If there’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 NOVEMBER 4 - , 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
ASIAN GOLF ZZZ DVLDSDFLÆ“FJROIJURXS FRP
ISSUE ASIAN GOLF is sticking its neck out to predict that good times are ahead for the golf industry in Asia in general and Southeast Asia in particular. The numbers look good. The trends look good. Hopefully, barring any major catastrophe, Asia seems to be on a right trajectory for growth and golf can bank on being in a healthy state for many years to come.
243
FEBRUARY 2021
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12 EQUIPMENT FOCUS 70 IT’S TIME TO WHOOP IT UP! The PGA TOUR has entered into a multitiyear partnership with the human performance company WHOOP. It is now the official fitness wearable of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions and a Sponsor of PGA TOUR Active.
78 A.I. TO THE FORE! 6 SHARED THOUGHTS This is a very legitimate question to pose? Except for the professional tours in Japan and South Korea, the other major professional tours in Asia have been decimated. This must be a real tragedy for those players who play on these tours for their livelihoods and to be faced with the prospect of not being able to play and earn an income indefinitely. We will talk to this later.
XREAD MORE
Callaway Golf has launched the Apex 21 irons and hybrids. The new clubs are the result of artificial intelligence (A.I.) designed ball speed technologies which Callaway has invested in heavily. In the line-up are three iron models - Apex 21, Apex Pro 21, and Apex DCB irons.
SPECIAL FEATURE 20 WGE 2021 IS SHAPING UP! The operations headquarters for the 2021 World Golf Expo (WGE) is humming along and with slightly over ten months to go, every effort is being made to organise and stage this major international event as one of the few “live” golf conferences to be held this year. The show dates are November 4 – 7, 2021.
XREAD MORE
52 TAYLORMADE’S BEST JUST GOT BETTER! Like everything that TaylorMade rolls out, the 2021 family of SIM2 drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons is high on technology and performance. In this special review, ASIAN GOLF will deliver a highly comprehensible interpretation of all the bells and whistles of the clubs from a layman’s perspective.
64 PARSONS LAUNCHES HIS 2021 OFFENSIVE! PXG has launched its all-new 2021 0211 Collection. It is a collection of driver, fairway woods, hybrids and irons. The 0211s are an easy choice for players who simply want a sexy set of clubs that deliver unbelievable performance at a price you wouldn’t expect – certainly not from PXG.
38 GOLF CITIZEN – A BUDDY TO ALL GOLF CLUBS! One of the best custom-built Smart Apps for golf clubs sits right here on the shores of Asia. It is the highly sophisticated and heavily accessorised GOLF CITIZEN, an app that has been developed and streamlined over the years to address virtually all operational aspects of a golf club.
84 AERODYNAMIC POWER FROM TITLEIST! The enduring Pro V1 and Pro V1x franchise will hit the world’s fairways with brand new models. The 2021 models have a new and exciting dimension about them. It has to do with aerodynamic breakthroughs!
46 TOPGOLF SET TO ROLL OUT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA! It’s finally happened. The highly raved about Topgolf golfing experience will be coming to Southeast Asia and it will be rolling out in a big way. The franchise plans to develop Topgolf venues in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.
92 HEY USAIN ….. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN! Cobra Golf has just launched a whole new family of clubs under the brand name RADSPEED. The name range features three drivers, fairway woods and hybrids. In a word, the clubs are packed with technology and should prove to be big game changers.
Mike Sebastian
INTERNATIONAL ROVING EDITOR
Alan Campbell (China/Middle East)
Editor/Chief Executive Officer [mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
Correspondent
GLOBAL EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL
Angela Raymond
President [angela@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
Gregg Patterson
President, Tribal Magic Inc.
Andrew Wood Founder/President, Legendary Marketing
Raquel Arcega
James Cronk
Executive Creative Art Director [raquel@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
President, Cronk Group
IT Consultant Tech-Know Integrators
Alice Ho
INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
Business Manager [alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
Alice Ho
Email: alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com
ASIAN GOLF Singapore Post Centre Post Office, P.O. Box 532, Singapore 914018 Tel: +65 6323 2800 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.
SHARED THOUGHTS FROM THE PUBLISHER EQUIPMENT FOCUS | WHOOP
This is a very legitimate question to pose? Except for the professional tours in Japan and South Korea, the other major professional tours in Asia have been decimated. This must be a real tragedy for those players who play on these tours for their livelihoods and to be faced with the prospect of not being able to play and earn an income indeďŹ nitely. We will talk to this later.
SHARED THOUGHTS | FROM THE PUBLISHER
THE EXCUSE SEEMS TO RELATE MORE TO THE STATE OF THE PANDEMIC IN ASIA AS OPPOSED TO CHINA. ONE WONDERS IF THE PANDEMIC IS WORSENING IN CHINA RESULTING IN THIS BOLD DECISION BEING TAKEN.
M
eantime, China has shocked its community
The statement goes on to declare that the “ongoing is-
of professional golfers and others in the
sues with Covid-19 in Asia have been deemed too difficult to
region by shutting down the PGA Series-
overcome”, hence, forcing the cancellation decision.
China for the 2021 season. This does not bode well as it seems to indicate that all’s
On the positive side, for whatever it’s worth, the statement concluded: “During the year, Series officials will dis-
not well in China with the Coronavirus which started in the
cuss ways of returning to competitive golf and look forward
Chinese city of Wuhan. If it is not the reason, then why should
to returning to a full schedule of events in 2022.”
the series be cancelled in its entirety for this year? The 2020 season was also terminated mid-stream ear-
The PGA Tour China executive director, Greg Carlson, said: “We remain committed to the region and want to do
lier last year only to be followed up by the shutters coming
everything we can to give competitive opportunities for play-
down for all of this new year.
ers in Asia and from the Pacific Rim.
In a statement from the organisers, the 2021 season
“We are trying to pursue other opportunities for our
was “cancelled due to ongoing uncertainty around the
players to play in 2021. We will also take this pause and
coronavirus pandemic in Asia.” Note the lack of any specific-
evaluate what we might be able to do in 2022.”
ity in the reason given. The excuse seems to relate more to
The PGA Tour China is a China-based men’s
the state of the pandemic in Asia as opposed to China. One
professional golf tour and is part of the PGA Tour’s global
wonders if the pandemic is worsening in China resulting in
expansion. The tour started in 2014.
this bold decision being taken. Note that the PGA Tour China Series is almost a totally China tournament with a sprinkling of some overseas participants.
Now, let’s get back to the state of professional golf in Asia ex-Japan and South Korea. It is always easy to be criti-
cal of the existing powers that be who are responsible for the professional game across most of Asia. The tour has historically faced numerous problems especially compounded by a lot of political battles and back biting to put it mildly. Through all these machinations, the premier Asian tour has survived and managed to do something for the professional game. Since most of last year, the tour has been devoid of any tournaments and the 2021 calendar does not look too promising either. We are not here to criticise and chastise the tour – instead, we would like to use this opportunity and platform to appeal to corporate Asia to step up to the plate and help. It is time that Asian corporate honchos did their part to promote professional golf. The game needs your help! You
IT IS TIME THAT ASIAN CORPORATE HONCHOS DID
THEIR PART TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL GOLF.
THE GAME NEEDS YOUR HELP! YOU HAVE THE DOLLARS TO LEND A HELPING HAND BY SPONSORING EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS.
AFTER ALL,
MOST OF YOU GUYS PLAY GOLF
have the dollars to lend a helping hand by sponsoring events
AND THE LEAST THAT YOU CAN DO
and tournaments. After all, most of you guys play golf and
IS TO ANTE UP SOME CORPORATE
the least that you can do is to ante up some corporate dollars to give the professional tour a boost. C’mon guys – what are you waiting for!
DOLLARS TO GIVE THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR A BOOST.
ADVERTORIAL
COVER STORY
A GOLF BOOM COMING?
COVER STORY | A GOLF BOOM COMING?
For the past twelve months of a pandemic-ravaged world, all that we’ve been fed with is a diet of gloom and doom. It’s been a depressing buffet of how various industries and businesses were either threatened with haemorrhaging losses or succumbing totally to the virus attack. While most of the world’s businesses have been subjected to different levels of pain, one industry has been doing surprising well. It is especially baffling when one considers that this industry has been hammered black and blue for some years now, resulting in closures and losses. That industry is an industry that we are all familiar with – our own industry, the golf industry! In the last decade, all that we have been hearing is the sad tales of the closure of golf courses and diminishing rounds of golf played partnered with club memberships plunging into a southward dive. Given the reported prevailing conditions of tough times, it would be natural for one to conclude that the current pandemic would have totally knocked the wind out of the golf industry. Instead, the industry proved to be more resilient and robust under the testing conditions of the virus onslaught and filled its sails to race ahead to unbelievable results.
COVER STORY | A GOLF BOOM COMING?
G
olf clubs that were once weeping bucketful of tears on unsold rounds of golf are beaming from ear to ear with their booking registers filling up as soon as they opened for business. Golf equipment manufacturers
were pushed hard to keep equipment racks filled as golf clubs, shoes and accessories were flying off the shelves as quickly as they were re-stocked. Was this all too good to be true? Was this sudden dynamic upward trend just a temporary knee-jerk reaction or was it going to be sustainable? With 12-months of the Covid-19 rampage gone and with no sign of a slow-down, the golf industry continues to report
ACCORDING TO THE LAST FOCUS GROUP CONDUCTED IN
AUGUST 2020, RESPONDENTS IN THE AGE BRACKET 40 TO 60 YEARS MADE UP 63% OF GOLFERS IN THE MARKET. BASED ON THIS, ONE CAN
optimum rounds played and an incessant demand for golf
CONCLUDE THAT WHILE THERE HAS
equipment.
BEEN AN ATTRITION AMONGST OLDER
In the last quarter of 2020, several new golf equipment products were launched and almost every brand that launched new models reported brisk sales. One brand which broke tradition and launched its new 2021 models in Asia first, reported, “We were sold out within weeks and we just
GOLFERS, NEW GOLFERS ARE TAKING OVER AND GENERATING MORE PLAY ACTIVITY.
could not fulfil the demand for orders that we are pouring in as we were caught with a shortage in parts!” This is a great
ment retail operations, is the issue that needs answering.
state to be in and there seems to be no let-up in the demand
However, without ready access to trade figures, no definitive
surge that is occurring in the marketplace.
conclusions can be reached. We are just going to go with
Don’t ask us to substantiate our report with facts be-
the finger in the air approach to get a sense of what is hap-
cause outside of Japan and South Korea, there is no agency
pening in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, and what we are
or service that keeps track of sales trends for the industry
feeling is positive!
in the rest of Asia. That demand is up is not in doubt in Asia,
ASIAN GOLF is sticking its neck out to predict that good
but whether the business that is being generated is impact-
times are ahead for the golf industry in Asia in general and
ing the respective bottom-lines of golf clubs and equip-
Southeast Asia in particular.
To help in arriving at our conclusion that better times are coming, we are going to be examining several megatrends – to start with, we will be looking at demographics in the region relating to age groups. The one single demographic group that has driven the growth of golf in Asia for the past thirty years has been the Post War Baby Generation. For this exercise, we took the period 1945 through to 1960 because the bulk of the members of golf clubs in Asia and golfers in general come from this age bracket. Golfers born between 1946 to 1956 are now over 60 years of age and are at a stage where they are playing less golf today or have given up playing the game. These were the most active golfers before the turn of the New Millennium, and they were the ones who kept the industry buzzing. There is a transition taking place now and those born between 1960 and 1970 are becoming the new engine of
growth for the industry. It is this demographic that is power-
expected disposable income of this group is going to be a
ing the industry forward and this fact is borne out by ASIAN
staggering US$300 billion. These are impressive numbers
GOLF PROFILES, an on-going market research programme
and based on a projected annual growth of 5.5% a year,
conducted and funded by ASIAN GOLF. It was launched in
ASEAN is forecast to become the fourth largest economy in
2015 and has been kept current through annual focus group
the world by 2050.
studies. According to the last focus group conducted in
Combine this with projections for China and India
August 2020, respondents in the age bracket 40 to 60 years
where the size of the middle class is going to be 1.04 billion
made up 63% of golfers in the market. Based on this, one
and 1.17 billion respectively by 2050, Asia is the place to be
can conclude that while there has been an attrition amongst
for the golf industry.
older golfers, new golfers are taking over and generating more play activity. Given the fact that there is a good supply of active golfers coming on stream, this augurs well for golf’s future in Asia. Couple this with the growing entrepreneurial spirit
Shifting gears from megatrends, the next measure of golf’s growth in Asia can be seen through fascinating new developments that will be taking place in Asia in the nottoo-distant future that will impact the growth of golf. One such activity is the arrival of Topgolf, the revolu-
of the Millennial Generation, you begin to see an interest-
tionary sports entertainment behemoth. Through its Asian
ing trend of more young entrepreneurs as opposed to
franchise partner TG SEA Development Pte. Ltd, it plans to
employees in the market. New types of entrepreneurs and
develop Topgolf venues in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia,
opportunities abound. A recent report indicates that at least
Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.
half of the retailers in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the
This franchise hopes to bring a multitude of new
Philippines now use social media live selling and “shop-
venues to countries across this region that have not yet had
pertainment” to market their products. This generation
a chance to experience anything like Topgolf.
of business people are driving the new economies of the
The numbers look good. The trends look good. Hope-
countries in the region and it is the group that will generate
fully, barring any major catastrophe, Asia seems to be on a
the next population growth amongst golfers.
right trajectory for growth and golf can bank on being in a
Another positive indicator for golf’s growth in Asia, es-
healthy state for many years to come.
pecially the ASEAN-bloc of countries, is the growing middle class. According to a recent study by the global financial services organisation Deloitte, the size of the middle class in ASEAN will account for 334 million people by 2030. The
SHIFTING GEARS FROM MEGATRENDS, THE NEXT MEASURE OF GOLF’S GROWTH IN ASIA CAN BE SEEN THROUGH FASCINATING NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN ASIA IN THE NOTTOO-DISTANT FUTURE THAT WILL IMPACT THE GROWTH OF GOLF.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
WGE 2021
SPECIAL FEATURE | WGE 2021
The operations headquarters for the 2021 World Golf Expo (WGE) is humming along and with slightly over ten months to go, every effort is being made to organise and stage this major international event as one of the few “live� golf conferences to be held this year. The venue is locked in and the multi-milliondollar Mission Hills Resort in Haikou, Hainan will play host to the WGE. The show dates are November 4 – 7, 2021 and the exotic resort island of Hainan is set to play host to the global golf industry.
SPECIAL FEATURE | WGE 2021
“A
ll parties involved are committed to making this event a truly memorable experience and given the hard times that the golf industry has gone through over most of last year because of the global pandemic, everyone is looking for-
ward to conditions improving and getting back to as close to normal as possible,” said Mike Sebastian, Executive Producer of the show. WGE 2021 is a joint production of the giant Mission Hills Group and the Asia Pacific Golf Group. The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of the Mission Hills Group said, “Unlike most golf conferences and exhibitions, WGE will be different. We want to showcase golf as a sport with wide appeal and to do so, we hope to stage WGE like a carnival with a variety of exciting activities going on simultaneously so that all of our visitors can see golf in its best light and at the same time, we want to entertain visitors to the wonders of our huge entertainment complex.”
ALL PARTIES INVOLVED ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS EVENT A TRULY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AND GIVEN THE HARD TIMES THAT THE GOLF INDUSTRY HAS GONE
THROUGH OVER MOST OF LAST YEAR BE-
CAUSE OF THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, EVERYONE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO CONDITIONS IMPROVING AND GETTING BACK TO AS CLOSE TO NORMAL AS POSSIBLE.
– MIKE SEBASTIAN
SPECIAL FEATURE | WGE 2021
UNLIKE MOST GOLF CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONS, WGE WILL BE DIFFERENT. WE WANT TO SHOWCASE GOLF AS A SPORT WITH WIDE APPEAL AND TO DO SO, WE HOPE TO STAGE
WGE LIKE A CARNIVAL WITH
A VARIETY OF EXCITING ACTIVITIES GOING ON SIMULTANE-
OUSLY SO THAT ALL OF OUR VISITORS CAN SEE GOLF IN ITS BEST LIGHT AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO ENTER-
TAIN VISITORS TO THE WONDERS OF OUR HUGE ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX.
– TENNIEL CHU, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSION HILLS GROUP
Besides it’s ten golf courses, a world class spa, the Mission Hills complex in Haikou is home to Movietown, a sprawling Universal Studio-type theme park that offers a stunning look at the Chinese diaspora over various periods of time. There are also two world class museums dedicated to the NBA of America and FC Barcelona of Spain. The places to visit and the things to do are limitless. “We expect to be announcing special stay and play packages for golfers and we hope that these will encourage golfers to bring their families over for a great holiday,” said Chu. Special packages will be announced in early March together with a host of other WGE related activities. Visit the WGE website at
http://www.worldgolfexpo.com
SPECIAL FEATURE | WGE 2021
SPECIAL FEATURE | WGE 2021
MISSION HILLS COMPLEX IN HAIKOU IS HOME TO MOVIETOWN, A SPRAWLING UNIVERSAL STUDIO-TYPE THE
THEME PARK THAT OFFERS A STUNNING
CHINESE DIASPORA OVER VARIOUS PERIODS OF TIME. THERE ARE ALSO LOOK AT THE
TWO WORLD CLASS MUSEUMS DEDICATED TO
NBA OF AMERICA AND FC BARCELONA OF SPAIN. THE PLACES TO VISIT AND THE THINGS TO DO ARE LIMITLESS. THE
SPECIAL FEATURE | WGE 2021
HA I NA N I S L A ND
AT T R A CTIONS
SPECIAL FEATURE | WGE 2021
T
he National Golf Foundation (NGF) will be represented at WGE. The President of NGF, Joe Beditz will be a speaker at the conference. He is widely recognized as a leading expert on the business of golf, and under his leadership the NGF, founded in 1936, has become one of the foremost golf market research and consulting organizations in the world. He has served on the NGF’s board of directors alongside some of the most influential golf business leaders of our time, and has been included on Golf Inc.’s list of the most powerful people in golf since they introduced the list in 1999. The NGF is a community of individuals and golf businesses committed to being the most well-informed advocates for the growth of the
industry. For more than 80 years, the NGF has continually evolved to provide resources and guidance that has helped foster the growth and vitality of the golf business. With the world’s largest research team dedicated to golf, NGF provides members with the most accurate and objective insights on the game. We help golf businesses better understand their market and grow their businesses. The NGF is the only association for everyone in golf, and it advocates for growth by educating and connecting its members. The NGF is trusted by the most successful and significant organizations in golf, with a network of connections that extends across all verticals within the industry.
SPEAKERS
DAVID ABELES
PRESIDENT TAYLORMADE GOLF COMPANY | USA
DR. KEN CHU
CHAIRMAN MISSION HILLS GROUP | CHINA
JOE BEDITZ
PRESIDENT NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION (NGF) | USA
TENNIEL CHU
GROUP VICE CHAIRMAN MISSION HILLS GROUP | CHINA
TOM BROOKE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOLF CLUB MANAGERS ASSOCIATION | UK
BRIAN CURLEY
PRINCIPAL SCHMIDT-CURLEY DESIGN, INC. | USA
SPEAKERS
SHAWN HUMPHRIES
FOUNDER ELITE PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS | USA
ROSS MATHESON
CLUB MANAGER THE WIMBLEDON CLUB | UK
GREGG PATTERSON FOUNDER & PRESIDENT TRIBAL MAGIC | USA
KEITH PELLEY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER EUROPEAN TOUR | UK
MIKE SEBASTIAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ASIAN GOLF | SINGAPORE
T. K. PEN
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN CHINA LPGA | CHINA
ROBERT SERECI
GENERAL MANAGER/CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB | USA
TIMOTHY SCHMITT MANAGING EDITOR GOLFWEEK | USA
ANDREW WOOD
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR LEGENDARY MARKETING | USA
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@parahyangangolf
SPECIAL FEATURE
SMART APPS
SPECIAL FEATURE | SMART APPS
ONE OF THE BEST CUSTOM-BUILT SMART APPS FOR GOLF CLUBS SITS RIGHT HERE
ASIA. IT IS THE HIGHLY SOPHIS-
ON THE SHORES OF
TICATED AND HEAVILY ACCESSORISED
GOLF
CITIZEN, AN APP THAT
HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND STREAMLINED OVER THE YEARS TO ADDRESS VIRTUALLY ALL OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF A GOLF CLUB.
SPECIAL FEATURE | SMART APPS
2020 is now in the history books and it will go down as a year that all of us in the golf industry would like to erase from our memories. After the chaos and hardship that it brought on the back of the global pandemic, and with the new year upon the industry, it’s best that we look ahead and see how best we can set up 2021 on solid bedrock to weather the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead. If there was one thing that 2020 will be remembered for is that it caught the golf club industry napping. Napping in the sense that most of us had not built up an operation system centred around a digital platform – or in current speak, a SMART APP. Sure, we had websites and on-line applications but most were not mobile-based. The pandemic jolted businesses across the board and made them realise the need for an Internet-based technology that would allow them to continue business in keeping with a new set of safety protocols like facial masks, social distancing and contactless transactions. Suddenly, there was an explosion of Smart Apps that catered for everything from the purchase of cooked food delivery, getting a date to booking a cab ride and everything that lent itself to being traded via a Smart App on a mobile phone. While the business world was turned on its head by the pandemic, most golf clubs persisted to work with mundane work practices like e-mail, phones and even faxes. For those who were caught with their pants down, now is the time to giddy-up and get quickly harnessed to a Smart App – the FUTURE IS NOW, and the MOBILE SMART APP is the way to go!
O
ne of the best custom-built Smart Apps
plication that would address all of the revenue generating
for golf clubs sits right here on the shores
services of a golf club that would be very user friendly for
of Asia. It is the highly sophisticated and
both the golf club and its users - members and golf guests,”
heavily accessorised GOLF CITIZEN, an app
Buamaim explained.
that has been developed and streamlined
“We now have a hassle-free system that is structured
over the years to address virtually all operational aspects of
to provide golfers, both local and foreign to seamlessly book
a golf club.
a round of golf, a hotel room and a range of other services
Owned and operated by long-time golf entrepreneur
and pay for it all via the Golf Citizen App – what is especially
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, he and his team of technical
good about this Smart App is that it works non-stop 24/7
specialists have invested years in fine-tuning what is now
and is accessible by anyone from anywhere in the world via
a truly versatile Smart App, purpose-built for the golf club
App Store or Google Play – this is versatility at its best!” said
industry. “Foremost in our mission was to develop an ap-
Buamaim.
SPECIAL FEATURE | SMART APPS
The services provided by the Golf Citizen Smart App include the following: Simple online booking platform for golf rounds, caddy, cart and other services provided by the club. Online Tee-sheet support for clubs that do not have a Tee Time Management System. Supports payments via VISA, Mastercard and American Express for a total cashless experience. Supports multiple green fee rates for members, members’ guest, visiting golfers, VIP clients and any specific rate relevant to a particular club. Multiple ways of booking provided. Supports scoring digitally which does away with paper score cards. Golf Citizen also offers a FREE MOBILE WHITE LABEL App for golf clubs (It is a custom-made app that a club can mold to address all of its mobile needs.) One feature that will be of great interest and appeal to golf clubs is Golf Citizen’s Smart App for Event Management: It offers an online golf tournament registration and management platform which is perfect for golf clubs and event organisers. Easy tournament registration and payment options with support for public and private events. A dedicated mobile app in both iOS and Android to register or to follow the action of the event/tournament. Every event has a dedicated mini-website with option to upload event related content. Supports real-time scoring with individual, peer scoring and team play options. Various gameplay options available like Strokeplay, Stableford, Matchplay, Scramble, Greensomes, Foursomes and Custom options.
WE NOW HAVE A HASSLE-FREE SYSTEM THAT IS STRUCTURED TO PROVIDE GOLFERS, BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN TO SEAMLESSLY
BOOK A ROUND OF GOLF, A HOTEL ROOM AND A RANGE OF OTHER SERVICES AND PAY
GOLF CITIZEN APP – WHAT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS SMART APP IS THAT IT WORKS NON-STOP 24/7 AND FOR IT ALL VIA THE
IS ACCESSIBLE BY ANYONE FROM ANYWHERE
APP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAY – THIS IS VERSATILITY AT ITS BEST! IN THE WORLD VIA
– MOHAMED JUMA BUAMAIM
SPECIAL FEATURE | SMART APPS
And the newest feature is Golf Citizen’s Travel Section: It is a one-of-a-kind golf holiday and travel booking platform. Offers support for pre-defined stay and play golf packages. Custom travel booking options available where stay and play options can be chosen separately. Provides a flexible pricing system that support rate changes over special or peak holiday periods. Mobile App in iOS and Android that supports packages and custom golf travel booking. Complementing the extensive range of services are features that relate to: Food and beverage – the app allows for golfers to pre-order food from a pre-determined menu to be served before tee-off or while play is in progress. News bulletins – the app allows for club news and promotions to be pushed out to members and golfers on a timely basis which cuts down on costs for printed literature.
Merchandise promotions – this is excellent for the pro shop to promote special offers or to help advertise golf manufacturers’ good and services.
IN THIS DAY AND AGE, EVERYBODY WHO PLAYS GOLF POSSESSES A SMARTPHONE
Now, can any golf club turn around and say that they do not need the Golf Citizen Smart App? It’s just too good to walk away from and more importantly, it’s for FREE!
AND THAT’S ALL ONE NEEDS TO USE
GOLF CITIZEN.
In this day and age, everybody who plays golf possesses a smartphone and that’s all one needs to use Golf Citizen. Just imagine, golfers just have to download the app and forget all the hassles associated with the conventional way of booking a round of golf, keeping scores, ordering food and a whole bunch of other things that one used to do during the age of the now defunct snail mail age! It’s time to get up to speed and let the smartphone get everything done literally in a flash! There has never been a better time for your golf club
NOTE: It is important to understand that a SMART APP is not something that works on its own. All you have to do is re-assign one of your smart, tech-savvy employees and make him or her your Golf Citizen specialist. We will train this person and from that moment on, you will have a “live” Smart App that will keep your club humming along like never before! Engage with Golf Citizen and take your club into the New Age of Digital Ef¯ciency!
to engage with Golf Citizen and add it to your total service package. It is all about being in the swing with change and making the whole experience of playing golf a pleasurable one. It saves on manpower. It saves on cost! And it helps grow your bottom-line!
www.golfcitizen.com
SPECIAL FEATURE
TOPGOLF
SPECIAL FEATURE | TOPGOLF
It’s finally happened. The highly raved about Topgolf golfing experience will be coming to Southeast Asia and it will be rolling out in a big way. In a statement made in the U.S. last month, the Topgolf Entertainment Group announced that it has cut a deal with the Singapore-based franchise partner, TG SEA Development Pte. Ltd. The franchise plans to develop Topgolf venues in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.
SPECIAL FEATURE | TOPGOLF
“O
ne of our top priorities has been to expand our presence in Asia and we can’t wait to introduce Topgolf’s unique and technologydriven experience to more communities across the globe,” said Topgolf Vice President
of International Strategy and Franchise Management Steve Lane. “We’re very excited to be partnering with Topgolf and expanding this leading sports entertainment brand into Southeast Asia. We look forward to bringing a multitude of new venues to countries across this region that have not yet had a chance to experience anything like
WE LOOK FORWARD
TO BRINGING A MULTI-
Topgolf,” said TG SEA Managing Director Andrew Nathan. Topgolf has long been a leader in the sports and entertainment industry and is credited with growing the sport of golf by attracting
TUDE OF NEW VENUES TO
new fans through fun and meaningful experiences. Topgolf venues
COUNTRIES ACROSS THIS
outdoor hitting bays, craft food and beverage offerings stemming from
REGION THAT HAVE NOT YET
chef-inspired menus, and corporate and social event space.
HAD A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE GOLF.
TOP-
– ANDREW NATHAN
across the world offer a variety of entertainment options, featuring
In a nutshell, Topgolf normally involves a three-story-tall driving range with bar and kitchen. The range is populated by several dozen bays, which you and your group can rent by the hour. Each bay is essentially a private driving range tee with a waitstaff. Six can play at a time, all ages. It feels like going to a golf version of a bowling alley.
TOGETHER, CALLAWAY AND
TOPGOLF CREATE AN
UNRIVALLED GOLF AND ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS
….. THIS COMBINATION
UNITES PROVEN LEADERS WITH A SHARED PASSION FOR DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL GOLF EXPERI-
– FROM ELITE TOURING PROFESENCES FOR ALL
SIONALS TO NEW AND ASPIRING ENTRANTS TO THE GAME.
– CHIP BREWER
SPECIAL FEATURE | TOPGOLF
ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES HAS BEEN TO EXPAND OUR PRESENCE IN ASIA AND WE CAN’T WAIT TO INTRODUCE TOPGOLF’S UNIQUE AND TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN EXPERIENCE TO MORE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. – STEVE LANE Many people’s first exposure to golf has been at a Topgolf venue in America, attracted by the nightclub-like atmosphere, food and drinks, high-tech games and non-competitive environment. Topgolf is experiencing exponential growth and just recently, Callaway Golf, one of the biggest and most well-respected golf equipment makers in the world announced that the two companies are merging. Commenting on the upcoming merger, Chip Brewer, president and CEO of Callaway said, “Together, Callaway and Topgolf create an unrivalled golf and entertainment business ….. this combination unites proven leaders with a shared passion for delivering exceptional golf experiences for all – from elite touring professionals to new and aspiring entrants to the game.” Brewer will run the combined company skin under the Callaway brand. Note: Topgolf was of±cially introduced to the Asian marketplace during the 2017 Asia Paci±c Golf Summit in Danang, Vietnam.
LEARN MORE
EQUIPMENT FOCUS
TAYLORMADE SIM2
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | TAYLORMADE SIM2
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | TAYLORMADE SIM2
The TaylorMade Golf Company has a DNA that is built around ground-breaking technologies and an incessant pace of innovation. The quest for something new and better is never-ending and it was just about a year ago, that the company rocked the golf world with its all-new SIM (Shape In Motion) range of drivers, fairway woods and hybrids. To say that the SIM range was successful would be an understatement – it powered Dustin Johnson to become the world number one, a validation that emphatically speaks for itself. A year later, TaylorMade is back on deck with a re-designed and re-imagined family of clubs – the SIM2.
L
ike everything that TaylorMade rolls out, the
The new SIM2 family is made up of the following:
2021 family of SIM2 drivers, fairway woods,
DRIVERS:
hybrids and irons is high on technology and
SIM2
performance. In this special review, ASIAN GOLF will deliver a highly comprehensible
interpretation of all the bells and whistles of the clubs from a layman’s perspective.
SIM2 Max
SIM2 Max•D
FAIRWAY WOODS: SIM2
SIM2 Max
SIM2 Max•D
HYBRIDS: SIM2 Rescue SIM2 Max Rescue
IRONS: SIM2 Max
SIM2 Max OS
While each product line is packed with technology, the
feature that unites the critical components of the driver
SIM2 drivers are perhaps the top draws. Picking up from
head into a singular force that transforms the driver to be
the original SIM design that was built around aerodynam-
forgiving, fast and powerful.
ics, TaylorMade has reinvented the way drivers are con-
Another feature of the SIM2 drivers is TaylorMade’s
structed with an increased focus on enhanced forgiveness
proprietary Twist Face® technology which helps to map the
while maintaining speed and optimal launch conditions.
most common impact locations among golfers of all skill
“By increasing forgiveness with the new SIM2 drivers,
levels. Employing a special milling process, it allows for an
we’ve truly engineered a driver that has no trade-offs. Golf-
intelligently engineered sweet spot that has an oval shape
ers can step to the tee box and have the freedom to swing
and stretches diagonally from the high toe toward the low
with confidence every time that they have a driver that
heel. This results in a sweet spot that’s designed to capture
checks all the boxes – forgiveness, speed and distance with
more shots where golfers are more likely to hit it on the
beautifully crafted aesthetics,” said Tomo Bystedt, Senior
face - a larger face size enhances forgiveness.
Director, Product Creation, Metalwoods. It is interesting to note that in its search for a new level of forgiveness, TaylorMade engineers were forced to completely rethink how drivers are built from the ground up. Concentrating on the process and materials, they discovered a hidden key in the form of a new design called Forged Ring Construction – it utilises a lightweight and strong aluminium that’s precision milled and it is this
With this as background, here’s a closer examination of each driver, starting with the:
SIM2: Traditional driver designs come with a trade-off, but TaylorMade journeyed beyond tradition to obtain power, speed and forgiveness in a low spin driver. The reconstructed SIM2 delivers high MOI properties with a heavy 16g steel weight
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | TAYLORMADE SIM2
BY INCREASING
positioned on the Inertia Generator. The TPS Front Weight is strategically located behind the face to encourage optimal
FORGIVENESS WITH
launch with low spin characteristics, delivering complete performance that’s low on spin and high on forgiveness.
SIM2 MAX: With an intense focus on speed and forgiveness, the SIM2 Max delivers high MOI properties with a heavy 24g tungsten weight positioned on the Inertia Generator. The TPS Front Weight is strategically located on the sole of the club to encourage the optimal mid-to-high launch with mid-to-low spin properties,
THE NEW
SIM2 DRIVERS,
WE’VE TRULY ENGINEERED A
DRIVER THAT HAS NO TRADEOFFS.
GOLFERS CAN STEP TO
THE TEE BOX AND HAVE THE
delivering complete performance and max forgiveness.
FREEDOM TO SWING WITH
SIM2 MAX•D:
CONFIDENCE EVERY TIME
Traditional draw-bias drivers come with a trade-off, sacrificing
THAT THEY HAVE A DRIVER
forgiveness for a left-to-right ball flight. The all-new SIM2 Max•D features a repositioned Inertia Generator that’s closer to the heel, encouraging a heel CG that’s low and back for more forgiveness – designed to deliver a higher launch with the largest, most forgiving face in the SIM2 line-up. The result, a draw-biased driver without compromise. “These three drivers enable us to deliver vastly different performance for a variety of players – players who need les spin, those who need more spin, players who hit it straight and those who need a draw bias” said Bystedt. Hence all these varying needs are met by the three SIM2 drivers. “The unifying feature among all three is forgiveness – we’ve increased MOI throughout the entire SIM2 family,” he explained.
THAT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES
– FORGIVENESS, SPEED AND DISTANCE WITH BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED AESTHETICS.
– TOMO BYSTEDT
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | TAYLORMADE SIM2
There is no denying the fact that the SIM2 driv-
Sole Decals – Colour options include Red, Blue,
ers represent a paradigm shift in driver technology
Gold, Orange, Green, Silver, Black and Light Blue.
but the one main take-away is the extreme forgive-
Face Pin – Colour options include Red, Blue,
ness of the drivers. This is what makes it fun to use
Gold, Orange, Green, Silver, Black and Light Blue.
and when one is having fun, a round of golf is so much more enjoyable! Adding to the fun component is the special “personalised performance” of the SIM2 drivers. TaylorMade believes that personalization is a defining factor for the modern golfer. This being the case, the company is offering the all-new MySIM2 programme which offers golfers with a comprehensive online platform for designing drivers that fit their game and personal style. There are five different options for personalization which include: Aluminium Ring – Colour options include Red, Blue, Gold, Orange, Green, Silver, Black and Light Blue. Topline Paint Colour – Chalk or matte black. Crown Decals – Colour options include Red, Blue, Gold, Orange, Green, Silver, Black and Light Blue.
From drivers to the SIM2 fairway woods and hybrids. Central to the new fairway woods is the low centre of gravity which helps promote enhanced forgiveness and optimal launch conditions. Commenting on the SIM2 fairway woods, Bystedt said, “In the world of golf club engineering, we fight for millimeters because those small changes can lead to big results. With the SIM2 Titanium fairway, we repositioned CG a mere 12.1mm from the ground. This delivers a CG projection that’s absolute centre face along with increased MOI for me forgiveness – we’ve gone low across the entire line of 2021 fairways so golfers can go higher.” From fairways to the hybrid, a favourite of the current world number one Dustin Johnson. The hybrids include the SIM2 Rescue and SIM2 Max Rescue. Fueled by the Tour pedigree of its predecessor, the SIM2 Rescue was designed with insights from Johnson, Rory McIlroy and more.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | TAYLORMADE SIM2
WE SET OUT TO TAKE GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS
TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WE LEVERAGED A COMPLETELY NEW CONSTRUCTION
(CAP
BACK) TO ACHIEVE THE PERFORMANCE
THAT GOLFERS IN CATEGORY BOTH NEED AND WANT.
– MATT BOVEE
It features a new leading edge design, sole geometry and optimized CG placement and delivers the distance of a game improvement hybrid without sacrificing precision and control. It delivers a powerful ball flight and when paired with Twist Face, the corrective face curvature that’s designed to give everyone straighter shots on mis-hits, golfers can expect better distance and accuracy more often. And finally, there are the SIM2 irons – the SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max OS. Both feature TaylorMade’s revolutionary “Cap Back” design which provides a pathway to better forgiveness, distance and feel.
Beyond added distance and speed, Cap Back Design helped produce a higher MOI with increased clubhead stability at impact to discourage twisting, which allows the golfer to enjoy solid strikes more often. When paired with the ECHO® Damping System, the multifaceted design helps to minimize unwanted vibrations that create the harsh feel associated with traditional distance irons. Commenting on the new irons, Matt Bovee, Product Creation, Irons said, “We set out to take game improvement irons to the next level, we leveraged a completely new construction (Cap Back) to achieve the performance that golfers in category both need and want.” The complete range of SIM2 products will be available in Asia in February. The MY SIM2 will only be available in the United States of America
TWO PATHS TO THE HOLE. FEEL THE DIFFERENCE. Two putter families strikingly different in look and feel, yet equally amazing at getting the ball in the hole. Get your hands on them today; start making putts tomorrow.
INVISIBLE TECHNOLOGY Simple to use and concealed under the grip, the putters adjust 32” to 36” to fit your stroke and posture.
©2020 PING | P.O. BOX 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071
SM AR T DIS ER TA N CE. NEW
OUR LONGEST IRON. SO FAR.
SLEEK LOOK EXCEPTIONAL FORGIVENESS AND HIGHER LAUNCH Highly flexible, maraging steel face with metal-wood style design elevates ball speed and max height for more distance and stopping power.
Stealth, hydropearl chrome finish improves performance from rough and wet conditions.
A SMARTER WAY TO PLAY YOUR BEST. 90-DAY FREE TRIAL The new G710 irons are custom built with Arccos Caddie Smart Grips. You’re entitled to 8 additional sensors at no cost* and a free trial to the award-winning Arccos Caddie platform.** *with purchase of 6 or more G710 irons. ** $99.99 annual subscription after 90-day trial ©2020 PING P.O. BOX 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071
EQUIPMENT FOCUS PXG 2021 0211
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | PXG 2021 0211
Golf’s Johnny Come Lately continues to come on strong. Serial American entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons, took a bold decision in 2014 to enter the crowded golf club marketplace with a vision and a mission to build the best golf clubs. To this end, the billionaire founded the revolutionary PXG brand Parsons Xtreme Golf. ASIAN GOLF has kept track of the brand’s growth since its inception and in a relatively short time, it has leveraged breakthrough technology and sophisticated manufacturing processes that integrate high-performance alloys to produce some of the finest golf clubs in the world.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | PXG 2021 0211
I
PXG 0211 FAIRWAY
PXG 0211 HYBRID
n its seventh year of business, Parsons is leading an invasion of some 50 countries worldwide to unravel the all-new PXG 0211 collection of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons that deliver red hot performance. The larger-than-life Parsons is bullish about his new clubs and de-
clared, “It has always been PXG’s mission to develop the world’s finest golf
equipment, and the PXG 2021 0211 Collection is no exception.” He went on to add, “0211s are an easy choice for players who simply want a sexy set of clubs that deliver unbelievable performance at a price you wouldn’t expect – certainly not from us.” Since entering the global marketplace, PXG has long believed that golfers at every level and every budget deserve to play with the world’s finest clubs. This belief, coupled with recent learnings, strengthened the company’s resolve to find a new way to deliver obscenely good performance at an unexpected new price. In this regard, the all-new 0211 Collection packs crazy distance, unbelievable forgiveness, huge sweet spots, an extremely soft feel, and smoking hot looks. An incredible line-up of innovative new irons, hybrids, fairways, and drivers that deliver game-changing performance at a killer price. ASIAN GOLF is proud to provide a close-up look at each product starting with the PXG 0211 driver. It features a Ti811 body and a Ti412 face material, and a strikingly versatile head design that promotes confidence off the tee. The new face material generates increased face deflection, more spring, and faster ball speeds. With a single weight port on the sole, the driver’s weight back design creates a deep CG position, producing higher launch conditions and an exceptionally high MOI. Next on deck are the 0211 fairway woods. The newcomers feature a larger profile at address and a new rounded face design. The rounded face design provides significant relief on the heel and toe sides to create more consistent contact for players who struggle to deliver the face square at impact.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | PXG 2021 0211
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PXG’S MISSION TO DEVELOP THE WORLD’S FINEST GOLF EQUIPMENT, AND THE PXG 2021 0211 COLLECTION IS NO EXCEPTION. 0211S ARE AN EASY CHOICE FOR PLAYERS WHO SIMPLY WANT A SEXY SET OF CLUBS THAT DELIVER UNBELIEVABLE PERFORMANCE AT A PRICE YOU WOULDN’T EXPECT
– CERTAINLY NOT FROM US. – BOB PARSONS
Complementing the fairway woods are the 0211 hybrids. These clubs combine a confidence-inspiring head profile at address with a squared face design for exceptional ball speed and accuracy even on off-centre hits. Finally, there are the PXG 0211 Irons which feature a progressive set design dialed-in for distance and precision. Progressive offset makes it easy to square up the iron’s face, and a progressive bounce helps the clubhead glide through the turf. An angled top rail positions the CG closer to the clubface’s centre, producing a high MOI, more forgiveness, and excellent consistency. So, if you would like to treat yourself to some of the best golf clubs in the world, now is the time to act. Get fitted and charge out to play some truly great golf with PXG!
EQUIPMENT FOCUS WHOOP
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | WHOOP
Have you heard of WHOOP? If you haven’t, no ned to fret because we’ve just heard about it and we’ll try to bring you up to speed on this exciting wearable gizmo. It came to the attention of ASIAN GOLF when the PGA TOUR entered into a multiyear partnership with the human performance company WHOOP. It is now the official fitness wearable of the PGA TOUR.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | WHOOP
SPECIFICALLY TO HELP
S
YOU IMPROVE YOUR
to push yourself through a tough workout and when to take a rest day and
o, what’s the lowdown on WHOOP? It is a wearable fitness
THE PRODUCT IS DESIGNED
EXERCISE PERFORMANCE, RECOVER BETTER, GET
MORE SLEEP AND FEEL EMPOWERED ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS HABITS.
tracker that you pay a fee monthly to use rather than buying it outright. While there are quite a few fitness trackers on the market, the WHOOP tracker is different in that it provides more in-depth health metrics such as heart rate variability
(HRV), a feature that few other wearables can do at the moment. It uses your HRV, average resting heart rate and sleep patterns to tell you when recover. That’s pretty cool especially if you are serious about your state of fitness. According to WHOOP, the product is designed specifically to help you improve your exercise performance, recover better, get more sleep and feel empowered about your health and fitness habits. The WHOOP wearable does not have a display because it’s not designed to be used as a regular watch or as an extension of your phone by giving you notifications. Its design is sleek with an expandable water resistant elastic band that you can wear while swimming or showering and it dries quickly.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | WHOOP
I’VE BEEN A WHOOP MEMBER
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND HAVING THE ABILITY TO MONITOR MY RECOVERY
ON A DAILY BASIS IS HELPFUL FOR MY OVERALL PERFORMANCE.
WHOOP HAS BEEN EVERYWHERE ON TOUR IN 2020 AND THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP WILL UNLOCK THE FUTURE OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND PROFESSIONAL GOLF.
– RORY MCILROY
The WHOOP app is split into three key areas: sleep, recovery and strain – for a detailed account on how WHOOP works in these three areas, click on this link: https://www.whoop.com/experience Commenting on the partnership with WHOOP, the PGA TOUR’s Brian Oliver said, “Our athletes understand the importance of maintaining their health to ensure peak competitive performance, career longevity and overall well-being. The WHOOP Strap will help our athletes unlock actionable insights via physiological data to help them understand and prepare their bodies for competition. We’re eager to begin a first-of-its-kind activation at the TOUR that will incorporate player biometric data with defining moments from the golf course to create fascinating content for fans.” “I’ve been a WHOOP member for a number of years and having the ability to monitor my recovery on a daily basis is helpful for my overall performance. WHOOP has been everywhere on TOUR in 2020 and this new partnership will unlock the future of athletic performance and professional golf,” said Rory McIlroy. He concluded, “And now fans will have access to player data that will change the way they experience and engage with the game.”
support@golfcitizen.com
EQUIPMENT FOCUS
CALLAWAY APEX 21P
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | CALLAWAY APEX 21
Just as we were getting around to understanding golf acronyms like MOI and COR, out comes a whole new repertoire of high-tech jargon like A.I. and other similar new-fangled terms that are only familiar and understood by white-cloaked gentlemen who work in futuristic technological laboratories. All said and done, new products that go through the hands of these visionary men are superior by far to any earlier products. This applies to golf clubs which come packed with new features that produce superior performance over earlier models. One such product of this never-ending quest for better products is Callaway Golf’s Apex 21 irons and hybrids. Launched last month and it has already received very favourable reaction from golfers right across the board.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | CALLAWAY APEX 21
T
he new clubs are the result of artificial intelligence (A.I.) designed ball speed technologies which Callaway has invested in heavily.
NOW WE’VE IMPLEMENTED
A.I.-DESIGNED BALL SPEEDS, ENHANCED
LAUNCH CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELIABLE FORGIVENESS TO ADVANCE THIS ICONIC NAME.
THERE’S
NOTHING LIKE OUR BEST, AND THAT’S
APEX.
“Apex is synonymous with legendary performance
and we’ve created a truly special offering with our new
2021 line-up,” said Callaway’s Dr. Alan Hocknell, the man who heads up the brand’s research and development team. “Now we’ve implemented A.I.-designed ball speeds, enhanced launch characteristics, and reliable forgiveness to advance this iconic name. There’s nothing like our best, and that’s Apex.” In the line-up are three iron models - Apex 21, Apex Pro 21, and Apex DCB irons. The model that would be of interest to most club players would be the Apex DCB which is a game-improvement iron. This easy-to-handle iron combines the look, feel and performance of a forged player’s club with the forgiveness of a deep cavity back. The deep cavity back design and enhanced sole width promote easy launch and solid turf interaction out of a variety of lies. The irons are engineered with an A.I.g p up p to 50 grams g g designed Flash Face Cup, of tungsten per iron for off-centr hits, and outstanding launch and forgiveness on off-centre forged feel. Just the set of irons if you are on the look-out to improve your game.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | CALLAWAY APEX 21
Similarly, in the players category, the new Apex Pro 21 Irons promotes tour distance and performance for scratch or singledigit handicap golfers. There are up to 90 grams of tungsten in the longer irons, the most ever for any Apex model, to improve launch characteristics while simultaneously improving forgiveness. A quick peek at the Apex 21 Hybrids reveals that this club is suited to help a wide range of players. Featuring Callaway’s revolutionary new Jailbreak A.I. Velocity Blades designed to increase vertical stiffness near the sole of the club, the Apex 21 hybrids promote more speed low on the face where players often mishit their hybrids. The proven ball speed technology puts an even greater emphasis on centre and off-centre ball speeds. To create high launch and forgiveness. Callaway has implemented a massive amount of tungsten, and the adjustable hosel helps to optimize loft, trajectory and control. The Apex 21 clubs are quite a change from the Apex clubs of 2019 – it takes quality and performance to a whole new level and it would be well worth checking out!
A QUICK PEEK AT THE APEX 21 HYBRIDS REVEALS THAT THIS CLUB IS SUITED TO HELP A WIDE RANGE OF PLAYERS.
FEATURING CAL-
LAWAY’S REVOLUTIONARY NEW JAILBREAK A.I. VELOCITY BLADES DESIGNED TO INCREASE VERTICAL STIFFNESS NEAR THE
SOLE OF THE CLUB, THE APEX 21 HYBRIDS PROMOTE MORE SPEED LOW ON THE FACE WHERE PLAYERS OFTEN MISHIT THEIR HYBRIDS.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS
TITLEIST PRO VS
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | TITLEIST PRO VS
It is a widely acknowledged fact that the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x franchise rank amongst the best designed and engineered golf balls in the industry. This has always been validated by the number of wins on the PGA TOUR – the last full season was the 2018/19 and during that period the Pro Vs hauled 18 wins to rank right at the top of the table. With the 2021 season already on its way, it looks like the Pro Vs are getting set to aim for the number one spot again.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | TITLEIST PRO VS
WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE NEW PACKAGES FOR ALMOST A DECADE
– BUT IT IS THAT
COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH THAT ENSURES EACH GOLF BALL IS OPTIMIZED TO FLY AT ITS LONGEST AND MOST EFFICIENT TRAJECTORY.
T
he latest iteration of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x continues the renowned legacy of the winningest golf ball for longer distance, outstanding greenside spin and control and softer feel. But the 2021 models have a new and exciting dimension about them. It has to do with aerodynamic
breakthroughs! It has been a decade since the dimple designs of the Pro Vs have been subjected to a major change. The dimple patterns have been in use since 2011 and the new dimple designs are the result of Titleist’s unparalleled commitment to understanding and improving the flight of the golf ball. Since the original Pro V1 debuted 20 years ago, Titleist R&D has designed, manufactured and tested more than 1,900 aerodynamic patterns. That includes more than 60 different iterations of the 2021 Pro V1’x 388 dimple layout, and more than 30 versions of Pro V1x’s 348 dimple design. “When we find a pattern we like, the next step is making sure we find the best possible version of that pattern by building and testing different variations of dimple depths, diameters, shapes and surface coverages,” said Mike Madson, Titleist R&D’s Director of Aerodynamics and Research Engineering. “It takes years of work – we’ve been working
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | TITLEIST PRO VS
on these new packages for almost a decade – but it is that
Commenting on the new golf balls, Jeremy Stone, Vice
commitment to research that ensures each golf ball is opti-
President, Titleist Golf Ball Marketing said, “When a golfer
mized to fly at its longest and most efficient trajectory.”
chooses Pro V1 or Pro V1x, they are choosing absolute per-
As expected, both the new 2021 models deliver longer
formance …. when it comes to the performance and quality
distance, increased Drop-and-Stop™ greenside control,
of these products, we will continue to go to every length pos-
softer feel and long-lasting durability – while maintaining
sible to help golfers play their best and shoot their lowest
their differences in flight, feel and spin.
scores.” The 2021 Pro Vs are currently available throughout Asia.
support@golfcitizen.com
EQUIPMENT FOCUS
COBRA RADSPEED
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | COBRA RADSPEED
What you are about to read deals with speed – blinding speed! Cobra Golf, a stable mate of PUMA, the brand that powers the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, has hit the ground with a brand-new driver that generates tremendous speed. Appropriately named as RADSPEED, the driver is a perfect match for the Jamaican speed merchant who has run the century sprint at a blistering pace of 9.58 seconds on a Tartan track.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | COBRA RADSPEED
COBRA’S ENGINEERS DISCOVERED THAT BY INCREASING THE RADIUS OF GYRATION AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK WEIGHTS, THEY COULD CREATE THE PERFECT BLEND OF FAST BALL SPEED, LOW SPIN, AND FORGIVENESS IN ONE DRIVER.
T
his new driver, available on the market
and the distance between the front and back weights,
this month is revolutionary. If you are a
they could create the perfect blend of fast ball speed,
golf techie, this thunder stick will have
low spin, and forgiveness in one driver. Utilizing Radial
you itching to take it down to your golf
Weighting, the weight is strategically positioned in
club and to scorch the fairways with
each of the three new driver models, creating three
some booming whacks!
distinct performances.
Cobra has released three RADSPEED drivers
“Our new RADSPEED drivers represent a true
and all feature the breakthrough “Radial Weight-
breakthrough in performance,” said Tom Olsavsky,
ing Technology” It is this innovation that delivers an
Vice President of R&D, COBRA Golf. “Our engineers
unprecedented combination of speed and forgiveness
have outdone themselves by pushing the Radius of
for golfers of all skill levels.
Gyration to new levels and delivering three distinct
Central to the new RADSPEED driver is an engi-
drivers aimed at three different types of golfers. With
neering concept called “Radius of Gyration” which is
the RADSPEED driver family, COBRA can truly offer
the distance from the club’s centre of gravity to each
optimized performance for everyone from Tour players
weight or technology location. COBRA’s engineers
to weekend warriors and those who need help correct-
discovered that by increasing the Radius of Gyration
ing a slice,” Olsavsky declared.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS | COBRA RADSPEED
Now, let us do a deep dive on the three drivers.
✔ The RADSPEED for faster swingers who want distance through faster ball speeds, low spin and trajectory control. ✔ The RADSPEED XB for players who want distance through faster ball speeds and consistency across the face in the form forgiveness and stability. ✔ The RADSPEED XD for those who want distance while reducing their slice or creating a draw.
Complimenting the innovative line of RADSPEED drivers are a full line up of RADSPEED fairway metals which feature COBRA’s signature Baffler Hollow Split Rails, that increase flexion on the leading edge by 70% to increase speed while still providing excellent turf interaction. In the same family are the RADSPEED Hybrids with the emphasis on extreme front weighting for ultra-low spin, faster ball speed, and increased distance. The Baffler sole rails are a signature feature of COBRA’s hybrids, and allow the club to glide effortlessly out of the fairway, tight lies, thick rough and even bunkers. The entire RADSPEED metalwood family is equipped with COBRA CONNECT™ Powered by Arccos, the award-winning smart golf system that helps players of all skill levels make smarter, data-driven decisions. Electronically enabled sensors are embedded into the grip, automatically recording the distance and accuracy of every shot so golfers can track performance round-to-round and use analysis to improve practice sessions.
OUR NEW RADSPEED DRIVERSS REPRESENT A TRUE BREAKTHROUGH IN PERFORMANCE. OUR ENGINEERS HAVE OUTDONE E THEMSELVES BY PUSHING THE RADIUS OF GYRATION ATION TO NEW LEVELS AND DELIVERING THREE DISTINCT NCT DRIVERS AIMED AT THREE DIFFERENT TYPES S OF GOLFERS. WITH THE RADSPEED DRIVER FAMILY, COBRA CAN TRULY OFFER ER OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE FOR EVERYONE FROM TOUR PLAYERS TO WEEKEND WARRIORS AND THOSE WHO NEED HELP CORRECTING A SLICE. – TOM OLSAVSKY