in such a way that your nervous system is continually having to adapt to increased practice pressure so that when you have to hit a shot that matters on the golf course, you have more chance of pulling it off. Unfortunately, most golfers (even elite amateurs and pro’s) display a tendency to hit golf shots on the range to easy targets with clubs they have more confidence using whilst avoiding using clubs they have less confidence in. I’m sure you can see the problem in this approach? Have you developed the habit of going to your local practice range and when you arrive you expect to practice from the same mat or position on the driving range almost every time? Also when you practice do you tend to hit your shots to the same targets—using the same clubs, most of the time? Well if your answer is yes to these questions, then you are in desperate need of changing that habit if you are serious about improving your on course scoring ability.

How to Practice Under Pressure There’s only one really effective way that we have discovered to simulate increased

LONG GAME SKILLS

Pressure Putting – Gate Drill

pressure or practice intensity that will benefit your play on the golf course and that is to shrink the size of your practice targets. In our golf training system - The Elite Golfer Improvement System (E.G.I.S) http:// www.protourgolfcollege.com/elite-golferimprovement-system.html we use a simple colour coded system of Yellow, Green, Orange and Red that describes 4 different target sizes that go from larger diameter Yellow target to the smallest diameter Red target to keep our students practicing right on the edge of their current ability. Here’s a couple of our practice pressure drills that you can use to increase practice

GOLF COURSE SKILLS

Short /Mid Iron

Long Iron/ Hybrid

FW Wood/ Driver

Golf Course Mapping

Golf Course Strategy

Golf Course Attitude

pressure which will enable you to play better on the golf course.

Putting Pressure Gate Drill: When you practice short putts of 1 metre to 3 metres, you can make entry into the hole more challenging by placing 4 tee’s equal distance from one another around the edge of the hole just like the 4 points of a compass. The idea here is to build a gate that forces you to putt correct line and speed into the hole, and each time you hit a tee you must start again. Your goal is to successfully hit one set of 10 putts into the hole without hitting a tee.

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College Pressure Putting Success Zone – Half Circle

1 Metre

Pressure Putting Success Zone – Full Circle

1 Metre

Tee-Shot Pressure Practice: As you know from personal experience most golfers want to hit their irons and woods further. However, the reality is that accuracy off the tee combined with accurate shots into the green is the basic requirement if you want to lower your golf score. So for tee-shot practice pick targets on the practice range that are a similar width to the fairways at the golf course where you play. For example, the practice net support posts at the back of a lot of practice ranges in South East Asia make ideal target zones for hitting tee-shots. Look for target posts that are no wider than 15 to 20 metres and when you practice hitting your driver see if you can hit 7 out of 10 tee-shots into the zone. The higher the percentage of shots that land within your target zone the more likely you are of transferring this ability to the golf course. In next month’s article we will expand on How to Pressure Proof Your Golf Practice with part 2 and show a lot more ways to practice under pressure which we know you will find extremely helpful in lowering your golf scores on the golf course. So until then, good golfing.

David Milne and Lawrie Montague – Pro Tour Golf College

Pressure Putting Success Zone – Half Circle On long putts from 5 to 10 metres from the hole create a half circle success zone behind the front of the hole with a radius of 1 metre from the back edge of the hole to 5 tees set up in a half or semi-circle, and set your goal of getting at-least 70 percent of your putts into this defined success zone.

Pressure Putting Success Zone – Full Circle On extra-long putts of 10 to 20 metres from the hole create a full circle success zone surrounding the hole with a radius of 1 metre from the edge of the hole to 8 tees set up in a full circle surrounding the hole and set your goal of getting at-least 70 percent of your putts into this defined success zone. The objective with the long putting drills is to stroke a high percentage of your putts from various locations around the green into the success zone as consistently as you can. 66

67 ASIAN GOLF

OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE PENINSULA HOTELS

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

ASIAN GOLF ISSUE 187 GGPQ – The World’s First! golf development is a topic that is frequently in Junior discussion all over the golf world, but when someone steps up to the plate and hits it right out of the park, you’ve got to sit up and take notice. Thailand has launched an initiative that is going to involve millions of dollars to develop junior golfers. The American School of Bangkok in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Golf Group and the International Preparatory Golf Academy have launched the Global Golf Prodigy Quest which will be staged in Thailand this October. It’s a special tournament open to juniors aged between 8 to 11 years and the top eight finishers will receive fully paid scholarships to take them through high school and university. Fully supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, this is perhaps one of the most innovative initiatives for junior golf development anywhere in the world.

2016 ASIA PACIFIC GOLF SUMMIT

– In Celebration Of “Golf And More” 2016 edition of the Asia Pacific Golf Summit will be Thestaged in Hua Hin, the oldest and most traditional Thai

holiday resort which is also often referred to as Thailand’s “Royal City”. Internationally renowned for its great 5 mile long beach, Hua Hin has the highest density of world class golf courses anywhere in Thailand. It is a perfect choice for APGS 2016 and everything points to another knowledge-filled golf business conference that is totally focused on golf in Asia. Ken Chu, chairman of the Dr.Mission Hills Group in China – this is a young billionaire entrepreneur to whom the word ‘impossible’ is difficult to comprehend. Under his dynamic leadership, the Group has evolved from a golf conglomerate to an integrated cultural, leisure and sustainable tourism destination expanding into urban leisure and commercial developments encompassing shopping, dining, entertainment, health, wellness, meeting, business and residential offerings. Dr. Chu has created a template that is set to grow the game of golf exponentially in China and he has done all of this in record time. ASIAN GOLF traces how he has transformed his dreams into spectacular finished projects.

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