AG189 June2016 by Asia Pacific Golf Group

ISSUE

189

JUNE 2016

Madame Nguyen Thi Nga is small in physical stature but everything else about her is larger than life. When she walks into a room, her presence, enthusiasm and fiery passion announces to the world that she is an extraordinary lady who not only dares to dream big but matches her dreams with action. Given the BRG Group’s current investment in golf development and its projected development plans, two things are for certain – golf is on an upward trend in Vietnam and the BRG Group is going to be at the forefront of the projected growth of the game.

SPECIAL FEATURE 20 The Boys And Girls Get It On! Back in April, Asian Golf turned the spotlight onto a fascinating scheme jointly hatched by the all-powerful PGA Tour and the LPGA women’s tour. Our report highlighted the fact that the two tours wanted to promote back to back tournaments. And guess where the first joint, back to back event will be staged? You guessed right! It is going to be staged in Asia and the host country will be Malaysia.

24 Asia - A Global Golf Powerhouse! The LPGA Tour, the leading professional tour for women is now in a new era. An era that many in the know are calling the “Asian Era”. Never before have Asian women been so dominant on the LPGA. I the past 12 months alone, 22 LPGA tournaments have been won by Asian professional women golfers. This trend has not gone by unnoticed by one of the game’s legends, Annika Sorenstam. She met up with Asian Golf recently in China and to discuss the growth of the game in China and in Asia.

30 From A Princess To A Queen Southeast Asia finally has its own global golf champion. While we have had world beaters like Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand, it was not until Ariya Jutanugarn brought glory to the region in the women’s game. The young professional claimed her first LPGA title when she won the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on Mother’s Day.

34 Asia's Power Hitters Asia Pacific Golf Group (parent company of Asian Golf) is proud to unveil its list of

6 Asian Golf Editorial Team

8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher

64 Next Issue

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

EQUIPMENT FOCUS 50 Here’s Your Chance To Putt Like Day It was not too long ago when the reigning world number one bolted off with a sensational win at the 2016 The Players Championship. Jason Day made absolutely sure that there was no doubt in anybody’s mind as to who is the best golfer around and part of his winning kit was a putter that stood out as a star in its own right. That putter is the all new Spider Limited and Spider Limited Red putters from TaylorMade.

the “Most Powerful People In Golf” for 2016. It is a list that is both representative and reflective of the men and women who are known to be making major contributions towards the development and growth of golf throughout Asia.

42 Golf’s Grand-Daddy Pulls Off Crowd-Sourcing Coup! “Driver versus Driver” is a new Golf Channel reality show sponsored by Wilson Golf and briefly, it is an open call “for golfers, inventors, engineers, or anyone who has an idea or concept they believe could be the next big driver concept.”

46 APGS 2016: The Parallel Worlds Of Golf Finally, APGS 2016 will look at what is perhaps the biggest challenge faced by clubs in Asia – attracting and keeping “Millennials” to golf clubs. As an industry, most everyone is at a loss as to how to rope in these youngsters to help grow dwindling membership registers. It’s a massive challenge – massive enough to recruit a “Millennial Master” to help make golf clubs appealing to younger demographics.

GAME-IMPROVEMENT 56 Black Hat Golf Tips: The Wish To Hit It Longer! Every golfer wants to hit the ball as far as he can because distance (especially if accurate) gives a golfer a better scoring chance at the short end of the game. It’s as simple as that!

60 ProTour Golf College: How to Pressure Proof Your Golf Practice (Part 3) In this month’s article, Lawrie Montague and David Milne of the Pro Tour Golf College want to take your golf practice one step further by introducing a simple goal setting process to help you develop your pathway to better and more consistent performances on the golf course.

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)

Correspondents Printer

ROBIN BARWICK (EUROPE), RISHI NARAIN (INDIA), ALAN CAMPBELL (MIDDLE EAST) UNUSUAL PRINT MEDIA PTE LTD

MEDIA PARTNER

[ 231 Bain Street, #02-83 Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231 ]

Address

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP (2014) PTE LTD

1 Yishun Industrial Street 1, #07-23 A’posh Bizhub, Singapore 768160 Tel: +65 6323 2800 | Fax: +65 6323 2838 Company Registration No: 201405689G

INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Contact: Mike Sebastian Email: mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com or Mobile No: +65 9152 8162

To Subscribe MVY WYPU[ VY KPNP[HS PZZ\LZ VM (ZPHU .VSM LTHPS HSPJL'HZPHWHJPÄJNVSMNYV\W JVT or register for a free preview at ^^^ HZPHWHJPÄJNVSMNYV\W JVT (33 90./;: 9,:,9=,+ 5V WHY[ VM (ZPHU .VSM TH` IL YLWYVK\JLK PU HU` V[OLY W\ISPJH[PVUZ WYPU[LK VY W\ISPZOLK ^P[OV\[ [OL ^YP[[LU WLYTPZZPVU VM [OL W\ISPZOLY 6WPUPVUZ PU (ZPHU .VSM HYL [OL ^YP[LYZ» HUK HYL UV[ ULJLZZHYPS` LUKVYZLK I` (ZPHU .VSM (ZPHU .VSM HJJLW[Z UV YLZWVUZPIPSP[` MVY \UZVSPJP[LK THU\ZJYPW[Z [YHUZWHYLUJPLZ VY V[OLY TH[LYPHSZ 4HU\ZJYPW[Z WOV[VNYHWOZ HUK HY[^VYR ^PSS UV[ IL YL[\YULK \USLZZ HJJVTWHUPLK I` HWWYVWYPH[L WVZ[HNL

THIS MAGAZINE HAS BEEN PRINTED ON PAPER WHICH IS DERIVED FROM 100 PER CENT SUSTAINABLE PLANTATION FIBRE AND MANUFACTURED IN A FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED TO ISO-14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STANDARDS.

SHARED THOUGHTS From The Publisher

Asian players have that one special quality that will help propel them to the summit – it is the X-Factor and that is their commitment to HARD WORK!”

or those of us who have been keen followers of the progress of Asian golfers on the professional tours, years of frustration is finally beginning to pay off handsomely. The first man from Asia to show that he had the right stuff to perform on the world stage was the pioneering South Korean, K.J. Choi. He has since gone on to win a total of eight victories on the PGA Tour and is regularly in contention on that tour. Then, came along another South Korean who took down the then invincible Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship to claim the historic title of the first Asian to win a Major. While Choi and Yang demonstrated that there was a pathway to break through to the hallowed fairways of the PGA Tour, more youngsters from South Korea fixed their focus on making the cut on the world stage. The nation’s women also began to stir as Pak Se-Ri became the pioneer who led the charge onto the LPGA Tour. She has since won two LPGA major titles and has been installed in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Pak opened the flood gates and since her 8

9 ASIAN GOLF

breakthrough, South Korean women have become the dominant force on the LPGA Tour. Since May last year, Asian women golfers have walked off with a total of 22 wins and this trend is expected to grow at an exponential rate. The thrust to carve out a place and space on the world’s leading professional tours has been led by the South Koreans, Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese and the Thais. Thailand has been a force with veteran Asian super-star Thongchai Jaidee leading the charge. He has won four times on the European Tour and made a total of 13 cuts in the majors. Following in his footsteps is the Thai youngster Kiradech Aphibarnrat who possesses the big game and competitive temperament to score huge wins going forward. The latest rights-to-brag has been delivered by a sweetheart of a player from Thailand. She is Ariya Jutanugarn who created history by recording her first LPGA win at the Yokohama Tire Classic in May 2016. Considering that she is only 20 years of age, expect more triumphs to come from her and from fellow players from Thailand. There is no denying that Asian professional players have broken through the

barrier. They have the skills, the stamina, the strength and most importantly, the mental endurance to win on the world stage. It must also be noted that unlike the pioneers from Asia, professional players who hail from Asia now have a network and support group to turn to and rely upon. The Koreans, both men and women now have a community of players on the professional tour to give support and strength. The same holds true for the Japanese, the Chinese and the Thais. No longer are these professionals out on their own and this does make a big difference especially from a pshycological perspective. It’s taken a while for Asians to make their presence felt on the world tours but it has been worth the wait. From now on, just watch as more Asians make the breakthrough to the ranks of the best professional golfers in the world. Aside from skills and the penchant to want to make the grade, Asian players have that one special quality that will help propel them to the summit – it is the X-Factor and that is their commitment to HARD WORK! Asians have arrived – more power to our stars!

ICON BLACK™

DRYJOYS TOUR™

D.N.A. DRYJOYS NEXT ADVANCEMENT®

HYPERFLEX™

FREESTYLE

DRYJOYS CASUAL™

#1 SHOE ON TOUR. #1 SHOE FOR YOU. FJ, the shoe brand worn by more Tour Players than all the other brands combined. Yes, combined. We engineer for golf, design for golf and live for golf to offer the most styles and the most sizes. Because while a shoe that fits your foot is essential, a shoe that also fits your swing is invaluable. FootJoy is the #1 shoe in golf and the #1 shoe for you. www.footjoy.com.sg

GY. O G L O N I DUC Y TECHN ragonfly, O R INT GONFL s of a d ost DRA by the wingated our mr ever.

cre rive er red Inspi n g i n e e r s s i s t e n t d he G driv e t on ad PING ng and c gy makes e clubhe s o vi fo r g i technol ing increa i s t a n c e . y d c a p Vorte ster, hel for more et fit tod a f .G s even ll speed ry golfer e a v and b a G for e . s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; There ping.com it or vis TM

nced ics. a v d A ynam y d g Aero â&#x201E;˘ technolo tors

. R E T S A F E . R G O M GIVIN R O F AR. F Y B

. ame d, G r u ar o Fit Y in Stand ht) or ble lig Availa (Straight F . c SF Te (Low Spin) c LS Te

es n sav w o r nc I to a-thi e the MO y. r t l U c . is rally ck and ra consisten u t a a d .N /b an ivingthe CG low rgiveness g r o F fo n More to positio for more ls ht weig new leve

c la Vorte wn turbu ics o r am and c e aerodyn d v ea impro er clubh h ig for h ll speeds. a b and

R GHE I H T ce CH I HER. istan N d U e r LA FART ivers mo ur bag. AND series del e top of yorway woodsre

fai mo ew G at th The n nsistency ng edge, G aunch and rnal sole l te o di and c lower lea for higher e tiered in d and . l h a l ee With er the ba hybrids, t d ball sp r ping.com o G de nd get u ontact. In ing for ad Specialist x c g solid es face fle ING Fittin t P activa e. Visit a c n dista

E . S S O CL R GAP U O Y

. sign e D ng ole ng S ace bendi i d a Casc es more f ds.

e uc Prod t ball spe s for fa

. logy and o n h nt ec tor T ve alignme a l u Turb impro lators e. Turbu confidenc e inspir

COVER STORY Business Trends

MADAME NGUYEN THI NGA

13 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

Against a gloomy global backdrop in the golf club industry, what is happening in Vietnam, bucks the trend and comes as a breath of uplifting fresh air. With Japan PU KLJSPUL :V\[O 2VYLH Z[HNUH[PUN HUK *OPUH PU H Z[H[L VM Å\_ NVSM OHZ ILLU PU need of a good pick-me-up adrenaline shot in the arm. And that much needed boost has come courtesy of a lady with great panache and vision. A lady whose calling card shouts out loud: “Golf Is My Life – I Love Golf!”

COVER STORY Business Trends

adame Nguyen Thi Nga is small in physical stature but everything else about her is larger than life. When she walks into a room, her presence, enthusiasm and fiery passion announces to the world that she is an extraordinary lady who not only dares to dream big but matches her dreams with action. It is quite unusual to run up against a lady entrepreneur in Vietnam, let alone a lady with the spunk and derring-do to have an active hands-on involvement with a multi-billion dollar business empire that straddles a spectrum of business interests ranging from banking, to real estate, infrastructure, hotels, auto industry, tourism and golf. She is the personification of energy and a bubbling cauldron of ideas and the two words that aptly captures her dynamism and best describes her drive and sharp business focus has got to be “Iron Lady”. She leads a sprawling corporate empire that employs more than 13,000 and it is said to be growing at a steady pace. A true indication of unprecedented growth and expansion!

While every business sector that Madame Nga is involved in is experiencing exponential growth, the one sector that is closest to her heart is golf. As of today, she ranks as the most powerful woman in golf in the Asia Pacific region if not the world. She is not a typical golf course owner. She is very involved and to her, ownership means the setting of very high standards – and her standards follow global benchmarks.

The launch of this new golf course is the realization of a vision to offer golfers a unique and world class facility and I am proud to declare that the original vision has been realized and in many ways, it has exceeded all of our expectations.” – Madame Nga

15 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

Her desire to be the best can be seen in her golf projects. She currently operates four golf courses located in Hanoi, Haiphong and Danang. The jewel in the line-up is the award-winning Kings’ Island Golf Resort – a 36-hole golf course built on an island. Last month, Madame Nga announced that she was adding a further 18-holes to transform Kings’ Island into Vietnam’s first 54-hole golf course. And that’s not all! She has engaged the Nicklaus Design Company owned by the world’s greatest golfer, Jack Nicklaus to design and build the new 18-hole course. The tie up with Nicklaus Design is both unique and significant. After two years of discussions, Madame Nga’s BRG Group has entered into an exclusive “strategic alliance” with Jack’s company to design and build golf courses throughout the country in the coming years. This is the first time that Nicklaus Design has entered into an “exclusive” business arrangement anywhere in the world. A well informed source, close to both the BRG Group and Nicklaus Design disclosed that “what you are now seeing is only the tip of the ice-berg”. If one is to speculate, this can only mean one thing – that the partnership is on the threshold of building numerous world class golf courses throughout Vietnam. “We are excited with this arrangement and we are looking forward to working very closely with Madame Nga to develop golf in Vietnam,” said Jack Nicklaus II, the eldest son of the golf legend. The collaboration with

JUNE 2016

COVER STORY Business Trends

Working with Nicklaus Design we will seek out suitable locations throughout Vietnam to develop into spectacular golf courses, hotels and resorts and golf academies to help develop and grow the game of golf in Vietnam.” – Madame Nga the Nicklaus Design Group started with a US$100 million dollar investment in the Legend Hill Golf Resort, located just 30 minutes away from the capital city of Hanoi. It is in its final stages of completion and is being built on a historic site known as Soc Son District made famous throughout Vietnam by Saint Giong, renown as one of the “four Vietnamese religious immortals”. At the official launch ceremony last year, Madame Nga said, “The launch of this new golf course is the realization of a vision to offer golfers a unique and world class facility and I am proud to declare that the original vision has been realized and in many ways, it has exceeded all of our expectations.” The Legend Hills Golf Resort will go down the annals of golf history as Asia’s first “twin-green” golf course that offers golfers an opportunity to play 36-holes on an 18-hole configuration The “strategic alliance” between the BRG Group and Nicklaus Design goes beyond the development of golf courses. It will see the development

17 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

of business initiatives that will cover a wide range of other golf-related business opportunities that will be focused on developing Vietnam into a truly worldclass venue for quality golf and to also help develop the country into a major force in international golf. “Working with Nicklaus Design we will seek out suitable locations throughout Vietnam to develop into spectacular golf courses, hotels and resorts and golf academies to help develop and grow the game of golf in Vietnam,” revealed Madame Nga. One of the key focus areas of this strategic partnership will be the development of junior golfers. The ambitious programme is called the BRG VietGolf U16. Commenting on VietGolf U16, Mark Reeves, director of golf development and property business said, “BRG plans to take Vietnamese children aged 8-15 (U16) from all walks of life and introduce them to golf – this programme is a bottom up, top down undertaking open to all in the region”. The BRG VietGolf U16 programme has three major goals which are: To produce a Vietnam amateur champion by 2018; To produce Vietnamese children good enough to represent Vietnam in the 19th Asian Games; and To produce a Vietnamese player good enough to compete on a major tour (Asian, European, US) by 2025.

JUNE 2016

“We want to attract young people in Vietnam to the game of golf, especially those who would not normally have a chance of playing the game and by so doing, it is our hope that we will be able to discover and develop exciting young talent under the VietGolf U16 programme,” explained Madame Nga. Considering that Vietnam is a sprawling nation with a large population, BRG VietGolf U16 is not daunted by the task at hand. According to Reeves, “We will start with ‘into school’ visits and ‘schools to golf course’ visits from September 2015 with support from local authorities and gradually grow the programme through free weekend morning on-range tuition which will lead to proficiency and course testing.” “Eventually children will be able to play free of green fees at BRG’s Doson Seaside Ruby Tree Club at off peak times and on school holidays and it is hoped that as BRG acquires more golf courses in different regions of Vietnam, we will extend the programme,” he added. Central to the BRG VietGolf U16 programme is the BRG Golf Centre which is branded under the Nicklaus Academy of Golf and the first such facility is now operational at the Victory Hotel on the bank of Westlake

JACK NICKLAUS II

COVER STORY Business Trends

We want to attract young people in Vietnam to the game of golf, especially those who would not normally have a chance of playing the game and by so doing, it is our hope that we will be able to discover and develop exciting young talent under the VietGolf U16 programme.” which is located in the heart of Hanoi city. The centre has 36 luxury bays (including 6 unique bunker bays); a Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf; a well-stocked BRG Golf Warehouse retail area; a state of the art climate controlled golf simulator, a realistic putting green and tasty food and beverage at the Vi roof bar. This world class BRG Golf Centre is set on a 3-hectare water range site, and according to Reeves, “This centre, with its unique setting, ultra-modern design, latest technology, branded Nicklaus coaching programmes and attention to detail, we are confident that it will go a long way to promoting the growth of golf in Vietnam.” Nothing is spared to make this facility a truly world class training centre as Reeves observed, “All BRG golf facilities are developed, prepared and managed by a team of top industry expatriate professionals with strong backgrounds and successful performance records and all of our training programmes will be administered by certified PGA professionals”. Looking ahead, Madame Nga has plans for more BRG Golf Centres

19 ASIAN GOLF

to be opened because she feels strongly about the integral role that a golf academy plays to help grow the game. “We will have another three centres strategically located around Vietnam and we also propose to have quality practice ranges at all of our courses,” she pointed out. BRG Group has a mission as a pioneer in golf development and operations that is focused on promoting the healthy growth of golf in Vietnam. “The investments that the BRG Group is making is not just about facilities but we also want to upgrade the professional skills of management teams who in turn will help improve the experience and service standards for golfers,” Madame Nga explained. Vietnam is probably now regarded as the most dynamic emerging golf market in the world. Given the BRG Group’s current investment in golf development and its projected development plans, two things are for certain – golf is on an upward trend in Vietnam and the BRG Group is going to be at the forefront of the projected growth of the game.

O U R B E S T P L AY E R S ’ I R O N MADE EVEN BETTER.

NEW TITL EIST High Density Tungsten

The only thing more satisfying than hitting a pure iron shot is hitting more of them. Trusted by Tour players around the world, new Titleist 716 AP2® irons feature an innovative, co-forged design with a low CG for increased speed. And the sophisticated placement of high density tungsten low and on the perimeter provides more forgiveness and Tour-proven, consistent distance with solid forged feel. AP2 irons, Titleist’s best players’ iron made even better. Learn more at titleist.asia.

Jordan Spieth

Bill Haas

Kevin Na

SPECIAL FEATURE Global Tour

21 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

oth these power-brokers got into a huddle and came out to announce to the world that the two tours had signed off on a “strategic alliance agreement” that could lead to joint events. A “strategic alliance” like this augurs well for golf and the future of the game, especially at the professional level. These two organisations, more than any of the other professional bodies in golf, possess the style, vision, drive and the deep pockets to do what they think is right for golf. Regardless of how Finchem and Whan couch the agreement with carefully and cleverly selected words, the PGA and the LPGA have crafted a game plan that will, and has created a clear pathway for expansion. Where is the expansion going to take place? That’s the million dollar baffler? With a tournament

SPECIAL FEATURE Global Tour

It is also gratifying to witness that Finchem and Whan, by their own admission, have declared that they are merely “formalizing their longstanding cooperative relationship” to promote the growth of golf. Like any business, the end game is about growth and profitability and what Finchem and Whan have in mind is all about growing their combined effort which undoubtedly will lead to what Finchem has always showed an inclination to own – a Global Tour.” calendar that is so jam-packed on the PGA Tour, one wonders how “joint events” can be squeezed onto the schedule. The LPGA also has a pretty full calendar with well over 30 tournaments staged all over the planet but there are pockets that need to be filled. Perhaps this is where the global stage presents an opportunity for “joint events” to be created. And guess where the first joint, back to back event will be staged? You guessed right! It is going to be staged in Asia and the host country will be Malaysia. What Finchem and Whan have decided on is to graft the CIMB Classic PGA Tour event with the Sime Darby LPGA tournament which 22

23 ASIAN GOLF

will result in the first hybrid super tour event. The back to back tournaments will be staged on October 17 – 23 for the CIMB Classic and immediately after, the Sime Darby LPGA tournament will be hosted on October 24 – 30. The club that will have the honour of playing host to these tournaments will be the prestigious, award-winning Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. All said and done, the back to back PGA and LPGA extravaganza is a brilliant maneuver to grow the global game. And we are glad that Asia, particularly Malaysia, is the staging platform. It is also gratifying to witness that

Finchem and Whan, by their own admission, have declared that they are merely “formalizing their longstanding cooperative relationship” to promote the growth of golf. Like any business, the end game is about growth and profitability and what Finchem and Whan have in mind is all about growing their combined effort which undoubtedly will lead to what Finchem has always showed an inclination to own – a Global Tour. Well, he is well on his way towards achieving that goal and this is only going to bring good things to the professional game, the players and the fans. Bottom-line just means that golf is set to win and that’s what matters most of all!

SPECIAL FEATURE Ladies Golf

25 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE Ladies Golf

hy so, one may ask? Well, why not! Given the headway that Asian women are making in professional golf, it’s a no-brainer for Asia to take pride in the triumphs and achievements of its women golfers! We are now entering a new phase in women’s professional golf. We are in a new era where Asian women have ascended to the very pinnacle of the game and looking at trends, Asian dominance is set to grow. The Asian surge started back in 1996 when a young 20-year old called Pak Se-Ri moved to America from Korea and turned professional in 1998. She went on to win two majors and became the youngest-ever winner of the U.S. Women’s Open. Pak was a pioneer who changed the face of golf even more than Tiger Woods. She has inspired a whole new generation of LPGA players like Na Yeon Choi and Inbee Park to follow her footsteps at the LPGA. The Asian dominance of the LPGA has received ready recognition from one of the true greats of the game – Annika Sorestam. The Hall of Famer is of the firm belief that the Asian era at the LPGA is already a reality. In a recent exclusive interview with Asian Golf, Sorenstam gave her views on a wide-range of topics relating to the growth of golf in Asia. The following are excerpts of that discussion:

ASIAN GOLF: Give us your assessment on how the professional game has fared since you put your clubs down? ANNIKA SORENSTAM: The women’s game has certainly become more global in the past ten years. I feel like the stars on the professional tours are younger today. Power and

It takes time to build champions, but in the next ten years you will see more and more success stories from China on both the men’s and women’s tours.”

27 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

distance are more significant compared to what it was like twenty years ago when the emphasis was more on precision and finesse.

that country. Give us your thoughts on how Chinese girls have progressed with the game?

AG: One thing for certain is that the professional game has become a global sport with the dominance by players from Europe, America and Australia being challenged by players from Asia. Has the rapid rise of Asian players come as a surprise to you?

AS: I have been lucky to go to China for almost twenty years as a

AS: I witnessed the early rise with Pak Se-Ri leading the way. She was really a trail-blazer and inspired many young girls in Korea to pick up the game. I think many of us could see it coming, but I think it surprised all of us on how quickly it happened and how dominant that country has become. Today I believe there are more Asian players in the top 50 in the world than any other region.

player, in business with sponsors, and for course design work. Now with our ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills, we have between 6095 of the top amateur junior girls from Asia competing. We started as the first all-girls junior tournament in China and have grown nicely. It’s amazing to see the expansion and the excitement for the game. Early on it was very primitive and now the Mission Hills resorts are two of the most popular in China. We are seeing players having success globally and competing at the highest level. Of course with the success of Shanshang Feng, it has to be inspiring and motivating for the next generation.

AG: As one of the greatest players the game has ever

AG: Do you see women from China becoming as

seen, what do you think has led to the rise of Asian players to the level of dominance that they currently enjoy on the LPGA?

AS: Again, having a role model like Pak Se-Ri helped them tremendously. She is a great ambassador for the game and she made golf cool in Korea. I think other countries followed. Also, adding LPGA tournaments in Asia inspired other players to play professionally. The golf world has become a lot smaller and I think Mike Whan (LPGA Commissioner) and the LPGA have done a tremendous job at embracing that.

AG: Would it be fair to state that the women’s game is now going through a new era – the “Asian era” so to speak?

AS: Yes, it is, but it has for the last 10 years. We have several Asian players winning majors every year. They are competing in the race for the Rolex Player of the Year, Rolex ANNIKA Major Award and other milestones and achievements. AG: Since you retired, you have been very active in promoting the game to youngsters through your tournaments. One such tournament is the event that you stage in collaboration with the Mission Hills Group of China which we assume has given you a NVVK ÄYZ[ OHUK WLYZWLJ[P]L VU [OL state of golf amongst juniors in

dominant as South Korean players on the women’s tour and how soon do you see this happening?

AS: I do, it’s just a matter of time. It takes time to build champions, but in the next ten years you will see more and more success stories from China on both the men’s and women’s tours.

AG: Related to this is the subject of training facilities and

coaches. Do you think that China has the facilities to help produce world class players – both at the professional and amateur levels?

AS: Yes, I think that China has the training facilities necessary to produce worldclass players. I have seen many of them first hand and they certainly have what it takes. The influx of western coaching is

SPECIAL FEATURE Ladies Golf

very important as several of the top instructors have years of education and experience and have developed academies in China.

AG: Generally speaking, how do you feel about the growth of the women’s game in Asia? Is enough being done to grow the game and do you feel that more can be done? AS: So much has already been achieved in a short period of time. I think in the next 10-15 years we will see a more developed tour in China, so many more players will get the opportunity to play. They are so good at such a young age and there is no getting around the fact that the Asians work harder than anyone else in golf, especially in the teenage years. Most of the children who specialize put in 12-hour days with school and practice in their sport. It’s really amazing.

AG: Let’s shift gears and talk about the LPGA Tour which is experiencing tremendous popularity and growth on a global scale. As one of the tour’s legends, give us your thoughts on how the LPGA has grown and the role that it has played in helping to grow the game of golf globally?

AS: This is a very positive time for the LPGA. The tide has turned, of course due thanks to hard work and commitment from everybody involved. The players are doing a fine job marketing themselves, The LPGA is doing a great job with tournament sponsors and relationships. The commercials are great showcasing the different nationalities and the ladies’ personalities. I think it’s really fun to see. We are positioned well in the different markets in the US and the global growth is proving to be very successful. AG: The prize money on the LPGA Tour has also been

on the rise – how do you feel about the prize money on the LPGA Tour matching what the men are paid on the PGA Tour? After all, the women of the LPGA play a very entertaining and competitive game deserving of higher rewards – your thoughts?

AS: The prize money has not grown as rapidly as the men. I understand demand, requests and how the TV deals work, which ultimately drives the tournament purses through sponsorships. We ladies have to continue do our best, work hard and showcase the very best and keep our fingers crossed so that the market will start compensating the ladies more. AG: Finally, the Rio Olympics. You have a tournament that

29 ASIAN GOLF

I think that China has the training facilities necessary to produce world-class players. I have seen many of them first hand and they certainly have what it takes. The influx of western coaching is very important as several of the top instructors have years of education and experience and have developed academies in China.” is staged in Latin America – do think that the Rio Games will serve as an impetus to the growth of golf globally or is it asking too much from just one event?

AS: This is just the beginning and we have to make sure we take advantage of the opportunity it has to offer. Golf in that part of the world is not so popular as of yet, so to get it on a world stage will generate more exposure and hopefully more interest everywhere. I think and hope that in countries like Brazil there will be a bigger curiosity and opportunity to make a difference in the game. Last but not least, governments will start funding golf at the grass roots level if it is part of the Olympic movement. We are really excited about the ANNIKA Invitational Latin America, which will be held in Argentina for the first three years for the top-60 girls aged 12-16. We hope to make a difference and help grow interest in the game. The situation has certainly changed a lot since Sorenstam stopped playing professionally. Today, the world is gradually beginning to recognise the Asian influence on the LPGA Tour. The world is beginning to learn how to pronounce strange sounding Asian names. It is the Asian era in women’s golf and it can only get better in the years ahead!

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

SPECIAL FEATURE Golf Personalities

31 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

It has been a relatively short journey but a journey that has been marked with ZPNUPÄJHU[ TPSLZ[VULZ VM HJOPL]LTLU[Z >OH[ ;OHPSHUK»Z (YP`H 1\[HU\NHYU OHZ H[[HPULK PU ^VTLU»Z WYVMLZZPVUHS NVSM ^PSS HS^H`Z IL YLTLTILYLK HUK OVWLM\SS` ^PSS ZLY]L IV[O HZ H ZV\YJL VM PUZWPYH[PVU HUK TV[P]H[PVU MVY V[OLYZ [V MVSSV^ LZWLJPHSS` `V\UN NPYSZ PU :V\[OLHZ[ (ZPH -PUHSS` :V\[OLHZ[ (ZPH OVTL [V TVYL [OHU TPSSPVU WLVWSL HUK ZVTL VM [OL ^VYSK»Z TVZ[ KÙHTPJ LJVUVTPLZ OHZ P[Z VÛ OVTLNYVÛ OLYVPUL 0U H ZOVY[ WLYPVK VM [^V ^LLRZ ZOL OHZ JYLH[LK OPZ[VY` I` ILJVTPUN [OL ÄYZ[ NVSMLY MYVT ;OHPSHUK [V ^PU IHJR [V IHJR 37.( [V\YUHTLU[Z >OPSL :V\[O 2VYLH OHZ 7HR :L 9P HUK 0UILL 7HYR HUK *OPUH OHZ :OHUZOHU -LUN HUK 1HWHU OHZ (P 4P`HaH[V :V\[OLHZ[ (ZPH UV^ JHU IVHZ[ VM P[Z VÛ NSVIHS 8\LLU VM NVSM (YP`H 1\[HU\NHYU

hailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn has done what no other professional woman golfer from Southeast Asia has ever been able to achieve. She has broken through the LPGA barrier to win her first coveted title on the world’s toughest and most competitive women’s professional tour. The always smiling 20-year old from Thailand held a charging field at bay while she worked her way to become a Rolex First Time Winner at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. Not only did she pull off the win in grand style, she also stamped her superiority over a world-class field on Mother’s Day. After her epic win, the affable Thai golfer told reporters, “So tough, I feel the three holes

I can’t control anything ….. my legs were shaking, my hands were shaking.” Jutanugarn broke onto the international golf scene at age 11 when she qualified for the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand, making her the youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA event. As of early May 2013, she had played in three LPGA tournaments and four Ladies European Tour events and had five top-4 finishes. In 2012, she was winner of the American Junior Golf Association (AFGA) girl Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. She turned professional at the end of 2012. Jutanugarn has an aggressive and fearless playing style. Well done Ariya. You have made Asia proud!

JUNE 2016

It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts

The new OnCore Avant is a low, 65 compression distance ball with SoftCell technology that creates the distance and feel players want off the club face and around the greens. The proprietary chemistry technology incorporated into the core composition combines softness with a high coefficient of restitution, making the Avant “the best low compression ball in golf”. The next generation of golfers want MORE, and that is exactly what OnCore Golf delivers with every one of its innovative golf balls. M.O.R.E. stands for: Maximum performance, Optimal trajectory, Revolutionary technology and Explosive velocity!

MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE

The Caliber is the most radical departure from solid rubber construction in nearly 30 years. This ball is ideal for the golfer who puts an emphasis on accuracy. Designed for swing speeds under 100 mph and is our softest version of the hollow metal core technology to date. The ball features a 392 dimple pattern, an 80 compression, that comes from the unification of our .9 inch hollow metal core and our SoftCell technology around the mantle layer.

We have been optimizing our innovative hollow core technology for several years to be able to offer a product that truly does what it was created to do and will lead to better performance on the course. As a result of our .9 inch hollow metal core, when the ball is struck you get significant rifle spin while reducing sidespin, allowing the ball to travel along a straight trajectory similar to a bullet leaving the barrel.

OnCore Golf Balls - Available at all leading golf outlets in Asia

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia’s Power Hitters

“Let’s Make America Great Again!” Just in case you’re wondering why the reference to the battle-cry of the Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump, let’s explain. It can easily be converted to “Let’s Grow Golf In Asia!” – the tone is the same. It is bold and it’s the sort of exhortation and commitment that put’s a man’s money where his mouth is. It is also a great way to measure leadership and a call to step up to the plate to do something great for golf in Asia. 34

35 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia’s Power Hitters

or the last three years, we have been producing an annual listing of the most powerful people in the Asian golf industry. This has been quite a challenging task given the fact that many of the truly powerful people in business in Asia have a tendency to maintain a low profile. The golf industry is no different especially when it comes to identifying corporations or individuals behind major investments and developments in the industry. For the 2016 “power list” a more penetrative drill-down was commissioned with the following criteria in focus: Scale of involvement with golf; Measurable investments in golf projects; Commitment to grow the game of golf; This criterion has helped sharpen the selection process and the

Asia Pacific Golf Group (parent company of Asian Golf ) is proud to unveil its list of the “Most Powerful People In Golf” for 2016. It is a list that is both representative and reflective of the men and women who are known to be making major contributions towards the development and growth of golf throughout Asia. “For any industry to grow, there is a need for recognition and acknowledgment – there is a need for heroes to help set standards and with this list, we are glad to have played a role in helping to build global recognition for the movers and shakers of the Asian golf industry,” said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group. A special commemorative publication on the “power list” will be published in July and the following is an abbreviated version.

For any industry to grow, there is a need for recognition and acknowledgment – there is a need for heroes to help set standards and with this list, we are glad to have played a role in helping to build global recognition for the movers and shakers of the Asian golf industry.”

Dr. Ken Chu Chairman, Mission Hills Group

Tenniel Chu

Vice Chairman, Mission Hills Group

CHINA

oth the Chu brothers have gone on to build what is effectively the world’s largest golf resort made up of a total of 22 golf courses in China. The billionaire entrepreneurs have expanded by developing related facilities that embrace a vast complex called Centreville, costing US$1.6 billion. It’s a very trendy international lifestyle urban complex that covers a vast area of 240,000-square-metres. The total investment to date in all of the facilities at Mission Hills is an eye-popping US$10 billion that has attracted over 6 million visitors and 1 million rounds of golf in 2015. 36

37 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

Santi Bhirombhakdi President, SINGHA Corporation

THAILAND

anti Bhirombhakdi is the President of Singha Corporation Co., Ltd, the company behind the world famous Singha Beer. He is one of the most influential personalities in the business of golf in Thailand and is engaged in golf course ownership, player development and the sponsorship of golf tournaments in Thailand, the ASEAN region and throughout East Asia. Bhirombhakdi was the chief founder of the Thai PGA and has served as its President.

Enrique ‘Ricky’ K. Razon Jr. Chairman and CEO of the Manila-listed company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. –

PHILIPPINES

anked as one of the top power players and billionaires in the Philippines, Enrique K. Razon, Jr., is an avid golfer who holds key interests in the country’s top golf courses. He is actively engaged in the sports and entertainment business and serves as the chairman of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., which is the company behind The Philippine Golf Tour, the country’s premier golf tournament circuit.

Nguyen Thi Nga Chairman, BRG Group

VIETNAM

adame Nguyen Thi Nga is the only woman on the 2016 “power list”. She owns a number of golf courses including the award-winning Kings’ Island Golf Club in Hanoi. The powerful lady who has extensive business interests in Vietnam has entered into an exclusive business partnership with the Jack Nicklaus Company to develop and operate golf courses and driving ranges to help grow the game of golf in the country.

Jose Juan Z. ‘Gigio’ Jugo Chairman, Verde Golf Development Corporation

PHILIPPINES

ose Juan Z. Jugo, is the Group Head, Ayala Land Premier, a subsidiary of the multi-billion dollar Ayala Corporation. He is the chairman of Verde Golf Development Corporation and president of the award-winning Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club. He is largely responsible for having steered his executive team’s direction into golf with serious Ayala investments in various golf course real estate developments and he has charted a business strategy to build new golf courses that is secured to an emerging new Southeastt Asia middleclass that is expected the spur the growth of golf in the Philippines.

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia’s Power Hitters Pawan Munjal Chairman Managing Director & CEO, HeroMotoCorp.

INDIA

awan Munjal is a major financial sponsor of golf events in India and has almost single-handedly made professional competitions possible. A leading industrialist, he has flexed his industrial muscle and has actively undertaken promoting the game all over the country. As a renowned industry leader, he has provided powerful leader-ship that is needed for golf course development to succeed against other sports such as the all-popular game of cricket.

JDng Sung Won

Kim Young Je

Chief Executive Ofﬁcer, Golfzon

President & CEO, SKY72 Resorts

SOUTH KOREA

Bng Sung Won heads up Golfzon which is ranked as the world’s top virtual golf simulation system. Started in 2000 in South Korea, the company is the biggest player in the international golf simulator market, earning worldwide recognition and having exported golf simulator systems to over 30 countries. It is also an active partner with the LPGA Tour.

SOUTH KOREA

im Young Je has worked very hard to ensure that his company’s golf courses and resorts are routinely ranked among the best and busiest golf course complexes in the world with consistent play conditioning and customer service. He has also taken the lead to develop professional training and continuing education for golf course management and is noted for demanding and setting very high standards.

immy Masrin has taken over the reins of the beleaguered Asian Tour and much is expected of this very savvy Indonesian entrepreneur. A self-confessed golf addict, he is the man behind the successful Indonesian Masters as well as the Asian Development Tour. He is very passionate about golf and would like to see Indonesia being showcased and promoted to the world as a wonderful golf destination.

yusuke Kamata heads up Accordia and has under his manage-0 ment approximately 10,000 employees. His operation is said to currently own 161 golf courses; 30 driving ranges and a further 800 ‘affiliated’ driving ranges in-cluding hotels, restaurants and branded merchandise.

Jimmy Masrin Chairman, Asian Tour

INDONESIA 38

39 ASIAN GOLF

Ryusuke Kamata President and CEO Accordia Golf Company, Ltd.

JAPAN

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

Stig Notlov Founder, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin

THAILAND

tig Notlov is the visionary who discovered the “golf potential” of Hua Hin back in 2004. After one trip, he recognised the region’s golf potential and set about creating one of the best golf courses in Asia – the multi-award winning Black Mountain Golf Club. Since he opened this course in 2007, he has gone on to develop a resort, private residences and a water theme park as part of the Black Mountain experience.

Trinh Van Quyet Chairman, Board of Mangement, FLC Group

VIETNAM

rinh Van Quyet is rapidly earning himself a reputation as “Mr. Golf” in Vietnam. Within the next two years, this Vietnamese developer is expected to own and operate a minimum of thirteen golf clubs in the country together with resorts, hotels and related property developments. He is the proud owner of two golf courses that bear the distinguished Jack Nicklaus brand name.

s Chairman of the Tokyo based Japan Professional Golf Tour (JPGT), Masahiro Kuramoto runs an organization that is the third largest professional men’s tour in the world. The organization has a membership comprised of over 5,000 professional golfers including its tour players and teaching professionals. In addition to operating its professional tour, the organization supports golf course and player development throughout Japan and Asia.

TXn Ahmad Sarji Bin Abdul Hamid Chairman, Professional Golf Of Malaysia

MALAYSIA

un Dr. Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid, is the Chairman of the Professional Golf of Malaysia ((PGM) and is responsible to promote the sport of golf and to contribute to its enjoyment and growth in Malaysia. He is also credited with starting the EurAsia Cup, the annual Ryder Cup format tournament between Europe and Asia.

Masahiro Kuramoto Chairman of Japan Professional Golfers Association

JAPAN

e Van Kiem is a top industry leader in Vietnam and has played a pivotal role in growing golf in Vietnam. Already an owner of two mega golf complexes in Vietnam and Laos, he is now embarking on development plans that will see new golf courses being constructed in various parts of the country over the next few years. In 2015, Le was inducted into the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame, the first from Vietnam.

Le Van Kiem Chairman, KN Investment Group

VIETNAM

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia’s Power Hitters

Gautam Thapar President of Professional Golf Tour Of India

INDIA

autam Thapur is the Chairman and CEO of the Indian conglomerate Avanta Group. An avid golfer, his group has sponsored the Avanta Masters, a jointly promoted effort by the European Tour, Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India. Given his business prominence in India, he plays a very key role in the promotion of golf in that country.

Brian Curley Lee Schmidt Principals, Schmidt Curley Design gn

USA

ee Schmidt and Brian Curley would rank amongst the most prolific golf course architects in Asia. Besides having designed courses throughout the Asian Continent, they are best known for the work done at Mission Hills China where the company has built all 22 courses in that complex. SCD has now embarked on an ambitious multi-course development in Vietnam which involves a total of eleven golf courses.

2016 Asia’s Power List – Top Players

ANIRBAN LAHIRI

ARIYA JUTANUGARN

K.J. CHOI

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

MIGUEL TABUENA

HAO TONG LI

SHAN SHAN FENG

THONGCHAI JAIDEE

2016 Asia’s Power List – Top BrandÃ

41 ASIAN GOLF

INBEE PARK

SPECIAL FEATURE Wilson Golf

43 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

Get a load of this folks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a 102 year old company demonstrates that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cool-fac[VYÂ» Ã&#x2026;V^PUN [OYV\NO P[Z JVYWVYH[L JHYKPV ]HZJ\SHY Z`Z[LT >PSZVU .VSM JYVZZLK [OL JLU[\Y` THYR PU HUK P[ PZ HYN\HIS` [OL VSKLZ[ IYHUK PU NVSM [OH[ PZ Z[PSS HYV\UK HUK ]LY` T\JO HSP]L HUK RPJRPUN ;OH[ ZHPK ^OV ^V\SK OH]L L]LU [OV\NO[ [OH[ H JVYWVYH[L JLU[LUHYPHU ^V\SK OH]L NYHIILK OVSK VM HU PUNLU\V\Z PKLH PU]VS]PUN JYV^K ZV\YJPUN HUK Y\U ^P[O P[ >LSS >PSZVU .VSM KPK Q\Z[ [OH[ SHZ[ `LHY ^P[O P[Z YL]VS\[PVUHY` Â¸+YP]LY ]LYZ\Z +YP]LYÂ¹ JYV^K ZV\YJPUN JVTWL[P[PVU HUK P[Â»Z ^LSS VU P[Z ^H` [V^HYKZ THRPUN [OPZ PUP[PH[P]L [OL Ã&#x201E;YZ[ L]LY [Y\S` Z\JJLZZM\S JYV^K ZV\YJPUN \UKLY[HRPUN PU [OL NVSM LX\PWTLU[ PUK\Z[Y`

SPECIAL FEATURE Wilson Golf

hat Wilson Golf has achieved with its “Driver versus Driver” crowd-sourcing campaign is a massive industry-wide coup. This campaign is truly a brilliant home-run and we are quite sure that there are many equipment manufacturers out there who are kicking themselves for not coming up with this “eureka moment” idea first. “Driver versus Driver” is a new Golf Channel reality show sponsored by Wilson Golf and briefly, it is an open call “for golfers, inventors, engineers, or anyone who has an idea or concept they believe could be the next big driver concept.” The goal of the show is to find through “crowd sourcing” new ideas for the future of driver technology and will track the trials and tribulations of prospective designers. “Wilson Golf has a long history of innovation alongside some of the best golfers who have ever played the game,” said Tim Clarke, president of Wilson Golf. “As we push golf innovation into new territories, we recognize that new ideas, materials, design elements and concepts can come from the most unexpected places, industries and people. This new television show is designed to celebrate the entrepreneurial and inventive spirit that is so important to our brand and mine the country for driver ideas that the Wilson Labs team can turn into reality.” Entries for the contest closed in August last year. What can you win? How does a

45 ASIAN GOLF

US$500,000 grand prize and the opportunity to work with Wilson Labs’ engineering and design team on a 2017 Wilson Staffbranded driver that will be sold in stores throughout the world sound? It’s the largest prize ever offered by a golf company for a reality show concept! “A set number of contestant concepts will go through prototyping and vigorous testing within Wilson Labs and the individuals and/or teams will work alongside the Company’s engineers and designers to refine the concept until a winner is determined,” said Clarke. For a century-old company to tap into new-age marketing savvy says a lot about what’s making Wilson Golf tick. For the brand with the most number of majors won under its belt, this crowd-sourcing exercise will open the door for valuable insights, generate buzz around the brand and enhance customer relations. The programme is now working its way towards show-time and Wilson Golf has announced the panel of judges for this first-ofits-kind television series that is currently in production and debuting on Golf Channel in the fall 2016. Leading the four-person panel is former National Football League® (NFL) linebacker Brian Urlacher, an avid golfer with a singledigit handicap and a self-professed golf equipment “junkie.” Alongside Urlacher will be Kevin Streelman, a two-time PGA TOUR winner and Wilson Advisory Staff Member; Frank Thomas, former USGA Technical Director with more than 40 years of golf

technology and equipment experience; and Tim Clarke, President of Wilson Golf. “Driver versus Driver” will follow the trials and tribulations that aspiring golf equipment designers face as their golf driver ideas and concepts are evaluated, critiqued, refined and tested. The series also will take viewers behind the scenes as Wilson Labs engineers and designers partner with the contestants to take their ideas through prototyping and rigorous testing to refine the concepts until a winner is determined. The winning driver concept and viable driver will become part of the Wilson Golf line of products in 2017. “When choosing the panel of judges, we knew we had to have a good mix of professionals that brought a relevant, yet different perspective to the process - from the everyday golfer, to the tour player to an industry expert,” said Clarke. “I also wanted to play a role on the panel because it will be up to our team at Wilson to bring the club to consumers. We’re excited to work with these judges to bring an exciting infusion of innovation to the market.” “I really love to play this game, and personally enjoy learning about new equipment. When Wilson offered me a position as a judge, I jumped at the opportunity,” said Urlacher. “This is a side of golf I would have never been able to see, and it’s fascinating to see how equipment is developed firsthand. I’m thrilled to be part of the process of selecting an inventor to realize their dream of designing a club that will be sold across the country and the world.”

200 Yen Phu St, Tay Ho District, Hanoi

www.brggolfcenter.vn

A BRG Golf Company

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia PaciямБc Golf Summit 2016

KE CH KEN CHU U

DAV A ID D WEB B STE ER

AND N REW E WOOD WOOD WO

GABRIEL ALUISY

47 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

hile there is a proliferation of suppliers eager to make a sale, one wonders why there are so many golf courses in need of help and why many club operations are struggling to eke out meagre profits throughout the region – some emerging countries like Vietnam excluded? The answer to this growing challenge is that the real issues are either not being addressed or are simply being swept under the rug.

JUNE 2016

The time has come for all of us in the golf industry in Asia to roll up our sleeves, get focused and get a hold of the problems by the scruff of the neck. Sounds harsh? Hell no! It’s time to tell it like it is. We’ve seen enough of pandering and sucking up to the golf industry! The 2016 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS 2016) has assembled a truly high-powered and world-class panel of speakers who are known to speak without fear or favour. Leading the power-hitters is the Asia Pacific’s “Most Powerful Golf Industry Entrepreneur” and the owner of

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia Paciﬁc Golf Summit 2016

the world’s largest and most successful golf resort, Dr. Ken Chu, the billionaire Chairman of the Mission Hills Group in China. A proven visionary and out-of-the-box thinker Dr. Chu will set the tone at APGS 2016 on how he has led Mission Hills to become a global player in golf by attracting more than 6 million tourists and turning over 1 million rounds of golf in a year. He knows it all and Dr. Chu is eager to share his brilliant ideas with the rest of Asia. Marketing and the provision of sustained, quality service are two major cornerstones of the club industry in Asia. Very few golf clubs have marketing programmes, let alone marketing budgets. This has got to change and APGS 2016 has engaged the club industry’s most respected guru to speak and provide the pathways on how club’s in Asia can develop, create and launch their own marketing programmes. There is no one better qualified than Andrew Wood, founder and president of Legendary Marketing LLC, a world-class group that has helped thousands of golf clubs in North America and Europe to turn around the fortune of flagging clubs. He is the wizard with all the tricks to make things work! Service is vital to the well-being of the club industry. After all, clubs are in the entertainment industry and keeping members and guests satisfied and attended to, is paramount. Just service alone is not

49 ASIAN GOLF

Unlike other conferences where the norm is to listen to the same old stuff from the same old regular insiders, APGS 2016 has gone out of the industry to bring in the best of the brightest to serve as a beacon for the future of the golf industry in Asia.” enough. What is needed is the creation of an enduring service attitude and culture that is engrained into the DNA of a club. It has to be service that is special and that shouts out loud that “membership has its privileges”. APGS 2016 has secured the services of a two-time EMMY Award winning actor and communicator and genius in the delivery of service to infuse a whole new service culture in Asia. He is the highly sought after David Webster, master trainer to some of the world’s largest corporations. David will not only share his thoughts on what is quality service but help demonstrate how it is taught and delivered to a club’s personnel. A true spell-binder! Finally, APGS 2016 will look at what is perhaps the biggest challenge faced by clubs in Asia – attracting and keeping “Millennials” to golf clubs. As an industry, most everyone is at a loss as to how to rope in these youngsters to help grow dwindling membership registers. It’s a massive challenge – massive enough to recruit a

“Millennial Master” to help make golf clubs appealing to younger demographics. He is award-winning speaker and author Gabriel Aluisy, an internationally recognized expert on marketing to millennials. He understands millennials and he knows how to handle and manage the seismic demographic shifts and show the industry how to reach out to new demographics. Unlike other conferences where the norm is to listen to the same old stuff from the same old regular insiders, APGS 2016 has gone out of the industry to bring in the best of the brightest to serve as a beacon for the future of the golf industry in Asia. APGS 2016 is not an event to be missed by golf course owners, operators and managers. There will never be a knowledge and business event like it anywhere this year! Don’t suck up to the golf industry players – revitalize and re-invent by lifting your blinkers and looking ahead. That’s what APGS 2016 is all about – your business and your well-being in the golf industry!

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

EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade Spider Limited Red Putters

It was not too long ago when the reigning world number one bolted VÉ&#x2C6; ^P[O H ZLUZH[PVUHS ^PU H[ [OL 2016 The Players Championship. Jason Day made absolutely sure that there was no doubt in anybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind as to who is the best golfer around and part of his winning kit was a putter that stood out as a star in its own right. That putter is now available to all golfers who want to give themselves the winning edge. 50

51 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

hat putter is the all new Spider Limited and Spider Limited Red putters from TaylorMade. Both models are said to be inspired by Jason Day who besides being the best golfer in the world happens to also be one of the PGA TOUR’s best statistical putters. During his storybook rise to #1 late last fall, Day came to the TaylorMade team with a request for a putter similar in style to his trusted Itsy Bitsy prototype, the putter he’s used for multiple wins on the PGA TOUR which included his first major victory at the 2015 PGA Championship. Day’s ask was for a putter that incorporated the colour red, one of his favourite and most sentimental colours. Using the Redback Spider, a venomous spider indigenous to Day’s native Australia as inspiration, the TaylorMade team embarked on a mission to create a palate of colour options, working intimately with Day throughout the process to create a colour that the golfer would prefer. When the final colour was selected, Day proposed to the team that they build him two different models, each showcasing the colour in a different way that would allow him to test and select which suited his eye before determining which would be put into play.

The key characteristics of the “limited” edition putters are: The Spider Limited putter features a black frame with Tour Red bumpers. The Spider Limited Red incorporates Tour Red throughout the frame and bumpers. Day was first introduced to the putters in February, and after testing both models, the Spider Limited Red made its PGA TOUR debut at the RBC Heritage in mid-April and was used to win THE PLAYERS Championship this year. Both models feature subtleties recognizable by the best players in the world, including Day, who prefers a seamless top crown and sans alignment aid. The two models available will differ slightly from Day’s personal putter, which will include the alignment aid on the crown. Made of a 304 stainless steel frame combined with a lightweight 6061 aluminum body enables weight to be positioned at the extremities, the Spider Limited putters provide improved stability and high MOI. Similar to the original Itsy Bitsy, both new models incorporate a milled Aluminum Pure Roll™ insert with a gunmetal finish to promote better forward roll, increased directional accuracy and improved distance control.

JUNE 2016

The Philippines’ premier leisure real estate development has taken the international second-home market by storm. distinctive natural setting, a OQ GSEWXPMRI QEKRM½GIRX views, award-winning golf course, thoughtfully designed facilities for discerning families and individuals – qualities that earned Anvaya Cove the honour of being the Philippines’ ½VWX [SVPH GPEWW KSPJ VIWSVX ERH VIWMHIRXMEP community.

Located in Morong, Bataan about 2.5 hours from Manila, the 50.6 million sq ft Anvaya Cove was developed by Ayala Land Premier, the high-end property arm of Ayala Land, the group that master-planned the 4LMPMTTMRIW´ QENSV ½RERGMEP LYF 1EOEXM 'MX] it also developed the country’s key growth centers – Bonifacio Global City, NUVALI and Cebu Park District.

&EVIP] XLVII ]IEVW WMRGI MXW SJ½GMEP opening, Anvaya Cove’s centrepiece golf course has already garnered notable accolades including the 2014 Best New 'SYVWI MR %WME 4EGM½G LSRSYVW ERH QSWX recently, the 2015 Best Golf Course in the Philippines given at the Asian Golf Awards, VIKEVHIH EW XLI ±3WGEVW² SJ %WME 4EGM½G´W KSPJ industry. Designed by American golf course architect Kevin Ramsey of Golfplan USA, this 18-hole 7,030-yard layout provides as much challenge as well as beauty to golfers of all skill levels. Its dramatic “mountains meet the sea” topography combined with Golfplan’s tour-de-force design creates a unique golf course with character and perfect setting XLEX KSPJIVW [SR´X ½RH ER][LIVI

IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

Anvaya Cove has also caught the attention of international investors and end-users; it has emerged as an attractive investment in every

sense of the word. With the excitement of a seaside resort and the tranquility of a mountain retreat, its seaside residential community features the highest standards of construction, design, services and amenities. “The Philippines’ robust economy – fuelled by strong domestic consumption and bolstered by its investment grade and stable currency – sets the context for property investment,” says Jose Juan Jugo, Managing Director of Ayala Land Premier. Perched on Anvaya Cove’s prime elevated location, Seascape Ridge boasts a unique combination of tropical features providing its residents with the best that nature has to offer. It captures the best of both worlds – the convenience of a condominium with the luxury of home. It is part of a 495,140 sq. ft master planned community of 16 quadrangles (or quads) featuring four separate units. There are a total of 64 corner units, 24 of which are complete and in ready-to-move-in condition.

The name “Anvaya” is a Sanskrit word which means “family”, thus, the development of Anvaya Cove SFƌFDUT BOE GVMƋMMT UIJT QSPNJTF XJUI BO FYUFOTJWF BSSBZ PG facilities for the whole family, including a spa, sports and pool DPNQMFY SFTUBVSBOUT BOE DBG¨T B OBUVSF DBNQ BOE B QSJTUJOF private beach. Bringing together family, leisure, and nature, your Anvaya Cove home will be ready to welcome you anytime.”

It offers 2 and 3 bedroom units measuring 1,797 sq ft and 2,012 sq ft respectively, and priced from S$572,000 to S$692,000. This year, Anvaya Cove will be turning over an additional 16 units while the remaining 24 units will be completed next year. The quads were designed along tropical inspired architecture structured under a condominium set up and managed by Ayala Property Management Corp. Seascape Ridge offers hassle-free planning and construction and worry-free ownership for all nationalities in search of their seaside leisure getaway. On the other hand, the Sea Breeze Verandas is a low-rise walk-up condominium located at the highest point in Anvaya Cove. It offers thoughtfully designed, ready-to-move-in 1- to 3-bedroom units in 635 sq ft to 1,485 sq JX GSR½KYVEXMSR ERH TVMGIH JVSQ 7 XS S$671,500. “We’ve welcomed expats who have chosen to make Anvaya Cove their primary homes. We anticipate further interest in this sort of investment – from what we see as a global market,” added Jugo. The name “Anvaya” is a Sanskrit word which means “family”, thus, the development of %RZE]E 'SZI VI¾IGXW ERH JYP½PPW XLMW TVSQMWI with an extensive array of facilities for the whole family, including a spa, sports and pool complex, restaurants and cafés, a nature camp and a pristine, private beach. Bringing together family, leisure, and nature, your Anvaya Cove home will be ready to welcome you anytime.

Note: All unit prices quoted are in SINGAPORE DOLLARS

For more information, please visit

www.ayalalandpremier.com

n G iro e h t , gy e hnolo hat elusiv c . e T R t O e hit ITS C ary COR-Eyy deliveringt helps you d T A rol, i spee lution gn. B GER LON d with revo in iron desicy and conteased ball r and ard incr eere rthe . cura Engin new stand tance, ac too. With her, fly fa om today s c , g i . i a d sets ation of hold them launch h st or ping s in li comb reens and face, shot ng Specia g ti e more the entir PING Fit s ta acros fter. Visi o s land TM

. T G S N A I F V I E G TH FOR D N A tom d cus CG e l a e e nc . A co itioning th hed d e r s tc o ee ngin the sole, p I for unma head. E e c O d n to M e orma nects e the id-siz Perf g port con to increas s in the m tunin low/back forgivenes

g reatin t t a ing d he ialize 0%, allow c e p .S s y4 Face strength b hat create ts. d e e -Sp erial ace t resul High es the mat e flexible f launching v r rimpro inner, mo and highe h t s for a all speed b r faste

ÂŠ2016 PING P.O. BOX 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071 GD216

E IT. need K I L NG ll you Y THI n and a esign

IT AN id, part iro through d ance H R EVE . Part hybr eek, break t the dist ol of N E V r tr ec sl YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rossove me. Its es. Exp and con e

C or y se ga ew G our long er your sc e accurac .com and n e h T rove y d low ith th r ping n w o p to im n heads a f a hybrid pecialist r S o u will t giveness G Fitting IN or and f . Visit a P our bag. y n an iro it fits into e wher TM

e gam Longnatives. alter es like a in e sp unch

La with th iron. d hybri ntrol of an d 5. n o and c le in 3, 4 a b Availa

T S R I F E H T T . E D ME TS KIN I F O

455 nter g e p r a n rol. C face flexi h. t n o C se nc tory. ole increa higher lau c e j a s Tr nd ng nce. d cascadi ll speeds a a t s i D face an ter ba s steel for fa ÂŠ2016 PING P.O. BOX 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071 GD216

GAME IMPROVEMENT

57 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

Show me a golfer who does not want to experience optimum distance with his driver and I would simply tell you that he is not being totally transparent. Every golfer wants to hit the ball as far as he can because distance (especially if accurate) gives a golfer a better scoring chance at the short end of the game. It’s as simple as that!

I want to hit it longer!” - this is probably the number one request by students at my golf school. When I was mentored by the legendary golf coaches Ed LeBeau and the late Manuel de la Torre I was reminded by Mr. Torre that “distance is like a flower, it blossoms from accuracy and confidence!”

e would always advise that golfers should understand how to hit the ball straight first because this would then lead to increase in distance and it will get better with more practice. All this takes time. I’ve used this teaching repeatedly and this is how it works: There are basically two ways a golfer can hit it longer. Either increase clubhead speed or change the club. Most golfers prefer to increase clubhead speed because having to hit a 7-iron when everyone else is hitting an 8-iron would damage one’s ego! Nevertheless, if you want to maximize distance for each club, try the following approach. It’s been tested and our students have had great success. Some students will improve right away, and some will take a few weeks. Be patient and I know you will experience satisfaction.

GAME IMPROVEMENT To increase clubhead speed, the three factors that affect speed in a golf swing are strength, flexibility and tension. Here are the ways a player can improve. We’ve experienced better improvement when you begin with checking your tension, followed by flexibility and then improving your overall strength. This is the order that has helped many students at the golf school. Again, it’s different for everyone, but this checklist will help you keep to a good regimen. First start with understanding your TENSION in your swing. From the address position, raise the clubhead until the shaft is parallel to the ground. Now close your eyes and become aware of the tension in your arms, body and legs necessary to stand and hold the club in this manner. Using that “standing level of tension’ as a benchmark, make a swing without feeling any increase in that level of tension. Often the first place you will feel tension is in the grip pressure. If you believe you understand the role of tension in your swing, then move on to the next item on the checklist. FLEXIBILITY- Make a backswing as far back toward a parallel position as you can go without increasing tension or stress. If the body does not allow the club to easily go to parallel, then you will need to increase your flexibility, which you can achieve over a few days. Do some stretching exercises combined with swinging a club without a ball on a daily basis. Finally, how is your STRENGTH? There are a number of calisthenics that can help increase the strength of the muscles used to swing a club. Additionally, there are many exercise machines that work well for this purpose. Consult a trainer and make sure the trainer tailors his advice to the swing instead of tailoring the swing to his advice. Trust me, if you follow this routine and remain patient, you’ll experience tremendous success with your golf game!

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.

59 ASIAN GOLF

www.tmggroupasia.com

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College You will be more committed to a goal that you value highly, and that you believe is possible to achieve; however, if the value of your chosen goal weakens in value, so will your dedication for achieving it. David Milne (left) and Lawrie Montague (right).

PART 3 If you have been following the last two articles in our series “How to Pressure Proof Your Golf Practice” in Asian Golf, and applying what you have learned, then you are now thinking about and actually practicing quite KPɈLYLU[S` [V `V\Y VSK ^H`Z You are now designing your golf practice around your weakest—most important golf skills, which are the golf ZRPSSZ [OH[ ^PSS OLSW `V\ [V WSH` IL[[LY VU [OL NVSM JV\YZL

ou are aiming at smaller and more challenging targets, instead of hitting to large target areas, and you are hitting a smaller quantity of golf balls (in sets of 5 or 10), and measuring your results. In this month’s article, we want to take your golf practice one step further by introducing a simple goal setting process to help you develop your pathway to better and more consistent performances on the golf course. 60

61 ASIAN GOLF

One of the biggest challenges we face as golfers is deciding exactly what we want from our game. This seems to be a continually challenging condition for virtually all golfers. As you experience improvement in your game, you want more improvement, it becomes a never-ending cycle of finding ways to keep improving. Therefore, we think you’ll agree with us that you can get caught up in just performing the repetitions at the range without having a clear idea of why you’re actually doing it.

This is where goal setting is helpful, because it can give you the clarity you need to get to an outcome you want. We say to our students that you need lots of “way-power” or directional focus, before you need lots of “will-power” or determination. Having said that, when discussing goal achievement, maintaining consistency of effort—or determination to achieve your goal (the will-power), will be the most challenging aspect of the goal achieving process for you. You see, talking about goals is easy, sticking with them is harder. Many golfers who start out on a journey of change eventually lose interest in their goal and eventually back-slide into their old and reliable habits. So let us show you how to change that for good.

The Golf Goal Setting Formula In our experience goal achievement is hugely influenced by the following 2 factors; 1. The importance of your goal or outcome; 2. Whether you think you can actually achieve it; So goal achievement must be driven

ISSUE 189

JUNE 2016

www.ProTourGolfCollege.com first and foremost by your perceived value in the goal, coupled with your ability to actually achieve it. This is simple enough to understand, and the following formula we use at Pro Tour Golf College seems to express it pretty well;

D =V x A Dedication to your Goal = Value of your Goal (importance) x Attainment of your Goal (knowing how to get it). You will be more committed to a goal that you value highly, and that you believe is possible to achieve; however, if the value of your chosen goal weakens in value, so will your dedication for achieving it.

The Key Strategy A well-chosen goal will stretch you out of your comfort zone, which simply means that you will be operating from a place of unfamiliarity and uncertainty. This is important because if the goal you choose is not challenging you, then it is probably not as important as you first believed it to be. Our observation of golfers establishing goals for the first time is that they tend to pick goals that are often too multifaceted—like a difficult and complex swing change that they invariably give up on because they often also choose an unreasonable time frame for implementing it. Thus, the goal you choose will be important enough for you to maintain a consistency of effort, it will be realistic and within your sphere of capability (with a stretch), and the time frame you estimate for achieving it will be possible.

golf this year, which goal would be the one you would choose that would give you the most satisfaction if you achieved it? Following are the seven most popular Golf Goal Types we work with our students on to help them to improve their game on the golf course. 1. Golf tournament goals 2. Golf technique goals 3. Golf shot-making goals 4. Golf score goals 5. Golf mind goals 6. Golf body goals 7. Golf strategy goals Right now rank the seven golf goal types in order of importance from 1 (most important) to 7 (least important) so you can start to formulate your plan for improvement. Secondly, let’s say you chose your golf goal type as improving your golf score, and you’ve decided that you wish to shave 4 strokes off your average score over 48 weeks. Well, the next step in the process is to chunk the 4 strokes down into 4 smaller sub-goals. To aim for a 1 stroke improvement in 12 weeks will seem easier to achieve than trying to improve 4 strokes over a 48-week period.

Now which weak skill will you upgrade, or, what strategy will you use to help you lower your score by 1 shot in the next 12 weeks? Hint; go back through the seven Golf Goal Types to find the answer to the next critical step in the process. In our next article we will show you how to do this and help you design a golf improvement plan to help you shave 4 strokes from your average score by the end of the year practicing no more than 2 hours per week. So look out for our next article in Asian Golf.

What is Your Most Important Goal Today? So the question for you right now is of all the things that you could achieve with your

David Milne and Lawrie Montague – Pro Tour Golf College

his is the new paradigm for golf. It is the beacon that will drive the growth of golf in Asia in the years to come. It is all Asian – conceived, conceptualized, implemented and working like a dream in Asia. *ROI $QG 0RUH LV WKH WKHPH IRU WKH $VLD 3DFLʖF Golf Summit. It is a theme that is tried and tested and it’s all about helping to make golf clubs in the region successful. It draws from the success of the world’s largest golf complex in the world – Mission Hills China. Over one million rounds of golf played a year. A sensational

blueprint on how to operate a golf club that will keep members and guests coming back for more. Come and listen to Dr. Ken Chu, chairman of the Mission Hills Group share his thoughts about how Golf And More keeps twenty-two golf clubs in his complex humming like a precision machine. Never before has anyone been given a look at the inner workings RI 0LVVLRQ +LOOV ɇ QRW XQWLO WKH $VLD 3DFLʖF Golf Summit. If you are a golf course owner, operator or general manager, this is a once in a life-time opportunity to learn from one of the world’s most powerful men in golf.

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF SUMMIT

Asia Takes The Lead In Golf October 29-30, 2016

Hyatt Regency Hotel | Hua Hin | Thailand PRESENTED AND PRODUCED BY

STRATEGIC BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP

STAGING AND CONCEPT BY

OFFICIAL VENUE & HOTEL

ALBATROSS SPONSORSHIP

BIRDIE SPONSORSHIP

ASIAN GOLF ISSUE 190

Xtreme Golf (PXG) has Parsons made a very high level foray into Asia. The company started up two years ago by Internet mogul Bob Parsons is perhaps the most revolutionary golf equipment company in the world. Asian Golf has been following the growth of this exciting company from its early days and we got a chance to sit down with this “out-of-the-box” thinker in South Korea during which time, he shared his thoughts about the state of golf as he sees it.

2016 Golf Hall Of Famers

very important and powerful men in golf will be Two honoured during the 2016 Asia Pacific Golf Summit which is scheduled to be held in the Royal Thai City of Hua Hin on October 29-30. One of the highpoints of the longest running golf business conference in the Asia Pacific will be the induction of Mr. John Solheim, chairman of PING and Dr. Ken Chu, chairman of the Mission Hills Group, China to the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame. The induction will be part of the 17th staging of the Asian Golf Awards which will be staged on October 30.

Third Party Management – The Elixir For Golf Clubs

home to the highest number of golf clubs is witnessing a new trend. That America, trend is the migration of golf clubs, especially private country clubs that are seek-

ing out third party management companies to take over the operation of these facilities. One third party company that looks like the company of choice is Troon Golf – arguably the most prestigious and largest third party management company in the world. Asian Golf sets out to explore if the time is right for golf clubs in Asia to seriously consider the third party management route. For a sense of the migration trend, we sat down for an exclusive interview with Dana Garmany, the founder and chairman of Troon Golf.

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