Asian Golf – October, 2014 by Asia Pacific Golf Group

COVER STORY

ISSUE

169

OCTOBER 2014

SPECIAL FEATURES 24 Martin Kaymer – Back From Golf's Wilderness! A quick introduction to Martin Kaymer, the best golfer from Germany since Bernhard Langer. A winner of two major championships and a one-time number one ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking for eight weeks in 2011.

28 PING's Point Of View: Turbulators: The Future Of Fast PING’s G30 series has created tremendous reaction amongst golfers on a global scale. Besides being revolutionary in technology, the new generation of clubs have also been doing very well on Tour. The G30 series places emphasis on significantly increasing ball velocity and accuracy through a combination of advanced aerodynamics, plus new face designs and materials. PING’s John K. Solheim discusses how the G30 series represents the “future of fast” in club technology.

46 Say Hello To The "Gator Chomp"!

The Hills Are Alive If US golf is in the rough and the sport in the UK is trapped in a bunker, then Asian golf appears to be cruising along just fine, nestled safely in the middle of the fairway. But brothers Ken and Tenniel Chu are doing even better – they have reached the green on the monster par-five in two and are staring at a very makeable eagle putt. In short, they are leading the field.

Forget about Tiger Wood’s adrenaline-charged fist pumps! The new way to gesticulate the ecstasy of victory is to show the “gator chomp” which is how Billy Horschel announced to the world that he whipped world number one Rory McIlroy to bag the US$10 million FedEx Cup play-off.

gainful employment to about 10,000 people. Her main business is in banking and she is widely recognized as being amongst the wealthiest people in Vietnam.

50 Australian Initiative To Grow The Game

56 APGS 2014 Set To Show New Ways To Keep Golf Vibrant And Growing!

Australia’s Golf Industry Central has launched a new initiative called Grow The Game Central that aims to create a world-wide community of like-minded people banding together to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to play the game of golf or increase their participation.

Golf in the developed world is said to be in the doldrums with hardly any signs of change or improvement. While the developed world struggles with the untold challenges that it faces, Asia is bucking the trend and showing tangible signs of hope and growth for the game of golf. The atmosphere and mood at the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit will be one of promise and hope based on sound business foundations.

52 Asia's Most Powerful Woman She is one of the most dynamic women business entrepreneurs in Vietnam. Through her diversified business interests, she provides

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

60 Club Industry Poised For Education Boost! The CMAA-Asia Pacific Pte Ltd’s primary mission is to provide holistic

32 Exotics Get Even Better! If you have not laid your hands on clubs that carry the “Exotics” branding from Tour Edge, you should make an effort to do so. Why? Well, the simple answer is that “Exotics” are really kickass good – that’s why!

34 The Banzai Boys Are Back! Top quality products. Very tradition bound. Conservative. All of these descriptions are a perfect fit for Mizuno Golf. In the years that Asian Golf has covered this venerable Japanese equipment manufacturer, it has never known the company to step out of its conservative mould. But all this has suddenly changed and taken on a whole new complexion! Mizuno Golf has smashed tradition and is poised to boldly position itself as a manufacturer who dares to push innovation beyond known industry boundaries. 2015 will see the Japanese manufacturer hit the fairways with an arsenal of products that is guaranteed to draw the attention of golfers everywhere!

40 Srixon Rolls Out Some "Heavy Metal"! The pace of new product launches which normally hits

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OCTOBER 2014

programmes that are customized to advance the profession of club management within the Asia Pacific region by fulfilling the educational and related needs of its members.

62 Father & Son Golf Tournament: Vietnam Gets Ready For A Family Shoot-Out! The Fathers and Sons golf tournament concept has been around for some time and perhaps the best known event in this tournament genre is the Annual U.S. National Father and Son Team classic. This three-day family event has become the largest father-son golf event in the world. Last year’s 54-hole competition drew over 900 players from 46 states and 7 foreign countries - 24 flights in all. The tournament’s motto is: Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad. Asia now has its own Father and Son tournament which will be held in Vietnam.

REGULARS 6 Asian Golf Editorial Team 8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher 72 Next Issue a frenetic pace at this time of the year, seems a little subdued. This is probably due to the gloomy conditions in major markets like North America. However, one brand that seems to be bucking the trend is the Japanese giant Srixon.

66 Black Hat Tips: Practice Using A Wall "Time To Go A-Wall!" Greetings from Thailand! This is a very good tip that my father taught me when I was real young because the weather in Illinois is not always sunny. And, you can practically find a big “wall” space anywhere if you really look for it.

68 Pro Tour Golf College: How Do You Know If You Are a Good Enough Golfer to Go to Tour School? It is always inspiring to see motivated and serious golfers wanting to achieve their big aim in life playing golf successfully on a pro tour, because many of them have grown up watching their golf stars on TV hitting winning shots to win the big cheques, and achieve a level of golfing glory, and they want some of the same.

42 New Products An introduction to a collection of some of the latest golf products available throughout the region.

MIKE SEBASTIAN Chief Executive Officer/Managing Editor

ANGELA RAYMOND President

[ mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

LAWRENCE YOUNG Editor (New Equipment)

[ lawrence@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

[ angela@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

ALICE HO Marketing Executive

[ alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

RAQUEL M. ARCEGA Art Director & Ezine Development

SAIFUL SUFIAN Art Director

[ raquel@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

MYRA PARAS Accounts Executive

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WAYNE LWEE Video Editor/Streaming services

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MEDIA PARTNERS

Photographers

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Contributing Professionals

IMG ACADEMY, TONY MEECHAI, CHRIS SMEAL, DAVID MILNE & LAWRIE MONTAGUE (PRO TOUR GOLF COLLEGE), NICK RANDALL, STEVEN GIULIANO

Correspondents

ROBIN BARWICK (EUROPE), RISHI NARAIN (INDIA)

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TERRY ANTON, ALAN CAMPBELL, KATHERINE ROBERTS, AAERISHNA SHAHSTHY

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SHARED THOUGHTS

From The Publisher

inally, golfers can expect to see skirts fluttering around the hallowed hallways of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. In an historic announcement, the staid and conservative custodian of the game of golf has relented to allow members of the fairer sex to mingle with men in what is believed to be the bastion of power in golf. This has been a very, very long time coming and whatever one thinks, this is a good move! Peter Dawson, the out-going secretary of the R&A said that the club had voted overwhelmingly in favour of welcoming women members – some 85% of its members globally voted for women to be allowed into the ranks. One wonders how much of a factor wives of the members who voted in favour of this decision caused the swing? Asian Golf salutes the R&A for discarding its steadfast “ancient outlook” towards women and to back down from its resolute stand against women members since 1754. We see this as being more than yet another wall of discrimination being dragged down by rapidly changing times. We recognize this initiative as a bold move which hopefully will send positive signals to an industry that is currently ailing. In an apparent move to show how the R&A is trying to make up for lost time, Dawson said, “The membership has also acted to fast-track a significant initial number of women to become members in the coming months”. Jolly good show gentlemen or should we say, “darn it, you took long enough guys!” Footnote: Wonder if a name change can be considered as part of this change process? Just consider this – “Royal” smacks of elitism while “Ancient” speaks for itself. How about a vote on the name? 8

9 ASIAN GOLF

Peter Dawson

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John Solheim

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Bob Bettinardi

Tim Clarke

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Solheim Sr.; Bob Philion, President

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COVER STORY

Mission Hills

If US golf is in the rough and the sport in the UK is trapped in a bunker, then (ZPHU NVSM HWWLHYZ [V IL JY\PZPUN HSVUN Q\Z[ ÄUL ULZ[SLK ZHMLS` PU [OL TPKKSL VM [OL MHPY^H` )\[ IYV[OLYZ 2LU HUK ;LUUPLS *O\ HYL KVPUN L]LU IL[[LY ¶ [OL` OH]L YLHJOLK [OL NYLLU VU [OL TVUZ[LY WHY Ä]L PU [^V HUK HYL Z[HYPUN H[ H ]LY` THRLHISL LHNSL W\[[ 0U ZOVY[ [OL` HYL SLHKPUN [OL ÄLSK By Viv Best

13 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 169

OCTOBER 201 2014

Artist Impression Shenzhen Centreville - Mission Hills Mall

COVER STORY

Mission Hills

hile the global game struggles with multiple challenges – reduced participation levels, course closures and competition from other sports that are less expensive, more inclusive and quicker to complete – the Chus’ two giant Mission Hills resorts

in China are bucking the trend. Not only are their courses staying busy, but both venues are undergoing massive commercial developments that propel Mission Hills into the heady worlds of retail, tourism and entertainment and don’t so much underscore the company’s “Golf and More” philosophy as brand it in huge capital letters with several exclamation marks at the end. Ken Chu, Chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group, acknowledges they have invested heavily but is typically bullish about the future. “No pain, no gain,” he says simply. “Golf is still in its infancy in China, but we see Mission Hills as taking the lead role and promoting a new lifestyle, writing the rules and methodology for golf and leisure development. We are offering something for everyone. You don’t have to be a golfer to visit Mission Hills. If one member of the family chooses to go for a round, other members can find plenty of alternative things to do.” China’s booming middle class – with its desire to travel, spend and enjoy new-found leisure time – is a key factor in the Chairman’s optimism. “Look at domestic tourism,” he says. “Chinese make three billion journeys annually, spending US$235 billion as they do. By 2020 it will be six billion journeys with US$470 billion expenditure. There are now 300 million middle class Chinese, by 2020 this will be 600 million. This means 40 per cent of the population will be middle class.” Impressive numbers that include millions of potential new golfers and their families – and Mission Hills aims to be the venue of choice.

15 ASIAN GOLF

Mission Hills Mall Night View

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OCTOBER 2014

Artist Impression Mission Hills Mall – Interior

To this end, it is already well equipped. Mission Hills Shenzhen-Dongguan, just north of the border with Hong Kong, is famously the biggest golf facility in the world, with a dozen 18hole courses – all designed by legends of the game, including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Ernie Els and Sir Nick Faldo. The sister complex, Mission Hills Haikou, is located on Hainan, China’s only tropical island. With 10 courses, it is the largest public golf facility in the world and welcomes players of all abilities and, crucially, income levels. “We ensure a round at Haikou is affordable. Golf is no longer a rich man’s sport,” says Ken emphatically. The Haikou resort also boasts the world’s largest spa and mineral springs, covering an area of 176,284 square metres. The spa includes 90 treatment facilities and is surrounded by 168 hot and cold springs plus an aquatic theme park with two man-made volcanoes, a swimming pool and a man-made beach. But it is what the Chu brothers are adding to these two resorts that is truly mind-boggling and gives the naysayers in world golf a lesson in ambition and vision. On the original Mission Hills site, construction work is

COVER STORY

Mission Hills

We ensure a round at Haikou is affordable. Golf is no longer a rich manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sport.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ken Chu

17 ASIAN GOLF

nearly complete on Mission Hills Centreville Shenzhen, a 500,000-sqm â&#x20AC;&#x153;HOPSCAâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hotel, Office, Parks, Shopping facilities, Convention centers and Apartments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; development featuring Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Hard Rock Hotel and the lavishly-designed MH Shopping Mall. Nearby, after years of planning and research, together with considerable investment in procuring historic and relevant golfing artifacts from around the world, the finishing touches are being applied to the Dr. David Chu Golf Museum. This is sited in the former office building of the late Dr. David Chu â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ken and Tennielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father â&#x20AC;&#x201C; fondly remembered as the Founder and Chairman of Mission Hills Group and the visionary known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Father of Golf in Chinaâ&#x20AC;?. It will be the first golf museum in China and, in keeping with Dr. Chuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideals, admission will be free to all. Down in Haikou, the scale of construction is even bigger. In June, the curtain was raised on a giant new tourist attraction, Movie Town, a three-way collaboration between Mission Hills, mainland film industry icon Feng Xiaogang â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the only Chinese director to have his star on Hollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Walk of Fame â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest movie producers, Huayi Brothers Media. 5IF GBDJMJUZ o GVMMZ OBNFE .JTTJPO )JMMT )BJLPV t ) #SPUIFST t 'FOH 9JBPHBOH .PWJF 5PXO o TQBOT BMNPTU one square kilometre and involves total investment of US$300 million. It includes vintage street settings from Fengâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most famous movies, four huge state-of-the-art film studios, an array of shopping and dining options and countless other entertainment and leisure features. It is expected to attract five million visitors per year. Next door, the clocking is ticking towards the opening of another mammoth commercial development, Centreville Haikou, a business, entertainment and leisure hub that comes complete with duty-free shop-

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Mission Hills Mall â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Exterior

Artist Impression Haikou LanKwaiFong

COVER STORY

Mission Hills

ping mall, multiplex cinema, ice skating rink, two residential areas and three hotels â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance and another Hard Rock Hotel. The jewel in the crown of this ambitious project is MisTJPO )JMMT )BJLPV t -BO ,XBJ 'POH B KPJOU WFOUVSF XJUI )POH ,POH T GBNPVT -BO ,XBJ 'POH (SPVQ UIBU CPBTUT TRN PG TIPQQJOH entertainment, cultural and dining attractions. "OE JU EPFTO U TUPQ UIFSF $PNJOH TPPO UP UIF )BJLPV DPNQMFY JT 6OJWFSTJUZ $JUZ B QIJMBOUISPQJD SBUIFS UIBO DPNNFSDJBM WFOUVSF JO UBOEFN XJUI UIF QSFTUJHJPVT -POEPO 4DIPPM PG &DPOPNJDT BOE UIF 4PVUI $IJOB 6OJWFSTJUZ PG 5FDIOPMPHZ 5IJT XJMM TFF B VOJWFSTJUZ DSFBUFE UIBU XJMM FOBCMF more Chinese students to gain Western-standard FEVDBUJPO BU BĂ˛PSEBCMF GFFT BO JOJUJBUJWF UIBU IBT UIF QPUFOUJBM UP USBOTGPSN $IJOB T OBUJPOBM FEVDBUJPO TZTUFN Tenniel, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills (SPVQ BOE UIF ZPVOHFS PG UIF UXP CSPUIFST TBZT Asia in general, and Mission Hills in particular, are showing old-school markets a bold new golfing GVUVSF i(PMG JO UIJT SFHJPO JT SFMBUJWFMZ OFX DPNQBSFE UP UIF 64 BOE 6, TP XF IBWF B EJĂ˛FSFOU attitude to the game and we can adapt more RVJDLMZ w IF QPJOUT PVU i4JNQMZ XF TFF JU BT JODMVTJWF SBUIFS UIBO FYDMVTJWF BOE XF TUSJWF UP NBLF JU B TQPSU GPS BMM #Z BEEJOH GBDJMJUJFT PUIFS UIBO golf to create integrated resorts, we are far reNPWFE GSPN UIF USBEJUJPOBM DPVOUSZ DMVC JNBHF CVU XF EPO U DPNQSPNJTF PO TUBOEBSET "TJB T TFSWJDF JOEVTUSZ JT SJHIUMZ TFFO BT UIF XPSME T CFTU BOE XF JOUFOE UP NBJOUBJO UIBU MFWFM w

Chris Evans Jessica Alba

Kenny G

Yao Ming

Haikou Hotel

Golf is still in its infancy in China, but we see Mission Hills as taking the lead role and promoting a new lifestyle, writing the rules and methodology for golf and leisure development.We are offering something for everyone.You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a golfer to visit Mission Hills. If one member of the family chooses to go for a round, other members can find plenty of alternative things to do.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ken Chu 18

19 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 169

OCTOBER 2014

Movie Town

The Chus’ expansive vision is in stark contrast to the grim news coming out of golf’s traditional heartlands. A Bloomberg report in May this year stated: “Once the go-to activity for corporate bonding, [US golf ] is suffering from an exodus of players, a lack of interest among millennials and the mass closure of courses.” The figures quoted in the report were alarming. About 400,000 players in the US left the sport last year, according to the National Golf Foundation. While almost 260,000 women took up golf, some 650,000 men quit. The biggest decline was among the younger generation, with 200,000 players under 35 abandoning the game. Only 14 new courses were built in the US last year, while almost 160 shut down – making it the eighth straight year that more courses closed than opened.

The news is not much better across the Atlantic. A KPMG report entitled “Golf Participation in Europe 2013” revealed that the number of junior golfers in the continent’s largest markets – the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands – dropped by 7,760 last year. The report added: “While it is encouraging that golf participation is increasing in several emerging markets, such as Lithuania, Bulgaria or Serbia, more noteworthy and alarming is that membership levels in the UK and Ireland have been continuously falling since 2007. Considering this impact in absolute numbers over the past five to six years, approximately 228,000 players have not extended their membership.” Ken and Tenniel Chu have no time for such gloom. Amid their

COVER STORY

Mission Hills

myriad construction projects – and we should not forget about the three new clubs Mission Hills is planning at other locations in China – they are also busy preparing for the third edition of their World Celebrity Pro-Am in Haikou on 24-26 October. The event, pairing 24 stars from entertainment and sports with professional golfers, fits in perfectly with their “Golf and More” philosophy. You might not normally watch golf, but you would watch Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Kenny G or Yao Ming – to name just a few of the contestants – play the sport. “The World Celebrity Pro-am is a crossover between pro and amateur, male and female players, golf pros and celebrities from sports and entertainment,” confirms Ken. “The aim of this tournament is to bring together all the stars and celebrities to popularize and promote the development of golf in China.” It is clearly a winning formula, since fans flocked to watch

21 ASIAN GOLF

previous editions of the event featuring the likes of Hugh Grant, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Matthew McConaughey and Adrien Brody. Last time the tournament was held, it garnered 300 hours total TV broadcast in China and attracted coverage in 125 newspapers across the country. Of course, watching the World Celebrity Pro-Am on TV is one thing, actually visiting Mission Hills is another entirely, but the Chu brothers believe they have two factors weighing massively in their favour. The first is tourism – not only domestic, but inbound. Earlier this year, Mission Hills Haikou hosted the third annual Asia Golf Tourism Convention, a wildly successful event that highlighted China’s huge potential as a golfing destination for players from other Asian countries and beyond. Peter Walton, Chief Executive of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, was moved to comment: “Hainan was relatively unknown to our golf tour operators so this convention was an opportunity to put it on the map. Mission Hills Haikou, with its 10 golf courses, stands out as the flagship golf resort of Hainan Island and is, for me, the most spectacular golf and spa resort in the world. Delegates were able to play three of the 10 courses and 160 of them visited other courses on the island for an additional three days, so we are fairly certain that international golf holiday sales to Hainan will more than double over the coming 18 months.” The Chu brothers’ second ace up their sleeve is junior golf. Talk about investing in the future, Mission Hills runs the most comprehensive junior programmes of any golf club, anywhere. The club is hosting a record 43 junior tournaments this year, including signature events supported by Sir Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sörenstam. Indeed, the Chief Executive of the R&A, Peter Dawson, recently went on record as saying: “Mission Hills, by far, is doing the most for junior golf development in the world.” A big statement, one backed up by the fact that Mission Hills allows all golfers aged 16 and under to play free of charge on three of its 22 courses all year round. While the numbers are impressive and the future is bright, the

ISSUE 169

siblings running Mission Hills remain thoroughly grounded and aware of their responsibilities. Ken Chu quotes the “three Ps” as he outlines the values to which they adhere. “People – meaning we cannot be the sole winner, it must be all win, and this includes Mission Hills, our customers, the Government and the country,” he explains. “Profit – we cannot be a liability and, while we need to be profitable, so does the local community. And planet, we must think about the environment and promote sustainable tourism.” The latter point is extremely important to the Chus. Of the countless awards Mission Hills has collected in the past two decades, the environmental ones give them particular satisfaction. Reuse of wastewater, energy saving, air quality monitoring, ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation, tree planting and eco trails are all high on the agenda.

OCTOBER 2014

“Profit is not the only ingredient for success,” insists Ken. “Investors are concerned about short-term earnings but our goal is not to please investors, it is to change perceptions about leisure tourism. You must protect the environment and then grow the economy.” Last year, an independent market research report, “Growing Golf in the UK”, concluded that 8.5 million people in that country were keen to take up the sport and that over half of these were in the 15-39 age brackets. The report also stated exactly what would make this happen – friendly, flexible and family oriented golf clubs. Like Mission Hills. Ken and Tenniel Chu, the brothers with the “Golf and More” approach, have opened their doors and welcomed in men, women and children – whether they be golfers or not – from all walks of life. This is the future of golf.

Ken & Tenniel Chu

Helping The Golf Industry TO Help Itself To Deliver The Best!

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Martin Kaymer Q&A

M A R T I N

A quick introduction to Martin Kaymer, the best golfer from Germany since Bernhard Langer. A winner of two major championships and a one-time number one ranked NVSMLY PU [OL 6MÄJPHS >VYSK .VSM 9HURPUN MVY LPNO[ ^LLRZ PU

trange things seem to happen to champion golfers. Some hit the very pinnacle of success and then drop right off the cliff and disappear into golf oblivion. Then there are others who just lose their hunger to hold on to their winning streak. And then there are those who tinker around with their game only to bring about total failure. One such champion is Martin Kaymer, one of the best new talents to have emerged on the global golfing scene. German by nationality, Kaymer is an exciting player who went on to ascend the Official World Golf Rankings and hit the very top back in 2011. Many felt that he was going to be dominant at the top of the game for a long time to come but instead, he slipped from the top spot only after eight weeks and went on to virtually disappear from the game. The apparent cause for the slippage? Well, you guessed it! Kaymer felt he needed a swing change and this decision marked a dismal end to his meteoric rise in world golf. He became a forgotten champion. An also ran. A name cast away into golf’s limbo, perhaps never to return again. But being German and imbued with the national characteristics of that nation to be the best of the best, Kaymer embarked on a journey to return stronger, better and determined to be ranked amongst the best in the world again.

25 ASIAN GOLF

What he has achieved in 2014 stands full testimony to Kaymer’s return to big time golf. The guy’s back and has picked up some impressive scalps along the way. He signaled his thirst for victory when he displayed his new game and power when he romped home the winner at The Players Championship in May – the flagship event of the PGA Tour. Barely a month later, he stamped his supremacy on the game when he led wire to wire at the U.S. Open to win by a thumping eight strokes! After a two year haitus, the best that Germany has to offer has again surfaced to the very top echelons of golf. Martin Kaymer is back! Asian Golf met up with Kaymer and conducted a wide-ranging discussion with the come-back kid and asked him what prompted the swing change when he was already on a career high. Following are excerpts from that discussion:

As a major winner at the 2010 PGA Championship, and as world number one in 2011, why did you want to change your game?

MARTIN KAYMER: The expectations

changed once I won the PGA Championship. A few months later I became number one in the world, and all of a sudden I had won a major and reached number one and it was a strange feeling. They were career goals and I had reached them at the age of 25. It was a positive thing but it was not that easy and I had to set myself new goals. I was not really prepared. Then at the Masters the spotlight was on me but I missed the cut again. I was in the car going back to Atlanta with my coach [Gunther Kessler] and I was so disappointed, and I said to him, ‘How can I be number one in the world if I cannot even hit a draw, and I cannot play that golf course?’ Gunther responded, ‘Yeah’. He also said that I can improve and become a more complete player. It was not that I changed my swing, but I improved certain parts of my game. I just wanted to play Augusta the way it is supposed to be played, and to make it a bit easier for me. Before, I always had to play a long iron into the 10th green because I could not hit my drive down the left side,

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and it was impossible for me to reach the green on the par-five 13th in two because I could not draw the ball around that corner.

When did you feel your new and improved game was complete?

MK: At the end of March I practiced with my coach at Scottsdale. I hit five drives at every hole: two draws, two fades and then a straight one, and afterwards we sat down and realised that I hardly missed any shots out there. There were one or two, but there was proof for me right there that I could hit any shot I needed. It is just a matter of being brave. Everyone can talk positively, and think positively, but you have to put it into action, and you can only really put that to the test in tournaments. When you play the right shots in tournaments, in difficult situations, that is when the confidence develops, and you gain from that immensely. I knew in Scottsdale that everything was there, and I knew it would just be a matter of time.

Having won two out of the four biggest tournaments of 2014 so far, how disappointed have you been with the results since US Open?

OCTOBER 2014

SPECIAL FEATURE

Martin Kaymer Q&A

MK: No, not really. To play a tour event in Cologne is always very difficult for me. It is difficult to enjoy the event when everyone makes so many demands of my time. In France I played decent and I think I had a top-10 finish there, or just outside, and then at the British Open I was on the wrong side of the draw for the first two rounds. I didn’t play well enough to make up for the advantage the golfers had on the other side of the draw. Over the weekend I tried really hard to have a good finish, but after I was not really able to climb up the leaderboard on the Saturday, I thought, okay, just enjoy the last round, enjoy what I have achieved over the past couple of months, and it is the best crowd at the British Open, so I just enjoyed the occasion.

/H]L `V\ ZL[ ZWLJPÄJ targets for the remainder of the season?

MK: The only target I have is to win the Ryder Cup. Obviously it would be nice if Paul McGinley would consider Bernhard Langer as a wildcard pick for the team. It would be fantastic for me, it would be great for German sports and it would be brilliant for the European team. It would be very nice if we can win the Ryder Cup again this year, but in terms of goals beyond that, I just hope I give myself a chance to win over the

I guess it would be a dream come true for you to partner Bernhard in the Ryder Cup?

next few weeks. They are all very big events, and if I can win then the Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup will take care of themselves.

Are you convinced Langer still has the game to compete in the Ryder Cup?

MK: Absolutely. There is no doubt in my mind. I think Paul McGinley should sit down with Bernhard and ask Bernhard what he honestly thinks, because the way I know Bernhard, if he has any doubts about whether he is capable of taking on the challenge, or if he did not feel 100 percent comfortable playing in the Ryder Cup, he would say so. If I were McGinley I would ask Bernhard if he wants to play at Gleneagles or not because from my point of view, Bernhard could only be a help to the European team. I don’t really know which other European players are just in the team or just out, so it depends on that as well, but if Bernhard wants to play for the European team, I do not see any reason why he should not. It is a tricky decision for McGinley to make, and it would be a brave decision to pick Bernhard. Look at the World Cup when Louis Van Gaal, the Dutch coach, brought on a substitute goalkeeper just for the penalties; that was a brave move and it turned out well, so then it looked brilliant. I would leave it up to Bernhard to decide whether he wants to play in the Ryder Cup or not. I have not spoken to Paul about it, but I definitely think he should consider whether Bernhard should be part of the team.

MK: Just imagine the first tee on the Friday morning at Gleneagles, with Bernhard Langer on the tee. I do not think it could get any better for us. Bernhard thinks your best is yet to come. What is your reaction to that?

MK: Bernhard and I have a lot of respect for each other. It is difficult to find the words to do justice to what Bernhard has achieved in his career, and what he is still achieving today. I certainly have a lot of respect for Bernhard, and while there is a distance between us in some ways we are still very close. I think it can be difficult for a lot of people to get that balance right, but I think Bernhard and I have a good balance and that is very important. You are in great shape physically. Can you give us a ZLUZL VM `V\Y Ä[ULZZ YLNPTLU&

MK: I go running three or four times a week, and I go to the gym for about 45 minutes to an hour about the same number of times each week. I don’t do special golf exercises, I just go with what I am comfortable with and I listen to my body, so when I feel I need to do more on my upper body I will, or on my lower body. There are no secrets – I keep it very straight forward. I have a fitness trainer who I see when I am at home. Is it a weight off your mind that you are virtually certain to play in the Ryder Cup this year?

MK: No, not at all. I am just concentrating on each tournament for next two months, until we get to Gleneagles, and then it will all be about the Ryder Cup. There are a lot of important tournaments between now and then. You can’t really focus on what might happen two steps ahead. In order to get into the Ryder Cup team you need to play well every single week. My advice to the players who are not yet in the team is to focus only on the day they are in now. They can’t think about how they need to do this, that and the other, or worry about being overtaken in the ranking. You just need to try your best and hope that it is enough. If you get stressed about the Ryder Cup then you will get distracted from the job of playing well every day. It is not an easy thing to do, but golfers need to find their own way to achieve it. For me that is the only way to become successful. You cannot think too far ahead. 26

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Everyone can talk positively, and think positively, but you have to put it into action, and you can only really put that to the test in tournaments. When you play the right shots in tournaments, in difficult situations, that is when the confidence develops, and you gain from that immensely.â&#x20AC;?

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

PING’s Point Of View

w w w. p i n g . c o m

BY JOHN K. SOLHEIM PING VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING

PING’s G30 series has created tremendous reaction amongst golfers on a global scale. Besides being revolutionary in technology, the new generation of clubs have also been doing very well on Tour. The G30 series WSHJLZ LTWOHZPZ VU ZPNUPÄJHU[S` PUJYLHZPUN IHSS ]LSVJP[` and accuracy through a combination of advanced aerodynamics, plus new face designs and materials. PING’s John K. Solheim discusses how the G30 series represents the “future of fast” in club technology.

t PING, innovation means more than doing something new or different; to us, true innovation takes technology forward. We have long been a leader in this effort by engineering products that deliver meaningful results through a unique approach. An example is our new G30 driver, already a big success on pro tours. In addition to our usual methods of increasing distance by optimizing the Centre of Gravity (CG), and increasing forgiveness by raising the Moment of Inertia (MOI), we’ve advanced driver head design. By integrating turbulators (raised ridges) onto the crown of the G30 driver, we’ve reduced aerodynamic drag through impact, which leads to faster clubhead speed and ball velocity for greater distance. Wind-tunnel testing has substantiated the turbulators’ effectiveness. Out on tour, the yardage gains have been eye-opening, and players of all abilities are likewise picking up speed and distance. Tour-player validation has been swift, and PING pros across the U.S. and Europe have seen immediate results with the G30 driver. Kevin Sutherland recently recorded the first 59 in Champions Tour history playing the driver. Angel Cabrera won with the driver and a G30 3-wood in their first week on the PGA Tour (the fairway woods also have turbulators). With his pink G30 driver, Bubba Watson, the longest hitter in the game, unleashed a 424-yard drive at a tournament, at this writing the longest drive of the year on the PGA Tour. And PING Pro Billy Horschel has increased his clubhead speed and gained more than 12 yards in distance since switching to the G30 driver. He recently won the BMW Championship in the FedExCup Playoffs playing the model.

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5V :HJYPÄJLZ While Turbulator Technology has stolen the spotlight, the G30 driver’s performance stems from multiple design attributes working in sync. This highlights a key point of difference with PING: We don’t incorporate “features” into a golf club and focus exclusively on distance, for example, at the expense of other benefits like forgiveness, trajectory, or sound quality. Ours is a balanced approach that optimizes total performance (no sacrifices) so golfers can hit the ball farther and straighter more consistently.

OCTOBER 2014

CROWN TURBULATORS HELP GENERATE CLUBHEAD SPEED AND BALL VELOCITY

/V[[LY ; : -HJL A key source of the G30 driver’s distance is a hotter new T9S titanium face material that is made more responsive by PING’s patentpending heat-treating process that relieves stress from the face. T9S is inherently stronger than Ti 6-4 with the same elasticity, which allowed us to thin the hitting surface, resulting in maximum face deflection, faster ball speeds and increased distance. Four grams saved from the face were utilized to add crown turbulators while simultaneously moving the CG lower and farther back to raise the MOI, making the G30 driver extremely forgiving and accurate. And straight drives d es flyy farther. at e.

TURBULATOR TECHNOLOGY PROVEN IN WIND-TUNNEL TESTING

Without Turbulators

With Turbulators

4VYL 3VM[ :L[[PUNZ The G30 driver also offers greater loft adjustability. Trajectory Tuning+ Technology offers five settings for finetuning ball flight up to 1º prior to a round for maximizing distance. Settings are Standard, -0.6º, -1º, +0.6º, and +1º. We were able to expand adjustability without adding weight to our streamlined, aerodynamic hosel -- another example of “No Sacrifices”.

. :- ;VL 4VKLS Because PING is also an innovator in custom fitting, we offer a second G30 driver, the G30 SF Tec (Straight Flight Technology) to fit players whose shots typically end up right of the intended target. The combination of a sole weight positioned closer to the heel and a lighter swing weight produce a right-to-left ball flight that helps steer the ball back into the fairway. In player testing, the G30 SF Tec driver improved right-to-left shot bend by 12 yards when compared to the G30 standard driver. Whether your game is better suited for the G30 standard or the G30 SF Tec driver, either can benefit your game in multiple ways. I invite you to visit your favorite golf shop and get fit for our proven new technology. I’m confident you’ll find the distance, accuracy and consistency you need to improve your tee shots, your confidence and your scores.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Tour Edge Exotic E8

If you have not laid your hands on clubs that carry the “Exotics” branding from Tour Edge, you should make an effort to do so. Why? Well, the simple answer is that “Exotics” are really kickass good – that’s why!

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sian Golf has been testing “Exotics” for a few years now and these clubs have been permanent favourites. Tour Edge, the company behind “Exotics” has hit the market again with two new products – the E8 driver and the E8 fairway woods. The new E8 drivers deliver distance-dominating speed with adjustability options that allow players to fine tune power and control, and bring Exotics to the forefront of the driver category. At the core of E8 driver’s technology is the centre of gravity location and its ability to increase ball speed for legendary Exotics length. “Our engineers positioned E8’s CG slightly lower and forward for a higher launch, and faster ball speed with less spin,” said David Glod, founder and president of Tour Edge. E8 drivers are available in two options – E8 (460cc titanium head) and E8 Beta (440cc with a titanium face) – both feature superior adjustability

OCTOBER 2014

Our engineers positioned E8’s CG slightly lower and forward for a higher launch, and faster ball speed with less spin.” – Daviid Glodd with loft modifications and an interchangeable sole weight. According to Glod, “The Beta utilizes a higher, more forward CG position to produce a more penetrating trajectory, increased ball velocity, and minimal spin.” Variable face thickness technology offers multiple levels of thickness that maximize the spring-like effect from more points on the face, especially in the heel and toe areas. The E8 collection showcases an added adjustability option by incorporating an interchangeable sole weight. The driver comes standard with a 7-gram weight in the sole, but can be changed with the purchase of an optional weight kit. The threepiece weight kit includes a 5-gram, 10-gram, and 12-gram weight. Complementing the new drivers are Exotics notorious reputation for engineering ‘the best’ fairway woods in the business. “The E8 fairway wood delivers an easy-launching, high trajectory accompanied by Exotics legendary distance and this is accomplished with the upgraded 475 carpenter steel cup face combobrazed to the hyper-steel body. The shallow face design also delivers a high launch with less spin increasing distance and ease of use off the deck,” explained Glod. The E8 fairway woods are available in the following configurations: 3 (13 degree), 3 (15 degree), 4 (16.5 degree), 5 (18 degree), 7 (21 degree). E8 Beta model: 3 (12 degree), 3 (13 degree), 3 (15 degree), 4 (16.5 degree), 5 (18 degree).

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

2015 Mizuno Line Up

Top quality products. Very tradition bound. Conservative. All of these KLZJYPW[PVUZ HYL H WLYMLJ[ Ä[ MVY 4Pa\UV .VSM 0U [OL `LHYZ [OH[ (ZPHU .VSM OHZ JV]LYLK [OPZ ]LULYHISL 1HWHULZL LX\PWTLU[ THU\MHJ[\YLY P[ OHZ UL]LY RUVÛ [OL JVTWHU` [V Z[LW V\[ VM P[Z JVUZLY]H[P]L TV\SK )\[ HSS [OPZ OHZ Z\KKLUS` JOHUNLK HUK [HRLU VU H ÔVSL UL^ JVTWSL_PVU 4Pa\UV .VSM OHZ ZTHZOLK [YHKP[PVU HUK PZ WVPZLK [V IVSKS` WVZP[PVU P[ZLSM HZ H THU\MHJ[\YLY ÔV KHYLZ [V W\ZO PUUV]H[PVU IL`VUK RUVÛ PUK\Z[Y` IV\UKHYPLZ ^PSS ZLL [OL 1HWHULZL THU\MHJ[\YLY OP[ [OL MHPY^H`Z ^P[O HU HYZLUHS VM WYVK\J[Z [OH[ PZ N\HYHU[LLK [V KYH^ [OL H[[LU[PVU VM NVSMLYZ L]LY`ÔLYL

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OCTOBER 2014

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

2015 Mizuno Line Up

he last two years have not been the best years for the global golf industry – it has been a period of doom and gloom. This past year has especially witnessed a great deal of blood-letting with major players being pummeled in the market including some brands even throwing in the towel in absolute desperation. Giant equipment retailers like Dicks Sporting Goods have ducked out of the golf trade and when something like this happens, the casket merchants smack their lips and wait in anticipation to bury the mortally wounded. It’s not a particularly pleasant scenario but this is telling it like it is, warts and all! Against all of this business mayhem, one wonders what would have prompted Mizuno Golf to tear out of its conservative epidermis and charge forth into a crestfallen business climate screaming Banzai! We think we have the answer to what may seem like a 36

37 AS ASI SIIAN AN GOL GOLF OLF

highly irrational and badly timed business decision. We see it as a leap of faith based on the company’s implicit belief in the superior quality and performance of its 2015 range of products. With the year-end fast approaching, most of the major manufacturers would have already started gearing up for their new product launches but so far, this has been muted this year. PING is the only major manufacturer which has announced its 2015 offerings headlined by the revolutionary “Turbulator” G30 driver. It is odd that both PING and Mizuno, noted for their conservatism, have elected to buck the trend and launch game-changing products. Again, it goes to reason that both the companies have so much belief and a boatload of confidence in their respective new technologies, that they have just gone ahead with the introduction of their new clubs. Well, at least we know that there are major industry players who are not hanging their heads in despair and are courageous enough to bring to market their new, state-of-the-art products. Back to Mizuno Golf and its 2015 clubs. It’s a slew of new

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products alright and every single new line is a stunning beauty. The glittering showcase features the following: JPX 850 driver JPX 850 woods and hybrids JPX 850 irons MP-15 irons MP-H5 driving irons MP-H5 irons MP-T5 wedges Darn it – it took our test team a whole month to go through all of the new-comers from Mizuno. This is not an expression of exasperation – it is more a reflection of the joy, excitement and the pure unadulterated pleasure of being able to play equipment that proved to be virtually flawless! Here’s a thorough peek at golf clubs that will keep a lot of golfers, plus the competition talking for some time to come. First off, let’s check out the JPX 850 driver. Man, Mizuno Golf should have been in the motor racing trade – they certainly know how to pick an adrenaline boosting colour! The JPX 850 is an absolute he-man of a driver with a club head cloaked in a piercing blue paint that would make a US$4.5 million Lamborghini Veneno roadster look menacing! The JPX 850, first seen on tour in April 2014, uses twin 8-gram weights which can be located on either the central slid-

OCTOBER 2014

ing rail, or two lateral slots. With 10 unique settings, players of all head speeds can dial in their perfect launch and spin. In combination with Mizuno’s Quick Switch shaft release system, the JPX 850 also offers lofts from 7.5 to 11.5 within one head for the ultimate in adjustability and a compact, powerful 440cc head that utilizes a Hot Metal face and Rebound Crown to maximize ball speeds. In describing the new driver, Chuck Couch, vice president for product management said, “The genius of the new Fast Track is that it adds the dimension of launch angle and spin rate. Now we’re truly in control of maximizing all aspects of a player’s ball flight off the tee.” Asian Golf’s Equipment Editor, Lawrence Young, who is not normally easily impressed with equipment, was very effusive in his appraisal of the JPX 850. He said, “It may not be the longest driver out there but let me tell you that it is extremely friendly and easy to handle and it keeps ball dispersion to a very narrow range.” Next in line is the JPX 850 fairway woods and hybrids – again adorned in the same striking blue livery as the driver. It features a proprietary Mizuno innovation called “Shockwave Technology”. This enables the entire club head to contract and expand on impact – delivering an additional energy source to the clubface. The additional mass also lowers the head’s centre of gravity, maintaining high ball speeds directly off the turf. For the fairway woods, there is a 4-degree range of loft adjustment possible within each fairway head (3/5/7) through the use of Mizuno’s Quick Switch shaft adjustability. These are clubs that will add serious distance on the fairways

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

2015 Mizuno Line Up

and they have already earned their rightful place in the Asian Golf bag of tricks for 2015! Part of the revolutionary JPX 850 family is the forged irons which feature the introduction of BORON into Mizuno’s revered grain flow forging process. It gives the irons a sense of an out-of-this-world feeling and technically this is a correct assumption because boron is a chemical element that is found in meteorites. The addition of boron has helped Mizuno increase the strength of its forged material, thus allowing its R&D engineers greater design freedom which translates into more distance from iron to iron. The Asian Golf verdict – “It’s a very well balanced and stable set of clubs that automatically inspire confidence and it will definitely prove to be a massive hit with high handicappers,” declared Young. From the Boron-based JPX 850 irons, we shift our focus to the MP-15 irons – a definitive blend of tradition and technology. It’s a purpose-built iron suited for the stronger ball striker - it is compact with clean lines, designed to enhance both feel and workability. Forged directly inside the 1025E steel framework is a re-engineered Titanium Muscle insert, which maintains thickness behind impact for a solid feel, while allowing weight to be shifted to the perimeter to provide “full cavity” forgiveness. “The MP-15 blends the best elements of two great tour irons – the MP-59 and MP-64. A really compact tour player type iron, but with stability from off centre strikes. Even good players need forgiveness when it’s packaged correctly,” explained Mizuno’s senior research and development manager Tetsu Kanayama. Asian Golf’s Young was full of compliments for this classic Mizuno set of irons and according to him, “These irons are sleek and very understated in their appearance – they make a quiet statement but don’t let this fool you … the MP-15s are one helluva strong set of irons in the hands of a good player.” Moving along, we come to the MP-H5 driving irons which feature Mizuno’s “Hollow Flow Construction”. The ‘hollow flow’ concept is in response to the demands of modern golf courses – with longer approaches to tighter pin positions on firm greens. “MP-H5 will suit players who have grown up on traditional irons, but don’t want to be left behind on distance and stopping power. In another 10 years we think the majority of tour players will be using irons like this,” said Couch. Asian Golf’s Young was quick to agree. “It’s both revolutionary and a ravishing beauty. I love it! It comes packed ready for explosion and if you are the type of player who has problems with a driver, I strongly suggest that you swap the big stick for a Mizuno MP-H5 #1, #2 or # 3 iron.” Young goes on to add, “Heck, I was hitting the #1 iron well past the 200

39 AS ASI SIIAN AN GOL GOLF OLF

metre mark and in my books, that’s some serious distance!” Young was equally complimentary about the MP-H5 irons. “Let me tell you – this is the crème dela crème of irons! The MPH5 has got to be the iron of choice for low handicappers and it is a friendly and forgiving performance club – it’s a life-saver on off-centre hits and this makes it a serious game-changer.” The final clubs on the test bed are a bevy of eye-popping beauties – the MP-T5 wedges. Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forged heads combine the softest touch with a backspin rate only possible through the use of loft specific grooves. Mizuno’s Quad Cut Groove concept utilizes a wider, shallow groove from 5462 degree lofts (to grab softer, partial strikes) and a narrower, deeper configuration from 49-53 degrees (for fuller shots). All grooves are precision CNC milled to ensure exact manufacturing consistency from wedge to wedge. A new lush Black IP (plated) finish is designed to maintain its looks over time. The alternative white satin finish is also permanent. “The challenge with MP-T5 was to find a way to increase spin. It came down to square-ness of hit, which is achieved differently depending on your technique. So we added a huge variation of loft and bounce options,” explained Chris Voshall, Mizuno’s senior engineer. Asian Golf’s Young concurred, “You can use the 56 degree wedge inside 80 metres by shaping it to suit the distance and this is made possible because Mizuno has created bounce angles to accommodate this. All the wedges perform incredibly well and they are great on feel,” Young pointed out. Reviewing the 2015 range of Mizuno clubs has been a truly satisfying experience and this has been made possible because of the manufacturer’s revolutionary engineering and technology. It is very apparent that Mizuno has paid a great deal of attention to player feedback and this is very evident in the way the clubs have been built and the manner in which they perform. “Every single club is a class act and the MP-T5 wedges are from a different planet and I dare say that golfers are in for a treat when these new models hit the stores in Asia,” concluded Asian Golf’s Young. Mizuno has entered a new era with its new technical breakthroughs. 2015 will mark a year of remarkable innovations – all industry firsts, aimed at increasing ball speed and distance. Mizuno, we say to you - Subarashii!

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

Srixonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Z Series

The pace of new product launches which normally hits a frenetic pace at this time of the year, seems a little subdued. This is probably due to the gloomy conditions in major markets like North America. However, one brand that seems to be bucking the trend is the Japanese giant Srixon.

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sian Golf has just received word that Srixon will be releasing the new Z Series made up of driver, woods and irons – the same gear being used by Tour stars Graeme McDowell, Keegan Bradley, Hideki Matsuyama, as well as many others professional staffers competing on the various professional tours across the globe. Srixon’s new Z Series clubs offer tour-influenced performance, real innovation and stunning design, according to the company. “We’re thrilled to introduce the new Z Series woods and irons,” said Tomihiro Ieda, managing director of Srixon Sports Asia. “At Srixon, we approach products like our tour players approach their game. It’s a constant journey to be better. Designing the game’s best products is always about raising the bar, and we believe the new Z Series woods and irons are the best the game has to offer,” Ieda added. The compact 430cc Srixon Z 745 driver is designed for skilled players who like to work the ball with maximum distance and penetrating ball flight. The Z 745 driver features Dual Speed Technology, which helps maximize rotation efficiency to deliver more club head speed for increased distance, according to the company. Srixon’s Quick Tune System offers 36 unique settings for loft, lie, face angle and centre of gravity. The Z 745 driver’s cup-face construction, helps create an even larger sweet spot, according to Srixon, for added forgiveness on off-centre hits. Complementing the Z 745 is the Z 545. This driver has a sleek and aggressive design and is meant for players who desire maximum distance and a mid-high launch in a larger, more forgiving shape. The Z 545 driver also features Dual Speed Technology, which increases ball speed and distance by maximizing the driver’s rotation efficiency. Srixon’s Quick Tune System offers 36 unique settings for loft, lie, face angle and center of gravity is also incorporated into the Z545. Srixon’s Z F45 fairway wood has a mid-size design, which is engineered to maximize launch conditions from all lies. It too features Dual Speed Technology and Srixon’s proprietary Quick Tune System offers 36 unique settings for loft, lie, face angle and centre of gravity. An ultra-hot HT1770 maraging steel cup face has raised the club’s COR by 15 points for maximum ball speed. Srixon’s new Z H45 hybrid features redesigned shape for smoother turf interaction and a more confident look at address. The Z H45 hybrid also features Dual Speed Technology. Srixon’s new Z 745 irons sport a muscle cavity design while featuring a thinner top-line and a more compact shape for a pleasing, traditional look. The new Z 745 irons are forged from 1020 carbon steel using the highest quality, most premium process available. A redesigned Tour V.T. Sole decreases turf resistance through impact for tighter dispersion. Next in line is Srixon’s Z 545 irons which combine hot flight and incredible feel in a slightly larger, more forgiving cavity-back profile, the company promises. Forged also from 1020 carbon steel, the new Z 545 irons feature a thin, high-strength SUP10 steel face, which increases COR for higher ball speed. A redesigned Tour V.T. Sole decreases turf resistance through impact for tighter dispersion and Double Laser Milling on the face of the Z 545 irons increases surface roughness for additional spin and trajectory control. Finally, the Srixon Z U45 utility sports a refined, iron-like head shape that helps find fairways off the tee and adds playability on aggressive shots into the green. The Z U45 utility features a compact top-line and more compact flange with a slimming mirror chrome finish, which generates a compact address view that smoothly transitions to iron sets. The Z U45 utility’s lower and deeper centre of gravity also helps to promote higher launch and increased playability.

OCTOBER 2014

FASHION TREND

New Balance 574B Spikeless Golf Shoe

Gets Serious About Golf Shoes New Balance needs no introduction when it comes to athletic shoes but golf shoes? Well, that’s a whole new proposition! The newest kid on the golf shoe block is ramping up as though to make up for lost time.

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oming off a successful spring introduction of the classic 574 golf shoe, New Balance has announced the addition of the men’s 574B spikeless golf shoe. The new 574B is built on the same New Balance design last used in its popular 574 lifestyle running shoe and cleated golf shoe. The 574B is designed for golfers looking for a modern classic style with a spikeless outsole. “The 574 golf shoe has been one of our top selling shoes in the current line,” said Bruce Schilling, general manager of Golf and Tennis.

“This model has tremendous appeal to the younger golfer who is already wearing our classic suede 574, and the mesh upper and spikeless outsole of the 574B will increase the appeal of the shoe to even more players. We have also expanded our widths to 2E and 4E in select styles based on initial feedback we received on the 574,” added Schilling. The 574B features a mesh upper with no-sew Fantom Fit technology for ultralight support and fit, an Ndurance® rubber outsole for maximum durability in high-wear areas, and a REVLite® 10mm drop* midsole for lightweight cushioning and premium responsiveness. Golfers will enjoy the same style, comfort, and fit they are accustomed to from New Balance footwear, plus performance technologies designed to help enhance their golf game.

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EQUIPMENT FOCUS

OCTOBER 2014

New Products

ow about this - now you can get out on the fairways with golf bags to match your cool Loudmouth oufits. Loudmouth Golf and Molhimawk (“Molly-MOCK’) Inc have introduced their line of stylish cart bags to their European customers. The Loudmouth Cart Bag by Molhimawk measures 35” tall and features a single putter tube, 14-way top, and antislip rubber feet. The cart bags are currently available in some of Loudmouth’s most popular patterns – Oakmont Houndstooth, Drop Cloth, Shagadelic Pink, Shamrocks and Magic Bus. The partnership between Loudmouth and Molhimawk will produce the first licensed product available in Europe and represent an exciting milestone for the future of Loudmouth Golf in the European market. “The Loudmouth Molhimawk golf bags

have been a huge success in the US and Canada, so we’re delighted to bring them to Europe. Customers have been enquiring constantly for them,” said Loudmouth Golf CEO, Larry Jackson. “We worked with Molhimawk to deliver a quality bag for the discerning golfer who wants the ultimate in convenience, organisation, functionality and of course, likes to have fun.” “We are tremendously excited to announce the launch of the hugely popular Loudmouth Golf Bag Line to the European market”, said Molhimawk co-founder Richard “Mitch” Mitchell. “These fantastic bags have already been a huge hit globally - and we are confident Europe will be no different.”

ust when golf equipment manufacturers are being pushed up against the ropes, one company decides to hit the market with something new – a new golf ball. Enter Medicus – an equipment manufacturer who is looking to break into the golf ball category. The company hired Golf Laboratories, Inc., out of San Diego to review its Kick X TourZ ball which is being matched against the Srixon Z Star, the Callaway SR3 and Titleist’s ProV1, ProV1x and NXT Tour S. According to the test, the new ball by Medicus traveled up to four yards longer in a set of controlled drives from a robotic hitting machine. The TourZ features a Metal Fuzion Core, which Medicus says, creates an exceptionally high coefficient of restitution, which is the “spring effect” found in premium golf balls. Thanks to a fusion of three proprietary metals that concentrates mass in the centre of its core, the ball rebounds more quickly when compressed at impact of a clubface, producing additional launch speed and distance.

The Kick X TourZ is part of a new line of performance golf clubs and products created by Medicus Golf, which for more than 20 years has been a leading developer of golf swing training products, including its best-selling hinged club. “We believe that our training aids, clubs and balls make it easier for people to play

golf, play it better faster, and ultimately get the maximum enjoyment out of the game,” said Medicus Founder Bob Koch. “It’s very rewarding to see the TourZ ball stand out in the distance challenge.” Established in 1989, Golf Laboratories has developed leading standards for testing clubs, shafts and golf balls. It provides complete and often confidential tests that inform research and development projects within the industry. For this particular ball test, the computer controlled robotic hitting machine was programmed to launch drives with a 110-mph swing speed. While a Trackman analysis system measured spin rates, launch angles and speed, 10 balls from each model were hit and then measured on Golf Laboratories’ grass range. “With exactly the same swing, the TourZ had longer distance than all of the others,” said Koch. “We chose several popular and high quality golf balls for the comparison. As a result, we’re now even more convinced that the TourZ is one of the game’s leading premium balls.”

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

New Products

New Tight Lies From Adams Golf ust when everyone thought that u Adams Golf would disappear from the A golf scene after its parent, TaylorMade g aannounced that it would shut down its headquarters in the Lone Star it state, the company is back in action. st It has announced a new version of the “Tight Lies” for 2015 - the new “Tight Lies” fairway woods and hybrid features the company’s fifth generation of its Slot Technology. In contrast to previous models designed with both a sole slot and a crown slot, the 2015 models according to Adams Golf, are enhanced by new Ghost Slot Technology, which masks the crown slot to create a clean look at address. It is a new crown slot that is nearly

45 ASIAN GOLF

invisible and features a refined “barbell” cutthrough slot design, which reduces stress on the face while promising even faster ball speeds and higher launch, according to the company. Also another new addition to the “Tight Lies” family is the Titanium fairway wood, featuring a Titanium face and crown with a stainless steel sole. For the first time, the upside down shaping and the low-profile design are being put to use in a hybrid. “Tight Lies” stainless steel fairway woods and hybrids will come stock with the KuroKage graphite shaft by Mitsubishi Rayon. Tight Lies Titanium will feature the Mitsubishi Bassara Eagle Series graphite shaft. The Tight Lies fairway wood are available in lofts of 14.5°, 16°, 19° and 22°. “Tight Lies” Titanium will be available in lofts of 13.5°, 15° and 18°. The Tight Lies Hybrid will be available in lofts of 17°, 19°, 21°, 23° and 26°.

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The New Product Floodgate Has Opened At Callaway!

hings are certainly hotting up at Callaway Golf. Last month, the company announced a brand new driver. Early September, they launched fairway woods (featured in this issue) and just as this issue was going to print, word got out about a new set of irons. The latest irons from Callaway are the Apex Musclebacks which were designed and built in direct response to Tour players who asked for a classic muscleback iron built to the exacting specifications that a blade demands with some playability, too. The musclebacks are made of soft, 1020 Carbon steel irons and are intended for elite golfers, with a Tour-inspired shape and style in a premium forged design. Callaway advises that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also packed with game-enhancing technologies like the high performance wide-spaced grooves, which deliver more control and consistent spin out of a variety of playing conditions. An Optimised Sole Camber enables excellent turf interaction from any lie for more playability than youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect from a muscleback.

OCTOBER 2014

SPECIAL FEATURE

TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedExCup Playoffs

Forget about Tiger Wood’s HKYLUHSPUL JOHYNLK ÄZ[ W\TWZ ;OL new way to gesticulate the ecstasy of victory is to show the “gator JOVTW¹ ^OPJO PZ OV^ Billy Horschel announced to the world that he ^OPWWLK ^VYSK U\TILY VUL 9VY` 4J0SYV` [V IHN [OL <: TPSSPVU -LK,_ *\W WSH` VMM

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ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 14: Billy Horschel of the United States poses with his parents Bill and Kathy on the 18th green after winning both the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedExCup Playoffs at the East Lake Golf Club on September 14, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

his is what golf needs to pick it up from its state of slumber. We need players with the kind of swagger that Horschel brings to the game. We like the way he walks (almost similar to that of the big Wild West cinematic hero John Wayne). We like the way he looks and talks (strong and powerful). And he’s got the perfect poster-boy looks for golf! In one word, Horschel displays a brand of panache that golf needs badly. Horschel’s dramatic win at the FedEx Cup play-off was no accident. He was a hot favourite having already won one-leg of this winner-takeall tournament. In the final round of the battle, he thrashed Jim Furyk and McIlroy to be declared the undisputed “king of golf” for the 2014 season. With back-to-back playoff titles (and a share of second place at the Deutsche Bank), Horschel has won not only the US$10 million but also the US$1.44 million first-place paycheck at the Tour Championship. Prior to this week, he had less than $8 million in career earnings.

SSPECIAL PECIAL FEATURE FEATURE

TOUR TO T OUR U C Championship ha h amp mpiions nsh hip by hi by Coca-Cola Co oc ca a--C Co olla a and an a nd the the FedExCup th Fe F ed dE ExCup p Playoffs Plla ayo yoffffs

While all of the focus and adulation was on Horschel, let us not forget the sterling performance put up by the “old man” Furyk. He has had a whole bunch of close calls this year and although he had a chance to put pressure on Horschel, he faltered and had to settle for a share of second place, his fourth runner-up this season. Horschel has been playing the best golf over the past several weeks leading up to the play-off. Although he was barely a factor in the biggest tournaments in 2014, Asian Golf had picked him as a future star a year ago for the very reasons stated earlier in this report. In an interview with ESPN, Horschel said that there was the time he dreamed as a kid he’d get hit in the head with a baseball bat -- and did. And then there was the time months ago that Horschel woke up in a fog, having dreamed he had won the FedEx Cup. “It was very faint, but I remember holding up the FedEx Cup trophy,” Horschel said. “As the season went along, I never thought about it, and figured maybe it was just a dream that wasn’t real. “But I thought about it last week after I won. I’ve thought about it this week a little bit that maybe this is supposed to happen. And maybe that’s why when I woke up this morning I was calm knowing that this is my chance to win the FedEx Cup trophy.” And that is the stuff of dreams.

49 ASIAN GOLF

It was very faint, but I remember holding up the FedEx Cup trophy... and as the season went along, I never thought about it, and figured maybe it was just a dream that wasn’t real.”

SPECIAL FEATURE

Grow The Game

olf Industry Central’s director Mike Orloff, said he created the website www. GrowTheGameCentral. com to tackle challenges such as declining participation and the ageing demographic of players and to attract a new generation of golfers. “Many grow the game initiatives being trialled today have great merit but don’t garner enough financial support to get off the ground,” said Orloff. “Our Grow The Game Central web platform has been designed to connect

51 ASIAN GOLF

anyone who is serious about growing the game and making a difference.” According to him, “We are at an evolutionary stage in the game’s existence. Now is the time to foster the creativity and entrepreneurship of a strong community network. The strength, motivation and passion of many individuals working together can be very powerful and will eventually impart change.” “We can leave our dependency on growing the game to the governing bodies or we can get involved and personally make a difference,” Orloff pointed out.

Grow The Game Central is targeted at anyone who loves golf, makes a living off the game and wants to grow the popularity of the game. “It’s time individual golfers, clubs, facilities and commercial entities all take a more active role in promoting and ensuring the ongoing health of our sport,” pointed out Orloff. “Grow The Game Central is all about taking a ‘grass roots’, ‘bottom up’ approach to supporting the numerous grow the game initiatives happening worldwide.” “We are utilising modern approaches such as “crowdsourcing” and “crowdfunding” to help overcome some of the problems and move closer to achieving our vision. “A world with too many golfers” The project will leverage off Golf Industry Central’s large international network of industry contacts in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the USA. To get involved in Grow The Game Central, anyone can join the on-line forum to discuss what is happening locally and internationally, contribute news or best practices, and support initiatives happening around the world. .

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We are at an evolutionary stage in the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence. Now is the time to foster the creativity and entrepreneurship of a strong community network. The strength, motivation and passion of many individuals working together can be very powerful and will eventually impart change.â&#x20AC;?

SPECIAL FEATURE

Madame Nguyen Thi Nga

She is one of the most dynamic women business entrepreneurs in Vietnam. Through her KP]LYZPÄLK I\ZPULZZ PU[LYLZ[Z ZOL WYV]PKLZ NHPUM\S LTWSV`TLU[ [V HIV\[ WLVWSL /LY THPU I\ZPULZZ PZ PU IHURPUN HUK ZOL PZ ^PKLS` YLJVNUPaLK HZ ILPUN HTVUNZ[ [OL ^LHS[OPLZ[ WLVWSL PU =PL[UHT )\[ ^OH[ ZL[Z OLY HWHY[ MYVT TVZ[ V[OLY WV^LYM\S ^VTLU PU I\ZPULZZ PZ OLY [YLTLUKV\Z WHZZPVU MVY [OL NHTL VM NVSM ¸0 SV]L [OL NHTL HUK VUL KH` ^OLU 0 OH]L TVYL [PTL VU T` OHUKZ 0 PU[LUK [V WSH` HZ T\JO NVSM HZ 0 JHU ¹ PZ OV^ Madame Nguyen Thi Nga KLZJYPILZ OLY WHZZPVU MVY NVSM

or her entrepreneurial spirit and drive and for her passionate attachment to golf, Madame Nga will be honoured at the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit with the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year Award. This award will be presented to Madame Nga at the Asian Golf Awards in Singapore on November 15. Madame Nga serves as the Chairman of Southeast Asia Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SeABank), which has more than 155 branches in Vietnam which collectively employ more than 2,100 staff with total assets exceeding S$4.7 billion. Besides her hectic schedule as a top banker, she is the Chairman of King’s Valley Corporation, and the Chairman of BRG, a group of companies doing diversified businesses which include real estate

53 ASIAN GOLF

development, golf courses, resorts, hotels, construction, infrastructure, retail chains, and automobile distribution. Madame Nga also serves on the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and actively contributes to the activities of the Council. Amongst the golf properties that she owns is the award winning Kings’ Island Golf Resort in Hanoi and the Doson Seaside Golf Resort in the city of Haiphong. “Both these golf courses are of international standard and Kings’ Island is widely regarded as the most popular and best golf course in Hanoi,” said Madame Nga. Her passion for golf continues to play out in Vietnam as she is now anxiously awaiting the completion of her newest golf course, the Legend Hills Golf Resort which is located in a spectacular setting in the province of Soc Son in Hanoi. The Legend Hills Golf Resort is Jack’s Nicklaus’ first golf course in Vietnam.

“I wanted Jack to design my course because I wanted it to be ranked as the best course in Vietnam,” said Madame Nga. According to her, this brand new 18-hole golf course will feature “twin greens” on every hole, thus offering a golfer the unique experience to play 36-holes on an 18-hole golf course. The new course is expected to be open for play in 2015. More than US$100 million has been invested in the Legend Hills Golf Resort and some of its other features besides the golf course will be a sports entertainment centre, restaurants, hotels, eco clubs, villas, parks, public services and lakes. Commenting on the Legend Hills Golf Resort, Madame Nga said, “Jack Nicklaus is not only a legendary golfer but also has a reputation for designing very unique and impressive golf courses and we know that he will deliver a golf course that will be the pride of Vietnam.”

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Madame Nguyen Thi Nga (ZPH 7HJPÃ&#x201E;J .VSM >VTHU ,U[YLWYLUL\Y 6M ;OL @LHY (^HYK

SPECIAL FEATURE

Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2014

he 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit is truly living up to its mission which is an emphatic and declared commitment to help golf grow in Asia. While golf in most of the developed world is in a languid state, Asia, especially the emerging parts of this giant Continent, is showing tremendous promise of growth. Living up to this promise is perhaps Asia’s golfing flagship – the Mission Hills Group. What this group is doing to grow golf in Asia is nothing short of being truly spectacular (read the cover story). The group’s “golf and more” philosophy will be showcased at APGS 2014 by its vice-chairman, Tenniel Chu who will share his thoughts on how Mission Hills has invested heavily and is very bullish about the future. “No pain, no gain,” is how his brother, Dr. Ken Chu, chairman of the group views the future. “Mission Hills is taking the lead role and promoting a new lifestyle, writing the rules and methodology for golf and leisure development. We are offering something for everyone. You don’t have to be a golfer to visit Mission Hills. If one member of the family chooses to go for a round, other members can find plenty of alternative things to do.”

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The Asia that we know today is young and vibrant and totally ready for change and growth and this is fertile ground for new ideas and innovative thinking to attract new players to the game and to keep the industry on the right path towards growth. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mike Sebastian

SPECIAL FEATURE

Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2014

So, the stage for the future of golf in Asia is set! It is an exciting future and yet another tangible sign of how Asia is leading the way for golf’s growth. In keeping with the theme of APGS 2014 which is “New Directions. New Energy. A Re-vitalised Industry” – the programme has been structured to look at trends and solutions designed to help the industry in Asia stay ahead of its challenges. “All of us in the industry know what the challenges are and we don’t need to be reminded of the problems. Instead, we need to get excited and engaged with the opportunities that abound to help all of us seize the moment and grow the game of golf in Asia,” said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the producer and owner of APGS 2014. “The Asia that we know today is young and vibrant and totally ready for change and growth and this is fertile ground for new ideas and innovative thinking to attract new players to the game and to keep the industry on the right path towards growth,” he added. Innovations that will be launched at APGS 2014 include a revolutionary concept called “Stadium Golf”. Conceptualised and developed entirely in Singapore, Stadium Golf is the brain-child of golf entrepreneur Balwant Grewal, Managing Director of Stadium Golf. “Stadium Golf is a platform that brings golf indoors utilising advanced golf simulation techniques – the primary thrust of this concept is to create a realistic and immersive experience for all level of players, especially juniors and beginners using the best golf simulation technology in the market made available through our exclusive technology and equipment partners.” “Our concept creates a TOTAL golfing experience that is designed to be very accessible, affordable, fun, easy to learn and play and our commitment is to introducing golf to the masses and to ensure that it is sustainable.” Grewal added. According to Director of Stadium Golf, Gane Ramachandra, “Stadium Golf will be a 24/7 facility and the plan calls for Stadium Golf to be available in areas of high population density and plans are in place to roll this business model out throughout the region very soon. In that regard we are seeking regional partners as part of our development and expansion plans.” Central to Stadium Golf’s programme will be its method of teaching the game to

59 ASIAN GOLF

Stadium Golf is a platform that brings golf indoors utilising advanced golf simulation techniques – the primary thrust of this concept is to create a realistic and immersive experience for all level of players, especially juniors and beginners using the best golf simulation technology in the market made available through our exclusive technology and equipment partners.” – Balwant Grewal juniors and beginners. “We have developed an accelarated teaching system that is guaranteed to help juniors and beginners play golf at our Stadium Golf facilities within four-hours of being exposed to the basic principles of the game,” said former LAGT professional, Nicole Liu Xiaoyan, a Director of Stadium Golf. Her teaching technique is based on her exclusive programme which enabled her to learn golf in 18 months prior to turning professional on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Another innovative programme is AuthentiGolf, a Singapore high-tech company that is the first in the world to provide authentication of golf clubs. The developers, Leonard Wee and Steven Tan, keen golfers themselves saw an op-

portunity to help put an end to counterfeiters producing fake golf clubs. “There are too many counterfeit golf clubs in the market. There is a need for a company to be the authentication bureau of choice for consumers to have peace of mind when purchasing new or used golf clubs,” said Wee. The revolution that the Mission Hills Group together with Stadium Golf and AuthentiGolf are just some of the examples of the exciting trends that are taking place in the evolution of golf in Asia. “Everywhere in the region, exciting new ideas, innovations and change initiatives are being launched and this activity only goes to prove that golf is not only growing in Asia but is also serving as the beacon for the future of the game,” added Sebastian.

MARINA BAY SANDS速 SINGAPORE

24/7 REDEFINED

SPECIAL FEATURE

CMAA –Asia Pacific Chapter

Club Industry Poised For ;OL *4(( (ZPH 7HJPÄJ 7[L 3[K»Z WYPTHY` TPZZPVU PZ [V WYV]PKL OVSPZ[PJ WYVNYHTTLZ [OH[ HYL J\Z[VTPaLK [V HK]HUJL [OL WYVMLZZPVU VM JS\I THUHNLTLU[ ^P[OPU [OL (ZPH 7HJPÄJ YLNPVU I` M\SÄSSPUN [OL LK\JH[PVUHS HUK YLSH[LK ULLKZ VM P[Z TLTILYZ

“By partnering with CMAA-Asia Pacific, we hope to bring growth to the human capital development community in the club and hospitality industry as we push boundaries by using technologies, best practices and knowledge to achieve thought leadership in the field of learning across generations and to meet the diverse needs of the learning community,” said Robert Yeo, STADA’s chief executive officer. “This partnership is a significant milestone because it reflects STADA’s efforts to partner with professionals to provide solutions to organizations in the areas of change management, organization development, employee engagement, cultural change, leadership development, professional certification, coaching and mentoring, and team innovation,” stated Lim Khia Tat, president of STADA’s management committee.

he club management industry is in for exciting times ahead as the CMAA-Asia Pacific rolls out its training and education programme for 2015. The programme which is going to be very comprehensive will be delivered by CMAA-Asia Pacific in partnership with best-of-breed education and training partners. “We have invested a great deal of time working on plans with our education partners to ensure that we are in a position to provide top quality programmes on a sustainable basis to the club industry in the region,” explained Lawrence Young, director of education for CMAA-Asia Pacific. The education partners who have entered into agreements with CMAA-Asia Pacific include:

SDH INSTITUTE

Training Vision http://www.trainingvision.com.sg/ Singapore Training & Development Association (STADA) http://www.stada.org.sg/ SDH Institute http://www.sdh.edu.sg/ Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) http://www.shri.org.sg/_about_shri.asp

STADA STADA is a forty-two old organization which was established in 1972 by a group of training professionals from diverse industries who are both committed and passionate to learn and share best practices. STADA fulfils this role through community of practice in different Human Capital Development domains, offering professional development opportunities and networking activities. 60

61 ASIAN GOLF

SDH Institute is a forward looking school with a clear focus on hospitality education which strives to develop its students in a holistic manner. SDH’s programmes not only equip its students with the professional and business knowledge and skills for the global hospitality industry, but also aim to inculcate an attitude of service excellence and entrepreneurship. According to Chia Tuck Keong, managing director of SDH, “Our comprehensive range of Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Post-Graduate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and professional learning programmes, unique learning approach and caring student support, create a truly distinctive educational experience which we believe will stand to benefit all those engaged in the club industry in the region.” With a strong presence in the hospitality industry, SDH has powerful industry linkages with leading hotel chains, integrated resorts as well as top food and beverage establishments. “With the formalisation of this agreement, CMAA-Asia will be able to fulfil its mission objective to help upgrade the human capital employed in the club industry in the region,” added Murali Nair, executive director of SDH Institute.

TRAINING VISION Training Vision is a leading training institute that specialises in providing an integrated and holistic approach towards the design and methodology of workforce development training programmes. “We are delighted to be working with CMAA-Asia to bring top quality training and education to the club industry in the region and it is our hope that together, we will be able to make a significant contribution to the future growth of the industry in our region,” said David Kwee, Training Vision’s chief executive officer during the signing of the official memorandum of understanding today.

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CMAA-Asia Pacific will collaborate with Training Vision to offer various training and education modules in service related areas including the co-creation of specific programmes to address special needs of the club industry. “We elected to partner with Training Vision because of their solid track record and the shared vision that both our organisations have to help upgrade service standards in the region and they are an organisation that will bring a lot of value to the table over the long haul,” said CMAA-Asia Pacific’s Young. Training Vision has been established since 1991 and includes among its clients top international corporations and various organisations from the government and public sectors in the region.

OCTOBER 2014

Young concluded by saying, “Going forward, the club industry in the region can expect to have top quality education which they can use to upgrade their manpower and at the same work towards improving the entire club experience for members and other users.”

SINGAPORE HUMAN RESOURCES INSTITUTE The Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) represents over 3,000 human resource professionals. Founded in 1965, SHRI is committed to promulgating and maintaining high standards of professionalism in human resource management and development. “SHRI assists organisations to relate training to their bottom lines and through collaborations with a global network of consultants, practitioners and trainers, SHRI can effectively blend training and consulting services to deliver complete, integrated and holistic solutions to meet corporate and people development needs,” explained Kao Beng Lee, SHRI’s executive director. “With these four partners coming on board with CMAA-Asia Pacific, we now have alliances with world class education and training organisations to help us deliver quality training and learning experiences to the club and hospital industry and most importantly, most of the programmes that we will be offering together with our education partners will come with valid and recognized certification,” Young pointed out.

David Kwee (left), CEO of Training Vision with Mike Sebastian

SPECIAL FEATURE

Father and Son Tournament

The Fathers and Sons golf tournament concept has been around for some time and perhaps the best known event in this tournament genre is the Annual U.S. National Father and Son Team classic. This three-day family event has become the largest father-son golf event in the world. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 54-hole competition drew over 900 players from 46 states and 7 foreign JV\U[YPLZ Ă&#x2026;PNO[Z PU HSS ;OL [V\YUHTLU[ÂťZ motto is: Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad. Asia now has its own Father and Son tournament which will be held in Vietnam. 62

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We are delighted to be organizing and hosting this prestigious event and we hope to make this an annual tournament.” – Nguyen Huu Thanh he Inaugural Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tournament is scheduled to be held in Ho Chi Minh City and will be hosted by the award-winning Long Thanh Golf Resort. “We are delighted to be organizing and hosting this prestigious event and we hope to make this an annual tournament,” declared Nguyen Huu Thanh, general manager of the Long Thanh Golf Resort. The tournament will be played on the resort’s challenging Hill Course on December 6 and 7. It will be a total family affair and is open to any father/son type relationship, from grandfathers and grandsons to uncles and nephews and an exception will also be made to include daughters. “It’s all about having fun and enjoying a great vacation with family members,” said Huu Thanh. The entry fee per player is US$450 and this includes a package involving airport-hotel transfers, transfers to the golf course daily, lunch and dinner on the first day and lunch and a gala awards dinner on the final day plus goodie bags and prizes. Accommodation will be at the Sheraton Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and special arrangements have been made for very attractive rates.

“We want all of our guests to feel totally at home while they are in Vietnam and we are doing everything within our power to make their stay and play in Ho Chi Minh City a memorable one,” said Huu Thanh. Space will be limited so register early! The winning father and son team will take home the Challenge Trophy presented by Vietnamese philanthropist and owner of the Long Thanh Golf Resort, Mr. Le Van Kiem. Besides this prestigious trophy, there will be other prizes. The following can be downloaded at:

Entry forms / Hotel reservation http://tinyurl.com/fsgt2014 Tournament rules and regulations http://tinyurl.com/fsgt-rr2014

MR. LE VAN KIEM Owner: Long Thanh Golf Resort

LONG THANH GOLF RESORT, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

DECEMBER 6 & 7, 2014

In Celebration Of Fathers And Sons The inaugural Asia Paciﬁc Father and Son Golf Tournament is on the cards. Fathers and sons or direct related members of a family will do battle to see who emerges as the best of the best in the region.

The tournament is open to any combination of family members – father and daughter, uncle/aunty and nephew and niece. This arrangement provides for a wider family involvement and participation.

This prestigious tournament will be staged on The winning team will walk away with the December 6 and 7, 2014 and the host venue Asia Paciﬁc Father and Son Trophy presented is the award winning Long Thanh Golf Resort by Vietnamese philanthropist Le Van Kiem. in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Come and be part of the region’s ﬁrst ever total family golf event ... The Inaugural Asia Paciﬁc Father and Son Golf Tournament! Entry fee is set at US$450 per player and this will include: Daily two-way transfer from the Sheraton Hotel to the golf course. Lunch, refreshment and dinner on both days. Prizes and goodie bags. One practice round on December 5. The Father and Sons Tournament is designed to promote greater family involvement in golf and clubs are encouraged to enter club teams to participate in that promises to become an annual tournament.

ONLINE Registration is open at: http://tinyurl.com/fsgt2014

DOWNLOAD PDF – RULES & REGULATIONS: http://tinyurl.com/fsgt-rr2014 For enquiries, please contact Alice Ho at alice@asiapacificholfgroup.com or call +65-63232800

Organised by: Long Thanh Golf Resort

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Black Hat Golf Tips

Greetings from Thailand! This is a very good tip that my father taught me when I was real young because the weather in Illinois is not always sunny. And, you can WYHJ[PJHSS` ÄUK H IPN ¸^HSS¹ ZWHJL anywhere if you really look for it.

ecently, I’ve had students inquire about their weekly practice schedule. During the bonding phase of the TMG Academy’s International Preparatory Programme, it’s imperative to assess the player’s daily routine in order to advise on a productive practice schedule. This is very important, especially in the Bangkok area where the traffic is unpredictable. Therefore, having a tip that makes sure both your backswing and through swing are intact creates a good confident feeling. And, if you can randomly do the following tip throughout the day in the office or in your home, you will be able to take your confident swing to the golf course on your next round! 66

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Why is this tip so good? Golfers don’t have a real good sense of where the club is because the club is out of sight during much of the swing. Many players have no sense of where it is positioned in relation to the hands, arms and body. Players often swing the club too much around the body on the backswing and, on the forward swing, heave the club outside the target line and cut across the ball from outside to in. The following drill makes these movements impossible and will improve both your back and through swings. Here’s how I use this drill with students: I will point out a wall size that is appropriate for the golfer. Using a golf club, I will have the student stand with his back to the wall. The heel is several inches from the wall. I will have the student make his normal backswing and try to avoid hitting the wall. If the club strikes the wall on the way back,

the student is swinging too much around his body. If the golfer strikes the wall on the forward swing, it is evident that he swung excessively from outside to inside the target line on the downswing. Ideally, the player should cock the club upward when his backswing is about half completed. This will help him avoid hitting the wall at the top. On the forward swing, try to swing from inside the target line, making the club swing toward the target. If the club doesn’t hit the wall on the follow-through, then the golfer knows he is making progress. Doing this drill successfully also demands that the golfer be balanced at all times, another benefit that will serve the golfer well when he goes back to hitting balls. Remember, you can find a wall anywhere! Make good use of it to improve your golf swing!

OCTOBER 2014

Doing this drill successfully also demands that the golfer be balanced at all times, another benefit that will serve the golfer well when he goes back to hitting balls.”

ABOUT TONY MEECHAI Born and brought up in the United States, Tony Meechai won his first golf tournament at the age of nine. He began working in the golf industry when aged 15 and competed in various Mini Tour and PGA Tour qualifiers after turning professional in 1994. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University and a degree in Marketing and Professional Golf Management, he has made a name for himself in Asia over the past decade, during which time he has served as Director of Instruction at Thailand’s Heartland Golf Schools and Springfield Royal Country Club as well as presenting tips on numerous region-wide golf television shows. Recently, he founded the Tony Meechai Golf Academy that combines a curriculum including academics and golf education for aspiring Tour professionals. Programmes are in conjunction with international institutions throughout the world. For further information, please visit www.tmggolfeducation.com

www.tonymeechaigolf.com

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Pro Tour Golf College

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE A GOOD ENOUGH GOLFER TO GO TO TOUR SCHOOL? It’s that time of the year again when ambitious male and female golfers start planning to go to a tour school in an attempt to earn playing rights to play on a professional golf tour.

They want to live their dream of becoming a highly paid professional golfer like Adam Scott, earning their income playing in professional golf tournaments. ;OL ÄLSKZ H[ [V\Y ZJOVVS HYL HU PU[LYLZ[PUN TP_ VM HTH[L\Y NVSMLYZ and professionals ranging in age from 18 to 50 from all over the world, all with the same big goal in mind. David Milne (left) and Lawrie Montague (right).

t is always inspiring to see motivated and serious golfers wanting to achieve their big aim in life playing golf successfully on a pro tour, because many of them have grown up watching their golf stars on TV hitting winning shots to win the big cheques, and achieve a level of golfing glory, and they want some of the same. In today’s article we will explore the important question “how do you know if you are a good enough golfer to go to tour school?” We hope that by the end of our article you will have a clearer idea about whether you are really ready to compete on tour, or that possibly you need to work at your game for a little longer to get ready. Now as I’m sure you already know all tour schools operate in a similar way in that they publish dates on their website for the stages of their tour school, which is usually from 2 to 4 stages. Each stage is usually 4 rounds of golf and the amateur or professional golfer who has entered tour school will play the first stage of tour school at a golf course/s chosen by the respective tour, and hopefully they will play well enough to continue on to stage 2. For example at the European Tour School they have three stages, with the first 68

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They want to earn the right to play on a professional golf tour. and second stages being 4 rounds each and the final stage 6 rounds. At most tour schools you will have to compete over at least two stages, or 8 rounds of golf to get to the final stage, and you will have to play to a very high standard to earn your card. And keep in mind just getting a tour card isn’t really enough, as in most cases you will need to finish high enough in the final standings to gain entry into most of the tour events. To enter tour school you will also need an official handicap of around scratch (0) to enter most tour schools, although you can enter the Australasian Tour School with a handicap of 2.5, however we suggest that if you don’t have a true scratch handicap or better, then keep practicing because you won’t be good enough to get through the qualifying stages. So How Good Do You Really Have to Be? How good do you have to be to really have a good chance of earning your tour card? It’s the only question that you need to truly consider and quite honestly unless you have a competitive score average of par or better in national ranked tournaments over a whole season playing at least 50 rounds of golf, you are best to keep working at your game.

The simple fact is that every tour school is geared to this minimum standard of excellence. Think about this for a moment, you will play a minimum of eight rounds to qualify for a small tour like the Australasian Tour, and as many as 17 rounds to qualify for a major tour like the Web.com Tour, and you will be required to play to much better than par in all kinds of weather conditions on the bigger tours to secure your card. The majority of players entering tour schools are not nearly at this standard, and the results show in the final analysis every year. Yes many of these tour hopefuls can score well around their home course, and maybe even around the local courses in their district, but tour school is a different animal altogether. At the 2013 Web.Com Tour School final stage Zach Fischer finished 31 under par for 6 rounds, (averaging 5.1 under par per round) and won the tour school earning his card to play on the Web.Com Tour in 2014 which was a phenomenal effort. Now you would think with that standard of play he would do really well on the Web. Com Tour but as of the end of August 2014 he had earned just US $65,000 dollars, ranking him 77th on the money list, (from the 18

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events he had competed in) and he made the cut in 11 events and missed the cut in 7 (61 percent). His score average (actual) at the end of August 2014 was 70.68 ranking him 87th in this category. So it just goes to show that even qualifying for the Web.Com tour in spectacular fashion doesn’t guarantee you anything, as you still have to play to a very high standard every day you compete, if you want to learn how to become a successful tournament professional. To give you an idea of just how good you have to be, to earn last card at the Web. Com Tour School in 2013, you needed to finish at 16 under par for the final 6 rounds, which is averaging 2.6 under par each day. This is after successfully qualifying through the first 3 stages.

4 TOUR SCHOOL TACTICS So how do you develop you game to a high enough standard that you give yourself the very best chance of playing on a pro tour, and more importantly, to develop your game to a level where you can stay on tour for years to come? Here are our 4 tour school tips for any serious amateur or professional golfer considering developing their game with the sole purpose of competing at a tour school, and winning a card to play on a professional golf tour.

OCTOBER 2014

Tour School Tactic 1. Score Average is the Big Deal Understand that your competitive score average over at least one full season (and a minimum of 50 rounds) in national and international ranked tournaments (amateur or pro events) is the only real barometer of whether your standard is good enough to go to tour school. Playing to par or better in local club

events, and district tournaments, is just not going to be nearly good enough for a serious crack at tour school; you need to compete and consistently contend in major amateur tournaments to be sure. Don’t be misled by well-meaning family and friends who tell you that because you hit the ball like a top tour player, and you play great on your home courses that it is your guarantee of success at tour school. Over the years many home town heroes have gone to tour school and come home with their tail between their legs. Let me say it again, your long-term competitive score average playing hundreds of holes at lots of different golf course venues, on different golf course styles, in all kinds of conditions, and to a very high standard, is all that matters. Tour school and tour golf will always be about how well you can score over hundreds of holes, and it’s not about anything else.

Tour School Tactic 2. It’s Not About Mental Toughness You don’t just need ‘Mental Toughness’ to succeed in qualifying and playing successfully on a pro tour, what you really need is The Mental Toughness Endurance Factor, which is not exactly the same thing.

GAME IMPROVEMENT

Pro Tour Golf College

Any golfer can be mentally tough enough to play decently for a round or two, but the true test of whether you can make it on a pro tour is going to get down to your emotional endurance and grit over hundreds of holes. Emotional endurance describes your ability to completely maintain and manage your emotional state to no more than a slightly frustrated level in every type of condition imaginable, over hundreds of holes. How many holes can you play when things are not going the way you want before you get frustrated and angry? Can you play at least 90 holes of competitive golf without letting poor performances derail your scoring ability? Emotional endurance is the key tour player factor that helps you to keep your score around par over long periods of time, and many miles of golf course travelled.

The Sprint Golfer and The Ultra Marathon Golfer At Pro Tour Golf College we describe to our students the crucial difference between what we call a sprint golfer, and what we call an ultra-marathon golfer. Sprint golfers are good for 18 holes— maybe 36 holes, and then they run out of gas. The true tournament golfer however is someone who can play to a very high standard over 72 holes or more, week-in-andweek-out without suffering from depression or anxiety because of a run of poor play. In our experience you have to be an ultra-marathon golfer than a sprint golfer, and your goal should be to train to become an ultra-marathon golfer if you want to succeed as a professional tour golfer. 18 holes of golf is a walk of roughly 7100 yards from the men’s tee’s which equates to about 4 miles, or 6.4 kilometres of walking. Now how many rounds of golf, and miles of golf holes do you need to walk to become a top tour golfer? Hundreds of miles is the only answer that makes sense, and what this essentially means is that you must learn how to manage and maintain a low golf score average over hundreds of miles of golf holes. I’m sure that you can see that your emotional endurance combined with welldeveloped golf skills specifically developed for playing golf on tour is going to be essential for your success? 70

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Tour School Tactic 3. Develop Your ‘Tour Skills’ to Tour Grade Tour golf skills are the golf skills you will rely on when your tee to green long game is going a little haywire. Tour golfer’s average around 12 greens per round in regulation, from round to round, which means that on their good days they miss about 4 greens in regulation, and on their bad days they miss 8. Believe me when I tell you that you will have more bad tee to green days than good ones. The tour skills you need to develop to what we call tour grade, and they will be the high and soft flop shots, and a variety of spinning and releasing pitch shots, as well as bunker shots from all types of lies to access tight pin placements which are the norm on a pro tour. And you will also need to be able to accomplish this in wet and dry conditions, and from all types of surfaces and lies. You will also need to be proficient with your recovery techniques from the different types of grasses surrounding the greens. On top of this you will also need to be a fearless putter on severely sloping and fast greens, and have the nerve to keep holing the tough putts inside 5 feet, from hole to hole, and from round to round. Have you noticed when you watch tour events on TV how good the scrambling skills of top tour golfers are, and how this ability helps keep them in contention? You will see the tour skills they rely

on that keep them on top of their score management from round to round, and you need to be constantly working and developing your tour skills to tour grade to help you keep your score average down around par or better to have any chance of making it through tour school.

Tour School Tactic 4. Finally you will need to be a full time golfer to consider going to tour school. This means that playing golf is your full time job, and playing, practicing and developing your golf skills is what you do for a minimum of 5 to 6 hours per day, for 5 to 6 days per week. Tour school is not for part-time golfers, or for those who “just want to give it a try to see if they’re good enough.” Before you go to a tour school you will have invested literally thousands of hours into your game, and you will have earned the special level of confidence that you need, to know that you have made the right choice in your life. Going to tour school is serious business for serious golfers, and will require your highest standards of excellence for you to have any chance of obtaining your card. So if you believe with all your heart and mind that you have what it takes to go to tour school, and you have maintained a par or better average in important tournaments for a season or more, then you just might have a chance of winning playing privileges to play on a professional golf tour. And live your dream. We wish you the very best.

Singapore All Set To Rock With APGS 2014! The region’s top summit on golf is just weeks away and the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit promises to be the best in the series. This year’s event, the eighth in the series will be staged at the iconic Marina Bay Sands Resort. The theme of this major golf knowledge event is “New Directions. New Energy. A Re-vitalised Industry”.

November ASIAN GOLF ISSUE 170

New From Nike Golf Nike Golf has begun stirring and the “swoosh” team is expected to announce its 2015 Nike Vapor Flex Driver. Leaked documents from Nike Golf reveal that there will be three versions of the new driver. The most interesting of the three models is the upcoming Vapor Flex Driver, which features its own version of cavity-back technology along with Nike’s new Flex Flight Module. More to come!

Asian Golf Awards – The Top Nominees The prestigious Asian Golf Awards will feature prominently in the November issue of ASIAN GOLF. This issue will highlight the top three nominees in each category for 2014. The winners will be honoured at the Gala Awards Banquet during the staging of the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit scheduled to be held in Singapore.

Golf Industry Survey Completed! The golf industry in Asia awaits the release of the first-ever comprehensive industry survey conducted by the Asia Pacific Golf Group in conjunction with the CMAA-Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and Golf Business Advisory Services Pty Ltd of Australia. Conducting the survey which includes three special reports, has been a major undertaking but more importantly, it has now paved the way for more such surveys to be done on the golf industry in the region, especially Southeast Asia.

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For all the latest news and views from the Asian golf scene, subscribe to Asian Golf – Asia’s most powerful golfing voice!

www.asiapacificgolfgroup.com

Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters WINNER: Chapchai Nirat

YOKOHAMA TIRE LPGA CLASSIC WINNER: MI JUNG HUR

tenerife open de espana feminin WINNER: connie chen

EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER: Hyo-Joo Kim

TOUR CHampionship by Coca Cola - FedeX Cup WINNER: BILLY HORSCHEl

THE WALES OPEN WINNER: JOOST LUITEN

KLM OPEN WINNER: PAUl CASEY

RYDER CUp WINNER: EUROPE

Team Europe was just too good and proved that they had the best golfers in the world when they completely steam-rolled Team U.S.A. to retain the Ryder Cup for the third time in a row. Team Europe had everything going for them when they ran riot to pull off a 16½-11½ triumphant win in a tournament that had everything on display – total determination, burning passion and unmatched team spirit. It all came together to create a powerful will to win. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy set the tone when he got Europe off to a flying start in the singles action and Jamie Donaldson put the finishing touch some two hours later to grab the Ryder Cup for Team Europe. Trailing 10-6, Team U.S.A. needed to win 8½ points out of the possible 12 available in singles but after an early run of good play, it could only win four matches and earn 5½ points. Captain of Team U.S.A., Tom Watson acknowledged defeat graciously when he declared, "The U.S. players responded early, but they just couldn't keep it going - but the credit goes to Europe. They are stacked with great players …. we came here thinking we could win, knowing it would be a great challenge, but we fell short.” Reacting to the win, Team Europe’s Captain Paul McGinley exclaimed, "Proud is the first word - I want to say as captain it's been a real honour to get these 12 players, they have all been Colossus, and all of them, the caddies, the backroom team, five vice captains, it's been a huge team effort."

Europeans PULL OFF A Total ROUT OF THE YANKS! WINNER: EUROPE

YEANGDER Tournament Players Championship WINNER: Prom Meesawat

%GUV &QWTUG KP $UKC 3CEKæE Best Course in Thailand 2002 – 2010 1st Runner-up 2010 & 2011 1st Runner-up 2011 & 2013 Best Clubhouse in Asia Best Par-3 Signature Hole (#6) Best Championship Course 2001 – 2003 in Asia 2008 Eight times since 2000

Website: www.thaicountryclub.com

E-mail: inquiry@thaicountryclub.com

Tel: (66 38) 570 234

Fax: (66 38) 570 225

Golfers d a i r s e a P Come and Discover What h Playing l Golf l in Paradise d Really Feels Like Long Thanh Golf Resort is a true paradise for any golfer. Two world-class golf courses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one that traverses hilly terrain while the other meanders through spectacular lakes. Both the Hill Course and the Lake Course are fascinating showcases of breath-taking landscapes

populated by a wide array of flora and fauna. Golfing in Long Thanh Golf Resort is an experience of world-class golf combined with a unique brand of service and the warmth and friendliness of Vietnam. All this delivered in a tranquil setting located in the southern economic triangle and just 40 minutes from Ho Chi Minh Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centre.

Long Thanh Golf Resort -A Golf Paradise Like No Other! www.longthanhgolfresort.com National Highway 51, Tan Mai 2 Hamlet, Phuoc Tan Village, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam Tel: +84 61 3 512 512 Fax: +84 61 3 512 513