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ISSUE APGS 2019 has reached out to an incredible lady who is doing a great deal to grow the game of golf amongst women on a worldwide basis. She is Elisa A. Gaudet, the founder of Women’s Day Golf and since 2016 she has been hugely successful to get this movement happening in over 900 locations in 52 countries. Gaudet will be a key speaker at APGS 2019 in India on November 4 – 6 which will be staged at the multi-award winning DLF Golf Club in Gurugram.
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SPECIAL FEATURE 32 APGS2019: INDIA – ALL READY FOR APGS 2019! The ancient land of India – renowned for its gracious and opulent lifestyle of its maharajahs, is all primed to host the 2019 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS). The host city will be the futuristic cyber-city of Gurugram, located on the outskirts of the nation’s capital, New Delhi.
42 GOLF CITIZEN HITS ANOTHER HOME RUN! If you want to be a serious player in business, especially in this day and age, one can’t afford to adopt a manyana mentality and push everything back till tomorrow. The pace of business today is all about “instant” action. Speed alone is not enough. Innovation and the ability to change at the drop of a hat is vital to the very survival of a business. One organisation in the golf industry that conducts its operations in accordance to this ethos is Golf Citizen, the international golf tee-time reservation system. This organisation was recognised for the ‘Best Innovation Award’ at the 2018 Asian Golf Awards and the reason for the recognition is primarily attributable to the fact that it is a business which recognises change as a constant and is totally responsive to change!
50 58 EVERYONE’S CHAMPION! The 2019 U.S. Open is over, and one man prevailed and took whatever Pebble Beach dished out and brought the proud grand lady to her knees by sinking 13 birdies to wrest the 2019 U.S. Open. And that man was 35-year old Kansas native Gary Woodland.
66 PGA TOUR: ASIANS ON THE RISE! 2019 has been a good year for emerging young stars from Asia. We have witnessed young guns from South Korea and Taiwan challenge for top honours on the world’s toughest professional tour – the PGA Tour. Two such young jocks are Taiwan’s C.T. Pan and South Korea’s Sung Kang. ASIAN GOLF reached out to the PGA Tour for a special report on the rise of these two Asians. The PGA Tour’s Chuah Choo Chiang reports.
50 VIKTOR HOVLAND – GOLF’S NEXT SUPER VIKING! Anyone who witnessed Viktor Hovland play at the 2019 Masters and U.S. Open has got to agree that this young man has got game. He’s got the sort of game that can make him a big star in the years to come. And more importantly, he has a truly remarkable disposition that one can’t help but like him.
42
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INTERNATIONAL ROVING EDITOR
Editor/Chief Executive Officer [mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
Alan Campbell (China/Middle East) Correspondent
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Forget about the great Tiger Woods winning more major championships and surpassing Jack Nicklaus to the winning tape in the race for who’s got more majors under his belt.
W
hile Tiger may win some major championships, we feel that destiny has anointed him to be remembered for a contribution that is and will be greater than any or all of the major wins combined. In a strange sort of way, Tiger is on a messianic
mission, a mission to help Mankind. A sort of higher calling. A calling far greater than winning golf tournaments.
ACCORDING TO CENTINEL SPINE, “THE PARTNERSHIP
Just in case we’ve got you wondering, we would like to share with you that Tiger is working with medical a research laboratory called Centinel Spine which is partnering with the golf legend to support its mission of educating the public on
BROUGHT TOGETHER TWO LEADERS IN
spinal disease and options that allow individuals to function
THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS, WITH THE
at a high level.
GOAL OF EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS THAT
According to Centinel Spine, “the partnership brought together two leaders in their respective fields, with the goal of educating individuals that spinal injury and disease does
SPINAL INJURY AND DISEASE DOES NOT REQUIRE LIVING WITH PAIN.
not require living with pain.” Tiger relied on his spine surgeon to direct him to the
like that for years. The forces have to go somewhere. And if
right implant for his back. He trusted the Centinel Spine
they’re not in the lower back, they’re in the neck, and if not,
product. “I did a lot of research into the various spinal
they’re in the mid-back and if not, they go to the knee. You
surgical procedures available to me and was convinced
name it. I feel every shot I hit. I think that’s always going to
that surgery through an anterior approach represented the
be the place from here going forward. It’s just part of the
best option,” Tiger explained. “I have regained my life, and
deal.”
playing golf again at this level, is just an added bonus,” he added. More importantly Tiger pointed out: “My surgery has
While Tiger’s aches and pains will often make news, he has found an upside to it. Through his painful experiences, Tiger has now turned the ordeal into a business
had a profound impact on me and my family, and I thank my
relationship. A business relationship aimed at developing a
surgeon and the technology provided by Centinel Spine.”
“mission to address spinal disease and allow individuals to
Tiger underwent spinal fusion surgery using the Centinel Spine product in April 2017 to alleviate ongoing debilitating pain in his back and legs. Although there are some flashes of Tiger’s past glori-
continue to function at a high level even after major spine surgery.” Let us remember how Tiger, through all of his pain has given back to Mankind a cure that will now allow many
ous performances, his performance at the recent 2019 U.S.
to enjoy life. Tiger, thanks for all the thrills that you have
Open at Pebble Beach did show signs of his past injuries
given us over the years with your mastery of golf. Even if
re-surfacing.
you never win another major championship, go and enjoy
“When it’s cold, everything is achy. It’s just part of the deal,” he said after completing his third round. “It’s been
playing with your children – this is even bigger than winning the Masters.
It’s not a big secret that golf has its fair share of problems especially as it relates to the growth of the game. In the Western hemisphere which is pretty much the home turf of golf, for well over a decade, the game has been experiencing a decline in terms of golf course closures and the rate of participation in the sport. It would not be incorrect to state that golf is at its lowest point on both counts and numerous measures have been taken to give the game a shot in the arm to get its heart pumping again. Regrettably, course closures have continued and the gauge that monitors the number of golfers and their rate of participation has not registered a noticeable upward blip on golf’s health barometer. While the state of golf remains flat for all intents and purposes in the West, there’s no way of taking a health check on the state of golf in Asia. This is primarily due to the fact that there are no reliable universal statistics on the state of the game in Asia and whatever information that is bandied around is really not reflective of the true state of the sport on the Asian landmass. Rather than indulge in idle talk about why this is the case, it would be more productive to look at how Asia can play a role in helping to give golf a kick-start to get it on the path towards growth. One area where Asia can play its part is in the promotion of golf for women and girls because this is an area where Asia has success stories to tell and roles models to inspire Asian women to take up golf. In this special focus report, ASIAN GOLF will explore what is being done to bring more Asian women into the world of golf.
L
ast year, the R&A launched the Women In Golf Charter. In a nutshell, the sole intent of that Charter was to promote a global drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf – both as players and workers in the golf industry.
While it is a great initiative, it has to be looked upon as a very European-cen-
tric campaign (at least for the interim), by virtue of the fact that the thrust of the drive is focused almost exclusively on the United Kingdom and Europe although the R&A is quick to explain that it hopes that “national associations and other golf bodies will build on and develop initiatives which will focus on encouraging more women and girls to play golf and stay within the sport as members of clubs, while also empowering women to enjoy successful careers working within the golf industry.” This means that the mandate falls squarely on the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation and its members representing country affiliates throughout the Asia Pacific geographic spread. This organisation is very dependent on support from the R&A to make things happen and never has there been a time when the call for it to make a serious and concerted move, greater than it is right now! We don’t expect the APGC to leap into action – and neither do we expect their national affiliates to get moving any time soon. With this as background, the Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG), the publisher of ASIAN GOLF, has decided to play its part to help draw more Asian women and girls into golf. There’s never been a better time than NOW to launch a drive to give women’s golf in Asia a boost. Asian women are a dominant force on the most powerful Lauren Thompson & Elisa Gaudet
THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME THAN NOW TO LAUNCH A DRIVE TO GIVE WOMEN’S GOLF IN ASIA A BOOST. ASIAN WOMEN ARE A DOMINANT FORCE ON THE MOST POWERFUL PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOUR IN THE WORLD – THE LPGA. MOST WEEKS, WOMEN PROFESSIONALS FROM SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, THAILAND AND CHINA ARE LOCKED IN BATTLE FOR TOP SPOTS ON THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST GOLF TOURNAMENTS.
FROM YEAR ONE WE’VE COMBINED EASY, FUN GOLFING ACTIVITIES AT GOLF VENUES WITH A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GLOBAL FEMALE GOLF MARKET.
EVERY YEAR WE’VE GROWN
2019 HAS BEEN A TIPPING POINT FOR UNITING INDUSTRY LEADERS, TEACHING PROS, PROGRAMMES, COURSES AND EVENTS TO CELEBRATE WOMEN AND GOLF FOR ONE DAY. BUT
professional golf tour in the world – the LPGA. Most weeks, women professionals from South Korea, Japan, Thailand and China are locked in battle for top spots on the world’s toughest golf tournaments. Names like Inbee Park, Ariya Jutanugarn and Nasa Hataoka are household names in Asia and they, together with their peers are superstars in their respective countries. Asia has the stars to inspire and motivate the growth of the game on the Continent and the time to act is NOW! APGG has already swung into action with its 2019 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS 2019) which it owns and produces. Through APGS 2019, it is taking on the challenge to provide an inspirational and motivational platform to push this initiative towards getting the job done. APGS 2019 has reached out to an incredible lady who is doing a great deal to grow the game of golf amongst women on a worldwide basis. She is Elisa A. Gaudet, the founder of Women’s Day Golf and since 2016 she has been hugely successful to get this movement happening in over 900 locations in 52 countries. Elisa and Arnold Palmer
The 2019 event was a huge success and according to Gaudet, “The event was an
THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT TEACHING PROS AND PROGRAMMES AVAILABLE ALREADY IN EXISTENCE, SO IF WE CAN HELP WOMEN
event, and is delighted to be a part of the momentum that is gathering in the women’s game. She said: “From year one we’ve combined easy, fun golfing activities at golf venues with a bigger conversation about the importance of the global female golf market. Every year we’ve grown but 2019 has been a tipping point for uniting industry leaders, teach-
UNDERSTAND WHAT A FANTASTIC GAME
ing pros, programmes, courses and events to celebrate
GOLF IS AND THE VALUE OF THE COMMU-
women and golf for one day.”
NITIES THAT EXIST WITHIN THE GAME
I KNOW WE CAN CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF FEMALE GOLFERS.” SHE ADDED, “THE WAY THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS COME TOGETHER TO SHOW WOMEN’S GOLF AT ITS BEST IS SO INSPIRING AND I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW WE CAN BE AT THE HEART OF DRIVING THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN IN YEARS TO COME. THEN
The feeling of unity across the globe was reflected in comments from venues that hosted Women’s Golf Day events. Benedict Riches, CEO, Leadbetter Golf commented: “This is a fantastic initiative and perfectly aligns with our mission of building a lifelong game for golfers of all ages and abilities. We hope the 135 women who attended our event in Orlando not only improved their golf swing, but made new friends as they joined the community of women golfers united across the world.” Gaudet plans to build on the momentum and make sure that the conversation converts into action. “Women’s Golf Day is the start of the journey for so many women, and that’s something of which I’m incredibly proud,” she said. “There are so many great teaching pros and programmes available
even bigger hit on social media, with over 25 million people
already in existence, so if we can help women understand
viewing Women’s Golf Day content for a total of over 47
what a fantastic game golf is and the value of the communi-
million impressions across social platforms that included
ties that exist within the game then I know we can create
some of the biggest brands, influencers and celebrities in the
the next generation of female golfers.” She added, “The way
game.”
that the industry has come together to show women’s golf at
Gaudet was blown away by the support for this year’s
its best is so inspiring and I can’t wait to see how we can be
at the heart of driving that conversation again in years to come.” Gaudet is a game changer in the truest sense of the term. Her success is truly leading edge and APGS 2019 is bringing her out as a key speaker at the Summit in India to share her thoughts and road map on how Asia can create a powerful launch-pad to get more women and girls to jump on the bandwagon. “After all, Asian women golfers dominate the LPGA professional circuit – the Continent has the game’s heroines and role models to help generate some explosive growth in women’s golf!” Gaudet observed. Gaudet is a 20-year veteran in the golf industry with a proven track record. She is the Founder of Executive Golf International, a strategy driven golf marketing firm. She has spoken at numerous sports and business conferences internationally including the International Sports Conference in Geneva and is an award-winning writer. She is a graduate of George Mason University and has additionally studied at Stanford University, University of Valencia, Spain, Imperial College of London and University of Paris Sorbonne. The Summit will be staged on November 4 – 6 in the futuristic Indian city of Gurugram and the venue will be the multi-award winning DLF Golf and Country Club.
AFTER ALL, ASIAN WOMEN GOLFERS DOMINATE THE LPGA PROFESSIONAL CIRCUIT – THE CONTINENT HAS THE GAME’S HEROINES AND ROLE MODELS TO HELP GENERATE SOME EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN WOMEN’S GOLF!
GET THE APP
W
ith gender equality and equal opportu-
move in packs!” It has been the mixing of people that have
nities for women firmly on everyone’s
never played golf with those who have which she credits as
agenda, Women’s Golf Day was
a “game changer”. “Golf has always been about community,
inadvertently launched at the right time
but often women feel intimidated around golf. This special
and Elisa found that people were ready
day is breaking down those barriers, getting women onto the
to fully embrace the concept. “Look at everything else that is
golf course and acting as a platform to unite and showcase
going on the world, women empowerment, women support-
all the people and venues driving participation and welcom-
ing women, it was super timely and what we have created is a
ing women and girls part of the global golfing community.”
community and I think that it is this community aspect that is so powerful, more than the golf,” Gaudet explained.
Elisa also touched on her personal battle with breast cancer since the 2017 Women’s Golf Day, talking about how
Gaudet believes that one real issue preventing many
although she found the diagnosis difficult to come to terms
women getting into golf has been a feeling of intimidation.
with, over time it was the event’s platform and the commu-
She spoke about how Women’s Golf Day has always encour-
nity that it had created which has helped in her recovery and
aged participants to bring a friend commenting, “Women
made her want to tell people her story.
Watch this video about her battle with breast cancer and how this episode in life inspired her to start Women’s Golf Day
GOLF
HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT COMMUNITY, BUT OFTEN WOMEN FEEL
INTIMIDATED AROUND GOLF.
THIS
SPECIAL DAY IS BREAKING DOWN THOSE
BARRIERS, GETTING WOMEN ONTO THE GOLF COURSE AND ACTING AS A PLATFORM TO UNITE AND SHOWCASE ALL THE PEOPLE AND VENUES DRIVING PARTICIPATION AND WELCOMING WOMEN AND GIRLS PART OF THE GLOBAL GOLFING COMMUNITY.
ELISA GAUDET
How would you like to take on one of the toughest golf courses in the world? It’s affectionately referred to as the “Beast From The East”. We are reaching out to the best golfers in the golf club industry to come and do battle at the multi-award winning DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, India. This immaculately conditioned course will be the host venue for the only golf tournament specially organized for golf club owners, operators and managers. The Asia Pacific Golf Group together with DLF Golf Club will be hosting the 2019 Asia Pacific Inter-Club Golf Tournament. The tournament will be staged in conjunction with the 2019 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.
It will be played with two-man teams drawn from clubs within the Asia Pacific footprint. This tournament is all about good, clean fun and more importantly, it is about networking. It’s the fifth in the series. The tournament will be run on November 6, 2019. There is no entry-fee to participate in this tournament. To qualify, players need to register as delegates to attend the 2019 Asia Pacific Golf Summit and there are 80 slots available. Entry will be on a first-come-first-serve basis and a two-man team from each club can register on-line through the APGS website.
For more information please visit www.golfconference.org or email to Alice Ho at alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com or call +65 6323 2800 for more details
The ancient land of India – renowned for its gracious and opulent lifestyle of its maharajahs, is all primed to host the 2019 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS). The host city will be the futuristic cyber-city of Gurugram, located on the outskirts of the nation’s capital, New Delhi. For the very first time, the entire Summit will be staged on the grounds of the immaculately manicured landscaped gardens of DLF which a sight is to behold. The entire proceedings of the Summit and the Asian Golf Awards will be staged in a state-of-the-art marquee tent which will come complete with world-class staging facilities.
MEAGAN FALLONE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BAREFOOT COLLEGE
F
or the first time in its thirteen-year history as the premier golf business summit in the Asia Pacific, APGS 2019 has reached beyond the golf industry to seek an inspirational keynote speaker. She is Meagan Fallone, the Chief Executive Officer, of an exceptional organisation called
The Barefoot College. Ms. Fallone is an exceptional lady, a dedicated social entrepreneur and a bold mountaineer with a very impressive list of global achievements and recognitions. Ms. Fallone has empowered hundreds of thousands of illiterate and semi-literate rural women to be empowered to learn how to embrace and grow with change through the application of technology. From her office in the desert town of Tilonia in Rajasthan, Ms Fallone, who hails from New Zealand, directs The Barefoot College to support women to connect rural communities to solar, water, education, professions and advocacy. Guiding field operations in 96 countries, she and her team have set an example of positive impact through ground-breaking partnerships with governments, corporations and a network of civil society and multilateral organisations. Global collaborations with companies such as Apple, Credit Suisse, Oracle, Goldman Sachs, and ENEL together with Multilateral partnerships for impact have proven the far-reaching impact Social Enterprise can have in building out ‘templates for scale’, able to be adopted by National and Local Government. Ms. Fallone is recognised globally for all her work and achievements. She is the recipient of the Mother Theresa Award, Social Justice presented by the Harmony Foundation International, Inc; The Hillary Laureate for 2018 presented by the Sir Edmund Hillary Institute for mountaineering, bee-keeping and champion of marginalised communities worldwide – all ideals that she shares with the renowned conqueror of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary.
JEREMY DALE FOUNDER GOLF’S GREATEST HITS
I
t’s no secret that golf has been having a tough ride over the past few years. Participation has been on a steady decline and combined with a slew of other problems, the fun element in golf seems to have
deserted the game. A key consideration to keep in mind is that golf today is not your father’s game. The demands of a multi-tiered demographic structure made up of Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z are very different and to get them on board calls for a very radical mindset change. In its current form, golf at the club level is too stodgy, stiff upperlipped and rule-bound. Put simply, it’s NO FUN! There is really a need for a new mindset to shake-up the way golf is played at the club level. The transformation has to be designed to stir up an interest to bring in new and younger golfers and the new mindset must be sustainable over the long haul. This calls for a collective effort on the part of the game’s gatekeepers, course owners and operators. To set the right tone, the 2019 Asia Pacific Golf
Summit has reached out to a man who can inspire and motivate to help open a new page for golf. He is Englishman Jeremy Dale who has staged more than 2000 shows in 42 countries. As a PGA certified coach and one of the world’s best golf trick shot artist he has never ceased to thrill, inspire, motivate and amaze thousands. Dale is a firm believer in FUN, and he has the right credentials to lay out a strategy that can and will help fire up a new sense of enthusiasm and drive on how golf clubs in Asia can reach out to new demographics.
ELISA GAUDET FOUNDER/PRESIDENT WOMEN’S DAY GOLF
T
alk about opening up golf to more women has been one of those topics that keeps cropping up on and off which indicates that there is an interest to get more women playing the game.
The 2019 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS
2019) is taking on the challenge to provide an inspirational and motivational platform to push this initiative towards getting the job done and in this context it has reached out to an incredible lady who is doing a great deal to grow the game of golf amongst women on a worldwide basis. She is Elisa A. Gaudet, the founder of Women’s Day Golf and since 2016 she has been hugely successful to get this movement happening in over 900 locations in 52 countries – through her campaign, she has engaged, empowered and supported women and girls playing golf around the globe. Gaudet is a 20-year veteran in the golf industry with a proven track record. She is the Founder of Executive Golf International, a strategy driven golf marketing firm. She has single-handedly led the crusade and through her ability to mobilize and scale very rapidly, Women’s Day Golf has seen 68% growth in two years and has generated significant interest from the sports and business industry. Her success is truly leading edge and APGS is privileged to be able to bring her out as a key speaker to share her thoughts and road map on how Asia can create a powerful launch-pad to get more women and girls to jump on the bandwagon.
ANDREW WOOD FOUNDER/PRESIDENT LEGENDARY MARKETING
M
ost of us have read about the Millennial period; many of us have discussed it at length and then again, many more have just not given a hoot to
the changing of the guard – from the Post War Generation of baby boomers to the emerging new market of Millennials. This lackadaisical attitude is perhaps most prevalent in the golf industry which is already paying the price of a global decline in its business. This nightmare was portended by the American market research guru Matt Powell of NPD Group when he warned: “There are a lot of systemic headwinds for golf that are just not going away – in particular: “Millennials are not picking up the game as quickly as Boomers are ageing out of it. The game needs young people to be playing it to reverse its fortunes. I don’t think a 43-year-old guy (Tiger Woods) winning a golf tournament is going to inspire young people to get out and pick up the game.” This challenge will be addressed at the 2019 Asia Pacific
Golf Summit (APGS 2019) and the man charged to handle this burning issue is the Legendary Marketing Guru – Andrew Wood. This challenge has been on the agenda for a few years and Wood has stepped up to the plate and has offered a myriad of solutions, in his inimitable way of not pulling any punches. Collectively speaking Asian Millennials will have billions at their disposal and they make up a CRITICAL pool of prospects for the future of every golf club. “But NO ONE in the golf business has the slightest clue how to reach them,” observed Wood. There is potential waiting to be tapped but as the Legendary Marketing Guru says, “You can’t do it with the old template – you need to start from scratch and cater to the Millennials with a customised package just for them!”
SIMON YANG DEPUTY SECRETARY HAINAN INTERNATIONAL GOLF ALLIANCE
T
he Hainan International Golf Alliance has been established with a great mission objective. The mission is to bring together government and golf tourism
stakeholders from across Hainan Province to promote the tropical Chinese island as a global golf tourism destination. This is a precursor to more provinces in China throwing open the door to welcome golfers from all over the world. Given the number of high-quality golf courses in China, there will be no holding back the Middle Kingdom from becoming a major force in golf tourism. Hainan is the ďŹ rst province in China to form such
an alliance and promote golf as a vehicle for international tourism in this way. Simon Yang, a 15-year golf industry veteran with work experience in Canada and China is the Director of Golf Club Operations at Mission Hills Haikou Golf Club. He is also the Deputy Secretary of the Hainan International Golf Alliance and he will share his thoughts on how Hainan will lead the way for the rest of China to compete for a share of the golf tourism market in Asia.
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If you want to be a serious player in business, especially in this day and age, one can’t afford to adopt a manyana mentality and push everything back till tomorrow. The pace of business today is all about “instant” action. Speed alone is not enough. Innovation and the ability to change at the drop of a hat is vital to the very survival of a business. One organisation in the golf industry that conducts its operations in accordance to this ethos is Golf Citizen, the international golf tee-time reservation system. This organisation was recognised for the ‘Best Innovation Award’ at the 2018 Asian Golf Awards and the reason for the recognition is primarily attributable to the fact that it is a business which recognises change as a constant and is totally responsive to change!
IT’S NOT JUST A SIMPLE BOOKING PLATFORM. WE HAVE TRIED TO ENCOMPASS ALL ASPECTS OF A GOLF CLUB’S OPERATION. GOLF CITIZEN IS A TOTAL GOLF MANAGEMENT PLATFORM. NOT ONLY WILL IT MAKE THINGS A LOT EASIER FOR GOLF FANS TO ACCESS TEE TIMES, IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE OPERATIONAL OVERHEADS OF GOLF CLUBS, STREAMLINE THEIR OPERATIONS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, INCREASE THEIR REVENUES. – MOHAMED JUMA BUAMAIM
C
ontinuing with its penchant for change
management platform. Not only will it make things
and innovation, Golf Citizen has again
a lot easier for golf fans to access tee times, it will
streamlined its golf operations platform
significantly reduce the operational overheads of
from booking tee times and academy
golf clubs, streamline their operations and most im-
lessons, to managing tournaments,
portantly, increase their revenues,” said Buamaim.
selling merchandise and communicating with members and staff.
By becoming a Citizen (member), which is free, golfers can use the ‘Play’ section to enjoy seamless
The visionary piloting Golf Citizen is golf entrepreneur Mohamed Juma Buamaim who is well known
booking of their tee times in some of the leading golf courses in the UAE, Thailand, Vietnam, Oman,
in the golfing industry as the man who promoted
Cambodia and Laos. Many other courses in different
the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega
countries, including Morocco, India and China, are
Dubai Ladies Masters and also created the MENA Golf Tour. He was also the General Manager
about to join the list soon. With ‘Events’, golf clubs and organisers
of Emirates Golf Club for seven years and his
can use the platform as a complete tournament
vast and varied experience in the business has
management system (from receiving entries to
helped shape Golf Citizen.
making draws to live scoring and managing post-
Under his guidance, Golf Citizen has expanded its scope to become a ‘one-stop shop’ for golf clubs. While ‘Play’ and ‘Events’ have been the foundation on which Golf Citizen was built, it has now taken on ‘Buy’ and ‘Learn’ as new features. “It’s not just a simple booking platform. We have tried to encompass all aspects of a golf club’s operation. Golf Citizen is a total golf
tournament media), as well as a powerful internal communications tool. ‘Buy’ is the free, online classified section, which can be used by the clubs and Citizens to buy and sell equipment and other golf-related products. The ‘Learn’ section is an extension of the golf booking platform but is specifically designed for use by golf academies and individual coaches. Golf Citizen members can look up at the various offers and availability and book directly.
“In doing all this, we have ensured that the ease of use for our Golf Citizen members remain paramount. All of our bookings are confirmed in real time. And we are now in the process of having agents in most countries, so we will have a much better and quicker customer support service,” added Buamaim. Besides beefing up its business platform to become
‘BUY’ IS THE FREE, ONLINE CLASSIFIED SECTION, WHICH CAN BE USED BY THE CLUBS AND CITIZENS TO BUY AND SELL EQUIPMENT AND OTHER GOLF-RELATED PRODUCTS. THE ‘LEARN’ SECTION IS AN
more responsive to the needs of member clubs and golfing
EXTENSION OF THE GOLF BOOKING PLATFORM
members, Golf Citizen has entered into a historic collabo-
BUT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR USE BY
ration to promote golf tourism.
GOLF ACADEMIES AND INDIVIDUAL COACHES.
The strategic collaboration aims to open up a whole new golf experience for Japanese golfers headed to Thailand. The landmark agreement is between Golf Citizen, and Club Thailand, a top golf tour promoter which specialises
GOLF CITIZEN MEMBERS CAN LOOK UP AT THE VARIOUS OFFERS AND AVAILABILITY AND BOOK DIRECTLY.
in promoting golf tourism from Japan. The historic collaboration was inked in Bangkok
in Thailand because this collaboration between the two com-
between Club Thailand’s President, Mr. Ken Inoue and Mr.
panies is going to make the whole process of booking and
Buamaim.
playing golf in Thailand an easy and seamless experience,”
Club Thailand is widely regarded as the largest golf tour promoter in Bangkok that handles golfers from Japan.
said Mr. Buamaim. “We are looking towards further enhancing the already
It is believed that the company accounts for between
wonderful experience that our customers from Japan have
280,000 to 300,000 rounds of golf per year, making it a
and with this agreement in place, I am confident that golf
major force in the business of golf tourism.
tourism from Japan is set to grow at an exponential rate go-
Club Thailand is associated with some 128 golf clubs in Thailand which offers visiting golfers a wide choice of playing possibilities. “This is a major development for the golf club industry
ing forward,” said Mr. Inoue. “We hope to be working on plans where this collaboration is expected to expand its scope to cover the ASEAN countries,” revealed Mr. Buamaim.
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While Gary Woodland was working his way towards winning the 2019 U.S. Open, there was another young golfer who was busy making a name for himself. Anyone who witnessed Viktor Hovland play at the 2019 Masters and U.S. Open has got to agree that this young man has got game. He’s got the sort of game that can make him a big star in the years to come. And more importantly, he has a truly remarkable disposition that one can’t help but like him.
T
o many who did not know him, it came
charging back to stay in red numbers. This performance
as a surprise to see him keep pace with
was not something that one would expect from an ama-
the tournament’s leaders who included
teur playing in such star-studded company. But Hovland
professional golf’s heavyweights. Guys
was not your average amateur. He was an amateur of
like Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose and
incredible talent and skill.
Dustin Johnson. He would drop a couple of shots and demonstrated remarkable recovery traits when he came
While a decorated player for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, where he was a three-time All-
VIKTOR HOVLAND
ance, winning low-amateur honours, after which he rose
BY FINISHING LOW AMATEUR AT THE U.S. OPEN, HE BECAME THE FIRST PLAYER IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS
to world #1 amateur. By finishing low amateur at the U.S.
TO HOLD THE DISTINCTION OF BEING LOW
Open, he became the first player in more than 20 years to
AMATEUR IN BOTH EVENTS IN THE SAME
hold the distinction of being low amateur in both events in
YEAR.
American, Hovland won the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, earning him an invitation to this year’s Masters and U.S. Open. He took full advantage of his Masters appear-
the same year. Hovland is no longer an amateur. He has since turned
traced to Bergen, Norway, the birthplace of PING founder
professional. His talent has impressed many in the world
Karsten Solheim. Hovland’s resumé includes a win at the
of golf and the Norwegian is so good that PING was quick
2014 Norwegian amateur championships, and he’s been
off the block to sign the most recent world #1 amateur, to
building his credentials ever since.
an equipment contract. Hovland’s collegiate career culminated with the
“Viktor’s connection to Norway makes the relationship even more special. The country has been fully behind him
2019 Ben Hogan Award, given annually to the top men’s
since he burst onto the scene as a young junior, and he’s con-
college player while considering all amateur competition
tinued to impress on so many levels,” said John K. Solheim,
in the past 12 months. He won three collegiate events and
PING President and Karsten’s grandson.
finished with a 68.59 scoring average during his final year
“He’s polite, humble and always smiling. His talent
at Oklahoma State. He was a member of the school’s 2018
is unbelievable, and he’s already amassed a great career.
NCAA Championship winning team.
His performance at the 2019 U.S. Open was a spectacular
The 21-year-old Norwegian brings great joy to the Solheim family, the owners of PING whose roots are
way to end his amateur career. We’re excited to watch his professional journey unfold. I know my grandfather would be
JOINING THE PING STAFF IS REALLY EXCITING FOR ME AS
I’VE ALWAYS HAD TREMEN-
honoured to have a Norwegian golfer of Viktor’s character and talent representing PING.” “Joining the PING staff is really exciting for me as I’ve always had tremendous respect for the company and what it represents,” said
DOUS RESPECT FOR THE COMPANY
Hovland. “The technology behind the equipment and the service they
AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS,” SAID
provide allows me to focus on getting better and not worrying about
HOVLAND. “THE TECHNOLOGY
my equipment. The Norwegian connection is also really cool,” Hovland
BEHIND THE EQUIPMENT AND THE
said. “Karsten Solheim and his family have done so much for the game
SERVICE THEY PROVIDE ALLOWS ME
of golf. Their support of Oklahoma State’s team and their role in de-
TO FOCUS ON GETTING BETTER AND
veloping Karsten Creek are just a couple of examples of the wonderful
NOT WORRYING ABOUT MY EQUIP-
things they do for golf. I’m honoured to be part of their golfing family
MENT.
THE NORWEGIAN CONNECTION IS ALSO REALLY COOL.
and look forward to working with them as I begin my professional career,” said the young star. Hovland’s relationship with PING began three years ago at Karsten Creek Golf Club, Oklahoma State’s home course named in honour of Karsten Solheim, whose family was a major contributor to the develop-
ment of the facility in 1994. Oklahoma State is part of
the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee by nearly two full
PING’s College Golf Programme, which has been sup-
shots.
porting schools around the country since the mid-1970s.
“The G410 LST driver is a great fit for my game,”
“We’ve been impressed with Viktor since we first
Hovland added. “I don’t usually make significant changes
met him when he was a freshman at Oklahoma State,”
to my equipment before such a big tournament, but after
said Chance Cozby, PING’s Vice President of Sports De-
testing it during the week with the PING tour reps, it was
velopment. “During his time in Stillwater, he played PING
clear the G410 LST driver was the best choice for me. It
equipment at various times and we continued to keep in
looks good and I know I’m going to hit the centre of the
touch with him through our regular visits to the school.
face. It flies in the window I like, and the spin is right for
When it became clear he was going to turn professional
my game. I can swing with confidence off the tee knowing
this summer, we identified him as someone who would
the results will be long and straight.”
be a perfect fit for our staff. We had a very productive
As part of a multi-year agreement, Hovland will
testing session with him at Karsten Creek this spring,
play a minimum of 11 PING clubs, including a driver and
which ultimately led to where we stand today. We are
putter. His headwear will display PING and he’ll carry a
extremely pleased Viktor is joining the PING staff.”
PING Tour staff bag.
At the U.S. Open, Hovland switched to PING’s new G410 LST driver and saw tremendous results – leading
Watch this Viking develop into a big name in professional golf!
HE’S POLITE, HUMBLE AND ALWAYS SMILING. HIS TALENT IS UNBELIEVABLE, AND HE’S ALREADY AMASSED A GREAT CAREER. HIS PERFORMANCE AT THE 2019 U.S. OPEN WAS A SPECTACULAR WAY TO END HIS AMATEUR CAREER. WE’RE EXCITED TO WATCH HIS PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY UNFOLD. I KNOW MY GRANDFATHER WOULD BE HONOURED TO HAVE A NORWEGIAN GOLFER OF VIKTOR’S CHARACTER AND TALENT REPRESENTING PING. – JOHN K. SOLHEIM
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A major champ major develops at the 119th sta ticulously prep walk – players number one, B Opens. Pebble Justin Rose res took whatever to wrest the 20
GARY WOODLAND
pionship is an event that all of golf the world over looks forward to witnessing. Often-times, a s into a Spartacus moment for the game and this is precisely what happened a few weeks back aging of the U.S. Open at the famed Pebble Beach golf course. The 100-year old course was meared to challenge some of the best golfers in the world. It did just that! At no time was it a cakes had to battle the course and often, it brought them down to their knees. The reigning world rooks Koepka was primed to become the ďŹ rst player in 114 years to win three consecutive U.S. Beach put an end to that dream. The world number two and three players, Dustin Johnson and spectively were sent packing with their heads hung low in defeat. But one man prevailed and Pebble Beach dished out and brought the proud grand lady to her knees by sinking 13 birdies 019 U.S. Open. And that man was 35-year old Kansas native Gary Woodland.
W
oodland is no journeyman.
Well, it’s obvious!
He has had success on
Woodland is everyone’s
the PGA Tour, the world’s
champion and the
toughest professional golf
brands are cashing
tour on three different
in on him while
occasions. This is not the record of a journeyman
they can. And why
– it’s just that he is known to be understated and
not – after all he
low profile in his manner. He is the sort of player
is the U.S. Open
who goes about his work quietly and with great
champion!
focus and it’s these qualities that helped him lift
The brand that
the silver trophy that is a showcase that bears the
recognised Woodland’s
signatures of past champions. Forever, Woodland
potential was Wilson Staff.
will be known as the U.S. Open Champion and will
Wilson founded in 1914 has a
go down the annals of golf’s history as one of the
very impressive track record when it comes to
true greats of the game!
winning major golf championships. Woodland is its
Now that he is the U.S. Open champion, the
number one brand ambassador.
mad rush to claim a piece of him has started. Lit-
With the spectacular win, Wilson is back in
erally, minutes after his win, press releases were
the big league of major wins. Up till the final round
flying out of the communications rooms of several
of the 2019 U.S. Open, Wilson had notched up 61
golf brands laying their stake on Woodland’s win.
wins at major championships, making it the
PUMA was first out of the starting block by taking
winningest brand of all time on majors won.
credit for Woodland’s apparel and golf shoes
With Woodland’s victory, the count is up
(the shoes that Woodland had on was a patriotic
to 62 wins which is more wins than all the
tribute to America as it featured the colours of
other brands combined.
the nation, stars and stripes and all!); PING took
Just minutes after the win, Tim Clarke,
credit for its marvellous G410 Plus driver and
President of Wilson Golf elatedly declared to
G410 LST fairway wood; Titleist undoubtedly
ASIAN GOLF in a message in which he said: “It’s
boasted that Woodland used the brand new Pro V1
unbelievable! He almost won in Hawaii one week
model; and wedges from Vokey and TaylorMade.
after he signed on to play the new Wilson Staff
And let’s not forget the irons – Woodland bagged
blades and he was a bundle of nerves on the first
the Wilson Staff Blades and according to him, he
tee …. but I signed him because I have watched his
“just fell in love” with the irons!
game over there years, and I justified the signing
WILSON IS BACK IN THE BIG LEAGUE OF MAJOR WINS. UP TILL THE FINAL ROUND OF THE 2019 U.S. OPEN, WILSON HAD NOTCHED UP 61 WINS AT MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, MAKING IT THE WINNINGEST BRAND OF ALL TIME ON MAJORS WON. WITH WOODLAND’S VICTORY, THE COUNT IS UP TO 62 WINS WHICH IS MORE WINS THAN ALL THE OTHER BRANDS COMBINED.
TIM CLARKE
by telling my boss that he would win a major this year.” “It was a bold prediction, but Gary has some real power, power like I have never seen before. I am so proud he is on the Wilson team and when I saw him lift the trophy, it was crazy special for me and I was proud to dedicate the win to my Dad on this Father’s Day for I lost him this February ….. it sure was a special day for me,” Clarke proudly declared. Flashing back to the tournament, Woodland’s calm and steady composure was a match for the threatening Pebble Beach course. While the course beat up on most players including big name stars like Dustin Johnson, it got beaten by Woodland who wrapped up his campaign with a spectacular 13-under par win. Woodland, who banked in a winner’s check for US$2.25 million is now well on his way to more success. Just imagine, he started as a basketball player in college and ended up on the PGA Tour. Wilson’s last win at a major championship was at the U.S. Open in 2008 when Irishman Padraig Harrington lifted the crown. And if we are to go by what Woodland said in a Fox News interview, the journey is not over. “We are not there yet!”. So, it looks like more big wins are on the way and Wilson sure bet on the right guy! Congratulations Woodland on the historic win and welcome back to the golf’s big-league Wilson Golf!
IT WAS A BOLD PREDICTION, BUT GARY HAS SOME REAL POWER, POWER LIKE I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I AM SO PROUD HE IS ON THE WILSON TEAM AND WHEN I SAW HIM LIFT THE TROPHY, IT WAS CRAZY SPECIAL FOR ME AND I WAS PROUD TO DEDICATE THE WIN TO MY DAD ON THIS FATHER’S DAY FOR I LOST HIM THIS FEBRUARY ….. IT SURE WAS A SPECIAL DAY FOR ME. – TIM CLARKE
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Like many others, C.T. Pan and Sung Kang had visions of an Ame
Growing up in an era when a certain part-Asian golfer named Tig cool with his electrifying talent and bravado during the late 1990s Korea’s Kang were mesmerised and drawn into a sport which wo
The current year has been a good year for emerging young stars from Asia. We have witnessed young guns from South Korea and Taiwan challenge for top honours on the world’s toughest professional tour – the PGA Tour. The youngsters have grown up watching their idols in action on tour and this has been one of the main sources of inspiration and motivation for them to shoot for the stars. Two such young jocks are Taiwan’s C.T. Pan and South Korea’s Sung Kang. ASIAN GOLF reached out to the PGA Tour for a special report on the rise of these two Asians. The PGA Tour’s Chuah Choo Chiang reports.
rican dream after getting hooked on golf as kids.
ger Woods was starting to make the game really s, Pan, who hails from Chinese Taipei, and South ould forever change their lives.
C.T. PAN
I
n what will be remembered as a glorious spring for
Growing up, Pan and his older brother, Fu-chiang, spent
Asian golf, Pan and Kang masterfully secured their
hours hitting golf balls with a mixed bag of clubs compris-
maiden PGA TOUR triumphs at the RBC Heritage
ing of junior equipment and cut-down adult irons. He did
and AT&T Byron Nelson, respectively, that will
not receive formal coaching as it was expensive and instead
undoubtedly inspire the next generation of Asian
relied on instructions published in golf magazines.
golfers to shoot for the stars. Interestingly, both athletes share a similar journey in the
“We were like a sponge, we just absorbed everything. We always tried different things and figured things out,” said
game. They were strong amateur golfers with Asian Games
Pan. My father was quite strict, and he made us practice
gold medals to show for, their fathers played pivotal roles in
and improve ourselves. I can remember all the late nights
their rise and both landed in the United States to pursue the
watching the Masters or watching PGA TOUR events, watch-
game as teenagers, and without speaking a word of English.
ing Tiger winning. And my dad would tell me, ‘Hey, I want
Pan, 27, recalls how his parents’ labour of love – his father and mother worked at a local club near home – had
you one day to do that for me’.” Pan’s breakthrough in life first came when he was in-
paved the way for him. “My father loved golf and told me
vited to join the IMG National Academy in Bradenton, Florida
when I was young that the sport had the potential to be a
in 2007 on a full scholarship, which meant leaving home as
career. When I was five, we watched a lot of golf on TV and
a teenager. His main challenge wasn’t competing against
dad kept telling me the sport had a lot potential,” said Pan,
American kids but learning to speak English. “I didn’t speak
who is only the second player from Chinese Taipei to win on
a word. However, I knew this was a great opportunity as our
the PGA TOUR following T.C. Chen’s victory at the 1987 Los
financial situation was not great,” he recalled.
Angeles Open. With raw talent and a desire for hard work cultivated by
Pan subsequently won multiple American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments before gaining a place in
his late father’s disciplinarian approach, Pan transformed
the University of Washington where he was as two-time All
from a boy with big dreams into a PGA TOUR champion. He
American. He also helped Chinese Taipei win the team and
is also very much in contention to become Chinese Taipei’s
individual gold medals at the 2014 Asian Games, cementing
first golfer to play in the Presidents Cup where the Interna-
his stature as one of Asia’s rising stars.
tional Team will face the United States at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia this December.
After turning pro, he competed on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, winning twice during the summer
MY FATHER LOVED GOLF AND TOLD ME WHEN
I WAS YOUNG THAT THE
SPORT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE A CAREER.
WHEN I
WAS FIVE, WE WATCHED A LOT OF GOLF ON
TV AND DAD
KEPT TELLING ME THE SPORT HAD A LOT POTENTIAL.
– C.T. PAN
SUNG KANG
of 2015 to earn promotion onto the Web.com Tour. After registering seven top-10s in 2016, the slightly built Pan skyrocketed onto the PGA TOUR. He finished 88th on the FedExCup points list in his first full season in 2017, before coming in at a commendable 35th place last season on the back of 10 top-25s, including two top-5s. Strangely, Pan’s destiny with a PGA TOUR win was nearly derailed by his own AJGA tournament which fell on the same week as the RBC Heritage. He initially wanted to skip the RBC event but without a single top-30 during the
MY DAD GAVE ME A LOT OF SUPPORT WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND SEND ME OVER TO U.S. AND GAVE ME A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN … FROM LEARNING ENGLISH WHEN I WAS YOUNGER SO I DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM LIVING IN – SUNG KANG U.S.
first quarter of 2019, his wife Michelle told him to get back on TOUR while she took care of his amateur tournament, which featured 10 juniors whom he had flown in from Chinese Taipei. “I was trying really hard to spend time with the kids. I
10th Korean-born player to win on the PGA TOUR. Unlike Pan, Kang cut his early professional teeth on the Korean and Asian circuits, winning four times on home soil before securing playing rights on the PGA TOUR in 2011 and
didn’t play well the first three months … and my wife told me
2012. He lost his card and focused on the Web.com Tour for
to be here. She’s right again,” he smiled.
three seasons before regaining his PGA TOUR rights in 2016.
Like Pan, Kang’s father sent him to America at the
Like most Koreans, he benefited immensely from a friend-
age of 15 to improve on his golf and English. Developing
ship with K.J. Choi, Korea’s most successful player with
an all-round solid golf game, Kang played his way into the
eight PGA TOUR titles.
South Korean national team which grabbed gold at the 2006
“It just feels amazing. I mean I was thinking about
Asian Games and success on the PGA TOUR came slowly
winning event on PGA TOUR when I was really young and
but surely.
watching Tiger dominating,” said Kang. “I talked to K.J.
“My dad gave me a lot of support when I was young and
coming into Saturday (at the AT&T Byron Nelson) and he
send me over to U.S. and gave me a lot of opportunity to
gave me a lot of advice. He told me just play your game,
learn … from learning English when I was younger so I don’t
don’t change anything. Stick to it and be patient. It was
have any problem living in U.S,” said Kang, who became the
very helpful.”