JANUARY 2018
D L R WO NS! O I P AM
RECAP :
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GOLFSCAPES
THAILAND:
UNIQUE GOLF OUTINGS IN THE LAND OF A THOUSAND SMILES
COVER STORY
Dubai hosts top corporate golfers for GEC Open World Final
MORE GOLF
SOCIAL MEDIA
This just in: Justin Rose to host British Masters 2018
35 TEE TIME
Sharma seizes maiden European Tour title at Joburg Open
40 BUSINESS NEWS
GolfSixes event demonstrates to be a success
44 RECAP
The Year Of Low Scores And Rule Changes
COVER: SHUT TERS TOCK
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 EDITOR’S NOTE
PUBLISHER & MANAGING DIRECTOR TUSHAR SAHOO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
May the course be with you Dear Readers, Wish you a happy new year from the entire team of bizgolf. 2017 left us with some great memories. On professional golf tours around the world, we saw many first-time winners with surprisingly low scores. We witnessed rule changes, various controversies taking centre stage, and Tiger Woods’s return to golf. Sergio Garcia donning the Master green jacket has to be my personal favourite moment of the year. Bravo Sergio! Our cover story of the month highlights the climax of GEC Open 2017 golf tour in Dubai for the world final. Relive all the action from fiercely contested two days of golf at the Dubai Corporate Golf World Cup. Also, in this issue, we bring you a rundown of all the significant bits that ensued in the world golf in the past year. Other than this, we’ve featured few unique courses from the incredible country of Thailand that should be next on your “golf-cation”. Next up, exclusive coverage of Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas along with highlights from the golf industry and an informative section on crucial things to keep in mind before building a golf course. Read on.
VINEET MANN vineet@gecmediagroup.com @vineetmann
BHARATH ARVIND MANAGING EDITOR VINEET MANN vineet@gecmediagroup.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT NIKITA SHARMA nikita@gecmediagroup.com GUEST WRITERST AMAN MISRA ROHIT BHARDWAJ LEAD VISUALIZER NEHA DESIGNER AJAY ARYA ASSISTANT DESIGNER RAHUL ARYA SUBSCRIPTIONS info@gecmediagroup.com SALES AND ADVERTISING RONAK SAMANTARAY MARKETING DIRECTOR ronak@gecmediagroup.com GLOBAL EVENT SALES SHOUVICK DUTTA shouvick@gecmediagroup.com VIKRAM SINGH vikram@gecmediagroup.com SOCIAL MARKETING & DIGITAL COMMUNICATION YASOBANT MISHRA yasobant@gecmediagroup.com PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION RICHA SAMANTARAY richa@gecmediagroup.com
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 ISSUE SPECIAL
TIGER’s
ROAR
IS BACK Former World No. 1 Tiger Woods Makes A Strong Return To Competitive Golf After 301 Days, Driving Home The Message He Is Far From Finished
PHOTO CREDITS: TGR LIVE AND ROHIT BHARDWAJ
B Y : R O H I T B H A R D WA J AT N A S S A U , B A H A M A S
A
n athlete’s lifespan is pretty limited. At 41, most players have hung in their boots let alone attempting a comeback after undergoing quadruple back surgery. Yet former World No. 1 Tiger Woods decided to return to competitive golf at the US$ 3.5 million Hero World Challenge, an 18-man showpiece, in The Bahamas to drive home the message that he is far from finished. And he almost redeemed himself at The Championship Course in Albany by shooting 3 out of 4 rounds in the 60s and finishing in a tie for 9th
place, ahead of current World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and two of the year’s Major winners Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka. For yours truly, who was witnessing Tiger play from close quarters for the first time since his brief visit to the Delhi Golf Club on February 2014, the 14-time Major champion didn’t take the trophy home. Still, he won. Out of action since February last year, Tiger played all the four rounds of the PGA Tour event without any physical setbacks or pain, outdriving
ISSUE SPECIAL JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
playing partner Justin Thomas by 25 yards on a couple of occasions — prompting fellow Americans Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler to rave about his comeback. His walk was still majestic, his swing photogenic and his recovery reminiscent of the Tiger of old. The only thing he lacked was his birdie conversion ratio, despite coming close on numerous occasions. But he made up for it by saving par from improbable situations. Sample this: Tiger had landed in the dunes on the par-5 15th in the opening round prompting him
to fire a safety drive. The ball was still untraceable by the marshalls with the limestone mud and thick bushes acting as camouflage. After getting a free drop from the referee, he first hit it to the fairway and then made a great par save from 15 feet to the excitement of the vociferous crowd. The World No. 1 for 683 weeks posted 69 in the first round and 68 in the second to set himself perfectly for a top-5 finish before winds changed the colour of his scores to red in the penultimate round at
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 ISSUE SPECIAL
the Ernie Els layout. The Florida native then put up a dogged fightback to hole six birdies and an eagle in the final round with ample support from caddie Joe LaCava to register a tied ninth finish with an overall tally of 8-under 280, a shot ahead of reigning FedEx Cup Champion Justin Thomas and eight strokes ahead of current World No. 1 Dustin Johnson. The result pushed him from 1199th in the World Rankings to inside 700. Woods may not be at the level we all expect him to be, but he sure is on the right path. “Well, I knew I was going to be able to play all four rounds, that wasn’t going to be an issue. I played a lot at home. Came down here, I played, so that wasn’t going to be the issue. The issue was how was my scoring going to be, how was my feel, how am I going to get used to the adrenaline in my system for the first time in a while. You know, that took a little bit of time. I was still good with my irons, I drove it pretty good all week, made some good putts. But overall I’m very pleased. I showed some good signs, I hit some excellent shots out there and a bright future,” he told reporters later. So, what does 2018 look like for Tiger? “That’s a great question. I think that we’re going to sit down here, we’re going to figure out what’s the best way for me to build my schedule for the Major championships. Play, how much, what my training cycles are going to be, and play enough but don’t play too much. I don’t know what golf courses I’ll be playing and what’s the best way to go about it. We’ll sit down with the whole team, and we’ll figure it out.” So what makes Tiger great? It’s his undying spirit that differentiates him from the rest and keeps all his fans, including 16-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal (who followed Tiger for 18 holes in the final round), fascinated. Only time will tell how Tiger calms his nerves when the spotlight is on him, how he holes that crucial putt to keep himself in the hunt and
how he faces the challenge of surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Major triumphs or Sam Snead’s milestone of 82 PGA Tour victories. Rollicking Rickie While the entire world was busy talking about Tiger, young Rickie Fowler carded a tournament record 11-under 61 in the final round to snatch the Hero World Challenge title from overnight leader Charley Hoffman. Beginning the final round 7 strokes behind Hoffman, Fowler finished with a 72-hole winning total of 18-under 270. It was the second victory of the year for the 28-year-old, and the second time he has ended a year with multiple wins worldwide. In the post-event press conference, the World No. 7 expressed his satisfaction over his performance before mentioning about his idol Tiger, a neighbour in Jupiter (Florida). “It was pretty special. Obviously, it’s not a full field event, but the 18 guys that are here I feel like we’ve all earned our way here. In a way this tournament’s always I feel like been looked at as a celebration of, like I said, earning your way here. No one gets
here by mistake. Even Tiger just started at 1,200. He’s inside 1,000 now. He’s trending, he’s going the right way. Especially to have Tiger here this week, him back playing and being able to play the last couple months with him at home and see his potential, I thought other than yesterday, I mean it was a lot better than I think what a lot of people were could expect or even expecting,” said Fowler with his girlfriend Allison Stokke all ears in the front row. “It was a great week here. Obviously, I knew I needed to get off to a hot start today to give myself a chance, and Charley’s been playing some solid golf, and I wasn’t expecting him to come back to me, I knew I was going to have to go out and get him. Like I said, get off to a decent start and at least show my face a little bit. I wasn’t expecting seven out of the gate, but I’ll take it,” he added. Race to Dubai winner from England Tommy Fleetwood, who tied the knot in the Bahamas, closed with a 67 and tied for third with Jordan Spieth (69). (The writer’s trip was sponsored by Hero MotoCorp)
ISSUE SPECIAL JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
‘INDIA NITE’ A MASSIVE HIT T
he much-awaited ‘India Nite’ hosted by Hero MotoCorp CMD Pawan Munjal and his wife Aniesha was a massive hit with the golf fans, players and a handful of Indian media persons, who had converged in Albany to attend the Hero World Challenge. The evening saw a fusion of traditional and contemporary performances by globally renowned Indian-origin artists.
Popular composer, recording artist and DJ Karsh Kale started the show with ‘Ganesh Stuti’ followed by electronic fusion music. It was followed by a medley of classical dance forms Bharatnatyam, Odissi and Kathak along with aerial acts performed by international troupe Natya Nectar. To top it all, Indo-American twins Poonam and Priyanka performed to famous Bollywood numbers that took the crowd by storm.
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As if this wasn’t enough, celebrated speed painter Vilas Nayak made sketches of Munjal and golfing superstar Tiger Woods, who walked in for some time, within
minutes. Guests also got to check out some handicrafts and articles prepared by indigenous artists at the Meena Bazaar.The icing on the
cake was the diverse culinary delights on offer for the overseas guests. From Mughal cuisine to South Indian dishes it was an evening to relish for gastronomes.
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 GOLFSCAPES
THAILAND:
UNIQUE GOLF OUTINGS IN THE LAND OF A THOUSAND SMILES
BY: VINEET MANN
T
hailand is one of the world’s premier golf destinations and a golf-mad country. Beautiful courses, superb service standards and luxurious accommodations leaves little to the imagination. In perfect synergy to this land of a thousand smiles, Thailand golf courses are full of vivid adventures that will push the envelope for the golfing junkie in you.
From super challenging parkland layout with tree lines fairways and guarded greens to top notch golf with Thailand-style service, the courses featured below may not be the most famous in Thailand, but they represent everything that’s wonderful about golf and Thailand. If you pride yourself with having played courses that few have come to know, then these four should send you packing your bags and planning a trip to Thailand.
GASSAN KHUNTAN GOLF CLUB Northern Thailand is a great destination for golf. While courses like Chiang Mai Highlands and Alpine Chiang Mai may have driven most tourists over the years, Gassan Khuntan Golf & Resort is not to miss if you’re around. Situated on a beautiful terrain with a view of the mountains in Doi Khuntan National Park, Gassan Khuntan is located about an hour south of Chiang Mai in the northern province of Lamphun. Designed by noted Thai architect and Gassan’s
owner Pravit Raeng-Po, the course offers golfers scenic beauty and picturesque holes. “The Railway Bridge” and “Khuntan Tunnel” provide unique landmark structures that make the experience unique. This absorbing and always challenging course contains an abundance of distinctively steep-faced bunkers, along with plenty of water hazards, island greens, sharply dog-legging holes and pleasantly rolling undulations. And your bunker game has to be sharp if you are to
negotiate steep walls when you end up in some of the sand hazards. wThe entertainment doesn’t end on the 18th green. The facilities at the resort include a pro shop, banquet rooms, swimming pool, Thai massage, fitness and an international restaurant serving dishes for which Thailand is famous.
Course Architect and Designer Pravit Raeng-Po
GOLFSCAPES JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
GOLF
CLUB HOUSE
HOSPITALITY
Fun Fact
Green Fee
Gassan Khuntan Golf & Resort is home to the first of a handsome triumvirate of Gassan courses to be developed in the northern province of Lamphun, near to Chiang Mai. All three are designed by Gassan’s owner, the noted Thai architect Pravit Raeng-Po. Khuntan means “devil mountain.
Contact resort for details of seasonal Stay & Play packages. [Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc]. Credit cards accepted.
Where to stay
Contact
Getting There
Gassan Khuntan Golf & Resort 222 Moo 3, Thapladuk, Mae Tha, Lamphun 51140, Thailand +66 (0)53 507 006 to 8
Gassan Khuntan is about an hour’s drive south of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is served by Chiang Mai International Airport
info@gassangolf.com www.gassangolf.com
The course offers stay packages at its resort.
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 GOLFSCAPES
GOLF
CLUB HOUSE
HOSPITALITY
MAE MOH GOLF COURSE What used to be a clay lignite mine in the Lampang province was turned into a championship course in 1985 and named Mae Moh Golf Course. The fact that it is designed by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand was a huge testament to the resourceful of authorities when it came to land renewal. Located 125 km from downtown Chiang Mai, it’s easily a couple of hours drive that puts it off the beaten track. The uniqueness of playing here is partly due to the views of the mine on some of the holes. The natural disposition and mountain backdrop masks the land’s previous use, and the spectacular views make it worth your while. Part of the layout sits on top
of a mountain with the vantages afforded from that perspective. The others lie at the bottom of the valley with different, if equally interesting, propositions. Given the variety of the course’s nature, you can expect significant changes in elevation, and steep inclines on some of the holes. You won’t find many flat lies on the course. Mae Moh is not a fancy place, and facilities tend to be a little on the rustic side. If anything, the surreal experience of playing on a course overlooking a mine is one that you’ll remember for a long time.
Course Architect and Designer Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)
Green Fee US$ 15/ 18 holes
Contact Mae Moh Golf Course, Mae Mo, Mae Mo District, Lampang 52220, Thailand. +66 54 254 095
Where to Stay There are a variety of hotels in the nearby region of Lampang city center.
Getting There Mae Moh Golf Course is located about two and a half hours by car from Chiang Mai.
GOLFSCAPES JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
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bizgolf ratings GOLF
CLUB HOUSE
HOSPITALITY
ST ANDREWS 2000 GOLF COURSE
There are numerous golf courses in Pattaya. But for a unique experience, hit the links at St Andrews 2000. While the famed English designer Desmond Muirhead created a fantastic course with many similar challenges to the home of golf in Scotland, a resort-style course with links accents is probably a better definition. One of the unique features of St Andrews 2000 is that it consists of not one but two par six holes at over 800 yards each. Of the two, the fourth hole features rock cropping and three ponds to deter you from the task at hand. Straight and true shots are needed to escape the hole with a little bit of confidence. Make no mistake; this is a brutal golf course at over 7000m long and Par 74. For an enjoyable experience, it is suggested that you suck in your pride and play from the appropriate tee boxes. There are elevated greens, narrow fairways – some of them split – and huge putting surfaces, which makes getting on in regulation no guarantee of making par. Luckily, the inward holes make up for that
dastardly nature by giving you great views of the surrounding hills. Facilities available include tennis, swimming and other water sports. You can even go horse riding or play pool in the games room. Indoor golf is available with the golf simulator, and live music is offered at the Albatross Dome. The T&R Tee Time Restaurant offers international cuisine, and meeting rooms that sit up to 50 people mean you can organise corporate outings here too.
Course Architect & Designer Desmond Muirhead
Green Fee 2017 visitor fee, 18-holes: weekdays US $90; weekends US $110. Caddy fee Baht Us $10; golf cart fee US $20. [Contact club for full details, discounts, Stay & Play rates and packages, etc]. Credit cards accepted.
Fun Fact Rayong Green Valley and St Andrews2000 share the same clubhouse. St Andrews2000
has hosted many top-level tournaments including the Asian Tour
Contact St Andrews 2000 Golf & Country Club 9/36 Moo 7 Samnakthon, Banchang, Rayong 21130, Thailand +66 (0)38 030 660 golfing@standrews2000golf.com www.standrews2000golf.com
Where to Stay Royal Residence Hotels 9/36 Moo 7, Samnakthon, Banchang, Rayong 21130 +66 (0)38 030 660-2 www.standrews2000golf.com
Getting There St Andrews 2000 is about an hour’s drive from Pattaya City, and an hour and 40 minutes from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 GOLFSCAPES
GOLF
CLUB HOUSE
HOSPITALITY
CHATRIUM GOLF RESORT
If the primary objective of your golf holiday is to get away from the toil of urban life, then look no further as a trip to Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao, Thailand ticks all the boxes. Located in the province of Chanthaburi, the resort is removed from the hustle of Thailand’s leading cities and a destination onto itself. Full of facilities and surrounded by Soi Dao hills, you can easily spend a few days at this stay and play haven while relishing everything Chatrium has to offer. The highlight, naturally, is the awardwinning 18-hole course designed by Denis Griffiths. Stretched out over 395 acres of mountainside terrain, the nature of the layout is undulating, and will test the most seasoned of golfers. Right from the par-4 first hole, the gorgeous views of the Soi Dao highlands hint at what visual delights are in store through your round here. Then at the par-5 sixth, the views take you up another groove from the elevated tee box. The par-3 14th is arguably Griffiths’ signature work on the course. There is a 15m drop from tee to green, and with the
mountains in the backdrop, make for a prime Instagram opportunity if there was one here. And if you’re afraid you might get cabin fever only staying at the resort, some attractions nearby can keep that adventurer in your satisfied. Several religious monuments are worth visiting, including Wat Khao Chawang, City Pillar Shrine and The Catholic Church, all three of which are within a 50km radius from Chatrium. A little further out, the National Maritime Museum and Lam Singha Beach should keep sea lovers in their favourite domain.
sanctuary, close to Thailand’s border with Cambodia, is a very popular trekking area in Thailand, a wonderful place of forests, mountains and waterfalls. The golf course at Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao Chanthaburi is designed by US-based Denis Griffiths. Among his other notable designs in Thailand is the world-renowned Thai Country Club layout.
Contact
Denis Griffiths
Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao Chanthaburi 224 Moo 2, Tambol Tubsai, Amphoe Pong Nam Ron, Chanthaburi 22140, Thailand +66 (0)89 934 3008 reservation.sdao@chatrium.com www.chatrium.com/chatrium_soidao/
Green Fee
Where to Stay
2017 visitor fee, 18-holes: weekdays US $40; weekends US $60; caddy fee US $10; golf cart fee US $20. [Contact club for full details, discounts, Stay & Play packages, etc]. Credit cards accepted.
The course offers stay packages at its resort.
Course Architect & Designer
Fun Fact The Soi Dao National Park and wildlife
Getting There Chatrium Golf Resort is about four hours from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, and about three and a half hours drive from Pattaya. The closest airport is Trat Airport about an hour and a half away.
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Visit gecopen.com/csr for more details Contact: info@gecmediagroup.com
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 COVER STORY
DUBAI HOSTS TOP CORPORATE GOLFERS FOR
GEC OPEN WORLD FINAL BY: VINEET MANN
A
fter touring the eastern hemisphere hosting national qualifying rounds in 18 countries, the GEC Open 2017, organised in association with OMA Emirates, culminated in Dubai for the coveted world final.
Forming a unique melting pot of diverse cultures and ethnicities, as many as 60 world finalists came together for a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to compete under national colours and experience the life of a pro on tour!
The two-day extravaganza, Dubai Corporate Golf World Cup, consisted of two rounds of golf on the mighty Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates and the prestigious Majlis Course of Emirates Golf Club on December 13-14, 2017.
COVER STORY JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
Informal drink and dine sessions in the evening provided a unique opportunity for networking and building camaraderie. The chic events that followed the competitive golf rounds were abuzz with lively conversations and laughter among new-found
friends.
Dubai Corporate Golf World Cup Testing their mettle at two very different layouts that are home to few of the most
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 COVER STORY
reputed professional tournaments on the European Tour, the amateurs displayed remarkable grit and determination in their endeavour for the coveted trophy. The format of the game was individual Stableford with full handicap allowance with the total score of two days counting towards the final standings in a single best Nett category. Jumeirah Golf Estates - Earth Course hosted the inaugural round of Dubai Corporate Golf World Cup. The picturesque course is also the venue for season-ending DP World Tour Championship on the European Tour where the yearly Race to Dubai winner is crowned. As the curtain drew on the first day, playing off scratch, Frenchmen Christophe Callaou carded 35 Stableford points. Christophe had qualified from the national qualifying round at Heritage Golf Club in Mauritius. Susan Drummond scored the equal number points but was edged out for top place owing to a higher handicap to Christophe at 5.7 index. Susan who hails from Scotland booked her berth in the world final at Dreamland Golf Club in Baku, Azerbaijan. Indian national Hassanali Bulsara, who qualified from the Mumbai edition at Willingdon Sports Club of the Indian swing of qualifiers was following them closely with just a one-stroke lag. Yukol Yingyongkij from Nikanti Golf Club in Thailand had the
COVER STORY JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
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“I am thrilled to have won today. I’d be lying if I say that I didn’t come here to win. I guess, all of us did. Apart from first-rate golf experience at two of the world-class golf courses, it was a rich cultural experience meeting and knowing so many like-minded friends from various part of the world. I will cherish this memory for a long time.”
-Yukol Yingyongkij.
same number of points as Hassanali after round one and found himself in the thick of things at forth. For the final day, the amateur golfers moved to Emirates Golf Club - Majlis Courses- the venue of Dubai Desert Classic. Owing to the course maintenance in the buildup to the Desert Classic in January 2018, the amateurs were asked to ditch their carts and walk the course – a real ‘feel like a pro’ experience! Yukol Yingyongkij from Thailand consolidated on his first-day score of 34 points with a superb round of 39 Stableford points. The overall score of 73 Stableford points was enough to propel him to the top of the leaderboard. Verlito Quindoza, a national winner from Dirab Golf & Country Club in Saudi Arabia, secured an identical two-day score of 73 Stableford points but had to settle for runner-up position due to a higher playing handicap. The third position went to Susan Drummond who carded a two-day total of 70 Stableford points.
Dubai Delight With an aim to encourage camaraderie and keep the ‘fun’ quotient of the event at par with the competitive spirit of the world final, the travelling players were
put-up together at the luxurious property at Media One Hotel in Dubai Media City. The evening affairs at both the venues offered Continental and Arabic cuisine along with contemporary music in an upscale yet intimate setting. Late evenings were kept free to enable the world finalists to go out and see the wonders of the ‘city of gold’ Dubai, best known for exquisite hospitality, luxury shopping and a lively nightlife. With phenomenal views of the Persian Gulf and iconic skyscrapers, the players had plenty to sightsee and explore.
“It’s unfortunate that I have to settle for second place although I scored same points as Yukol. But what a fantastic end to a truly enriching experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my two days at GEC Open world final. I met some wonderful people here who are doing great things in their personal and professional lives. Hoping to stay connected with them in the years ahead.”
-Verlito Quindoza.
Global Enterprise Connect The fact that the combined net worth of all participants of GEC Open 2017 was over US$ 30 Billion is a huge testament to the networking and business potential of the tournament. Over 2500 top corporates of fortune 500 companies, independent business owners, influential bureaucrats and key decision makers of various national and international golfing fraternities joined the GEC ecosystem this year. The 2017 edition played a crucial role in bringing together financial mammoths from multiple countries and creating business opportunities. With over 50 national qualifying rounds set to be held across 32 countries in 2018, the GEC platform is on its way to add
“It was quite a competitive field over the two days. Everyone was going for the win, and the tournament saw some seriously low scores. The two courses hardly gave any room for error. After a good opening round, I knew I do have a chance, and I am glad to have secured a podium finish at the GEC Open World Final. I will remember my visit to Dubai fondly. I had a great time socialising with club golfers from far and wide.”
-Susan Drummond
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 COVER STORY
another 3700+ leading corporates and industry stalwarts.
Global Social Responsibility (GSR) GEC Open is an initiative to bring leading global organisations and executives on a unified platform; growing the bond and strength of business while working to improve the lives of others through charitable causes. GEC Open 2017 world final marked the launch the first GSR campaign directed towards Green Energy - OneLight OneEarth. OneEarth OneLight Inspired by the abundance of energy provided by the natural sources, OneLight aims to fuse green energy technologies into the daily lifestyle of urban and rural parts of the world to effectuate an environmental and social impact. A solar powered, all-weather, portable source of light, OneLight is lightweight, waterproof and provides light for up to 12 hours once fully charged. All the participants at GEC Open 2018 will get an opportunity to own the green energy OneLight and remuneration from their purchases will go to a charity partner of their choice. According to World Energy Outlook 2016, an estimated 16% of the global population does not have access to electricity. They are forced to resort to more conventional sources such as diesel generators, kerosene lanterns to light their homes. In addition to depleting natural resources, being toxic and hazardous, these are expensive.
COVER STORY JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
29
“The feeling is unbelievable right now. The idea of a global golf tournament which provides the participants with a unique blend of competitive sport and networking opportunities started four years ago. It’s been heartening to see the tremendous growth of the event from just an idea to one of the most coveted golf tournament for amateurs in the world today. On behalf of the entire GEC team, I congratulate all winners as well as the whole world finalist contingent. They are the real ambassadors of the sport as well as the GEC community. We look forward to the next edition of the tournament with great anticipation. With 50 rounds in 32 countries, beckons a vast opportunity to grow the game and GEC ecosystem”
-Tushar Sahoo, Managing Director, GEC Open.
“We have been associated with GEC Open since its inception because we truly believe in its massive potential to use golf as a medium to bring people together to do great things. We thank all the participants of GEC Open 2017 as its due to them that the event was such a huge success. We look forward to continuing our support to the event in the coming years”
-Niranj Sangal, Group CEO, OMA Emirates.
OneLight will also be available for bulk purchase for our sponsors and partners who want to give the gift of light as part of their own CSR programs. A special note of thanks to the sponsors and partners, OMA Emirates, Callaway, bizgolf, Chase54, African+Eastern, CNBC, Club Mahin-
dra, Indigo, The New Indian Express, Holiday Inn, Pepsi, Bond, Direct, Mimecast, GBM, Toshiba, Sophos, Veeam, and Pure Storage for their continued support and patronage for the event. A big shout out to the management at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Emirates Golf Club for a seamless execution of the competition.
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 COVER STORY
FINAL STANDINGS: DUBAI CORPORATE GOLF WORLD CUP
COVER STORY JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
NUMBER GAME
31
Likeliness of attending GEC OPEN again next year? Extremely likely
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not so likely
72%
23%
4%
1%
Recommending GEC Open to a friend or colleague?
Different Nationalities represented
92
Extremely likely
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not so likely
81%
16%
1%
2%
Overall feedback of the event Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
72%
23%
3%
2%
Overall, how would you rate the World Final?
Unique Corporate entities
815
Excellent
Very good
Fairly good
Mildly good
Not good at all
73%
23%
2%
1%
1%
How organized was the event? Excellent
Very good
Fairly good
Mildly good
Not good at all
71%
19%
5%
4%
1%
How comfortable werethe accommodation and other arrangements? Excellent
Very good
Fairly good
Mildly good
Not good at all
74%
18%
5%
2%
1%
TOTAL PLAYERS
2421
Golfing experience at Jumeirah Golf Estates- Earth course Excellent
Very good
Fairly good
Mildly good
Not good at all
91%
7%
2%
0%
0%
Male: 2010
83% Female: 411
17%
Golfing experience at Emirates Golf Club- Majlis Course Excellent
Very good
Fairly good
Mildly good
Not good at all
92%
6%
2%
0%
0%
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 SPOTLIGHT
Getting Started
Building a Golf Course The key to the successful and sustainable development of the Golf Course is to employ professionals for all aspects of the project. It is also essential to create a development
team that works together to problem-solve, allowing a seamless transition from master planning and design via the construction and grow-in of the golf course, right
through to the successful operation and maintenance of the facility. Let’s take a look at the key players and their roles while developing a golf course.
SPOTLIGHT JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
33
Planning and Design The key players in the initial phase of a golf course planning and designing are – Owner/ Developer, Masterplan Designer, Golf Course Architect and Project Management Company. Naturally, it starts with the owner. It is his role to procure and provide a contiguous land parcel and the capital investment for the development of the course. The owner is to
ensure that the golf course is designed, built and operated in a professional manner with desirable market characteristics to provide a viable return on investment. Once all of the above is in place, then comes Master Planning. It is one of the essential steps of the whole equation. Master planning is all about pragmatically understanding
how the entire land parcel fits together and how will the interusage of the different functions work. This helps set the scene and brief the rest of the design team, i.e. Architectural, Landscaping and Interiors. The master plan helps the owner of the understand the best usage of their land to maximise efficiency and ROI while taking into consideration- the
triple bottom line – Economic, Environmental and Social. The Golf Course Architect will lead the potential development from concept to completion. The architect has to try and turn owner’s imagination or direction into reality. For this purpose, the relationship between the owner and the architect has to be transparent and direct.
A WELL-DESIGNED GOLF COURSE CATERS TO GOLFERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS.
34
BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 SPOTLIGHT
Construction
The Golf course designer will work closely with the constructor to realise plans for the golf course and can play a part in other aspects of the golf development. The Project Management Company is responsible for ensuring a smooth operation. It pulls together all aspects of the Master Plan. PMC has overall responsibility for delivering the development as per the plan, on time, and on budget. This is when the suits make way for the blue collar and the designs starts to take physical shape.
contractor working with an accurate and realistic budget will add significant value to your development team. Next, you’ll need grass, a lot. The geographical location of the golf course coupled with soil quality and climate largely determines the suitable grass type from a variety of Hybrid and Native grasses. You’ll have to get in touch with a ‘Turf Supply’ firm. One costsaving strategy is to develop an on-site nursery during the construction phase and curb massive turf purchase cost. Irrigation and turf-care are critical components of course
It is crucial to employ an experienced and specialist golf contractor as a quick understanding the requirements of the architect and experience of the relevant elements of the work will go a long way towards saving cost. A quality contractor takes away all responsibility from the developer and deliver the project on time. It can be a smart move for the developers to ask for reference from other developers and architects. Keep in mind that the lowest price doesn’t always represents the best value. A reputable, experienced golf course
maintenance. Efficient design, product and proper installation are key factors for the longterm water requirement of the course. A properly installed efficient system will operate for a long time with minimal maintenance and eventually reduce costs. Advanced computerized control systems help conserve a considerable amount of water, energy and labor. Turf Machinery, along with the skill of the greenkeepers, determines the health of the golf course. Always invest in quality machinery as it will achieve the desired quality for a longer time.
Annual Water Consumption Estimate
For an 18 hole, Par 72 Course
1 – 2 million litres per acre of turf
80-160 million litre
AREA REQUIRED TO MAKE A GOLF COURSE No. of Holes
Par
Tentative Length (Yards)
Estimated area reqd (Acres)
18
72
+7000
120-150
9
34
+3400
50-65
18
54
+2500
35-50
9
27
+1000
15-25
TEE TIME JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
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EUROPEAN TOUR
Sharma takes home maiden European Tour title at Joburg Open Claiming the Joburg Open held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Shubhankar Sharma displayed a brilliant, nerveless performance to take home his maiden European Tour title. Sharma entered the final round at Randpark Golf Club with a five-shot lead but had seen that cut to four when play was halted due to storms with his ball on the eighth green.
The 21 year old showed no ill effects from the overnight delay, birdieing the ninth and then parring his way home for a 69 that moved him to 23 under and gave him a three-shot victory over South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen, who carded a 66. “It feels absolutely wonderful to have won this week,” he said. “I actually wasn’t going to come here about a week ago and I decided to come so I’m really happy that I
came. This is my first time in South Africa and I don’t think I’m ever going forget my first time in South Africa. A place at the Open Championship was on offer for the top three players in the field not already exempt and South African Shaun Norris joined Sharma and Van Rooyen in booking his place at Carnoustie Golf Links as he finished at 17 under alongside Finn Tapio Pulkkanen.
PGA TOUR
Sean O’Hair and Steve Stricker secure victory in the QBE Shootout Steve Stricker provided the pep talk and Sean O’Hair delivered the shot to secure victory in the QBE Shootout held in Naples, Florida. Stricker and O’Hair closed with an 8-under 64 for a two-shot victory over Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry, effectively clinching it when O’Hair made an eagle on the par-5 17th
hole at Tiburon Golf Club. Stricker and O’Hair finished at 26-under 190 and each earned $410,000. It was the 2nd time Stricker and O’Hair won the team event hosted by Greg Norman, but the first time as partners. Stricker won in 2009 with Jerry Kelly, and O’Hair won in 2012 with Kenny Perry.
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 TEE TIME
ASIAN TOUR
Justin Rose bags Indonesian Masters in Style
ASIAN TOUR
Justin Rose signed off for the year with a stunning eight-shot victory at the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta, playing 28 holes on the final day. Having led from day one, the world number six first completed the last 10 holes of his weather-delayed third round, carding a 66, before finishing in style with a 10-under score of 62 which left him 29 under par for the tournament, while the margin between him and nearest challenger, 18-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai, was the largest of his career. His eight-stroke victory is also the biggest win on this year’s Asian Tour. A jubilant Rose exclaimed, “I have had a dream week and I have played incredible golf. It is my last event of the season, to finish the year on a good note and still have a couple of weeks to enjoy this win over Christmas and New Year is really nice.” “It is my lowest winning score and to win by eight shots, all of those are huge positives. To come here with my game in good shape, have to deal with bad weather and jetlag and stay focused on all four rounds, is something that I am really pleased about”, he added.
Shiv Kapur seals third Asian Tour title of the year with Royal Cup Ace Indian golfer, Shiv Kapur, ended the year on a high with his third victory of 2017 Asian Tour season at the Royal Cup in Thailand. Kapur, the only golfer to win multiple Asian Tour titles in 2017, emerged triumphant in a fascinating duel against Thailand’s Prom Meesawat on the final day of the US$500,000 event. He posted a last round of fourunder-67 to finish with a total of 14-under-270, one ahead of Meesawat. There were three Indians in the top-6 as Gaganjeet Bhullar (67-71-69-66) secured third place at 11-under-273 while Khalin Joshi (70-68-71-67) claimed sixth place at eight-under-276. At the start of the final round, Prom was two shots ahead of Kapur, who was four shots ahead of the rest of the field. However, Prom lost his advantage as early as the second hole of the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club. After pulling to the left, Prom had to settle for a bogey at the par-three hole, while Kapur knocked in a birdie.
Kapur did himself no favours when he bogeyed the 13th and 14th and in the process, handed Prom a two-shot lead again. Kapur bounced back remarkably with two consecutive birdies of his own and it was back to a deadlock. With Prom bogeying the 17th, the door was left open for Shiv to win the Royal Cup, and he did. Shiv, who won the Yeangder Heritage and the Panasonic Open India earlier in the year, made 19 birdies at the cost of five bogeys during the Royal Cup week. It was his fourth win on the Asian Tour and the seventh international win by an Indian in 2017. “I think the tournament has a great format. It has a lot of history and I’m glad to join the illustrious list of winners. If 2018 can come anywhere close, I’ll be happy. I’ll be building on my success. After three weeks of rest and relaxation, I’ll be back competing on the Asian Tour”, exclaimed Kapur.
TEE TIME JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
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PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOUR OF INDIA
McLeod Russel Tour Championship: Shubhankar seizes victory
Shubhankar Sharma snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final round of the Rs. 1.5 crore McLeod Russel Tour Championship 2017 to make it the ‘icing on the cake’ to a dream season which saw him win three titles.
The 21-year-old from Chandigarh, who recently became the youngest Indian to win on the European Tour, prevailed over Delhi’s Rashid Khan by one shot in a classic encounter at the PGTI’s year-end championship played at the revered Royal Calcutta Golf
Club (RCGC). Shubhankar, trailing by two shots till the 14th hole, turned it around in the final stages to end up with a round of 68 and a winning total of 17-under-271. He thus took home his sixth professional trophy and the winner’s cheque worth a whopping Rs. 22,50,000. The 26-year-old Rashid (71) finished with a total of 16-under-272. Shamim Khan of Delhi bagged his second PGTI Order of Merit title after finishing tied fourth at eightunder-280 this week. Shamim, who had earlier won the title in 2012, closed the 2017 season with earnings of Rs. 51,64,233 to finish number one in the money list by a fair distance. He won three titles during the season. Ahmedabad’s Udayan Mane, who also bagged three titles in the season, the joint-highest with Shamim, came in second on the money list with season’s earnings of Rs. 43,14,251. He posted a tied 18th finish at RCGC with a total score of two-under-286 for the week.
LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
Angel Yin secures breakthrough victory at Omega Dubai Ladies Classic The stunning Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club served up another tournament to remember with the 12th edition of the Omega Dubai Ladies Classic wrapping up the LET season once again. The 19-year-old American Angel Yin secured her breakthrough victory after a three-way playoff against In-Kyung Kim and Céline Herbin. Yin, officially the second longest hitter on tour with an average drive of 277
yards, almost gave it away by driving her ball right into the lake on the Majlis Course’s par-five 18th on the 72nd hole in regulation play, but tied with Herbin and Kim on 15-underpar. Herbin was eliminated at the first extra hole after finding the lake with her second shot, but Yin won with a birdie on the second extra hole. “I’m speechless,” Yin said. “I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s the perfect way to finish off 2017.”
2 18
FEBRUARY
JANUARY
GOLF SCHEDULE
18 -21
25-28
PGA TOUR: SONY OPEN IN HAWAII
PGA TO U R : C A R E E R B U I LD E R C H A LLE N GE , C A
LP G A TO U R : P U R E S I LK - B A H A M A S LP G A
1 1 -14
18 -21
1 1 -14
EUROPEAN TOUR: BMW SA OPEN, S.AFRICA
MARCH
E U RO P E A N TO U R : O M E G A D U B A I D E S E RT CLASSIC, DUBAI
2 5 -28
EUROPEAN TOUR/ASIAN TOUR: EUR ASIA CUP, KUAL A LUMPUR
PGA TO U R : FA R M E R S I N S U R A N C E O P E N, S A N DIEG O, C A
1-4
15 -18
22-25
PGA TO U R : GE N E S I S O P E N, C A
LP G A TO U R : H O N DA LP G A T H A I L A N D, B A N GKO K
PGA TOUR: WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN, ARIZONA
1-4 EUROPEAN TOUR: MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP, KUAL A LUMPUR
15-18 LPGA TO U R : I S P S H A N DA WO M E N ’S AUS T R A L I A N O P E N, A D E L A I D E
8 -1 1
15-18
PGA TOUR: AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM, CA
EURO P E A N TO U R : N B O O M A N G O LF CL AS S I C , M U S C AT
EUROPEAN TOUR: ISPS HANDA WORLD SUPER 6 PERTH, AUSTR ALIA
22-25 E U RO P E A N TO U R : CO M M E RC I A L B A N K QATA R MASTERS, DOHA
2 2-25 PGA TO U R : T H E H O N DA C L A S S I C , F L
1-4
15-18
21-25
WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS: MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP, MEXICO CIT Y
PGA TO U R : A R N O LD PA L M E R I N V I TAT I O N A L , ORL A N D O
P G A TO U R : CO R A LE S P UN TAC A N A R E S O RT & C LU B C H A M P I O N S H I P, P UN TA C A N A , D.R .
1-4
15 -18
22-25
PGA TOUR: PUERTO RICO OPEN
LPGA TO U R : B A N K O F H O P E FO UN D E R S C U P, PHO E N I X
LP G A TO U R : K I A C L A S S I C , C A R L S B A D, C A
15 -18
MARCH 29 - APRIL 21
1-4 LPGA TOUR: HSBC WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, SINGAPORE
1-4 EUROPEAN TOUR: TSHWANE OPEN, SOUTH AFRICA
APRIL
25-28
1 2 -14
8 -1 1
5-8 MASTERS TOURNAMENT, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
1 1 -14 LPGA TOUR: LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP, K APOLEI, HAWAII
EURO P E A N TO U R : P H I L I P P I N E S G O LF CHA M P I O N S H I P, P H I L I P P I N E S
2 1 -25
MARCH 29 - APRIL 21 LP G A TO U R : A N A I N S P I R AT I O N, R A N C H O M I R AGE , C A
19 -22
26-29
PGA TO U R : VA LE RO T E XA S O P E N, S A N ANTO N I O, T X
LP G A TO U R : T B A , S A N F R A N C I S O
19 -22
26-29
LPGA TO U R : H U GE L - J T B C C H A M P I O N S H I P, LOS A N GE LE S
E U RO P E A N TO U R : VO LVO C H I N A O P E N, CHINA
19 -22
PGA TOUR: RBC HERITAGE, HILTON HEAD ISL AND, SOUTH CAROLINA
EURO P E A N TO U R : T RO P H E E H A S S A N I I , R ABAT, M O RO CCO
EUROPEAN TOUR: TBA (EUROPE)
P G A TO U R : H O U S TO N O P E N, H O U S TO N, T X
WOR LD G O LF C H A M P I O N S H I P S : WG C - D E LL MATC H P L AY, AU S T I N, T X
1 2 -15 1 2 -15
MAY
EURO P E A N TO U R : A B U D H A B I H S B C CHA M P I O N S H I P, A B U D H A B I
CLASSIC, BAHAMAS
2 6 -29 PGA TO U R : Z U R I C H C L A S S I C O F N EW ORLE A N S , L A
3-6
17 -20
24-27
PGA TOUR: WELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIP, CHARLOTTE, NC
PGA TO U R : AT & T BY RO N N E L S O N, DA LL A S , T X
E U RO P E A N TO U R : B M W P G A C H A M P I O N S H I P, S U R R E Y, E N GL A N D
3-6
17 -20
LPGA TOUR: VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA LPGA TEXAS CL ASSIC, THE COLONY, TEXAS
LPGA TO U R : K I N G S M I LL C H A M P I O N S H I P, WILL I A M S B U RG , VA
5-6
17 -20
EUROPEAN TOUR: GOLFSIXES, TBA
10 -13 PGA OF AMERICA : 32ND PGA MINORIT Y COLLEGIATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP, FLORIDA
10 -13 PGA TOUR: THE PL AYERS CHAMPIONSHIP, PONTE VERDE BE ACH, FLORIDA
10 -13 EUROPEAN TOUR: ROCCO FORTE OPEN VERDUR A, SICILY, ITALY
EURO P E A N TO U R : B E LG I A N K N O C KO U T, ANT W E R P, B E LG I UM
24 -27 79TH K I TC H E N A I D S E N I O R P G A CHA M P I O N S H I P, M I C H I G A N
24 -27 PGA TO U R : D E A N & D E LU C A I N V I TAT I O N A L , FORT WO RT H, T X
24 -27 LPGA TO U R : LP G A VO LV I K C H A M P I O N S H I P, ANN A R B O R , M I C H I G A N
MAY 31-JUN. 3 P G A TO U R : T H E M E M O R I A L TO U R N A M E N T, D U B L I N, O H I O
MAY 31-JUN. 3 U S G A : U. S . WO M E N ’S O P E N, S H OA L CREEK, ALASKA
MAY 31-JUN. 3 E U RO P E A N TO U R : I TA L I A N OP E N. T B A
JUNE
7 -10
14 -17
22-24
PGA TOUR: FEXEX ST. JUDE CL ASSIC, MEMPHIS, TN
LPGA TO U R : M E I J E R LP G A C L A S S I C , GR A N D R AP I D, M I C H I G A N
LP G A TO U R : WA L M A RT N W A R K A N S A S C H A M P I O N S H I P, RO GE R S , A R K A N S A S
7 -10
J UN. 17-20
JUNE 26-JULY 1
PGA O F A M E R I C A : 51 S T P G A P RO F E S S I O N A L CHA M P I O N S H I P, S E A S I D E , C A L I FO R N I A
LP G A TO U R / P G A O F A M E R I C A : 6 4 T H K PM G WO M E N ’S P G A C H A M P I O N S HI P, I LL I N O I S
8 -10
2 1 -24
LPGA TOUR: SHO PRITE LPGA CL ASSIC, GALLOWAY, N. J.
PGA TO U R : T R AV E LE R S C H A M P I O N S H I P, CRO M W E LL , C T
JUN. 28-JULY 1
EUROPEAN TOUR: THE 2018 SHOT CLOCK MASTERS, AUSTRIA
JUN. 28-JULY 1
USGA: U.S. OPEN, SOUTHAMPTON, NY
EURO P E A N TO U R : B M W I N T E R N AT I O N A L OPE N, GE R M A N Y
E U RO P E A N TO U R : H N A O P E N D E F R A N C E , PA R I S
5-8
AUGUST
JULY
14 -17
1 2 -15
26-29
PGA TOUR: THE GREENBRIER CL ASSIC, WEST VIRGINIA
LPGA TO U R : M A R AT H O N C L A S S I C , S Y LVA N I A , OHI O
5-8
1 2 -15
LP G A TO U R : A B E R D E E N S TA N DA R D I N V E S TM E N T S L A D I E S S COT T I S H O P E N, S COT L A N D
LPGA TOUR: THORNBERRY CREEK LPGA CL ASSIC, ONEIDA, WIS.
EURO P E A N TO U R : S COT T I S H O P E N, SCOT L A N D
5-8
19 -22
EUROPEAN TOUR: IRISH OPEN, REPUBLIC OF IREL AND
R&A : T H E O P E N C H A M P I O N S H I P, CAR N O U S T I E , S COT L A N D
9 -1 2
19 -22
9-12
PGA OF AMERICA : 43RD GIRLS JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
PGA TO U R : B A R B A S O L C H A M P I O N S H I P, KENT U C K Y
P G A O F A M E R I C A : 4 3 R D B OY S J UN I O R P G A C H A M P I O N S H I P, LE X I N GTO N, K E N T U C K Y
1 2 -15
2 6 -29
PGA TOUR: JOHN DEERE CL ASSIC, SILVIS, IL
PGA TO U R : R B C C A N A D I A N O P E N, O N TA R I O, CAN A DA
2 -5
16 -19
23-26
PGA TOUR: WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL , AKRON, OHIO
PGA TO U R : W YN D H A M C H A M P I O N S H I P, GRE E N S B O RO, N C
E U RO P E A N TO U R : D + D R E A L C Z E C H M A S T E R S ,
2 -5
16 -19
R&A: RICOH WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN, LY THAM, ENGL AND.
2 -5 PGA TOUR: BARR ACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP, RENO, NEVADA
6 -1 2 PGA OF AMERICA : 100TH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
8 -1 2
OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER
EUROPEAN TOUR: EUROPEAN GOLF TEAM
NOVEMBER
P G A TO U R : T H E N AT I O N A L , T B A
2 1 -24
LPGA TO U R : I N DY WO M E N I N T E C H CHA M P I O N S H I P, I N D I A N A P O L I S .
16 -19 EURO P E A N TO U R : N O R D E A M A S T E R S , GOT H E N B U RG , S W E D E N
2 3 -26 PGA TO U R : T H E N O RT H E R N T R U S T, RIDGEWO O D, N J
2 3 -26
26-29 E U RO P E A N TO U R : P O R S C H E E U RO P E A N O P E N, H A M B U RG , GE R M A N Y
P R AGU E , C Z E C H R E P U B L I C
AUG. 30-SEPT. 2 E U RO P E A N TO U R : M A D E I N D E N M A R K , AARHUS, DENMARK
AUG. 30-SEPT. 2 LP G A TO U R : C A M B I A P O RT L A N D C L A S S I C , P O RT L A N D, O R E .
AUG. 31-SEPT. 3 P G A TO U R : D E LL T E C H N O LO G I E S C H A M P I O N S H I P, B O S TO N, M A
CHAMPIONSHIPS, SCOTL AND
LPGA TO U R : C P WO M E N ’S O P E N, R E G I N A , SASK ATC H EWA N
6 -9
20 -23
27-30
PGA TO U R : TO U R C H A M P I O N S H I P, ATL A N TA , G A
LP G A TO U R : D I M E DA R BY LP G A M A L AY S I A , K UA L A LUM P U R , M A L AY S I A .
PGA TOUR: BMW CHAMPIONSHIP, NEW TOWN SQUARE, PA
6 -9
20 -23
EUROPEAN TOUR: OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS, CR ANS MONTANA, SWITZERL AND
EURO P E A N TO U R : P O RT U G A L M A S T E R S , VIL A M O U R A , P O RT U G A L
13 -16
24 -25
EUROPEAN TOUR: KLM OPEN, NETHERL ANDS
PGA O F A M E R I C A / E U RO P E A N TO U R : 1 1 T H JUN I O R RY D E R C U P, D I S N E Y L A N D PA R I S
13 -16
2 5 -30
LPGA TOUR: THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FR ANCE
PGA O F A M E R I C A / E U RO P E A N TO U R : 4 2 N D RYDE R C U P, PA R I S
4 -7
18 -21
25-28
LPGA TO U R : T B A , S H A N GH A I .
LP G A TO U R : S W I N G I N G S K I RT S LP G A TA I WA N
18 -21
C H A M P I O N S H I P, N EW TA I P E I C I T Y, TA I WA N
EURO P E A N TO U R : A N DA LU C I A VA LD E R R A M A MAS T E R S , S OTO GR A N D E , S PA I N
29-31
LPGA TOUR: UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN, INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA
4 -7 EUROPEAN TOUR: ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP, SCOTL AND
1 1 -14
2 5 -28
P G A O F A M E R I C A : 17 T H P G A J O N E S C U P, P O RT S T. LU C I E , F LO R I DA
LPGA TOUR: LPGA KEB HANA BANK CHAMPIONSHIP, INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA
PGA O F A M E R I C A : 3 0 T H S E N I O R P G A PRO F E S S I O N A L C H A M P I O N S H I P, F LO R I DA
1 1 -14
2 5 -28
EUROPEAN TOUR: BRITISH MASTERS SUPPORTED BY SKY SPORTS, TBA
WOR LD G O LF C H A M P I O N S H I P S : H S B C CHA M P I O N S , S H A N GH A I , C H I N A
1-4
7 -10
15-18
EUROPEAN TOUR: TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN, ANTALYA, TURKEY
LPGA TO U R : B LU E B AY LP G A , H A I N A N ISL A N D, C H I N A
LP G A TO U R : C M E GRO U P TO U R C H A M P I O N S H I P, N A P LE S , F L A .
8 -11
15-18
2-4 LPGA TOUR: TOTO JAPAN CL ASSIC, SHIGA, JAPAN
EURO P E A N TO U R : N E D B A N K G O LF CHA LLE N GE BY G A RY P L AY E R , S O U T H A F R I C A
5 -9
15 -18
PGA OF AMERICA : 102ND PGA ANNUAL MEETING, PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
PGA O F A M E R I C A : 4 2 N D N C R A PRO F E S S I O N A L C H A M P I O N S H I P, F LO R I DA
E U RO P E A N TO U R : D P WO R LD TO U R C H A M P I O N S H I P, D U B A I
16-19 P G A O F A M E R I C A : 8 T H P G A J R . LE AGU E C H A M P I O N S H I P, S COT T S DA LE , A R I Z O N A
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 BUSINESS NEWS
SWITCH
Sergio signs a multiyear endorsement with Callaway After a 15-year run with TaylorMade that included winning his first major championship at last year’s Masters, Sergio Garcia has signed a multiyear endorsement deal with Callaway to use its clubs and ball. 2018 onwards, he will play Callaway woods, irons and wedges, an Odyssey putter and a Callaway Chrome Soft ball. “I’m really excited to switch to Callaway,” said Garcia. “After testing different brands I realized Callaway`s technology and innovation will help me maximize my game and perform to the best of my ability.” Callaway’s Tour Department worked extensively with Garcia to dial in the specs on each of his clubs, from driver to putter, to promote maximum distance, accuracy and control. “The launch monitor doesn’t lie,” said Tim Reed, SVP, Global Sports
Marketing, Callaway Golf. “Jailbreak driver technology has upped his distance off the tee. And the combination of Apex irons, Mack Daddy 4 wedges and our Chrome Soft ball has given him tremendous
control on approach shots, and around the green.” On the green, Sergio is currently using a new Odyssey putter that he’s won with previously. “It’s an exciting new toe hang mallet that we will launch
next month,” said Sean Toulon, SVP, Callaway Golf & GM, Odyssey Brand. “He really likes the choices we have for him, especially the roll enhancing face technologies that our putters feature.”
INNOVATION
TaylorMade unveils the M3 and M4 Woods and Irons
Taking the industry by storm, TaylorMade has launched its latest gem, the M3 and M4 Woods and Irons. Both the M3 and M4 feature a unique multi-curved face design, what the company is calling “Twist Face.” Most drivers feature consistent curve from heel to toe (bulge) and from crown to sole (roll). The idea of bulge and roll is that the negative effects of spin and launch on off-center hits are counteracted
by the proper face curvature. This is particularly true for bulge, which curves toe and heel shots that are launching with sidespin back toward the centerline for increased accuracy. TaylorMade’s team studied hundreds of thousands of shots from elite and amateur players and found that the conventional bulge curvature they’d been employing wasn’t doing what it was supposed to be doing. What the data was telling
researchers is that golfers tended to swing outside to in with a closed face on high-face impacts, while doing just the opposite with low-face impacts. “It’s only been within the last three years that we’ve had the ability to measure the impact location, the face to path, the loft at impact and that kind of information,” said Todd Beach, TaylorMade’s, senior vice president of research and development/ engineering. “We’re now able to know ‘How did I
present the club, where did I hit the ball and all that and when you combine that with Big Data, it’s a whole new frontier in terms of what we can do in club design. “This was something we didn’t even know was going on, and it took thousands and thousands of shots before we started seeing these trends.” Beach said that while better players hit shots surprisingly off center, average players do it more often and thus would benefit even more.
BUSINESS NEWS JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
NOBLE CAUSE
PGA Tour announces ‘January for Jarrod’
The PGA tour has launched a fundraising campaign for golfer Jarrod Lyle and his family to offset costs associated with Lyle’s third bone marrow transplant for acute myeloid leukemia. “It’s of utmost importance for the PGA Tour family and the golf community to come together and help Jarrod and his family both spiritually and financially during ‘January for Jarrod’ month,” said PGA Tour EVP and chief tournaments and competitions officer Andy Pazder in a statement. “Jarrod would be the first
player to support others in their time of need, and now it’s our turn to help he and his wife, Briony, and their two young children, Lusi and Jemma.” Lyle first battled leukemia as a teenager. It returned in 2012 during a career campaign—he had made six of seven cuts on the PGA Tour to that point, highlighted by a T-4 at the Northern Trust Open. The Australian announced the disease had come back for a third time last summer. The 36-year-old has made 121 starts on the PGA Tour, his last appearance coming at the 2016 Wyndham Championship. He’s currently a member of the Web.com Tour, where he owns two career wins. In 2015, Lyle was awarded the PGA Tour’s Courage Award for his perseverance and disposition in the face of adversity.
MAKING CHANGES
Tiger Woods parts ways with swing coach Chris Como
As Woods prepares for his latest comeback, he revealed that he has split with swing coach Chris Como. The announcement was made via his Twitter handle. Woods wrote: “Since my fusion surgery I’ve been working hard to relearn my own body and golf swing. I’ve done this by primarily relying on my feel and previous years of hard work with Chris.
“For now, I think it’s best for me to continue to do this on my own. I’m grateful to Chris Como for his past work, and I have nothing but respect for him.” Earlier this month, Woods, 41, declared his intention to play regularly in 2018 after completing his first tournament in 12 months, at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Como, who began working with Woods in November 2014, said in a statement to GolfChannel.com: “Tiger is ready to have an incredible next run in his career. I’m eager to watch what will be one of the most exciting sports comebacks of all time. I will continue to be a close friend and resource to him and am extremely excited about Tiger’s future, the golf industry and for the fans of golf.”
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GOLF FOR MILLENNIALS
Appealing younger audience, GolfSixes event demonstrates to be a success
GolfSixes, the European Tour’s shortformat event, is returning this year after the inaugural staging attracted more than 40 per cent more golf fans than standard tournaments on the circuit. Won in 2017 by Danish duo Lucas Bjerregaard and Thorbjørn Olesen, the event will be held on 5-6 May as the centrepiece of a “festival of golf” that is aimed at encouraging even more fan engagement, as well as featuring a junior tournament. GolfSixes was trialled by European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley in response to growing demand for shorter, more intensive competition and data from the inaugural event shows that it saw a 42 per cent increase in new golf fans at the event compared to standard European Tour tournaments. By virtue of attracting a younger following, social media engagement around the event also exceeded the average rate seen at other European Tour tournaments by 24 per cent, delivering more than 20 million social impressions. “GolfSixes combines the camaraderie and intrigue of team golf with the drama and intensity of a shorter format,” said Nathan Homer, chief commercial & marketing officer of the European Tour. “The players love it and the fans enjoy the different, more entertaining atmosphere. Last year we tested the concept and this year we will dial up the fan engagement still further. “Golf needs a route for younger fans, groups of adults and families to get involved. We know that GolfSixes appeals to those audiences while still offering something to our die-hard fans.
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 BUSINESS NEWS
ADDITION
LPGA to add two tournaments in California this year! The LPGA Tour is adding two tournaments in California next year as part of a 34-tournament schedule that offers a record $68.75 million in prize money. Coming off a year in which 17 players earned at least $1 million, the LPGA Tour put together a 2018 schedule that it hopes to build momentum. While it lost two events -- the
Lorena Ochoa Match Play in Mexico and the Manulife LPGA Classic in Canada -- the LPGA replaced them with three new tournaments. Two of them are in the United States, bringing the number of domestic events to 19. “Perhaps the most important aspect of our schedule is the consistency
-- continuing to deliver strong playing opportunities both in North America and around the world, while growing overall purse levels every year,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said Tuesday in a news release. The new California events will be held in the Los Angeles area and at Lake Merced in San Francisco. The Los Angeles
event is the Hugel-JTBC Championship on April 19-22, with the host club to be announced early next year.
PARTNERSHIP
The PGAs Of Europe and Ralph Lauren announce partnership Professionals, in fledgling markets and world-class destinations and resorts alike. “Adding Ralph Lauren, one of the world’s leading on- and off-course lifestyle brands, to our Corporate Partner family is further indication of the growing stature of the PGAs of Europe,” said PGAs of Europe Chief Executive, Ian Randell.
The PGAs of Europe and premium lifestyle brand, Ralph Lauren, have established an international Corporate Partnership agreement, expanding collaborative opportunities both in Europe and further afield.
Focussing on the Polo Golf and RLX Golf brands, the partnership will see Ralph Lauren work closely with the Association in exposing the brands to the 35 Member PGAs and their 21,000 PGA
“Our staff, Board, Education Committee, and Golf Development Team will all be able to proudly wear the Polo Golf and RLX apparel, and we will look to promote their brand and products across our network, and I am sure that PGA Professionals around the world will be delighted to explore possibilities to work with Ralph Lauren.” The Association will also work closely with Ralph Lauren to create bespoke offerings for PGAs’ staff, representatives and their Member Professionals, along with representatives within the Association including the PGAs of Europe Golf Development Team that have operated in over 50 countries around the world.
BIZGOLF ANNOUNCES
HOLE-INONE CLUB REGISTER TODAY!
If you are one of the select few to have achieved this elusive and colossal feat on the greens, bizgolf helps you commemorate your ace with a special mention in this magazine. Register at www.bizgolfsea.com/ace and be part of an exclusive club!
44
BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 RECAP
The Year Of Low Scores And
Rule Changes BY: AMAN MISRA
O
ver the last year, this writer has had several correspondences with professional golfers which included New Delhi based Brandon Desouza. Desouza who back in the day was a prolific ball-striker and winner of tournaments on the Indian domestic circuit, spoke many a time about how the game needs all the stories it can get. “It’s how you attract more fans and purses to the game,” said the now sports management consultant and golf writer. If you look back at 2017, it sure had stories that would make for a banner year. While the usual suspects in Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Dustin Johnson sewed up majors (or World Golf Championships), one tournament stands
Le x i T h o m p s o n wa l k s o f f a s S o Ye o n R y u c e l e b ra te s h e r w i n
out, for its handling and inevitable consequences. The first major of the calendar year was scheduled at the famed Mission Hills Country Club. The Dinah Shore, a tournament that dates back to 1972, had a star-packed leaderboard after the first 54-holes of play. Suzann Pettersen, Minjee Lee, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson, Ariya Jutanugarn and Michelle Wie among others represented the face of women’s golf on a global stage. This in itself was a story that would attract the fans. Unfortunately, it ended with the dubbing of what is now referred to as the ‘Lexi Thompson rule’ Thompson led by a stroke over eventual South Korean winner Ryu So-Yeon and four others at the
RECAP JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
end of 54-holes. She continued to lead come the final six holes on Sunday but was notified that she had two penalties added to her third round score. It had to do with her incorrectly marking her ball on the 17th green and signing for an incorrect scorecard. The American star had bogeyed the 12th hole to fall to 16-under. Post this penalty, she fell to 12-under two shots behind the Korean before birdieing 13,15, and 18 to tie with So-Yeon. In the ensuing playoff, So-Yeon won her second Major. All this, because a spectator mailed the tour nearly a day after. The golf world was not pleased, this too a week before the men’s first major at the Masters. Lexi broke down at the press conference when discussing the bizarre situation that at some point resembled the Solheim Cup as the crowds chanted her name in unison. It would take until December for golf’s ruling bodies to no longer accept fan input on rule violations. The R&A and USGA, organisations that look after the game worldwide had been working on this for a few years up to this point. 2012 was when they set up a working committee to make the game more accessible and prevent the Lexi blunder from repeatedly happening. In 2017, new proposed rules that take effect 1 January 2019 were unveiled. It made sense to speed the game up, moving away from what might have been traditional but anarchic in new world order. For instance, one recommendation was to play ‘ready golf’ which may mean playing out of turn, and also suggested that one take a maximum of 40 seconds over a shot. Given that other sports have moved forward in the new century, it was imperative that golf caught up with a younger audience. Which is what the European Tour realised and packaged into Golf 6’s, golf’s answer to t20 cricket. It made for a wonderful weekend of viewing as professionals were put on the shot clock and played in teams over six holes with different challenges. The other concern that remains in question is the equipment. Golf courses eating up the prime real estate and agricultural land anywhere cannot be made larger beyond a point. The idea of ‘Championship’ golf courses pushes the back tees to beyond 8000 yards, prompting equipment manufacturers (and fertilizer companies) to make huge investments in their R&D for bigger and better products. Eventually, it’s come to this point that the golf ball has overpowered golf courses. Classics like Merion, Cypress Point, and
45
S ta cy Lewis poses w i th the winner ’s ch e q ue at the LPGA C a m bia Portland C l a s s ic at Columbia
Seminole would subsequently be rendered useless by the modern metal wood, sixiron bent to play like an eight-iron and so on. Tiger Woods was one of the many to speak out about the issue on a podcast late in the year, something he has not done very much in the past. That makes two statesmen of the game talking about it - Woods now and Jack Nicklaus earlier. The ‘feel’ good section had three golfers from different walks of life standing out. While Sergio Garcia winning the Masters was well known, one also thinks
of Cristie Kerr who won in France after the passing of European winner Cassandra Kirkland. Kerr has reportedly raised nearly $4 million towards breast cancer research. Enter Stacy Lewis, three years removed from her last win on the LPGA. Before playing the Portland Classic, she pledged to donate all her earnings to Houston and the victims of Hurricane Harvey. In a storybook finish, Lewis won for the first time since 2014 after shooting weekend rounds of 64 and 65.
G a rc i a b e c o m e s a m a j o r ch a m p i o n a t l a s t a f te r w i n n i n g th e 8 1 s t M a s te r s
Onto Garcia. The mercurial Spaniard left one thinking that they weren’t at Augusta for the Masters but instead were playing the Ryder Cup in Spain. On the 60th birthday anniversary of two-time
Green jacket winner Seve Ballesteros, the now greying 37-year-old Garcia fought off a charging Justin Rose in a one-hole playoff after a dramatic back nine to win his first major in his 74th start.
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 RECAP
Lo u i s O o s th u i ze n in action
Jordan S pie th h ol d s the Claret J u g a s Matt Kuchar l o ok s on in S outhp o r t
One cannot keep Spieth out of the conversation. Two years after pocketing the first half of the grand slam, the Texan swung between heaven and hell on the links at Royal Birkdale to win his first Claret Jug. While Phil Mickelson (US Open), and Rory Mcllroy (Masters) are the other two potential members of the four major club, Spieth has put himself loud and clear in the conversation going into 2018. Apart from the majors, the event on everyone’s mind is the Ryder Cup which heads to Paris, France. Years of European dominance will be put to the test as Thomas Bjorn’s team takes on Jim Furyk’s young American outfit. The popular opinion is that Europe’s best are ageing when compared to the Yanks. Given
S outh africa’s Branden G rac e poses with th e Nedbank G ol f Challenge trophy
the home advantage, expect slower greens and more rough at the Le Golf National come September, and do not expect the hosts to back down. The most anticipated week, of course, was Woods return to the game at his World Challenge held in the Bahamas. It was a delight for golf fans around the world as the former number one steadied the ship to finish T9 with rounds of 69-68-75-68. Though he was ten shots back of eventual winner Rickie Fowler, it was the better part of what has been a torrid year for the 14-time-major winner who underwent the knife for yet another surgery. At this writing, he has committed to two events before the first major of the year in April.
Here’s an interesting stat. In 2017 Louis Oosthuizen joined a select club of finishing runner-up in all four majors after his second-place finish at the 2017 PGA Championship. This list includes Greg Norman, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Mickelson and Nicklaus among others. He also finished T2 at the Players Championship. This side of Adam Scott, Louis has the sweetest swing on tour - with his takeaway the envy of many. The light-hearted 2010 Open Champion was seen lip syncing a version of the popular number Rise Up by Andrea Day after his effort at the PGA. And I’ll rise up I’ll rise like the day I’ll rise up I’ll rise unafraid I’ll rise up And I’ll do it a thousand times again. Rise up indeed, like the stories in 2018 which this column hopes to talk about again come the end of next season!
Aman is an aspiring writer, currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis International University. He writes on golf amongst other sport. He is available on Twitter @theamanmisra
It was also the year for low scores as Justin Thomas shot 59 in Hawaii, Then Thomas shot 63 at the US Open. A month later Branden Grace became the first in the game’s history to break the 63 glass ceiling. Putting together an 8-under 62 at the historic Royal Birkdale Golf Club during the Open Championship, Grace went bogey-free during his effort. The South African is one to @theamanmisra look out for come the big four.
OFF COURSE JANUARY 2018 BIZGOLF
47
Lifestyle To share news on your products or updates on new launches, please email nikita@gecmediagroup.com
Just what your feet have been craving for!
Hand-painted masterpiece by Paul Wyse Fancy, majestic and opulent, this piano called ‘Masque de Femme’ by an American-German firm, Lalique and Steinway & Sons showcases beautiful design and immaculate sound. The piano entails delicate rosewood keys, a gold-plated music desk and pedals – and further includes a lid painted with a Russian countryside panorama and the Nice Gate of Kiev. The outer rim is nothing less than a dream! It’s embellished with oil work with 24ct gold leaf highlights, portraying individuals appreciating artworks in a museum. Price: $2.5 million
Who said sneakers are all fun and games? The global luxury brand Louis Vuitton has recently notched it up a level with an all-exclusive pair of knitted sneakers. A runner’s reverie and a collector’s dream, the novel LV shoes are just what your feet having been craving for! The unique pair is constructed with just three threads, making it super light at 60 grams weighs in. If you still aren’t convinced about how precious the new LV runners are, you must know that it takes three whole months to finish just one of them!. Price: On request
Cartier reimagines its classic wristwatches It’s no secret that Cartier is the queen of jewelry watches, and this year they have released five entirely new watches collectively called the Libre Collection. But these aren’t your average jewelry watches – they are all numbered limited editions, making them a little more special. Each of the models has something different to offer, but they all focus on the disruption of a classic Cartier shape – the oval. Price: $40,700- $209,000
Fancy a pen made out of a meteorite? The exclusive pen-manufacturing firm is all set to bring you a writing instrument that is manufactured from a rare Meteorite! Yup, you heard that right! As part of its first edition collection, B. Smith & Co will produce custom-made Meteorite pens for those interested in owning a small slice of the universe. The high-quality black titanium plated hardware pens are made from actual Campo del Cielo meteorite that had traversed the cosmos and reached the earth approximately 4,000-6,000 years ago. The meteorite was then discovered around 400 years ago and preserved to form part of an exclusive pen. Price: $449.99 – $1,099.99
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BIZGOLF JANUARY 2018 GEAR UP
ANALYSE YOUR GAME LIKE PROS! There are plenty of products on the market today that assess your game in a variety of different ways including detailed analysis, calculation of swing speed, driving distances, save percentages etc. They provide easy to read analytics and trends to better your play every day. Do note that it’s against the rules to interpret or process the information during the round. Save it for the 19th hole. Check these out.
Sensors attach to your grips and talk to your phone via a ARCCOS 360 battery-friendly high-frequency PRICE: $250 transmission. Features include GPS distance tracking, and it will assign a handicap to each part of your game.
Attach this to your glove, and it calculates swing speed, plane and ZEPP GOLF 2 tempo, among other stats. ConPRICE: $150 nect to the app to view your stats and your swing in 3-D. Plus: video lessons from teaching pros and LPGA star Michelle Wie.
Insert small tags into your grips, strap the main device to your belt, download PRICE: $150 the app, and this will work as a GPS tool and track your stats. Set goals in any part of your game on the app, and it’ll map your progress.
PHOTOS: DOM FURORE
GAME GOLF LIVE
GARMIN TRUSWING
PRICE: $150
This device attaches to the shaft right below the grip and measures tempo, swing speed and club path. On the app, you’ll see your swing in 3-D, and you can overlay swings of yours to compare them.
Attach Swingbyte to any club’s shaft to get data on everything from shaft lean PRICE: $169 to face angle at impact. Via the app, a virtual coach gives you lessons based on your weaknesses. All of your swings are stored and easily shared.
SWINGBYTE2
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50 QUALIFYING ROUNDS
3,700 C-LEVEL EXECUTIVES
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