AG206 november2017 by Asia Pacific Golf Group

ISSUE

GAME-IMPROVEMENT 80 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING? WHAT’S THAT GOT TO DO WITH GOLF? Tony Meechai, our resident golf guru who is noted for using everyday situations to teach golf is back at it again. For this month’s Black Hat Golﬁng Tips, Tony gets domestic and works with a broom – yes that simple house-cleaning implement.

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NOVEMBER 2017

KN Royal Golf Links Cam Ranh golf course, a Greg Norman designed course - built on a masterfully crafted landscape covering a huge expanse of land measuring some 800 hectares, the course is a sprawling green, undulating vista devoid of trees that are normally common-place on a golf course. Like the links courses in Scotland, there is some shrubbery and native grass and that’s all! Asia’s first true all links course.

In this exclusive Asian Golf monthly series, respected coach Iain Roberts is teaching golf novice Niall Donnelly to play the game in 10 one-hour sessions. After constant practice with the 7-iron, Niall gets to grips with the pitching wedge.

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36 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS2017 | HEROESS OF THE INDUSTRY! For 2017, the spotlight will be trained on a select number m the of men and women from o have Asian golf industry who been singled out for induction duction into the ASIA PACIFIC GOLF duction will be HALL OF FAME. The induction part of the annual celebration connected with the staging of the ASIAN GOLF AWARDS, widely recognized as the “Oscars” for the Asian golf industry.

54 GREATNESS AWAITS GREEN – MALAYSIA’S SUPERSTAR!

REGULARS 8 EDITORIAL TEAM

110 SHARED THOUGHTS | VIETNAM BUBBLES TO THE TOP! It is ofﬁcial! Vietnam is now ranked as the Asia Paciﬁc’s Best Golf Destination. Vietnam performed very well in our 2017 Asian Golf Awards on-line poll and it garnered a lot of support from golfers both in the region and internationally.

Gavin Kyle Green – a 23-year old phenom from Malaysia has earned his ﬁrst professional win on the Asian Tour and with it, he has spurted ahead to lead the 2017 Order of Merit with winnings totalling US$527,346.06. This is saying something about his talent and playing prowess. Read about this incredible young star as he treks his way to greater records.

68 SENTOSA – ASIA’S HOTBED FOR AMATEUR DEVELOPMENT 2018 will see Sentosa Golf Clubt take on a new role – a role whereby it will help promote the amateur game on an Asia-wide basis. It will be the venue for the inaugural Women’s Asian Amateur Championship which will be staged in February and the Men’s Asia Paciﬁc Amateur tournament in October.

74 A POWERFUL ALLY FOR GOLF IN ASIA! One of the biggest bugbears of the golf club industry in Asia has been access to and the availability of qualified and certified professionals to work in various sectors of a golf club. The lack of this critical human resource has proved to be a bane on many clubs and in quite a few instances, it has hampered the growth, viability and profitability of clubs. However, all is not lost because like every problem, there is always a silver lining to be found somewhere and in the case of this challenge, help is on its way to Asia!

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Mike Sebastian Editor/Chief Executive Ofﬁcer [mike@asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com]

INTERNATIONAL ROVING EDITORS

James Graham Prusa Correspondent

Angela Raymond President [angela@asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com]

Alan Campbell (China/Middle East) Correspondent

Andy Stangenberg Club Services Advisor

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS

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FROM THE PUBLISHER SHARED THOUGHTS

It is official! Vietnam is now ranked as the Asia Pacific’s Best Golf Destination. “Vietnam performed very well in our 2017 Asian Golf Awards on-line poll and it garnered a lot of support from golfers both in the region and internationally,” revealed Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner of the Asian Golf Awards. asiangolf 206

ow in its 18th year, the 2017 Asian Golf Awards on-line poll was conducted over a period of three months from April 1 to June 30. More than 104,000 valid votes were cast and Vietnam was the preferred choice of those who voted under the “Best Golf Destination In Asia” category. This stunning result is directly attributable to the interest being shown to golf in Vietnam. Golfers and golf media can’t heap enough praise on the country and its golf facilities. It is hard to imagine that back in 1930, there was only one golf course and it was located in the highlands of Dalat. The Dalat Palace Golf Club is Vietnam’s oldest and was originally built in 1922 by French architect Ernest Hebrard and was frequented by Vietnam’s ﬁrst golfer and last emperor, Bao Dai. With the passage of time, Vietnam has begun a trans-

november 2017

formation which has spawned the now famous Ho Chi Minh Golf Trail which is a collection of championship courses. It was these courses, built in the early years of the ﬁrst decade of the New Millennium that caught the attention of international golfers. Vietnam today has an excellent collection of some truly world class golf courses that can be found stretched on a 2000 mile coastline from Hanoi in the north to Danang in the central region and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the south. Because of the frenetic pace of new course development, it is difﬁcult to get an accurate read on the number of courses that are currently open for play in the country. It is estimated that there are now between 40 courses open for play and a number that are in various stages of construction which should be coming on stream this year and 2018. Whichever way one looks at Vietnam, there is no denying that it is the new frontier for golf. It would be fair to

say that there is no place on the Planet that can match the pace of new course construction that is currently taking place in Vietnam. All the major golf course architects are actively engaged in some development work and this includes big names like Nicklaus Design, Robert Trent Jones Jr, Greg Norman, Schmidt Curley Design and Ernie Els Design to mention a few. These branded names have stirred attention amongst golfers in the Asian geography and the two groups of golfers who are making a bee-line for Vietnam are the South

VIETNAM TODAY HAS AN EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF SOME TRULY WORLD CLASS GOLF COURSES THAT CAN BE FOUND STRETCHED ON A

2000 MILE COASTLINE FROM HANOI IN THE NORTH TO DANANG IN THE CENTRAL REGION AND HO CHI MINH CITY (FORMERLY SAIGON) IN THE SOUTH. Koreans and the Japanese who arguably constitute the largest number of international golfers who frequent the country, not to mention the large expatriate Korean and Japanese workers in Vietnam. It would be safe to draw a conclusion that the country is poised for a sustained golf boom. This is also borne out by general tourist arrivals in Vietnam. International tourist arrivals for 2017 is projected to exceed 10 million, more than a 30% increase over the same period last year. A percentage of this number is undoubtedly coming to the country for a golf experience. Another indicator that golf tourism is set to grow is tourist expenditure, a good measure for golf course operators. Historical records indicate that Vietnam earned more than US$15 billion in tourism revenue for 2015 and based on preliminary data, the country is on track to earn in excess of US$17 billion for 2017. Now that Vietnam has been crowned as the top golf tourism draw in the Asia Pacific, it’s going to grab more attention which will automatically convert to better financial returns for the nation’s golf clubs. Vietnam will officially receive the award acknowledging its new status during the 2017 Asian Golf Awards which will be staged in the city of Danang on November 16, 2017.

CAM RANH BAY COVER STORY

Who would have ever thought that Vietnam, a rapidly emerging force in Asian golf, would ever take the plunge and build the Continent’s first true links golf course. And in case you are wondering where in Vietnam this course is located, we’ll let you in on the secret. It is sited at Cam Ranh Bay, considered the finest deep-water shelter in Southeast Asia. The bay in itself is situated on the south-eastern coast of Vietnam, approximately 290 kilometres northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. ASIAN GOLF’s Mike Sebastian first visited Cam Ranh Bay when it was a U.S. Navy operations base

during the height of the Vietnam War. Even back in the war days, Cam Ranh Bay was a sight to behold with its sweeping coastline, spectacular crystal-clear waters that covered the entire spectrum of the colour aquamarine and white sandy beaches to die for. The bay is now clear of warships and it is rapidly being transformed into what promises to be Asia’s new leisure playground. Against a stunning backdrop of plush modern hotels, resorts, villas and condominiums is nestled golf’s gift to Asia and the world – the brand new KN Royal Golf Links Cam Ranh golf course.

IT IS INDEED AN HONOUR FOR ME TO HAVE THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

VIETNAM ON THE GLOBAL GOLF MAP AS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN ASIA TO HAVE A TRUE LINKS GOLF COURSE. – LE VAN KIEM TO PLACE

uilt on a masterfully crafted landscape covering a huge expanse of land measuring some 800 hectares, the course is a sprawling green, undulating vista devoid of trees that are normally com-

mon-place on a golf course. Like the links courses in Scotland, there is some natural shrubbery and native

grass and that’s all! The meticulously manicured turf on the course provides for a beautiful contrast with the brilliant white sandy beach and the warm and

asia a asi asiangolf angol ngo g f 206 2 20 06

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inviting resplendent blue waters of the South China Sea. KN Royal Golf Links Cam Ranh is the realisation of one man’s vision. He is the visionary pioneer of golf in Vietnam, the highly successful “Hero Of Labour” and

KN Royal Golf Links Cam Ranh is designed by the legendary golf champion and master golf course architect Greg Norman. KN Royal Golf Links Cam Ranh is part of a mas-

entrepreneur, Mr. Le Van Kiem. An avowed golf aﬁcionado,

sive, multi-billion dollar development spear-headed by

who has represented his country in golf at the South East

Mr. Kiem’s company, KN Investment Group. Besides the

Asian Games at the age of 54, is delighted at the way KN

18-hole links golf course, there is also a more traditional

Royal Golf Links Cam Ranh has emerged into its current

nine-hole course that is being built on the site. Other

glorious state. Mr. Kiem, already an owner of two award

developments that will make this a world class destination

winning golf courses, the Long Thanh Golf Club in Ho Chi

with its own 5km of ocean frontage will include multiple 4

Minh City and the Long Vien Golf Club in Vientiane, Laos

and 5 star hotels, world class entertainment zone, upscale

said, “It is indeed an honour for me to have this unique

marina, polo club, theme park, luxury villas and many more

opportunity to place Vietnam on the global golf map as

attractions. Peering out from the observation deck of the

the only country in Asia to have a true links golf course.”

golf club, Mr. Kiem proudly declared, “Cam Ranh Links Golf

The 71-year old who has been honoured with some of the

Resort will be one of the ﬁnest and most sought after in the

country’s highest national awards including being inducted

region, providing attractive investment opportunities and an

into the Asia Paciﬁc Golf Hall of Fame in 2015 went on to

enhanced residential experience for buyers.” It is reported

add, “I have already played on the course and not only is

that this mega development ranks amongst one of the larg-

it a beautiful course to look at but is also challenging – so

est projects currently being undertaken in Vietnam.

typical of a links golf course.”

IMG has been commissioned to manage the launch phase of the new golf course. “IMG is very proud to be working with KN Group on their stunning new golf project, Cam Ranh Links. With its ocean-side location, the site is spectacular and the quality of the golf course will further

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asiang asia asiangolf ngol ngo n ng go g ollf 206 o 20 06

2 20

strengthen Vietnam’s growing reputation as a

in a setting as magniﬁcent as Cam Ranh Bay.

must play golf destination. The future plans for

Virtually every decision we made during design

the development of the resort are incredibly

and construction was inspired by the existing

exciting, and we look forward to assisting KN

coastal dunes and views of the ocean. Fortu-

Group to establish a world class golf experi-

nately, Chairman Kiem and the Long Thanh

ence,” said Paul Burley, senior vice president,

Group also saw the potential and allowed us to

global head of IMG Golf Course Services.

route the golf course before any other planning

As stated earlier, the challenge to transform a piece of undulating land into a world class links-style golf course fell on the laps of one the most illustrious names in the business of golf – Greg Norman. ASIAN GOLF sat down with Norman to discuss how he took on the project

was done.

ASIAN GOLF: What sort of challenges did you encounter in the design stage of this course? Obviously you faced some daunting questions regarding the total absence of trees and other related foliage?

and what made him embark on the ambitious

GN: I actually love designing courses on a more

dream to present Asia with its ﬁrst, true links

open canvas as much as I do playing them. It

golf course. The following are excerpts from that

gives you the freedom to create angles and

discussion:

shot variety that would otherwise be dictated by

ASIAN GOLF: What inﬂuenced the decision to build a true links golf course at Cam Ranh Bay?

GREG NOMAN: I don’t know how anyone could consider designing any other type of course

corridors. We had to be extremely careful with how we incorporated features and hazards in the layout of each hole because of the various shot lines, but at the end of the day I think most golfers can appreciate the depth of playability

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE SITE IN CAM RANH IS THAT IT SITS IN A CRESCENT SHAPED BAY THAT IS BORDERED BY ELEVATED RIDGES ON EACH END.

THOSE RIDGES ACTUALLY BREAK A GOOD BIT OF THE WIND OFF THE OCEAN, SO THE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION CAN CHANGE QUITE A BIT AS YOU PLAY THE COURSE.

OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE MORE ELEVATED HOLES WILL

BE AFFECTED THE MOST WHEN IT’S BLOWING, BUT THAT’S LINKS GOLF.

I ACTUALLY THINK IT’S THE PERFECT BALANCE FOR A RESORT

COURSE.

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– GREGG NORMAN

ALL THE LANDSCAPE MATERIAL ON THE COURSE IS NATIVE TO THE AREA. IN FACT, ANYTHING THAT WE WEREN’T ABLE TO PRESERVE WAS TRANSPLANTED FROM WITHIN THE SITE. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN ADAMANT ABOUT PROTECTING AND INCORPORATING THE NATURAL CHARACTER OF EVERY COURSE WE DESIGN, AND IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY ON THIS COURSE GIVEN THE QUALITY OF THE SURROUNDING VEGETATION.

FROM THE OWNER’S

PERSPECTIVE, TRANSPLANTING MATERIAL HELPS US MANAGE THE OVERALL CONSTRUCTION COSTS, AND IT ALSO GIVES US AN ELEMENT OF CONTROL OVER THE SCHEDULE BECAUSE WE’RE NOT WAITING ON MATERIAL TO BE DELIVERED. on a links course like we have at Cam Ranh. It truly does represent golf in its purist form.

ASIAN GOLF: It’s a golf course with very close proximity to the sea – it is going to be quite a challenge to play when the winds blow? Talk to this. GN: One of the great things about the site in Cam Ranh

is that it sits in a crescent shaped bay that is bordered by elevated ridges on each end. Those ridges actually break a good bit of the wind off the ocean, so the wind speed and

boxes and smash the ball and hope to make a bunch of birdies - is this a correct assumption to make?

GN: Absolutely. I think it’s important to reward driving accuracy as much as distance. Like many other great

links courses, there’s certainly a premium on fairway position here at Cam Ranh.

ASIAN GOLF: Although the fairways look wide and generous, there are numerous undulations which can prove to be very tricky. Your thoughts?

direction can change quite a bit as you play the course.

GN: The natural contours of this site were so good that we

Obviously some of the more elevated holes will be affected

didn’t have to manipulate too much at all in the grading

the most when it’s blowing, but that’s links golf. I actually

of the course. Instead, we laid out the holes so that these

think it’s the perfect balance for a resort course.

contours and features would factor into the playability.

ASIAN GOLF: After having driven through the course, it is very apparent that it has been designed to be a thinking man’s course. One just can’t get on the tee-

Again, it puts a premium on fairway position and you learn more about that aspect of the course each time you play.

ASIAN GOLF: The bunkers are very interesting –

as a asia asiangolf s angol sia ngo ng gol g olf 206 206 20

22 2

you seem to have drawn from Alister MacKenzie’s concept for bunkers – why so?

GN: Yes, Royal Melbourne has always been one of my

favourite courses, so MacKenzie’s work has been a huge inspiration for me since I started my design business in

GN: All the landscape material on the course is native to

1987.

the area. In fact, anything that we weren’t able to preserve

ASIAN GOLF: In the approach to the greens, there is

a very noticeable area that has been “squared off”. Why is this so?

GN: It’s a deﬁned area where we start mowing a height of

was transplanted from within the site. I’ve always been adamant about protecting and incorporating the natural character of every course we design, and it was extremely important to do that effectively on this course given the

cut lower than the fairway grass to promote the bump and

quality of the surrounding vegetation. From the owner’s

run shot. The golf ball is round and meant to roll, so I like

perspective, transplanting material helps us manage the

to give golfers the option of using a putter or low lofted

overall construction costs, and it also gives us an element

club from well off the green.

of control over the schedule because we’re not waiting on

ASIAN GOLF: Earlier, we discussed the fact that

this course is a thinking man’s course. This certainly seems to be borne out when one gets on the greens. It’s all about course management and landing one’s shots at the right spots on the greens to score. Your comments?

material to be delivered.

ASIAN GOLF: One can’t help but notice how green and resplendent the fairways are. What turf have you used on the course?

GN: We used Zeon Zoysia on the tees and fairways and Tif Eagle on the greens.

GN: It certainly helps to land on deﬁned areas where

ASIAN GOLF: Why was Zeon Zoysia selected and

the pin may be located, but I also like to give golfers a

what are its advantages.

legitimate chance to make birdie from anywhere on the

GN: The Long Thanh group actually suggested using

putting surface. There’s nothing I would consider severe

Zeon when we were still in the planning stages, so we

about the contours on these greens, but at the same time

started looking into it then. Zeon is a relatively new grass

there’s enough slope and deﬁnition to make you think about where you want to end up on the green when playing your shot in.

23 23

ASIAN GOLF: The surrounding areas around the entire course look very natural – is the vegetation native to the region and if so, what are the advantages of working with native vegetation?

nove n november o ove ov ember mbe m be b ber er 201 2 20 2017 01 0 17

THE NATURAL

to the industry, but I’ve always been a big fan of the

important to make sure

playability of Zoysia grass, so it made sense from

wasted. From a drainag

CONTOURS OF THIS

that standpoint. The one thing that we haven’t been

actually work to our adva

able to see is how it holds up to the wear and tear of

goes straight through. I

a resort course that does the number of rounds we

10 cm of rain out there a

expect to see at Cam Ranh, but we’re very optimistic

hours, which allows us t

based on what we’ve seen so far.

tions ﬁrm and fast.

what sort of irrigation system do you have in place and how efﬁciently does the course drain and become playable after a heavy down-pour?

water catchments – is built into the design?

SITE WERE SO GOOD THAT WE DIDN’T HAVE TO MANIPULATE TOO MUCH AT ALL IN THE GRADING OF THE COURSE. INSTEAD, WE LAID OUT THE HOLES SO THAT THESE CONTOURS AND

ASIAN GOLF: From a playability standpoint,

GN: We always try to use a perimeter irrigation

ASIAN GOLF: Notice t

GN: There were no exis

started, so we had to exc

system, which basically waters only the maintained

water storage. Although

FEATURES WOULD FACTOR

turf with very little overthrow into the native areas.

are a rarity on this site, w

INTO THE PLAYABILIT.

It’s extremely efﬁcient and saves a lot of water, and

part so they would ﬁt as

with the existing soil being mostly sand based, it’s

ASIAN GOLF: It looks

asiangolf 206

no irrigation water is being e standpoint, the sandy soils

antage because the water

’m pretty sure we could get

and be playing within a few o keep the playing condi-

that you have two large this natural or was it

sting lakes on site when we

cavate and line each lake for

h these man made features

we kept them in the lowest naturally as possible.

like nothing was spared

AS FOR THE RANKINGS, I’M A LITTLE BIASED WHERE OUR DESIGNS ARE CONCERNED, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS THIS COURSE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AMONG THE BEST IN 25

november 2017

ASIA IF NOT ALL THE WORLD.

in designing this course – it is without doubt a great golf course – in fact one would not be wrong to declare it as Asia’s Number One True Links Course!

GN: We put a great deal of our resources towards this project and I

think it deﬁnitely shows in the ﬁnal product. As for the rankings, I’m a little biased where our designs are concerned, but there are so many

CAM RANH LINKS GOLF RESORT WILL BE ONE OF THE FINEST AND MOST SOUGHT AFTER IN THE

reasons this course should be considered among the best in Asia if not

REGION, PROVIDING ATTRACTIVE

all the world. If you look at the international rankings, links courses

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

dominate the list, and Vietnam is quickly emerging as a contender in

AND AN ENHANCED RESIDENTIAL

that space because of courses like Cam Ranh. And when the resort is built out, you’ll have a ﬁve star, world class destination within a few

EXPERIENCE FOR BUYERS.” IT IS

kilometres of a major tourism hub and international airport. This place

REPORTED THAT THIS MEGA

is going to be a real game changer for Vietnam.

DEVELOPMENT RANKS AMONGST

So, there you have it - sculpted from an elevated site of rolling sand dunes, the links inspired golf course will provide a world class

ONE OF THE LARGEST PROJECTS

golf experience to rival some of the very ﬁnest in the world and it will

CURRENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN

further raise the bar in terms of the quality golf experiences on offer in

VIETNAM.

– LE VAN KIEM

Vietnam.

asiangolf 206

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GOLF TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT FOCUS

It is absolutely amazing how technology has now become common-place in one of sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most ancient games â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the game of golf. To think that golf has evolved from primitive implements used by shepherds to its current state of advancement is mind boggling. The evolution of technology in golf started with devices like range finders and first generation global positioning products that aided golfers in measuring distances. Today, these products are antiquated and the technologies that these products pioneered have spawned true products of high technology for golf. Remember the days when one checked for distances by checking out the pole markers positioned along the sides of fairways? Remember the irrigation heads on the fairway that had distance markings on them? Remember the days when one used to count the number of paces to the green or the hole? Well, all that is now history and totally forgotten. Golf now has technology on its side and it has taken all of the manual calculations and on-the-spot judgements and replaced it with products driven by sophisticated algorithms. One such product is TaylorMadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s myRoundPro that has been developed in conjunction with Samsung Electronics.

asiangolf asiangol asia ngolff 206 ngol 206

30 3 0

november 2017

WITH THE MYROUNDPRO EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE ON THE GEAR S3 AND GEAR FIT2 PRO, GOLFERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS CAN GO HANDS-FREE AND BE ABLE TO VIEW YARDAGES TO THE FRONT, MIDDLE AND BACK OF THE GREEN IN ADDITION TO THE TOTAL DISTANCE OF THEIR PREVIOUS SHOT.

asiangolf asiangol olff 206 2

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ointly developed by TaylorMade and Samsung Electronics, myRoundPro is a statistical analysis platform that works in combination with Samsung’s Gear3 and Gear Fit2 Pro ﬁtness bands. The engineers at Samsung and TaylorMade have co-developed a speciﬁc myRoundPro experience that utilizes the features of the compatible Samsung Gear devices to provide consumers with a unique experience aimed at those who would rather leave their phone at home or in their bag during play. With the myRoundPro experience available on the Gear S3 and Gear Fit2 Pro, golfers of all skill levels can go hands-free and be able to view yardages to the front, middle and back of the green in addition to the total distance of their previous shot. Through the app, the compatible Gear device will keep record of scores on each hole played during the round in addition to providing a summary of key statistics immediately after the round’s completion. Users can also attribute a

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november no nove n ov ov ve ember mbe 2 201 2017 01 17

speciﬁc club to each shot, ensuring that they experience optimal statistical analysis when reunited with the myRoundPro App on their phone at the conclusion of play. Samsung has an industry leading wearable portfolio and recently announced new devices that will support the new myRoundPro app. In addition to the myRoundPro app, the new Gear Fit2 Pro also features new swim and heart rate monitoring capabilities and an advanced built-in GPS tracking to capture your run or ride with accurate activity tracking. The all-new secure, ergonomic band is light weight and comfortable to use for all activities. The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is 5 ATM certiﬁed for water resistance and includes personal coaching and motivation tools, premium partnerships, a new design and auto activity detection to enhance your experience. In addition, the Samsung Gear S3 is a premium smartwatch that brings together Samsung’s innovative technology with an iconic design. Perfect for every adventure and now the golf course, the Gear S3 includes advanced features such as 4G LTE connectivity capabilities, a long-lasting battery, military-grade durability and more.

ore than most industries, the golf industry has had its fair share of doom and gloom stories. The golf business landscape has been inundated by news about golf course closures, declining incomes, equipment manufacturers shutting down and a litany of such dismal news. The time has come to put this all behind and look ahead. Asia has entered an exciting era of dynamic growth with most of the Continent’s economies reﬂecting good health. More Asian corporates are moving up the ladder of success on the For-

tune and Forbes list of billion-dollar conglomerates. This is an excellent measure of the powerhouse that Asia is. Populations are becoming better educated, more afﬂuent and ready for new and exciting experiences. While the Baby-Boomers may be on the decline, the younger population demographics including the much talked about Millennials have matured and moved up the consumer pyramid. There has never been a better time than NOW for the golf industry to take stock of all the positives and prepare itself to tap into new opportunities for improved business and greater earnings.

New technologies like Mobile Ap to be brought on board to improve t member experience. New and excitin of play need to be introduced that is consuming, more fun and more affor Service standards need to be stepp fold. New and improved ways of reno efﬁciently maintaining golf courses h fast-tracked. It’s all about NEW DIRECTIONS be herein lies the future of golf and its g in Asia. There’s a NEW AGE of opport awaiting the golf club industry in Asia

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF

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adopters of the emerging changes will be set and ready to reap harvests brought about by the paradigm shifts. Be part of the ENLIGHTENED COMMUNITY and be at the 2017 Asia Paciﬁc Golf Summit (APGS 2017). No other golf business event in the world can offer you a road map to prepare for the exciting times ahead. Come and listen to the architects of change who will be piloting Asia’s thrust forward.

F GROUP (2014) PTE LTD. Yishun Industrial Street 1, Singapore 768160 ÈÎÓÎÊÓnÎnÊUÊ7iLÃ Ìi\ÊÜÜÜ°>Ã >«>V wV} v}À Õ«°V

asiangolf 203

COVER STORY

2017 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS

november 2017

The Asian Golf Awards, is an opportunity for the golf industry in Asia to

three months and for the 2017 polls, voting hit an all-time record with more than 100,024 votes cast covering some 51 award categories.

come together annually to recognise and celebrate those amongst its fraternity who are stand-outs in the constant pursuit for excellence. For the past eighteen years, the Asia Paciﬁc Golf Group (APGG) has led this drive to seek out the best amongst the best in the golf club

Now in its 18th year, the Asian Golf Awards will be celebrated on November 16, 2017 in grand pomp and style at the brand new Sheraton Danang Resort in Da Nang, Vietnam. It will be staged in conjunction with the 2017 Asia Paciﬁc Golf Summit, the 11th in the current series under the auspices of the host sponsor, the Hanoi-based BRG Group.

industry in the region.

Perhaps the best way to describe the winners at the

The selection of winners in a broad spectrum of

Asian Golf Awards is to draw from the famous busi-

award categories are elected through a universal poll that

ness author Tom Peters who said, “Excellent ﬁrms don’t

is conducted on-line. The voting goes on for a period of

believe in excellence - only in constant improvement and constant change.”

THE ASIAN GOLF AWARDS IS A

This is pretty much

POLLING SYSTEM WHEREBY THE

the ethos by which the

POPULAR VOTE IS THE ONLY MEASURE OF WHO EMERGES ON TOP AND GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF VALID VOTES THAT ARE CAST, IT

top golf clubs in Asia operate by – there is little change amongst those clubs that stand

CANNOT BE DISPUTED THAT THE POLL IS

out as the best every

ANYTHING BUT POPULAR.

year, and 2017 is no

– MIKE SEBASTIAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP SENTOSA GOLF CLUB, SINGAPORE

different. These are

ANVAYA COVE GOLF & SPORTS CLUB, PHIL

clubs that fully understand what excellence represents and with each year, their owners and management strive to constantly up the ante to stay ahead of the pack. “The Asian Golf Awards is a polling system whereby the popular vote is the only measure of who emerges on top and given the large number of valid votes that are cast, it cannot be disputed that the poll is anything but popular,” stated Mike Sebastian, chief executive ofﬁcer of APGG, the owner and producer of the Asian Golf

– JOHN W. GARDNER

Awards. The Asian Golf Awards is the only Continent-wide poll of the golf industry in Asia and as such, this makes it the premier and most sought after awards programme of its kind. There are four distinct award categories which breakdown as follow: Asian Golf Awards – Best Country by Country Asian Golf Awards - Best In The Asia Paciﬁc Asian Golf Awards – Special Categories Asian Golf Awards – Special Inductees Like every award programme in the world, there is always a category that is reserved to recognise individuals and organisations that are singled out for special mention. The Asian Golf Awards is no exception. Included in its Special Inductees award category are the following:

LIPPINES

Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinary well.

BANYAN GOLF CLUB, HUA HIN, THAILAND

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF HALL OF FAM

MADAME NGUYEN THI NGA

DR. HARUHISA HANDA

Chairman, BRG Group, Vietnam

Honorary President of the International Blind Golf Association and Chairman of the ISPS, Tokyo, Japan

MOHD NIZAM OTHMAN, CGCS

CertiďŹ ed Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) by by Golf Course Superintendent of America (GSCAA) TPC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MOHA

Former vice-chairman a chairman of Golf Citizen

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF LIFE-TIME ACHIEV

ME AWARD

Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. STIG NOTLÃ&#x2013;V

Owner, Black Mountain Golf Club, Thailand

AMAD J BUAMAIM

and CEO of Golf in Dubai and currently and the MENA professional tour, Dubai

VEMENT AWARD

GLOBAL GOLF VISION AWAR EXCELLENT FIRMS DON’T BELIEVE IN EXCELLENCE ONLY IN CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT AND CONSTANT CHANGE.”

THIS IS PRETTY

MUCH THE ETHOS BY WHICH THE TOP GOLF CLUBS IN

ASIA OPERATE BY –

THERE IS LITTLE CHANGE AMONGST THOSE CLUBS THAT STAND OUT AS THE BEST EVERY YEAR, AND DIFFERENT.

2017 IS NO THESE ARE CLUBS THAT

FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT EXCELLENCE REPRESENTS AND WITH EACH YEAR,

ROBERT PARSONS

THEIR OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT STRIVE TO CONSTANTLY UP THE ANTE TO STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK.

BRG KINGS’ ISLAND GOLF RESORT, VIETNAM

Founder & Chairman, Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG), USA

MISSION HILLS RESOR

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF PIONEER AWARD

Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAUL BRYANT

LE VAN KIEM

Chairman, KN Investment Group, Vietnam

RT, DONGGUAN, CHINA

A truly stunning golf vista that undulating landscape.

White frothy lined waves rolli onto a brilliant white sandy b gently rolling hills.

Running through this gift from ticulously manicured green tu and native shrubbery. A mast

KN Royal Golf Links Ca Hotline: (+84) 0989 79787

t rises and falls in an almost never-ending

ing in from the South China Sea lapping each set against a distant backdrop of

m the heavens are verdant pathways of meurf carefully punctuated by pockets of sand terful tapestry of a classic work of art.

The artist behind this spell-binding creation is one of golf’s greatest legends – champion golfer and golf course architect extraordinaire Greg Norman. One look at this landscape was all that Norman needed to transform it into Asia’s only true links golf course. A course that is already destined to earn its right to be ranked amongst the world’s best. KN Royal Golf Links Cam Ranh – now open for play. The game the way it should be played in the true traditions of links golf.

am Ranh - Long Beach, Northern Peninsula Cam Ranh - Khanh Hoa, Vietnam. 78 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Camranhlinks/

2017 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS TOP THREE NOMINEES | COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT) BEST COURSE IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

BEST COURSE IN MALAYSIA

BEST GOLF DESTINATION I

■ Jerudong Park Country Club ■ Pantai Mentiri Golf Club ■ The Empire Hotel & Country Club

■ Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club ■ TPC Kuala Lumpur ■ Kota Permai Golf & Country Club

■ Indonesia

BEST COURSE IN CAMBODIA

BEST COURSE IN MIDDLE EAST

■ Angkor Golf Resort ■ Phokeethra Country Club ■ Siem Reap Booyoung Country Club

■ Emirates Golf Club ■ Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club ■ Yas Links Abu Dhabi

BEST COURSE IN CHINA (INCLUDING HONG KONG AND MACAU)

BEST COURSE IN MYANMAR

■ Xili Golf & Country Club ■ Mission Hills Golf Club Haikou (Blackstone Course) ■ Spring City Golf & Lake Resort

BEST COURSE IN CHINESE TAIPEI ■ Miramar Golf Country Club ■ Ta Shee Golf & Country Club ■ Taiwan Golf & Country Club

BEST COURSE IN INDIA ■ DLF Golf & Country Club ■ Eagleton - The Golf Village ■ Oxford Golf Resort

BEST COURSE IN INDONESIA ■ Riverside Golf Club ■ Ria Bintan Golf Club ■ Rainbow Hills Golf Club

BEST COURSE IN JAPAN ■ Yokohama International Golf Club ■ Hirono Golf Club ■ Kawana Hotel Golf Course

BEST COURSE IN SOUTH KOREA ■ The Club at Nine Bridges ■ Sky72 Golf & Resort, Ocean Course ■ Jack Nicklaus Golf Club

BEST COURSE IN LAOS ■ SEA Games Golf Club ■ Long Vien Golf Club ■ Lakeview Vientiane Golf Club

■ Vietnam

BEST COURSE IN ASIA PAC

■ TPC Kuala Lumpur (M ■ Tianma Golf & Country ■ Black Mountain Golf C

BEST GOLF RESORT IN ASI

■ Bagan Golf Resort ■ Royal Mingalardon Golf & Country Club ■ Pun Hlaing Golf Club

■ Anvaya Cove Golf & Spo ■ Mission Hills Golf Club Course (China) ■ Soﬁtel Angkor Phokee Resort Hotel (Cambod

BEST COURSE IN THE PHILIPPINES

BEST CHAMPIONSHIP COU

■ Mt. Malarayat Golf & Country Club ■ The Orchard Golf & Country Club ■ Anvaya Cove Golf & Sports Club

■ Black Mountain Golf C ■ Mission Hills Golf Club Course (China) ■ TPC Kuala Lumpur (M

BEST COURSE IN SINGAPORE ■ Marina Bay Golf Course ■ Sentosa Golf Club ■ Tanah Merah Country Club

BEST COURSE ON THE SUB-CONTINENT (INCLUDING BANGLADESH, NEPAL, PAKISTAN AND SRI LANKA)

BEST CLUBHOUSE IN ASIA

■ Bali National Golf Clu ■ Mission Hills Golf Club Blackstone Course (C ■ TPC Kuala Lumpur (M

BEST MAINTAINED COURS

■ Karachi Golf Club, Blue & Red Courses (Pakistan) ■ Kurmitola Golf Club (Bangladesh) ■ Royal Colombo Golf Club (Sri Lanka)

■ Banyan Golf Club (Tha ■ TPC Kuala Lumpur (M ■ Black Mountain Golf C

BEST COURSE IN THAILAND

■ Black Mountain Golf C ■ Mission Hills Golf Club ■ TPC Kuala Lumpur (M

■ Thai Country Club ■ Black Mountain Golf Club ■ Banyan Golf Club

BEST COURSE IN VIETNAM ■ Montgomerie Links ■ BRG Kings’ Island Golf Resort ■ Ba Na Hills Golf Club

BEST PRO-SHOP IN ASIA P

BEST MANAGED GOLF CLU

■ Banyan Golf Club (Tha ■ Black Mountain Golf C ■ TPC Kuala Lumpur (M

BEST LOCKER ROOM (MAL IN ASIA PACIFIC

■ Banyan Golf Club (Tha

2017 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS TOP THREE NOMINEES | BEST IN ASIA PACIFIC (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT) N ASIA PACIFIC

■ Thailand

CIFIC

Malaysia) y Club (China) Club (Thailand)

A PACIFIC

orts Club (Philippines) b Haikou, Blackstone

■ TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ■ Thai Country Club (Thailand)

BEST COURSE ARCHITECT IN ASIA PACIFIC ■ Nicklaus Design ■ Paciﬁc Coast Design ■ Schmidt-Curley Design Inc.

BEST RENOVATED COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC ■ Warren Golf & Country Club (Singapore)

THE GOLD EDGE AWARD FOR NEW COURSE

URSE IN ASIA PACIFIC

■ Black Mountain Golf Club, West Course (Thailand) ■ KN Royal Golf Links Cam Ranh (Vietnam) ■ BRG Kings’ Island Golf Resort (Vietnam)

Club (Thailand) b Haikou, Blackstone

BEST NEW COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC

ethra Golf and Spa dia)

Malaysia)

PACIFIC

b (Indonesia) b Haikou, hina) Malaysia)

E IN ASIA PACIFIC

ailand) Malaysia) Club (Thailand)

PACIFIC

Club (Thailand) b Haikou (China) Malaysia)

UB IN ASIA PACIFIC

ailand) Club (Thailand) Malaysia)

LE & FEMALE)

ailand)

■ The Els Club Desaru, Vijay Course (Malaysia)

BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE IN ASIA PACIFIC ■ The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course Limited (Hong Kong) ■ Southlinks Golf Club (Philippines) ■ Marina Bay Golf Course (Singapore)

BEST VALUE FOR MONEY EXPERIENCE IN ASIA PACIFIC ■ Nikanti Golf Club (Thailand) ■ Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) ■ Marina Bay Golf Course (Singapore)

BEST GOLF CLUB EXPERIENCE IN ASIA PACIFIC ■ Thai Country Club (Thailand) ■ Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) ■ Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)

BEST FOOD AND BEVERAGE EXPERIENCE IN ASIA PACIFIC ■ Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) ■ TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ■ Thai Country Club (Thailand)

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected. – STEVE JOBS

2017 ASIAN GOLF AWARDS TOP THREE NOMINEES | SPECIAL CATEGORIES (NOT IN ORDER OF MERIT) BEST REGION IN GOLF IN ASIA PACIFIC – THE BOGOR STRIP

BEST HR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

■ Emeralda Golf Club ■ Gunung Geulis Golf & Country Club ■ Palm Hill Golf Club ■ Permata Sentul Golf Club ■ Rainbow Hills Golf Club ■ Sentul Highlands Golf Club ■ Riverside Golf Club ■ Klub Golf Bogor Raya ■ Rancamaya Golf & Country Club

■ Azhan Abdul Kadir, TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ■ Evelyn Wong, Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club (Malaysia) ■ Kwandee Thanontip, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)

BEST CLUB GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

MOST POPULAR GOLF BALL

MOST POPULAR GOLF EQUIPMENT BRAND (DRIVER, WOODS/HYBRIDS, PUTTERS) ■ PING ■ Taylor Made ■ Titleist

■ Stacey Walton, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) ■ Harald Elisson, Black Mountain Golf Club (Thailand) ■ John Blanch, Thai Country Club (Thailand)

■ Bridgestone ■ Pro V and ProV1X ■ Srixon

BEST GOLF MANAGER OF THE YEAR

MOST POPULAR GOLF APPAREL/GOLF SHOES/ACCESSORIES

■ Farroul Hossey Abdullah, TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)) ■ Mohd Yusri Bin Mat Isa, Horizon Hills Golf & Cou C Co Country ou oun ntr trry Club (Malaysia) ■ Stuart Daly, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)

BEST FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR ■ Kamisah Icha, Horizon Hills Golf & Country Cl C Club lub ub (Malaysia) ■ Jintanna Zinn, Thai Country Club (Thailand) ■ Ramiriz Osman, TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) sia a) a)

BEST PROFESSIONAL GOLF COACH IN ASIA PACIFICC ■ John Wither, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) ■ Tony Meechai, TMG Group Asia (Thailand) ■ Travis van Dijk, TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) a) a)

BEST GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR AR ■ Brian Distel, Xili Golf & Country Club (China)) ■ Raja Patchamutho, Warren Golf & Country Club lub ub (Singapore) ■ Minachai Srichanya, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand) nd d))

BEST CADDIE OF THE YEAR ■ Lee Jeong Bun, Sky72 Golf & Resort (South Korea) ea) ea a) a ■ Padli bin Pungut, TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ■ Sairung Khamnuam, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)

BEST MARCOMM MANAGER OF THE YEAR ■ Loh Chyi Jen, TPC Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ■ Nick Loh, Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (Malaysia) a) ■ Bhanujsaya Dangsuwan, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand))

■ Adidas ■ ECCO ■ Footjoy

golf.ecco.com

I am RIKARD KALBERG and my life revolves around Black Mountain. As a professional golfer, I have constant access to a world class golf course that helps me stay at the top of my game. I love life and Black Mountain offers the ideal setting for quality living in a perfectly managed and well-balanced environment. As a family man, Black Mountain is safe and a perfect place to grow my family. What more can I ask for? Come and be part of Black Mountain. Black Mountain Golf Club – a small piece of heaven on earth.

Black Mountain Golf Club – Asia’s Winningest Golf Club

Petchakasem Rd, Hua Hin, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand Tel: +66 32 618 666 | Email: proshop@bmghuahin.com | www.blackmountainhuahin.com

Goes Where No Driver Has Gone Before. The new G400 driver’s streamlined shape advances aerodynamics and stability to our highest levels ever. A speed-inducing forged face and MOI-raising tungsten sole weight deliver greater distance and fairway-ﬁnding forgiveness.

Forged Face Tungsten Sole Weight With a combined MOI over 9,000 and the deepest CG location in golf, there’s no more forgiving driver available.

Engineered to increase face ﬂexing and deliver a powerful sound and feel, the forged face is precision machined to produce hotter ball speeds across the entire face.

ALTA CB (Counter-Balanced) Shaft

Color-Shift Paint Technology The premium copper shaft paint transitions to black as you address the ball to reduce distractions. © PING 2017

Hydropearl Chrome Finish 40% less friction through the turf improves launch and spin in wet conditions and rough.

Hyper 17-4 Stainless Steel Increases strength 40% for thinner face.

COR-Eye Technology ®

Innovative face-ﬂexing technology launches the ball faster and higher to give you tour-player-type distance and stopping power with the forgiveness and feel expected in a PING iron.

Toprail Undercut Cavity Combines with COR-Eye Technology to amplify and expand face ﬂexing to increase ball speed and launch the ball higher.

BUDDING SUPER-STAR SPECIAL FEATURE

In this, the modern era of golf dominated by the legendary Tiger Woods, it is not unusual to bump into golf-crazed parents who believe that their kid is the next legend waiting to be discovered and crowned. One can’t blame these parents for their obsession because often-times, the kids in the spotlight are really good. ASIAN GOLF has had the opportunity of meeting some of these parents and their children and more often than not, we have been impressed with the talent that we have seen. The one kid that made a huge impression on us was a youngster from Malaysia. His name is Gavin Kyle Green and we met him in the company of his kid brother Galven and his charming mother, Vivienne some years back in Kuala Lumpur. It wasn’t the best of ﬁrst encounters because Gavin had just busted his nose by walking into a glass door, and the younger Green was not too pleased to have been called away from a church meeting that he had apparently been looking forward to.

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avin, with a plastered nose was not the most talkative – he was shy but one thing that was very obvious during that meeting was the sharp “eye of the tiger look” that came piercing through his young eyes. He also had a special aura about himself – an aura that made one walk away inspired by the fact that this was a future star in the making!

Gavin has been an interesting personality to track through his developmental years. As a

junior golfer in Malaysia, he set a scorching pace by virtually winning every tournament he entered. He was also successful in tournaments abroad, particularly in America and a case in point is the 2008 US Kids Golf Teen World Championships in Pinehurst. Just weeks after busting up his nose and being laid up in hospital, his mother, Vivienne asked him if he wanted to play in the tournament. Guess what his response was: “I want to go!” Nothing fazed this youngster – all he wanted to do was play golf and play it competitively to win. With the green-light from his doctor, the teenager with a bandaged nose jetted off to Pinehurst and he won that championship hands down, busted nose and all! Imagine playing golf at the highest level with an injured nose and this in no way distracted his focus to play his best golf and go for a win. It was a remarkable quality in such a young player. It’s this same quality and zest that took him to college in New Mexico where he went on to become one of the top ranked players on the U.S. amateur college circuit. This was yet another sign that Gavin had what it takes to make

THE DEFEAT IN KOREA (SHINHAN DONGHAE OPEN) WAS HARD ON ME. I WAS TRYING SO HARD BUT THIS IS THE GAME OF GOLF. IT.

YOU CAN’T FORCE

I THINK THE SECOND PLACES

REALLY TAUGHT ME TO KEEP THE MIND MORE RELAXED.

the grade in golf. After ﬁnishing college, Gavin returned to his hometown Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. With the undivided support of his parents, Gary and Vivienne, the young golfer carefully began building his professional career. The key operative word was CAREFUL because he did not rush into anything headlong and this is again testimony to his mental strength and focus which was deeply engrained into him while in college in America. He notched up some wins on

the Asian Development Tour and racked up enough wins to be placed second on the ADT Order of Merit for 2016. One year later, the kid who was created for ultimate stardom in professional golf is well on his way. At the time of writing Gavin was perched at the very top of the 2017 Asian Tour’s Order of Merit with US$527,346.06. This is saying something about his talent and playing prowess. He hit the top at age 23 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters where in one fell swoop, not only did he emerge victorious with his ﬁrst win on the big professional tour, but he also rocketed up the Order Of Merit to dethrone the pole, sitter Scott Hend. After the win, the Malaysian phenom dedicated the victory to his late grandfather. “It is a bit overwhelming to be honest with you. Part of it is because my grandfather played a huge part in my life and he wanted to see me win. I told everybody earlier this week that it would be huge if I won this week for him,” he told reporters. The late Gerald Green passed

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away from a heart-attack. This shows the compassionate side of Gavin – a competitor who is tough as nails but by the same token, buoyed by strong family ties. This momentous achievement came after three nearmisses on the Asian Tour this season. Looking back on his young playing career, Gavin said, “The defeat in Korea (Shinhan Donghae Open) was hard on me. I was trying so hard but this is the game of golf. You can’t force it. I think the second places really taught me to keep the mind more relaxed.”

MY GOAL HAS CHANGED. I’M THINKING ABOUT THE ORDER OF MERIT NOW. IT WILL BE A HUGE DEAL TO WIN THE ORDER OF MERIT.” THE PROSPECT OF BEING THE FIRST MALAYSIAN TO WIN THE ORDER OF MERIT IS A VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY. “My goal has changed. I’m thinking about the Order of Merit now. It will be a huge deal to win the Order of Merit.” The prospect of being the ﬁrst Malaysian to win the Order of Merit is a very strong possibility. A whole new world of opportunities is beginning to open up for Gavin and one of these opportunities is a chance to make the cut to represent Team Asia at next year’s EurAsia Cup – the clash between Europe and Asia. “I was talking to dad earlier this year about the EurAsia Cup and how nice it would be to make it into the team. You’ve to play really good golf to make it. This win will obviously help me now,” said Gavin. Gavin is most deﬁnitely on his way to a very successful and productive career as a world class professional golfer. Given his solid foundations and strong network of support, there’s no stopping this young man from reaching the absolute pinnacle of success in golf. ASIAN GOLF is rooting for him to one day make it on the most powerful tour on the planet – the PGA Tour. Watch out America – here comes Gavin Kyle Green!

asiangolf 206

The only go an excitin lf tournament sp eci g, fun-fille d event w ally organized for here golf g The Asia club execu olf club owners, o Pacific G pe tives get olf Group to play an rators and manag Tournam d compete ers ent. The to together with the in a tourn . It’s back again – B urnamen ament all t will be st RG Group will be their own h It will be aged con . played w junction osting the 2017 Asi with the ith two-m a This tourn P a ci fic Inter2017 Asia an teams ament is Club Golf Pacific G drawn fro all about olf Summ m clubs w good, cle it. ithin the an fun an The tourn Asia Paci d more im ament wil fi c p fo o rt otprint. antly, it is l be run o n Novem about ne There is n ber 14 at tworking o entry-f the Dana . It’s the th ee to part ng Golf & ird in the ic ip a to attend te in this Country C series. tourname the 2017 lu b in Danang, Asia Paci Vietnam. fic Golf S nt. To qualify, playe u mmit and rs need to Entry wil there are l be 144 slots register as delega from each on a first-come-fir tes available st-serve b club can re . asi gister on For more -line thro s and a two-man informati te u g a h the APG m on plea S website alice@asi . apacificg se visit www.golf conferen olfgroup ce .com or ca ll +65 632 .org or email to A li 3 2800 fo r more de ce Ho at tails.

PING PUTTERS EQUIPMENT FOCUS

PING highly to PIN engine high-p improv

asiangolf asiangol asia ngolff 206 ngol 206

has expanded its popular Sigma G series of putters with two new y forgiving mallets, the Craz-E and Tyne H. Featuring advancements NGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patented True Roll Face Technology, and a multi-piece face eered with an innovative material commonly used in the soles of performance athletic shoes, the Sigma G line offers signiďŹ cant vements in feel, alignment and overall putting performance.

november nove n vembe mber berr 201 2 20 2017 01 0 17

COMBINAT

FULLY MA

OVER THE

SPEED CO

WILL MAK

FROM ANY

BRING DO

THE UNIQUELY SOFTER FEEL AND SATISFYING SOUND COME FROM THE

TION OF HIGH-GRADE ELASTOMER AND

ACHINED AEROSPACE-GRADE ALUMINUM

E ENTIRE FACE.

WITH IMPROVED BALL-

ONSISTENCY AND FORGIVENESS, GOLFERS

KE MORE PUTTS AND GAIN CONFIDENCE

Y DISTANCE, AND THAT’S GOING TO

OWN SCORES.

– JOHN A. SOLHEIM

y broadening the options for golfers with the Craz-E, an enduring classic, and the eyecatching Tyne H, we’re able to introduce more players of all abilities to the phenomenal feel and full-face forgiveness of the Sigma G putters,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “The uniquely softer feel and satisfying sound come from the combination of high-grade elastomer and fully machined aerospace-grade aluminum over the entire face. With improved ball-speed consistency and forgiveness, golfers will make more putts and gain confidence from any distance, and that’s going to bring down scores.” The Craz-E design has been a favourite of tour pros for several years with more than 70 winning versions showcased in the PING Gold Putter Vault, including three major titles. Its proven performance relies on a ball-width centre sight line, and significant heel-toe and back weighting to achieve a high MOI for maximizing stability and balance. The Tyne H is distinguished from the original Tyne by an Anser-style hosel to fit a slight-arc stroke and create offset, plus a top-rail sight line that is white on a Black Nickel finish for contrast and easy alignment. Sigma G face inserts are made of Pebax Elastomer, a lightweight, high-energy-return compound utilized in the soles of athletic shoes for its elasticity which provides the putters a uniquely soft yet responsive feel. PING’s True Roll Face Technology provides full-face forgiveness. Precision milled from 6061 aerospace-grade aluminum, the face pattern varies in depth and pitch to improve performance and touch on putts of every length. Impact stability with Sigma G is increased as a result of the larger face-insert cavities that allow weight savings to be re-distributed farther toward the perimeter to increase the MOI. Optimal CG positions help reduce skid and initiate forward roll. The Craz-E and Tyne H join 16 previously released blades, mid-mallets and mallets available to fit any stroke type, preferred look, and alignment style. All are finished in Platinum or Black Nickel and feature a contrasting face tone to assist in setup and alignment consistency. Two proprietary PING Pistol tapered grips are offered. The PP60 (midsize, flat front with tapered contour) and PP62 (oversize, more rounded shape) are engineered to fit the contours of the hands.

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SENTOSA GOLF CLUB SPECIAL FEATURE

If there is one golf least play one ro sa Golf Club in golf tourname to a very imp Ernie Els, Jor names in t thatâ&#x20AC;? is a best go course world take th

ANDREW JOHNSTON

asia asiangolf sia s ia ang ng ngol ngo gol go o olf 206 20 2 06

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f course in Southeast Asia where golfers aspire to at ound of golf, it’s got to be the world-renowned SentoSingapore. Once the home to Asia’s richest national ent, the Barclays Singapore Open, it has played host ressive list of world-class golfers like Tiger Woods, rdan Spieth, Sergio Garcia and a host of other stellar he professional game. The phrase “been there, done perfect ﬁt for Sentosa which is rated amongst the lf courses in the Asia Paciﬁc and the top 100 golf es in the world. While it continues to be a venue for d class professional golf tournaments, 2018 will see it e on a new role – a role whereby it will help promote e amateur game on an Asia-wide basis.

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osting major amateur golf tournaments is yet another measure of how this Singaporebased club is helping to grow the game of golf. For 2018, Sentosa will be playing host to the Women’s Asian Amateur Championship which will be staged in February. This inaugural tournament will be played on Sentosa’s New Tanjong course and it will provide a real challenge to the most talented female amateur golfers in the region. It will also offer the opportunity to earn an invitation to play in two major championships, namely the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the ANA Inspiration. The winner of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Paciﬁc will be invited by HSBC, which supports women’s golf around the world, to play in the 11th staging of the HSBC Women’s Championship, the region’s leading women’s professional golf tournament which will be also played on the same course at Sentosa next year. The women’s amateur will be run as a double-header with the men’s Asian Amateur Championship which will be held in October. Both these events will be staged in partnership with the R&A and Augusta National Golf Club and will be fully televised. ASIAN GOLF caught up with Andrew Johnston, the general manager of Sentosa to discuss these new developments, and the following are excerpts from that discussion:

ASIAN GOLF: Becoming home to some of Asia’s top amateur golf tournaments is quite a coup. How did this come about? ANDREW JOHNSTON: Just after the 2014 Asia Paciﬁc Amateur Championship, we were contacted by Augusta National and asked if we would have an interest in being the host venue for the anniversary year of the 10th Asian Amateur. After a few meetings we all agreed that Sentosa was a special venue with a reputation of being a veteran at being able to produce world class tournament conditions.

ASIAN GOLF: The fact that these events will be staged at Sentosa is powerful validation of the quality and standard of both of your courses. Would this be a fair assumption to make? JOHNSTON: This certainly speaks about the professionalism of our agronomy and golf operation teams’ ability to stage major events. It also speaks loudly about the quality of our courses. Serapong breaking into the World’s Greatest Golf Courses at No. 58 is a tribute to this as well. However, the thing that really gives further conﬁdence is the APAC team which consists of Augusta National Golf Club, R&A and APAC members who reviewed the New Tanjong course while it was under construction and determined at that point that it was the course they wanted to use to stage the championship.

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ASIAN GOLF: Will Sentosa become the permanent home for these annual tournaments? JOHNSTON: For the Men’s Championship we have signed a contract to host the 10th (2018) and 15th (2023) events with a hand shake to host the 20th in 2028. We would aspire to continue this tradition as long as the APAC team ﬁnds our courses worthy of ﬁnding champions. For the women’s tournament this is the inaugural event. After we host the event it will move to Japan and be played for the next two years at the Royal Club in Japan. We hope the event will rotate back to us from time to time just like the men’s event.

ASIAN GOLF: The staging of these amateur tournaments opens up a new dimension

altogether. Having been one of the early Asianbased courses to have staged and hosted world class professional tournaments, you now will have a new feather in your cap – Asia’s hub for international amateur golf tournaments. Your comments? JOHNSTON: We are excited to develop these new relationships with Augusta National, APAC and the R&A. We are grateful to have a chance to help continue to grow golf. Some of the world’s greatest golfers were winners of amateur championships. However, it is not just about ﬁnding champions - we also intend to keep growing environmental sustainability and help the region grow the game of golf and to help the region gain better agronomic principals.

WE ARE EXCITED TO DEVELOP THESE NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH AUGUSTA NATIONAL, APAC AND THE R&A. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE A CHANCE TO HELP CONTINUE TO GROW GOLF. SOME OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST GOLFERS WERE WINNERS OF AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FINDING CHAMPIONS - WE ALSO INTEND TO KEEP GROWING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HELP THE REGION GROW THE GAME OF GOLF AND TO HELP THE REGION GAIN BETTER AGRONOMIC PRINCIPALS.

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PGA OF AMERICA SPECIAL FEATURE

One of the biggest bugbears of the golf club industry in Asia has been access to and the availability of qualified and certified professionals to work in various sectors of a golf club. The lack of this critical human resource has proved to be a bane on many clubs and in quite a few instances, it has hampered the growth, viability and profitability of clubs. However, all is not lost because like every problem, there is always a silver lining to be found somewhere and in the case of this challenge, help is on its way to Asia! asia a as asiangolf sia ango ngol go f 206 go 203 20 03

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he PGA America, the world’s largest sports

which can help support the development of golf outside the

organisation is well on its way to rolling

US. “When we put the PGA of America Long-Term Strategic

out its programmes and resources to help

Plan together, we made the very conscious decision that we

alleviate the plight faced by golf clubs in

needed to have global expansion as one of the critical, core

Asia with regards to qualified personnel.

areas of the Association,” said Pete Bevacqua, the Chief

It is an organisation with over 28,000 golf professionals who are the recognized experts in teaching and growing the game. The century-old organisation has embarked on an ambitious global strategy that is now looking at initiatives

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Executive Ofﬁcer of the PGA of America. “The PGA of America is already an international golf organisation. We have our members working in 35 countries as of today, and we want to expand that – especially in countries looking to develop the game. And it should be

PGA of America Professionals at the ready to help,” Bevacqua added. This global strategy suits Asia perfectly because it comes at a time when the Continent has some of the fastest growing golf countries in the world which

THE PGA OF AMERICA IS ALREADY AN INTERNA-

positions Asia right at the forefront of the sport’s glo-

TIONAL GOLF ORGANISA-

balization. The PGA of America views Asia as a key

TION.

golﬁng market and given the growth of both inbound and outbound golfers, the main challenge ahead

WE HAVE OUR

MEMBERS WORKING IN

centres around sustainability to ensure that the sport

35 COUNTRIES AS OF

realises its full potential.

TODAY, AND WE WANT TO

Arjun Chowdri, Senior Director of Global and Corporate Strategy for the PGA of America, said: “The Asia region represents an incredible opportunity for the game of golf with PGA of America Professionals being well positioned through their intensive education and on-the-job training to help drive sustainable

– ESPECIALLY IN COUNTRIES LOOKING TO DEVELOP THE GAME. AND IT SHOULD BE PGA OF AMERICA PROFESSIONALS AT THE READY TO HELP. – PETE BEVACQUA EXPAND THAT

growth for the region.” He continued, “Like with any golf market, the key to a sustainable future is putting in place the right foundations and for many facilities, the first foundation is hiring the right PGA of America Professional which can prove to have a significant return on investment.” So, how can Asian golf clubs benefit from the PGA of America? The answer lies in highly trained and qualified personnel - for over a century, PGA of America Professionals have successfully managed golf operations and businesses. “As the industry’s standard bearer, they serve as the recognized teachers and leaders of the game. They promote it passionately and they care deeply about its future,” explained Chowdri.

“With a deep-rooted passion for the game, the organisation’s professionals are expanding upon the traditional skills of playing and teaching, by becoming managers and business operators, who generate new revenue streams, while managing efﬁcient business operations,” Chowdri added. Using innovative marketing, in-depth market research and consumer analysis, PGA of America Professionals are reaching out to golfers and new audiences to establish golf as an accessible and beneﬁcial sport to participate in, which in turn, has very positive spin-offs for golf clubs. A point to note is that the PGA of America invests

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over US$10 million annually into its education programme,

nurture and develop the PGA interns on diversity, cultural

ensuring that it covers the essential components needed

experiences and best practices within golf operations in Asia

to work in the diverse industry of golf. Through this

and across the world. The duration of the internship pro-

programme, the PGA of America is able to help develop

gramme is between four to six months,” Chowdri explained.

expertise in a number of core areas like business planning,

As part of the global expansion of the PGA of America,

customer relations, teaching, golf course operations and

its professionals are currently employed in over 35 countries

food and beverage control, amongst others.

around the world, occupying a number of positions in many

Essentially, the education programme is structured to

different golf businesses. In many cases, these profession-

prepare individuals for a career in golf with both high-quality

als have built the core infrastructure across a wide range of

education and work experience which has been the corner-

departments within a facility that includes the training and

stone of the success of every PGA of America Professional in

development of golf teams, course construction and design,

the industry. “Through this world-class education pro-

academy management and player development, destination

gramme, PGA of America Members have been able to offer

marketing, and golf tourism plus more.

substantial value and exceptional service to their customers, employers and the overall game of golf,” Chowdri pointed out. A highlight of the PGA of America’s global strategy is the

Golf clubs in Asia can seek the assistance of the PGA of America through its partner, Colt Mackenzie McNair (CMM) who are specialists in recruiting qualiﬁed members for

launching of a global internship programme in conjunction

employment opportunities. A spokesman for CCM said, “This

with its university partners. “The programme is designed to

new initiative now allows you to recruit the best talent when selecting a PGA profes-

WITH A DEEP-ROOTED PASSION FOR THE GAME, THE ORGANISATION’S PROFESSIONALS ARE EXPANDING UPON THE TRADITIONAL SKILLS OF PLAYING AND TEACHING, BY BECOMING MANAGERS AND BUSINESS OPERATORS, WHO GENERATE NEW REVENUE STREAMS, WHILE MANAGING EFFICIENT BUSINESS OPERATIONS, 77

november 2017

ARJUN CHOWDRI

sional for your facility and through the services of a PGA professional you are able to leverage the reputation and brand strength associated with the PGA of America.” Facilities can learn more by going to http://pga.org/ globalemployment.

BLACK HAT GOLF TIPS GAME IMPROVEMENT

Tony Meechai, our resi again. For this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house-cleaning implem ball, something that is

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ident golf guru who is noted for using everyday situations to teach golf is back at it Black Hat GolďŹ ng Tips, Tony gets domestic and works with a broom â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yes that simple ment. What he has to show you will have a dramatic effect on how you chip your golf a challenge for many golfers. Over to Tony:

november 2017

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PITCHING IS REALLY SIMPLE IF YOU WORK ON THE BROOM TECHNIQUE. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SWEEPING MOTION

– BACK

AND FORTH AND NOT UP AND DOWN!

ONCE YOU GET A HANG OF IT, YOU WILL BE A MAESTRO WITH YOUR CHIPS AND YOU WILL START REALLY ENJOYING YOUR GAME OF GOLF.

ope you had a great month playing golf and making birdies! For this month, I want to see how I can help all you golfers who are struggling with your chipping (short game) and to see if there is a simple way to improve that part of your game without too much effort. Here’s the solution - all you need to do is to change your mind-

set and get yourself a broom. Yes, your eyes are not playing tricks on you – I said a broom! Like the variety that you use at home to clean up the ﬂoor. Think of this as GOOD HOUSEKEEPING! Sounds silly and basic but let me tell you, it really works. Let’s start the routine - take ten golf balls and go to an area where you can chip and don’t forget to bring the broom! Here we go: 1.

november 2017

Take the broom and position it in your hands as you would a golf club.

Now take a look at the target – the ﬂag. Visualize the ball land-

Next, move the broom in a back and forth motion like you would

Now, take the ten golf balls and your golf club and using the

ing on the green and rolling to the hole. Focus. when sweeping. I like to refer to this as ‘brushing the grass’. ‘brushing the grass’ motion, strike one ball at a time and see how many balls get close to the hole or maybe even into the hole. You may wonder what is happening and why this technique works. The ‘brushing the grass’ motion ensures that you are focused on the ball. Secondly, this tip will prevent you from hitting down or trying to scoop the ball into the air. This is where the broom plays its part – the back and forth sweeping motion of the broom will help you change your stroke into one that resembles the back and forth sweeping motion of a broom as opposed to the ‘up and down’ striking of the ball. Pitching is really simple if you work on the broom technique. It’s all about the sweeping motion – back and forth and not up and down! Once you get a hang of it, you will be a maestro with your chips and you will start really enjoying your game of golf. Do me a favor and spread the news! Tell your club members and guests to do it. Don’t worry if they are going to laugh if you show up to the clubhouse with a broom! Happy chipping!

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 PGA Professional Golf Management, he has made a name for himself in Asia over the past decade, during which 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 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 Club-Focused Instruction curriculum and teaching philosophy. Voted 2015 and 2016 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 tony@tmggroupasia.com. Like Black Hat Golf Tips page on facebook.

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PREVIEW GAME IMPROVEMENT

IAIN INTRODUCES THE ART OF PITCHING.

as ngol asia asiangolf olff 206 ol 203 20 03

THE MASTER SHOWS HOW IT’S DONE … AND AGAIN.

arm-ups completed, we do a quick recap of the third lesson and I spend the next 20 minutes hitting 7-irons – to generally good effect – while Iain makes regular adjustments involving

my legs, arms and head, resulting in a smoother swing. I feel we are making good progress. Iain does too, because he decides it’s time to introduce me to a new club, the pitching wedge. We leave the driving range and head to the short game area where we stand back from the green, some 20 yards from the ﬂag. Iain effortlessly demonstrates what I will be attempting to do, chipping high and handsome with minimal backswing, the ball dropping dead just a few feet from the pin. “Your turn,” he says. No pressure then.

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NIALL’S FIRST ATTEMPTS AT PITCHING – STANCE … AND FOLLOW-THROUGH.

IAIN OFFERS CONSTANT ADVICE AND E

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BACKSWING …

After hours of hitting 7-irons, the biggest problem is adjusting the swing speed. My ﬁrst few efforts either sail over the back of the green or come up woefully short. Iain reverts to his old advice: “Trust the swing, let the club do the work, don’t try to lift the ball.” Gradually we start see some success. We move closer to the green and try some softer, more tempered pitches. After 15 minutes of this, one shot stops reasonably close to the NCOURAGEMENT.

pin and Iain thinks it is a good way to ﬁnish this ﬁrst pitching session. “Back to the range for some more 7-irons,” he says.

TRUST THE SWING, LET THE CLUB DO THE WORK, DON’T TRY TO LIFT THE BALL.”

GRADUALLY WE START SEE SOME SUCCESS. WE MOVE CLOSER TO THE GREEN AND TRY SOME SOFTER, MORE TEMPERED PITCHES. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF THIS, ONE SHOT STOPS REASONABLY CLOSE TO THE PIN AND IAIN THINKS IT IS A GOOD WAY TO FINISH THIS FIRST PITCHING SESSION.

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MOVING CLOSER TO THE PIN TO VARY SHOT STRENGTH.

Easier said than done. It’s taken me a while to adjust to the wedge and now it’s difﬁcult to handle the 7-iron again. Iain points out that in a golf tournament, you rarely use the same club two shots in a row –putter aside – so it will take hours and hours of practice to get used to constantly switching. Even so, I feel I’ve made huge progress in four hours of coaching. “You’re getting there,” Iain offers, encouragingly.

IAIN EXPLAINS HOW THE CLUB FACE SHOULD LIFT THE BALL.

ABOUT IAIN ROBERTS Iain Roberts has spent a lifetime in golf since ﬁrst picking up a club at the age of 14. As player, coach, retailer, administrator and senior executive, he has vast experience in the game. His outstanding contribution to golf was given the ultimate recognition in 2015 when the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland awarded him Master Professional status. Iain is founder and operator of the Iain Roberts Golf School – www.iainrobertsgolfschool.com – which operates from three locations in Hong Kong.

www.iainrobertsgolfschool.com

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

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