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ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE
193
OCTOBER 2016
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22 APGS 2016: The Mark Of Excellence! The Asian Golf Awards for 2016 is highly symbolic in that each award stands for and represents the pinnacle of excellence of achievement by an organization or an individual in the Asian golf industry. The best amongst the best in the Asian golf industry will be honoured and celebrated at the awards ceremony in Hua Hin, Thailand on October 30.
42 Golf Citizen Strikes Partnership With APGG Golf Citizen has embarked on an ambitious partnership to grow its revolutionary on-line tee-time booking service throughout Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia.
60 Chun – Creates History! South Korea’s In Gee Chun etched her name in the record books with her efforts last month in France and she did it in grand style!
62 The KING Is Gone! Arnold Palmer, aged 87 will now look down from the heavens at a game that he almost single-handedly dragged out of the clutches of the exclusive and elite country club set and made it both accessible and playable for the average Joe.
6 Asian Golf Editorial Team
8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher
68 Next Issue
ISSUE 193
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46 The Power Po Of PINK! PING has aannounced it will sell 6,000 limited-edition pink PING G™ drivers, similar sim to the one used by Bubba Watson, and donate US$60 Bubba Watson Foundation for every pink driver sold. to the Bub
50 The “Biggest” “B Small Golf Company Turns 30! Tour Edge has now entered its 30th year in business – quite ite in a land of giants! Asian Golf caught an achievement achieve ght up and president, David Glod forr a chat about with its founder fou and vision. his success su
56 Looking For Distance stance And Incredible Feel? The Chicago based Wilson Golf, with the most number numb of major wins under its belt, has announced the launch off a new iron designed to dramatically improve player distance distanc stance and and accuracy. They have labelled it the Wilson Staff C200™. C
64 ADAPT to the Environment And Get Rid Of Three Putts! You know how frustrating it can get when you have to three putt. You really don’t have to put yourself through this torture if you follow a simple routine recommended by Asian Golf’s coaching guru Tony Meechai. Check out his latest Black Hat Golf Tip.
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OCTOBER 2016
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
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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
This is not a case of sour grapes but we in Asia watch the same broadcast channels as you guys and we can see how the cameras provide limited focus to Asian players especially when they are in contention. Oftentimes, some Western journeymen are given more TV exposure than Asian players who are in the running for victory. How unfair can you guys get?
W 8 8
ith more Asians making it at the very highest level of the professional game of golf, it is both timely and appropriate to appeal to our Western counterparts to treat Asian players with fairness. This is not a case of sour grapes but we in Asia watch the same broadcast channels as you guys and we can see how the cameras provide limited focus to Asian players especially when they are in contention. Oftentimes, some Western journeymen are given more TV exposure than Asian players who are in the running for victory. How unfair can you guys get? 9 ASIAN GOLF 9 ASIAN GOLF
To add insult to injury, when Asian stars are quoted, invariably everything is reported in verbatim. One wonders why this is done especially when you consider that the Western media reports in English (we hope?). It’s not that the Asian players are making statements that are legally or politically sensitive which warrant quoting them verbatim. Remember that English is not the mother tongue of Asian players and let it be known also that most of them speak more languages than the average Western professional golfer. Again, we wonder if reporting the statements made by Asian players is intended to embarrass and belittle them? We think so! And a case in point is how Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn is quoted. Golf Digest, the American publication recently quoted Ariya saying: “I feel like I’m going to withdraw this week because my knee hurt so bad last week - but when I got here on Monday and Tuesday, it’s getting a lot better, and first round it’s fine.” While the message is there, what’s wrong in just cleaning up her response to make it come across as grammatical English? You are not dealing with some two-bit player from the boonies. You are reporting about stars who are both big on the international stage and super-stars back in their home countries! Another example of Ariya quoted in verbatim goes like this: “To me it’s very hard today, because very windy, and the green is very, very firm.” Damnit! This is downright unfair! Western golf media, you may do better by quoting Asian stars speaking in their mother tongue and provide a “Google translate” link! How would you like it if we quoted Western players speaking colloquial English – or some form of local Patois or Creole! You get the message guys? Get accustomed to more Asians winning on the major tours and start learning to be objective and fair.
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COVER STORY 2016 Asian Golf Awards
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ISSUE 193
OCTOBER 2016
his measure hi his meas me assu of excellence is a trait trai tr aiit th tthat hatt iis shared by many across fields a ro ac oss s aallll fi fiel e d of human el enterprise e te en t rp pri r se s and and endeavour. This that plays a iss the the e same sam me measure me m e eaa prominent pr rom o in nen ent ro rrole le e iin n the selection of of the golf the crème the th c ème cr ème de èm de la la crème c cr club ccl lub industry ind dus ustr t y in tr in Asia. Asi s There are some 6,000 6, 6 ,000 000 golf 00 go g olf l clubs clubs lu ubss in in Asia As stretching As from ffr rrom om o m Japan Jap pan an in in the t e North th N rt No r th h and Indonesia to tthe to he SSouth he ou uth h aand nd d across accrrosss the th he sub-Continent into the Middle-East. Domiciled in this massive geography are the best amongst the best in the club industry, with many matching even the best the world has to offer. For the past seventeen years, the golf community has voted for and selected what they deem to be the
leaders in the club industry. This thrust is led by the Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG) under the esteemed banner of the Asian Golf Awards. This is an award programme that measures 32 important categories and 20 special categories. It is important to understand how the Asian Golf Awards is structured and conducted. It is poll that is conducted on-line over a three month duration. Each voter is required to identify himself by e-mail and is only allowed to vote once in the poll. For the 2016 Asian Golf Awards poll, there were more than 74,000 qualified votes and this is by far, the largest number of votes cast to date. “The Asian Golf Awards is a democratic process not dissimilar to how a properly monitored national election is conducted – in the final analysis, the popular vote counts and determines who wins,” explained Mike Sebastian, chief
The Asian Golf Awards has earned its place as the only pan-Asian award programme that has lasted the test of time. Like Hollywood, which has the annual Academy Awards to recognise the best in the motion picture industry, the Asian Golf Awards performs the same function by recognising the best of breed in the Asian golf club industry.” – Mike Sebastian, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific Golf Group SENTOSA GOLF CLUB, SINGAPORE
ANVAYA COVE GOLF & SPORTS CLUB, PHILIPPINES
, but if we chase e l b a n i a t t a t o n s “Perfection i lence.” l e c ex h c t a c n a c perfection we
– VINCE LOMBARDI
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Manager and Director of Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand executive officer of APGG, the owner and producer of the Asian Golf Awards. This award programme is not a contest where a few people gather together and select clubs based on their “expert knowledge”. “How clubs make the grade under the Asian Golf Award system is totally objective and it’s the final vote numbers that count,” said Sebastian. The Asian Golf Awards has earned its place as the only pan-Asian award programme that has lasted the test of time. Like Hollywood, which has the annual Academy Awards to recognise the best in the motion picture industry, the Asian Golf Awards performs the same function by recognising the best of breed in the Asian golf club industry. “It’s the Oscars of golf, and the awards are worth their weight in gold,” is how Stacey Walton, general manager and director of Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin BANYAN GOLF CLUB, HUA HIN, THAILAND
describes the Asian Golf Awards. “To be recognised as one of Asia’s Best is the greatest accolade that a golf club can achieve. It brings fantastic commercial benefits to strengthen your club’s brand, image and identity in a very competitive market and they are very motivating for course owners, club managers and team members when receiving them to be able to stand proud of their success,” Walton explained. Banyan Golf Club, like many of its peers in Asia, is noted for its all-round excellence and Walton feels that, “The awards are a testament of excellence and is a major key performance indicator and benchmark for our industry”. The value of the Asian Golf Awards cannot be overstated as all of the recipients conduct themselves in a manner that is fully cognisant of how and why they have been selected to be amongst Asia’s very best. HORIZON HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS, MALAYSIA
OCTOBER 2016 ISSUE 193
To be recognised as one of Asia’s Best is the greatest accolade that a golf club can achieve. It brings fantastic commercial benefits to strengthen your club’s brand, image and identity in a very competitive market and they are very motivating for course owners, club managers and team members when receiving them to be able to stand proud of their success.” – Stacey Walton, General
To T o be be recognized recognized among among the the elite elite and legends legends of of the the golf golf and industry is is really really a proud proud industry moment for for us us and and we we moment feel truly truly honoured honoured and and feel appreciated.” – S Steven teven appreciated.”
One club that has always done well in the Asian Golf Awards is the decorated Thai Country Club in Bangkok. 2016 is no different. “At Thai Country Club we nervously but excitedly wait for the awards each year as they are the pinnacle for the golf industry in this region. To even be nominated is a major achievement,” is how John Blanch, general manager of the club describes the award. A newcomer to the Asian Golf Awards is the BRG Group of Vietnam. Chief C hief Executive Executive Officer Officer ooff TPC TPC Kuala Kuala Lumpur Lumpur This group is leading the drive to develop Vietnam into a major golfing nation and destination. It is working with Nicklaus Design, “To “T o be e recognized rec ecog gniizze ed am aamong mon ng th the he e el elite litte aan and nd le legends ege gend ds Jack Nicklaus’ design company to open new golf courses of golf industry proud moment for of tthe he eg ollf in o nd du ust stry tryy iiss re rreally real eaalllly llyy a p rro oud ud m om o m men e t fo en or us us in some twenty provinces throughout the country. “BRG and honoured declared and we an we ffeel ee el tr ttruly u y ho ul h ono n ur ured re ed d aand nd aappreciated,” nd pp p prre ecciiat ate ed d,” d ecclaare re d has been very fortunate to have a committed chairman Steven chief officer SStte evve en n TThielke, hiiel h elke elke k , ch hie ef executive exxeccu uttiv ive of o ffi fice cerr of of TPC TPC Kuala Kua u laa with tremendous vision that has given the international Lumpur which only prestigious outside LLu ump mpur w hich hi c iiss the tth he o on nlyy p r sttig re gio ious ouss TTPC PC cclub PC lu ub outs o ou uttssid de team at BRG a unique opportunity to express themselves of America. of those th ho ose s in in the t e United th Un nit i ed e States Sta tate tte es of of A meriica. me meri caa. “The “TThe he 2016 20 01 16 and create top quality BRG golf facilities throughout Asian Golf the hard work Assiaan Go A G olff Awards Aw waard ds iss a solid sol o iid d testament te essttaam me ent nt tto o th he h ha ard dw orrk o Vietnam - put simply BRG is in the “business” of “play” put Kuala source off pu ut into into o TTPC PC CK uala ua laa LLumpur umpu um mpu pur byy tthe he e tteam e m an ea aand nd a so our u ce eo and we are committed to creating a sustainable future encouraging motivation greater Receiving enco en enco c ur urag a in ing mo m ottiiva vati tion ti n ffor orr g rre e eat ater at e ssuccess. er uccce ess s .R Re ece ceiv ivvin ing for quality golf in Vietnam,” said Mark Reeves BRG’s golf this one proudest th his is exceptional exc xcep ep pti tion nal a rrecognition ecog ec og gni nittiion n iiss on o e of of tthe he ep rro oud desst momo mo development and property business division director. ments for TPC Kuala me m e en ntts ffo n or TTP PC Ku K uala ala Lu al LLumpur,” u ump mpur mp purr,”, sstressed trressse ed Th TThielke. ie ellkke. e. One of Asia’s top golf clubs is the multi-award winTPC Kuala Lumpur is a partning Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin. To Black ner with the PGA Tour of America Mountain, the Asian Golf Awards is a true yardstick of quality. Harald Elisson, general manager of the club and is also host to Asia’s richest said, “Over the years, Black Mountain Golf Club has national golf tournament, the been very fortunate to have received many Asian Golf US$7 million CIMB Classic which awards, which have undoubtedly helped us to gain huge recognition worldwide.” He went on to add, “Being voted has been extended until 2020.
TThielke, hielke,
TPC KU KUALA UALA LUMPUR, LUMPU LU MPUR U R, MALAYSIA MALAYS MAL AYSIA
BRG KINGS’ KINGS NGS’’ ISLAND NGS I SLA LAND ND GOLF GOL F RESORT, RESO ESORT, R VIETNAM RT, V ETN VI E AM
n excellence - only in i e v e i l e b t ’ n o d s “Excellent firm ant change.” t s n o c d n a t n e m e constant improv
– TOM PETERS
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The Asian Golf Awards have been very instrumental in our success and ability to showcase our talents to new clients and users. With what can be a fragmented and difficult exercise to identify multitude of courses and businesses in a large and diverse Asian market, the Asian Golf Awards help to identify the cream of the crop and give order to the vast array of choices made available to the end user. We proudly showcase the awards for our accomplishments and look forward to many more in the years to come.” – Brian Curley, Principal of the award-winning firm of Schmidt-Curley Design MISSION HILLS RESORT, DONGGUAN, CHINA
SKY72 S SKY KY72 72 GOL GOLF F & RE R RESORT, SORT, T KOREA KOR EA
OCTOBER 2016
2016, that award will be going to the Laguna Golf Group which operates clubs in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. “Laguna Golf is extremely proud to be recognized by the prestigious Asian Golf Awards. The Asia Pacific Golf Group provide the platform for forward thinking golf industry professionals to share best practices. This collaboration supports our Laguna Golf objective to strive for excellence and explore ways we can enhance our golf experiences,” was the reaction of Paul Wilson, director of golf at Laguna Phuket Golf Club. It is only fitting that the final word on the 2016 Asian Golf Awards is given to the host nation represented by the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn. In a special statement, he said, “The Tourism Authority of Thailand would like to take this
ISSUE 193
“The Best” is incredibly rewarding and really motivates both management and staff to strive to maintain the highest standards and to continue with improvements to make sure that our club is high up on every golfer’s “must-play” list.” Adding an additional dollop of icing, Elisson declared, “Winning an award definitely attracts new customers to a club and it is of great interest to the golfing public, helping them to make informed choices about the best and most popular clubs to visit”. Each year, starting in 2012, one of the most prestigious awards presented has been the Asia Pacific Custodian Of The Environment Award. This is an award that recognises a golf club for its programmes on sustainable environmental protection practices. For
and personalities who have made the grade at the 2016 Asian Golf Awards. Each individual and organisation deserves to be honoured and celebrated for setting high standards of excellence in all of their undertakings. This celebration will be held on October 30 at the plush five-star Hyatt Regency Resort in Hua Hin, Thailand eral Manager, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand at the Annual Asian Golf Awards Banquet. opportunity to thank all the delegates who have come The following are the nominations across the various to join this prestigious award ceremony and the Asia voting categories and special award categories. Please Pacific Golf Summit in Thailand. I hope that you get note that all names of clubs and individuals are not placed the chance to enjoy some time on the world-class golf in any order of merit. The final results will be announced courses while you’re here in Hua Hin, Thailand’s leading on October 31. golf and resort destination. After all, the town boasts some amazing facilities for golfers not to mention top-class accommodation and our people’s warm hospitality. It is facilities and amenities like these that have made Thailand become one of the world’s most popular golf destinations.” This special report is General Manager, Thai Country Club dedicated to all the golf clubs
Winning an award definitely attracts new customers to a club and it is of great interest to the golfing public, helping them to make informed choices about the best and most popular clubs to visit.” – Harald Elisson, Gen-
At Thai Country Club we nervously but excitedly wait for the awards each year as they are the pinnacle for the golf industry in this region. To even be nominated is a major achievement.”
– John Blanch,
BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB, HUA HIN, THAILAND
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THAI COUNTRY CLUB, THAILAND
ome people aren’t used S . y t i l a u q f o k c “Be a yardsti nce is expected.”– STEVE JOBS e l l e c ex e r e h w t to an environmen
2016 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS TOP THREE NOMINEES | COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT) BEST COURSE IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM Pantai Mentiri Golf Club The Empire Hotel & Country Club Royal Brunei Golf & Country Club
BEST COURSE IN CAMBODIA Garden City Golf Club Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club Angkor Golf Resort
BEST COURSE IN CHINA (INCLUDING HONG KONG AND MACAU) Yalong Bay Golf Club Tianma Golf & Country Club Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou, Blackstone Course
BEST COURSE IN CHINESE TAIPEI The Orient Golf & Country Club Ta Shee Golf & Country Club Miramar Golf Country Club
BEST COURSE IN INDIA ITC Classic Golf Resort DLF Golf & Country Club Oxford Golf & Country Club
BEST COURSE IN INDONESIA
BEST COURSE IN MYANMAR
Ria Bintan Golf Club Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort Royale Jakarta Golf Club
Royal Mingalardon Golf & Country Club Bagan Golf Club Pun Hlaing Golf Club
BEST COURSE IN JAPAN
BEST COURSE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Tokyo Golf Club Kawana Resort, Fuji Course Hirono Golf Club
Mt. Malarayat Golf & Country Club Sta. Elena Golf & Country Estate Anvaya Cove Golf & Sports Club
BEST COURSE IN SOUTH KOREA
BEST COURSE IN SINGAPORE
The Club at Nine Bridges Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Sky72 Golf Club, Ocean Course
Sentosa Golf Club Tanah Merah Country Club Marina Bay Golf Course
BEST COURSE IN LAOS
BEST COURSE ON THE SUB-CONTINENT (INCLUDING BANGLADESH, NEPAL, PAKISTAN AND SRI LANKA)
SEA Games Golf Club Long Vien Golf Club Luang Prabang Golf Club
BEST COURSE IN MALAYSIA Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club Kota Permai Golf & Country Club TPC Kuala Lumpur
BEST COURSE IN MIDDLE EAST Saadiyat Beach Golf Club Yas Links Abu Dhabi Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course
Victoria Golf & Country Resort (Sri Lanka) Islamabad Golf Club (Pakistan) Karachi Golf Club (Pakistan)
BEST COURSE IN THAILAND Banyan Golf Club Thai Country Club Black Mountain Golf Club
BEST COURSE IN VIETNAM Kings’ Island Golf Resort Ba Na Hills Golf Club Heron Lake Golf Resort
2016 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS TOP THREE NOMINEES | BEST IN ASIA PACIFIC (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT) BEST GOLF DESTINATION IN ASIA PACIFIC
BEST GOLF RESORT IN ASIA PACIFIC
Indonesia Vietnam Thailand
Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort (Indonesia) Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou (China) Anvaya Cove Golf & Sports Club (Philippines)
BEST COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC
BEST CLUBHOUSE IN ASIA PACIFIC
Tianma Golf & Country Club (China) Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou, Blackstone Course (China)
Bali National Golf Club (Indonesia) TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou (China)
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore) Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou, Blackstone Course (China)
BEST MAINTAINED COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC
BEST MANAGED GOLF CLUB IN ASIA PACIFIC TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Thai Country Club (Thailand)
BEST LOCKER ROOM (MALE OR FEMALE) IN ASIA PACIFIC Thai Country Club (Thailand) TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)
BEST COURSE ARCHITECT IN ASIA PACIFIC
Thai Country Club (Thailand) Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)
Nicklaus Design Schmidt-Curley Design Inc. IMG Golf
BEST PRO-SHOP IN ASIA PACIFIC
BEST NEW COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC
Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou (China) TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Ba Na Hills Golf Club (Vietnam) FLC Quy Nhon Golf Links (Vietnam) Legend Hill Golf Resort (Vietnam)
display character. d n a , e d i r p e v a h “Show class, of itself.” e r a c s e k a t g n i n If you do, win – PAUL BRYANT
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2016 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS TOP THREE NOMINEES | SPECIAL CATEGORIES (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT)
ASIA PACIFIC BUSINESS INITIATIVE AWARD
BEST CLUB GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
BEST MARCOMM MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Laguna Golf Phuket (Thailand)
John Blanch – Thai Country Club (Thailand) Stacey Walton – Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Harald Elisson – Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand)
Bhanujsaya Dangsuwan – Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Kong Ai Lin – Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (Malaysia) Loh Chyi Jen - TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
BEST RENOVATED COURSE OF THE YEAR Laguna Golf Bintan (Indonesia) Ruby Tree Golf Resort (Vietnam)
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY EXPERIENCE Marina Bay Golf Course (Singapore) Bintan Lagoon Resort (Indonesia) Southlinks Golf Club (Philippines)
BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC Marina Bay Golf Course (Singapore) Southlinks Golf Club (Philippines) The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course Limited (Hong Kong)
BEST GOLF CLUB EXPERIENCE IN ASIA PACIFIC Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore)
BEST FOOD AND BEVERAGE EXPERIENCE IN ASIA PACIFIC Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) Thai Country Club (Thailand) LAGUNA PHUKET GOLF CLUB, THAILAND
BEST FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR Stanley Law – Mission Hills Golf Club, Mid-Valley Clubhouse (China) Jintanna Zinn, Thai Country Club (Thailand) Sumeth Intarai – Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)
BEST PROFESSIONAL GOLF COACH IN ASIA PACIFIC Tony Meechai – TMG Group Asia (Thailand) John Wither - Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) David Milne/Lawrie Montague – Pro Tour Golf College (Perth – Jakarta – Bangkok)
BEST GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR Minachai Srichanya - Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Mohd Nizam Othman - TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Yulius Widodo – Royale Jakarta Golf Club (Indonesia)
BEST HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR Kwandee Thanontip - Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) Mohd Amir Ibrahim – The Els Club Teluk Datai (Malaysia) Azhan Abdul Kadir - TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
BEST GOLF MANAGER OF THE YEAR Sam Zheng – Mission Hills Golf Club Shenzhen (China) Mohd Yusri Bin Mat Isa - Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club (Malaysia) Stuart Daly - Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)
BEST CADDIE OF THE YEAR Lulu Yan - Mission Hills Golf Club Shenzhen (China) Lee Yun Joo – Sky72 Golf Club (South Korea) Ployprapa (Ying) Silawong- Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)
OCTOBER 2016 ISSUE 193
Laguna Golf is extremely proud to be recognized by the prestigious Asian Golf Awards. The Asia Pacific Golf Group provide the platform for forward thinking golf industry professionals to share best practices. This collaboration supports our Laguna Golf objective to strive for excellence and explore ways we can enhance our golf experiences.” – Paul Wilson, Director, Laguna Phuket Golf Club
SPECIAL FEATURE Asia PaciямБc Golf Summit 2016
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ISSUE 193
OCTOBER 2016
There is never a perfect time to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate winners. Perhaps the best moment and measure of winning and the sweet sound of success is the Olympics where the best amongst the best are placed on pedestals to be honoured. This tradition goes back to the ancient Games staged in Olympia, Greece, from 776 BC through 393 AD.
This being the year of the Olympics, we thought that the best in the golf industry in [OL (ZPH 7HJPÄJ ZOV\SK IL JLSLIYH[LK PU H THUULY [OH[ PZ PU RLLWPUN ^P[O [OL NYLH[ 6S`TWPJ [YHKP[PVU ,HJO `LHY MVY [OL WHZ[ ZL]LU[LLU `LHYZ [OL (ZPH 7HJPÄJ .VSM .YV\W (7.. OHZ ILLU [OL VUS` VYNHUPaH[PVU ^P[O H WHU (ZPHU YLJVNUP[PVU L]LU[ [V ZLLR out the best amongst the best and to reward these winners with the prestigious Asian .VSM (^HYKZ [OL PUK\Z[Y`»Z Z[HUKHYK VM L_JLSSLUJL
SPECIAL FEATURE Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2016 The Asian Golf Awards for 2016 are highly symbolic in that each award stands for and represents the pinnacle of excellence of achievement by an organization or an individual in the Asian golf industry and we are expressing this high standard by presenting very elegant medals.” – Mike Sebastian
T
his year, APGG, the owner
the region’s premier business and knowl-
an individual in the Asian golf industry and
of the Asian Golf Awards is
edge conference on golf.
we are expressing this high standard by
raising the bar as a mark of
“The Asian Golf Awards for 2016 are
respect to the Olympic year
highly symbolic in that each award stands
Mike Sebastian, APGG’s chief executive
and the 10th Anniversary of
for and represents the pinnacle of excel-
officer.
the Asia Pacific Golf Summit,
lence of achievement by an organization or
presenting very elegant medals,” revealed
Like the Olympics, the top award will include a “gold” plaque measuring eight-inches in diameter and it will be housed in an elegant presentation box. The first runner-up in each award category will receive a “silver” plaque and the second runner-up will be presented with a “bronze” plaque. All plaques will be accompanied by certificates of commendation which have become the hallmark of the Asian Golf Awards – a symbol of excellence that is proudly displayed at all recipient clubs. The design for the featured plaques was created by APGG’s Creative Director Raquel Arcega. “This design is very special to all of us and we hope that it is received in the
MADAME NGUYEN THI NGA CHAIRMAN BRG GROUP, VIETNAM
same spirit by all of the award winners.” The special awards category which includes the Asia Pacific Hall Of Fame and the Asia Pacific Golf Life-Time Achievement were also designed by APGG and specially manufactured in Thailand by master-craftsmen. Two illustrious men from the global golf industry will be inducted into the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame. The inductees are Dr. Ken Chu, the group
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OCTOBER 2016
chairman of the multi-billion dollar Mission Hills Group of China and Mr. John Solheim, chairman and chief executive officer of PING, one of the great golf brands of the world. The Asia Pacific Golf Life-Time Achievement award will be bestowed upon the chairman of the BRG Group in Vietnam, Madame Nguyen Thi Nga. “The 2016 Asian Golf Awards, always regarded as the “Oscars” of the Asian golf industry now takes on the pomposity and grandeur of the Olympics - only the best
DR. KEN CHU
for the best of the best in the golf
CHAIRMAN MISSION HILLS GROUP, CHINA
industry!” declared Sebastian. The Asian Golf Awards will be staged at the five-star Hyatt Regency Resort in Hua Hin on October 30 and it will be part of the 2016 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.
The 2016 Asian Golf Awards, always regarded as the “Oscars” of the Asian golf industry now takes on the pomposity and grandeur of the Olympics - only the best for the best of the best in the golf industry!”
MR. JOHN SOLHEIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PING, USA
EQUIPMENT FOCUS Titleist 917
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Talk about innovation, not just plain innovation but disruptive innovation and one can’t help but rope in the name Titleist into the equation. This is a brand that keeps on pushing the envelope every chance it gets and its latest foray into the realm of top performance golf clubs is an out and V\[ ^PUULY 0[»Z HU L`L WVWWLY HUK UV NVSMLY ^VY[O OPZ ZHS[ JHU HɈVYK UV[ to check it out!
T
he latest from the House of Titleist is a family of drivers and fairway woods that is not only fantastic but the clubs make a huge and bold statement – the clubs and the engineering behind them set a whole new standard – a standard that has been tried, tested and validated on the greatest professional tour on the planet – the PGA Tour. And with huge success! The clubs are the new 917D2 and 917D3 and the 917F2 and 917F3 fairway woods. They have been brought to life after nearly two years since the launch of their predecessors, the highly successful 915D2 and 915D3, products which themselves featured very sophisticated technology. In fact, for those who have had the chance to play with the 915’s would be quick to agree that the two earlier drivers were perhaps the most accom-
modating drivers ever produced by Titleist! Before we proceed any further, ASIAN GOLF would like to go on record to salute Titleist for sticking religiously to its rigid two-year product life-cycle before hitting the market again with a new product. It takes tremendous discipline and this practice is proof positive that it’s good for the brand and for player loyalty. The new 917’s were put to play in June as part of Titleist’s “seeding programme” designed to obtain feedback from some of the world’s best professional golfers. The feedback was excellent! Jimmy Walker put the 917D2 to play and he romped home by bagging the PGA Championship, the last major of the year. “It was definitely faster, had a better sound and feel, and I really loved the shape,” Walker said after his spectacular victory. “Performance-wise, I found a lower sweet spot and I was able to lower my spin rate to exactly where I wanted. The ball flight was also what I liked to see, which is not super high. I can fly the ball on a rope any-
EQUIPMENT FOCUS Titleist 917 where from 295-310 and then it just rolls out far and straight. I’ve also picked up a lot of confidence hitting it into the wind,” Walker added. Also at the PGA Championship, South Korea’s Byeong Hun An won the event’s Long Drive Contest, using his new Titleist 917D3 to hit a 347-yard drive off Baltusrol’s first tee. “My misses seem to stay straight right on line and no doubt it’s longer than my 915D4,” An said If you need more validation on the power of the 917’s, this fact may help: More than 150 players have trusted new 917 drivers in competition across the worldwide professional tours since
the start to the seeding and validation process– including Adam Scott, Bill Haas, Byeong Hun An, Justin Thomas, Charley Hoffman, Scott Piercy, Jason Dufner and Webb Simpson. Speaking about distance, the diminutive Justin Thomas (just 66 kg in weight) hammered his new 917D3 at Firestone Country Club and unleashed a 414-yard drive down the fairway of the 667-yard par-5. To date, it’s the longest drive recorded this season on the PGA Tour. Now, that’s saying a lot for the 917 driver! It all comes together when you listen to what Dan Stone, vice president of research and development at Titleist has
to say: “The meticulous nature of our R&D process guarantees that any new innovation ultimately complements the overall package, and we’re confident that 917 delivers on golfers’ each and every requirement. There may be other adjustable drivers in the market, but none are able to maximize the total driving performance for golfers of all abilities like 917.” “When we talk to golfers about driver performance, distance and forgiveness are always paramount. But they aren’t the only attributes that players look for in a driver. They also want a repeatable trajectory, a shot shape they can count on for better accuracy. And they need it to look,
More than 150 players have trusted new 917 drivers in competition across the worldwide professional tours since the start to the seeding and validation process– including Adam Scott, Bill Haas, Byeong Hun An, Justin Thomas, Charley Hoffman, Scott Piercy, Jason Dufner and Webb Simpson.”
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sound and feel great,” Stone explained. Let’s now do a drill-down on the 917’s to find what makes these new drivers deliver increased ball speed for more distance with superior forgiveness, industryleading adjustability with optimized trajectory control, and tour-inspired sound and feel. All of these wonderful innovations are made possible through the following breakthrough technologies: Active Recoil Channel (ARC) 2.0, a long, wide, deep sole channel, actively flexes and recoils at impact to launch the ball off the face with higher speed and lower spin for more distance. Refined thickness areas throughout the channel, including thinner heel and toe regions, produce greater face flexibility for a more consistent deflection that reduces spin and increases speed across the face. Radial Speed Face 2.0, a high-speed forged face insert, is tuned with ARC 2.0 to promote greater off-centre ball speed for more overall distance. A precise, High-MOI Design, with a low and deep center of gravity location, delivers stability and forgiveness by preserving off-centre ball speed for more distance, more often. Titleist’s industry-leading SureFit Hosel and new SureFit CG weight system deliver the ultimate in precision fitting for every player. The proprietary 16-setting SureFit Hosel allows golfers to set loft and lie independently to optimize ball flight for improved shot control and maximum distance. New SureFit CG provides precise adjustability through a highly efficient interchangeable weight system, optimizing spin and launch conditions for a more
consistent trajectory and tighter shot dispersion. The unique orientation of SureFit CG, positioned at an angle deep on the sole, enables the centre of gravity to be moved from Neutral to a back, heel position (Draw) or forward, toe position (Fade). Each SureFit CG position affects dynamic face closure and gear-effect sidespin, enabling golfers to enhance their preferred ball flight and shot shape through more consistent impact and spin. The streamlined design of SureFit CG – which provides significant weight savings versus competitive “track” systems – allows the CG to be manipulated while preserving 917’s high-MOI properties for distance with forgiveness. SureFit CG also provides the flexibility for headweight adjustability (+/- 4 grams). What is most important to understand is that with the 917’s, Titleist has effectively put the Titleist Tour Van in a player’s golf bag. The built-in adjustable technologies on the 917’s offer the type of customization previously available only to professionals who had access to the sophisticated Titleist Tour Van. With the
917’s a Titleist authorized fitter will utilize the SureFit Hosel and SureFit CG, coupled with interchangeable shafts, to determine a player’s optimal setup so they are playing a 917 driver that is fit precisely to their swing. Sure takes the mystique out of the seemingly completed process of having a club custom-fitted! So, what’s the special qualities of the two 917 drivers. The way we see it, this is how it stacks: Both models (917D2 and 917D3) provide distinct performance choices, particularly in spin and trajectory, for greater fitting flexibility and precise flight and shot shape optimization. 917D2 provides distance and forgiveness in a large 460cc full pear profile. 917D2 offers more forgiveness and produces a higher peak trajectory with 250rpm more spin versus 917D3. (Available in 8.5º, 9.5º, 10.5º and 12º lofts.) 917D3 provides distance with work-
EQUIPMENT FOCUS Titleist 917 ability in a traditional, tour-inspired 440cc pear profile. 917D3 offers more workability and 250rpm less spin versus 917D2. (Available in 8.5º, 9.5º, and 10.5º lofts.) What does this mean to a player? Great question and Titleist have the answers for you. According to Titleist, golfers properly fit for a 917D2 or 917D3 driver experienced an average of 0.5-1 mph additional ball speed and 100-200 rpm lower spin with the new model as compared to 915D2 or 915D3 – for an average of three to five yards more carry distance. With both 917 models, players experienced more consistent speeds and lower spin across the face than their 915 drivers. Players’ SureFit CG position preferences were similarly distributed between Neutral, Draw and Fade. Optimized head shapes and structures, designed to produce specific acoustic frequencies, deliver a tour-inspired sound and feel that the world’s best players demand. SureFit CG, by aligning the centre of gravity with the impact position, also contributes to a more solid feel. At address, 917’s tour-validated “liquid slate” finish provides added confidence. “The combined power of the SureFit hosel and SureFit CG takes us to another level in terms of optimizing spin and maximizing distance potential,” according to Stone. The head of Titleist R&D went on to point out, “We’ve seen through our extensive player testing that when you determine the appropriate CG for a player, the club squares up and
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We put performance at the top of the pyramid and are constantly driven by the expectation that every new product we launch to the market will be the best we’ve ever made. That’s a tough challenge that can only be conquered by innovations and unique ways of doing things, by taking the time to iterate and test over a longer period of time. But it’s because of that commitment that we are able to develop products like 917 and confidently say that they are the longest, most forgiving, best performing and easiestto-hit Titleist metalwoods ever.” times up more consistently for them. They hit the centre of the face more often, they gain club head speed and ball speed, and their shot dispersion tightens significantly. What’s also notable is that because of those results and that feeling of being dialed in, we’re seeing players gain more confidence and swing more aggressively, which creates even more ball speed and more distance.” Complementing the 917 drivers are the new Titleist 917 fairways woods which provide more distance and forgiveness with the most precise adjustability available to dedicated golfers of all skill levels. The 917 fairway woods, like the 917 drivers, are designed using the new patented Active Recoil Channel 2.0 and SureFit CG technology. “The most important attribute in designing a Titleist golf club is absolute performance, it’s at the core of what we do,” said Stone who continued, “We put performance at the top of the pyramid and are constantly driven by the expectation that every new product we launch to the
market will be the best we’ve ever made. That’s a tough challenge that can only be conquered by innovations and unique ways of doing things, by taking the time to iterate and test over a longer period of time. But it’s because of that commitment that we are able to develop products like 917 and confidently say that they are the longest, most forgiving, best performing and easiest-tohit Titleist metalwoods ever.” The fairway woods come in two models (917F2 and 917F3) and the clubs provide distinct performance choices, particularly in spin and trajectory, for greater fitting flexibility and precise flight and shot shape optimization. 917F2 provides all-around playability with forgiveness and more distance in a larger profile fairway. 917F2 offers more spin and higher launch versus 917F3 for a higher trajectory. (Available in 13.5º, 15º, 16.5º, 18º and 21º lofts.) 917F3 provides versatility with shot control and more distance in a compact profile fairway. 917F3 offers less spin versus 917F2 for a more boring trajectory. (Available in 13.5 and 15º lofts.) The 917 fairway woods take over from the highly successful performance record of the Titleist 915’s which established new levels in terms of launch and spin performance with fairway metals. “We’ve optimized 917 fairway spin through a deeper CG position that drives up our MOI and via our loft setting. What golfers can expect are products that launch higher with the same spin, products that are easier to get up in the air with more speed and more distance potential,” revealed Stephanie Luttrell, director, Titleist Metalwood Development.
We’ve optimized 917 fairway spin through a deeper CG position that drives up our MOI and via our loft setting. What golfers can expect are products that launch higher with the same spin, products that are easier to get up in the air with more speed and more distance potential.”
THE LAST WORD: This is not an idle boast because ASIAN GOLF’s equipment editor, Lawrence Young tested the clubs during the Titleist launch and he was able to validate everything that Titleist said that its clubs could deliver. “It was fascinating to see the readings on the screen (launch monitor), the difference created, specifically faster club head speed of up to 4 and 5 mph, longer driving distances of between 3 to 25 metres, less dispersion as a result of the Surefit technology, better control through spin rate management. Facts don’t lie ... and these are actually recorded and visible on the lap top readings taken off the Trackman launch monitor.”
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
STAGING AND CONCEPT BY
OFFICIAL VENUE & HOTEL
ALBATROSS SPONSORSHIP
BIRDIE SPONSORSHIP
EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade Gloire F2
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OCTOBER 2016
Golfers are constantly bombarded by equipment manufacturers with claims of their products, particularly drivers, being either forgiving or friendly or oftentimes, as being both forgiving and friendly. Most of the time, the performance of the drivers do live up to the claims. Sometimes, the performance not only meets the claims but exceed expectations. One such case is the Gloire F2 driver from TaylorMade’s Japanese stable.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade Gloire F2
T
he Gloire F2 is described as a “revolution” in driver technology and according to TaylorMade, the driver is for the “premium athlete” who demands the highest quality and the latest technology in golf club design. Gloire F2 is the latest iteration of the successful Gloire F franchise engineered to provide distance and incredible forgiveness for golfers of all abilities and swing speeds. It has been built to provide more distance and forgiveness with exceptional feel, resulting in a premium experience for the golfer looking for easy and increased distance. The new Gloire F2 is equipped with advanced technologies like its proprietary Speed Pocket technology, and a sophisticated head design with a new centre of
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The new Gloire F2 is equipped with advanced technologies like its proprietary Speed Pocket technology, and a sophisticated head design with a new centre of gravity position and an expanded sweet spot. These features not only provide all golfers more distance but also give more control of the ball.” gravity position and an expanded sweet spot. These features not only provide all golfers more distance but also give more control of the ball. A demonstration unit was sent to ASIAN GOLF and in a full 18-hole try-out, the
Glorie F2 was a sweetheart of a driver to hit. It was so forgiving that even off-centre hits sent the ball careening as though it was smacked right on the club’s sweet-spot. Distance is a given and perhaps its length is precisely the quality that has delivered
ISSUE 193
great success on the Japan Women’s and Senior Golf Tours. Central to the F2’s success in Japan is its new sophisticated clubhead design in which the 911 titanium body and dimpled crown saves 7g to allow for a slightly larger address shape which in turn increases the CG location that is higher and further back resulting in improved playability and confidence. Additionally, a precisely placed CG weight of 5.5g increases MOI and promotes high launching distance with the added benefits of increased forgiveness. Like most drivers these days, the F2 offers loft sleeve adjustability for up to 12 settings and +/-1.5° for a total loft range of 3° which allows a golfer to adjust to the optimal loft and face settings needed. All in all, the Gloire F2 driver is a driver that delivers what is has been designed to produce and with that special Japanese touch, it makes it an ideal weapon especially for Asian golfers.
OCTOBER 2016
EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade Gloire F2
Completing the package are the new Gloire F2 Irons which combine a new Speed Pocket, new forged ICT face, and a new L-shaped face design (#5-P) making for an elegant and playable package. The cut-through Speed Pocket paired with the smaller and thinner forged ICT face, expands the sweet spot making the irons faster and more forgiving across the clubface. The F2 irons have a more modern shape which provides for more confidence at address and increased playability on all shots. Top line edge promotes easier aiming, and the new camber sole design allows the club to be easily addressed behind the ball and to glide through the turf easily. Progressive CG design for each individual iron optimizes trajectory, playability, and fine tunes sound and feel in each iron. The tour inspired shapes and forged soft carbon (1025) short irons (AW, SW) complete the overall design giving them the exact look and feel preferred by the most discerning golfers.
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The F2 irons have a more modern shape which provides for more confidence at address and increased playability on all shots.�
Golf
&
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Relax
◆
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Mission Hills Haikou is a fully-integrated resort destination offering a variety of experiences. Our all-in-one resort provides world-class sports, leisure entertainment and wellness facilities for the whole family. Golf enthusiasts FDQ H[SORUH WKH PDQ\ ÀUVW UDWH JROI FRXUVHV ZKLOH RWKHUV LQ VHDUFK RI D relaxing getaway can experience premium pampering at the Spa and Mineral Springs. Families are invited to step back in time and discover the thrill of cinema in the authentic Movie Town. Whatever your interest, Mission Hills Haikou allows you to pursue your passions and relax in a truly unique setting.
Mission Hills Haikou Hainan, China | +(86 898) 6863 3388 www.missionhillschina.com | info@missionhillschina.com
SPECIAL FEATURE Golf Citizen
Golf Citizen has embarked on an ambitious partnership to grow its revolutionary online tee-time booking service throughout Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia. 42
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he ground-breaking partnership is with the Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG), publisher of Asian Golf, Asia’s most authoritative golf magazine. The Dubai-based Golf Citizen is one of the fastest growing on-line services in golf and it plans to grow its business platform in Asia. In announcing the partnership, Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman and chief executive officer of Golf Citizen said, “We want to make it universally known that golfers in Asia now have the ability to book teetimes at any club in the GOLF CITIZEN network.”
ISSUE 193
OCTOBER 2016
On-line reservation services for golf clubs is the way to go and it is an excellent way for a club to sell as much of its available tee-times to a global marketplace.” – Mike Sebastian In time, the plan is to have most of the top golf clubs in the region registered with Golf Citizen. Commenting on the partnership, Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of APGG said, “On-line reservation services for golf clubs is the way to go and it is an excellent way for a club to sell as much of its available tee-times to a global marketplace.” “With online payment, and email confirmations, golfers will enjoy a seamless booking process and as this service grows, it is going to be a golfer’s best partner – just imagine, no more phone calls, no more booking forms and no more hassles,” added Buamaim. Click on the country you wish to play golf in, select your preferred city and finally pick your favourite golf course. It can’t get simpler than that!
Golf clubs in the region who would like to avail themselves of this service can contact alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com and she will walk you through the process of being signed up for Golf Citizen. For golfers interested in becoming a Golf Citizen sign up for FREE at: https://golfcitizen.com/ Remember, with Golf Citizen, all you have to do is: SEARCH for your preferred course, date and time. BOOK in 3 easy steps. PLAY your favourite courses.
With online payment, and email confirmations, golfers will enjoy a seamless booking process and as this service grows, it is going to be a golfer’s best partner – just imagine, no more phone calls, no more booking forms and no more hassles.” – Mohamed Juma Buamaim
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EQUIPMENT FOCUS PING G™ Drivers
If you recall, back in 2012, the charismatic American golfer Bubba Watson slipped on the traditional green jacket after becoming the newest Masters champion. A stand-out at this crowning moment was a driver with a pink shaft and a pink head. This was certainly not a publicity stunt but an initiative to raise funds for his foundation. The pink driver bore the PING brand and the driver was part of a yearlong campaign sponsored by PING. Every time Bubba drove the ball over 300 yards, PING pledged to donate US$300 dollars to his charity. 46
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We’re blessed with the opportunity to partner with Bubba and are very grateful to golfers who choose to support this program for the benefit of the Bubba Watson Foundation.”
F
our years later, PING is continuing with this cause. PING has announced it will sell 6,000 limited-edition pink PING G™ drivers, similar to the one used by Bubba Watson, and donate US$60 to the Bubba Watson Foundation for every pink driver sold. It marks the third time in four years the company has partnered with Watson on the fundraiser, which will now surpass US$1 million in donations since its beginning in 2012. “Bubba’s a creative thinker and his decision to distinguish himself by using a pink driver and shaft helped make this programme possible,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO. “I first met him as a teenager and he’s been on our staff since turning professional in 2003. He has a huge heart and continues to use his success in golf to help people in need, especially children. We’re blessed with the opportunity to partner with Bubba and are very grateful to golfers who choose to support this programme
for the benefit of the Bubba Watson Foundation.” “PING and the Solheim family are incredibly generous in giving back to the game through ideas like the limited-edition pinkdriver programme,” Watson said. “I’m very grateful for all of their support, on and off the golf course. The response from the first two driver programmes was amazing, so I’m excited to continue this tradition for the third time. We’ve been able to do a lot of great things together that truly help improve the lives of the less fortunate and those in need.” The limited-edition drivers will have a bright pink shaft and clubhead featuring the same technology as the highly acclaimed standard G driver, including Dragonfly Technology on the crown finished in dark gray to create a contrasting, eye-popping appearance.
OCTOBER 2016
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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 KV^U[V^U HUK PZ YLUV^ULK 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
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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 Tour Edge Hot Launch 2
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OCTOBER 2016
In an industry where more tombstones are being erected and some of the big guns are facing uncertainty, any positive news that emerges, comes across as a breath of fresh air and new hope. Of late, we have stood witness to mighty Nike Inc. dumping its stake in golf equipment. Who knows what else is to come but the golf horizon looks gloomy with some dark clouds looming and threatening to come down on some very familiar names in the trade.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS Tour Edge Hot Launch 2
David Glod (left) with newly appointed executive vice president John Craig (right).
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gainst this ominous setting, one manufacturer continues to keep growing and producing equipment with a special “edge” – a really sharp edge that is founded on a solid bedrock centred on very sound technology. That company is Tour Edge which has now entered its 30th year in business – quite an achievement in a land of giants! Asian Golf caught up with its founder and president, David Glod for a chat about his success and vision. Glod is not your typical high-profile corporate head. He is a very down-toearth, hands-on, get-the-job-done sort of a guy. In fact, he looks more like a scholarly college professor complete with his spectacles. Glod is all about technology and is driven with great passion when it comes to research and development. In fact, it is his intense belief in R&D that has served as the cornerstone for Tour Edge’s success over the past thirty years in what has been a dog-eat-dog industry. “I feel like my initial plan to fulfil a segment in the market that was empty has paid off and that segment relates to the provision of great golf clubs at affordable prices. This is a time-proven corporate ethos and it is needed even
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I feel like my initial plan to fulfil a segment in the market that was empty has paid off and that segment relates to the provision of great golf clubs at affordable prices. This is a timeproven corporate ethos and it is needed even more today.” – David Glod more today,” declared Glod. Looking back on the company’s successful run, he recollected, “We have been successful for a number of different reasons, but our relationships with customers and vendors has truly been an intricate part of our ability to not only stay in business but to thrive even during economic downturns.” If there is one topic that gets Glod excited, it has to be research and development. At the very mention of R&D, his eyes light up and a tone of positivity becomes evident in his voice: “Our entire company philosophy was different from the beginning. We don’t spend much money on advertising or on the Tour. We chose to spend it on R&D, making better products, and providing great customer service and
benefits to all of our partners.” One of the hallmarks of Tour Edge is its commitment to quality. Glod said, “We stand behind all of our golf clubs with a lifetime warranty which is unheard of in many industries, golf included. We have smaller product runs, hand assemble them one at a time in our factory in Batavia, IL, and have excellent quality assurance practices and policies. As a whole, everyone at Tour Edge takes great pride in our clubs, and our Lifetime Warranty.” You’ve simply got to love a company with this sort of a commitment and mind-set! Shifting gears and discussing the future of golf, Glod responded, “We are like everyone else and just watching what’s happening. Tour Edge is a smaller compa-
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Our entire company philosophy was different from the beginning. We don’t spend much money on advertising or on the Tour. We chose to spend it on R&D, making better products, and providing great customer service and benefits to all of our partners.” ny; a different animal all together. Our size allows us to be nimble, and offer services to our accounts and consumers that larger companies cannot. Like our new 48-hour shipping guarantee (continental US), Lifetime Warranty, and our commitment to offering products to fit into every budget.” In line with Tour Edge’s commitment to quality, the company has launched its latest line of new products under the “Hot Launch 2 Line” and commenting on this
HOT LAUNCH 2 DRIVERS The 460cc adjustable driver is powered by cup face technology with standard loft options from 8.5 to 12.5 degrees in 1 degree increments The offset driver encompasses a more offset hosel allowing the face to ‘square- up’ at impact for straighter ball flight.
comprehensive range of products that include drivers, woods, hybrids and irons, Glod said, “The timing was right to introduce the family of products, as I believe the market place is in desperate need for state-of-the-art golf clubs that can be customized and at an affordable price.” The new Hot Launch 2 Line expands on Tour Edge’s ‘Golf’s Most Solid Investment’ mantra and what that means to players today.
The Hot Launch 2 product family represents custom affordability. The new line of products is customizable to each player’s specifications — loft, lie, length, shaft flex, grip size — at no extra cost. Based on what is currently available in the golf industry, Hot Launch 2 clubs are the most affordable customizable products sold today. Here’s a peek at the family of new products:
HOT LAUNCH 2 FAIRWAY WOODS The club head utilizes variable face thickness (VFT) for more rebound, and a heavier sole weight creates a deeper centre of gravity for easy-to-hit shots. The offset model positions the shaft line behind the club head to allow players more time to square the face at impact.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS Tour Edge Hot Launch 2
HOT LAUNCH 2 HYBRID Club head is constructed from 450 SS hyper steel and a forged maraging steel face featuring VFT technology. This construction design delivers the ultimate in forgiveness and power. Available in 3, 4, 5, and 6 hybrids.
HOT LAUNCH 2 IRON-WOOD A hollow 450 SS body and a forged maraging steel face makes this an extremely forgiving and easy to hit club that can change your game. Available individually or as a complete set, 2 hybrid - LW.
HOT LAUNCH 2 IRONS The best-performing customized iron set and the most affordable on the market.A soft 431 stainless steel allows for better versatility during custom building.
HOT LAUNCH 2 CHIPPER Perfect for around the green and shorter chip shots. You cannot miss with the super-wide sole and ideal heel and toe weighting. With this family of impressive products, Tour Edge is perfectly positioned to continue with its tradition to produce top quality products that are affordable. Keep up the great work Tour Edge! 54
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EQUIPMENT FOCUS Wilson Staff C200 Iron
Aren’t we all always on the look-out for a set of irons that can do just that? Well, your search may be over! We think we’ve found just the perfect set of irons that will help you whack a golf ball a country mile and a club that really feels good. The smart guys at Wilson Labs have come up with the savior – the >PSZVU :[HɈ * PYVUZ
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he Chicago based Wilson Golf, with the most number of major wins under its belt, has announced the launch of a new iron designed to dramatically improve player distance and accuracy. They have labelled it the Wilson Staff C200™. Wilson Labs, the innovation hub at Wilson Sporting Goods, Co., engineered these irons for the Crossover (C) player whom Wilson Golf defines as a mid to high handicap player seeking distance and accuracy, but in a more playable, midsize offering. At the core of the C200 clubs is cutting56
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EQUIPMENT FOCUS Wilson Staff C200 Iron
edge, proprietary, patent-pending FLX Face™ Technology. This technology minimizes the contact points between the body and thin face. In fact, 76% of the thin face is actually free from the body of the iron, allowing for maximized face flex upon impact. These voids, known as Power Holes, are literally holes that go completely through the head and provide the space for the face to flex. They are then filled with a TE031 Urethane to provide outstanding feel for the game improvement player. “We are extremely excited and proud to introduce the C200 irons and FLX Face Technology” said Michael Vrska, Global Director of Golf Innovation for Wilson Labs. “This iron is designed to provide incredible distance and the testing feedback from amateur players and our Wilson Advisory Staff pros have validated that.” “We knew we wanted to create a completely new club – one with easy-to-understand, visible technology. The distance, forgiveness, and feel of the C200 irons exceeded even our high expectations. In our Wilson Labs play-testing, we are seeing results that far surpass what traditional irons currently offer,” added Vrska. The C200 line features will be available for purchase on January 15.
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We knew we wanted to create a completely new club – one with easy-tounderstand, visible technology. The distance, forgiveness, and feel of the C200 irons exceeded even our high expectations. In our Wilson Labs play-testing, we are seeing results that far surpass what traditional irons currently offer.”
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7KLV WRXUQDPHQW LV DOO DERXW JRRG FOHDQ IXQ DQG PRUH LPSRUWDQWO\ LW LV DERXW QHWZRUNLQJ ,WÅ&#x17D;V WKH second in the series. 7KH WRXUQDPHQW ZLOO EH UXQ RQ 2FWREHU DW WKH DZDUG ZLQQLQJ %ODFN 0RXQWDLQ *ROI &OXE in Hua Hin, Thailand. 7KHUH LV QR HQWU\ IHH WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKLV WRXUQDPHQW 7R TXDOLI\ SOD\HUV QHHG WR UHJLVWHU DV GHOHJDWHV WR DWWHQG WKH $VLD 3DFLŹF *ROI 6XPPLW DQG WKHUH DUH VORWV DYDLODEOH (QWU\ ZLOO EH RQ D ŹUVW FRPH ŹUVW VHUYH EDVLV DQG D WZR PDQ WHDP IURP HDFK FOXE FDQ UHJLVWHU RQ OLQH WKURXJK $3*6 ZHEVLWH )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ SOHDVH YLVLW www.golfconference.org or email to Alice Ho at DOLFH#DVLDSDFLŹFJROIJURXS FRP or call +65 6323 2800 IRU PRUH GHWDLOV
PRESENTED BY:
SPECIAL FEATURE A New Superstar
Chun made history by claiming her second major championship title in a wire-to-wire victory at The Evian Championship.”
South Korea’s In Gee Chun etched her name in the record books with OLY LɈVY[Z SHZ[ TVU[O PU -YHUJL HUK ZOL KPK P[ PU NYHUK Z[`SL
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he broke the record for low score in relation to par in a major championship - male or female. Jason Day (2015 PGA Championship) and Henrik Stenson (2016 Open Championship) hold the men’s major record of 20-under par. Chun made history by claiming her second major championship title in a wire-
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to-wire victory at The Evian Championship. The LPGA Tour rookie set a new major championship scoring record – male or female – with a four-day total of 21-under par and rounds of 63-65-65-69. She finished four shots clear of compatriots So Yeon Ryu and Sung Hyun Kim who were tied for second at 17-under par. She also joins fellow South Korean Se Ri Pak as the only two players on the LPGA
Tour to win their first two titles at major championships. Chun’s win has earned her a big check for US$487,500.00. It was also a historic day for Asia as Asian players completely dominated the leaderboard. China’s Shanshan Feng came in fourth on her own while Thailand’s world number two Ariya Jutanugarn made a late charge to finish tied ninth.
SPECIAL FEATURE A Tribute To Arnie
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he man who gave golf a public face and a game for the ordinary man to enjoy is no more. Arnold Palmer, aged 87 will now look down from the heavens at a game that he almost single-handedly dragged out of the clutches of the exclusive and elite country club set and made it both accessible and playable for the average Joe. Palmer, described as the “KING” of golf died from complication of heart problems. Reacting to Palmer’s demise, his good
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friend and competitor over three decades, Jack Nicklaus said, “Arnold transcended the game of golf. He was more than a golfer or even a great golfer. He was an icon. He was a legend. Arnold was someone who was a pioneer in his sport. He took the game from one level to a higher level, virtually by himself.” “Arnold Palmer was the everyday man’s hero,” Nicklaus said. “From the modest upbringing, Arnold embodied the hardworking strength of America.” James Dodson, the KING’s biographer
said, “He was the most charismatic player in golf history. Because of him, golf boomed. He took it from being a sleepy country club game to America’s game.” Perhaps the most fitting tribute to the KING came from Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA Tour who said, “It is not an exaggeration to say there would be no modern-day PGA Tour without Arnold Palmer.” Thanks for the memories KING Palmer. We hope to meet again somewhere in time and space.
GAME IMPROVEMENT
Over the past few months I’ve travelled quite a bit, coaching students and assessing their golf games on the course and on the range and the practice green. I started out in the Midwest of the United States then travelled to the West Coast, continuing back home to Southeast Asia with a X\PJR Z[VW PU ;OHPSHUK ILMVYL OLHKPUN VɈ HNHPU [V Cambodia. I’ve met with a huge number of great players, teachers, coaches, parents and young players who are all passionate about building the future of the game for everyone.
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hat struck me was how much all these different people have in common. Firstly the effort being made to grow the game is being undertaken globally with a single-minded desire and drive. People want to both extend the game’s reach while improving their own results. On a more day-to-day level, the second thing that I found was a consistent inconsistency. Yes, you read that right. Almost everywhere I go I have found that people have a real challenge with putts over 20 feet, regularly 3-putting and adding strokes to their handicap. Look at most scorecards - on a normal course of par 72, two putts per hole - 36 strokes - are allocated to putts - that’s 50%! Many of my teaching colleagues would agree that the quickest way to knock strikes off the scorecard and lower your
handicap - regardless of your skill level - is to improve your putting, and in particular, stop the three putting! The challenge for most players, however, is long putts of over 20 feet. It is a shot worth spending time on practicing. At our golf schools, we make sure the student experiences what to do when faced with long putts. So, here’s a tip to make life easier when faced with those scary-looking long ones. It’s quite a simple technique that requires you to do one thing - ADAPT to the situation. When faced with a long putt, I simply ask a student to follow his standard procedure - identify the line to roll the ball on and then take your stance accordingly. But, instead of increasing tempo or trying to whack the ball harder to get to the hole, all you have to do is simply WIDEN YOUR STANCE. This means moving both feet wider, not just one foot. When both feet are
OCTOBER 2016
wider, not only do you have good balance and feel solid over the ball, but your putter will now ‘automatically’ have a wider swing arc! Your stability will improve greatly and all you have to do is focus on swinging the putter on the arc so that the ball rolls on the line to the hole. If you maintain the same tempo and rhythm, your ball will travel longer than normal! Recently, I’ve witnessed some magical moments just by this one simple set-up tip. When you realize and begin to have confidence that you can make long putts just like the pros do on television, your game will be more enjoyable and you’ll want to play more and more! So, practice this Black Hat Golf Tip to get rid of the fear of those long putts and get rid of those 3-putts! Trust me, this tip simply works and leads to more and more improvement overall in your golf game!
Many of my teaching colleagues would agree that the quickest way to knock strikes off the scorecard and lower your handicap - regardless of your skill level - is to improve your putting, and in particular, stop the three putting!” 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
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
THE METAMORPHOSIS OF A GRAND OLD LADY Serapong course at Sentosa Island in Singapore has earned a Thereputation for being amongst the top golf courses of the world.
Although there is no disputing that fact, its sister course, the Tanjong has not enjoyed the same acclaim. However, that’s set to change. After a multimillion dollar re-build, Tanjong will soon shed its dowdy past image and emerge from a chrysalis-state as a stunning and breath-taking beauty to challenge the very best in the world. No more playing second fiddle for the Tanjong as she takes her place next to its esteemed sibling – the Serapong course. Asian Golf previews Sentosa’s CINDERALLA.
PROFESSIONAL GOLF TO GO FULLY GLOBAL? powerful commissioner of the PGA Tour, Tim TheFinchem is retiring and if there is one thing that
he laments is his inability to transform professional golf into a totally global game. However, he is leaving with optimism. Finchem feels that his replacement, Jay Monahan will be able to get the job done. Asian Golf explores how Monahan will deliver on Finchem’s hope.
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has launched its latest driver and fairway Titleist woods dressed up as the 917 family. Asian Golf took the new clubs out for a test drive and discovered that not only do these clubs carry a long heritage and a refined pedigree but they also work. And when we speak about work, we are talking about how friendly these clubs are especially from a high-handicapper’s perspective. This is a must read! For all the latest news and views from the Asian golf scene, subscribe to Asian Golf – Asia’s most powerful golfing voice!
www.asiapacificgolfgroup.com