Asian Golf Issue 260: July 2022 by Asia Pacific Golf Group

ISSUE

260

JULYy 2022

18 32 LOOKING FOR A NEW REVENUE STREAM? WHO DO YOU CALL?

What you are about to learn is an innovative package designed to help a golf club transform its heretofore under-utilised driving range to become a cash cow! It’s all about drawing in new target groups and showing them that golf can be a terriﬁc social activity – at least in the form that you are about to read. It combines golf in a simulated form, exciting challenges, loads of fun mixed in with food and drinks – the perfect formula to draw in the crowds and keep them there!

The 2022 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS 2022) makes a triumphant return and is heading to what is widely regarded as the most vibrant environment for golf – Vietnam. This Southeast Asian nation is witnessing unprecedented development and growth in golf and is without doubt the industry’s global showcase for new course development. The host city is the ancient city of Hoi An, a designated United Nations Heritage site, a short drive from the City of Danang. The venue for APGS 2022 will be the multi-billion-dollar Hoiana Integrated Resort and Casino, a plush and new venue that is opening up an era of hope and change for an ancient city. It is the perfect setting for APGS 2022 because it is a great working example of how the traditional and historic city of Hoi An is stepping out into the future with a vision for dynamic growth. Hoi An has inspired APGS 2022 to embrace this ethos and go with a bold theme for the Summit – Dynamic New Vistas!

LIV GOLF GOES NUCLEAR!

The kick-off tournament of the upstart LIV Golf was successfully concluded in London on June 11, and with this launch, the new global golf tour has gone into orbit! After having fought off bitter battles against the traditional golf establishment and a highly hostile Western media, the Saudi Arabian-backed, Greg Norman-led multi-billion-dollar venture has won the war to earn its rightful place on the global golf scene. ASIAN GOLF invites you to relive some of the highpoints of the historic launch of the inaugural tournament.

REGULARS

SHARED THOUGHTS | FROM PUBLISHER Well …… after all that muscle-popping, ﬁst-waving posturing and threats from the PGA Tour and its supportive woke media indulging in all forms of gutter language, it is now clearly established that LIV Golf is a force to be really reckoned with!

XREAD MORE

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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

James Cronk

Raquel Arcega

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 www.asiapaciﬁcgolfgroup.com Tel: +65 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

SHARED THOUGHTS | FROM THE PUBLISHER

Well …… after all that muscle-popping, ﬁst-waving posturing and threats from the PGA Tour and its supportive woke media indulging in all forms of gutter language, it is now clearly established that LIV Golf is a force to be really reckoned with!

SHARED THOUGHTS | FROM THE PUBLISHER

dmission of this came from the PGA

have been avoided only if the PGA Tour had acceded to

Tour’s Commissioner Jay Monahan who

numerous requests by Greg Norman to talk the matter over.

admitted: “As I told the players, let me

Instead, according to Norman, all overtures to establish a

be clear, I am not naive. If this is an arms

dialogue were snubbed by the PGA Tour.

race, and if the only weapons here are dollar bills, the PGA Tour can’t compete

LIV Golf, based on what Norman has been saying, never intended to challenge the PGA Tour. All it wanted was to

with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars

work with the PGA Tour to allow its players to participate

trying to buy the game of golf.”

in LIV Golf’s tournaments without having to contend with

Whichever way you look at it, many battles have been

suspensions, ﬁnes and life-time bans. Instead, the PGA Tour

fought over the past couple of months over the legitimacy

opted to take the drastic route and slap suspensions and

and acceptance of LIV Golf, but the war has been won by

bans on its members who went against its rulings.

Greg Norman, the man leading the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf. It is a pity that it has come to this stage – all this could

Well, as admitted by Monahan, he can’t compete against Norman’s LIV Golf. As far as Norman is concerned, the LIV Golf juggernaut will grow from strength to strength

are of the opinion that LIV Golf will gain accreditation which may call for a change to its current format to meet OWGR’s requirements. Among the members of the OWGR are: Abema TV Tour, All Thailand Golf Tour, Alps Tour Golf, Asian Development Tour, Asian Tour, Big Easy Tour, China Tour, EuroPro Tour, European Challenge Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, KPGA Korean Tour, MENA Golf Tour, Nordic Golf League, PGA European Tour, PGA Tour, PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour China Series, PGA Tour Latinoamérica, PGA Tour of Australasia, ProGolf Tour, Professional Golf Tour of India and Sunshine Tour.

GREG NORMAN

and has dispelled any talk of LIV Golf going anywhere but up! Meanwhile, the next battle facing LIV Golf is its ﬁght to obtain full recognition from the Ofﬁcial World Golf Ranking organisation (OWGR). Norman has already submitted LIV Golf’s application for it to become a member, but the process is going to be fraught with all sorts of obstacles which LIV Golf will have to beat down. Complicating matters is the fact that sitting on the board of OWGR is golf’s establishment which includes Monahan, his alliance partner, Keith Pelley, CEO of the DP World Tour and other bureaucrats who many believe will be supportive of blocking LIV Golf’s admission. By the same token, certain quarters

As I told the players, let me be clear, I am not naive. If this is an arms race, and if the only weapons here are dollar bills, the PGA Tour can’t compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars trying to buy the game of golf. – JAY MONAHAN

SHARED THOUGHTS | FROM THE PUBLISHER

Based on the aforementioned list, the following are directly or indirectly related to LIV Golf – Asian Tour, Asian Development Tour and the MENA Tour through its alliance with the Asian Development Tour. While Norman continues to battle against the establishment, the CEO and Commissioner of the Asian Tour, a partner of LIV Golf has taken a bold whack at the big professional Tours. Cho Minn Thant, a man not known for being loud and asserCHO MINN THANT

tive has come out with a stern warning of his own to the big tours by warning the PGA Tour and DP World

This is the ﬁrst time that the Asian Tour has taken a stand against the two dominant tours in professional golf. It is good to see that the Asian Tour, under Cho’s leadership is showing courage to stand up for what is right for the professional game of golf and its members.

Tour “not to challenge the LIV Golf series or things will get ‘messy’. This is the ﬁrst time that the Asian Tour has taken a stand against the two dominant tours in professional golf. It is good to see that the Asian Tour, under Cho’s leadership is showing courage to stand up for what is right for the professional game of golf and its members. In the meantime, battles will be fought but it seems obvious that the main war has been won and that’s what matters!

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COVER STORY

APGS 2022

COVER STORY | APGS 2022

APGS 2022 makes a triumphant return and is heading to what is widely regarded as the most vibrant environment for golf – Vietnam. This Southeast Asian nation is witnessing unprecedented development and growth in golf and is without doubt the industry’s global showcase for new course development. The host city is the ancient city of Hoi An, a designated United Nations Heritage site, a short drive from the City of Danang.

COVER STORY | APGS 2022

The last two to three years have been traumatic years for every sector of economic activity, including the golf industry. The one area in golf that took a broadside hit was the club industry which was subjected to shutdowns that in turn impacted bottomlines badly. It was tough for all – big and small – every club had to live with nationally instituted curbs to control the spread

of the dreaded Corona virus and its various variants. For many clubs, staff had to be furloughed or completely laid off and belttightening was the ﬂavour of the month. Fortunately, most of the trials and tribulations of the global pandemic is now water under the bridge, hopefully! During this period of uncertainty, Asia’s most established international conference on the business

The venue for APGS 2022 will be the multi-billion-dollar Hoiana Integrated Resort and Casino, a plush and new venue that is opening up an era of hope and change for an ancient city. It is the perfect setting for APGS 2022 because it is a great working example of how the traditional and historic city of Hoi An is stepping out into the future with a vision for dynamic growth. Hoi An has inspired APGS 2022 to embrace this ethos and go with a bold theme for the Summit – Dynamic New Vistas! of golf took a gut punch which ﬂoored the event, but thankfully, it was not a life-ending knock-out blow. The pandemic sent the Asia Paciﬁc Golf Summit (APGS) into forced hibernation for two years resulting in 2020 and 2021 being no-shows. APGS 2022 is now back! The industry will witness the 14th staging of APGS and the lay-off has resulted in it returning fully invigorated and with a totally new outlook towards the future!

COVER STORY | APGS 2022

PGS 2022 makes a triumphant

dynamic growth. Hoi An has inspired APGS 2022 to embrace

return and is heading to what is

this ethos and go with a bold theme for the Summit – Dy-

widely regarded as the most vibrant

namic New Vistas!

environment for golf – Vietnam. This

After the ravages caused by the global pandemic, it is

Southeast Asian nation is witness-

also natural that the golf industry should make a strong

ing unprecedented development and

bounce back. It is this push to get back on track that will be

growth in golf and is without doubt the

driving APGS 2022. This year’s Summit will not be looking

industry’s global showcase for new course development. The

at restoring normalcy which seems to be the buzz word in

host city is the ancient city of Hoi An, a designated United

virtually all business sectors. Instead, APGS 2022 will buck

Nations Heritage site, a short drive from the City of Danang.

this general trend and will advocate a new thinking that will

The venue for APGS 2022 will be the multi-billion-dollar Hoiana Integrated Resort and Casino, a plush and new venue

seek new ways to grow business in the post pandemic era. The changes that have taken place across the board in

that is opening up an era of hope and change for an ancient

most industries have been game-changing to say the very

city. It is the perfect setting for APGS 2022 because it is a

least. The extended lockdown and people forced to work

great working example of how the traditional and historic

from home has brought about a sea-change in how the

city of Hoi An is stepping out into the future with a vision for

workforce reacts. In many cases, business organisations

While there are many challenges ahead, as an industry, there is a need for all of us to show strength, resolve and vision to face the challenges boldly and to work in cohesion to further build our multi-billion dollar golf industry in Asia and take it to new and greater heights. – MIKE SEBASTIAN

are ﬁnding it

Some of

very difﬁcult to get

the golf course

their workforce back

general managers

with many deciding to opt

that ASIAN GOLF spoke

for change. Various recruitment agencies and head-hunters report that a good percentage of workers are opting for gig assign-

with concurred and lamented over the fact that they are ﬁnding it difﬁcult to get back their staff. “This creates a lot of challenges especially

ments like logistics, food delivery, free-lance cab drivers

with our food and beverage business and our agronomy

etc. One recruitment company that ASIAN GOLF spoke to

and maintenance operations,” said one general manager.

said: “A lot of young people seem to want to set up their own

What golf clubs are experiencing is no different to what a lot

businesses – they see exciting opportunities in e-commerce

of other service sectors are encountering – these include

which offers them a good source of income while allowing

hotels, airlines, restaurants and establishments which rely

them to be free and independent.”

heavily on manpower.

COVER STORY | APGS 2022

The problems and challenges are known, and most will

all these is the advent of autonomous vehicles for use

not be going away any time soon. So, what is the golf club

on golf courses. These are what form new vistas for golf

industry to do? It cannot just shrug its shoulders and go with

courses in the region. Many clubs already have access to

the ﬂow. No way! This is why APGS 2022 will be exploring

these technologies but because of poor or lack of training on

new vistas to get the industry all cranked up and ﬁring on all

how to use the systems, they fall back to the old and costly

cylinders to seek out change and embrace new opportunities

labour-intensive way of getting the job done.

to get ahead of the challenges. To start with, APGS 2022 will place great emphasis on

The onus does not lie just with golf course owners and operators. The brunt of the responsibility lies with

the adoption and utilisation of digital technologies which

suppliers of these new-fangled technologies. These sup-

have been around for some time but unfortunately, accep-

pliers need to act more responsibly and they need to step

tance and adoption by the industry has not been widespread

up to the plate and take ownership of the need to help golf

and slow. For example, take Smartphone based Apps to

courses train their staff to get up to speed on how to use

streamline real-time, on-line tee-time reservations; dis-

new technologies.

semination of news to club members and guests; catering of

Setting aside new technologies, there is an urgent need

food and beverage services; managing of events and a host

for golf clubs to look at ways of growing and sustaining their

of other operations which apps can handle in a super-efﬁ-

business. Never has there been a time like now, where the

cient, easy to manage manner which are not dependent on a

club industry has to attract and appeal to a broad based

big team of manpower. It is also highly cost-efﬁcient.

and diverse audience of prospects. Unlike the 1950s and

Other Smartphone based digital technologies are ready

1960s where there was only one target group made up of

to move in the area of agronomy and maintenance. There

the post-war generation. Today, there are many generations

are systems in place which will help drastically reduce the

to appeal to - Baby Boom Generation: Born 1946 – 1964,

cost of utilities like electricity, water and fuel for the daily

Generation X: Born 1965 – 1980, Millennial Generation: Born

maintenance of a golf course; controlled and effective use

1981 – 1996, Generation Z or iGen: Born 1997 – present. And

of fertilisers and pesticides; reduction in manpower and

the Alpha Generation, the ﬁrst generation to be born in the

systems designed to deliver more for less. Combined with

21st Century. The club industry needs to be aware of this

multigenerational base of potential consumers and prepare to address their needs. Unlike the Baby Boomers, the younger generations have different needs and golf must be managed to reach them with new, exciting and creative formats of the game of golf. This is yet another case of new vistas starring the golf club industry in its face. With the need for new and innovative ways to draw new demographics to golf, APGS 2022 will be launching Inrange Golf at the Summit. This new business is designed to work with golf clubs and riving ranges to open up

COVER STORY | APGS 2022

golf to new target groups and to add new revenue streams (read

tres in size, and we have various different types of new hybrids

The farm is 160,000 square metres in size, and we have various different types of new hybrids growing and all of these species are fully certiﬁed – in fact, Sustainable Turf Farm is the only farm in the region with proper ITGAP certiﬁcation.

growing and all of these species are fully certiﬁed – in fact,

– BRAD BURGESS

the feature on Inrange Golf in this issue). As APGS 2022 works towards show-time, the full programme for the Summit will reveal how Asia should take a whole new perspective of growing the game of golf. “While there are many challenges ahead, as an industry, there is a need for all of us to show strength, resolve and vision to face the challenges boldly and to work in cohesion to further build our multibillion dollar golf industry in Asia and take it to new and greater heights,” said Mike Sebastian, Publisher of ASIAN GOLF and the owner and producer of APGS 2022. He went on to add, “One of the revolutionary aspects of APGS 2022 will be the staging of a one-day site visit to Southeast Asia’s biggest turf farm – Sustainable Turf Farm where golf course owners and operators will be given a chance to see various new turf hybrids.” Commenting on the farm visit, Brad Burgess, the Managing Director of the operation said, “The farm is 160,000 square me-

Sustainable Turf Farm is the only farm in the region with proper ITGAP certiﬁcation.” He went on to add, “For those exhibitors interested in displaying their machinery, we will be offering up to 1000 metres of display space in an outdoor setting – the ﬁrst time anything like this has ever been offered in the region.”

COVER STORY | APGS 2022

Besides the threeday proceedings of APGS

The APGS 2022 website will be ofﬁcially launched on July 15, 2022, and

2022, the culminating highlight will

on-line delegate registration will be open with effect from

be the staging of the 2021/2022 Asian Golf Awards. Now

this date at www.asiapaciﬁcgolfsummit.com

in its 22nd year, it will recognise the best amongst the best in more than 30 different award categories. “We were not able to conduct the Asian Golf Awards for the last two years, but rest assured that we will make up for lost time with a really triumphant come-back,” said Sebastian.

The show machinery is ready to go, and the door is open to a new world – new vistas, new aims, new tryings.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

INRANGE GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE | INRANGE GOLF

Sounds a little cliched but it’s not far from the truth. Got a haunting problem, call the ghost busters! But in this case, put out a call to a bunch of guys who can come in and help get the money machine working! This is especially pertinent now as the world gradually works its way out of the ravages caused by the global pandemic, and the golf club industry is no exception. With many golf clubs forced to close or reduce operations, this directly affected the takings at the till. Club management is now swinging back in earnest to get business right back on even keel. It’s not an easy proposition to bounce back to pre-pandemic days but try they must. Against this backdrop of turbo-charging an industry to get it humming again, resorting to the same old, same old is not going to sort the challenges out. A lot has changed, and this prompts us to ask golf club operators if they are on the lookout for a genie-in-the-bottle solution to crank out new revenue streams. Well, it so happens that ASIAN GOLF may just have that solution!

SPECIAL FEATURE | INRANGE GOLF

hile rounds may be picking up in many golf clubs, one wonders if the same is true of their driving ranges. Oftentimes, club-owned driving ranges have been viewed as a necessary evil where usage can best be described as quick

up and down spurts. In this world of high productivity and fast revenue, the predominantly slow pace of business activity in club-owned golf driving ranges is not what can be considered a sustainable business model. That said, what’s on the table to help golf clubs milk their driving ranges to deliver a free ﬂow of revenue? The key operative word is REVENUE and ASIAN GOLF has come across an exciting service to pump up the revenue streams for golf clubs and driving ranges in Asia and it looks like the perfect impetus to produce a sure-ﬁre win in terms of hitting the proverbial pot of gold! What you are about to learn is an innovative package designed to help a golf club transform its heretofore underutilised driving range to become a cash cow! It’s all about

drawing in new target groups and showing them that golf can be a terriﬁc social activity – at least in the form that you are about to read. It combines golf in a simulated form, exciting challenges, loads of fun mixed in with food and drinks – the perfect formula to draw in the crowds and keep them there! Inrange is virtual golf at its best! Just imagine meeting up at the range with friends after work to play a quick 9 holes or a full 18-holes without any reservations about weather and just have great fun. This is Inrange golf! Too good to be true? Nah! It is true and it is a godsend to all golf club owners, operators and driving ranges. For the ﬁrst time, driving ranges are going to become a major contributor of cash to the bottom-line and no one can walk away from this proposition. It is a revolutionary service, and it is ready to work with golf clubs in Asia to help them all realise a market segment that has been waiting to be tapped. A segment that wants to engage with golf and to do it in a manner that is both fun and affordable! It is said that there are more than 56,000 golf driving ranges and family fun centres in America and golf entertainment services have been growing exponentially since 2016. Leading the thrust in this rapidly growing marketplace are organisations like Topgolf, Drive Shack, Toptracer and others. Inrange Golf is also in this same space, but its differentiation is said to be in the real-time analytics that are crunched via advanced golf ball radar tracking technology from impact to landing point. Sensors, some overlapping, are strategically placed around ranges. Analytics can be viewed on smart phones or driving range entertainment screens.

SPECIAL FEATURE | INRANGE GOLF

Our commercial model is structured in a way that existing range operators are able to install Inrange® - and bring a whole new player experience to their customers - with no up-front capital outlay. The tracking and in-bay hardware, our software and full customer support, are all included as part of a revenue share on – NICK LONGLEY increased prices or a monthly fee. According to the co-founder of Inrange Golf Nick Longley, his product is all “about making golf more accessible to all, especially the younger demographics and families.” Inrange Golf offers two products: Inrange for the single player interested in practice and progression, and the immersive Inrange Plus, which is geared toward multiplayer engagement. Both can be accessed within a 22-inch screen in range bays or via the phone. The multi-player screens, housed in covered bays at a driving range feature targetbased and entertainment games — along with leaderboards, handicaps and post-session analysis. These are baked into the products, depending on which one is selected. ASIAN GOLF got together with Longley to discuss how his programme works. The following are excerpts from that discussion:

ASIAN GOLF: Inrange® – what is it that you bring to the table? NICK LONGLEY: We fundamentally believe that golf is for everyone. And so, everything we do is aimed at ensuring no matter who you are, or what your level of skill is, that you have a great experience. As the world’s most accurate and reliable ball tracking provider, we’ve developed both radar tracking hardware and engaging software that ensures that if you’re a golfer, looking to improve your game, or a group of friends looking for a social day or night together, we have something for you.

ASIAN GOLF: What do you offer a golf club operator?

LONGLEY:

our software and full customer support, are all included as

Our partner country clubs, such as Boca West Country Club

part of a revenue share on increased prices or a monthly

in Florida have never seen their range so busy. The reason

fee. We have also seen phenomenal growth this year in

being that their players have the added beneﬁt of Inrange®

customers who are looking for a partner in their new build

technology to help them work on their game - but also, the

entertainment range projects. They want to offer a full-scale

touchscreen multiplayer experience setup in their restaurant

experience to all types of players, without having to spend

area, has created an unbelievable social experience for

US$30 million or more to achieve that. By offering end-to-

members and their family and friends that visit them. The

end services (from bay layout, to booking engine integra-

digital range experience, coupled with an integrated food and

tion, branding and marketing design and preferred range

beverage service adds material additional revenue to country

equipment supply partnerships) uniquely positions us as a

clubs and resorts, and will no doubt lead to greater member

preferred partner for these customers.

retention and attract new members to join these clubs.

ASIAN GOLF: Its versatility taken to the extreme – Inrange® enables an operator to offer a unique playing experience from bay to bay. This is incredible. Talk about it?

ASIAN GOLF: The unique stand-out feature offered by Inrange® is a total virtual range experience – this makes the service highly affordable to an operator without having to incur huge investments for brick-andmortar facilities. Talk to this. LONGLEY:

LONGLEY: We identiﬁed very early on that there are a number of different customers that will visit the range, if the experience is right for them. So, we set out to develop software that would be as com-

Our commercial model is structured in a way that existing

pelling in one bay for a serious golfer, as the next bay where

range operators are able to install Inrange® - and bring a

someone might be on a date night, or across multiple bays all

whole new player experience to their customers - with no

booked for a corporate event. That means bays at our partner

up-front capital outlay. The tracking and in-bay hardware,

ranges are fuller, more often, which is exactly what they want.

SPECIAL FEATURE | INRANGE GOLF

ASIAN GOLF: It’s a whole new ball game where socialisation becomes central to the whole experience – this is truly an exciting development for both golfers and non-golfers. LONGLEY: At its core, golf is a social game. We may practice by ourselves (or with a friend) - but when we go out onto the course, we generally play with friends, family and colleagues. And the range is no different - it’s a community affair. It should be a place where golfers can discuss their session stats or see where they sit on the Inrange® challenge leaderboards over coffee or a beer afterwards, or a place where four friends meet up for an after-work beer and some laughs to forget about their long day. Our technology makes that happen for range visitors.

ASIAN GOLF: With socialisation comes a whole new revenue stream for operators – the introduction of F&B services. This must be a massive feature for operators to consider.

It should be a place where golfers can discuss their session stats or see where they sit on the Inrange® challenge leaderboards over coffee or a beer afterwards, or a place where four friends meet up for an after-work beer and some laughs to forget about their long day. Our technology makes that happen for range visitors.

SPECIAL FEATURE | INRANGE GOLF

WATCH VIDEO

LONGLEY: You’re exactly right! Our range partners have seen a major increase in their revenue because not only does the technology bring their current players back more often, it takes a hitting bay that normally holds one guest and turns that bay into a group multiplayer experience. These customers are far less price sensitive than your ordinary golfer, they stay longer, spend more and spread the word about their experience. The additional foot trafﬁc has led to some of our partners more than tripling their monthly revenue, of which a large proportion of this is generated by food and beverage sales.

ASIAN GOLF: Considering that the entire exercise is virtual, how quickly can a golf club or range operator ramp up to get going? LONGLEY: We pride ourselves on handling the install process as quickly, cleanly and professionally as possible with little to no downtime for the range operator. So, once a site is ready for us then within a few weeks a standard driving range can become an Experience Range with Inrange® - if we have the spot open in the install calendar that is. At the moment we are fortunate enough to have a waiting list for our installations.

ASIAN GOLF: What is the cost involved to install Inrange® – give us a sense of the investment required?

Our range partners have seen a major increase in their revenue because not only does the technology bring their current players back more often, it takes a hitting bay that normally holds one guest and turns that bay into a group multiplayer experience. These customers are far less price sensitive than your ordinary golfer, they stay longer, spend more and spread the word about their experience. The additional foot trafﬁc has led to some of our partners more than tripling their monthly revenue, of which a large proportion of this is generated by food and beverage sales.

SPECIAL FEATURE | INRANGE GOLF

We prefer to take the approach that we aren’t just a product, we’re a partner. You don’t really ‘buy’ Inrange®. We want to be as invested in your facility’s success as you are. So, for little to no upfront costs, you can become an Inrange® range. Which we ﬁnd keeps everyone focussed on the same thing - delivering the best possible visitor experience - that keeps them coming back again and again.

LONGLEY: As I mentioned before, the customer decides. We prefer to take the approach that we aren’t just a product, we’re a partner. You don’t really ‘buy’ Inrange®. We want to be as invested in your facility’s success as you are. So, for little to no upfront costs, you can become an Inrange® range. Which we ﬁnd keeps everyone focussed on the same thing - delivering the best possible visitor experience - that keeps them coming back again and again.

ASIAN GOLF: Inrange® is truly a godsend for the club and range industry – it most deﬁnitely opens up strong revenue streams and also helps to grow the game. Agree? LONGLEY: Totally agree. We need to both keep the players who already love the game and attract new players, who have never even picked up a club before, to the range. That

means offering a compelling data-driven practice experience for the golfer (of any skill level), and a low risk, non-threatening and enjoyable experience for those players who otherwise see golf as being ‘only for the elite’. Our research shows us that once a player starts their journey in golf, they are likely to come back - as long as we are engaging them where they are in that journey.

ASIAN GOLF: Can you offer a case study of a club that has beneﬁtted from installing Inrange®? Would like to show how Inrange has impacted the bottom-line? LONGLEY: Absolutely. We have countless customers who have provided us with case studies, and more in the works. They can’t wait to jump on camera and let the world know that getting Inrange® was the best decision they made for their business - and we love that. We have a case study video you can see here.

So, what are you waiting for? Get in line, bring Inrange Golf on board to your driving range and kill two birds with one stone – grow your revenue stream and help to grow the game of golf!

VISIT WWW.GOLFCITIZEN.COM OR DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP TO GET STARTED

www.golfcitizen.com

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

WILSON LAUNCH PAD

E Q U I P M E N T F O C U S | W I L S O N L A U N C H PA D

Wilson Staff claims that its line of irons has “more majors won than any other brand.” Players using Wilson Staff clubs have won a total of 62 majors. When a brand has been around for more than a hundred years, to be more precise, 108 years, it must be having some incredible chutzpah to make bold claims. Coupled with an envious record of having won more majors than any other brand – the hubris of the brand is not something that can be overlooked. Its on-going presence and relevance in the marketplace for more than a Century speaks a ton for its pedigree and its winning qualities. Continuing with its impressive track record, Wilson Golf has again rocked the golf world with a complete set of clubs which takes game improvement to a whole new level.

E Q U I P M E N T F O C U S | W I L S O N L A U N C H PA D

ts not just game improvement – it is SUPER GAME

of errant shots was remarkably low, and credit must go to

IMPROVEMENT and this is the mark of the Launch

the whip-cracking Launch Pads!” When asked if he would

Pad range from Wilson. The series, now in play

slip the irons into his bag, he replied, “You bet! I can already

throughout the world features irons, woods and

count the additional mugs of beer that I am going to win with

hybrids.

these clubs!”

Through the kind courtesy of Wilson Golf’s President Tim

Sadly, ASIAN GOLF had to take the clubs back because

Clarke, ASIAN GOLF received a specially assembled set of

the 20-handicapper was anxiously waiting for his turn. He

the Launch Pad irons straight from Wilson Labs in Chicago.

returned the clubs after ﬁve days and had a happy smirk

When the box containing the irons was opened, it

painted right across his face and his reaction to the Wilson

unravelled a feeling that these new irons represented

irons was: “The heads are so big, and the clubs are so easy

something very special. Visually, the gleaming polished

to hit. Now I fully understand what is meant when golfers

steel was very arresting to the eye and the “plump” club

refer to golf clubs as being friendly. These irons are not only

heads looked like chubby little babies just waiting to be

easy to hit and friendly, but they can also very easily become

hugged. This is no exaggeration because the very sight

a golfer’s best friend!” This golfer has since treated himself

of these clubs sends out a clear message that they are

to a new set of Launch Pads and we believe that he is enjoy-

incredibly friendly!

ing his newfound buddy!

ASIAN GOLF called upon the services of two testers –

Based on the reaction and experience of the two

one was a 13-handicapper and the other, a 20-handicap to

ASIAN GOLF testers, it is very apparent that Wilson Golf

take the newly arrived Launch Pads for a test run.

intended from the outset to have the irons’ cutting-edge,

The 13-handicapper who is out on the course at least

modern look match the game-changing technology that

three times a week returned after two days of testing and

helps high handicap golfers play better and enjoy the

his reaction – “Man! These Launch Pad irons know how to

game more.

tame and make golf balls behave! I felt like a lion tamer who had the golf balls eating right out of my hand – the number

“Wilson Golf prides itself on our ability to provide the right products for every level of player,” said Clarke. “From

Wilson Golf prides itself on our ability to provide the right products for every level of player. From Staff Model to D9 and now the newest Launch Pad range, our products are designed with best-in-class technology to help bring out the – TIM CLARKE , WILSON best in every individual’s game. GOLF’S PRESIDENT

The heads are so big, and the clubs are so easy to hit. Now I fully understand what is meant when golfers refer to golf clubs as being friendly. These irons are not only easy to hit and friendly, but they can also very easily become a golfer’s best friend! Staff Model to D9 and now the newest Launch Pad range, our products are designed with best-in-class technology to help bring out the best in every individual’s game.” With performance features designed to address the

Key Improvement # 1 The new Launch Pad irons feature an optimized wide sole that resists digging and prevents chunking for improved ball striking consistency.

game’s most common problems, the Launch Pad features a dramatic new look and performance to match. Wilson’s

Key Improvement # 2

advanced generative design process resulted in two key

The centre of gravity was lowered to create an iron that

improvements.

launches the ball higher.

Combined with these two advancements, a new paint process resists scuffing for a longer lasting finish. The Launch Pad is without doubt a confidence booster – a set of clubs that is designed to help the average golfer enjoy and play a better game of golf. What more can a golfer ask for!

LIV GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE | LIV GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE

GREG NORMAN (R) POSES WITH THE LIV INVITATIONAL TROPHY WINNER CHARL SCHWARTZEL AT CENTURION CLUB.

SPECIAL FEATURE | LIV GOLF

CHARL SCHWARTZEL (WITH TROPHY) CELEBRATES HIS VICTORY ON THE WINNER’S PODIUM, ALONGSIDE FELLOW COUNTRYMEN HENNIE DU PLESSIS (LEFT) AND BRANDEN GRACE (RIGHT).

CHARL SCHWARTZEL (L) WITH TEAMMATE LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN

N (R)

n one fell swoop, Norman, a global golf legend, has turned the staid professional game on its head. What unravelled at the inaugural tournament under the banner of The Invitational Series in London, LIV Golf slammed the industry with a power-packed disruptive blow that put on show a refreshingly different format of tournament

play, visually stunning blow-by-blow “live” video coverage across a number of easy to access platforms and prize money that finally rewards players for their effort. What was most gratifying to observe was that everyone was having fun – the players were enjoying themselves and so were the fans, both on site and watching worldwide on “live-stream” broadcasts. South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel etched his name in the annals of golf history as a golfer who bucked the tidal wave of golf establishment threats and media criticism to lift the trophy as the first winner of the historic International Series. The 2011 Masters champion went wire to wire to seal the deal in the 54-hole tournament, finishing with a winning score of 7-under par to claim the top prize of US$4 million.

What they’ve done was way beyond our expectations — the entertainment, the way they treat everybody, and you know the amount of money they put up for us, it’s out of this world. – CHARL SCHWARTZEL

SPECIAL FEATURE | LIV GOLF

While the golf establishment and its support media rage on with threats, vile and vicious name-calling, LIV Golf has taken the absolute high road and will coast to greater heights as it continues to disrupt professional golf on a global scale. After his win, Schwartzel said, “But I’m just proud and it’s a great feeling.” He went on to add, “What they’ve done was way beyond our expectations — the entertainment, the way they treat everybody, and you know the amount of money they put up for us, it’s out of this world.” The total prize money was US$25 million, making this the richest single tournament in global golf. In all fairness and looking at what LIV Golf has achieved from the staging of its inaugural tournament; Norman has come through with ﬂying colours! A good measure of the success would be the global media coverage that the tournament received. It simply drowned out anything else that was happening in the world of golf! While the golf establishment and its support media rage on with threats, vile and vicious name-calling, LIV Golf has taken the absolute high road and will coast to greater heights as it continues to disrupt professional golf on a global scale. NOTE: To mark the inaugural launch of LIV Golf’s Invitational Series, ASIAN GOLF has assembled a set of images drawn from the three days of competition including that of the 12 teams that were featured in the tournament.

In all fairness and looking at what LIV Golf has achieved from the staging of its inaugural tournament; Norman has come through with ﬂying colours! A good measure of the success would be the global media coverage that the tournament received. It simply drowned out anything else that was happening in the world of golf!

SPECIAL FEATURE | LIV GOLF

THE 12 TEAMS FOR THE FIRST

LIV GOLF EVENT

1. ACES GC y 2. CLEEKS GC y 3. CRUSHERS GC y 4. FIREBALL

LS GC y 5. HY FLYERS GC y 6. IRON HEADS GC y 7. MAJESTICKS GC y 8. NIBLICKS GC y 9. PUNCH GC y 10. TORQUE GC y 11. SMASH GC y 12. STINGER GC

SPECIAL FEATURE | LIV GOLF

THE 12 TEAMS FOR THE FIRST

LIV GOLF EVENT

1. ACES GC y 2. CLEEKS GC y 3. CRUSHERS GC y 4. FIREBALL

LS GC y 5. HY FLYERS GC y 6. IRON HEADS GC y 7. MAJESTICKS GC y 8. NIBLICKS GC y 9. PUNCH GC y 10. TORQUE GC y 11. SMASH GC y 12. STINGER GC

SPECIAL FEATURE | LIV GOLF

THE 12 TEAMS FOR THE FIRST

LIV GOLF EVENT

1. ACES GC y 2. CLEEKS GC y 3. CRUSHERS GC y 4. FIREBALL

LS GC y 5. HY FLYERS GC y 6. IRON HEADS GC y 7. MAJESTICKS GC y 8. NIBLICKS GC y 9. PUNCH GC y 10. TORQUE GC y 11. SMASH GC y 12. STINGER GC

THREE DISTINCT DRIVERS Available in MAX (highest MOI), LST (low spin), or SFT (draw bias) models to ﬁt your game.

OUR MOST FORGIVING DRIVER. EVER. Total MOI pushes 10,000 in the G425 MAX, a new standard in long and straight. A 26g tungsten CG shifter increases MOI an average of 14% across the Draw, Neutral and Fade settings.

At PING, we measure success in the lab and on your scorecard. Led by our most forgiving driver ever, the G425 MAX, big performance gains were achieved across the new G425 family. The proven innovations engineered into G425 clubs deliver score-lowering results oﬀ the tee, from the fairway and into and around the green so golfers of all skill levels can enjoy the game more.

SPECIAL FEATURE

GOLF UNDER THREAT!

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E | G O L F U N D E R T H R E AT !

This is not another example of sensational or alarmist journalism – it’s real and it’s time that all of us in the golf industry wake up to it and become totally aware of the dangers lurking and being posed to the very existence of golf courses in Asia. The threat is especially most acute in Asian countries where land is at premium which makes golf courses the ideal target for governments and politicians to attack. Sometimes the attacks are justified but most times, the takeover and demolition of golf courses are aimed at making way for commercial developments. This is a big challenge to fight because of the attractive commercial value involved in the conversion of a golf course to a highly profitable development like housing for example. Another angle of attack to bring down golf courses relates to the growing interest in “sustainability of the environment” and the question being asked is whether golf course operators are good stewards of sustainability. To be quite honest, while there are all sorts of talk about sustainability, very few really understand the diversity and importance

of the matter. One organisation that is attempting to bring about a better understanding of the threats faced by golf courses and the growing importance of sustainability and its impact on the golf club industry is Syngenta, a multi-billiondollar multi-national corporation involved in agricultural science and technology, in particular seeds and pesticides. The Swiss-headquartered company has released a special report on the challenges and ASIAN GOLF feels that it is a matter of sufﬁciently great importance to share with its worldwide audience.

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E | G O L F U N D E R T H R E AT !

n its report, Syngenta discusses how rapid urban-

Yet far from being a problem, golf can play a key role in

ization and population growth combined with the

the solution. Whether it’s the conﬂicting demands for more

clamour for public access to green spaces and

housing and green spaces, or the need to conserve and

regulated nature conservation are ratcheting up

restore nature, golf businesses have an opportunity to play a

pressure on golf courses worldwide. For many on

leading role in sustainability for people and the Planet.

the outside of golf’s green perimeters, clubs and courses

With the world’s urban population set to double to 8.5

appear to be a legitimate target. Despite all the good work

billion by 2050 – meaning 7 in 10 people will live in cities –

globally to grow golf from the ground up, it’s the old clichés

the race for space is on. Across the globe, developers are

that continue to taint the industry’s perception.

eyeing up golf’s prime locations, with bulldozers ready to

move in on increasingly scarce green spaces. In California, as many as 177 courses are being threatened by redevelopment plans, with legislation proposing to

inside its virtues, like how it teaches children to be good humans and how it’s good for our mental and spiritual health.” The importance for golf courses not only to demonstrate

transform municipal golf courses into affordable housing.

and evaluate environmental sustainability, but to communi-

North of San Diego, Goat Hill Park was threatened with

cate it, too, is now being brought into sharp focus. Without

redevelopment 10 years ago. But in a remarkable move, the

proactive communications, golf courses are unlikely to

70-year-old facility was ‘saved’ by John Ashworth, founder of

overturn the perception they are bad for the environment or

the eponymous golf fashion brand.

win the argument in their local communities over demands

“Once you’ve established a green space, if you lose it, you lose it forever,” says Ashworth. “The people who don’t

for alternative land use. This is an issue that golf course owners and operators

understand what golf brings to a community; they just say,

have to learn to understand, and they need to do this fast.

‘It’s a rich person’s sport’. “It’s not at all, it should be a sport

The majority of golf courses in Asia do not have external

that’s promoted more for the masses, and we should look

communications programmes to keep their external audi-

The importance for golf courses not only to demonstrate and evaluate environmental sustainability, but to communicate it, too, is now being brought into sharp focus. Without proactive communications, golf courses are unlikely to overturn the perception they are bad for the environment or win the argument in their local communities over demands for alternative land use.

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E | G O L F U N D E R T H R E AT !

ences informed on what they are doing in the area of sustainability. It’s about time that these operations wake up and take the lead before it is too late! In the United States, courses have been lost to solar farms, while in Sydney, Australia, golf course land could be converted into 27,000 burial plots after the city runs out of cemetery space. In the UK, two public golf courses are now being rewilded: Waterhall in Brighton and Allestree Park in Derby, the UK’s largest urban rewilding project. Across the Atlantic, Gina Rizzi, President of Radius Sports Group, is actively involved in helping golf courses in the United States tell their sustainability stories. Working with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), all 50 US states now have state-wide Best Management Practice guides (BMPs). Previously, golf courses struggled to understand what they should be doing from a sustainability perspective and how to communicate it. “A lot of General Managers didn’t know to what extent superintendents were doing work around environmental stewardship,” Rizzi explains. “Now there are a set of guidelines that every course can reference, and the guides really help communicate what our courses are doing right, so they help establish better communication with stakeholders.” As the challenges to golf courses continue to grow and become increasingly politicized, golf needs to have a voice in this debate and

KEPPEL GOLF CLUB MAKING WAY FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SINGAPORE

A lot of General Managers didn’t know to what extent superintendents were doing work around environmental stewardship. “Now there are a set of guidelines that every course can reference, and the guides really help communicate what our courses are doing right, so they help establish better communication with stakeholders. – GINA RIZZI

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E | G O L F U N D E R T H R E AT !

demonstrate its value proposition. Through various Covid lockdowns, golf’s multiple mental and physical merits, documented in ‘the new value of golf’s green spaces’, have been successfully communicated worldwide. This is a message the industry must continue to tell. Meanwhile, there will be increasing calls, including from radical environmentalists, for ‘wasteful’ golf courses to be turned into public green spaces or to be rewilded. Golf course superintendents are already creating a balanced environment for both golfers and nature to make the most of these hugely important spaces, and they continue to pursue best management practices supported by the latest science. Syngenta has sounded the alarm and the golf industry at large must recognize the importance of sustainable practices so that everyone, now and in the future, can beneﬁt from green spaces. In support of the Syngenta initiative, ASIAN GOLF is calling upon the industry in Asia to get cracking and to start educating your members and your staff on the importance of the vital role that your club is playing or can play in protecting your environment. Also, put your money where your mouth is and embark on a programme to understand the importance of sustainability, how to implement programmes in support of this movement and to communicate what you are doing to both your internal and external audiences. Don’t wait – Act NOW!

Once you’ve established a green space, if you lose it, you lose it forever. “The people who don’t understand what golf brings to a community; they just say, ‘It’s a rich person’s sport’. “It’s not at all, it should be a sport that’s promoted more for the masses, and we should look inside its virtues, like how it teaches children to be good humans and how it’s good for our mental and spiritual health. – JOHN ASHWORTH

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E | G O L F U N D E R T H R E AT !

JURONG GOLF CLUB MAKING WAY FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SINGAPORE

There will be increasing calls, including from radical environmentalists, for ‘wasteful’ golf courses to be turned into public green spaces or to be rewilded. Golf course superintendents are

already creating a balanced environment for both golfers and nature to make the most of these hugely important spaces, and they continue to pursue best management practices supported by the latest science.

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