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MR R STI ST T G NOTL NO OT OTL TL T LÖV ÖV

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D I S T I N C T I O N !

At the 2014 Asian Golf Awards in Singapore last November, Black Mountain Golf Club hauled the prestigious award as the Best Course in the Asia Pacific amongst other awards.

Asian Golf met up with the founder and owner of the club, Stig Notlöv to get a sense of what makes the club a success and what makes this Swedish visionary tick.

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GOLF ACCESSORIES 26 A Shoe Inspired By A Bridge – How Cool Is That!

FootJoy’s HyperFlex is one of the most exciting shoe designs the company has ever created. Not only does it look ‘super cool’ but it is also packed with loads of performance features and benefits that will help enhance a golfer’s enjoyment of his game and to play his best.

30 Dare To Be Different!

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Dare To Be Different – if you want to spice up your golf game, then we’d like to challenge you to do something different. Like change your golf bag, add colourful grips to your clubs and even add a flamboyant umbrella to your golf kit. We give you Loudmouth – making golf fun!

32 Pamper Your Feet With BOOST! Adidas Golf has introduced adipower BOOST – the adidas’ new Adipower Boost and Adipower Sport Boost golf shoes are designed to energize and stabilize a golfer’s swing with the company’s Boost and GripMore technologies.

38 Feel The Power Of PUMA’s TitanTour The new PUMA Golf TitanTour golf shoe has been designed to be the coolest shoe in golf. It features revolutionary, temperature-regulating Outlast® technology along with a sleek, eye-catching silhouette for a tour performance golf shoe with industry-leading comfort and style.

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MARCH 2015

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GOLF BUSINESS

SPECIAL FEATURE

44 Golf – Headed North Or Trending South?

6 Through Time: Charlie Sifford – Thanks For The Memories

With guarded optimism, some feel that the worst is over. Many are of the contention that there is more blood-letting to come in 2015 and then there are those who sit on the fence and subscribe to the industry maintaining its status quo circa 2014.

50 TaylorMade’s “Theatre Of Innovation” Turns Magical In Bali TaylorMade Adidas Golf invited some 150 dealers, distributors and members of the media from Southeast Asia to witness the unveiling of the new family of products that are going to thrill and add enjoyment to thousands of golfers. The big-draw stars of the show were the TaylorMade R15 stable of drivers, fairway woods and hybrids and the “born again” Aero Burner.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

18 Meet Gavin Green, A Golf “Phenom” And A Wunderkind Asian Golf is sticking its neck out to predict that Green will be Southeast Asia’s first ever golfer to really make the grade on the professional tours in America and will earn his ticket to play on the world’s number one tour – the PGA Tour!

24 The SNAG Inflatable Range The SNAG inflatable driving range - This range will allow golf professionals, country clubs and golf organizations true mobility in bringing golf to people in their environment that might never have thought about experiencing the game.

54 Indonesia Leads With A World Class Academy Indonesia has taken the lead in the ASEAN region to set up a world class college to train both elite professional and amateur golfers. The unique facility will be operated by Australian-based Pro Tour Golf College and is being set up with the support and blessing of the Indonesian Golf Association.

36 Power Talk From Bridgestone!

A special introduction to Bridgestone’s impressive line-up for 2015.

Leading the pack of new equipment is the acclaimed J715 Driver which is being talked about for its tremendous distance and accuracy off the tee.

41 The “Little Company” Strikes Gold Again!

There is no margin for error when it comes to Tour-calibre performance. The all new Tour Edge Exotics E8 Tour adjustable fairway wood delivers an unsurpassed level of excellence. The E8 Tour combines a tour-inspired design, a state-of-the-art manufacturing process, upgraded materials – and all with more loft adjustability options than the competition. Reaction from players has been spectacular

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58 Black Hat Tips: March Madness – Don’t Get Mad! The month of March in the United States normally brings together hundreds of thousands of basketball fans and it’s amazing to see how excited they get just watching this amazing sport.

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REGULARS 8 Asian Golf Editorial Team

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60 Pro Tour Golf College: The 4 Golf Success Factors That Will Fast-Track High School and College Golfers to the Pro Tour If you have been reading our recent article series you know that it is aimed at preparing high school and college golfers for a life as a professional tour golfer.

9 Shared Thoughts From Publisher

64 Next Issue

THROUGH TIME Charlie Sifford

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he modern era’s greatest golfer Tiger Woods called him “Grandpa”.

In turn, he affectionately referred to the “Phenom” as “Junior”. This was the special relationship that existed between two great men – both black – and both men who were trail-blazers in golf.

The late Charlie Sifford just wanted a chance to play golf and was the man credited with the courage and perseverance to break the colour barrier that stood in the way of nonwhites having a chance to play golf.

Sifford, who recently had suffered a stroke, was 92 when he passed away.

A proud man who endured racial taunts and threats, Sifford set modest goals and achieved more than he imagined. History will show that Sifford challenged the Caucasian-only clause and the PGA rescinded it in 1961.

His career was

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fully recognized in 2004 when he became the first black inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Last November, President Barack Obama presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=f6_8NNBccI4 “Charlie won tournaments, but more important, he broke a barrier,” Jack Nicklaus once said. “I think what Charlie Sifford has brought to his game has been monumental.”

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that without Charlie, and the other pioneers who fought to play, I may not be playing golf,” Tiger Woods said in an email to The Associated Press late last year. “My pop likely wouldn’t have picked up the sport, and maybe I wouldn’t have either.”

The road was never easy.

Charlie, you will always be a great in golf.

Not just great but greater than great! We wish you the very best on your new journey and as golfers, we hope that we will connect with you again – somewhere in time and space!

Good-bye.

The Asia Pacific Golf Group

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

[ myra@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

[ sufian@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

WAYNE LWEE Video Editor/Streaming services

[ wayne@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

MEDIA PARTNER

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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SHARED THOUGHTS From The Publisher

W

ho would have ever thought that Japan would be the first nation to support the official introduction of non-conforming golf clubs. Given the nation’s non-confrontational mentality and its widely acknowledged conservatism, the decision to give the use of non-conforming golf equipment the green-light took many in the industry by total surprise. How dare the Japanese buck the sacred rulings over golf equipment laid down by the venerable Royal & Ancient (R&A), the self-appointed gate-keepers of golf. Well, what matters is that the decision has been taken and there’s no turning back!

The announcement by the Japan Golf Goods Association (JGGA) was nothing short of being epic. It is eventually going to prove to be a real game-changer! At the time of writing, there had been no official reaction from the R&A or the United States Golf Association (USGA) or any major equipment manufacturer to the JGGA’s bold decision.

For the benefit of those who missed the statement, the JGGA, in short said that it would support the distribution of non-conform-

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ing golf equipment. “JGGA believes that it is desirable for the stimulation of the golf market to have a wide variety of golf equipment available in the market from which all types of golfers may choose in order to find one that really fits their respective purposes and needs, hoping that more and more golfers will enjoy playing golf as a result of such improvement in the golf equipment market,” the JGGA statement reads.

In a direct snub of the R&A, the JGGA declared, “From this point of view, JGGA has left it to the judgment of each member company whether to manufacture and/or sell golf equipment that doesn’t fully conform to the specifications set forth in the Rules of Golf promulgated by R&A.” This announcement should really be viewed not as a mischievous affront by the JGGA but in the context of how the ailing game of golf can be helped along. It is no secret that the game of golf has been in a state of decline in Japan. This downward trend in a nation that once revered golf has been hurting the Japanese golf industry which is said to be only second in size to that of America.

Our associate in Japan, Golf Equipment World (GEW) informs us that most Japanese manufacturers have been in a state of “rigor mortis” for some time and that this decision to open up the market with non-conforming equipment will come as a much-needed shot in the arm for the industry. “In the greater interest of growing the game of golf, the JGGA decision to free-up the market to accept non-conforming golf equipment can result in the floodgate for such type of equipment being thrown open. The general belief is that non-conforming equipment will help make the game easier to play thus opening up golf to a large universe of new players,” is how GEW put it across to Asian Golf.

Non-conforming golf equipment is nothing new. There are many manufacturers all over the world but this is the first time that a national association has come forth to endorse non-conforming equipment.

POLARA Golf of America, the manufacturer of non-conforming golf balls is amongst one of the pioneers to introduce non-conforming golf clubs. It has been engaged in actively promoting its Advantage driver which has an over-sized head and its founder, Dave Felker has just launched the United States Recreational Golf Association (USRGA) which we believe may ultimately push for wider acceptance of non-conforming equipment amongst recreational golfers.

Bob Philion, president of Cobra-Puma Golf, who is known to be a great disruptive thinker, recently told Golf World, “There is a sense of urgency in the industry, whether from our competitors or the PGA of America, to be less intimidating and more fun. Do I think non-conforming drivers will be out there in 10 years? I do. Three years? I do. I think the street signs for the game aren’t positive enough for someone not to try it.”

Let’s see what happens!

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COVER STORY Black Mountain Golf Club

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ISSUE 174

MARCH 2015

“The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.”

- John Scully (former CEO of Apple)

It is an acknowledged fact that everything that we see, use, feel and experience today is the end product of a dream … a vision.

Something that was thought up by someone who had the conviction and drive to see a dream and a vision become a reality.

COVER STORY Black Mountain Golf Club We set out to build the best course possible from the outset. It wasn’t a specific aim to make the Top 100 in the world, but we did want to have a world-class course. How it would be judged was something that was out of our control, but by doing everything to the highest standards we were confident the course and facilities would be judged positively and that’s how it turned out!” – Stig Notlöv

T

he men and women behind the dream and the vision go on to become legends who are respected and revered by legions of admirers.

Like the late Steven Jobs – a man who took on computer behemoths working out of his garage to give the world the first personal computer – the Apple PC. Jobs is no longer here but his legacy lives on through the company and products that he influenced and built.

The story that is about to unravel is about the dream of an entrepreneur who travelled thousands of miles from his homeland to a country in the Orient to watch it materialise from nothing.

Coincidentally, this dream came to final fruition as a result of a massive tragedy that involved the untimely death of hundreds of thousands of humans in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka. It was the tragic tsunami that ravaged the region back in 2004.

The entrepreneur in question was in

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Phuket at the time of the tsunami, a town that he has visited regularly over twenty years. It took a major hit from this natural catastrophe and because of the devastation, the entrepreneur was ordered to leave the ravaged island. That’s when he decided to venture beyond Phuket to visit some friends in the northern beach resort of Hua Hin. This is when the dream and the vision took form. An avid golfer, he decided to build a golf course in Hua Hin. Driven by a burning passion and a focused conviction, he scouted around the landscape for an ideal location amidst light and densely vegetated forests that was home to poisonous snakes and other perilous creatures.

He finally had that special aha moment on a parcel of land surrounded by pineapple plantations and a backdrop of spectacular mountains. This was it! The ideal setting for the realisation of a dream and a vision.

The birth of what will go forward to mark the creation of one of the great golf courses of Asia if not the whole world!

Who is this entrepreneur? He is a man

who shares a unique name with the world renowned tamer of ferocious super cars on the cult motorcar television programme, Top Gear. Like “Stig” the fearless race car driver who knows no limits when it comes to speed, Stig Notlöv, the Swedish entrepreneur set a very lofty goal for his vision which has now manifested itself in the form and shape of the award winning championship golf course – Black Mountain Golf Club.

A quick flash back to 2005 – Notlöv acquired the land and mobilised more than 1000 construction workers, 200 trucks and 60 excavators to start work on his dream.

After only 14 months of construction, the course opened in record time in April 20, 2007 to widespread acclaim, in Thailand and internationally.

Shortly thereafter, the design and the unique setting of Black Mountain Golf Club started sweeping awards in Asia, Europe and the United States of America. All this in a relatively short time which just goes to prove that Notlöv set himself very high ideals and was able to reach these goals to

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STIG NOTLOV

– SOLD ON GOLF AND SOLD ON ASIA! Stig Notlov is not the sort of man who will back down from a challenge. While he is a change agent extraordinaire, he is also a steadfast optimist Unlike developed markets in the western hemisphere where the growth of golf has either stagnated or is in decline, Notlov believes there is another 20 years or more of golf industry growth in Asia.

“Golf has a great future, it is a great game, a wonderful test of skill, and above all a social connector that brings people with a common interest together,” is how Notlov views the game. He adds, “It can be played by anyone from 5 to 95; there are no limits - whether you are a professional who can play under par every time or a high handicapper who can’t break 100, golf has the same appeal. No other sport or pastime or recreational activity is quite like it,” is the positive outlook that Notlov has for the future of golf.

realise his big dream and grand vision for a golf course that will not only provide great experiences for golfers of all skill levels but to also be acclaimed as being one of the finest golf courses in Asia and the world.

At the 2014 Asian Golf Awards in Singapore last November, Black Mountain hauled the prestigious award as the Best Course in the Asia Pacific amongst other awards.

Asian Golf met up with Notlöv to get a sense of what makes this Swedish visionary

tick. The following are excerpts from that session:

ASIAN GOLF: Ten years have since passed since you moved to Hua Hin and embarked on the historic dream to build your own golf course. How do you look back on that odyssey now?

STIG NOTLÖV: It has been a very exciting, rewarding experience and it has exceeded my expectations. After I found the

site, I always thought we could develop a world-class golf course and resort, but the result has been quite amazing. Everyone who comes to Black Mountain really enjoys the experience and we constantly receive very positive feedback.

AG: You wanted a golf course but did you ever envision that you would end up owning a golf course that would be ranked as the best in the Asia

COVER STORY Black Mountain Golf Club

SN: We set out to build the best course possible from the outset. It wasn’t a specific aim to make the Top 100 in the world, but we did want to have a world-class course. How it would be judged was something that was out of our control, but by doing everything to the highest standards we were confident the course and facilities would be judged positively and that’s how it turned out!

Some championship courses are too difficult for amateurs, but Black Mountain is one that appeals equally to players of all abilities. It is the same golf course, but plays very differently from the championship tees!”

AG: 5V[ VUS` PZ )HJR 4V\U[HPU [OL ILZ[ PU [OL YLNPVU I\[ P[ PZ HSZV YLNHYKLK HZ [OL ILZ[ JOHTWPVUZOPW JV\YZL PU [OL (ZPH 7HJPÄJ ;OPZ T\Z[ IL H [YLTLUKV\Z ZV\YJL VM ZH[PZMHJ[PVU MVY `V\

SN: Yes, absolutely. Being located in Asia makes it especially satisfying to be judged so highly in the region both as a championship course and one that can be enjoyed by amateurs. Not many courses are able to meet these criteria. Some championship courses are too

7HJPÄJ HUK YHURLK HTVUNZ[ [OL [VW ILZ[ NVSM JV\YZLZ PU [OL ^VYSK&

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difficult for amateurs, but Black Mountain is one that appeals equally to players of all abilities. It is the same golf course, but plays very differently from the championship tees!

AG: 0U [OL `LHYZ [OH[ ^L OH]L ILLU [YHJRPUN [OL KL]LSVWTLU[ VM )SHJR

HUA HIN, THAILAND - FEBRUARY 15: Andrew Dodt of Australia poses with the trophy after victory in the 2015 True Thailand Classic at Black Mountain Golf Club on February 15, 2015 in Hua Hin, Thailand. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

ISSUE 174

Mountain, we have sensed that it is still a work in progress. Are you someone who constantly keeps looking for change because the way you have kept re-working your course certainly points to you being a very change oriented person?

SN: We are never satisfied - there is always room for improvement, whatever your product or business may be and it is important not to be totally satisfied, as if nothing needs to be done. We have always had an open mind and have sought to make adjustments along the way. Undoubtedly, this will continue in the future.

AG: Why change when you already seem to have a perfect product?

SN: Nothing is perfect. You can achieve near perfection, but never total perfection. That is my attitude and always will be. Success depends on getting the small things right.

AG: You strike me as a very handson entrepreneur, someone who is frequently seen at the club house mingling with golfers. What do they tell you about your course and how does this constant feedback affect your propensity for change?

SN: I like detail and keeping closely in touch with what is happening in the total business. I don’t run the day-to-day operations, but I do take a close interest in how we present the course and facilities to our members and guests.

AG: Besides being an award-winning golf facility, is there something special

that Black Mountain has to offer that has made it a favourite amongst golf tourists and locals alike?

SN: The sense of community at Black Mountain is a major attraction. We have permanent residents, regular visitors, occasional visitors and those who come for the first time. We have been able to create a sense of belonging that makes people happy, relaxed and comfortable. This is very important and has helped make the course and facilities so popular. Being near Hua Hin is also a big plus. It is perhaps the most popular upmarket tourism destination in Thailand and this is another big attraction.

AG: Black Mountain has been home to some major international golf tournaments. How have these tournaments helped with your total image building exercise?

SN: We have had Asian Tour events and the Royal Trophy in the past, all of which have helped create a quality image. When people read about a tournament at Black Mountain or see it on TV, they invariably want to experience the course for themselves.

The natural beauty of the surroundings helps create a desire to come here. (Black Mountain played host to the inaugural Thailand Classic from February 12-15 which was the first event co-sanctioned between The European Tour and Asian Tour to be permanently based in Thailand).

AG: We notice that many of Thailand’s top professional golfers receive a great deal of support from Black Mountain. This support

MARCH 2015

is visibly manifested through the strategic placement of your distinct corporate logo on their golf shirts.

Talk about this support?

SN:We have been keen to support established and upcoming professional golfers in Thailand. It is important to ensure that we contribute to the growth of golf in the Kingdom and we believe this support helps achieve this goal.

AG: Do you extend similar support to international professionals?

SN: We also have had numerous European players as ambassadors – Johan Edfors, Rikard Karlberg and others. This of course helps our profile in Europe.Simon Yates has his home here. Johan Edfors also spends a lot of time at Black Mountain. They choose to do so because they love everything about Black Mountain – the facility, quality of the course, practice facilities and, most important, the sense of belonging, of being home away from home.

AG: As success goes, it cannot be denied that Black Mountain has hit the top in a relatively short time. What more do you see yourself doing to further consolidate the reputation of excellence that the club enjoys on a global scale?

SN: We want to make the course as good and appealing as it can be, not just during tournaments, but year-round. We are also commencing work on another nine holes, which will provide greater capacity and make the course available to more people.

SPECIAL FEATURE Gavin Green

– A STAR IN THE MAKING! A kid nick-named “Double GG” and who adores the modern game’s greatest golfer can’t be all that bad?

This kid is perhaps the greatest young golfer to have come out of Southeast Asia. Destiny has marked this kid for stardom! He has been primed for greatness since his bumble-gum blowing teeny-bopper years.

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H

e was the youngest participant ever in an Asian Tour event when he played in the Iskander Johor Open at age 13. He scooped up the Sportsman of the Year Award in Malaysia in 2006, ‘08, ‘09 and ‘10 and the CEO Award from 2006-10. (Note: We’ve skipped past a whole host of other achievements because it will just take up too much space – that’s how prolific this young star has been in competition golf ).

Fast forward to 2015 and the kid’s headed for greater things. A senior at the famed University of New Mexico, he is already tied for first on the all-time UNM victories list with five and tied a school record with four wins in 2013-2014.

That’s not all - his 72.27 strokes per round average at UNM ranks third all-time on the school’s list. And here’s the icing on the cake – he has placed on the Golf Coaches Association of America All-America teams twice during his career and has gone down as the first amateur to

Gavin with Father Gary (middle) and kid brother Galven (right)

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MARCH 2015

We are all witness to the birth of one of the greatest young golfers to emerge from Southeast Asia and maybe even from all of Asia!” win an event on the professional Asian Development Tour, capturing the PGM Vascory Templer Park Championship by a whopping 11 strokes.

The kudos are endless but you get the message. We are all witness to the birth of one of the greatest young golfers to emerge from Southeast Asia and maybe even from all of Asia!

Meet Gavin Green, a golf “Phenom” and a wunderkind.

Asian Golf is sticking its neck out to predict that Green will be Southeast Asia’s first ever golfer to really make the grade on the professional tours in America and will earn his ticket to play on the world’s number one tour – the PGA Tour! We are dead serious and in this regard, we will be launching a special “Gavin Green Watch” section on our web site – http://www.asiapacificgoldgroup.com to keep track of his continuing rise to stardom.

To get an insight and better understanding about this young Malaysian star, Asian Golf spent some time talking to him and we

Brothers in Arms

Gavin in action at the world university games

are proud to bring you excerpts of our conversation with Green in this exclusive interview:

ASIAN GOLF: You have done your family, your country and yourself proud with your phenomenal progress as an amateur. Your current standing on the college circuit is nothing short of being spectacular. All this must make you feel real good?

GAVIN GREEN: I am very thankful and happy to have had all these opportunities. However, I am also fully aware that it is not something I could have done on my own. My family and those around who support and help me have been just amazing. I am very blessed, actually!

AG: When I last met you in Kuala Lumpur, shortly after you busted your nose, you were an extremely quiet and reserved young man. However, I sensed that under this demeanor was a future champion just waiting to break out. You have done

Gavin with Tun Ahmad Sarji Hamid (right)

SPECIAL FEATURE Gavin Green

We are so incredibly proud to have him as a member of Lobo Golf and The University of New Mexico. He is an amazing talent and an even better person.”

– Glen Millican

Green Gets The All Important Thumbs Up From Coach Glen Millican (left) with Gavin

In preparing this special editorial spread on Green, Asian Golf contacted the Head Golf Coach at the University of New Mexico, Glen Millican.

M

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illican is a veteran coach who has played a part in the development of many young college amateurs and he is delighted to have had the opportunity of taking Green under his wing.

He said, “Gavin’s game has become very sharp and disciplined in recent years …. he has always had great power and skills, but he has a greater understanding of how to use his strengths efficiently than when he was a freshman.”

According to Millican, Green is an exceptional competitor who wants to win at everything he does. “He has a tremendous work ethic, is a great leader on our team and doesn’t back down from any challenges.”

One key observation made by Green’s coach is “his willingness to put the necessary time and effort into school, golf and physical conditioning that has allowed him to progress rapidly in golf while obtaining a college degree - ultimately positioning him to be a very successful person with great integrity.”

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MARCH 2015

just that and based on your performance to date, you are undoubtedly on your way to a promising career. What has it taken for you to reach this level of competency?

GREEN: This is a tough question - I would say the thought of being able to join the professional ranks later on and oh yes, maybe one day to play with Tiger?

GREEN: I think the love of the game is the first thing. I enjoy golf and because of that, it is easy for me to go practice and work on my game. I also have great support from my family, dad – Gary, mum – Vivienne and little brother Galven, my swing coach Tony Maloney, College coach Glen Millican and the Malaysian Golf Association. I feel my game improved after I started school at the University of New Mexico where I am a member of the golf team. The first year was tough and a huge learning curve for me. New challenges in coping with school, being away from home and having to do everything on my own to adapting to life in the US. Once I got around that, it became a lot easier. Plus, our golf team Head Coach, Glen Millican has been a big influence on how to play golf here. The level of competition in collegiate golf in the US is pretty high. More than 50% of the world’s top 20 amateurs play college golf, so being on top of your game at all times is crucial.

AG: What you have achieved to date is not something that many can hope for. Give us a sense of the effort, ZHJYPÄJLZ HUK WHPU [OH[ `V\ OH]L [V NV [OYV\NO ¶ MVY example, what is your typical day like to stay sharp in the game?

AG: Checking the records, you are about the only young amateur from Southeast Asia who has risen to such lofty heights on the U.S. college circuit. This obviously augurs well for your future in golf. Speaking of your future in golf, where do you see yourself going? Are you planning to make the cut as a professional?

GREEN: This is my final year in school and my final semester playing for the New Mexico Lobos. We close out the season with Regionals in May and hopefully we will make the NCAA Nationals early June this year. Once that is done and my studies are completed, I hope to turn professional. This is and has been my passion and dream.

AG: Outside of a burning desire and passion to succeed and the solid network of support around you, what else KV `V\ [OPUR OHZ RLW[ `V\ TV[P]H[LK HUK ÄYPUN VU HSS cylinders to keep pushing the envelope?

When asked if he thought that Green was the “total package” for success, Millican replied, “It is very difficult to find something he is missing - he certainly is a proven winner - in junior golf, college and amateur golf, and even at the professional level now.”

“He has great experience at a young age to go along with incredible length, great control of his golf ball, and a fantastic short game and these tools together are going to give him a great chance for success as a professional,” Millican continued.

It is very apparent that Millican is totally dedicated and committed to Green and this was evident at the recently concluded 2015 MayBank Open when he flew in with Green to caddy for him at this European Tour sanctioned tournament.

Praise from Millican for Green is very spontaneous: “Gavin has the ability to do things very few others do. There is no question he has the ability to put together a great professional career and it would not surprise me to see him have great success on Tour. If he continues as he’s done at the University of New Mexico, he will continue to improve. I truly believe everything is possible with Gavin’s golf game and am excited to see where his game and work ethic take him.”

Any parting words? You bet! Coach Millican wrapped up by saying, “We are so incredibly proud to have him as a member of Lobo Golf and The University of New Mexico. He is an amazing talent and an even better person.”

GREEN: I am usually up early and we have team workouts three times a week. On the days I have school, I’ll go to class and then hit the golf course or our golf training facility later in the afternoon.

Study hall, where we keep abreast with our schoolwork is in the evening followed by dinner and then its lights out. As I move to my senior year, I realize that maintaining a good balance in school and golf and being disciplined throughout the process and facing those challenges would be key.

AG: The nurturing of a talent like you is a full-time commitment which calls for dedicated and full-time professional guidance. You have access to all of this in the U.S. and at your university. If you had stayed in Malaysia, would you have scaled the heights of success as you have done in North America?

GREEN: Well, I guess there is no right or wrong paths. I have been very fortunate because my parents worked with me to plan for my future. We had a couple of goals and they helped guide me in the right direction. By the grace of God, we met Coach Glen Millican, the Head Coach of the University of New Mexico and he felt that I could fit in with his current team. I was then given the opportunity to play on his team straight away as a freshman. This was important as I got to compete against some of the best players in the world and this made me more competitive in my game. If I had stayed in Malaysia, I would probably have had to work another route to meet my goal.

SPECIAL FEATURE Gavin Green range work can certainly be improved but I suppose cost will always be a concern. As cost is a concern, commitment is also very necessary. Parental guidance and support is also very important.

AG: What advice can you offer juniors in the region who want to follow your foot-steps?

GREEN: It really depends on what they want. I mean, not everyone wants to go to school and play golf. However, having gone through the system, it is a great opportunity to do what you love – play golf and to get a degree at the same time. Travelling with the team also gives you the opportunity to visit lots of new places. There are different routes to achieve your goals. I think it is important to practice smart and work hard. Most importantly, the love of the game and passion for it must be there.

AG: Finally, who in golf has been your greatest source of inspiration and why do you say so?

AG: This leads to another burning question – are we doing enough for our juniors to help them become world-class like you. Your success to date must serve as a wake-up call to buck up and do right by our juniors – your thoughts?

GREEN: There is always room to improve and grow. I suppose the associations do what they can to provide us juniors and amateurs with competitions and events to play in. Training opportunities with good coaches and getting on course to play more compared to

GREEN DOES MALAYSIA PROUD!

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oung Gavin Green, the crack Malaysian amateur who flew back from the United States to compete in the 2015 Malaysian Open turned in four rounds that would have made most professional golfers proud.

To start with, the senior from the University of New Mexico made the cut and finished very creditably tied 25th in the final round. This goes to show the kind of chutzpah that this kid possesses. He went up against the very best from both the European Tour and the Asian Tour and came through with flying colours.

Not only did he end up way ahead of a whole bunch of established professionals, he even matched shot for shot against Malaysia’s top professional, the veteran Danny Chia.

Green even topped accomplished Asian stars like Thailand’s Prom Meesawat (the Blue Dolphin) and China’s Liang Wen-Chong.

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GREEN: I would say, Tiger Woods. I feel that I can identify with him.

Many times, when I listen to his interviews and read about him, I feel that I can relate to what he is saying. Plus, I grew up watching him play and have always been awed with his ability to make those improbable shots.

For the final word on Gavin, it’s back to coach Millican: “We are so incredibly proud to have him as a member of Lobo Golf and The University of New Mexico. He is an amazing talent and an even better person.”

Perhaps the one statement that says it all is Millican’s steadfast conviction about Gavin - “He does things I’ve never seen done before.”

The young man’s future has been forecast – let’s watch it unravel in the years to come! Hail Gavin Green – a new star in the making!

SPECIAL FEATURE SNAG

Have you ever gotten the urge to hit balls during time relaxing on the EHDFK RQ D VNL VORSH RU LQ WKH VKRSSLQJ PDOO ZKHQ \RXU ZLIH ZDV Rɲ ÀQGLQJ new treasures to wear? Chances are that those hopes were diminished beČ cause a range was nowhere to be found. Now, there’s a cure for this!

If you can equate the price of a bucket of range balls for each person experiencing 15 minutes of pure fun, then you will quickly see that this is an affordable experience.� – Terry Anton 24

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nter the age where innovation makes this dilemma forgotten.

The ever inventive and fun people at SNAG® have created a proprietary 10 person inflat-

able range.

Now, people can have a golf-like experience in places only limited by one’s imagination. The range is easily transportable, goes up and down in a matter of minutes and can be powered by both a permanent or fuel generated source. This remarkable range can also be coupled with a SNAG course so that instruction and play come into the equation.

This range will allow golf professionals, country clubs and golf organizations true mobility in bringing golf to people in their environment that might never have thought about experiencing the game.

“If you can equate the price of a bucket of range balls for each person experiencing 15 minutes of pure fun, then you will quickly see that this is an affordable experience,” said Terry Anton, founder and president of SNAG. The economics work incredibly well for the owner of the range. In the initial operation of multiple ranges throughout Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Australia, it has

MARCH 2015

not taken long for the owners to recover their investment and enjoy a prosperous endeavor for years to come.

Each range will accommodate 40 players participating for 15 minutes each per hour. Anton explained, “If you assign a US$5 value for each participant, then the range will generate US$200 per hour ….. if we assume that each well constructed range will have a life expectancy of five plus years, then using the formula 40 participants per hour x US$5 each x 8 hours=US$1600.00 per day. There are 1,825 days in a five-year span. The upside potential is just terrific.”

This range has already been an attraction at festivals, corporate events, golf shows, country clubs, municipal parks, ski slopes, professional golf events, birthday parties for children and grown ups and countless other venues.

It will truly revolutionize where people can have a fun and affordable golf experience! It is almost impossible to pass this attraction without a strong urge to participate. Parents will have to drag their children away as we have already experienced.

The targets are easy to hit giving the participant a strong sense of accomplishment. Different targets are currently in the making to broaden the attraction to as many people as possible. It is SNAG®’s intention to bring as many people as possible into the game of golf. Making it fun just broadens the appeal across all ages and demographics.

SNAG® has a slightly smaller version of the range currently in production and other fun inflatables relative to other parts of their programming as well.

“The future of golf is changing to include more experiences away from the traditional golf facility,” Anton pointed out.

Simulator golf (Screen Golf ) in Korea is already in more places that the total number of golf courses. Time, financial considerations and the fun factor are all things that SNAG® has calculated in making golf more appealing to more segments of the global population.

GOLF ACCESSORIES FJ HYPERFLEX

FootJoy did not accidentally acquire the status as being the Number One Golf Shoe In The World.

The company worked hard for this recognition by providing quality shoes and designs that catered to virtually every market segment of the golf world. But apparently there was one segment that was not fully addressed and that was the younger market made up of consumers in the 25 to 39 year age bracket. But that’s all since changed with the introduction of FootJoy’s latest hot product – the FJ HYPERFLEX – the new COOL look for the “cool” set!

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TM

Step Into The Next Big Thing! ust imagine, a golf shoe inspired by a bridge – not any bridge but the world famous Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston, Massachusetts. This bridge, known as a cable style bridge, utilizes cables set at different angles which create a grid that offers tremendous strength and support, all while maintaining a sleek, lightweight and technical appearance.

This design technology blew FJ’s designers away – enough to convince them to adopt and integrate the technology into the design of the company’s latest golf shoe – the HYPERFLEX! “The HYPERFLEX is the most distinctive footwear category in FootJoy’s history,” exclaimed Timothy Yoong, FJ’s regional brand manager for Southeast Asia and Greater China. “With the HYPERFLEX, we have stepped out of our traditional “sweet spot” which is normally made up of the more mature segment of the market and have reached out to the cool set made up of the athletic male demographic aged 25 to 39 years old,” Yoong explained.

The HYPERFLEX is the most distinctive footwear category in FootJoy’s history.”

GOLF ACCESSORIES FJ HYPERFLEX Central to the HYPERFLEX design is the use of “FlexGrid”, an innovative new material that functions as the exoskeleton of the shoe. The FlexGrid together with other materials used, helps deliver lightweight support and cushioning so that a golfer can play the game at his highest level.

The most striking feature of the new HYPERFLEX golf shoe is the upper. Most athletic shoes are constructed with soft, mesh upper materials that are ideal for running and activities that don’t require a lot of lateral movement. However, for FJ’s research and development team, the key was to keep those comfort qualities in place but also deliver the support, stability and waterproof characteristics required for golf.

Through extensive testing, this balance was achieved utilizing an engineered material never before used in golf shoes, called FlexGrid.

The FlexGrid exoskeleton is strong enough to keep the foot from rolling laterally during the golf swing but also conforms to the foot and allows it to flex. The base layer that supports the

We are all very excited with the new FJ HYPERFLEX shoes.

This is one of the most exciting shoe designs we have ever created. Not only does it look ‘super cool’ but it is also packed with loads of performance features and benefits that will help enhance the golfer’s enjoyment of his game and to play his best.” – Timothy Yoong exoskeleton consists of a tight-knit, lightweight, soft, flexible, waterproof mesh, which allows for maximum comfort, breathability, flexibility and airflow. The combined layers produce a golf shoe that wraps the foot in the comfort you expect from an athletic shoe with the additional support of a high-performance golf shoe.

“Our designers have carried out research in civil engineering and construction to create the distinguishing aesthetics of HYPERFLEX which are also fundamental to its performance,” said Doug Robinson, FJ’s vice president of Design and Development Worldwide. “Every area of this shoe has been carefully considered, incorporating exceptional craftsmanship and innovative componentry to create an incredibly flexible and light28

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weight, yet stable, platform from which to swing.”

“We are all very excited with the new FJ HYPERFLEX shoes. This is one of the most exciting shoe designs we have ever created. Not only does it look ‘super cool’ but it is also packed with loads of performance features and benefits that will help enhance the golfer’s enjoyment of his game and to play his best.” added Yoong.

Yoong’s observation has received full validation from one of the best players on the PGA Tour, Hunter Mahan who said, “I’ve been a big fan of the HYPERFLEX ever since I put them on before the Ryder Cup.” He added, “The comfort I get when I’m on the golf course all day combined with the stability as I swing the club is fantastic. I really enjoy wearing this shoe and also really like the progressive, edgy styling of it.”

To experience how good the new HYPERFLEX is, you’ve got to slip on a pair. Not only is it comfortable and performance enhancing, it also looks hyper-COOL! HYPERFLEX will be available in five colours including three with the unique BOA Lacing System

KEY FEATURES FlexGrid™ 2.0 exoskeleton upper – The high-performance upper material defines the aesthetics of HYPERFLEX but also has a highly functional purpose. The soft and comfortable material helps to control the foot during the swing and retain its shape over time.

Incorporates a breathable membrane that is guaranteed waterproof for two years.

FineTunedFoam™ 2.0 – The inclusion of FTF 2.0 provides the exceptional comfort of HYPERFLEX. The next-generation midsole, constructed of a softer and lighter EVA blend, delivers supercharged cushioning.

O.P.S. ™ - Visible at the rear of the shoe, the Optimized Performance Stabilizer provides support and motion control towards the heel.

N.E.O.™ - Next Evolutionary Outsole, equipped with ‘Tornado’ Cleats by SoftSpikes, has been specifically engineered with thin TPU that provides flexibleyet-durable underfoot traction elements that utilize the Fast-Twist® insert system.

GOLF ACCESSORIES Loudmouth

L

oudmouth Golf, an American sportswear company is getting bolder by the day. Some years back, it introduced “flamboyant” trousers. And in 2009 golfer John Daly appeared wearing “loud” clothing from the company on the European Tour. Today, products from Loudmouth Golf cover a full range of fun and exciting accessories. Asian Golf has decided to showcase some of the company’s colourful and exotic designs.

Would you be bold enough to place your golf clubs in a golf bag that totally breaks away from the conventional look? If you dare, then check out this mind-blowing range of colourful

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golf bags from Loudmouth.

How about some fancy grips to match your bag? Once again, if you dare to be different, check out a range of grips that will transport you back to the age of psychedelic art!

And how about those days when the sun is scorching the fairways or drenching it with rain which happens so often in these part? With Loudmouth umbrellas you can stay shielded from both the sun and the rain.

Come on – dare yourself and break away from convention.

Have fun playing golf with Loudmouth!

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GOLF ACCESSORIES adipower Boost

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When you are in a game of golf that can take anywhere between four to six hours in duration, you want to make absolutely certain that you are all prepared to stay comfortable. If you walk the course the average distance over 18-holes will be about 4 miles if you hit every shot Z[YHPNO[ H[ [OL ÅHN )\[ PM `V\ OP[ VMM SPUL WS\Z KPZ[HUJLZ between holes, you can expect to walk up to 4.5 to 5 miles. That’s quite a bit of walking and you will want to make sure that your feet are shod in comfortable golf shoes. You can already see where this line of reasoning is taking you – just read on and be amazed at what we will unravel in the next paragraph.

GOLF ACCESSORIES adipower Boost

B

e introduced to adidas Golf’s gr ground-breaking BOOST techno o nology – a technology that the co company calls a game-changer!

The revolutionary BOOST™ c sh cu hioni io oning ng technology te cushioning was just recently announced for the company’s line of running footwear and is the same advanced technology platform that is shared with golf footwear. For golfers, the technology is useful during the swing to help load energy on the backswing and unload energy into impact, while also helping golfers keep the bounce in their step when walking the course. In a nutshell, the all-new adipower BOOST technology is designed to deliver maximum energy return, responsiveness and unparalleled comfort.

According to Ryan Hart, managing director of TaylorMade Southeast Asia and India, “adidas’ innovative BOOST foam cushioning is comprised of thousands of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) energy capsules fused together by way of a proprietary high pressure steam molding process. At their core, these capsules are the essence of the innovation; its function, storing and releasing energy efficiently throughout the swing and delivering maximum energy return as athletes perform”.

While traditional EVA foam (Ethylenevinyl acetate) hardens and softens dramatically when temperatures fluctuate, BOOST foam retains consistent cushioning and is incredibly responsive in both hot and cold conditions. Combined with a lace-in saddle, fit-sleeve tongue wrapping, external heel counter and a fitfoam ® PU sockliner, adipower Boost delivers a more precise, comfortable fit for all golfers. “Taking ev34

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What Is Ultra Boost?

OK – here’s the 101 on this fabulous technology! “Ultra Boost” is really and truly rocket science. It’s an exciting technology developed by adidas as part of its ongoing research to keep on enhancing running footwear.

“It’s a game-changer for runners, and a steep change for our industry,” adidas executive board member Eric Liedtke said. “We feel like we have the best running shoe ever made.”

Ultra Boost was developed with the aid of ARAMIS, a high tech testing system also used by top engineering institutions like NASA, Boeing and Audi to measure crash tests, vibration analysis and durability studies. adidas developed Ultra BOOST using ARAMIS’ 3D shape and surface measurement to provide a fully adaptable running experience. Ultra BOOST intuitively adjusts to a runner’s stride delivering the unrivalled Energy Return of BOOST™, superior support and adaptive comfort over hundreds of kilometres, in virtually any environment.

This same game-changing technology has now been adopted and adapted to golf shoes marking the birth of the adidas adipower Boost! erything learned from BOOST technology’s remarkable success in running, basketball and baseball, designers have created the most comfortable footwear in adidas Golf history,” explained Hart.

For extraordinary performance, adidas Golf conducted extensive player testing and results from forceplate testing combined with critical tour player feedback for more than a year, incorporating key learnings and utilizing revolutionary and tour-proven gripmore® technology in the shoe’s construction. For the first time, adidas Golf has placed gripmore spikes of varying sizes, strategically locating them on the outsole to deliver improved and more efficient traction and stability where it’s needed most – the swingplane.

Jason Day, adidas Golf brand ambassador and #8 in the current Official World Golf Ranking, was first introduced to the shoe during testing in March of 2014, where he raved about the footwear’s aesthetic appearance, comfort and performance attributes.

“When I first put them on, I immediately noticed how comfortable they were. I didn’t want to take them off,” said Day. “During the swing, the energy return is noticeable – as if you can feel the technology in action. I wanted to keep them the moment I saw them. They feel good, and look good, too.”

The women’s adipower Boost features many of the same design properties and technologies as the men’s model, including BOOST midsole foam in the heel for endless

GOLF ACCESSORIES adipower Boost

B

e introduced to adidas Golf’s gr ground-breaking BOOST techno o nology – a technology that the co company calls a game-changer!

The revolutionary BOOST™ c sh cu hioni io oning ng technology te cushioning was just recently announced for the company’s line of running footwear and is the same advanced technology platform that is shared with golf footwear. For golfers, the technology is useful during the swing to help load energy on the backswing and unload energy into impact, while also helping golfers keep the bounce in their step when walking the course. In a nutshell, the all-new adipower BOOST technology is designed to deliver maximum energy return, responsiveness and unparalleled comfort.

According to Ryan Hart, managing director of TaylorMade Southeast Asia and India, “adidas’ innovative BOOST foam cushioning is comprised of thousands of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) energy capsules fused together by way of a proprietary high pressure steam molding process. At their core, these capsules are the essence of the innovation; its function, storing and releasing energy efficiently throughout the swing and delivering maximum energy return as athletes perform”.

While traditional EVA foam (Ethylenevinyl acetate) hardens and softens dramatically when temperatures fluctuate, BOOST foam retains consistent cushioning and is incredibly responsive in both hot and cold conditions. Combined with a lace-in saddle, fit-sleeve tongue wrapping, external heel counter and a fitfoam ® PU sockliner, adipower Boost delivers a more precise, comfortable fit for all golfers. “Taking ev34

35 ASIAN GOLF

What Is Ultra Boost?

OK – here’s the 101 on this fabulous technology! “Ultra Boost” is really and truly rocket science. It’s an exciting technology developed by adidas as part of its ongoing research to keep on enhancing running footwear.

“It’s a game-changer for runners, and a steep change for our industry,” adidas executive board member Eric Liedtke said. “We feel like we have the best running shoe ever made.”

Ultra Boost was developed with the aid of ARAMIS, a high tech testing system also used by top engineering institutions like NASA, Boeing and Audi to measure crash tests, vibration analysis and durability studies. adidas developed Ultra BOOST using ARAMIS’ 3D shape and surface measurement to provide a fully adaptable running experience. Ultra BOOST intuitively adjusts to a runner’s stride delivering the unrivalled Energy Return of BOOST™, superior support and adaptive comfort over hundreds of kilometres, in virtually any environment.

This same game-changing technology has now been adopted and adapted to golf shoes marking the birth of the adidas adipower Boost! erything learned from BOOST technology’s remarkable success in running, basketball and baseball, designers have created the most comfortable footwear in adidas Golf history,” explained Hart.

For extraordinary performance, adidas Golf conducted extensive player testing and results from forceplate testing combined with critical tour player feedback for more than a year, incorporating key learnings and utilizing revolutionary and tour-proven gripmore® technology in the shoe’s construction. For the first time, adidas Golf has placed gripmore spikes of varying sizes, strategically locating them on the outsole to deliver improved and more efficient traction and stability where it’s needed most – the swingplane.

Jason Day, adidas Golf brand ambassador and #8 in the current Official World Golf Ranking, was first introduced to the shoe during testing in March of 2014, where he raved about the footwear’s aesthetic appearance, comfort and performance attributes.

“When I first put them on, I immediately noticed how comfortable they were. I didn’t want to take them off,” said Day. “During the swing, the energy return is noticeable – as if you can feel the technology in action. I wanted to keep them the moment I saw them. They feel good, and look good, too.”

The women’s adipower Boost features many of the same design properties and technologies as the men’s model, including BOOST midsole foam in the heel for endless

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Bridgestone Golf

Out here in Asia, there is very little talk about Bridgestone golf products. One wonders why because this Japanese manufacturer has a good standing in golf, especially in North America. The brand also enjoys a very strong share-of-mind in its home country where it is ranked amongst the top manufacturers.

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We have maintained that heritage and incorporated some really innovative new technologies that will make this our best performing and deepest offering of premium forged irons ever.”

T

hat said, Asian Golf would like to introduce the company’s impressive line-up for 2015.

Leading the pack of new equipment is the acclaimed J715 Driver which is being talked about for its tremendous distance and accuracy off the tee.

The driver was unveiled at the recently concluded PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando and the company made a point of telling the industry that it has not put out a new driver in several years. “We want consumers to know that when we introduce a new club, it will always offer real tangible performance benefits and the J715 is without question the best driver we’ve ever made and we know that golfers who try it will see the difference it makes,” said a company spokesman.

According to Bridgestone, the increased distance and accuracy that the J715 Driver delivers is achieved through 4 key technologies:

F.A.S.T Crown The Flex Action Speed Technology (F.A.S.T.) crown is extremely thin near the clubface and progressively thickens towards the club head rear to enable the crown to slightly flex at impact creating higher launch and increased repulsion.

Power Milled Face Patented face milling pattern works to reduce the common ball slippage at impact problem that drivers today encounter. Maintaining the ball’s position of impact leads to increased quality compression time that results in reduced spin (200-300 RPMs based on robot testing) for straighter and longer drives.

Spin Flight Control Technology Movable weights on multiple axes in the heel and centre of the clubhead allow users to customize the centre of gravity for desired spin and trajectory.

Variable Adjust System J715 is completely Face and Lie angle adjustable, offering face angle adjustments of up to 1° (closed and opened) and lie angle settings of standard, 1° upright and 2° upright.

Complementing the new power driver is a complete range of fairway woods and hybrids - the J15F Fairway Woods and J15HY Hybrids.

The woods and hybrids are noted for high launching distance with soft landings and the ability to be played from anywhere including the tee, fairway, rough and even greenside.

MARCH 2015

Rounding up the new releases from Bridgestone is the new J15 family of forged irons. In keeping with the “cult following” that these irons enjoy since their introduction more than a decade ago, the company reports that the new irons continue Bridgestone’s tradition of offering bestperforming, precision-engineered irons in clean and classic designs with cutting-edge technologies guaranteed to enhance the iron play of a wide range of players.

“We have maintained that heritage and incorporated some really innovative new technologies that will make this our best performing and deepest offering of premium forged irons ever,” said the spokesman.

BRIDGESTONE CAPSULE Bridgestone was founded in 1931

by Shojiro Ishibashi, and is world renowned as a global market leader in the rubber industry and in polymer sciĦ ence technologies. It has produced high performance tires for Formula One teams like Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus.

Bridgestone shares the same passion for WKH JDPH RI JROI DQG LW SURGXFHG LWV ÀUVW golf balls in 1935 and now ranks as the number one golf ball producer in Japan.

Today, it manufacturers a complete range of products for the golf industry.

GOLF ACCESSORIES PUMA’s TitanTour

Who’s the coolest dude in golf? It’s got to be Rickie Fowler. It is an accepted fact by many that Fowler is perhaps the most marketable young personality in golf and that he commands a very strong following with millennials. By this measure, he is arguably the coolest dude in golf! Right? Right!

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ow, if the guy who personifies what it is to be COOL hits the fairways shod in a pair of really cool shoes, what do you reckon the effect will be? It’s a no brainer – the shoes have most definitely got to be COOL! And that’s exactly how PUMA Golf has chosen to position its latest range of golf shoes – the TITANTOUR golf footwear. According to PUMA Golf, the new range has been designed to be the coolest shoe in golf. It features revolutionary, temperature-regulating Outlast® technology along with a sleek, eye-catching silhouette for a tour performance golf shoe with industry-leading comfort and style.

Outlast Certified Space Technology™ was originally developed for NASA to maintain a comfortable temperature in spacesuits. PUMA Golf has adapted this technology to the golf course with TITANTOUR. The strategic placement of Outlast in the sockliner top cloth is designed to proactively manage heat while controlling the production of moisture before it begins.

MARCH 2015

The fit, feel and performance of the new TITANTOUR shoes are specifically designed to meet the needs of all golfers at the highest level.”

GOLF ACCESSORIES PUMA’s TitanTour

The new TITANTOUR shoe provides all the performance, comfort, cooling and support that I need in a golf shoe, but better yet it has a look and feel that really fits my style on course - PUMA Golf continues to make shoes that help me perform on Tour and keep me one-step ahead of my competition.”

Foot temperature is regulated through phasechange materials that absorb, store and release heat for optimal thermal comfort.

“Once again, we are pushing the limits of footwear innovation and style. The TITANTOUR provides even greater comfort for the golfer by proactively regulating heat and reacting to changes in conditions and foot temperature,” said PUMA Golf Head of Footwear Grant Knudson.

“The fit, feel and performance of the new TITANTOUR shoes are specifically designed to meet the needs of all golfers at the highest level.”

The TITANTOUR also features PowerFrame Technology – an ultra-thin TPU frame encases the EVA midsole for lightweight strength, extreme durability, increased flexibility and superior traction, combined with external TPU Heel Support, to provide greater stability and ground contact for addi-

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tional force and power during a swing.

Combining performance with style, the upper touts a sleek design that is made of full-grain, ultra-premium leather for a soft feel and sophisticated look while PowerVamp across the forefoot reduces stretch over time and provides increased stability. The upper and insole come equipped with ShapeLock memory foam for a customized fit, long-lasting comfort and cushioning with every step.

Commenting on the new range COBRA PUMA Golf ambassador Rickie Fowler said, “The new TITANTOUR shoe provides all the performance, comfort, cooling and support that I need in a golf shoe, but better yet it has a look and feel that really fits my style on course - PUMA Golf continues to make shoes that help me perform on Tour and keep me one-step ahead of my competition.”

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Exotics E8 Tour Fairway Wood

Innovation has nothing to do with how many R & D dollars you have.

When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R & D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it. – Steve Jobs | Apple Inc. 42

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Innovation is an established cornerstone in the golf equipment industry.

Manufacturers, some with massive research and development budgets are always trying to get ahead of their competition with new and improved products – all designed to make the playing experience for golfers a better one.

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owever, there is one company, perhaps the littlest amongst the power hitters, which keeps on amazing golfers with its fantastic products. That company is Batavia-based Tour Edge which constantly keeps pushing the envelope of innovation and surprisingly, always receives widespread validation for its new offerings.

The latest product from Tour Edge that created quite a buzz at the recently concluded PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando is the brand’s Exotics E8 Tour fairway woods.

These are clubs that are tour inspired and as David Glod, founder and president of Tour Edge puts it, “There is no margin for error when it comes to Tour-calibre performance – the all-new Tour Edge Exotics E8 Tour adjustable fairway wood delivers an unsurpassed level of excellence and it combines a tour-inspired design, a state-of-

the-art manufacturing process, upgraded materials – and all with more loft adjustability options than the competition.”

The concept behind the new E8 Tour stemmed from the need for an adjustable fairway wood on Tour. The Exotics Tour presence has continued to grow over the years, and with the addition of the E8 Tour level of adjustability Exotics is positioned to garnish even more attention on Tour in 2015. Featuring loft options from 12 to 15.5 degrees along with 13, 14 and 15-degree options with a more upright lie angle, this level of versatility allows Tour players to dial in the ideal ball flight with the E8 Tour.

Add Exotics legendary power and distance, and the E8 Tour fairway wood becomes the ultimate players’ weapon.

Glod explained that the compact and powerful 150cc club head appeals to players’ sensibilities, and in true Exotics fashion encompasses brand new technology. The

There is no margin for error when it comes to Tour-calibre performance – he all-new Tour Edge Exotics E8 Tour adjustable fairway wood delivers an unsurpassed level of excellence and it combines a tour-inspired design, a state-of-the-art manufacturing process, upgraded materials – and all with more loft adjustability options than the competition.”

E8 Tour features a 475 Carpenter U.S. steel cup face that is micro-bonded to the body via a 360-degree robotic laser beam bonding process. This new process utilizing a robotic laser beam ensures the most accurate and miniscule bonding points. Procured under lower temperatures, the edges are more round and the extreme perfection of the laser beam provides zero tolerance.

The E8 Tour is the first club marketed in the United States to utilize this bonding process, continuing the Exotics reputation for being at the forefront of club technology.

The smaller clubhead shape also allows the centre of gravity to move higher and closer to the face for exceptional trajectory control and low spin ideal for players with higher swing speeds. The Power Grid cell design is similar to the E8 Beta fairway woods, reaching higher into the toe and thinner, allowing engineers to move the centre of gravity closer to the face. This upgraded design gives players a more powerful launch off the face with less spin, while providing the desired penetrating ball flight.

The E8 Tour features an adjustable sole weight to customize each individual, swing weight preference. The club comes standard with a 9-gram sole weight, but can be changed with the purchase of an optional weight kit which includes a 6-gram, 11-gram, and 14-gram weight.

GOLF BUSINESS Future Trends

The bulk of the major industry events for golf are over and it’s time to take a reading of the pulse rate and temperature of the industry.

Depending on whom one talks to, the read on the mood of the industry going into 2015 runs the full spectrum of the mood barometer.

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Using the recently concluded PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando as a point of reference, Koppenhaver observed that “enthusiasm and buzz was somewhere in the middle” and that “in general people seemed neutral coming in.”

GOLF BUSINESS Future Trends

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ith guarded optimism, some feel that the worst is over. Many are of the contention that there is more blood-letting to come in 2015 and then there are those who sit on the fence and subscribe to the industry maintaining its status quo circa 2014.

Amidst all of these mixed feelings, one man stuck his neck out to describe the industry as being in a “new normal state”. This observation was made by Jim Koppenhaver, president of Pellucid Corporation, a company that is the recognized golf industry thought leader for key issue identification, intelligent analysis and actionable insight.

Using the recently concluded PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando as a point of reference, Koppenhaver observed that “enthusiasm and buzz was somewhere in the middle” and that “in general people seemed neutral coming in”. Put simply, based on Koppenhaver’s astute observations, one can only hope that 2015 turns out better than 2014.

The reactions from major industry players were guarded but there was a sense of optimism. In an Asian Golf special round-up,

We need to begin to be positive about the industry and the game we love. The industry needs to turn around and we all need to help it do so.” – Ben Sharpe the following are responses to our request for a health check on the industry going forward: From TaylorMade Adidas Golf, the company’s new chief executive officer Ben Sharpe said, “We need to begin to be positive about the industry and the game we love. The industry needs to turn around and we all need to help it do so.”

Chip Brewer, the chief executive officer at Callaway Golf who has been highly instrumental in getting the company healthy again told Asian Golf: “In general, the mood coming out of the PGA show was one of cautious optimism. There was an overall feeling that the industry was improving, that this is likely to be a good year. He

In general, the mood coming out of the PGA show was one of cautious optimism. There was an overall feeling that the industry was improving, that this is likely to be a good year and an overall positive vibe.” – Chip Brewer 46

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added, “The industry has done a good job of working through some inventory issues that existed going into the last year and the overall vibe was positive and a lot of this of course will be determined as the markets open up.”

Al Martin, senior vice president Worldwide Sales at Acushnet Company speaking for FootJoy said, “Products that are delivering on the promise of performance with the goal of enhancing enjoyment of the game will continue to earn the trust of avid golfers.” He went on to explain, “FootJoy earned that trust in 2014 with the successful launch of DNA and we’re poised to experience similar success this year with our exciting new HyperFlex golf shoes.”

Martin is of the firm belief that “avid golfers are still passionate about and engaged in the game.” “It is unlikely we’ll rapidly grow the level of participation at the rate some would like to see, but our belief at FootJoy is that as long as we continue to produce and deliver products that the avid golfer enjoys, our game and our business are going to be just fine.”

Like Martin, Bob Phillion, president and chief executive officer of COBRA PUMA Golf is gung-ho about 2015. He told Asian Golf, “We are focused on innovation, and continuing to bring breakthrough technolo-

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gies to the market and, COBRA Golf is also continuing to lead the industry in personalization and customization, helping us make our colourful mark on the industry, through performance-enhancing products that help golfers of all levels enjoy the game.”

Tim Clarke, the president of Wilson Golf has a different perspective of what is happening in the industry and its future directions. “We’re seeing more on-course gadgets that appeal to that “Gen-Edge” consumer who is looking for immediate gratification and has a shorter attention span compared to the traditional golfer who is willing to devote 4-6 hours to a golf outing,” Clarke pointed out. He explained that there is an industry-wide change from the fundamentals of playing golf to the overall lifestyle considerations of the game, both on and off course.

With reference to the general downturns in golf, Clarke said, “We take the position that golf still has the greatest potential for growth among any other sport category we play in. A right-sizing of the business was bound to happen, but coming off another positive growth year, where we

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Products that are delivering on the promise of performance with the goal of enhancing enjoyment of the game will continue to earn the trust of avid golfers.”

– Al Martin expanded our global sales force 25% and added three new tour players to our Wilson Advisory Staff, we are extremely optimistic about the industry and have plans to continue our growth in this category, whether it trends up or down.”

Sharing in the optimism for the industry in 2015 is David Glod, founder and president of Tour Edge/Exotics who feels that “the industry will be up by 5 to 10 percent this year”. On trends, Glod said, “Adjustability for sure and lighter shafts in woods as well as longer and heavier putters. Graphite iron sets also on the rise.”

The one senior golf executive who took

on a contrarian stand was Dr. Jennifer King, founder and president of KZG, master clubfitters, who is of the firm opinion that many of the smaller retail stores will continue to close their doors; many more green grass accounts will stop selling hard goods, and the big chains will spar for market share.

She predicted, “The newest trend will be toward performance centres that concentrate on lessons, custom equipment and conditioning.”

Asked for her take on the state of the golf industry, Dr. King said, “It clearly has been trending downward. Many in the industry are starting to focus on how best to grow the game. With 9 out of 10 golfers

We are focused on innovation, and continuing to bring breakthrough technologies to the market and, COBRA Golf is also continuing to lead the industry in personalization and customization, helping us make our colourful mark on the industry, through performance-enhancing products that help golfers of all levels enjoy the game.” – Bob Phillion

GOLF BUSINESS Future Trends

We’re seeing more on-course gadgets that appeal to that “Gen-Edge” consumer who is looking for immediate gratification and has a shorter attention span compared to the traditional golfer who is willing to devote 4-6 hours to a golf outing.” – Tim Clarke playing the wrong equipment, we believe that the game could grow if golfers had clubs that actually fit them so that they can play their best. A happy golfer will want to play more rounds, and even take more lessons as they can actually see improvement.”

Dr. King singled out junior golf development and had this to say, “Working with juniors is critical and parents are more open than ever to get their children involved in a sport and away from computers, the internet and the couch.”

Based on the thoughts of some of the industry’s biggest heavy hitters, we can only conclude that there is no universal consensus on whether the industry is stagnating, showing some signs of upward growth or in a state of decline.

Meanwhile, the partnership of Golf Datatech of America and Yano Research Institute Ltd. of Japan has launched the

World Golf Report 2015. The report provides an in-depth global retail market summary based upon geography, size and economic significance of the US$8.7 billion worldwide golf equipment market. Among the findings for specific markets, individual product categories (i.e. clubs, balls, apparel, etc.) and other global trends, the top five markets in the world are: #1 United States; #2 Japan; #3 South Korea; #4 United Kingdom; #5 Canada; China (including Hong Kong and

The industry will be up by 5 to 10 percent this year. On trends, adjustability for sure and lighter shafts in woods as well as longer and heavier putters. Graphite iron sets also on the rise.” – David Glod 48

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A PERFECT PITCH

It clearly has been trending downward.

Many in the industry are starting to focus on how best to grow the game. With 9 out of 10 golfers playing the wrong equipment, we believe that the game could grow if golfers had clubs that actually fit them so that they can play their best. A happy golfer will want to play more rounds, and even take more lessons as they can actually see improvement.” – Dr. Jennifer King Macau) is the 6th largest golf equipment market but is continually influenced by government regulation.

The US and Japan control over 65% of the world golf equipment market.

Datatech’s Tom Stine said, “Golf is truly a worldwide sport, with the game being played in over 200 countries, but emerging markets such as China, Southeast Asia, Central Europe and South America have just begun to realize their potential.” Stine feels that golf’s introduction into the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil will undoubtedly spark interest in the game worldwide. “This global expansion of golf necessitates a need to have solid, consistent data to track growth and progress on all levels, from player participation to golf equipment sales. This will be our mission,” Stine said.

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GOLF BUSINESS TaylorMade

While the parent company TaylorMade Adidas Golf was stepping out its 2015 product-line in grand style in the American city of Orlando at the 2015 PGA A Merchandise Show, its team from the Southeast Asian and Indian arena staged a spectacular launch on the island of Bali.

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We continue to enjoy a good market share and are confident that 2015 will be a good year as we have great products engineered with game-changing technologies which we know will be well received by golfers.” – David Chin

David Chin

ome 150 dealers, distributors and members of the media were invited to witness the unveiling of the new family of products that are going to thrill and add enjoyment to thousands of golfers who have come to expect only the very best from TaylorMade.

The big-draw stars of the show were the TaylorMade R15 stable of drivers, fairway woods and hybrids (http://media.apggnews.com/ezines/ AG/AG172-january2015-new/files/56.html) and the “born again” Aero Burner (http://media.apggnews.com/ezines/AG/AG172-january2015-new/files/52. (http://media html). which harks back to the glory days of the dominant “Burner” brand which represented everything good about TaylorMade for many years.

These two new product ffamilies will be leading the company’s thrust forward and beyond on a global scale and will w set the tone for the future as reflected by TaylorMade’s new president and chief exe executive officer Ben Sharpe who told Asian Golf, “We need to begin to be positive about the industry and the game we love. The industry needs to turn around and we all need to help it do so.”

Resonating to Sharpe’s call for the company to take the lead role in turncomp ing the industry around, David Chin (vice president/managing director, Asia) pres the man in the driver’s seat for TaylorMade’s business in the Asian theatre b and are confident that said, “We continue to enjoy a good market share s 2015 will be a good year as we have great products engineered with game-changing technologies which we know will be well received by golfers.” discussion with Asian Golf, Chin In an exclusive, free-ranging discu future of golf in the markets adopted a bullish position on the fut of governments in under his charge. He described the change c developments that India, Indonesia and Thailand as positive po have brought about a new era of sstability and growth, a trend on golf generally in which he feels will have a good impact im potential in emerging markets the region. “I see good growth p like Myanmar and Vietnam also,” he added.

Elaborating on the future o of golf in the region, Chin

GOLF BUSINESS TaylorMade

We do not launch products for the sake of launching new equipment – all of our new products are brought out to the market only after our tour players have validated them on tour and this is something that is very important to us.”

PHOTO CREDIT: TAYLORMADE’S FACEBOOK

singled out China as a major growth engine for golf going forward. “There is no doubt that China is a potential growth market for golf although growth is currently constrained by accessibility to golf courses for the average person in China.”

However, he feels that there is “great enthusiasm” especially amongst younger demographics which include new golfers under the age of fifty.

“Our research tells us that there is a growing core of new golfers and beginners in China, and this will help grow the game of golf and golf’s entry into the Olympics in 2016, will serve as an excellent validation and legitimization of golf as a game in that country,” Chin explained.

Continuing on future trends in China, Chin PHOTO CREDIT: TAYLORMADE’S FACEBOOK

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said there were definite trends emerging to indicate that on-line sales of golf equipment, apparel and accessories was growing and by his reckoning this will be another key impact factor on the development of golf in China.

Shifting to another major Asian market, South Korea, Chin is of the contention that “screen golf” or golf simulation will keep the game of golf in a growth mode in that country. “There are over 2000 screen golf locations in South Korea and it is a trend that continues to attract younger people and I have no doubt that by being introduced to golf through screen golf, many of them will hopefully aspire to want to play golf on a real course.”

In reference to Sharpe’s call for TaylorMade to help turn the industry around, Chin shifted his focus to TaylorMade’s well-known practice of introducing new products at a frenzied pace. He explained that given the company’s large research

We are the total brand – the complete brand from head to toe and we are a company of golfers for golfers!” and development operation and investment in R&D, it is to be expected that new technologies and new products are constantly being developed – products that are by and large at the very cutting edge of the game of golf.

MARCH 2015

“We like to have first mover advantage and we launch products that we know and believe will help golfers perform better,” Chin stressed. He continued, “We do not launch products for the sake of launching new equipment – all of our new products are brought out to the market only after our tour players have validated them on tour and this is something that is very important to us.”

Chin talks with great passion about the products that TaylorMade produces and this is very apparent when he emphatically declares that the company produces the best performing products in the business.

“We lead in the driver and woods categories and our irons are number one!” Which explains why TaylorMade is the number one golf equipment company in the world.

Chin wrapped up the conversation in Bali by stating: “We are the total brand – the complete brand from head to toe and we are a company of golfers for golfers!”

SPECIAL FEATURE PTGCI

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It was only a matter of time before one of the ASEAN countries stepped up to the plate to take the lead in the establishment of a world class golf academy. Indonesia is that country and the organization that has been commissioned to lead the thrust [[V OLSW KL]LSVW 0UKVULZPHU NVSÄUN [HSLU[ iis Pro Tour Golf College, an Australian b based college for aspiring amateurs and p professional golfers who want to play on a professional golf tour.

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his establishment has received the official blessing and support of the Chairman of the Indonesian Golf Association, Murdaya Widyawimarta, a man who is very passionate about golf and its development in Indonesia. Until fairly recently, he was also the President of the Indonesian Golf Course Owners Association.

Lawrie Montague and David Milne founders of Pro Tour Golf College have developed their training and development systems over 30 years teaching elite amateurs and professionals in the Australian golf system as national and state coaches.

“There will be two major programmes on offer, based at world class facilities - the full-time Elite Golfer Programme will be based at the Emeralda Golf Club just outside Jakarta, and the part-time Junior Development Programme will be based in South Jakarta at the Pondok Indah Golf Course,” said Montague.

These holistic and highly specific golf development programmes are the first of their kind to be run in South East Asia, and are uniquely geared towards the implementation of a long term golfer development pathway.

“The Elite Golfer Programme is aimed at getting both amateur and professional players equipped with all the skills necessary to become a competent elite amateur or successful tour player,” explained Milne.

What sets PTGCI is that it is a college and not an academy. According to Milne, “The distinction lies in their highly planned approach to golf development and PTGCI students are developed around a periodized training approach - the same approach used

by Olympic coaches to develop their students over long periods of time.”

The distinction lies in their highly planned approach to golf development and PTGCI students are developed around a periodized training approach the same approach used by Olympic coaches to develop their students over long periods of time.”

SPECIAL FEATURE PTGCI The college’s culture and main point of focus is on developing a low score mentality which is achieved by identifying, isolating and improving key skill areas that leads to a lower competitive score average. Their approach to player improvement has already helped their players to compete on all the major professional golf tours across the globe.”

He continued, “Golf academies tend to develop their students around shorter time frames with the main focus on improving full swing technique as opposed to a longterm and holistic plan for improvement that is driven by the annual tournament schedule.”

PTGCI chose Jakarta, as its first international campus because it’s not only a central hub in Southeast Asia but also one of the most affordable cities in the world to live in and develop your golf potential. The cost of living is at least half that of countries such as Australia, USA and many European countries.

This means that golfers can travel from

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around the globe to live and train in a warm climate year round at a world class facility.

This will attract serious amateur golfers and tour players from South East Asia as well as national, high school and college teams from outside of South East Asia.

The college’s culture and main point of focus is on developing a low score mentality which is achieved by identifying, isolating and improving key skill areas that leads to a lower competitive score average.

Their approach to player improvement has already helped their players to compete on all the major professional golf tours across the globe.

The Elite Golfer Programme at Emeralda Golf Club, in phase two will provide students with the opportunity to live on

campus and have every facet of their golf game improved from the mental game, to technical skill development, strategic planning and tournament preparation as well as physical development.

“A state of the art golf gymnasium, putting lab, Trackman Launch Monitor integrated with balance plate technology will all be available to students enrolled in the college and we also plan to introduce the GEARS Golf 3D System which is a full-swing club and body tracking system to measure and analyse every nuance of a golf swing, in full 3D, from address to follow through,” Milne pointed out.

GEARS is the most advanced motion capture system to date, and will be available at the Emeralda campus.

GAME IMPROVEMENT Black Hat Golf Tips

M A R C H Welcome to this month’s edition of the Black Hat Golf Tips! The month of March in the United States normally brings together hundreds of thousands of basketball fans and it’s amazing to see how excited they get just watching this amazing sport.

I remember during my student days at the New Mexico State University, many students would miss school just to watch the games.

That was the kind of support that basketball commands!

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grew up playing basketball and liked the it a great deal and I am now glad that my niece and nephew get to play basketball in the winter and then golf in the Spring!

It’s a chance for me to show them how basketball can help their golf swing!

The basketball is a great prop that you can learn from to improve your golf game instantly!

Here are a few ways that we use basketball as a teaching aid with students.

BALANCE Making sure a student gains optimal balance is very important for a consistent swing. And, with good balance it helps golfers play well. I have students take a basketball and hold it with both their hands and pretend to take a jump shot. When they jump, I will have them observe their balance on both their feet.

POSTURE Part of my coaching with a basketball also requires a golfer to ‘dribble’ the ball and to shuffle the feet. Golfers will sometimes move their legs up and down and by so doing, they come to realise their natural balance and posture. Through this routine, I make a golfer notice whether they are not bent over too much or if the posture is not erect. Again, it’s a very solid starting position when applied to the set-up.

SHOULDER TURN When students do not allow their body to fully turn, I like for them to hold a basketball and move to the right and left. By doing this, the shoulder will turn fully allowing the golfer to feel that move with their body. This is important because the golfer can apply hitting through the ball instead of ‘at’ the ball when swinging a golf club.

Trust me, the basketball is a great object that you can practice with to keep your golf game on the right path!

MARCH MADNESS is a phenomenon that grips the national sports WZ`JOL MYVT [OL ZLJVUK ^LLR VM 4HYJO [OYV\NO [V [OL ÄYZ[ ^LLR VM April. These tournaments determine the national champions of college basketball.

The NCAA tournaments are an American tradition that sends millions of fans into a synchronized frenzy each year. It’s this chaos that gives the tournament its March Madness nickname. March Madness is the concentrated hype of 68 teams vying for college basketball’s biggest prize. It’s the last-second, buzzer-beating baskets, the euphoria of winning to play another day and the agony of losing and going home.

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

THE 4 GOLF SUCCESS FACTORS That Will Fast-Track High School and College Golfers to the Pro Tour (PART 3)

David Milne (left) and Lawrie Montague (right).

If you have been reading our recent article series you know that it is aimed at preparing high school and college golfers for a life as a professional tour golfer.

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n the first article we discussed the importance of developing your self-belief and confidence which we believe is the single most important golf success factor you can develop to have a long and successful career playing professional golf.

Our second article in the series shared the second golf success factor, practicing and mastering the shots from the tough lies around the greens to make par or better, and bogey at worst, plus becoming exceptional with your approach wedge shots within 100 yards of the flag.

What’s interesting when you look at the first two factors in our series is that the first factor –belief and confidence relates to how you think, and the second factor –mastering tough shots relates to how you perform.

You see all you really have is how you think, and how you think influences how the ball behaves.

Pretty simple when you look at it like this right?

Everything in golf revolves around these two characteristics –thinking and then behaving and yet learning how to become a successful golfer can be made to be much more complicated than this.

The sooner you realize that your job is to do a great job of managing the first (your mind), to manage the second (your ball flight), to produce the third, (your score) the better.

We call it the A, B and C of golf performance.

The challenge of golf has always been (and always will be) for you to play golf shots with minimal mental interference and distraction. This essentially means that

you execute strokes with a mind free from thoughts that get in the way of you swinging your golf club confidently and with a high degree of trust.

This is the biggest challenge you will face in your effort to become a successful professional golfer.

So how do you do that?

How do you manage the distraction?

Well, firstly understand that there are just two types of distraction—external distraction and internal distraction. You have the obstacles and challenges you face from tee

MARCH 2015

to green that have been purposely designed into a golf course layout by the designer to distract you, plus the environmental conditions such as wind, rain, and variable temperatures that can challenge you.

All of this makes playing golf inspiring, stimulating and fun to play.

Then there are the mental challenges you face like your inner critic and coach, your fears, your limiting beliefs, and your hallucinations, which can get in the way of you swinging your golf club confidently and with a high degree of trust.

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College

Your golf experience describes the stored knowledge of your total golf experience, and this accumulated experience is encoded in your brain and used to create maps or processes, to make decisions, and to develop models and methods you use to play golf.”

Golf Success Factor 3.

The Zero Point Formula In today’s article we are going to introduce you to the third golf success factor, what we call “The Zero Point Formula.” The Zero Point Formula is an extremely powerful procedure that when developed fully will help to give you access to the competitive edge you need to become a successful professional golfer.

The Zero Point Formula describes a zero sum approach that you need to have for every golf shot you hit.

Zero sum means treating each shot as if it is always the first one by removing distraction from your performance.

When you hit a golf shot you can be influenced by a previous shot, or you can be influenced by a shot that you haven’t played yet.

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You can also play the shot without the influence of the past or future, which is where the Zero Point Formula is extremely helpful.

Sports psychologists suggest that you play each shot in the present without the influence of previous shots or future shots, and this is sound advice, but you need a simple and effective way of doing it.

The challenge of playing each shot from a zero standpoint is difficult because many elite golfers think way too much about how to play a shot, and also the possible negative outcomes you might produce as a result.

Why do we do this?

We do this because we use a model/s of our golf experience to guide us in what we do, and the model not only guides us but can also distract us by giving us options that are not always helpful.

You see all you are really doing is exercising options or choices when you play golf shots that are based on your total golf experience up to this point of time.

You are deciding how you will play a shot based on your acquired skill and knowledge. You are basically manufacturing or creating a new experience which is different to reality itself.

Playing Successfully Under Pressure Why do some golfers respond better than others under pressure?

They have a more useful and effective method or process for managing the reality confronting them.

There’s a saying that “peak performance occurs when the challenge facing you is matched by your skills.”

Successful professional golfers have acquired experience playing under pressure, like other golfers, but they have developed more useful maps or ways of interpreting the reality of the situation, and they have developed their skills to match these situations because they have better options to help them perform successfully under pressure.

You see your golf experience is very different and unique as compared to every other golfer.

Your golf experience describes the stored knowledge of your total golf experience, and this accumulated experience is encoded in your brain and used to create maps or processes, to make decisions, and to develop models and methods you use to play golf.

Think of it like this, you take your golf experience, which is the raw material, and you construct things with it.

It’s like constructing a building using materials that brings your shots into reality.

The more varied and relevant the raw material you have acquired is, the more potential

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you have for creating more effective golf performance maps and models to operate that help you to perform confidently under pressure.

Golf Language is the Key The material you use to create your golf reality is primarily based on your language, and language is a system that you use to help you describe your many experiences.

Why is language a system?

Language as used in a sentence has an order or sequence that can completely change its meaning if the sequence or order is changed.

Here’s two short sentences with the same amount of words that when arranged differently, changes the meaning of the experience completely.

1. The golfer hit the golf ball 2. The golf ball hit the golfer You see how by changing the order or sequence of the words it changes the meaning to you?

Language is powerful when used properly, and has to be used carefully for you to generate more useful outcomes on the golf course.

Think about it, if you didn’t have knowledge of language and how to arrange it, how would you describe your golf experiences, or any experience for that matter?

For example if I ask you to think about your favourite golf ball right now, what brand of golf ball did you think of?

In a split second you came up with a name right? You used your internal language model to help you to answer the question.

You used your language system with its rules that you have learned from childhood to describe the experience in a way that you can understand it.

So your language ability is used to formulate your models, and to create maps of your experience.

Now I bet there are words you use in your sentences when you play shots that do not help you to generate a useful golf experiences?

I’m sure that you can see that if you can improve how you communicate to yourself you can improve your golf performance maps and models?

You will have more useful options, and you will make wiser choices when playing shots, resulting in better golf performances.

Come to Your Golf Senses And here’s how you do it. Consistent and superior golf performance requires that you use a rich sensory map to manage your golf experience.

With the Zero Point Formula you focus entirely on each shot as if it is the first shot of the day.

In other words you start on zero for every shot you play.

You tune completely into your senses of sight, sound, feel, taste and smell.

For example imagine right now that you are standing on the first tee of a golf course you have never played before with your friends who also haven’t played the course.

You have no course knowledge at all, today is a new golf experience.

Now you could think about what you don’t want to do with the ball and all the problems that could eventuate, or you could do the following.

Come to Your Senses Process As you are standing on the tee waiting for your turn to tee off you SMELL the fresh cut grass as a mower cuts the tee surrounds, and you FEEL a light and warm breeze blowing against the hairs of your skin on your right forearm. You FEEL the sun hitting the right side of your face like a magnifying glass, warming your skin.

MARCH 2015

You HEAR the trees above you moving and rustling around whilst you LOOK down the fairway and consider a distant tree that looks like a nice target to hit your tee shot towards.

You sip your coke and TASTE the sweetness of the sugar and FEEL the cold liquid go down the back of your throat.

You make a couple of slow and easy practice swings and you notice the heavy FEEL of the weight of the club-head as it swings back and through.

You FEEL the pressure of your feet on the ground as your body turns slowly back and through, and you FEEL the pressure changes in your hands as the club cocks and uncocks.

You HEAR the swoosh of the club-head as it reaches the bottom of the arc.

Now it’s you turn to hit.

Keep the sensations within you. Do not let them get pulled out of you into the target area. Focus on the sensory stimuli like hand pressure, foot pressure, your breathing and your body awareness.

From now on when you are going to hit any shot whether in practice or on the golf course, you will isolate each golf experience from every other by tuning completely into your sensory experience so that you treat each golf stroke as a unique and personal one.

The Zero Point Formula is the answer to improved performance on the golf course under pressure.

When you play a golf shot from now on focus exclusively on allowing all your senses to provide you with the information you need to keep you in the moment. By tuning into the external pressures that you notice acting on your body you will be focusing more on the inner game of golf, which is where your true golf ability resides.

The outer game is where distraction lives. Distraction gets in the way of you achieving superior performance by making you think too much, and these models and processes do not help you to achieve your desired outcomes.

Start to come to your senses today, and tune into your true golfing potential, and you will discover that you will gain a lot more from each stroke you make leading you ever closer to realizing your dream of becoming a successful professional golfer.

See you next month for part 4 Lawrie Montague and David Milne - Pro Tour Golf College

AASIAN S I A N GOLF G O L F ISSUE I S S U E 174 174

ASIAN GOLF AWARDS 2015 The battle for top honours at the 2015 Asian Golf Awards, the “Oscars” for the golf industry in the Asia Pacific region kicks off on April 1.

The on-line polls will swing into action as industry members launch their respective campaigns to draw as much support as they can to earn the coveted title of being the best in more than thirty voting categories. Don’t miss this issue because we want to engage your support to help select the best amongst the best in the golf industry in the Asia Pacific.

IT’S MAJOR MAKE-OVER TIME! Many of the golf courses in Southeast Asia are at the stage where there is an urgent need to start looking at renovation.

Then again, for some, there is a need to look at upgrading tired course lay-outs. Asian Golf discusses this hot topic with one of the world’s top golf course design firms, Schmidt Curley Design to obtain a health check on some of the ageing facilities in the region.

YOUNGER, STRONGER AND FURTHER It’s the PGA Tour’s version of the Olympic Motto - Citius, Altius, Fortius.

Tour players are younger, stronger and they drive the ball way past the proverbial country mile. Unlike the days of Nicklaus, Palmer and Player, modern professional players are fearless kids who become rich kids before they even have their own kids! Asian Golf takes a fascinating look at how the landscape has changed on the PGA Tour, the world’s richest professional golf tour.

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