Asian Golf 235 - May 2020 Issue by Asia Pacific Golf Group

If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one golf business event you

WWW.WORLDG

k GLOBAL GOLF CONFERENCE k GLOBAL GOLF TRADE SHOW k GLOBAL GOLF AWARDS k GLOBAL AGRONOMY SYMPOSIUM k GOLF TOURNAMENTS k GOLF TOURISM WORLD GOLF EXPO MARCH 15 - 19, 2021 MISSION HILLS, HAIKOU, HAINAN, CHINA

A GOLF BUSINESS CARNIVAL LIKE NEVER BEFORE. SIMPLY THE BEST!

u must attend in 2021, make it WGE!

GOLFEXPO.COM

MISSION HILLS GROUP

www.missionhillschina.com

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP ZZZ DVLDSDFLÆ&#x201C;FJROIJURXS FRP

ISSUE

235

M AY 2 0 2 0 We are proud to unveil the latest developments of the giant Mission Hills Golf Resort – a set of projects designed to elevate it to another level of excellence – a level that further consolidates it into simply the best in the world! The latest addition to the resort are massive new attractions in the already successful Terra Art Ecological Park, located in the city of Shenzhen. The expansion features the region’s first indoor ice sports training centre and a new indoor aquarium. The 12,000 square meter ice sports training centre will be an unprecedented project and will provide a year-round cooling respite and a great boost for both sports and tourism across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.

18 SHARED THOUGHTS | THE GREAT BOUNCE BACK!

■ LEADING YOURSELF, YOUR TEAM AND YOUR CLUB BACK TO THE FUTURE! | BY JAMES CRONK ■ ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY | BY GREGG PATTERSON

32 MASTER SELF-IMAGE AND SEE YOURSELF GROW!

66 POST COVID-19 – WHAT’S IN STORE?

Self-image in golf or for that matter in any sport is critical. ASIAN GOLF ran this challenge by its Master Coach, Shawn Humphries to see what he had to say. Like the top world class coach that he is, Shawn had two words for us – SELF IMAGE. In this month’s commentary, he unravels the importance of self-image and the role that it plays in the performance end of golf.

Never since the Great Depression in North America, has the golf industry experienced the sort of uncertainty that the dreaded Coronavirus has unleashed across the entire world. For an assessment of how the industry will roll back post pandemic, ASIAN GOLF consulted one of its resident advisors, the Legendary Guru and marketing oracle Andrew Wood and the following are his thoughts.

40 JACK’S TOP GUN SEES GREAT DAYS AHEAD!.

72 FUN – SO ESSENTIAL IN JUNIOR GOLF DEVELOPMENT!

54 AND THE GOLD MEDAL GOES TO ZEON!

80 PGA TOUR: IMMELMAN TAKES ON A DAUNTING CHALLENGE!

In a relatively short period, ZEON turfgrass has left its mark on world class golf courses in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam with more to come. Perhaps it would not be wrong to call ZEON the” Usain Bolt” of the turf industry. Like Bolt, ZEON is winning with such frequent regularity that its achievements to date are absolutely Olympian! The two pioneers who worked hard to bring ZEON to Asia are David Doguet, founder and president of the giant Bladerunner Farms, where ZEON is grown and Brad Burgess, the founder and managing director of Sports Turf Solutions (STS), a top supplier of products and services to the golf club industry in the region.

The next Presidents Cup will be played on U.S. soil at the Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina. The International team will be led by Trevor Immelman from South Africa. The PGA Tour’s Chuah Choo Chiang shares his thoughts with ASIAN GOLF as to how he thinks Trevor Immelman will step up to the plate.

90 THE PASSING OF AN ASIAN GOLF LEGEND Conrado Benitez, a great Filipino national and an Asian golf legend passed away in March. To mark this remarkable man’s life and contribution to golf, ASIAN GOLF proudly presents a special requiem prepared by one of his best friends, James G. Prusa.

MISSION HILLS GROUP

www.missionhillschina.com

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP ZZZ DVLDSDFLÆ&#x201C;FJROIJURXS FRP

Mike Sebastian

INTERNATIONAL ROVING EDITOR

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

Alan Campbell (China/Middle East) Correspondent

GLOBAL EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL

Angela Raymond

President [angela@asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com]

Gregg Patterson

President, Tribal Magic Inc.

Andrew Wood Founder/President, Legendary Marketing

James Prusa

Raquel Arcega

Executive Creative Art Director [raquel@asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com]

President, James Graham Prusa Associates

James Cronk President, Cronk Group

IT Consultant

Alice Ho

Tech-Know Integrators

Business Executive [alice@asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com]

INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

Alice Ho

Myra Paras

Email: alice@asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com

Accounts Executive [myra@asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com]

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP(2014) PTE LTD Singapore Post Centre Post Ofﬁce, P.O. Box 532, Singapore 914018 Tel: +65 6323 2800 | Fax: +65 6323 2838 Company Registration No.: 201405689G

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of Asian Golf may be reproduced in any other publications, printed or published without the written permission of the publisher. Opinions in Asian Golf are the writers’ and are not necessarily endorsed by Asian Golf. Asian Golf accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or other materials. Manuscripts, photographs and artwork will not be returned unless accompanied by appropriate postage.

SIGNATURE JAVANESE HOSPITALITY AND SPECTACULAR GOLFING

Situated over 177 hectares of unspoiled natural terrain, Parahyangan Golf Bandung offers an 18-hole championship golf experience unparalleled to any other in the region. Framed by majestic views of the Parahyangan mountain ranges to the north, the tranquil Saguling Lake to the south and lush paddy ďŹ elds lining its valley, every hole provides a spectacular backdrop to be experienced. At the end of a rewarding game, retreat to the luxurious clubhouse to savor Sudanese delights and our signature Parahyangan massage at the spa.

Parahyangan Golf Bandung T. (022) 2110 2878 | www.parahyangangolf.com

Parahyangan Golf

@parahyangangolf

past weeks have been like a theatre of human These gloom and doom with the dreaded Coronavirus

sweeping across 184 countries and leaving in its wake a trail of sickness, pain, desolation, and death. The drama that unfolded every hour of the day over newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet dealt with nothing but the destructive and disruptive force of the scourge of the virus. Never in modern times has the global mayhem mercilessly unleashed, been experienced by Mankind. History will remember these dark days through the ages and much will be written, said and discussed about the terror that it caused. While the world is still reeling from the hefty blows to its solar plexus, we think the time has come for all of us to gather to start the process of healing and building. The golf industry worldwide was not spared the pounding of the tsunami-like force of the virus. Thousands of golf courses all over the world went into a forced state of lockdown. In Asia, the dictate shut the gates to golfers in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, and many other countries. This was not

something that any of the golf clubs had anticipated but it landed upon them with scant notice. This was how sudden the strike of the pandemic was. Rather than adopt a fatalistic attitude towards the pandemic, ASIAN GOLF implores the golf club industry to band together to prepare for a new future. The world after the Coronavirus will not be the same place. The challenge to rebuild is going to take time and it will be a daunting task. Now is the time to really take advantage to create a brand-new template to run the business of golf â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a business that will be lean, mean and bent on growing the game like never before! To help give the golf club industry a massive boost to bounce back, we have called upon two world class golf club management gurus to share their thoughts on how the industry can work on a brand new pathway in a post-pandemic era. The experts are James Cronk, Founder/President of the Cronk Group and Gregg Patterson, Founder/President of Tribal Magic. ASIAN GOLF is pleased that these global experts have accepted our invitation to navigate the industry to exciting new times!

No matter where you are in the world, you, and the people you work with are now forever changed. From new ‘non-touching’ ways to greet our friends, to washing our hands the ‘right’ way, and most likely, to a new and improved perspective on what we view is ‘really’ important in life. This pandemic will be remembered for creating fear, economic uncertainty, and mostly, for instigating numerous changes, good and bad, to our daily life. ■ BY JAMES CRONK

o, as we strive to get back to normal, how can we lead our clubs from all this chaos to a new kind of clarity? By being the same. Fortunately for us, golf and all the beneﬁts that it provides, will be EXACTLY what the doctor orders to get people happy, healthy, and socializing again. When the time comes, our clubs will be even more important in providing a safe, reliable, and comforting place for our members and guests. The joys that come from being part of a club and the many friendships that exist, added to the lifelong beneﬁts that golf provides, will help our clubs provide an extremely valuable service to our customers… familiarity! In this effort, I think it is important to focus on three very basic but important pillars that will help you and your club be all that it can be during this time of transition.

First, focus on your people! A great leader is an empathetic one. Your people will have been impacted by all of this, some a little bit and others signiﬁcantly. They will have fears about job security, about job safety and about how they will be able to manage. As leaders our job is to connect with our people one on one. Not through a memo, an email or group meeting. No, we need to meet in person in a comfortable environment and hear from them about what they need from us and what we can do to help them get back to work in the most positive way possible. At the same time, we can share with them our plans and strategies for rebuilding our business and how they will have a positive impact on this endeavour. Second, focus on your customers! Positivity. Excitement. Safety. These are the key messages that we must yell from the tops of the clubhouse. “We are ready (and government approved) to be open!” “We can’t wait to see you” “Your well-being, and the health

EVEN IF THE PANDEMIC MAKES YOU PUSH THAT DATE BACK, IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOUR MEMBERS KNOW

WILL HAVE A PARTY AS SOON LIFE WILL RETURN TO SOME FORM OF NEW NORMAL, AND AS LEADERS, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR BUSINESS THAT YOU

AS YOU ARE ABLE.

IS READY FOR WHATEVER THAT NEW NORMAL LOOKS LIKE.

GOLF,

WITH ALL ITS TRADITIONS

AND HISTORY, WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE GOLFERS WITH A SENSE OF SECURITY THAT WILL BE MUCH NEEDED AFTER ALL THIS IS OVER.

and safety of all our members and staff, remains our number one priority”. After the oppression of social distancing and staying home, people will have a new discomfort with increased social contact and yes, even joy. They have been denied, and isolated and that is what they are used to now. The idea that you might suddenly greet them with a hearty handshake and a pat on the shoulder may have them feeling uncomfortable. Think about the habit we have cultivated and how hard it will be to break that. If you are one of the few courses that has been able to be open in your region, but have put various social distancing requirements in place, then you may want to consider removing them slowly so as not to have your members feel that you are reckless. Continue to “greet from 6 feet” for a time, and approach slowly. Put the rakes back in the bunkers, but let the players decide

if they are using them. If you have implemented one person per cart, then maybe keep that as an option. Having said that, it is still so important to be positive! There is enough doom and gloom in the media, and our role is no longer to duplicate that message. Instead, our role is to ensure our customers know that as soon as they are, we will be ready with a ‘virtual’ open arm to welcome them back. Third, focus on experiences! Like all of us that have been mandated to practice social distancing, your members are badly missing connecting with others, and that is truly one of the great beneﬁts of being a member of a club. Experiencing awesome events and celebrations with our friends and loved ones. Get your calendar of events ready, your posters on the walls and your website updated, and pick a date for your ‘We’re So Glad to Have You Back’ celebration. Even if the pandemic makes you push that date back, it is critical that your members know that you WILL have a party as soon as you are able. Life will return to some form of new normal, and as leaders, we need to ensure that our business is ready for whatever that new normal looks like. Golf, with all its traditions and history, will be able to provide golfers with a sense of security that will be much needed after all this is over. Be strong, be healthy… and be a powered-on leader!

Post Virus people will be HUNGRY for CLUB! And clubs that do CLUB right will ﬂourish. The Virus will provide managers, owners and staff an opportunity to emphasize the WHY of clubdom - that they exists to create relationships and community and that they do so by delivering the goods, services, programmes and PEOPLE needed to create relationships and community. Post Virus, people will need people who CARE about them as people -more than ever. And CLUB done right will deliver. ■ BY GREGG PATTERSON

ost Virus, Managers and Owners will have an

unexpected and to enjoy life once again. If you are down, we

opportunity to emphasize to members, guests and staff the virtues of CLUB over clubhouse, people over stuff, emotions over things, Eye-to-

will bring you UP. If you are feeling good, we will make you feel better. We’ll never forget why you’re hungry for CLUB.” I see the Virus as an opportunity for clubs to reafﬁrm

Eye over Screen-to-Screen, The Community of Caring over carpeting and woodwork. Clubs that emphasize the social side of the club

their WHY and to say that CLUB is more important than clubhouse. That Caring matters - lots. That relationships matter - lots. And that clubs who deliver The Warm

experience, that do people right, before, during and after reopening will ﬂourish. Delivering the behaviours that tell

Embrace, that satisfy the emotional side of the club experience, will attract, and retain members,

members, visitors, and staff that they will be welcomed, appreciated, and cared for will be fundamental to success. The creative delivery of this “warm embrace” will mat-

guests, and staff. And if - Post Virus - they pay attention to the people side of the club

ter more than ever. “We’ll make you feel GOOD when you arrive. We will know your name. We will know your family. We will help you escape the madness. We will help you con-

equation, managers and owners will be smiling all the way to

nect with others who have experienced The Madness, who want to share their journey, who want to make sense of the

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TERRA ART ECOLOGICAL PARK 1 - OVERVIEW

THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE RESORT ARE MASSIVE NEW ATTRACTIONS IN THE ALREADY SUCCESSFUL

TERRA ART ECOLOGICAL PARK, LOCATED IN THE CITY OF

SHENZHEN.

The entire world is going through its worst phase since World War II. It would not be an overstatement to describe the plague of the global pandemic as the worst crisis faced by modern civilisation. The Coronavirus has beaten down more than 180 nations to their knees. The deadly virus has infected millions, known and unknown, and thousands have been killed with the United States of America taking a hefty body blow that has claimed

he two locations at Mission Hills in Shenzhen and Haikou, with a total of 22 golf courses, is already established as the world’s largest golf resort. It is not just golf courses. It’s claim to fame as

the world’s best golf resort has been earned through its innovative branding of the complex as being “Golf and More!” While golf courses formed the bedrock of the resort when its visionary founder Dr David Chu established it more than 23 years ago, today, it is home to a multi-billion dollar complex in Shenzhen and Haikou in Hainan which embraces the world class FC Barcelona Academy and museum, the NBA Academy and museum, Movietown – a sprawling Universal Studios-like establishment and more. As if the mind-boggling range of facilities and leisure services was not enough, under the leadership of Dr Ken Chu, Chairman of the Mission Hills Group, the conglomerate has boosted the ante to add more world-class attractions to the resort. The latest addition to the resort are massive new attractions in the already successful Terra Art Ecological Park, located in the city of Shenzhen.

the greatest number of deaths in the world. Economies have not been spared. Many are spiralling headlong into recession. Industries have been crippled. Small businesses have been chopped down. And millions are going to be made jobless all over the world. It is all very depressing and unavoidable but in times like this, governments and businesses must dig deep, deeper than ever before. While the virus that is sweeping the world is hitting

different parts of the world in waves, it eventually must burn out, leaving in its wake a trail of monumental destruction. Decisions must be taken. In the words of the former American President Theodore Roosevelt. “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” ASIAN GOLF has elected to feature the article you are about to read as its cover story because it is a manifestation of

what Roosevelt said. While dark economic clouds continue to loom, one organisation has refused to be pushed into depression and has instead emerged with an incredible blue-sky opportunity. That organisation is the giant Mission Hills Group, the world’s largest and best golf resort. We are proud to unveil the latest developments of the resort which elevates it to another level of excellence – a level that further consolidates it into simply the best in the world!

ICE SPORTS TRAINING CENTRE | ARTIST IMPRESSION OF FACILITY

The expansion features the region’s ﬁrst indoor ice sports training centre and a new indoor aquarium. The 12,000 square meter ice sports training centre will be an unprecedented project and will provide a year-round cooling respite and a great boost for both sports and tourism across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. “At Mission Hills, we aim to deliver on unique experiences, be it the ﬁrst or the biggest or simply something different, and these attractions will be developed in a similar vein too,” explained Dr Chu. “Mission Hills has always believed that sports is the common language that unites the world and this new development is no different. As more people take to the Greater Bay Area to work, live and play, it will create a onestop lifestyle circle and it will provide a much needed training base for the region’s winter sports athletes, especially in the lead-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022,” Dr Chu added.

ICE SPORTS TRAINING CENTRE | ARTIST IMPRESSION OF SKI SLOPES

ICE SPORTS TRAINING CENTRE | ARTIST IMPRESSION OF PLAY AREA

MISSION HILLS HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT SPORTS IS THE COMMON LANGUAGE THAT UNITES THE WORLD AND THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT IS NO DIFFERENT.

AS MORE PEOPLE TAKE TO THE GREATER BAY AREA TO WORK, LIVE AND PLAY, IT WILL CREATE A ONE-STOP LIFESTYLE CIRCLE AND IT WILL PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED TRAINING BASE FOR THE REGION’S WINTER SPORTS ATHLETES, ESPECIALLY IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS 2022. – DR KEN CHU

TERRA ART ECOLOGICAL PARK

THE TERRA ART ECOLOGICAL PARK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POPULAR FAMILY DESTINATION FOR VISITORS, WELCOMING MORE

700,000 GUESTS EVERY YEAR. FEATURING AMUSEMENT RIDES, ART INSTALLATIONS, PET-FRIENDLY FACILITIES AND A YEAR-ROUND CALENDAR OF THAN

EXCITING EVENTS INCLUDING A CHERRY BLOSSOMS FESTIVAL, FLEA MARKETS,

HALLOWEEN

“However, the most important attribute of the new additions to the Terra Art Ecological Park will be the unique leisure offerings for the general public that will help bolster tourism further,” according to Dr Chu. Guests will get to experience indoor iceskating as well as performances atop the rink like skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing atop a 10-metre slope, family bonding through snowman-building, snow ﬁghts in the play area, exploring the giant ice maze and other themed attractions in year-round cool comfort. The aquarium will span 10,000 square meters and will be home to more than 20,000 marine

AND MUSIC FESTIVALS ON TOP OF

animals including different species of sharks, sea

SPORTS TOURNAMENTS.

jellies, sea horses, reef ﬁshes, puffer ﬁsh and more. It will also feature unique offerings such as Shenzhen’s longest underwater tunnel, measuring 60 metres. The aquarium will provide the opportunity for marine themed camps as well as themed exhibitions where visitors can discover the wonders of marine life.

ICE SPORTS TRAINING CENTRE | ICE SKATING

ICE SPORTS TRAINING CENTRE | ICE HOCKEY

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aquariums are popular destinations as they provide a

family destination for visitors, welcoming more than 700,000

great opportunity for guests to combine education and lei-

guests every year. Featuring amusement rides, art instal-

sure, where they can not only enjoy spectacular underwater

lations, pet-friendly facilities and a year-round calendar of

scenes, but also learn more about marine animals as well as

exciting events including a cherry blossoms festival, ďŹ&#x201A;ea

conservation of the marine ecosystem,â&#x20AC;? Dr Chu explained.

markets, Halloween and music festivals on top of sports

The Terra Art Ecological Park has always been a popular

tournaments.

THE AQUARIUM WILL SPAN 10,000 SQUARE METERS AND WILL BE HOME TO MORE THAN

20,000 MARINE ANIMALS INCLUDING DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SHARKS, SEA JELLIES, SEA HORSES, REEF FISHES, PUFFER FISH AND MORE. IT WILL ALSO FEATURE UNIQUE OFFERINGS SUCH AS SHENZHENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LONGEST UNDERWATER TUNNEL, MEASURING 60 METRES. THE AQUARIUM WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MARINE THEMED CAMPS AS WELL AS THEMED EXHIBITIONS WHERE VISITORS CAN DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF MARINE LIFE.

AT MISSION HILLS, WE AIM TO DELIVER ON UNIQUE EXPERIENCES, BE IT THE FIRST OR THE BIGGEST OR SIMPLY SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND THESE ATTRACTIONS WILL BE DEVELOPED IN A SIMILAR VEIN TOO.

TENNIEL CHU

DR KEN CHU

Come 2021, the original vision of “Golf and More” will take on new meaning. Under the stewardship of Dr Chu and his brother Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of the group, the Mission Hills Resort, occupying some 44 square miles will transform

IF THERE’S ONE GOLF

itself into one of the world’s best sporting, entertainment and leisure facilities. De-

BUSINESS EVENT YOU

velopment and upgrading are a constant at Mission Hills because it is the only way

MUST ATTEND IN

visitors of all generations will have something to enjoy on their stay at the resort.

2021, MAKE IT WGE.

Mission Hills Resort in Haikou, Hainan will be the host to the Inaugural World Golf Expo in March 2021 – www.worldgolfexpo.com

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How often have you gone through the experience of wanting to chuck your clubs into the pond and give up playing golf for good? For most of us, it would not be an exaggeration to deny that this thought has not tempted us. So, how does one remedy a situation like this? For some, it’s getting back to the drawing board (or in this case, the driving range) to sort out the causes leading to bungled shots. For others, it may be a visit to a golf coach to see if the problem can be ﬁxed. And then, there are those amongst us who don’t give a damn and just go on abusing themselves in the hope that the problem will sort itself out. Pity …. Because it really is not that simple! ASIAN GOLF ran this problem by its Master Coach Shawn Humphries to see what he had to say. Like the top world class coach that he is, Shawn had two words for us – SELF IMAGE. In this month’s commentary, he unravels the importance of self-image and the role that it plays in the performance end of golf.

hange is difficult. Deep down most of us believe we are fine the way we are and we subtly resist change. We continue to embrace what is comfortable. However, we can make real change if we make the athlete comfortable in the uncomfortable by growing a segment of themselves called the self-image. There are concrete tools available to you to enable this change to happen. Resistance to change is common with the young athlete due to how he is wired. The profile of today’s athlete is a cautious decision maker who is highly innovative and intellectually curious. These athletes are used to instantaneous change so the concepts of commitment and perseverance are against the grain of their core principles. Some call the young athlete the “fast food” generation-he demands delivery of the result instantaneously. The tolerance for struggle is limited because of his core beliefs but he is smart and resourceful. We need to be aware of this as we coach him. So, what exactly is the self-image? It is the way we are comfortable operating in life, work and sport. It is the sum of our habits and attitudes. On a practical level, picture the basketball player who averages 20 points. He gets hot and scores twenty points in the first half alone. The second half

begins and his shooting becomes cold. It is not like him to score more than twenty points and the self-image corrects and shuts down the skillset. The self-image controls the conscious skill like the throttle on a motorcycle, killing the engine when not providing the correct amount of gas. In this example, the self-image shuts down the shooter from having a personal best. The skill is there but the area of comfort has not been achieved yet. The exciting thing is you have control of the self-image and can protect and cultivate it by directing change instead of allowing the environment to dictate change. We can help the athlete overcome and see the breakthroughs he is seeking in performance using concrete strategies in training. The self-image works collaboratively with the conscious mind and will do whatever the conscious mind sees. It is crucial that we control our thoughts and talk and think about what we want to happen to reinforce positive change. This principle of reinforcement allows the self-image to grow. It is imperative to be careful about what we picture. Every time we worry - about scoring poorly on an exam or playing poorly - we increase the probability of that happening. The self-image pulls you in the direction of what you are

THE SELF-IMAGE WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CONSCIOUS MIND AND WILL DO WHATEVER THE CONSCIOUS MIND SEES. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE CONTROL OUR THOUGHTS AND TALK AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO HAPPEN TO REINFORCE POSITIVE CHANGE.

THIS

PRINCIPLE OF REINFORCEMENT ALLOWS THE SELF-IMAGE TO GROW. thinking, good or bad, and we have not been taught how to cultivate it. In golf we tend to pay the greatest attention to our conscious mind and subconscious skill and the self-image stays small and seldom grows, or shrinks altogether. We are great technically and physically but unable to control our thoughts in an inconsistent environment and that’s why it becomes tough to have those breakthrough performances. There are a few ways to grow the self-image. For a golfer, imprinting the way he desires to compete through

actual physical imprints. Good shots grow the self-image, as well as shots that are reinforced with putting a solution in place. Imagined imprints also need to be managed. A great athlete envisions the way he wants to operate and talks about what he does want. In lieu of thinking “do not hit it in the water,” the athlete thinks “I want to hit it here.” Environmental imprints include weather, spectators and fellow competitors. In college golf it is important for the golfers to talk about what they did well versus talking about how bad they did. Coaches reigning in these conversations to focus on solutions is critical because of the collective effect it has on the team. The great athlete will talk about what he did well, what he learned and the solutions he plans to implement, never rehashing what went wrong. Now that we have all of the theory let’s talk about what we can do practically to make this change in the athlete. We can take imprinting to the next level with a Performance Analysis (PA) journal. There are three important reasons for athletes to use the PA to track and measure performance. The ﬁrst reason we use a PA is to be able to manage something effectively you must be able to measure it. Systems must be deﬁned, measured and timed so that there is reinforcement for everything that is done. The PA leads

the athlete through reporting the event and conditions, what he did and why and what solutions he is putting in place. He then sums up the PA with a goal statement which directly relates back to the solutions he is looking for. This allows the athlete to imprint everything he is doing that day and move forward believing that he already has the solutions which will allow him to achieve his goal. The language of the PA, stating things positively, is imperative. The second reason we use the PA is it helps the coach to know what the athlete is working on and what solutions he is implementing. I can be in a different location from an athlete and still have a very strong impression of what is going on with his game. There is space in the PA for the athlete to brag about himself and talk about what he is doing well. No one but the athlete can write these experiences down and we ask for rich descriptions, as if a color commentator is following his training session. This daily exercise after training is where the self-image is receiving signiďŹ cant positive deposits, just like making a deposit into a bank account. We utilize a training app that allows the athlete to upload his PA to a training space where I can read and comment on his entries so that I am included in his development, helping him to stay on track.

IN COLLEGE GOLF IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOLFERS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY DID WELL VERSUS TALKING ABOUT HOW BAD THEY DID.

COACHES

REIGNING IN THESE CONVERSATIONS TO FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE OF THE COLLECTIVE EFFECT IT HAS ON THE TEAM.

THE GREAT ATHLETE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT HE DID WELL, WHAT HE LEARNED AND THE SOLUTIONS HE PLANS TO IMPLEMENT, NEVER REHASHING WHAT WENT WRONG.

The third reason we utilize the PA is that it is an actual segment of training and it is the ﬁnal, perhaps most important part, of what he does to wrap up his training day. The manner in which the PA is ﬁlled out in the athlete’s own handwriting and the diligence and detail directly relates to the growth of the self-image. What we talk about, think about and write about directly correlates to the probability of that thing happening. So when we are writing about solutions, about our great performances in training and competition, the area of comfort for the athlete expands. Research also tells us that we retain our experiences

as great has 30% more than if we were to use a computer or voice recorder. This is real, measurable change and if the athlete can commit to 30 days of consecutive use, he will not stop using it. Olympic Performance has shown us the power of the Performance Analysis and I have taken the content and made it more speciﬁc for the golf athlete. We can provide this crucial piece of training for you to utilize for your athletes and I am happy to get you on track with implementing this in your current coaching system. You simply will not regret it, nor will your athletes.

There is a new man calling the shots at the world’s most successful golf course design company and he is Paul Stringer, a 35-year veteran in the golf business. A respected professional in the industry, he recently ascended to the title of President of the Nicklaus Design Company worldwide and has taken over the direction of a team of specialists in agronomy and landscape architecture. In an exclusive interview with ASIAN GOLF, Stringer shared some of his thoughts about the Asia Paciﬁc region, a region that he knows like the back of his hand. Known for his conservative stance of the golf business, he took a look into his crystal ball and this is what he saw for the future of golf in the Asia Paciﬁc geography.

“A

sia and speciﬁcally Southeast Asia, has been experiencing many new golf courses being developed. There is also a nice trend of existing golf courses

going through various renovation programmes to enhance their asset and be more competitive in their respective markets.” Key markets that he pick out include Japan, Korea, China, Thailand as well as Vietnam. “Vietnam continues to be the hottest pocket of new golf course development with a window of 3-5 years for new golf courses to be built”, Stringer said. Continuing with his focus on Southeast Asia, Stringer feels that locations like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are experiencing growth in their expansion partly due to the promotion of their respective tourism and golf tourism attractions. “Countries that have a good direction from the government with a combination of public/private investment into their tourism and marketing, are the most successful,” Stringer pointed out. He went on to explain that Vietnam is leading that charge and said, “Their government understands the resources they have (beautiful land, beaches, great food, kind people) and are marketing that as part of their overall marketing campaign.” He also attributed Vietnam’s success in golf promotion to its very young population demographics which is very entrepreneurial and looking to drive the economy.

NICKLAUS CLUB BEIJING

Prior to his new assignment, Stringer spent a good deal of time in China and has an excellent understanding of where golf stands in the Middle

tors, “Top Golf” type driving ranges, and executive golf courses,” he added. The interview with Stringer was a wide-ranging

Kingdom. “Golf will never be a major sport in China

discussion which covered a range of different top-

unless the government changes their opinion on

ics. ASIAN GOLF now presents some excerpts from

golf courses. Whilst China has an Olympic golf

the interview:

team, training programmes, PGA and LPGA Tour

ASIAN GOLF: AS PRESIDENT OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GOLF COURSE DESIGN COMPANY IN THE WORLD, GIVE US YOUR TAKE ON THE STATE OF GOLF AS YOU SEE IT ON A GLOBAL SCALE?

players and some great professional golf tournaments, things will only progress further with more cooperation from the government.” However, Stringer is hopeful that with golf in the Olympics and seeing progress of the Chinese professional

PAUL STRINGER: I am optimistic about the

golfers, there will be greater awareness of golf in

state of golf on a global scale. In the United States

China. “Junior programmes like the PGA Junior

the number of golfers is off our peak of 2003 at

League and other initiatives could really help grow

slightly over 30 million golfers at 16,000 facilities.

the game subject to the government’s approval …..

As of the end of the 2018 year, our data and that

if the government lifts the ban on the development

of the National Golf Foundation state that golfers

of golf courses, China golf could really take off as

were just over 24 million at 14,600 facilities. The

would other “entertainment” facilities like simula-

decrease in the golf courses was due to the gradual

IT IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY TO ASSIST IN THE EFFORT TO GROW THE GAME AND TO PROVIDE NEW INITIATIVES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO EITHER ADD GOLFERS OR RETAIN EXISTING GOLFERS.

THERE IS ALWAYS MORE FOR ALL OF US TO DO, BUT

SOME OF THE GOLF BODIES ARE COLLECTIVELY ADDING NEW PROGRAMMES AND INITIATIVES TO RETAIN OR GROW THE GAME OF GOLF.

FLC QUY NHON GOLF LINKS (OCEAN COURSE) - HOLE 1 FAIRWAY

correction needed to balance supply and demand. Too many golf courses were added from the mid 1980’s to 2005. Most of these were high-end golf courses. Golf in Asia continues to grow especially in areas of Southeast Asia. I am excited about the progress of these new golf courses. Other future

ASIAN GOLF: IN MANY PARTS OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, INCLUDING AUSTRALIA IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, GOLF HAS BEEN ON A GRADUAL STATE OF DECLINE WITH A DROP IN ROUNDS PLAYED, INCREASED PLAYER ATTRITION AND GOLF COURSE CLOSURES. DO YOU SEE THIS TREND LEVELLING OFF AT SOME POINT?

new golf courses will be developed in regions like Eastern

STRINGER: Mature golf markets in Europe, Japan, Korea

Europe, Africa and Mexico/Latin America. There will continue

have been stable now after some closures and some renova-

to be a large renovation business worldwide in more mature

tions. I am encouraged with the growth of the game and

markets like the USA and Europe in addition to Asia.

growth of golf courses in several markets in the Asia Paciﬁc

DANANG GOLF CLUB UNDER LIGHTS TWILIGHT COURSE

FLC QUY NHON GOLF LINKS (OCEAN COURSE) - HOLE 11

region. Additionally, it is good to see that there is an increase

STRINGER: There have been many reasons for the closure

in “off golf course” participation such as driving ranges,

of golf courses and a decreased number of golfers on a

simulators, and entertainment type facilities like Top Golf

global scale. It is everyone’s responsibility in the golf industry

where there is involvement in golf at increasing levels.

to assist in the effort to grow the game and to provide new

ASIAN GOLF: THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REASONS BANDIED AROUND FOR THE MALAISE THAT GOLF IS IN – IS ENOUGH BEING DONE BY THE GATEKEEPERS OF GOLF TO TURN THIS AROUND AND ARE THEY DOING THE RIGHT THINGS?

initiatives that will continue to either add golfers or retain existing golfers. There is always more for all of us to do, but some of the golf bodies are collectively adding new programmes and initiatives to retain or grow the game of golf. Organizations such as the PGA of America, PGA Tour,

JNGCK 16TH GREEN

OAKMONT JAPAN

JNGCK 15HOLE FAIRWAY

manufacturers, USGA, R and A, First Tee, design companies, management companies, and World Golf are always instituting ways to make the game fun, interesting and faster to play and more affordable.

ASIAN GOLF: AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ENGAGED WITH THE GOLF INDUSTRY FOR MANY YEARS, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IS DUE TO A GENERATIONAL PROBLEM IN THAT GOLF HAD ITS PEAK WITH BABY BOOMERS AND HAS SINCE LOST ITS SHINE AND APPEAL TO THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS, NAMELY THE MILLENNIALS AND GENERATION Z? STRINGER: There has been a bit of a generational impact to the golf industry. The baby boomers are not the largest segment of the population anymore although until recently,

COLLECTIVELY, ALL OF US IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT JUNIOR GOLF INITIATIVES, WHETHER IT IS A

FIRST TEE LEAGUE PLAY, PLAY IT FORWARD, OR OTHER PROGRAMMES. THE JUNIORS ARE CRITICAL TO OUR FUTURE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE PROGRAMME, JUNIOR

MORE WOMEN PLAY THE GAME AND STAY IN THE GAME.

they were the largest segment of golf participants. They were (and still are) the highest spending generation on goods and services in the golf industry. The industry really changed at the start of the downturn of the economy as

ASIAN GOLF: GIVEN THE SCARCITY OF LAND IN MOST OF ASIA, DOES THIS POSE A CHALLENGE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW GOLF COURSES?

there was less capital available for consumer spending

STRINGER: Scarcity of good land is going to be a challenge

on leisure sports- like golf. There are still over six million

in all markets, not only Asia. While this is a challenge it is

Millennials playing golf for example in the USA. Generation

also making good use of less than desirable land. Golf course

X now has the largest participation rate. We still have many

architects and developers will need to be creative with either

more years of growth in the Baby Boomers golf population

inﬁll projects or those that are mountainous. Golf courses

with a large percentage of Baby Boomers who still have

and developments like the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Korea,

not reached 65 years of age. The positive take away are the

built on an inﬁll from the Incheon Bay, has had tremendous

juniors whose demographics are changing to more female

success such as hosting the 2015 President’s Cup and home

and minority participation than it was ten to twenty years

to many PGA and LPGA tour events. Some of the work we

ago. You can evidence this in Asia and Southeast Asia where

are doing now includes the inﬁll of shrimp farms, and ﬁlling

many of the countries have a very young population base

wet, less desirable terrain with sand to create “platforms” for

compared to regions like Japan or Eastern Europe, etc.

golf and development to occur. Location is still a major fac-

I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE FUTURE OF THE GOLF INDUSTRY WILL BE STABLE AND SEE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE TOTAL GOLF EXPERIENCE.

WE ALL NEED TO CONTINUE TO

EXPLORE HOW WE BRING IN NEW GOLFERS AND RETAIN EXISTING GOLFERS.

tenance if done correctly. Having a very good and established irrigation designer is a key asset during the design stage to properly design the irrigation system to have proper spacing and coverage without wasting any water. Water availability in some areas is very scarce, while at other properties there is plenty of water available. Whether it is ground water, efﬂuent water, or city water, we all have to protect the environment and not over water. New irrigation methods, including advanced irrigation systems with special irrigation heads, limits over-spray and properly monitor the amount of water

tor and having developments and golf courses not far from

dispersed over a speciﬁc area. Additionally, there has been

large cities or population centers is a challenge.

and continues to be, great advancement in the development

ASIAN GOLF: AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF LAND SHORTAGE, DOES THE CONSTRUCTION OF 6- AND 9-HOLE COURSES MAKE GOOD SENSE?

of grass varieties including hybrids of existing, established

STRINGER: Construction of 9-hole golf courses, enhanced practice facilities with large chipping and putting greens as well as instructional academies are trends happening in the USA and globally. Traditional golfers do not want to play just six-holes, so it doesn’t really make sense to develop only six-holes. However, there are some 18-hole golf courses that are designed with six-hole loops that gets golfers back closer to the clubhouse after six-holes. This is a good concept in theory for those who don’t have the time to play a full nine or eighteen. However, most golfers still want to play at least nine-holes and so I don’t think you will see too many six-hole golf courses designed. From a practical standpoint, it is also hard to get all three sets of six-holes to return to the clubhouse. With land shortages, we see more 9-hole par 3 golf courses, large putting greens, and simulator golf for those northern climates. I think this trend will continue as it is still a nice amenity for developers, doesn’t take up too much land, and can be played quickly.

ASIAN GOLF: ANOTHER CHALLENGE FACED BY MANY COUNTRIES IN ASIA RELATES TO WATER. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA OF BETTER HYBRID GRASSES THAT REQUIRE LESS WATER AND ARE GENERALLY BETTER SUITED TO THE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF ASIA. IS THE TIME RIGHT FOR NEW COURSES TO BEGIN USING THE NEW HYBRIDS TO HELP SAVE WATER USAGE AND REDUCE MAINTENANCE COST? STRINGER: Water quality and the availability of water is always a challenge in the development of golf courses. We try to be good stewards of the environment as do other golf course architects. To that end, some of the design strategy and look is to reduce turf acreage and have more native grasses or native vegetation. This will also require less main-

very single golfer anywhere on the Planet knows who Jack Nicklaus aka The Golden Bear is. They know him for the way he dominated the professional game of golf in an era when he reigned supreme. He is without doubt

turf. Some of these new strains of grass are more salt toler-

will be stable and see a slight increase in the total golf

ant allowing for less than good water to be used to irrigate

experience. We all need to continue to explore how we bring

the golf course. Some of the new grasses also are more

in new golfers and retain existing golfers. Some of the golf

drought tolerant and take less water. A skilled agronomist

experiences may be unconventional like the Top Golf or en-

is critical now in most new golf course developments to

tertainment-type model, but if people continue to watch golf

determine the right turf for the right region of the world.

on television, have more and more awareness to the game,

Establishing proper test plots to grow a few varieties of turf

eventually they may play. It may be nine holes, 18-holes, or

on site will assist in making the right decision on turf for that

just a trip to the local driving range but that is good to help

particular location.

grow the game. Collectively, all of us in the golf industry need

ASIAN GOLF: WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF GOLF IN THIS, THE THIRD DECADE OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM?

to continue to support junior golf initiatives, whether it is a

STRINGER: I am hopeful that the future of the golf industry

I would also like to see more women play the game and stay

the greatest golfer the world has ever seen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he has won 18 professional major championships, and this record still stands today. While his achievements in professional golf ranks as the best ever achieved by any one single man, how much is really known about his achievements in the world of business. His achievements in the world of business have also been stellar. He has led his business under the flagship known as the Nicklaus Companies for over 30 years. In that time, he has helped build it into a global conglomerate accounting for some US$400 million in annual revenues. Through his companies, the golf legend has been able to enhance the golf experience, and to bring to the national and international consumer, golfrelated businesses and services

that mirror the high standards established in his career. These services include golf-course design, the development of golf and real estate communities, the marketing and licensing of golf products and services, and event management. Nicklaus has been involved in the design of 205 courses open for play worldwide, and his thriving business, Nicklaus Design, has 240 courses open for play around the world. Nicklaus Design courses are represented on five continents and in 27 countries and 34 states in North America. Of Nicklaus Designâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worldwide total, 62 of those courses have hosted a combined total of close to 350 professional tournaments. Thirty Nicklaus courses have appeared in various national and international Top-100 lists. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s saying a lot for a man who will go down the annals of sports history as a great champion, a wonderful husband, a loving father and grand father and a businessman extraordinaire!

First Tee programme, Junior League play, Play it Forward, or other programmes. The juniors are critical to our future.

TIANMA MEETING

PAUL STRINGER AND CJ STAFF

in the game. Sometime this is a function of just not enough

golf tournaments in local communities along with the PGA

time to play or the time it takes to play or access in their

Tour, LPGA TOUR, European and Asian Tours throughout the

local communities. We will continue to ﬁnd ways that will

world is terriﬁc. The “give back “component of our industry

bring in more golfers of all ages, genders, and abilities and

makes me proud and yet we have so far to go. Golf courses

make golf fun and affordable. Not only is golf a fun, life-long

provides great enjoyment and entertainment in the local

game with many social attributes, but golf employs a lot of

communities and I am so honored and grateful to take part

people worldwide. The charitable component of golf and

in a game I love.

PAUL STRINGER AND CHRIS COCHRAN

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS THAT WILL BRING IN MORE GOLFERS OF ALL AGES, GENDERS, AND ABILITIES AND MAKE GOLF FUN AND AFFORDABLE. NOT ONLY IS GOLF A FUN, LIFE-LONG GAME WITH MANY SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES, BUT GOLF EMPLOYS A LOT OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.

In case you are wondering who or what in the blazes is ZEON, let’s quickly bring you into the picture. ZEON is the name of a hybrid turfgrass that has been specially nurtured, cultured and bred for the golf course industry. It made its ﬁrst appearance at the Rio Olympics in Brazil back in 2016 when golf made its triumphant return to the Olympics. Back then, and in fact well before the Games started, there were gangs of critics and sceptics who were resolutely opposed to the use of an untried grass on the brand-new course. However, the course architect and designer Gil Hanse, stood ﬁrmly by the decision to bring on board the upstart hybrid with a fabulous Greek name. So, now that you have some background on ZEON you may be interested to know that in a relatively short

time span of four years, this new kid on the turfgrass block has gone on to blaze a glory trail that has become the envy of many in the highly competitive turf industry. Its appeal has been greatest in Asia where both golf course architects, and golf course owners have been quick to see its inbred qualities and its adoption as the turf of choice for top new courses in Asia was never in doubt. In a relatively short period, ZEON has left its mark on world class golf courses in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam with more to come. Perhaps it would not be wrong to call ZEON theâ&#x20AC;? Usain Boltâ&#x20AC;? of the turf industry. Like Bolt, ZEON is winning with such frequent regularity that its achievements to date are absolutely Olympian!

DAVID DOGUET FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT BLADERUNNER FARMS

ver since ZEON made its appearance in Asia,

Doguet, founder and president of the giant Bladerunner

feedback from all quarters has been very

Farms, where ZEON is grown (I simply love that name) and

positive. Owners have been raving about its

Brad Burgess, the founder and managing director of Sports

appearance. Golfers have enjoyed playing

Turf Solutions (STS), a top supplier of products and services

on its ﬁrm surface. Maintenance crews have

to the golf club industry in the region.

been ecstatic on its rugged qualities. All round, ZEON has

Rolling out ZEON into a region that was very comfortable and locked in with turf that was introduced some three

proven to be a winner! ASIAN GOLF decided to do this special feature as a

decades ago was not an easy task. But the determined

tribute to ZEON because it has had a relationship with the

and convincing duo of Doguet and Burgess gradually wore

people behind ZEON going back to 2007 when the breeders

down all resistance and got ZEON accepted based on its

of this hybrid ﬁrst came out to speak at the Asia Paciﬁc Golf

all-round winning qualities.

Summit. ZEON was a work in progress then, but the Asian

“ZEON has done so well in Asia. The success of ZEON

golf industry was given very deep insights to what was be-

in my opinion has been its performance. It’s done every-

ing done with the Zoysia strain of turf by the breeders who

thing we said it would do and more. It is head and shoul-

were from highly esteemed American universities. ZEON is

ders above all other grasses and species used in Asia,”

part of the Zoysia family of turf, with Zoysia having its origins in Asia. In putting this special report

declared Doguet, a no-nonsense, straight talking Texan. Sipping on a chilled iced-lemon tea, Doguet explained, “When you talk about sustainability, environ-

together, ASIAN GOLF reached out

mental impact, and low maintenance, ZEON ﬁts the bill.”

to two men who have been sin-

He continued, “Less water, less fertilizer, less chemicals,

gularly responsible for bringing

less mowing, shade tolerance, salt tolerance, and on and

ZEON out to Asia and making

on. ZEON has all of this and then ZEON gives you a great

it the number one turfgrass of

playing surface. Enough said.” What did we tell you about

golf courses on the Continent.

this Texan – he does not indulge in bullshit. He gives it to

The two pioneers are David

you straight up!

BRAD BURGESS FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR SPORTS TURF SOLUTIONS (STS)

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, AND LOW MAINTENANCE,

ZEON FITS THE BILL. LESS WATER, LESS FERTILIZER, LESS CHEMICALS, LESS MOWING, SHADE TOLERANCE, SALT TOLERANCE, AND ON AND ON. ZEON HAS ALL OF THIS AND THEN ZEON GIVES YOU A GREAT PLAYING SURFACE. – DAVID DOGUET

Now, let’s get down to brass tacks and take a good, long

since 1997 and knew back then that Zoysia grasses were

hard look at ZEON through Burgess, an affable big Australian

superior to any imported Bermuda or Paspalum varieties

who loves his beer. Burgess, a keen sports ﬁsherman, is a

(types of turf). I was involved in brokering some Bermuda

seasoned Asia-hand having worked in various parts of the

and Paspalum since opening STS and have watched these

region both as a respected golf course superintendent and as

varieties become a maintenance headache for golf course

a dependable supplier to the industry.

operators. When I heard about the new varieties of Zoysia

ASIAN GOLF met up with Burgess after he returned from

grasses I knew right away that they would be successful in

a ﬁshing trip in Oman (we won’t get into his yarns about the

the Asian region. We through exhaustive evaluations over

big one that got away) and chatted about how he worked hard

eight years of the leading Zoysia varieties before selecting

at establishing ZEON as the number one turf for golf courses

ZEON Zoysia from Bladerunner Farms.

in Asia. The following are excerpts from that discussion:

ASIAN GOLF: THERE WAS SOME RESISTANCE IN THE EARLY DAYS FROM ARCHITECTS AND COURSE OPERATORS RELATING TO THE SLOW GROWN-IN CHARACTERISTICS OF ZEON. HOW DID YOU GET AROUND THIS ISSUE?

ASIAN GOLF: ZEON HAS BEEN A RUNAWAY HIT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA – TALK TO THIS?

BRAD BURGESS: I’ve been working with Zoysia grass

BURGESS: Zoysia grasses have the perception of being slow to grow. This is true if you don’t know what it responds

ASIAN GOLF: WHAT ARE THE KEY ATTRIBUTES OF ZEON OVER ALL OTHER COMPETITIVE VARIETIES?

well too and if you don’t know how to harvest and plant it

BURGESS: It is very similar in appearance to some other

correctly. The biggest misconception relates to is how soon

Zoysia grasses but is much more disease resistant and

it can be playable. There is a term called Tournament Ready

builds less thatch, meaning it requires less cultural prac-

that PGA Ofﬁcials use when a course is ready to play after

tices to maintain its quality surface.

grow-in period. Paspalum and Bermuda grow faster above

ASIAN GOLF: ARE THE EARLY ADOPTERS OF ZEON SEEING THE BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES OF GOING THE ZEON ROUTE?

the ground and take months and months after they have established to be playable. ZEON Zoysia grows under the ground and takes about a month longer to cover 100% than

BURGESS: Everyone who chose ZEON is extremely happy,

Paspalum or Bermuda, but once it is 100% covered, it is

their members and guests are enjoying the playability of it.

tournament ready. Architects and builders understand this

Most high handicappers and professional golfers like the

now, not to mention the long-term beneﬁts that the owners

way the ball sits up on the top of the plant and it’s easy to

should be aware of.

hit off, it’s almost like they are cheating. The ball will roll

ZEON HAS DONE SO WELL IN ASIA. THE ZEON IN MY OPINION HAS BEEN ITS PERFORMANCE. IT’S DONE EVERYTHING WE SAID IT WOULD DO AND MORE. IT IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS SUCCESS OF

ABOVE ALL OTHER GRASSES AND SPECIES USED IN

ASIA.

– DAVID DOGUET

further as well, making long courses play a little shorter than they would with a turf that builds thatch and holds moisture which results in a plugged ball more so than a bounce and run.

ASIAN GOLF: WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK FROM SUPERINTENDENTS ON ZEON? BURGESS: Everything we were told about ZEON from long term growers in the USA and other parts of the world is exactly what we are hearing. The low inputs and work required to produce a great surface is real. Less water, less chemicals, less mowing, less fertilizer, less divot repair, less cultural practices and the playability is second to nothing. Some golf clubs are saying their maintenance costs are 60% down compared to their pre-ZEON days.

ASIAN GOLF: YOU OPERATE SEVERAL FARMS IN THE REGION. WHERE ARE THESE FARMS AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO A COURSE THAT OPTS TO GO THE ZEON ROUTE? BURGESS: We have a 140,000m2 nursery on the Eastern seaboard of Thailand in Chonburi and the other is 140,000m2 in Central Vietnam at Hoi An. Both farms are ITGAP (International Turfgrass Genetic Assurance Programme) Certified. This gives the customer assurance that the farms are planted from Original Foundation Plant Material and are Inspected annually to ensure we maintain the fields to strict guidelines. Buying from a non-certified grower would most likely be a cheaper option but the buyer will always have the risk of buying plant material that has been pirated from an unknown location and is not maintained to a certain level of purity resulting in long term costly rectifications.

ASIAN GOLF: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE FOR ZEON AND THE OTHER NEW ZOYSIA HYBRIDS IN ASIA? BURGESS: Everything we were told ZEON would do, it’s doing and now we are experiencing the same success with the new Zoysia grasses for greens. These new grasses are going to change the way courses are managed from the courses needing less manpower, less chemicals, less water and less fertilizer to produce better surfaces. Club operators and owners are going to see a better bottom line which we hope will allow them to pass on some savings to the customers resulting in more people being able to afford to play the game. Water is going to become very, very precious very soon if it’s not already and if we don’t start conserving water now, it will be too late in the very near future. Chemicals and nutrient run offs will be a bigger problem for the environment. We use no chemicals on any of our Zoysia varieties. The difference is amazing, and we deal with it ourselves as a business much like a golf course.

EVERYONE WHO CHOSE ZEON IS EXTREMELY HAPPY, THEIR MEMBERS AND GUESTS ARE ENJOYING THE PLAYABILITY OF IT. MOST HIGH HANDICAPPERS AND PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS LIKE THE WAY THE BALL SITS UP ON THE TOP OF THE PLANT AND IT’S EASY TO HIT OFF, IT’S ALMOST LIKE THEY ARE CHEATING.

THE BALL WILL ROLL FURTHER AS WELL,

MAKING LONG COURSES PLAY A LITTLE SHORTER THAN THEY WOULD WITH A TURF THAT BUILDS THATCH AND HOLDS MOISTURE WHICH RESULTS IN A PLUGGED BALL MORE SO THAN A BOUNCE AND RUN.

– BRAD BURGESS

ZEON ZOYSIA IS A GAME CHANGER, IT REALLY IS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO LEARN ABOUT DAVID AND HIS GRASSES ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO AND IT WAS A RELIEF TO

ASIAN GOLF: HOW MANY COURSES HAVE YOU TURFED WITH ZEON TO DATE?

BURGESS: Sixteen courses have been grassed and another thirteen courses are still under construction or renovation in Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Korea and Japan. Plus, we have at least another ďŹ fteen or so projects in the pipeline.

ASIAN GOLF: LOOKS LIKE ZEON HAS LANDED IN ASIA AT THE RIGHT TIME!

BURGESS: ZEON Zoysia is a Game Changer, it really is. I was fortunate

KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHERS

to learn about David and his grasses about nine years ago and it was a

OUT THERE WHO SHARE THE

relief to know that there are others out there who share the same passion

SAME PASSION ABOUT DOING

about doing the right thing for the golf industry. I could grow anything and sell anything - we used to do it but selling the wrong grass to a client that

THE RIGHT THING FOR THE

is going to cause them a long-term headache is not sustainable for any-

GOLF INDUSTRY.

one. We are on the right track for sustainability now and this is something that is real which you will be seeing and hearing more about soon.

HOIANA SHORES GOLF CLUB

GOLF spoke with Rob Weiks, Golf ASIAN Course Superintendent at Hoiana Shores

Golf Club in Hoiana, Vietnam to get his hands-on thoughts about ZEON and this is what he had to offer: “Zeon compares very favourably from a pest and disease tolerance. It certainly requires less mowing and less overall cultural works to achieve a similar result with other warm season turfgrasses. Very good to excellent drought tolerance. I was amazed at how quickly it recovers from extreme drought desiccation, as good, or even better than Bermuda in my opinion. Flexibility, it responds very well to the playability you require. We are committed to firm and fast surfaces here at Hoiana Shores GC and ZEON is responding to minimal inputs - water, nutrient, mowing, fungicides/insecticides. Around the clubhouse areas we have it at a higher height with a dark green aesthetic. The same grass with two very different outcomes in the same environment speaks volumes.”

ZEON COMPARES VERY FAVOURABLY FROM A PEST AND DISEASE TOLERANCE. IT CERTAINLY REQUIRES LESS MOWING AND LESS OVERALL CULTURAL WORKS TO ACHIEVE A SIMILAR RESULT WITH OTHER WARM SEASON TURFGRASSES.

(FROM LEFT) DIRECTOR OF GOLF KELLY NGUYEN, SANDY NGUYEN, MINH NGUYEN AND COURSE SUPERINTENDENT ROB WEIKS.

č wÀÃÌ V >ÃÃ

1997

Tiger Woods

2005

WINNER Shiv Kapur

2006

WINNER Thongchai Jaidee

2007

WINNER

Prayad Marksaeng

2008

WINNER Lam Chih Bing

2017

WINNER

Rattanon Wannasrichan

1998

Vijay Singh

2018

WINNER Panuphol Pittayarat

2019

WINNER John Catlin

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Never since the Great Depression in North America, has the golf industry experienced the sort of uncertainty that the dreaded Coronavirus has unleashed across the entire world. In the weeks and months ahead, the industry will be slowly coming back. What is not known is what exactly will the industry be returning to. The professional side of the game has taken some serious hammering that has resulted in millions being washed away. For an assessment of how the industry will roll back post pandemic, ASIAN GOLF consulted one of its resident advisors, the Legendary Guru and marketing oracle Andrew Wood and the following are his thoughts:

nitially, there will be a great deal of pent-up demand. However, as the reality of mass unemployment and uncertainty about the future sets in, the demand will drop dramatically as people make very tough decisions about their ďŹ nancial future.

On the plus side, for some courses, and not for others,

we will see several hundred courses go under. Obviously,

THIS CRISIS SHOULD RESULT IN AN IN TO WALK WHEN THEY PLAY. IT MAY A CARTS, GOLF BIKES, GOLF BOARDS AND OTHER

WITHOUT BEING NEAR THEIR PLAYING PARTNER

NEED NOW AND HOW YOU MAY NEED TO RE-TH

this is devastating for the owners, property owners and members. However, for the golf market, in general, it is a

being near their playing partners. Think about how you can

good thing, especially in North America. Reducing inventory

meet this need now and how you may need to re-think your

and increasing demand for other locations.

pricing.

The crisis is likely to have far-reaching effects on the

Most of the golf market is over 60 and, of course, prime

entire food and beverage industry. Managers will have to

targets for the virus. These people are going to demand more

re-think how to rearrange their clubhouse furniture and bars

safeguards at every turn. Anti-bacterial spray dispensers

to create an environment that allows social interaction while

should be on every tee and every entrance to the clubhouse.

keeping social distance.

Carts should be sprayed down before and after use in full

This crisis should result in an increased demand for people who like to walk when they play. It may also increase demand for single carts, golf bikes, golf boards and other ways players can navigate the course without

view of customers. Food servers may not be taking their masks off for a long time, if ever. There will be a lot more bowing and elbow bumping and a lot less handshaking going forward. As I discussed in detail in my Coronavirus Marketing

NCREASED DEMAND FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE

ALSO INCREASE DEMAND FOR SINGLE

R WAYS PLAYERS CAN NAVIGATE THE COURSE

RS.

THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN MEET THIS HINK YOUR PRICING. Defense Course (https://tinyurl.com/y8f45l7y), it will be essential that clubs play a central part in the rebuilding of businesses in the local economy. Positioning the club as a champion of local business and following the steps I outlined in the course will give you an unbeatable marketing edge over any club in your market. Now more than ever, it is essential the clubs look at themselves in a new light and realize that the actual “golf” alone may not be the primary reason people are willing to pay you.

THIS CRISIS SHOULD

If you operate a resort or are in the travel business, you are going

RESULT IN AN

to see a lot of people opting for the 5 to 6-hour road trip rather than

INCREASED DEMAND FOR

and another reason why travel will be signiﬁcantly more expensive for everyone. Resorts will have to focus more

what will likely be an unbelievable

PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO WALK

than ever on the drive to market. Travel

hassle to get on an airplane and ﬂy

WHEN THEY PLAY. IT MAY

companies more than ever will be left to

somewhere. ■ Emirates are already blood

ALSO INCREASE DEMAND FOR

people who can ﬂy business class, and

testing people before they get on

SINGLE CARTS, GOLF BIKES,

bypass some of the lines and hassle.

planes.

focus on the afﬂuent end of the market,

Then there will be a death blow for

■ There is also talk of making

GOLF BOARDS AND OTHER

many marginal private clubs. No matter

planes ﬂy half full so to allow more

WAYS PLAYERS CAN NAVIGATE

who gets into ofﬁce, in whatever country

opportunity for social distancing.

THE COURSE WITHOUT BEING

you happen to live, we are all looking at

This, of course, means the price of air travel is likely to double if not triple. As I am writing, Londonbased Easy Jet has just announced they are not selling middle seats.

NEAR THEIR PLAYING PARTNERS.

THINK ABOUT HOW YOU

CAN MEET THIS NEED NOW

drastically higher income taxes. Higher taxes mean less disposable income, but this will also mean a huge surge in early retirement and relocation to lowercost destinations. Places like Florida,

■ The governments must also

AND HOW YOU MAY NEED TO

Alabama, Vietnam, Thailand and Costa

address the ridiculous farce that

RE-THINK YOUR PRICING.

Rica will all beneﬁt. If you are in these

is trying to re-enter the United

States - Lining shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of people from hundreds of countries, sometimes for hours,

areas, promote a value-based lifestyle.

Big metropolis areas will likely get killed! In every crisis, there is always opportunity, but the op-

in order to get back into the country.

portunity will go to those already planning for the reboot.

■ The same goes for airlines checking in and lining up to

Use this downtime to your advantage and be ready to

get on the plane. This will have to be a thing of the past,

capitalize when the world starts up again, for it is in time

which will cost millions of millions of dollars to retool

of great crisis that great fortunes are made.

For more than fifteen years, ASIAN GOLF has had the opportunity of playing fly-on-the-wall to watch first-hand, how junior golfers are introduced to the game of golf especially in Southeast Asia. To say that it was revealing in a bad sort of way, would be an understatement! Often, many juniors in the region have had a terrible introduction to the game of golf and this is putting it mildly. No wonder, most junior golf development programmes in the region have not really hit the mark in terms of success on a constant basis. ASIAN GOLF turned to James Herbert who is attached to the PGA of America Junior Golf Development programme at Mission Hills in China for his thoughts on how a junior golf development programme should be set up and the following are his thoughts:

n directing a junior event with over 150 juniors or

more likely to engage the junior during the lesson. Simply

a 1 on 1 private beginner junior lesson, the one

telling a beginner what and how to do it can be boring and

common theme I found that must be present for a

usually leads to a loss of concentration.

junior’s ﬁrst experience is structured fun combined with early success. This is more important initially

A junior’s ﬁrst experience of the golf course is important, shortening the golf course to a distance that suits his

than anything else. As a junior start to take golf more seri-

or her golﬁng level is crucial so as not to discourage the

ously than aspects such as technique, etiquette and mental

junior. For example, a complete beginner may play a Par 4

approach obviously become increasingly important, but it is

that is 20 yards in total distance. At my home club in Eng-

the junior’s passion to play the game that must be nurtured

land we combined golf with other sports such as football to

ﬁrst and foremost.

help increase interest. They may start a hole by kicking the

To allow a junior to become passionate about golf

football and then transitioning to hitting the golf ball as they

we ﬁrst must look at ways to catch and then maintain

got closer to the green. These are just two examples of how

their interest. From my experiences in England, coaches

to make the golf course less daunting to a beginner.

used many imaginative ways to introduce golf to juniors.

When it comes to juniors on the driving range. the

Teaching the grip and posture ﬁrst, then playing games to

coaching environment created at ﬁrst is more important

introduce other concepts like hitting the ﬂoor in the correct

than technical content. There are not many 7-year-olds

place, club face control and how to aim correctly are much

that I have taught who would enjoy an hour of technique

and scrutinization of their swing. Mostly, they want to have fun with friends and hit the ball as far as they can. It is up to the coach to create an environment that is engaging and fun for the junior, so when they go back to school after the weekend, they want to tell all their friends about the great time they had. Creating games that will allow fundamentals such as grip to be learnt and remembered but also giving the juniors early success will improve a sense satisfaction and accomplishment. A lot of research shows that Early specialization in golf rarely works if the goal is to have longevity in the sport. If the learning environment becomes too serious with pressure to have the ‘perfect’ swing, research shows many juniors will tend

WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE ON OFFER THESE DAYS, INCORPORATING IT INTO GOLF LESSONS CAN HELP MAKE THE LESSONS MORE ENGAGING. SHOWING JUNIORS THEIR FIRST SWINGS ON AN IPAD, USING TRACKMAN TESTS TO MAKE IT MORE LIKE A COMPUTER GAME AND USING INDOOR SIMULATION ARE WAYS OF MAKING THE LESSON EXCITING.

A LOT OF RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EARLY SPECIALIZATION IN GOLF RARELY WORKS IF THE GOAL IS TO HAVE LONGEVITY IN THE SPORT. IF THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BECOMES TOO SERIOUS WITH PRESSURE TO HAVE THE

‘PERFECT’ SWING, RESEARCH SHOWS MANY JUNIORS WILL TEND TO DROP OUT AS THEY GET OLDER.

to drop out as they get older. From my playing experience in provincial level golf teams, every coaching session included

lesson exciting. Although those previous examples will not be available

an element of fun, usually through competitions against

to some coaches as the technology is expensive, there are

other teammates. Even at a more elite level it is acknowl-

more simple and cheaper alternatives. Providing family fun

edged that the learning environment must be engaging in

days where parents can get involved, creating junior clubs,

order to sustain the players interest. Players must be able

teaching through games and competition-based learning.

to make their own decisions and fail sometimes for them to

Telling junior, the countless technical aspects of the golf

learn correctly. Telling a player how and why they should be

swing they could use to improve and making them practice

performing is less engaging and less efďŹ cient to their golf

monotonously with the same club hitting towards the same

performance. If a player is more engaged and interested in

target is a great way of extinguishing any enthusiasm they

the lesson, then the effort they put into their golf will nearly

may have for the game. While some juniors may respond

always be greater.

and have patience to learn like this, it is not generally

With all the technology we have on offer these days, incorporating it into golf lessons can help make the lessons

beneďŹ cial to the majority. Notwithstanding, the importance of initially engag-

more engaging. Showing juniors their ďŹ rst swings on an

ing juniors by creating a fun environment, is also the

iPad, using Trackman tests to make it more like a computer

responsibility of the coach to create a clear and structured

game and using indoor simulation are ways of making the

development pathway. This pathway should help the junior

and parent see how they will go from complete beginner to, for example, being able to attain a standard that will allow them to go to the golf course and have success. There are

COACHING A JUNIOR IS NOT AN EASY JOB AND IT TAKES A

many ways on how to speciﬁcally structure these pathways

SKILLED AND COMMITTED COACH TO

but including levels for the junior to achieve and regular

CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WITH THE

goal setting is a good way of improving the juniors external and internal motivation for participation. In summary, through my 10 years of junior coaching, I

CORRECT BALANCE OF FUN, DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING.

believe the best way of initially engaging and then sustaining a junior’s interest is by creating a structured, friendly

ing. Improvement in a junior’s ﬁrst lesson could be

and interactive learning environment that will nurture his

holing 3 consecutive putts from 2 feet or completing a

or her excitement and passion into their older years. If the

balanced ﬁnish position - the initial goals do not have

fun learning environment is combined with a clear develop-

to be hard and immediate success is very important for

ment pathway, it will help to fuel the junior’s commitment

engaging the junior. Coaching a junior is not an easy job

to golf.

and it takes a skilled and committed coach to create an

Everyone, regardless of whether he or she is a complete beginner or elite professional, enjoys improv-

environment with the correct balance of fun, development and learning.

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The next Presidents Cup will be played on U.S. soil at the Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina. This will undoubtedly give the United States team tremendous home-ground advantage. At the last Presidents Cup clash, South African Ernie Els and his team put up a stirring battle against the Americans. For the next clash, the International team will be led by a man whose name does not necessarily roll off the tongue easily. While a good golfer in his own right, he is no legend like Els. This may work to his advantage in that the huge pressure to deliver may be off his back and he could very likely deliver an upset win for Team International. The PGA Tourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chuah Choo Chiang shares his thoughts with ASIAN GOLF as to how he thinks Trevor Immelman will step up to the plate.

TREVOR IMMELMAN

C.T. PAN AND HIDEKI MATSUYAMA | PHOTO CREDIT GETTY IMAGES

Like his predecessor, Trevor Immelman, the new International Team captain, believes the stars from Asia can align in perfect symmetry as he begins to plot against history and an all-conquering United States Team at next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Presidents Cup.

PRESIDENTS CUP 2021 QUAIL HOLLOW NORTH CAROLINA USA

s the youngest captain to be appointed – Immelman will be 41 when Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina hosts the prestigious team competition – the affable South African will be armed with some great insights of his men most likely to go into battle and seek a long-awaited International victory.

In December, his mentor, Ernie Els, nearly caused one of the greatest sporting

upsets at Royal Melbourne where his thoughtful and meticulous approach saw the Internationals lead into the final day for the first time since 2003. Els introduced a new team culture, passion and logo to unify a side made up of so many different countries and regions and despite losing 16-14 following a spirited final day fightback led by American playing captain Tiger Woods, a new spirit was born which Immelman believes will see the International Team carry the momentum to Quail Hollow. Asia was well represented in the last International Team with Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama, Korean duo Byeong Hun An and Sungjae Im, Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan and Haotong Li of Mainland China featuring prominently. Apart from Li who was kept off the scoreboard, the others contributed a massive 10 points for the team, with 21-year-old Im emerging as one of the heroes with 3.5 points from his five matches. A veteran of four Presidents Cups, Matsuyama, 28, duly delivered 2.5 points, debutants Pan and An put up two points each while Li, the first mainland Chinese golfer to qualify for the Presidents Cup, fell in both his matches. HAOTONG LI

THE ASIAN PLAYERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TEAM MAKEUP. – TREVOR IMMELMAN THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO. Immelman, who played in the 2005 and 2007 editions, knows the significance that Asia will bring to the International Team’s quest for redemption and glory. The International’s lone victory in the series dates to 1998. “The Asian players have always been a very, very important part of our team makeup. They will continue to be so,” said Immelman during the unveiling of his captaincy in April. “You look at the history going back with (Shigeki) Maruyama and (Joe) Ozaki and so many other great Asian players, K.J. (Choi) included, we’ve had a number of Asian players on our team (last year), and they performed brilliantly. “It really was a close-knit team … I really was impressed. You just must look at the young rookies, a man in his young 20s, Sungjae Im. The way he performed, it was so much fun to see. And then when it mattered, he went out against these players and performed brilliantly, and then you look at his form subsequently and at The Honda Classic, just so, so impressive.” Such was Im’s impact and brilliance which included a 4&3 win over U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland in Singles that Immelman predicted the young Korean will go on to become one of the game’s great players. “Sungjae has a unique personality trait where he is incredibly humble, but he has a lot of inner self-belief. For me, those have always been my favourite kinds of athletes to watch and to enjoy seeing how they perform because you know they’re going to have so much respect for the competition, for the opponent, for everything that is taking place around them. But when it comes down to that point in time where they really need to perform, they have the self-belief to be able to back themselves and pull it off. I see that in Sungjae so far in his young career. I do honestly believe he has an opportunity to become one of the greatest golfers in the world.” Having competed across Asia throughout his career, Immelman is also keeping an eye out for new talents from further afield apart from those who compete regularly on the PGA TOUR. One such young star who has caught his attention is Thailand’s 24-year-old Jazz Janewattananond, who won four times on the Asian Tour last season and currently sits in 39th position on the Official World Golf Ranking. “You look at a guy like Jazz, who’s climbed his way into the top-50 and playing some beautiful golf in his own right. He and a number of other guys … you look at Haotong Li, C.T. Pan and Ben An, we can go down the list of great Asian players who really are starting to make their mark in the world of golf,” said Immelman.

TREVOR IMMELMAN | PHOTO CREDIT GETTY IMAGES

Other Asians who may well be on Immelman’s radar include China’s Xinjun Zhang, who is enjoying a second stint

tied one and lost one in the Foursomes sessions. “You know, to be able to try to continue Ernie’s legacy

on the PGA TOUR this season, and Korean Si Woo Kim, who

that he had built for our team, the platform that he’s created

featured in the 2017 edition, which was the year he won THE

for us to try and build from is something that I’m really look-

PLAYERS Championship.

ing forward to, and I know that the whole team that competed

The new captain also paid a glowing tribute to Els,

in 2019 and everybody that was involved with that Interna-

whose tactics included the use of data and analytics for

tional Team is also looking forward to the opportunity to have

his Four-Ball and Foursomes pairings which proved highly

another crack at it in ‘21 at Quail Hollow,” said Immelman.

effective as the Internationals won both Four-Ball sessions,

“We had an amazing chemistry in our team room down

SUNGJAE HAS A UNIQUE PERSONALITY TRAIT WHERE HE IS INCREDIBLY HUMBLE, BUT HE HAS A LOT OF INNER SELF-BELIEF.

FOR ME, THOSE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVOURITE KINDS OF ATHLETES TO WATCH AND TO ENJOY SEEING HOW THEY PERFORM BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THE COMPETITION, FOR THE OPPONENT, FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS TAKING PLACE AROUND THEM.

BUT WHEN IT COMES

DOWN TO THAT POINT IN TIME WHERE THEY REALLY NEED TO PERFORM, THEY HAVE THE SELF-BELIEF TO BE ABLE TO BACK THEMSELVES AND PULL IT OFF.

SUNGJAE SO FAR IN HIS YOUNG CAREER. I DO HONESTLY BELIEVE SEE THAT IN

HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME ONE OF THE GREATEST GOLFERS IN THE WORLD.

SUNGJAE IM | PHOTO CREDIT GETTY IMAGES

in Australia. I’m sure everybody could see that and feel that. And it translated on to the golf course, where our guys really did compete as one unit, and we came so close to almost causing one of the biggest upsets, shucks, that I can think of in sports, when you look at the differences in the World Ranking. I think what Ernie did for our team, giving us something to build off of, we sure are hoping that that is going to be some kind of turning point for our team to where we can ﬁnd a way to ﬁnally win this Cup again.”

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PRESENTS

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It is with sadness that I solemnly author this requiem to Conrado ‘Conrad’ Benitez II for ASIAN GOLF. Conrad was born in war-torn Philippines on March 22, 1945, right in the middle of the devastating Liberation of Manila. During a family 75th birthday celebration using the Zoom app this March 22nd, he experienced difﬁculty breathing and was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City. He passed away on March 28, 2020. It has been said that Conrad was “one of the true stalwarts of Asian golf” and a “giant in Philippine golf.” ■ BY JAMES G. PRUSA

An unassuming man – always professorial, but at once so humble, and almost shy in spite of both his and his famil

est known in East Asia as the amiable President and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer of the Orchard Golf and Country Club south of Metro Manila, over the years Conrad served as an elected leader of both the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and Philippines Federation of Golf Clubs. He wore many hats concurrently serving as the President of the Philippines Women’s University in Davao, Mindanao, head of the Philippines Psychological Corporation (PhilPsyCor), and Chairman of Unlad Resources Development Corp., the real estate holdings company. An unassuming man – always professorial, but at once soft-spoken, humble, and almost shy in spite of both his and his family’s fame. Yet one would never want to cross swords with him with any wrongful, unvirtuous approaches to business. Conrad was a successor of the revered Benitez clan in the Philippines and always acted with an enduring respect for his family’s patriotic legacy. He treasured the contributions the Benitez family members made to the Philippines and fellow countrymen that go back in history to the Philippines Revolution. During the ﬁrst democratic revolution in Asia the family risked life and treasure towards establishing Philippine independence from the Spanish Empire. Then for over a century Benitez’ dedication to international diplomacy and education of the Filipino citizen became legend. His great uncle and grandfather were key authors of the revolutionary and subsequent Philippines constitutions and

they also were founders of the University of the Philippines and the Philippines Women’s University. Conrad inherited this fervent familial zeal for education and he brought that passion to the golf course industry in Asia. He embodied the virtues exempliﬁed in golf and he traveled the globe playing famous golf links to study their design, operation and management – bringing back educational information to the Philippines. In this process he developed lifelong friendships that were a core of his expert network. Conrad was introduced to golf very young, taking it up so he could be with other boys his age – he was the oldest child in a family with ﬁve younger sisters. He once told me that, “My grandfather was a very avid golfer who played at least three times a week walking, there were no golf carts in Manila back then, until he died at age 80. I must have gotten hooked the same way he was.” In the early 1990s the Benitez family was approached by the Sta. Lucia golf course development group, two cousins Vicente Santos and Exequiel Robles who had taken the helm of their family company. Vicente and Exequiel offered to buy land, but then suggested a joint venture to expand the project to two golf courses. Conrad, being the only golfer in the Benitez clan, took the lead in the negotiation of the joint venture that became the Orchard G & CC. He chuckled when he once confessed to me that he advised the family to “just sell the land and not take on risks of a joint venture.” But the

oft-spoken, lyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fame.

family matriarch, his famed aunt Dr. Helena Z. Benitez who had inherited the mango plantation from Conrad’s grandfather, told him she wanted “to enjoy a little risk after my long life.” Her decision ﬁnalized the venture that became the Orchard G & CC. After working closely with partners Vicente and Exequiel, Conrad became very hands on in the design and construction of the famed Palmer and Player courses. He later drew on his vast golf network of personal relationships to establish professional education conferences and seminars to support the staff at the Orchard G&CC – and other course developers, owners, golf course superintendents and club managers. Through our mutual love of golf, I simply became close friends with Conrad. We would often meet at venues around the world and in Manila to enjoy countless hours of intense discussions sharing our philosophies on how best to educate people to improve golf course management. Always persuasive, he easily convinced me to help with his objectives in the Philippines to develop Filipino professional golf course managers – rather than primarily resorting so often to foreign expats. Conrad knew golf course expertise required retention of educated university graduates, ongoing practical training, and continuing technical education. He also desired that other Filipino clubs and owners would see the wisdom to assure permanent Filipino resources for golf in the Philippines.

Conrad’s aunt ‘Tita Helen,’ a Filipino senator, educator and respected international diplomate, influenced his life in so many ways. In 1957 Tita Helen responded to a request from Philippines President Ramon Magsaysay to organize the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company to represent the Philippines in Expo ’58 at the Brussels World Fair. Afterwards this traditional dance company became famous touring the world. One particular young lady amongst Tita Helen’s Bayanihan cadre caught Conrad’s eye -- and his heart. The charming Ruby Benitez soon after became his wife and lifelong partner. Conrad’s greatest devotion was always first to his family. I saw the last several years taking a toll on him from many fronts, as he simultaneously renovated the Orchard G&CC, preserved family businesses, reinvigorated the Philippines Women’s College in Davao, and more – any single one of which would have exhausted energy and shattered most men. The General Manager of the Orchard G&CC, Nilo Famy (a grandson of the first Presidente of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy) best summed up the feelings of Conrad’s many business associates, worldwide friends, and of the Benitez family. Writing to me upon Conrad’s passing, Nilo lamented: “My heart is grieving and broken into pieces up to now.” With those words I offer requiem to Conrad.

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