Gv#019

Thailand Edition vol. 19

My Top Ten Martin Kaymer’s TOP 10

Destination Focus Bintan Evolve Bali Beach Surprise Rockies Mountain Road

Legends Tony Lema

South Africa’s pride is a matter of golfing joy. magazine of the gm group

golf vacations thailand vol.19 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016 180 baht

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ON THE COVER

GOLF VACATIONS THAILAND VOLUME 19 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016 THE LINKS AT FANCOURT, GEORGE

12 CaRTOgOlf WeLL-scuLpTed courses courses created from almost nothing to the most spectacular views.

24 COVER sTORy The Links aT fancourT, george experiencing south africa’s premier golf and luxury resort.

13 JOURNal - Merit Leader hend and young asian Tour stars head to ciMB classic - rolex & The evian championship promoting excellence in women's golf.

- Being consistent - Banyan Tree spa Bangkok

30 playER's CHOiCE CATRIONA MATTHEw 2009 ricoh Women’s British open champion catriona Matthew takes us back to her home town links in scotland and shares her thoughts on playing in tropical asia.

18 pOsTCaRd oslo golfklubb, norway 20 lEgENds Tony LeMa The hard-living playboy with a heart of gold and a rhythmic swing...

34 my TOp TEN MARTIN KAyMER'S TOP 10 germany’s former world number one and double major champion talks his favourite courses.

40 THE iNTERViEw sERiEs BERNHARD LANGER a new year, an old story and a continuing legacy of perfection.

46 dEsigNER's CHOiCE BRIAN CURLEy We begin our new series of choice courses by talking to experts in the field. Brian curley gives his take on his favourites.

TONy LEMA

THE LINKS AT FANCOURT, GEORGE

BERNHARD LANGER

MARTIN KAyMER'S TOP 10 4 • G o l f V a c a t i o n s • noV-DEc 2016

BRIAN CURLEy

Title : The King 3 Artist : Suwit Jaipo Technique : Crayon on paper 2009

In RemembRance of HIs majesty KIng bHumIbol adulyadej on behalf of the entire management and staff of gm multimedia group Public company limited

50 Destination Focus Bintan EvolvE An island on the cusp of revolutionary change after decades of idyll comfort.

Bali BEach SurpriSE Just when you thought you’d seen all that Bali has to offer, the lush tropical island paradise offers up yet another hidden gem. rocKiES Mountain roaD Golf in the highlands of the northern hemisphere with incredible vistas across the Canadian landscape.

68 choice resorts lE parc national alBatroS Introducing the first Ryder Cup course to be played in France in 2018.

WalDorf aStoria orlanDo An old named brand with echoes of its past haunting our correspondent as he visits a southern gem.

86 hotel & FooD rWS Resorts World Sentosa Singapore 88 collection time - Divas’ Dream Tourbillon Skeletona - Audemars Piguet Millenary 91 moments - Amazing Kingdom of Thailand to host World Club Championship 2016 - Porsche unveiled The New Panamera for the first time in Asia-Pacific.

- Trend Watching: Global – Trend – Seminar 2016 - Patek Philippe 2016 Novelties Private Preview

by Cortina Watch

froM DuSK till DaWn

80 collection showcase froM DuSK till DaWn A man’s true companion that stays true through thick and thin.

Bali BEach SurpriSE

GM MultiMEDia Group puBlic coMpanY liMitED chairman & cEo : PAKoRN Pongvarapa Executive vice president : finance PoRNJITT Pongvarapa Executive vice president : Business Development RITNARoNG Kulprasoot Executive vice president : Marketing SueBWoNG Kaewthipharat Executive vice president : new Media PeSILP Pongvarapa Editor-in-chief : SueBWoNG Kaewthipharat Executive art Director : PRATeeP Putchimtuck photographer : DAMRoNGRIT Sathitdamrongtham computer artist : PRASIT Anakananthpun advertising/Marketing Manager : NATHADANee Sirisophonwirakun advertising/Marketing Staff : WoRAMoN Asampinpongs NuCHCHARIN Nammakrot PIRuLA Kaewmongkol proofreader : SIRAYA Pongvarapa production Manager : RATANA Khow General Manager : PANuWAT Pongvarapa finance Manager : WIMoNLAK Asaiphanit accounting Manager : NICHAPA Buparanond color Separation : Kanoksilp (Thailand) Tel. +662 215 1588 printing : o.S. Printing House Co., Ltd. Tel. +662 434 6850

DivaS' DrEaM tourBillon SKElEtona

rWS rESortS WorlD SEntoSa SinGaporE trEnD WatchinG 6 • G o l f V a c a t i o n s • noV-DEc 2016

Editor’s Page Singapore Company: Pacom Media Pte Ltd Address: 801 Toa Payoh Lorong 7, #06-08, Wearnes Building, Singapore 319319 Tel: (65) 6323 9600 Publisher: Karen Chan Managing Editor: Benny Teo China, hong Kong & MaCau Company: Senasia Publication Group Ltd Address: Unit 832, 8/F, Metro Centre II, No. 21 Lam Hing Street, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2570 6123 Website: www.senasia.com.hk Publisher: Alan Mok Managing Editor: Alex Tam CzeCh republiC Company: Resort Media s.r.o.

Address: Škroupovo námestí 1255/9, 130 00 Prague 3, Czech Republic Tel: +420 271 773 934 Website: www.golfvacations.cz Publisher: Vera Hartmanova Managing Editor: Cenek Lorenc MalaySia Company: Big Shot Media Sdn Bhd address: 31-5, Block E1, Dataran Prima, Jalan PJU 1/42, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: +603 7880 2788 publisher: Louis Foo Managing editor: Benny Teo

Thailand

With deep sorrow and devotion, we grieve the loss of our Greatest King and pay our most humble respects to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Company: GM Multimedia Group Public Company Limited Address: GM Group Building, 914, Rama 5 Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand Tel: +662 241 8000 Website: www.gvthailand.com Website: www.gmgroup.in.th E-mail: thepooh.gvthailand@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/ golfvacationsthailand Publisher: Pakorn Pongvarapa Editor-in-chief: Suebwong Kaewthipharat

Forever your grateful servants, the management and staff of GM Multimedia Group Public Company Limited download gM group's interactive e-magazines from the app Store and standard e-magazines from online bookstores such as Truebook, dtac and bookSmile.

contributors robin barwick Michelle Yee

Dr JaYlee nair

Peter robinson A journalist by day and ardent yogi by night, Michelle started writing in 2009, spreading across diverse genres including architecture, interior design, sports, motoring, timepiece, art, travel, food, and property. Here, Michelle shares her unique spa experience at the Banyan Tree Bangkok; one that includes candles and wax.

Our Canadian-based correspondent has almost two decades of experience travelling the world covering golf courses far and wide.

This issue sees him taking a long trip across the ‘better side of the Rockies’ from Alberta to Vancouver, playing golf and making interesting stops along the way.

Editor of ‘Arnold Palmer’s Guide to the Majors’ and contributing editor of Arnold Palmer’s Kingdom magazine, Robin is an Englishman based in Kent and a regular contributor to other leading European titles including Golf Monthly in the UK, Golf & Turismo in Italy as well as Golf Vacations. This issue, he talks to two German greats spanning a generation and shares their thoughts with us.

chris FolleY

It seems the English do like French, as deputy chief sub-editor on the London Evening Standard features desk, and our long time contributor, Chris Folley, goes whetting his golfing appetite at Le Parc National in Normandy and tells us a little more on the 2018 Ryder Cup course.

DaviD J.whYte

Intrepid photojournalist and producer of Go-Golf.tv, the Golf Passport is a golf show worth checking out for all the wonderful array of courses and destinations on display. A semipermanent fixture to our contributors list, his visit to the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando brings a mixture of great golf and a confusing mix of wonder and kitsch to the Waldorf interpretation in Florida.

Dr Jay-Lee Nair is a sports psychologist based in Singapore.

Jay-Lee is a former USA NCAA Division 1 collegiate golf player and works with young golfers looking to reach the next level, as well as professional players on the Asian Tour. She is passionate about helping individuals thrive under pressure with less stress and anxiety.

cartogolf 4

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Well-Sculpted courSeS

Courses created from almost nothing to the most spectacular views.

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The Mines ResoRT & Golf Club, Kuala luMpuR, Malaysia

Built on the former site of the largest open cast tin mine in the world, The Mines Resort and Golf Club has turned from incompetent land to indispensable venue.

Legendary architect Robert Trent Jones Jr's expertise coupled with meticulous labour, a marsh of mortification and eroding terrain was transformed into a polished masterpiece. Although frequently hosting professional events, the fairways are extensive and accommodating off the tees.

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eMiRaTes G.C. Dubai, Majlis CouRse, uniTeD aRab eMiRaTes

Designed by Floridabased course architect Karl Litten, the Majlis Course strongly brews the definition of Florida golfing. The original 18 holes were built in and around the dunes of a site on the edge of the city of Dubai. Being the first grass course in the Middle East, the majestic resort takes its name from the Arabic word for 'meeting place'. From an untapped barren desert to a Floridian oasis, the sheer thought of it is unimaginable.

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CaboT linKs, inveRness, nova sCoTia, CanaDa

Designer-shaper Rod Whitman took on a challenge on a coastal coal mine staging area that serviced mines beneath the sea, turning the land into Canada's only authentic links. The former mines are 2500 feet beneath the very fairways and greens on the course, where a community once walked and worked. Bump-andrun on its firm fescue turf is the game on this understated layout, with muted dunes, austere bunkering and gentle, generous greens.

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sheshan inTeRnaTional G.C. sonGjianG, shanGhai, China

Sheshan International, at the base of Sheshan Mountain, is considered by some to be the "Augusta National of China" because of its ostentatious conditioning. The stylistic design, by Canadian Neil Haworth and his late partner Robin Nelson, incorporates a small forest, a canal, several man-made ponds with 'jiang-nan' style bridges and built around thousand year old ginko trees featuring an eighty year old deep stone quarry.

Although located within the bustling city limits of Shanghai, the course provides a scenic green space for avid golfers.

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laGuna WoRlD ClassiC, sinGapoRe

A true spectacle of transformation at its best.

The glorious evolution of the Laguna World Classic has seen it turn from domestic friendly to 'Asia's toughest test'. Shifting sands and hollowed out ridges reminisce the ancient Egypt's pharaoh times. Andy Dye's masterpiece is carefully sculpted with undulating greens, arduous terrain, and a vision to challenge only the elite and most prestigious golfers in the world.

Journal ★ sport

MERIT LEADER HEND AND YOUNG ASIAN TOUR STARS HEAD TO CIMB CLASSIC Kuala Lumpur, October 17, 2016:

Order of Merit leader Scott Hend of Australia and a strong line-up of young Asian Tour stars will feature at the US$7 million CIMB Classic which starts on Thursday.

Hend, a nine-time Asian Tour winner, will be joined by countryman Marcus Fraser, who won in Malaysia in February, and young guns Jeunghun Wang of Korea, Soomin Lee, Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines and Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.

With a cool prize purse of US$1.26 million on offer to the winner of the CIMB Classic, Hend is hoping to race ahead of the chasing pack as he aims to become the newest Asian Tour number one.

Ranked fifth on the Order of Merit, the 22-year-old Tabuena is determined to give Hend a run for his money on the Merit race where he trails the big-hitting Australia by slightly over US$280,000.

Chan, ranked third on the Order of Merit courtesy of two victories this season, is hoping for a memorable debut at the CIMB Classic, which will also be his first event on the PGA Tour.

Defending champion Justin Thomas will also feature in the CIMB Classic alongside Adam Scott of Australia, who finished second last year, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia of Spain and Asian Tour honorary members K.J. Choi of Korea and Vijay Singh of Fiji.

Malaysia will be represented by Gavin Green and Danny Chia.

Offering full FedExCup points, the CIMB Classic will feature 78 players – 60 coming from the PGA TOUR, the leading 10 players from the Asian Tour Order of Merit and eight sponsor’s exemptions.

It returns to TPC Kuala Lumpur (formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club) as the second event of the 2016 – 2017 PGA Tour season and will carry a total purse of US$7 million.

About CIMb Group The title sponsor of the CIMB Classic is CIMB Group. CIMB Group is one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is now present in 9 out of 10 ASEAN nations. CIMB Group offers a full suite of financial services and related products; has a market capitalisation of approximately USD 9.6 billion as of 30 June 2016 and about 40,000 employees located in 17 countries. Read more about CIMB Group at www.cimb.com.

Journal ★ time

ROLEX & THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP Promoting excellence in women's golf.

Geneva, Tuesday 6 September 2016 –

As Rolex Testimonee, Lydia Ko returns to defend the title which saw her become the youngest woman to win a Major, Rolex continues its long-standing alliance with one of the game’s iconic events, The Evian Championship, as Official Timekeeper.

Rolex Testimonee, Lydia Ko said: “It is exciting to be back at The Evian Championship, particularly as defending Champion. The event has an incredibly unique spirit and its prestige is clear from its past-champions, such as my fellow Rolex Testimonee, Annika Sorenstam, who I take great inspiration from on and off the golf course.”

From 15-18 September, 120 of the leading Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) golfers will tee up to compete for the final Major of the year. Among the favorites joining Ko is fellow Rolex Testimonee Lexi Thompson.

The American has a clear affinity for the French resort, finishing in second place in 2015 and securing four top-ten finishes in five appearances at the event. Together, the young athletes are recognized as part of the New Guard in golf, whose international success and youthful vigor actively encourage the future strength of the game.

Rolex Director of Communication & Image, Arnaud Boetsch said: “Rolex is proud to be associated with the elite players in women’s golf and to support the organizations and events that provide the platform for the players’ success.

Rolex and The Evian Championship’s collaboration serves to establish a stage that respects the abundance of skill in the current field of women’s golf.

Arnaud Boetsch continued: “The Evian Championship holds a privileged position among our partnerships through its promotion of the unique virtues of the women’s game. The Major championship is an important showcase of the shared commitment of Rolex and its partners to promoting golf throughout the world.”

The unfolding drama of the LPGA’s final Major championship of the year will take place at the Evian Resort, an idyllic setting above Lake Geneva in Evian-les-Bains. The Alpine golf course will once again provide a setting that is as elegant as it is challenging. Following the addition of two international qualifiers in USA and Korea, the field will welcome the most internationally represented line-up in the event’s history.

Rolex and The Evian Championship’s endeavors to grow the game extend beyond the women’s professional game to the future golfers of tomorrow, with The Evian Championship Juniors Cup. As the tournament enters its 10th year, the merits of its success are evident in the current field; previous competitors include Rolex Testimonees Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. To mark the 10th anniversary and to continue its innovation in golf development, competitors in the 2016 edition will be awarded complimentary green fees for life at Evian Resort Golf Club – an exciting proposition for young players to develop their game at the iconic golfing venue.

The partnership between Rolex and women’s golf is one of the longest-standing relationships in golf, with Rolex supporting the LPGA and its initiatives for over three decades. Commenting on the significance of the partnership, LPGA Commissioner, Mike Whan, said: “Rolex is a company that understands the LPGA and our goals. What makes them a great partner is that they are more than just a sponsor; they also want to help us grow the game.”

One such product of the combined forces between Rolex, the LPGA and one of the greatest women’s golfers of all time, Rolex Testimonee Annika Sorenstam, is the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award. The annual award honors the player with the most outstanding record in all five Major championships.

Rolex support of the LPGA’s barometers of success extends to the Rolex Player of Year and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year as well as the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, the first-ever world rankings system for women’s golf.

This broad spectrum of alliances with such awards, The Evian Championship and the LPGA single the Swiss watchmaker out as the leading supporter of women’s golf.

Journal ★ Health Legendary German Major champion Bernhard Langer, is among other things, a calm presence on the golf course.

Being Consistent

The five things to remember to play consistent golf and enjoy the game even more.

We all have in mind that one friend or weekend playing partner who seemingly scores consistently week in week out, but when you break things down it’s difficult to pinpoint why. Compared to yourself, they don’t have significantly more time to practice. Their warmp-up routine might echo the rituals of Miguel Jimenez, with some very odd stretching in a cloud of cigar smoke, but their swing certainly bares no resemblance. On the course, they may set the tone for their swing with an extended waggle like Jason Dufner’s, but the same “Dufner dance” certainly doesn’t translate to a blitz of fantastic golf shots. So, what is it about their game that makes the difference?

GraTiTude Consistent players are constantly aware of the positive experiences in their life and appreciate their time on the golf course. When gratitude is synonymous with golf, a player can more easily play in the moment and take things one-shot-at-a-time. This state of mind is strikingly similar to “the zone”, which leads to peak performance. it’s not finding gratitude that matters most; it’s remembering to look in the first place. remembering to be grateful is a form of emotional intelligence and it can actually benefit your golf game.

COmpeTiTiveneSS Talented athletes thrive in competition and the essence of that talent does not stem from a physical capacity as much as it is sown from their passion for winning and competing. For example, during practices, nBa star michael Jordan once lost a game of ping-pong to his teammate. He bought his own table immediately after and spent the next six months training every day until he beat him in the rematch.

COmmiTmenT and deCiSiveneSS The opposite scenario to being fully committed is a pattern of indecision that is common when we play in carts and make our decisions from the cart path. Consistent players are simply being a little more disciplined in making sure they are decisive in their shot selection, allowing for “better” mistakes and thus, more consistent golf. Be decisive. a wrong decision is generally less disastrous than indecision, says German ace Bernhard Langer.

ex-NBa superstar and avid amateur golfer Michael Jordan is extremely competitive even on social rounds.

LeT GO OF unCOnTrOLLaBLeS Consistent golfers are good at letting go of common distractions like slow play, bad lies, and bumpy greens. When you can focus your energy on the elements of the game you can control and pay less attention to the factors you can’t, it opens the doors for a more enjoyable round of golf. pLayinG TO STrenGTHS Knowing which club feels most comfortable from certain distances and around the green is one key to more consistent golf – especially when you don’t have much time for training. if you feel uncomfortably tensed over a shot, back away and re-think it.

Hit the shot you know you can hit, not the one you think you should.

Visit Dr Jay-Lee today at the Singapore Sports Medicine Centre to learn how you can maximize your potential on the golf course.

By D r J ay - L e e N a i r

Journal ★ Tranquiliser

Banyan tree spa Bangkok

An urban oasis that befits its status as one of the leading spas in Asia.

Banyan Tree Spa Bangkok celebrates its 20th anniversary

by unveiling an exceptional spa experience, Candle massage, which is set to melt away any stress, as well as restore a sense of harmony to the mind, body and soul. at first thought however, it does conjure certain masochistic imaginations but once one gets to it, there is certainly nothing painful about it; in fact, it is probably one of my most calming experiences on a flat bed. perched on the 21st floor of Banyan Tree Bangkok, Banyan Tree Spa Bangkok is a sanctuary unto its own. Since opening in 1996, the luxurious spa has fast become one of the most lauded and sought after spas in the city. its most recent accolades include 2016 Condé nast Traveler readers’ Choice awards, and 10th TaT Thailand Tourism awards 2015: Health Tourism Hotel/ resort Spa (Central region).

Stepping into its dramatic black lobby on the 21st floor of Banyan Tree Bangkok, the spa is illuminated by a transparent bamboo sculpture grove surrounded by warm wood and

For reservations, please contact Banyan Tree Spa Bangkok at 66/2-679-1200 ext. 1524/1525, or email spa-bangkok@ banyantree.com.

fragrant incense. inside the treatment room is an elegant, modern space backdropped with unobstructed views of Bangkok’s sweeping skyline.

The 90-minute Candle-licious treatment is filled with firm, flowing strokes lubricated by melted candle oil obtained from eco-friendly and lavender-scented, soy massage candle. deliciously soothing when poured directly on to the back, it is also packed full of nutrition for the skin. This includes vitamins, emollients and antioxidants – all good things to nourish and hydrate.

The combination of heat and massage is deeply relaxing and not only smoothed out all knots, but also improves blood circulation.

Thereafter, wind down with a shower in its spacious bathroom well stocked with amenities and look ready to party when you step out. i, however, chose to wind down in my loungers and spend the next 30 minutes enjoying a complimentary laze at the lounge – appropriately termed “Calm Time” - imbibing in a delectable selection of refreshments while sipping on hot tea – no doubt the perfect way to end a great spa experience.

apart from this 20th anniversary special, the spa offers an array of treatments, all centred on herbal and fresh natural ingredients, including the rainmist experience and master Therapist experience.

Until 30 November 2016, enjoy the 90-minute Candle Massage at an exclusive price of THB 4,500 nett (usual THB 6,120 nett).

By MicheLLe yee

www.banyantreespa.com

Postcard Oslo Golfklubb, Norway

Legends

The hard-living playboy with a heart of gold and a rhythmic swing...

Wo r d s: o W e n Bl ac k h u r s t Though he is variously remembered as a drinking partner, idol and onetime major winner, where Anthony ‘Champagne Tony’ Lema is concerned, it is probably best to begin at the end. Forty-one years ago, on July 24 1966, Lema and his wife Betty arrived at Akron airport to board a charter flight bound for Chicago to play in a lucrative one-day golf tournament in Crete, Illinois.

Before boarding, and upon seeing that the pilot was a woman, Lema got edgy. “I really love women,” he said, “I like to go dancing with them, but I don’t want to go flying.” It was only after repeated assurances concerning the pilot’s credentials that Tony Lema pulled up the collars of his sports jacket, took Betty’s hand, and stepped on board the twin-engine Beechcraft Bonanza.

One hour and 360 miles after departure, and James Watson is standing on the seventh hole of Lansing Sportsman’s Club - less than a par-five from the Chicago Hammond airport - the plane’s final destination. The sight of aircraft was nothing new to twilight golfers, but this one on the horizon was low enough to trouble television antennae. “The pilot gunned the engines to clear a set of power lines, and one spluttered and died,” remembers Watson, “then, the pilot banked left into the stalled engine which killed the other one too.”

Sadly, the inevitability of the result of the engine failure was all too clear to the watching golfers, and as the plane came down, one wing scythed across the seventh green before the plane flipped, skidded, and burst into vivid orange flames. At 8.20 pm, state police confirmed that ‘mismanagement of the fuel system,’ and ‘failure to obtain and maintain flying speed’ were the reasons behind the crash. Tony Lema, his wife Betty, the pilot and the one other passenger on board were killed instantly, and golf had lost one of its most colourful and respected stars.

Tony Lema at St Andrews Old Course, July 10, 1964

“He was my guy, not Arnie,” said Johnny Miller, “He was the greatest, boldest putter I’d ever seen. His death broke my heart, to be honest with you.”

Anthony David “Tony” Lema was born on February 25, 1934 in Oakland, California. As the son of povertystricken Portuguese immigrants, he grew up in the tough San Leandro district, and though the majesty of San Francisco was visible over the nearby hills, young Tony’s playground was rusting cargo containers, giant dock winches and other visible remains of a struggling industrial wasteland. When Lema was three-years-old, his father died of double pneumonia, leaving mother Clotilda to bring up four hungry and demanding children on her own.

As a teenager, his wild streak began to develop.

He had a few skirmishes with the police, and was once caught stealing cases of beer off the back of a truck. He would also bring home two report cards from school, one for Clotilda to see, and the real one, that he would get his sister Bernice to sign.

As golf obsessed as he was – he would charm his way out of washing up by saying it would soften the calluses on his hands – his overriding obsession was to get the hell out of dodge. So in 1951, aged 17, Tony Lema joined the Marine Corps and spent four years of active service in Korea.

1955, when he got discharged, became a year of cultural and political change. Winston Churchill resigned as Prime Minister, Rosa Parks’ refusal to give

up her bus seat to a white man in Alabama sparked a huge movement against racial segregation, and rock ‘n’ roll exploded with the release of Bill Hailey’s Rock Around the Clock. And though Lema would not make his global mark for some time yet, he was all too aware that, on his release from The Marines, he didn’t want to end up as another underpaid ghost in the warehouses and bars of San Leandro.

Taking a job as Assistant Professional at San Francisco GC, under the legendary John Geertsen, Lema spent two years being schooled in the intricacies of the swing, and the starched nature of clubhouse life. “I think coming from where he came, exposure to somebody such as Geertsen in a setting such as the San Francisco GC had a huge influence on how Tony developed, as a person and as a player,” says former USGA president Frank Tatum.

Although he didn’t know it, Lema was not only being coached by a legend, he was also teaching a future one. You see, while he was working on his game, the eight-year-old Johnny Miller was also being taught by Geertsen. And Tony’s rhythmical swing left an indelible effect on the youngster.

“Basically, in the ‘70s I had three swings,” says Miller, “I played Trevino on my cuts, I imitated Lema on my draws and I hit the ball straight with my own swing. So I would use his swing, hitting into greens, probably six times a round, and I won all those tournaments with Lema hitting a third of my shots.

I was always thinking, ‘OK, Tony, this is your shot.

Back-left pin. Nice little lazy draw in there.’ Nobody used Lema more than I did. Nobody.”

In 1957, feeling sufficiently prepared to find his own way, Lema left the watchful eye of Geertsen and took the position of Head Professional at Ruby View GC, a municipal in Elko, Nevada. He also tried his hand on tour that year, but his lifestyle in Elko was not conducive to shooting the lights out and tearing through the field. “They had his picture up in every bawdy-house there,” says Ted Blohm, a local jeweller who used to run wild with Lema, “we were both single, and we both liked girls, drinking and golf.”

Between ’57 and ’62, Lema ran wild. And, like many of his blue collar peers, he displayed a ferocious impetuosity that meant the wedge throw was never too far away. As is often the case though, the love of a good woman made him grow up, and after meeting Betty he became a lot more thoughtful. Sure, he still chain-smoked Camel cigarettes and liked a good scotch, but his newly found seclusion transferred into both a maiden victory and the birth of the greatest nickname in the history of professional golf.

After walking in to face the press as third round leader of the 1962 Orange County Open, Lema was drinking a beer. “It’ll be champagne for all if I win,” he told the assembled journalists. And, following his defeat of Bob Rosburg in the play-off, he kept his word, supplied the press with a crate of his favourite drink, securing a sponsorship from Moët and Chandon in the process.

Thirty years later, a stranger approached Rosburg to ask him if he remembered the play-off. “He was an exMarine like Tony and told me that he’d kicked a ball of Tony’s back into play,” remembers Rosburg, “I said that was fine, but that Lema had been considering leaving the tour, and if he hadn’t kicked that ball back in then Tony Lema would be alive today.”

And while that is nothing other than idle speculation, the help of the Marine did finally give Lema the belief that he could win in an era of sterling golfers. In 1963, he finished regularly in the money and almost won The Masters. After a fine birdie at 18, he was dragged off to Chairman Clifford Jones office, and watched with Bobby Jones and friend Arnold Palmer as a 23-year-old Jack Nicklaus finished with two steady pars to beat him by one shot. But golf being golf, he didn’t have to wait long to reverse this outcome.

1964 started well for Lema. He won the Bing Crosby Pro-Am at Pebble Beach, before going on a run that Americans like to call ‘in the zone’. He won three times in four weeks, including beating Arnold Palmer in a play-off to win The Cleveland Open. And it’s a good job he did, because Arnie had a proposal for him.

Unable to travel to St Andrews for The Open, Palmer tried to convince Lema to go in his place. “I told him how good he was playing and he should go to the British Open and play,” says Palmer. “He was reluctant, very reluctant. I said, ‘Tony, what do I have to do to get you

to do this?’ He said, ‘Give me your putter.’ He was sort of kidding me, but he was kidding seriously. I said, ‘OK, I’ll give you the putter, and I’ll also give you my caddie (the legendary Tip Anderson). ‘Which he accepted.”

Arriving in the British Isles for the first time, Lema rocked up in the East Neck of Fife and played a solitary practice round with friend Phil Rodgers. The weather was horrific, though it would take more than wind and rain to dampen the spirit of Tony Lema. After the round with Rodgers, who told him to, “do exactly what Tip tells you, use the club he tells you and hit the ball where he tells you,” he followed this advice to the letter, and posted 73, 68 over the first two days to lead by two from second place, and nine from Nicklaus.

The 36-hole final day was coloured by two poignant exchanges between Lema and Nicklaus. During the morning round, Lema was on the sixth fairway standing two-over for the morning, as Jack walked past on the 13th five-under for the day. The lead was down to one, and lesser men could have wobbled. Lema even said himself that, “when Jack charges at you, you know you’ve been charged at.” Though he seemed unperturbed as he posted five consecutive 3’s to reach the 18th threeunder par, where the second meeting of the two came about.

As Jack waited to tee-off for his final round, Lema stood over a 40- foot birdie putt. With every eye in the vicinity on him, Champagne Tony drew back his putter and propelled the ball dead centre for another birdie and a four-under par, 68. As the putt dropped, he looked over at Nicklaus who grinned and shook his head. The Golden Bear had shot 66 and only managed to cut the lead to seven. Four hours later, after a nerveless 70, Tony Lema lifted the Claret Jug, winning The Open Championship by five strokes. And that night in the Jigger Inn, with Tip Anderson, innumerate spectators and rivers of champagne, he hosted a raucous shindig to celebrate.

Though this was his one and only Major victory, between 1963 and 1966 Lema never missed a cut in a Major Championship, he played on both the 1963 and 1965 victorious Ryder Cup teams, and he finished in the top ten in more than 50% of the tournaments he entered.

He was, it seems, destined for greatness.

Before heading to St Andrews in 1964, Lema played a series of exhibition matches with Peter Alliss. “He was a complex man,” says Alliss. “The times I played with him, he’d sort of disappear and go to church, and then we’d come back and stay out too late and drink too many drinks. He wanted to be a very good-living person and struggled to do that on occasions, but I liked his company.”

And in that context, where Champagne Tony Lema is concerned, it’s probably best to end at the end. After the untimely death, aged 32, of the man who could have been King, the Nuns at the Poor Clares Convent in Oakland noticed that the envelopes of cash that used to arrive regularly had stopped coming.

Until the crash, they had no idea who had sent them.

Cover Story

Experiencing South Africa’s premier golf and luxury resort.

By da r ryl w e e

The site of the 2003 President’s Cup, The Links at Fancourt is not a course which is widely publicised or known in Asia.

That, in part can be due to distance and the relatively lack of coverage of the Sunshine Tour on TV, but I am hoping that this article can change that, as this course is not ranked the best in South Africa and number 34 globally for no reason.

Located in George, Fancourt is South Africa’s premier lifestyle estate with mountains, forests and the warm Indian Ocean all in close proximity. The resort has 133 rooms comprising of two accommodation options, the Fancourt Hotel and The Manor House, an award winning boutique hotel.

Guests are spoilt for choice here with a variety of restaurants, a spa with Roman baths, tennis courts, three 18-hole Gary Player designed golf courses, and a golf academy.

Outdoor lovers can enjoy walking trails, cycling and bird watching on the estate.

The Manor House, Fancourt’s original homestead, is a national monument which was built in 1859 and owned by Henry Fancourt White. It has been rejuvenated as a luxury hotel and set amongst 613 hectares of lush countryside and offers a unique combination of classic opulence with the indulgent sophistication of a 21st century boutique hotel.

There are 18 suites, including a Master Bedroom all offering personalised, butler-style service.

I had the opportunity to stay in The Manor House, and the suite I was in was one of the best I have ever had the pleasure to be in. Not over the top, the suites had just the right amount of luxury combined with a homely feel. One morning when I wanted to work on my patio, the butler noticed that the outdoor furniture was wet and so he quickly came to wipe down the tables and chairs so I could do my work outside. Such service pervades beyond attention to detail; it suggests thoughtfulness, the kind only your loved ones give you. Looking out over the vast expanse and hacking away at my laptop, I wonder if this should be the way work-life balance should be re-termed.

Lauded by Gary Player as his greatest feat as course designer, The Links is the collaborative gem of Gary Player, Phil Jacobs and Fancourt’s owner Dr. Hasso Plattner. A highly prestigious private club where membership is by invitation only, members do not have to book their tee times and can just turn up when they feel like playing.

One advantage of being a hotel guest at Fancourt is that there are a few slots set aside daily at The Links for us.

PREVIOUS PAGE - OPENING PICTURE: Montagu Clubhouse.

OPPOSITE PAGE - ClOCkwISE fROM TOP lEfT: fancourt's aerial view of the hotel; Manor House lounge; fancourt Classic Room perfect for family; Posing with the legendary caddie Jaco williams.

THIS PAGE: Exterior of Manor House.

If you are a visitor hoping to walk in, I am afraid that you will need to know a member or stay at Fancourt, otherwise you will not be very successful trying to talk your way onto the course.

Upon arriving at the clubhouse at The Links, there are no large signs directing you to the bag drop area like what you may be used to seeing at golf courses in Asia.

Guests are driven to the main entrance of the clubhouse, where a gentleman quickly steps out of the main entrance and ushers you into the clubhouse. Registering at the pro-shop, one would be remise not to start spying on the goodies to be purchased after the round - I found lovely t-shirts and markers at the pro-shop that made its way into my luggage. The clubhouse, like the course, was understated but continually over-delivered in all aspects.

Part of the experience at The Links is that it follows tradition, and it is a walking course.

Our flight had wonderful caddies who were all very knowledgeable and very engaging. I was very lucky to have Jaco Williams who had been working at Fancourt since its opening, on my bag.

As I got to know him, he revealed that when Gary Player comes to Fancourt, he normally asks for his services. Was I lucky or what?

But when he found out that the players on the flight had a small wager on our game, he looked at me seriously and said, “Darryl, I hate to lose!” Needless to say, with his well-tuned expertise and sharper than Bushnell eyes, I won my next meal and gave him some as well. Maybe next time when the legendary Black Knight comes by and has Jaco on his bag, he’ll talk about a generous bald headed Singaporean who he once caddied for.

The person of Jaco Williams is indicative of the people who live here. A true blue local lad, he was once a steel worker during the construction of Fancourt and when it was finally all done, he found himself suddenly out of work. So, he began carrying bags to get by and before he knew it, more than 30 years had passed. His knowledge of the course and its ins and outs is perhaps second to none, which was probably the reason why Player seeks him out each time he visits.

As a reviewer of the course, I had to select a few holes to highlight and I found this exceptionally difficult as The Links comprises of so many amazing holes. Like many traditional Scottish courses, The Links gives each hole a name, often as an indication of what to expect.

As we stepped up the first hole, we naturally walked

towards to black tees all the way behind. Jaco followed suspiciously, wondering whether we had our head screwed right when we got out this morning. The course marshall, however, was more vocal. “Are you guys sure you want to do that?”

The first, a par 4, 362-metre hole called “On Ye Go”, is very representative of the course. When looking at what line to take for your opening shot, you are faced with what you think is a very narrow fairway with deep bunkers surrounded by thick native grass and rough. If you go significantly off line on this course, you do not have much hope, however if you are just slightly off, you will find that fairways do open up but you really do need to watch out for the traps and hazard that have been placed in strategic locations to capture errant shots.

To the marshall’s earlier question, we all nodded yes and told him we’d come all the way here anyway and want to experience the course in its fully glory.

The Singaporeans that we are. As our respective first shots sailed far and straight, both suspicious caddy and skeptical marshall just shrugged and bade us on our way.

There is a large bunker on the right of the fairway and if the teeshot did not carry this trap, a blind shot to the green awaits. Past it and a wide green, still half hidden by a large dune beckons. Jaco casually pointed that if the pin is placed on the right, players can sometimes only make out the top of flag. Considering that this was only the starting hole with a stroke index of 16 to boot, all of us took a big gulp and steadied ourselves for what was to come.

And it didn’t take long for “Calamity” to come.

Hole 3, named thus, is a 429-metre long par 4. This is the most difficult hole on the front nine and it is not the drive that will get you, it is the approach to the green with a burn protecting up front. Playing into the wind, it took all of us three shots to make it. When one of the other caddies was asked how fast the greens were today, he said, “Oh, it is not fast today, only 11 on the stimp.” A par here is a solid score, which, thanks to Jaco’s fine read, was what I got.

On the back nine, hole 12 was “Sheer Murder”, literally. A 440 metres long par 4 where you would have to deal with the prevailing winds knocking down any tee shots that sailed too high, better players would be asked to play a knock-down driver here. Playing from the back tee box meant that you would have to carry water and be long enough to cross a mean pot bunker in the middle of the fairway that sits 235 metres away.

If you pulled your shot, you would end up in the pond, and if you went too far right, you would be in tall grass or one of the two bunkers waiting to catch those who slice their drives. I remember asking Jaco what was over on the right, and his response was very simple and direct, “Trouble.”

The small green is protected on the left and right with bunkers and a pond making an accurate 2nd shot a premium. It is no wonder why this is called “Sheer Murder” as this hole can easily kill your scorecard if your errant shots are uncontrolled.

ClOCkwISE fROM TOP: The links - Hole 16; Outeniqua - Signature hole 4; The links Hole 12; The links - Hole 16.

“Westward Ho” is hole 16, a 534 metres stretch that finally has the wind in our favour making the drive significantly easier, and on a par 5 too. There are no major traps to catch you, and the landing area on this fairway is relatively friendly. The only warning I would give is to avoid the pot bunker named “The Coffin” on the right but if you do not end up there, you would reap the full ‘experience’ of playing the 16th.

Overall, this hole is a reprieve to all previous ones where you have been playing against the wind. Longer players can be tempted to reach the green in two, however, there is a nasty little trap left and short of the green that I was told was a popular visit. A green that is very contoured, landing on in two would not guarantee a birdie either but chance is what golfers play for, so go for it. This is also a lovely hole to start the return to the clubhouse.

The experience at The Links at Fancourt can be easily described as exceptional. The Manor House provides creature comforts that made me want to extend my stay, and The Links was a golfing experience not found since I was last in Scotland. With a direct flight and the weakened Rand, planning a trip to South Africa to experience the golf and all this continent has to offer you should be high on your holiday list. If you are not sure where to begin, start with Fancourt and you might not end up anywhere else, so best to end with it. www.fancourt.com

Fancourt’s other courses Montagu Fancourt’s Montagu course has developed into one of the finest 18-hole parkland layouts in the country. Exquisitely conditioned to provide a riveting golfing experience, this tree-lined course covers large tracts of varying terrain on rolling land. Paired with the Links, the Montagu provides golfers with a contrast of enjoyment and challenges in a single location. outEniqua an 18-hole parkland layout that is tailored to provide a laid-back golfing experience. this course is more benign than both its counterparts but nevertheless provides challenges and hazards on 11 of its holes. named after the mountain range that forms its breathtaking backdrop, the course is pristinely conditioned to accommodate a large volume of players.

player's choice

Greatest course ever built?

The best course to me personally is North Berwick because of all the wonderful personal experiences and memories I have had there. There are so many amazing courses around the world that I have been lucky enough to play that it is very hard to choose.

I think if I must pick one, I will pick St Andrews because of its history and the fame and recognition it enjoys around the world. It was amazing playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open there in 2007 and it has such a special atmosphere. It is known as the home of golf after all!

Singapore is also one of my favourite places to visit and my husband Graeme and I love going down to the street market which specialises in our favourite beef, chicken and prawn satay suppers.

How do you adjust yourself playing in tropical Singapore?

It is a big difference but actually the weather has been so bad at home with all the snow I will be practising in Spain ahead of this year’s HSBC Women’s Champions so the heat will be less of a shock than coming straight from Scotland. Also, as I play so much of my golf on the LPGA Tour I am well used to

2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open Champion Catriona Matthew takes us back to her hometown links in Scotland and shares her thoughts on playing in tropical Asia.

BY Benn Y t e o

Years as a pro: 16 Years age: 41 residence: north Berwick, scotland

How does the Tanah Merah Garden Course, played at the HSBC Women’s Champions compare to the Scottish links?

They are obviously very different and require different tactics but I really enjoy both types of golf. I really enjoy the Tanah Merah course – it is a great Championship course with some fantastic holes and you just have to look at the players that have won at Tanah Merah to know the calibre of golf required to win there. It is always in great condition and I love playing there.

playing in the hot weather conditions that we play in the summer there. The only time it was a bit of a problem was when I played in the 2009 HSBC Women’s Champions at five months pregnant – I certainly felt the heat and humidity then!

Last round of social golf played.

It was with my husband at North Berwick when the snow had finally cleared, the children were otherwise occupied and it was fun and relaxing and lovely to be out playing again.

CaTriona’S FavouriTe CourSeS north Berwick

New Club House, Beach Road, North Berwick, EH39 4BB, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1620 892135; www.northberwickgolfclub.com Year Opened: 1888 (Children’s course) 1832 (West Links); Designer: NA; Par/Yardage: 71/6,464 yards (West Links); No. of holes: 9 (Children’s course) 18 (West Links); Access: Visitors Allowed "The first would be the children’s 9-hole course in North Berwick where I learnt to play as a child. I think the longest hole was 150 yards and it was a wonderful place to learn to play golf.

They ran five tournaments each summer for under-10s and under-14s. There would be 100 or so boys and girls playing together and it was an enjoyable way to introduce youngsters to the game.

The second would be North Berwick (West Links). It is where I grew up and although I play all around the world on the most amazing courses, there is something very special about returning home to play there – especially on a lovely summer’s evening once I have put the kids to bed."

Archerfield Links

Golf Club House, Golf Green, Archerfield, Dirleton, North Berwick, East Lothian EH39 5HQ, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1620 897050; www.archerfieldgolfclub.com Year Opened: 1910 (Original 18-holes), 2004 The Fidra and 2006 The Dirleton; Designer: Ben Sayers (Original 18-holes), DJ Russell; Par/Yardage: NA; No. of holes: 36; Access: Visitors Allowed "The third is my home course, Archerfield – I love spending time there – it has possibly the best practise facilities in the whole of Europe and the course itself is a mix great links and parkland which is the ideal to prepare for almost any type of course." * Editor’s Note: The Fidra Links is a formidable par 72, a mixture of pine forest and fast-running Scottish links while The Dirleton Links is a more traditional Scottish links with sweeping fairways, deep menacing bunkers and undulating sand dunes.

opening page: 12th hole the Fidra links. leFt page: 9th hole, the dirleton links. this page FroM top: archerfield house; st andrews links trust - old course.

royal Lytham & St annes

Links Gate, Lytham, Lancashire FY8 3LQ, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1253 643790; www.royallytham.org Year Opened: 1886; Designer: George Lowe, Harry Colt, Herbie Fowler, Tom Simpson, CK Cotton; Par/Yardage: Par 75, 6,882 yards; No. of holes: 18; Access: Visitors Allowed "Of course then I would have to say Royal Lytham St Annes where I won the Ricoh Women’s British Open. As the scene of my first Major win and with my husband Graeme on the bag and only 11 weeks after the birth of my second child, it will always be a very special place to me. "

St andrews old Course

Pilmour House, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SF, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1334 466666; www.standrews.org.uk Year Opened: since around 1850; Designer: Old Tom Morris, Alister MacKenzie; Par/Yardage: Par 72, 6,721 yards; No. of holes: 18; Access: Public "Finally, Scotland’s most famous course, St Andrews, mostly for its reputation around the world and the special atmosphere you feel when you play there in terms of the history and heritage of the game."

Martin KayMer's tOP 10

Property of Club de Golf Valderrama™

My Top Ten

1Valderrama,

Germany’s former world number one and double major champion talks his favourite courses.

By r o Bi n B a rw i c k

Sotogrande, Spain Martin Kaymer is a Mercedes-Benz golf brand ambassador.

Mercedes-Benz is Proud Patron and Official Car of The Open.

Success first came to Martin Kaymer in Germanic, systematic regularity. He turned professional in 2005 at the age of 20, won on the European Challenge Tour on his professional debut in 2006 and became the European Tour’s rookie of the year in 2007. He won on the main tour for the first time in 2008 and then at Whistling Straits in the 2010 PGA Championship, the then 25-year-old German won his first major when he outlasted Bubba Watson in a playoff. Six months later, in 2011, Kaymer reached a world ranking of No.1, but as he would later admit, Kaymer wasn’t fully prepared for such a rapid rise.

“All of a sudden I had won a major and reached number one and it was a strange feeling,” Kaymer tells Golf Vacations. “They were career goals and I had reached them at the age of 25. It was a positive thing but it was not that easy and I had to set myself new goals. I was not really prepared.”

• Valderrama, in Sotogrande on Spain’s Costa del Sol, was the first golf course in Continental Europe to stage the Ryder Cup, in 1997. The Robert Trent Jones design was originally called Les Aves when it opened in 1975, before Bolivian mining mogul Jaime Ortiz Patino bought the club and brought Trent Jones back to update and expand the course in 1985.

“There are a lot of difficult tee shots around Valderrama and you need a lot of commitment to your shots, and all the different shots you can imagine are required to score well. You need to draw some shots, fade others, and the greens are very small, which puts an emphasis on ball striking rather than it being just a putting competition.”

What followed was not a period in the wilderness as such, but Kaymer worked hard to introduce a draw to complement his natural power fade off the tee and his trademark consistency was replaced by streaky form. Then something clicked in 2014 as Kaymer first won the Players Championship at Sawgrass and then a month later at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, he set a scoring record for 36 holes with scores of 65-65 in the first two rounds. Kaymer would win wire-to-wire again, this time by eight shots.

Kaymer is yet to add to his win tally since the 2014 U.S. Open, but another hot streak could be due in 2016.

David J. Whyte

2 old

CourSe, St andrewS, SCotland

• Golf has been played on the Old Course at St Andrews for so long that no-one is really sure when it began.

We know locals started playing golf on the links at least 600 years ago, as King James II banned golf on the links in 1457—559 years ago—because he decided it was too distracting to his archers.

“I love going to St Andrews. There is a special atmosphere in the town. It is such a pure and natural place to be, and there is so much genuine respect for golf, and the golf course still has that feeling of being untouched.

The Old Course can play in so many different ways so you have to be creative around there.”

3 pebble beaCh, California, uSa

• Built above the rocky Pacific shoreline of California’s Monterey Peninsula, Pebble Beach has become synonymous with the U.S. Open, staging the championship five times since 1972.

“Pebble Beach is one of those courses where it does not matter how you are playing, you can always enjoy it because you can just look around and appreciate the beautiful surroundings. It is a great setting and very challenging too and I played very well there in the 2010 U.S. Open when Graeme McDowell won.”

4 StraitS CourSe, whiStling StraitS, wiSConSin, uSa

• The Straits Course is designer Pete Dye and owner Herb Kohler’s tribute to British links. Flanked by Lake Michigan, the course opened in 1998 to immediate acclaim. The Straits Course boasts pot bunkers, vast sand dunes, rolling greens, exposure to the elements and even a flock of Scottish Blackface sheep.

“Whistling Straits is a very beautiful landscape with Lake Michigan right next to the golf course and it looks like a links but with American characteristics. I enjoy links-style golf wherever it is, but by Lake Michigan you have the advantage that the weather is often better there in the summer than it is in the UK!”

5 loCh lomond, glaSgow, SCotland

• This Tom Weiskopf design on the banks of Loch Lomond, to the northwest of Glasgow, was the venue for the Scottish Open from 1996 to 2010. It is a stunning parkland landscape and Kaymer won there in 2009.

“This is a great, traditional parkland golf course, with small greens, and as a golfing challenge it is totally pure. I usually play better at golf courses with beautiful surroundings and at Loch Lomond it is lovely to walk down those fairways with the forests on either side. The setting creates a great golfing environment.”

6

le golf national, pariS, franCe

• Le Golf National will hold the 2018 Ryder Cup and it has staged the French Open every year since 1991. Its stadium-style layout provides stunning vantage points over a difficult parkland course that features elements of both links and Florida-style target golf.

“This is another ball striking golf course.

You need to hit a lot of good shots to get a good score and down the final stretch of holes you need to be brave if you are going to make birdies. This will be the case in particular when the Ryder Cup is played there, when you need to hit precise shots over water onto some greens.

When the French Open is played there, you can be two or three shots behind on the back nine but still win by two or three.”

7 pinehurSt

no. 2, north Carolina, uSa

• Pinehurst No. 2, which staged the 2014 U.S. Open won by Kaymer, was originally designed by Donald Ross in 1907, and was restored under the careful direction of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore in 2010. They returned the course to a more natural, less manicured state.

“What is particularly challenging about No. 2 is that all the greens are raised. If you miss the greens it is very difficult to make up-and-downs, so it demands good golf shots. When I won the U.S. Open there my putting was key – it was a great putting week for me. I was very comfortable within six feet of the hole and that gave me confidence when I had to play long putts from off the greens.”

8 KingSbarnS, fife, SCotland

• K i ngsba r ns op ene d i n 2 0 0 0, occupying a spectacular stretch of coastline just five miles south of St Andrews. While the links of St Andrews primarily stretch over low-lying land, bringing plenty of blind tee shots, Kingsbarns is built on land that rises from the sea, with each hole laid out in front of the golfers and with far-reaching North Sea panoramas.

“Kingsbarns is little bit different from a lot of the courses on my list because for us tour pros playing there is a bit of a birdie festival! For us it is short and quite easy and all the par fives are within reach in two. I have played well there and it is great for the Alfred Dunhill Championship because its wide fairways are forgiving for the amateurs.”

9 golf- und

land-Club Köln • Locals used to say the course at Köln was built on the ‘wrong’ side of the Rhine, in the dense forests of Refrath, but what may have been the less civilized side of the river in Roman times is now home to arguably Germany’s finest course.

Designed by Bernhard von Limburger and opened in 1952, virtually every hole at Refrath is flanked by woodlands so precision wins here over power. Aged 17, Bernhard Langer won his first German National Open title here in 1975.

“This was one of the best golf courses in the region when I was growing up. It is a tight golf course and you always need to hit good tee shots and so we would practice there a lot. We also played the first stage of European Tour Qualifying School there in 2005, which I won, so I have a lot of good memories.”

10 abu dhabi gC,

uae

• Carved out of the forbidding Arabian Desert, Abu Dhabi has become one of the European Tour’s most significant venues. Designed by Peter Harradine, the course opened in 2000 and Kaymer has a special relationship with the course, where he has won three times.

“I have made a lot of birdies there. I seem to read the greens very well and I really like the whole atmosphere there. The people in the clubhouse are always very nice, the food there is great, the practice facilities are exceptional and then on the golf course a lot of the tee shots suit my eye. It is probably the tour golf course where I feel most comfortable.”

The Interview Series

A new year, an old story and a continuing legacy of perfection.

BY R o Bi n B a Rw i c k , i m ag e s co u Rt e s Y o f m e R c e d e s - Be n z

Seniors golf – for the over 50s among professional

ranks – can give players a new lease of life but it comes with a caveat: time still inevitably ticks and a golfer’s window of opportunity to win will gradually close.

That’s life.

“The stats show that once golfers reach the age of around 60, very few win any tournaments – even one a year,” starts Bernhard Langer in an exclusive interview with Golf Vacations. “Most senior tournaments are won by golfers aged between 50 and 57, and once they

are any older the success rate drops, but you can’t fight age.

It is inevitable that you will lose flexibility and strength, but on a slightly shorter golf course there are still senior golfers who can win against the younger golfers.”

Langer, though, has always been one to defy the odds. He turned 58 in August last year and since then he has won twice on what is now called the PGA Tour Champions (previously the Champions Tour), most recently in the Chubb Classic in Florida in February.

American Hale Irwin has arguably been the finest senior golfer of all time, winning a record 45 titles on the PGA Tour Champions between 1995 and his last win in 2007 at the age of 61. opening picture: The oldest champ on the tour was Bernhard Langer, fellow American Mike Fetchick, brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, in a who won on his 63rd birthday picturesque pose. in 1985. The greatest triumph inset: Langer posing by a senior golfer though, was with a 1956 Mercedes almost claimed by a 59-year-old Benz 300sL or super Leicht coupe Tom Watson at the 2009 Open nicknamed “gullwing” Championship at Turnberry – at the 2009 Masters at Augusta national. playing against the finest young guns in their prime - but he dropped a shot at the 72nd hole and lost the ensuing playoff to Stewart Cink.

Germany’s Langer is now setting the mark for golfers aging with golfing grace. At the end of the 2015 season he became the first PGA Tour Champions golfer to claim the season’s over-arching Charles Schwab Cup three times, and the 2016 Chubb Classic was his 26th PGA Tour Champions title. Only Irwin and Lee Trevino (29) have won more on what is the world’s pre-eminent seniors tour.

“You don't get that success without just a lot of things,” says Tom Lehman, 57 and a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions. “You have to have great character, you have to have a great work ethic, you have

Snap2art / ShutterStock.com

Germany’s Langer is now setting the mark for golfers aging with golfing grace. At the end of the 2015 season he became the first PGA Tour Champions golfer to claim the season’s over-arching Charles Schwab Cup three times, and the 2016 Chubb Classic was his 26th PGA Tour Champions title. Only Irwin and Lee Trevino (29) have won more on what is the world’s pre-eminent seniors tour.

to have talent, you have to have good perspective and Langer has all those things. He’s a perfect example of a guy who just always works hard, always gives his best, always has the right perspective and keeps things in balance. He’s just a remarkable person, quite frankly.”

Says Langer: “Every year there are younger guys coming up so us older guys still need to find ways of shooting scores in the 60s. We have to play at a very high level just to stay exempt. The result is that the PGA

Tour Champions has become extremely competitive.”

What is more, Langer has had to adjust his putting technique for the 2016 season in the wake of the global ban on anchored putting strokes. Rivals must have been wondering if he would be able to find a new putting stroke as effective as his old one. Was Langer’s reign over seniors golf set to come to an unceremonious halt amid jittery yips over those slippery three-footers?

Langer has experimented with a number of putting

techniques and putters already this season, but most striking about his putting at the Chubb Classic was just how much it looked like his anchored stroke of old, which Langer had adopted for the previous 19 years.

He played with his same old Odyssey 2-Ball putter, complete with broomhandle shaft, and even his practice strokes were anchored via his left fist on his chest. But once Langer addressed the ball he moved his fist away from his chest by just an inch to release the anchor point and to play a legal stroke.

An opening round of 62, 10 under par, included 11 birdies and paved the way for a wire-to-wire victory at Twin Eagles Golf Club in Florida, although Langer admits that his new putting regime remains a work in progress.

“Because I won it does not mean I have found the putting technique I will use forever,” he says. “I am still experimenting to see if there is a better way.

“I have tried between 15 and 20 different putters over the winter with different techniques. I have tried a regular putter and grip, some with the claw grip, some with clasping the forearm and some with the putter grip leaning against the left forearm. I am still experimenting.”

A second-round of 66 in the Chubb Classic was Langer’s 19th consecutive round under par on the PGA Tour Champions and while a closing 73, one over par, brought that run to an end, it saw him ease to a threeshot victory over American Fred Couples. Langer has won the Chubb Classic three times in the past six years and this win placed him at the top of the Charles Schwab Cup ranking, again.

Twice the Masters champion - in 1985 and 1993 – Langer’s success on tour has endured for 40 years despite recurring battles against the yips. Each time Langer was inflicted on the greens he found a solution and now he looks to have found the answer to the anchoring ban too.

“Bernhard is the best bad putter I have ever seen,” laughs Larry Mize, fellow PGA Tour Champions golfer, a close friend of Langer’s and a fellow past Masters

Left pAge: Langer showing the way out of bunkers. cLocKWise froM top: At a Q&A session for Mercedes-Benz in 2014; Mercedes-Benz honouring Langer’s 20th anniversary of his 2003 Master’s win that coincides with the brand’s 20th year in golf; Lining up a putt at the 2015 us Masters.

champion. “He has had his issues but he can putt.”

“Anchoring was never the only putting cure,” says Langer. “If it were then everybody would have anchored. I putted with an anchored stroke for 19 years but it did not mean I was the best putter. Let’s face it, I still missed putts and I still had many days when I felt I did not putt well.

“I have always tried to adapt as times have changed.

Many of the changes in the game have been fun for me

“I have tried between 15 and 20 different putters over the winter with different techniques. I have tried a regular putter and grip, some with the claw grip, some with clasping the forearm and some with the putter grip leaning against the left forearm.

I am still experimenting.”

too – I hit the ball as far now with my irons as I used to 30 years ago, and with the driver and three-wood I am actually longer than I was 30 years ago. Who would have thought that would happen?”

More than putting, the consistency and precision of Langer’s iron play has been a keystone of his success over the decades, although he did lead the PGA Tour Champions in putting average in 2015, with 1.72 putts per green. Despite his putting experiments, so far in 2016 Langer’s putting average is 1.73 – almost identical – although his ranking has slipped to 15th at the time of writing.

Langer’s putting technique at the Chubb Classic looked so similar to his previous anchored stroke that television viewers called in to the Golf Channel broadcaster in the United States requesting clarification.

Thomas Pagel, the USGA’s Senior Director of Rules, confirmed to the Golf Channel that Langer’s putting stroke is “close” to being illegal, but that it is allowed.

Pagel added: “This is what I expect Bernhard to do.

This is how I expected him to putt this year.”

“Obviously I am not going to intentionally anchor the putter,” adds Langer. “I wouldn’t want to break the rule. I like to be a player of integrity and I play by the rules, but even if I did anchor my stroke I would never get away with it playing golf in front of my colleagues, caddies, officials, spectators and in front of TV cameras.

“I cleared all this up with the officials on the Champions Tour in December before the rule came into effect. I talked to our officials and we went through every possible scenario of what I can do and of what I can’t do, and I went from there.

“Some people are confused by the new rule, but some of them have not read through the details and

some even think the ban is for the long putter and not for the anchored putting stroke. Of course the long putter has not been banned and people need to understand what anchoring is and how the new rule is written. I have been through the process of learning about the new rule and figuring out what is legal and what is not.”

Despite the anchoring ban, Langer’s putts continue to drop in the hole. So perhaps age is just a number after all.

“It is hard to believe I have been playing on tour so long,” reflects Langer, who started out on the European Tour in 1976 at the age of 18. “I know one thing, back then I would never have thought I would still be playing competitive golf in my fifties!

“I take every year one at a time. I talk to people almost every day about one plan for the future or another, and then something happens and the future changes. So I have never made many plans for the future. Twenty years ago I had no idea whether I would be healthy enough to play golf today, or have the desire to play, or even if I would be alive. We all like to think we will live until we are 80 or 90 but you just don’t know – there is no guarantee about anything – so I never made long-term plans or took anything for granted.

“Nobody knows what the future holds but if I remain healthy and I still enjoy playing, and I still have some success, then I will keep playing. I need to have all three of those ingredients for me to carry on. As soon as one of those ingredients is missing then it will be time for me to quit.”

Bernhard Langer is a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, and Mercedes-Benz is a global sponsor of The Masters.

Left pAge: Lining a putt at a champions tour event. tHis pAge: posing during a MercedesBenz shoot in 2015.

designer's choice

We begin our new series of Choice Courses by talking to experts in the field. Brian Curley gives his take on his favourites.

BY shaun mcg u ck i an

Brian’s Greatest Creation Blackstone Golf Course, Mission Hills Hainan

I think it’s the course for today’s golfer. It has the challenges to test the best, but it still accommodates your average player. It’s difficult but it’s fair. Hell, it’s got a lava field in the middle of it and I was never told to watch the budget so I was allowed to wax lyrical over the course, so the end result is the best tournament course in Asia, maybe soon the world. The quality of the holes, the difficulty of the holes, how stunning it looks and how it caters to galleries and spectators down the finishing stretch; I think it’s hard to beat.

We set out to create the pre-eminent tournament course and I feel we succeeded. It’s so popular.

I was there recently and Blackstone was sold out every day. It has won accolades in the (United) States for best new international course already.

Last GaMe He pLayed.

I’ve been playing a bit more recently and had a game in San Diego last week. I played alright.

Broke 80. When I was 30, I was told I had the back of a 75-year-old. I had a back operation last year and now I’m getting back into the swing of things. I’m thinking about joining a club in Scottsdale, if I’m ever around.

Years in business: 27 Age: 52 Residence: Scottsdale, Arizona Golf Handicap: 8

Brian’s Favourite Courses Cypress point

Pebble Beach, CA 93953-3605, USA Tel: (831) 624-2223 Year Opened: 1928; Designer: Alister Mackenzie; Par/Yardage: Par 72, 6,536 yards; No. of holes: 18; Access: Private "It’s my home course. It was different when it was designed. I reference it a lot and it’s simply a stunning property. The contrast of crashing blue sea, white sand and dark pines make it the most stunning property that’s ever been used for golf."

Lahinch

Lahinch Golf Club, Liscannor Road, Lahinch, County Clare, Ireland Tel: 353 (0) 65 7081003; www.lwahinchgolf.com Year Opened: 1892; Designer: Old Tom Morris & Alister Mackenzie; Par/Yardage: Par 72, 6,950 yards (Old), Par 70, 5,592 yards (Castle); No. of holes: 36 (Old and Castle); Access: Visitors Allowed "I like all the odd, quirky holes (Old Course) and the way it perches out over the ocean in places. I love it. It’s the place I’d tell people to go and learn their Links education. That said, Ballybunion and Co. Down are not far behind."

national Golf Links

16 Sebonac Inlet Rd, Southampton, NY 11968, USA Tel: (631) 283-0559 Year Opened: 1908; Designer: Charles B. Macdonald, redesigned by Perry Maxwell and Robert Trent Jones; Par/Yardage: Par 73, 6,779 yards; No. of holes: 18; Access: Members

OPENING PAGE: Mission Hills Haikou, Blackstone Course, Hole 15.

LEFT PAGE FROM TOP: Ballybunion Golf Club; Lahinch Golf Club BELOW: Lahinch Golf Club, Hole 14.

"Charles Blair Macdonald’s ambition was to create the greatest course in America here and I think he succeeded."

shinnecock Hills

Friar’s Head

"Shinnecock is out on Long Island and it sets up as a proper golf course in terms of strategy, but at the same time it has that nice ‘old smell’ to it."

"I haven’t played Friar’s Head, which is also there but I walked it and I loved what I saw.

As far as art goes, it’s pretty tough to beat."

200 Tuckahoe Rd, Southampton, NY 11968-3732, USA Tel: (631) 283-1310 Year Opened: 1891; Designer: Willie Dunn, Jr and Rev. Dick Wilson; Par/Yardage: Par 70, 6,996 yards; No. of holes: 18; Access: Members

3000 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY 11901-1113, USA Tel: (631) 722-5200 Year Opened: 2002; Designer: Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore; Par/Yardage: Par 71, 6,800 yards; No. of holes: 18; Access: Members

Destination Focus

An island on the cusp of revolutionary change after decades of idyll comfort.

By Be n n y t e o

At 9am and thereabouts, there are two ferries that depart from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal along the easternmost coast of Singapore, less than 10 minutes from Changi International Airport, and makes its way towards the Indonesian resort island of Bintan. One takes you to the Bandar Bentan Telani Terminal that services the main entry into the island and the other, more directly, disembarks at the Bintan Lagoon Terminal. This was not possible some five years back.

Since the beginning of the Bintan project back in the mid 90s, the idea has been to develop the island, or rather the northern part of it to be an integrated tourism community that incorporates, amongst other things, golf. The ambitious development plan then was thought to include 10 golf courses, 20 hotels, 10 condominium projects, three village clusters, a township, several marine and eco-tourism attractions within a period of 20 years.

The reality, however, has been less than interesting for a location that is devoid of true communal living and the excitement of life apart from the barrage of short-term visitors looking for a quick getaway. That all is finally about to change.

Gallant Venture, master planner and operator of Bintan Resorts, the 23,000-hectare development that promises much, is now finally taking the steps necessary to fulfill their dream.

An exciting investment towards facilities and amenities have already begun taking shape, culminating in an international airport – slated to open in 2017 - and doubling the size of its main ferry terminal to increase accessibility to more travellers from Singapore and around the region.

While there are still no 10 golf courses – the same 36 holes at Bintan Lagoon, 27 holes at Ria Bintan and 18 holes at Laguna Bintan resides – the island is on the verge of taking a giant leap into the future, and the most obvious signs can already by seen taking shape once one rides out of the confines of Bandar Bentan Telani and into the township of Lagoi Bay. The Lagoi Bay project, a massive 1,300-hectare build with prime beachfront and scenic hill plots residing between Banyan Tree and Club Med, comprises of upcoming establishments from Alila Hotel & Resorts, Grand Lagoi Swiss-Belhotel, The Sanchaya and a Four Points by Sheraton hotel, around a contemporary-styled, Indonesian-themed Lagoi Beach Village set to become the central lifestyle hub on the island.

Currently however, its two-storey village mall is vastly under utilised, with just two restaurants, a smattering of retail, spa, and a convenience store with money changer all located on the ground level. Nothing to baulk at but with the groundwork set, it promises to liven up in time.

As the old adage goes, “If you build it, they will come.”

Another similar project nearer towards the main ferry terminal called Treasure Island Bintan offers 338 hectares worth of waterfront fun with a 20-year masterplan to develop wellness, leisure, cultural, residential and commercial plans in three phases. The brainchild of Landmarks Berhad, a hospitality firm with over 20 years

PREVIOUS PAGE - OPENING PICTURE: Signature Par 3, 9th hole at Ria Bintan's Ocean course.

BELOW - CLOCKWISE LEFT TO RIGHT: Treasure Bay’s Crystal Lagoon is the largest man-made sea-water lagoon in the region; Tent suite at The Canopi Resort; Segway is the way to go at Treasure Bay; The young enjoying the Water Sports Park at Treasure Bay.

of experience owning and developing luxury hotels in Malaysia, the first phase is already underway with the region’s largest recreational sea-water lagoon (6.3 hectares) called Crystal Lagoon, an entertainment hub featuring hotels, bars and restaurants called Chill Cove that surrounds the lagoon and Canyon Ranch Bintan, an integrated wellness and aesthetic platform.

A unique accommodation that is already sited there is a luxury ‘glamping’ (otherwise read as ‘glamour’ ‘camping’) resort called The Canopi that offers the fun and adventure of outdoors living with luxury amenities such as four-poster beds, LCD TVs, sisal carpets and Wi-Fi access all within air-conditioned tent suites. There are even en-suite private gardens fitted with BBQ pit and hammock to stargaze while roasting gourmet meat.

GOLF

Which brings us to the beginning of some very exciting news for golfing fans in nearby Singapore and the region – come mid-2016, two of the island’s famous three golf clubs will see the fruition of many months of renovation and upgrade, with the other, maintaining in pristine condition their 36 holes of joy.

In most quarters, Ria Bintan Golf Club’s Gary Playerdesigned Ocean Course is considered the jewel of the lot, possibly around the Indonesian archipelago as well. Such praise has been afforded since it first opened for play

back in 1997 that it has not required much work done. And still, the accolades keep pouring in.

However, from July 2015, work began to take place on this fabled 6,470-metre, par 72 course. Fortunately, the characteristics of its daunting 6,470 metres challenge will not have changed; when completed, golfers will be able to continue enjoying the amazing journey that takes them from the toughest hole in the course, an elevated teebox par 5 first, to a series of holes surrounded by a lake, to the famous turn from Holes 7 to 9 and the cardbreaker 18th.

Key changes here pertain to re-grassing work done on all tee boxes and fairways. Serangoon grass now replaces Zoysia that allows trimming to an even lower height than before with faster recovery from wear and tear. Areas that were once susceptible to water logging due to monsoon rains are now resurfaced to drain better, including drainage lines for all bunkers and more sand padded in as well. Lastly, to improve safety, steep slopes along the cart path are lowered, which also makes it easier for mowing around the grasses as well.

The improvements, though not necessarily immediately apparent, will become so once the first tee peg is placed and then following that, each strike of the golf ball as well, heightening the pleasures that maestro Gary Player had originally planned for.

Nearby at Bintan Lagoon, both the Jack Nicklaus and Ian Baker-Finch courses continue to offer two varying

Golf in Bintan Ria Bintan Golf Club Ocean Course (Blue/Green) Par 72, 18 Holes; Length: 6,470 metres Course/Slope Rating: 74.9/131 Designer: Gary Player Bintan Lagoon Golf Club Seaview Course Par 72, 18 Holes; Length: 6,443 metres Course/Slope Rating: 72.9/135 Designer: Jack Nicklaus Woodlands Course Par 72, 18 Holes; Length: 6,211 metres Course/Slope Rating: 73/141 Designer: Ian Baker-Finch Laguna Bintan Golf Club Par 72, 18 Holes; Length: 6,890 yards Course/Slope Rating: Not Yet Available Designer: Greg Norman challenges that, even on their own, are able to entrap the visiting golfers staying at their associated resort of the same name. More so when one may travel directly from Singapore to their very own ferry terminal, negating the fuss of time and effort in moving luggage or indeed, shuffling feet. True convenience, if you can overlook the 75 minutes it takes to get there.

While the others may seem to be on the ball with renovation work, Bintan Lagoon has already had theirs done some years back and are looking in good shape now.

The massive 300-hectare site that includes a 470-room resort that, after its renovation, has been modernized both functionally and aesthetically.

Together with 12 dining options, including a night club, two swimming pools, over 50 land and sea activities for young and old, a spa and a recently opened Great Hall that is a three-storey conference centre, Bintan Lagoon is the original integrated experience and still the most comprehensive resort of all.

Then, driving back across Lagoi Bay along the main roadway inland, there is one course that deserves more credit than it receives. For the last decade or so, the Laguna Bintan course by Banyan Tree has been thought to be less than par against its siblings on the island. People sometimes forget that this is still a Greg Norman course, a venerable layout from a man whose reputation as a player and a golf course designer is impeccable.

Shifting across a vast expanse of marshland, lush forestry and two stretches of intimately proximate beachfront, the Laguna Bintan course should be at the

top of golfers’ minds when visiting the island. Sadly, its beauty and playing characteristics have been blinded by overgrowth of trees and a mind-boggling array of flora, as well as neglect due to difficult maintenance conditions.

Enter Paul Jansen, lead architect with Faldo Design responsible for the successful turnaround at the once similarly forgotten Laguna Phuket course as well as the latest Laguna Lang Co. course in Vietnam, who brings his expertise working on more than 20 projects across different continents. It is under Jansen’s meticulous hands that transformed the Phuket course into almost a brand new experience on the Thai island and he looks to do the same here at Laguna Bintan.

To begin, the routing has been reversed so the nines are switched. This is in accordance to a major upgrade of the clubhouse with the finishing hole close enough to a main gallery that will overlook the green. The surrounding trees blocking the hole will be moved, as will be the same for much of the course.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Hole 1 at Ria Bintan’s 9-hole Woodlands course; Hole 3A is the newly created location at Laguna Bintan’s Greg Norman course; A stunning view of the 12th hole at Bintan Lagoon’s Jack Nicklaus course.

“The existing terrain throughout the course has been hidden by overgrowth and by simply moving and replanting the trees, we are able to create an entirely new visual,” explains Paul Wilson, a PGA professional and director of golf in charge of all three Laguna golf properties.

This is especially so at both par 3 sea-facing holes, numbers three and eight. Hole 3, or what used to be the 12th, now has two tee boxes, both taking advantage of the vantage views either beside or towards the South China Sea. The playing characteristics differ not only in approach – to either a vertical or horizontal green – but also club selection as the coastal winds come into play.

Through creative bunkering, both locations offer its own unique challenges as well as photography opportunities for golfers teeing up there.

At the 17th, or what used to be the 8th, the foliage surrounding the rock-laden green has been cleared for two purposes; one, to open up the green for better aim

UsefUl links www.lagoibaybintan.com www.thecanopi.com www.treasurebaybintan.com www.riabintan.com www.banyantree.com www.bintanlagoon.com into its playing surface, and the other, for a more visual treat when stood there putting against the glorious sunset.

The areas around the tee box has also been cleared and re-turfed with Zoysia Matrella grass and transformed into rectangular boxes (as opposed to its previous circular form) to enlarge the starting point. This is consistent with the rest of the course as well.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: The stunning beachfront property at which Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Laguna Park and Laguna Bintan golf course resides; Contemporary and airy bedroom at Cassia Bintan; The cluster townhome project called Laguna Park Bintan.

“We are introducing Zoysia into tees first, as we find it a more robust, tolerant grass that survives better in these climatic conditions, and then using the driving range as a nursery, gradually use this grass for fairways as well in the future,� says Wilson.

But the biggest factor to keeping it all together is having proper equipment. They have brought some proper machinery over from their Phuket property, like a mower that can substantially reduce mowing time from what used to be a week to a day. The weeds and growth around the greens have also been removed thus exposing the actual shape and size they were meant to be. And because irrigation was a big issue, they have actually dug up the fairways and made the drainage deeper so that they can more efficiently handle the tropical monsoons that come around in season.

These structural upgrades, together with aesthetic trims and a wholesale clubhouse renovation means that golfers can expect an entirely new experience, all the while maintaining the integrity of Greg Norman’s original intent.

If these changes sound exciting enough to tee off to day after day, the Banyan Tree group is also developing properties to live in, including an enticing leaseback program in their Cassia Bintan project right next to Angsana Bintan. With options of one-to-two bedroom fully furnished serviced apartments, they range from 41 to 63 square metres, starting from an affordable S$230,000 and utilising creative design to incorporate all living spaces in a well-balanced flow.

Then, there are the larger Laguna Park townhouses consisting of 80 three-storey landed properties directly astride Laguna Bintan Golf Club that promise to be an investment both in lifestyle and financially, especially when each sale comes with a golf membership.

Unlike Cassia, there is no leaseback scheme for these townhomes although rental assistance can be provided when required.

Due to complete its first phase in mid-2017 and priced from S$550,000 onwards, each home carries a 300 to 400 square metre plot with a total built-up area of 210 to 250 square metres and comes standard with two bedrooms, three bathrooms and a private carpark amongst other amenities. Owners use their own interior designer to decorate their home the way they want to, and depending on preferences, can also have a private swimming pool at additional cost.

Of course, the Banyan Tree offering is only a start for property buyers and investors, albeit with many perks that expands to their worldwide reach of properties as well. There will be more to come, from Treasure Island to Lagoi Bay and beyond.

If one were afforded a looking glass into the future, it is not hard to fathom a bustling entrepot of trade and lifestyle, a community of tourists and localised expatriates coming together in the way Phuket or Bali already is. So, is Bintan exciting? That question is no longer academic. It is a new reality dawning.

Destination Focus

bali beach SurpriSe

Just when you thought you’d seen all that Bali has to offer, the lush tropical island paradise offers up yet another hidden gem.

By j e f f r e y o o n

Bali, by now, needs no introduction.

Increasingly savvy travelers have taken it upon themselves to veer off the touristy commercial party centre of Kuta in recent years, venturing inland towards off-the-beaten spots such as arts and crafts centre Ubud or preferring instead more private beaches north and south of Kuta such as family-friendly Seminyak, seafood haven Jimbaran, surfing hotspot Uluwatu and the upscale Nusa Dua. Very soon though, Bukit Pandawa is set to add its name to that checklist. Set behind rocky hills on the southernmost end of the island, Bukit Pandawa is famed for its kilometer-long stretch of white sandy beach

PREVIOUS PAGE OPENING PICTURE ANd ThESE PAGES: Bukit Pandawa Golf Course.

flanked by towering cliffs made of limestone and chalk.

Frequented thus far mostly by locals as well as intrepid foreign travelers, the “hidden” beach has in the past few years been building a steady reputation as one of the more untouched beaches in Bali, in large part because of its hard-to-get-to location: it’s about an hour’s drive south of Bali Ngurah Rai Airport and unless you’re familiar with road conditions, one may get lost or stuck in traffic.

The road to the beach itself is flanked by steep cliffs and if you’re not on wheels, one needs to trek about 700 metres downhill before being greeted by the spectacular vista of white sand and ocean blue sea. There is also a

small admission fee to the beach, about 8,000 rupiah (less than US$1) per person, and also parking fees for cars and motorcycles.

Look out for the four statues of Pandawa (protagonist heroes in the ancient Sanskrit poem of Ramayana) reportedly donated by a wealthy Indonesian businessman - that guard the approach to the beach. For history buffs, Pandawa is derived from the ancient Sanskrit language and “pandu” literally means “sons” (of the hero King) and there were four: Yudhistira, Bima, Arjuna Nakula and Sadewa.

Of course, “hidden” in Bali is just a way to say it’s less crowded than the packed beaches, in say Legian or

Kuta. But savvy travelers, foreign and local, have been making their way to the white sands of Bukit Pandawa for surfing, water sports or to work their tan for years now.

An assortment of rustic “warungs” or local shops serving local indo-mee and ice-cold Bintang beers dot the beach side while laid-back beachside massage stalls are another familiar sight. How long they last is another question.

Drawn by the exclusivity of the beach and striking cliff tops offering panoramic ocean views, Bukit Pandawa has been slated for major upscale development. Mandarin Oriental, Swissotel and Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts are among a handful of luxury hospitality groups that have projects underway set to open in 2017. Together,

The BesT of Pandawa Here with never-before-seen exclusive shots of the course are some of its signature holes. Don D. Ellsworth, golf course superintendent at Bukit Pandawa Golf Course, gives Golf Vacations descriptions of the club’s most scenic holes in his own words: Hole 2: “Natural tree lines and jungle vegetation from tee to green line one of the most scenic holes of the course. Elevated tees give a superior view of the ocean beyond the green. Five tees to choose from on this 244-yard, downhill par-three where a generously large green is guarded by five bunkers.

Swirling ocean breezes will have even the best handicap player reaching for a different club each time they play.”

Hole 8: “’Wow’ is the first thing you say as you step onto its elevated tee box. Wind will play into your shot only if you get the ball too high. Wind comes in from the left and in the months of June, July and August, will play havoc on high shots.

Beware of long slopes on the right of the hole with the lake right in front of you. Two bunkers protect the green with steep limestone sheer face cliffs directly behind. This hole is definitely not for the faint of heart. By the way, we also have a junior tee if you need practice before going over the water.”

Hole 18: “Our 168-yard, par-three signature hole.

Stand on the pro tee and there isn’t much you can’t see. Lake directly in front of you, the green and fairway are generous with the tall limestone walls behind the green framing the entire shot.

A foot path will get you up to the clubhouse but remember to stop and enjoy the waterfall on the left side of the green.”

they will join hotel properties such as Westin and Ritz Carlton that have already launched in nearby Nusa Dua. With hotels and residential projects underway, the area’s newest golf course is ready for business. Bukit Pandawa Golf Club, which will mark its official grand opening in September, is the latest addition to Bali’s collection of world-class golf courses.

Judging by pictures that Golf Vacations has been privy to see, the JMP Golf-designed 18-hole executive par 3 course is truly a feast for the senses. Making the most of natural surroundings to incorporate dramatic rock outcroppings, architectural ruins and elevated ridges, it makes for one spectacular course.

RIGhT PAGE, FROM TOP: New Kuta Golf Club - hole 16; Bali National Golf Club; Nirwana Bali Golf Club.

And if those pictures aren’t enough to get your golfing itch going, just 15 minutes’ drive away in Nusa Dua lies the picturesque Bali National Golf Club, which underwent an extensive 18-month major facelift in 2013.

Since it officially reopened in 2014, the Nelson and Haworth-designed course has won a litany of accolades including 3rd Best Renovated Golf Course in the World

by Golf Magazine, as well as hosting the Bali National Golf Championship on the Asian Development Tour.

Backdropped by spectacular views of Gunung Agung and the Indian Ocean, the 18-hole, par-72 course set against lush tropical forest, landscaped coconut groves and beautiful flower gardens provide a truly spectacular

experience. Make sure to savour the penultimate par-3 17th hole island green and the 18th par-4 signature holes – together, they form the perfect end for your round of golf.

For stress-free accommodation, stay-and-play packages are also available at the Bali National Golf Villas. Newly built two- and three-bedroom private villas overlook the 17th and 18th holes and come complete with private pool, 24-hour in-villa dining, butler service and complimentary transport to the clubhouse. A two-day/ one-night package is available for US$650.

Visit www.balinationalgolf.com/villas/stayandplay/

oTher Golf Courses Here are some other clubs that make Bali such a perfect golfing destination.

NirWANA BALi GOLF CLuB A stunning 18-hole Greg Norman course that overlooks the crashing waves of the indian Ocean. Opened in 1997, the course is a short 30-minute drive from Kuta Beach. Measuring 6,805 yards, the par-72 championship course weaves through terraced rice fields and towering cliff tops, including a famous Hindu temple. Truly spectacular.

Email: golfreservation@panpacific.com www.nirwanabaligolf.com NEW KuTA GOLF CLuB Located along Bali’s south shore just 20 minutes from the airport, the ronald Fream-designed par-72 course is carved out of limestone cliffs and offers breathtaking views of the indian Ocean. Holes 14, 15 and 16 are perched on cliffs 70-metres high and coupled with the sea breeze, offer a true test of one’s ability. insider’s tip? An afternoon tee-off time of 2pm will be rewarded with a majestic Bali sunset.

Email: reservation@newkutagolf.com www.newkutagolf.com BALi HANDArA GOLF CLuB Set in the lush Bali Highlands, the 18-hole, par-72 course lies 1,100 metres above sea level and has been ranked among Golf magazine’s “Top 50 Greatest Golf Courses in the World”. Golfers will be rewarded with a stunning backdrop of volcanic mountains of Bedugul and mild temperatures of 14-20 degrees Celsius. The drawback? it’s a two-hour drive from Nusa Dua but well worth the journey if you can spare the time.

Email: sales@handaragolfresort.com www.handaragolfresort.com

Destination Focus

ROCKIES MOUNTAIN ROAD Golf in the highlands of the northern hemisphere with incredible vistas across the Canadian landscape.

BY P E T E R R O BI N S O N

The initial reaction is always the same.

If you’re a golfer who is makingyour first big mountain trip, the thought that hits you on approaching the air should be something like ‘how could anyone have designed, or even fit a golf course here?’ The Canadian Rockies are for skiing. Or climbing. Or for gazing at.

They can’t possibly accommodate golf.

But they do. And, boy, do they ever.

Speaking generally, the Canadian Rockies stretch from Calgary to Vancouver, and you should make that aerial approach at one of those two cities to start your trip. In between them – flying time about 90 minutes or about a 10-hour drive through some of the most breathtaking scenery on Planet Earth – there are three distinct areas: Vancouver/Whistler, Kelowna/ Okanagan and Banff/Canmore/Jasper.

OPENING PICTURE: Landscape view of Moraine Lake and mountain range at sunset in Canadian Rocky Mountains.

As it often does in northern climates, golf was developed here as a counter-weight to skiing. It would be a stretch to say that golf has now outstripped winter pursuits, but it certainly has made a name for itself in the alpine playgrounds that also have some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world.

It starts a little more than an hour west of Calgary, in Banff. If you’re looking for a reference point, this picture perfect mountain town could be the long-lost twin of Queenstown, on New Zealand’s south island. Both places could have been separated at birth. Stanley Thompson was the man largely responsible for shaping, pun intended, mountain golf here. His Banff Springs creation endures as it approaches its 90th birthday in 2018. The par-3 fourth – Devil’s Cauldron – is one of the most spectacular holes in the world.

Thompson is a fascinating character. Canadians are among the most passionate recreational golfers on the planet and it could be argued that Thompson’s 144 designs in his home country are what started that national interest when the game was still in its relative infancy. Thompson, who died in 1953, crafted both Banff Springs and Jasper Park Golf Course. Both are Fairmont properties and should form the basis for any trip to the Alberta side of a Rockies sojourn.

The Thompson masterpieces are separated by almost 300 kilometres but Banff Springs and Jasper are bucket list stuff. Thompson’s genius in designing both was that he knew each site was an epic adventure. The views never go away to the point that you’re literally enveloped in a mountain vista for 18 holes on each course.

The Fairmont staff now do their utmost to maintain that legacy as well, as both Jasper and Banff Springs are immaculately conditioned – not an easy task in a northern climate – and the playability of both layouts remains a marvel given the unforgiving landscape. With your senses assaulted everywhere you look, it’s like both courses know to go easy on you golf-wise.

Moving back toward Calgary, Canmore Golf and Curling Club, Silvertip Golf Resort and Stewart Creek G&CC are three other high-end options in the general area around Canmore, a small town that is effectively the eastern gateway to the Rockies. Another 36-hole facility, the publicly owned Kananaskis Country Golf Courses, was shuttered by floods that ravaged the area in 2013.

As of this writing, architect Gary Browning’s team is attempting to restore Kananaskis to its previous form and the Alberta provincial government is eyeing a 2018 return.

About five hours across the provincial border from Alberta to British Columbia lies Kelowna, the epicentre of the Okanagan region. It has been known as a favourite destination for golfers, wine lovers and its quirky mix of retirees, holidaymakers and locals for a couple of decades.

The pretension-free vibe is nicely in tune with the sheer beauty of the area, its liberal amounts of sunshine and the dry heat that comes with it. It’s also a combination that makes for very agreeable golf weather.

Various stakeholders in the area that stretches from the town of Vernon in the east, to Westside across the bridge

WEST COAST SWING Starting your journey from British Columbia offers golf and international connection.

Speaking in general terms, the physical majesty of the Rockies is a large part of the reason why internal migration patterns within Canada tend to move from east to west. Many of the country’s residents have moved away from the business and industrial heathlands farther east in Ontario and Quebec, to Alberta and B.C. Though, to be fair, the boom-bust oil economy of Alberta has also played a large role as well.

As discussed earlier, the Canadian Rockies are the ultimate big mountain playground for all sports. In fact, it is not uncommon to be able to golf and ski at the same time of year in Whistler and on Vancouver Island. If you are truly ambitious, are fit and perhaps a bit crazy, you can even do it on the same day.

LEFT PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Fairmont Chateau Whistler; Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club, Canmore, Alberta.

Vancouver Island offers the longest hybrid season with the months of February and March open to both seasons. The best combination to do it is Mt. Washington for the skiing and nearby Crown Isle golf course, a solid track located in the Comox Valley, about a 20-minute drive away.

Back on the mainland, the Whistler Phenomenon, as some locals call the same-day double bill, takes place during shoulder season that lasts for almost a month from mid-April to early May as winter turns to spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

For all its reputation as a skiing nirvana, golf in Whistler is world-class too. Four elite courses are located here – three in the village or its immediate vicinity, and one about a half hour farther north in Pemberton. Whistler Golf Club is the most immediate, designed by Arnold Palmer, and is visible from the chairlift as you’re downloading. Nicklaus North, one of the Golden Bear’s best Canadian designs and the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, the work of famed American architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, are also located nearby.

Big Sky Golf Club, about 30km farther north in Pemberton generally opens the earliest and therefore is the best option if you want to include golf with a ski holiday (or vice versa). Furry Creek – almost half-way south to Vancouver – is not as good of golf course as the Whistler area quartet but its ocean views are spectacular with its signature waterfront one of the most photographed in North America.

TRAVEL TIPS

BY AIR: Virtually all international carriers fly regularly to Vancouver, with most also servicing Calgary as well. Kelowna is located roughly equal-distant between those major centres and Canadian carriers WestJet and Air Canada run regular connectors from all parts of Canada (and the U.S. Pacific Northwest). Seattle, about 90 minutes across the American border, is the most logical jumping-off point in the U.S. for a Canadian mountain holiday.

that spans Lake Okanagan, have devised a tee time booking service to reserve spots at any of its 18 golf courses, as well as rooms in a collection of area hotels. The end result is Golf Kelowna, whose catch phrase “easygoing to ego-shattering” couldn’t be more apt.

You can start with Okanagan GC. It features the Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear course to go along with the two-decades-old Les Furber Quail layout. Both courses complement one another nicely but also share many of the same characteristics of dramatic elevation changes and sweeping vistas of the surrounding mountains.

A little further east, about 30 minutes from the airport is Predator Ridge. The sprawling golf and real estate development twice hosted the Canadian Skins Game on its Predator layout, the older of the property’s two courses.

Ridge opened in 2009, winning the best new course in Canada award by SCORE Golf magazine the following year.

The original layout is more dramatic and notable for that reason alone but the new course probably does a better job of combining the natural features of the property and in overall playability.

Gallagher’s Canyon G&CC, Harvest GC, Kelowna G&CC, Tower Ranch and Black Mountain are five others worth noting but you’ll be spoiled for choice in an area that is arguably the best for golf in all of Canada. In much the same way the Scottsdale area has become known for golf in Arizona, or that Costa del Sol has done the same in southern Spain, Kelowna lives and breathes the game. Your next tee time is often a conversation starter with your server when you sit down to eat in a restaurant, or even when you arrive at the airport and pick up your rental car.

BY TRAIN: The Rocky Mountaineer runs a series of train journeys that cut through the Rockies. Various itineraries are available but the Vancouver to Banff route takes you through the heart of one of the world’s most awe-inspiring train journeys. The railway has a mythical status in the history of Canada, as the “last spike” also served as the symbolic joining of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. www.rockymountineer.com

CLOCKWISE FROM EXTREME LEFT: Banff Springs Golf Club - Hole 4; Nicklaus North, one of the Golden Bear’s best Canadian designs - Hole 17; Big Sky Resort Golf Course; Gallagher's Canyon Golf & Country Club.

Another key feature is the close proximity of Kelowna’s courses. During one recent week-long visit, a rental car connected us to seven different courses and didn’t need to be topped up with petrol until it was returned at the airport.

The efficiency of travel in and around the Okanagan is one of its signature traits, especially when you consider the area’s dramatic landscape and rapid growth of recent years.

Canada is huge but this particular part of the country is both close and easy to get around.

Driving in and around the Okanagan is also a nice precursor to what awaits if you take a journey further north to Kamloops, or down the Coquihalla Highway to Vancouver. A drive through any of these areas should be required for any visitor to truly appreciate the scenic beauty of British Columbia. Very likely though, as one from abroad, you’ll be starting your journey in reverse, with your base at Vancouver, making your commute to the Okanagan and then through to Alberta. It’s a beautiful drive that awaits and one with many Kodak moments to bring home to.

Choice Resorts

Le Parc NatioNaL

Introducing the first Ryder Cup course to be played in France in 2018.

By c h r i s fo l l e y

aLbatros

It’s 10.30pm, and at last the ship is moving. Two-and-a-half hours after leaving London Waterloo station, it is time to relax in the bar before heading to bed for a very welcome night’s sleep. That is all that stands before a very prestigious assignment: tackling Golf National Albatros, the course near Paris chosen for the 2018 Ryder Cup. The chance to play the Ryder Cup course - the first time the bi-annual US-Europe scrap will be held in France, after this year’s jamboree at Hazeltine in Minnesota - has been a popular sell and one which anyone with the wherewithal, should take up.

Le Golf National opened in October 1990 between the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse regional park and the historic Château de Versailles. Golfers can play 18-hole courses, the 6,675 metres par 72 Albatros and the shorter par 71 Eagle, as well as a nine-hole course, L’Oiselet. There is also a practice ground that is open seven days a week and the option of

“The chance to play the Ryder Cup course - the first time the bi-annual US-Europe scrap will be held in France, after this year’s jamboree at Hazeltine in Minnesota - has been a popular sell and one which anyone with the wherewithal, should take up.”

staying on site – packages include stays at the four-star Novotel Saint-Quentin Golf National.

The Albatros, as you might expect of a course chosen for the Ryder Cup, is long and tiring, with unforgiving rough. Ranked among Europe’s top courses - it was voted the best course in France by Today’s Golfer in 2015 - Albatros has hosted the French Open on all but two occasions since 1991 (when Argentine Eduardo Romero became the inaugural winner). This is a course dominated by two features - huge greens and plenty of water. Indeed, when asked what he thought of the course recently, current Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke immediately mentioned the wet stuff. It is a challenging course, but with a variety of tee placements to make it manageable for the average player.

Starting at the 380m first, called “Let’s Go”, you are immediately confronted with water on the left en route to a tight green that has recently been remodelled by Ross McMurray from European Golf Design with the Ryder

Cup in mind. The 195-metre par 3 second too has a huge expanse of water all the way down the left, as well as three bunkers protecting the right of the green. Merantais, the third, is a 515 metres long par 5 going left to right, with the front of the green protected by a bunker to the right.

Perhaps the most bizarre hole is the 7th, called the Camel. It is almost as if it consists of two par 3s with a raised, flat landing area to take your drive, followed by another one downhill and over a bank to reach the green.

A narrow channel and four bunkers to the left of the green make this a real test.

One of the most technical holes is the 390 metres par 4, 13th called the Oaks Island. If your tee shot is not long enough, the approach through a tight opening in a line of trees and with water left and right to a small green becomes very hard to reach.

Making the last three or four holes unbelievably tough is becoming a common theme on many courses, and,

PREVIOUS PAGE: OPENING SPREAD: Le Golf National - Hole 2; INSET: Ryder Cup buggies at Le Golf National.

with those braying hordes at the Ryder Cup in mind, the Albatros is no exception. The 365-metre par 4 15th, known as the Judge, requires you to take an iron off the tee – go too far and you are in the drink.

The holes then wrap left around a small lake with the green on a small headland at the back, so you must choose whether to go over the water or around. The 160-metre par 3 16th – overlooked by the Novotel hotel - also requires a shot over water and a bunker while the 18th takes you over the same big lake as the 16th but around to the right, with the green on the same ‘island’ as the 16th, adjoined by bridges.

The clubhouse is part of the aforementioned Novotel hotel building and includes a block that at the time your correspondent tackled the course, has seen better days. Also, one of the most obvious black marks against Le National is its setting – forget glorious views of

LEFT PAGE: Golf Club du Champ de Bataille; Golf Barriere de Deauville ABOVE: Le Golf National - Hole 7.

mountains or coastlines a la Gleneagles or Turnberry - here you’re in the middle of an industrial park on the outskirts of Paris, with planes regularly landing at a lightaircraft airport. On the plus side, you’re within easy reach of the wonderful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palace of Versailles.

Nevertheless, the National is still an obvious draw and true golf lovers will look forward to an exciting challenge. Visitors to the area should look forward to other great value courses in and around Caen, but I would recommend staying at the historic town of Evreux.

Like many towns in the region, Evreux was damaged in the Second World War, but landmarks such as the 15th-century cathedral, the St Taurin Abbey and the only 15th-century belfry in Normandy remain. Evreux also has some excellent restaurants, such as the modern La Gazette, and one of the oldest Calvados cellars in

Normandy – Calvados Morin’s troglodyte caves are more than 200 years old.

It may not be old-style but the 60-room, four-star Best Western Evreux is a popular base with golfers visiting this corner of northern France. Just 20 minutes away is Le Golf Parc Robert Hersant – perhaps better known by its old name Golf Parc de Nantilly - passing some lovely Norman villages such as Hécourt and Ivry-la-Bataille.

There is water everywhere on this 6,976-yard course, with its many island greens giving it a very American feel.

Other useful links Nord-Pas-de-Calais Regional Tourist Board: northernfrance-tourism.com.

Normandy Tourism: normandy-tourism.org Brittany Tourism: brittanytourism.com La Gazette, 7 rue Saint Sauveur, Evreux (02 32 33 43 40, restaurant-lagazette.fr) Le Normandie, 71, avenue Michel Cabieu, Ouistreham (02 31 97 19 57), Three nights B&B at the five-star Le Royal Barriere Deauville Hotel and two rounds of golf at a variety of nearby courses from £199 via golfbreaks.com.

ALL IMAGES: Le Golf Parc Robert Hersant.

If you want to explore the local area, the riverside town of La Chaussée-d’Ivry is just five minutes away while Giverny, where the Impressionist artist Claude Monet lived and whose gardens inspired many of his works, are just half an hour from the golf course on the way to Rouen.

Heading back towards the coast, Golf Club du Champ de Bataille is an outstanding course set in the grounds of a Louis XIV chateau. And after, the picturesque resort of Deauville – just 40 minutes north of Caen – is a mustvisit. As the closest seaside resort to Paris, Deauville has long been the holiday resort of choice for French high society and is often referred to as the Parisian Riviera, with its prestigious hotels, casino, marina, famous racecourses (Touques and Clairefontaine) and an international film festival.

Overlooking the bay and town, Golf Barriere de Deauville is a 27-hole golf complex, featuring an 18-hole 6,508-yard parkland course designed by Tom Simpson and a nine-holer designed in 1964 by Henry Cotton. The five-star hotel also features a health club, outdoor tennis court and outdoor swimming pool. Other Normandy attractions include the D-Day beaches such as Omaha – which has two 18-hole courses, including the par 72 La Mer, with its spectacular sea views - the Bayeaux tapestry and the calvados production areas.

Before hitting the road back home, one should not pass up the opportunity for a final French meal, and the port town of Ouistreham delivers. Le Normandie, for example, is a no-frills restaurant attached to a two-star hotel, but don’t let the rating fool you - the huge rib-eye steak in pepper sauce is superb, and eagerly followed by, for example, crème brûlée with bourbon vanilla.

In France, even the simplest of pleasures is luxury. www.le-golf-national.com

Choice Resorts

Waldorf astoria orlando

An old named brand with echoes of its past haunting our correspondent as he visits a southern gem.

By Dav i D J W h y t e

Fred Astaire tap-dancing down 5th Avenue,

Gene Kelly looking longingly across a crowded room at Rita Hayworth. These are the kinds of images that spring to mind when you hear the name, ‘Waldorf Astoria’. New York’s iconic Park Avenue hotel as well as being the first skyscraper hotel and indeed the first hotel in the world to offer the concept of room service, The Waldorf set the scene for dozens of classy movies such as ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘Godfather III’ and ‘Scent of a Woman’.

When it came to class the Dorf, as it was fondly called, had it in champagne bucketfulls.

You could even argue that this plush property marked a turning point in the cultural milieu of a young, thrusting, industrially opulent America.

Lacking the manners and grace of its Old World counterparts, The Waldorf offered America’s selfmade tycoons, movie stars, gangsters, politicians and socialites the sophistication of London, Paris or Berlin, and an island of glamour and charm.

OPENING PICTURE: Fireworks at Waldorf Astoria Orlando.

“You are literally surrounded by all things Disney here - Epcot, The Magic Kingdom and the Disney town of Celebration just down the road.

But curiously enough, it all magically disappears as you drive up the lane towards The Waldorf.”

Could there be another Waldorf Astoria? Since it was taken over by Hilton Hotels in the 1970s there are in fact dozens scattered like gilded lilies around the world including one in Edinburgh, Arizona, Jeddah, Jerusalem and many more. But the one that intrigued me most was the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida. The Waldorf and Orlando? Isn’t that like sitting the Queen of England next to Jay Z at a state banquet or washing down Beluga caviar with a triple-thick McDonald’s Chocolate Milkshake? In spite of such contrasting characters, could this curious pairing mark a turning point in Orlando’s fortunes?

I pulled into Bonnet Creek just about a mile off Interstate 4 and in the very midst of theme park America.

You are literally surrounded by all things Disney here - Epcot, The Magic Kingdom and the Disney town of Celebration just down the road. But curiously enough, it all magically disappears as you drive up the lane towards The Waldorf. There are actually two hotels on this property, Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Set within a 482-acre nature preserve, the only whiff you get of Disneyworld is from the fireworks display each evening.

I arrive in time for lunch in the Waldorf Astoria Orlando’s Peacock Alley restaurant overlooking the magnificent handcrafted clock, an echo of a similar timepiece in Manhattan. After lunch I wandered over to the clubhouse and caddie master and quite soon after, I was off on my own to the first hole. I notice how awfully quiet it was here, which I found pretty strange.

A round of golf here costs around US$150 during the high season, which is very acceptable especially for such a great facility and priced in line with most good courses in the Orlando area. The course was designed by Rees Jones, 18 holes adding up to an impressive 7,108 yards from the back tees with a rating of 74.6 and slope of 139.

From the get-go, it is a tough track, unusually so I thought for a resort layout. Then you launch into a thrill of holes as exciting as any of the rides at Disneyworld.

Play your top game and you’ll still be thoroughly tested.

This is grown-up golf and a real treat of length and precision.

The 4th is a long par 5 laced with cross bunkers. This is the first of many par-defeating holes. Meanwhile the 8th kicks in with lots of penal bunkering in front of raised greens. This is RJ’s signature, mainly penal and megaintimidating stretches, which of course is why he is well

known as a designer of Major championship courses.

Even from the white tee boxes.

The 11th would be a song if you can power fade a hybrid onto a coffee table. This is a long-short hole playing onto what I can only describe as a pimple of a green - that’s what the putting arena looks like from the tee - a bird table perched atop yet another well-raised and heavily fortified parapet. This is followed by a monster par 5 at the 12th, long and lined with bunkers.

Many of the greens have a sort of drawbridge approach, a steep-sided rampart that forces you to fly all the way to the hole. The closing holes are among the best I’ve ever played. This is a great piece of carved topography, better than most Florida courses with little sign of the flat lands that must have once existed here. I’d say it was worth checking into the Waldorf for this golf course alone.

THIS PAGE: Waldorf Astoria Spa. RIGHT PAGE - FROM TOP: Waldorf Astoria Orlando Golf Club; Waldorf Astoria Orlando Golf Club, Hole 2.

While the course left me mellow with my efforts, the hotel was more of a conundrum. I suspect my head was full of expectation of the style and glamour of New York and that somehow just didn’t transcend the miles from Manhattan to Central Florida. As I watched portly vacationers waddle through the atrium in their shorts and flip-flops, I wondered what Gene Kelly would have thought. The rooms are generous, beds and linens plush with an understated decor that is rather calming.

All rooms feature marble bathrooms, 42” highdefinition LCD televisions, Blu-Ray player, dual-line telephones, in-room safe big enough for a laptop, complimentary in-room premium cable, video checkout and Internet access. The 498 rooms of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando are complimented by the 1,001-room Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek with a convention centre joining the two.

After a while, it really is a matter of getting used to. Perhaps more for an old school like me. It is after all, Orlando, and the type of resort guests or MICE visitors by the hoard do fit in more so than a tap-dancing deceased Hollywood actor. Once I got past the illusions, I found myself slinking further into the depths of lush comfort that is more in place here.

And there is no place more comfortable in its entirety than The Waldorf Astoria Spa. An opulent swimming pool set in the midst of private cabanas frame this

ABOVE: The magnificent handcrafted clock at Waldorf Astoria Orlando Hotel's lobby, an echo of a similar timepiece in Manhattan.

LEFT PAGE - FROM TOP: Waldorf Astoria Orlando Hotel exterior; The swimming pool at Waldorf Astoria Orlando Hotel.

indulgent retreat with 22 indoor treatment rooms with a buffet spread of luxuriant therapies to soothe the soul.

As a footnote to our tale, the original, iconic Waldorf Astoria in New York is about to close its doors. New Chinese owners have decided to deconstruct most of its 1,400 rooms and create a myriad of upmarket condos retaining only around 300 hotel rooms. The lavish interior so appreciated by the likes of John F. Kennedy, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe will disappear.

I suppose everything must move on and we can’t cling to the past but it is with a sigh and heavy heart I see it go.

Waldorf Astoria Orlando is definitely a hotel of choice in the Orlando area, perhaps the best in town and possibly marking a turning of the ‘City Beautiful’ to a more sophisticated milieu.

As another aside, I like what’s going on in Orlando, a city that is definitely on the move away from its theme park backdrop. Nevertheless, for now, we have the Waldorf Astoria Orlando as the ideal setting to bring the family to visit Disneyworld; it can also be a great convention venue for Fortune 500 companies, as well as a superb base for pure, unadulterated golfing joy.

Just don’t go looking for Cyd Charisse or Gene Kelly sipping Manhattans at the bar. Sorry, I just had to.

For more information on the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, please call (407) 597-5500 or visit www.WaldorfAstoriaOrlando.com.

Collection Showcase

A man’s true companion that stays true through thick and thin.

P h oto g r a P h e r: ching S t yl i S t: ong weiSheng

Sea Hawk Diver in ceramic by Girard-Perregaux from The Hour Glass

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Chronograph

by Vacheron Constantin

Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in stainless steel by Audemars Piguet

Type XXII 3880 in steel by Breguet

PhotogRAPheR: Ching StyliSt: ong WeiSheng hAiR AnD MAkeuP: BeneDiCt Choo uSing nARS MoDel: DAniel All outfitS By g-StAR

RM028 Automatic Diver’s Watch in titanium

by Richard Mille

Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Chronograph in steel and PVD by Corum

hotel

RWS

RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA SINGAPORE

“Tailored five-star comforts that include luxurious amenities such as Premium 400 thread count Egyptian cotton bed linen.” – Suebwong K/ Editor in chief

EQUARIUS HOTEL Deluxe Garden Living Room

Looking for an ideal destination where you can spend an excitement-packed and fun-filled vacation over a couple of days? Resorts World Sentosa is definitely my recommended top premium lifestyle destination resort for a luxury getaway. Located on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa, Resorts World Sentosa offered me a vast selection of hotel experiences, with six uniquely-themed hotels to choose from.

Adding to the repertoire of six on-site accommodation options, Resorts World Sentosa has also opened Genting Hotel Jurong in April 2015.

For a nature-lover like myself, I chose Equarius Hotel for its tranquil resort stay. Exuding a tropical vibe, I was greeted by the stunning panoramic views of either forest or sea when I stepped into the Deluxe Room. The spacious and breezy room not only provides a nature-inspired experience, but also comfortable amenities and superior slumber on luxe mattresses paired with Egyptian cotton bed linen for a luxurious feel. Adding on a nominal amount, you can experience the Deluxe Garden room which comes with an extended balcony with a private garden or an open deck with direct access to the pool.

EQUARIUS HOTEL Deluxe Room

L'ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON Le Chocolat

“Exclusive dining experience allows chefs to engage guests to experiment, create and work on new ideas and concepts reflective of the locale.” – Suebwong K/ Editor in chief JOËL ROBUCHON RESTAURANT Le Homard

What is a luxury getaway without award-winning dining experiences at renowned celebrity chef restaurants?

With the most number of Michelin stars in one destination, Resorts World Sentosa establishes itself as a key player in Singapore’s vibrant and diverse dining scene. Complete your luxury getaway with the amazing Michelin trail. Never miss our four celebrity chef restaurants whom have collected a total of Seven Michelin Stars in the Inaugural Michelin Guide Singapore.

I picked L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, a Two Michelin Stars restaurant serving upmarket modern French cuisine for its unique dining concept. The theatrical dining experience immerses the guests as part of the chef’s creation, separated only by a counter between the dining area and kitchen.

To satiate your cravings for authentic pizzas, pastas and other Italian dishes, you can visit Fratelli, the Italian restaurant by renowned celebrity chef brothers Enrico and Roberta Cerea.

They are the second generation of the family-run three Michelin starred Da Vittorio in Lombardy in Italy. For golf lovers, you may wish to couple the dining experience with a golf game at the Sentosa Golf Club. Stay and dine golf packages, Par Perfect, are available from $1,348 onwards.

Plan your luxury getaway now. You deserve it.

FRATELLI – TRATTORIA • PIZZERIA Bianca

FRATELLI – TRATTORIA • PIZZERIA Filetto Di Manzo Servito Con Scaloppa Di Fegato Grasso Alla “Rossini”

SENTOSA GOLF CLUB designed by world renowned golf course designer Ronald Fream , The Serapong course was opened in 1982 and measures 6,493 meters from the championship course in Asia and home of the prestigious Barclays Singapore open.

,

collection Time

DIVAS DREAM TouRbIllon SKElETonA Romantic Vision of Time

This pure and refined creation, infused with elegant Italian sensuality, stages a creative encounter between artistic crafts merging High Jewellery and Haute Horlogerie.

Our relationship with time is a love story between humankind and nature, the fulfilment of a vision. With Divas’ Dream Tourbillon Skeleton, Bulgari exalts this visionary reality in a boldly poetic manner, by combining the finest watchmaking expertise with its historical jeweller’s talent in creating dials crafted using the finest artisanal techniques, enhanced by openworking so refined that the twin skills become inseparable. This results in tourbillon watches endowed with a wealth of elegant Italian sensuality, dedicated to contemporary women who are modern, enchanting, sensual, mysterious and sparkling divas.

Since 1884, Bulgari has been offering a creative, modern, voluptuous and precious take on time. Its jewellery sets and creations consistently enchant women of character and exceptional charisma.

The High Jewellery from the Rome-based Maison is consistently luminous and joyful, much like the legendary Italian temperament itself. It appeals to beautiful women in the limelight, be they major international stars or elegant contemporary ladies, creating a whirling cosmopolitan fairytale. These jewellery creations are complemented by other treasures in the shape of precious watches. Born of Italian creativity, these watch models benefit from Bulgari’s global mastery of decorative techniques.

DIva, a graphIc SIgnaTure rooTeD In The hISTory of rome for several seasons, the Divas’ Dreamline

by Bulgari has been establishing itself as a coherent range of creations. It has indeed become one of the graphic signatures of the Maison. One particular shape stands out: the fan, the very symbol of the Divas’ Dream collection. adorning the walls, paving and ceilings of the caracalla Baths dating from 216 B.c., the fan-shaped mosaics testify to a refined past as well as to the distinctive lifestyle favoured by the romans. reputed for their complex structure, their ornamentation and their magnificence, these baths inaugurated under the reign of the emperor caracalla now represent a remarkable historical site whose ongoing renovation is supported by Bulgari.

Luxuriant nature, exaLted by buLgari skiLLs the new divas’ dream tourbillon skeleton models set with 76 brilliant-cut diamonds feature a 37 mm-diameter case and a dial depicting a marvellous and colourful vision of nature. stemming from the combined skills of jewellery artisans and dial-makers, the divas’ dream tourbillon skeleton in white or pink gold features an exotic garden filled with trees and their lush foliage, amid which a colourful parrot appears. the decoration of this dainty bird calls for delicate hand-crafted micropainting and enamelling – a demanding, meticulous and complex discipline that bulgari masters to perfection, notably due to its High Jewellery experience. to achieve such a result and such exquisite mastery of light and shade, relief and contrast, more

than a dozen different colours are used and cleverly combined through 20 or so successive operations. the resulting joyful and luminous impression comes not only from the colours with their wealth of shimmering reflections and transparent effects, but also from the overall skeleton-work. all elements of the movement structure, whether bridges or plates, are finely openworked using a particularly complex technique. The finishing is remarkable, with certain parts being polished and others satin-brushed or circular-grained. all these operations are performed by hand, since no machine can achieve such a sophisticated execution.

With these exceptional dials, produced in strictly limited series due to the sheer difficulty they involve as well as the time

required for the artisans to hand-craft them with meticulous care, bulgari is totally fusing the art of fine watchmaking and jewellery-making, magnified by the Maison’s historical mastery of the most refined and accomplished decorative techniques. at the crossroads between jewellery and watchmaking decorative arts, drawing its strength from over 2,700 years of roman history and more than 130 years of experience acquired by the Maison, the divas’ dream tourbillon skeleton creations offer a daring and contemporary combination of purity and performance, sensuality and precision, refinement and rarity, giving life to a romantic vision of time for today’s women of character.

collection Time

AudemArs Piguet

Unveils its latest masterpiece, the new "Millenary" for women Audemars Piguet, Swiss luxury timepiece manufacturer and one of the oldest family-owned watch manufacturers in the world, unveils its latest beyondbeauty timepiece for women "Millenary" with its unique signature oval design, breaking the rules by bringing haute horology and fashion together as one.

There are exceptions to every rule.

Ever since it was established in 1875, Audemars Piguet has proved the exception to the rule of women’s timepiece creations.

The Manufacture from Le Brassus has been crafting complicated exceptional watches for women for over 130 years, combining engineering excellence with an understanding of aesthetics characterising each style-changing era.

Throughout those decades of change, it has created contemporary designs suited to the evolving nature of women’s lives.

Audemars Piguet has always recognised that women require timepieces that are reliable, expertly crafted and beautiful to wear. Therefore, the Millenary collection is designed to accent the style of the Audemars Piguet woman but never to eclipse it. Women’s watches at Audemars Piguet require the highest level of craftsmanship from a diversity of artisans.

Movements for women’s watches, including those with complications, are designed and developed from start to finish at Audemars Piguet. Each movement component and every aspect of the case is decorated and hand-finished using traditional techniques.

The talents of various artisans, including gemsetters, metallurgists and enamellists are required for the elaborate case decorations that house these mechanical marvels.

Complexity is revealed in the Millenary 2016 collection. The subtle balance between haute horlogerie and haute joaillerie savoir-faire gives its perfect combination. Timepiece designs not only echo women's changing lifestyles but also reflect their independent character. Stylish, technical, and with a strong feminine identity, the new Millenary is powered by the clever in-house calibre 5205 hand-wound Manufacture movements.

The Balance Wheel, a beating heart of Millenary pieces, is beautifully revealed and its form has been created to fit exactly the intriguing oval case shape that defines this extravagant watch.

This new graphic women’s design featuring diamonds and onyx interlaid in a hypnotic relief is revealed as a bold expression of precision craft. Classic techniques are abstracted to new effect: the Millenary’s zebra-like stripes come to life in brilliant-cut diamonds and velvetblack onyx.

This exquisite Millenary timepiece features in 39.5 x 35.4 18-carat white gold case in its signature oval shape, entirely set with 438 brilliant-cut diamonds at 1.93 carats, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, crown set with an onyx cabochon.

Its dial is 18-carat white gold off-centered disc and small seconds counter with stylish zebra pattern, set with 140 brilliant-cut diamonds at 0.43 carats and onyx, together with yellow gold hands. It also comes with elegant black alligator strap with diamond set 18-carat white gold pin buckle, at a price of 2,740,700 Baht.

Specially for this 2016 collection, it is the first time that Millenary comes with a whole range of elegant bracelets to choose from, such as, Alligator Pearl Anthracite, Alligator All White, Alligator Beige, Alligator Grey, and Ostrich Honey color.

Moments

AMAZING KINGDOM OF THAILAND TO HOST WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2016 BANGKOK, October 13, 2016 - The “Amazing Kingdom of Thailand” will host the World Club Golf Championship 2016 at Ayodhya Links in Ayutthaya, just outside Bangkok, from December 3-9, 2016.

Club champions of 15 countries and club members and businessmen from 20 countries all over the world will participate in the event, which will be held for the first time in Thailand, the leading destination for tourism and golf in Southeast Asia.

US GOLF Magazine has selected Ayodhya Links among the Top 100 Courses in the World this year. It is the only golf course in Southeast Asia to get such a high rating. Ayodhya Links is one of the most exclusive courses in Asia and ranked No. 76 in the Top 100 list. Therefore, it came as no surprise that the World Club Championship Committee has picked Ayodhya Links to host the premier amateur golf tournament, “Amazing Kingdom of Thailand: World Club Championship 2016.”

To impress the participants, the organizers have planned a few selected activities that will showcase the rich cultural heritage and history of Thailand. The players will get a glimpse of some of the finest Thai traditions, foods and attractions of the two capitals of the Kingdom – Ayutthaya and Bangkok.

The 2016 World Club Championship will be a joint effort across many sectors to showcase the business potential to businessmen, who will participate in the event. The event will be broadcasted to 120 million households in USA and Canada, and also to 40 countries worldwide in order to promote Thailand’s art and culture, traditions and tourist attractions besides highlighting the fact that it is one of the major destinations in the world for golf.

The activities during the week will encourage economic growth in the Kingdom. The participants of the event are individuals with high purchasing power. Their visit to Thailand will offer business opportunities to both Thai and international business persons, who would like to invest in Thailand in the future.

Moments

PORSCHe UNveILeD THe NeW PANAMeRA The sports car among luxury saloons.

For the first time in Asia-Pacific.

Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak, President of Porsche Thailand

by AAS Auto Service Co., Ltd., the sole authorized importer and distributor of Porsche cars in Thailand, recently hosted the exclusive party “The New Panamera Sneak Preview” on 30 September 2016 at Hall of Fame, Siam Paragon, to launch the new “Panamera” for the first time in AsiaPacific. This was a great opportunity for real supercar fans to indulge in an ultimate experience with “Panamera Turbo”, the second generation Panamera model with two contrasting characteristics: the performance of a genuine sports car and the comfort of a luxury saloon. It was the great pride of this year that Porsche Thailand was trusted to be the first country in Asia-Pacific to unveil Porsche Panamera, the latest model of luxury sport saloon Panamera, inspired by Porsche 911. The model was first launched at Paris Motor Show, one day before this fabulous party in Bangkok. The new Porsche Panamera reconciles two contrasting characteristics more than ever before: the performance of a genuine sports car and the comfort of a luxury saloon, under the concept of “Courage Changes Everything”. In this transformation, Porsche has systematically improved the Panamera concept – with a four-door car that has been redeveloped and redesigned down to the last detail. This change is the courage to bring this German sports car to a new era, with keeping its distinctiveness of beauty and to be the fastest luxury sports saloon. As the leading brand of automobile for more than 60 years since being founded by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, the genius of automobile world, the new Panamera comes with the standard color for your choice or the customized color and various car accessories.

In the twilight, celebrities in stunning outfits and supercar fans joined “The New Panamera Sneak Preview” at Hall of Fame. The venue was given a modern luxury look, with giant black carpet in the shape of a crest, in referrence to the symbol of Stuttgart, the manufacturing base and origin town of the car.

The event was colored in black and white theme to reflect the brand's strength and power. Guests enjoyed the hidden epigrams to lure your thinking of new Panamera such as “It always seems impossible until it's done”, “Be all in or get all out, there is no halfway”, “Replace fear with curiosity” and etc. The parade of fusion canapé and cocktails were served throughout this lovely night. Furthermore, all guests had fun posing with Porsche Digital Photo Booth and shared beautiful images on social network with a touch of fingertips.

The New “Porsche Panamera� offers the best layout variability of any model in the luxury class, making it the most practical for everyday use. It extends the borders between the world of ambitious sports cars and the world of comfortable cruising cars. The supercar consists of Turbo model and 4S model, inspired by 911 design language with a much more dynamic flyline. The exterior character of the Panamera has also been sharpened with the dawn of the second generation. It is based on very dynamic proportions. The result is a true luxury saloon that can take to the race track. The most important new systems include a night vision assistant, which uses a thermal imaging camera to detect people and large animals and displays a colour highlighted warning indicator in the cockpit. The new night vision assistant is one of the assistance systems that help to avoid critical situations in advance. Based on navigation data and signals from radar and video sensors, it computes and activates the optimal acceleration and deceleration rates as well as gear selections and coasting phases, for the next three kilometres.

The new Panamera exhibits a completely new interior design.

In many areas, touch-sensitive surfaces replace classic hard keys, and high-resolution displays merge into the interior. Raising the

comfort experience of the Panamera to an entirely new level are new equipment options such as the panoramic tilt roof, massage seats, ambient lighting and a 3D high-end sound system from Burmester.

The Panamera Turbo has the most powerful petrol engine of the model series. Its 4.0 litre biturbo V8 develops 404 kW/550 hp (at 5,750 rpm) and a maximum torque of 770 Nm (between 1,960 and 4,500 rpm). It has 30 hp more power than the previous model, and its maximum torque has been increased by 70 Nm. The eightcylinder engine accelerates the Panamera Turbo to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds; with the Sport Chrono Package the sprint time is just 3.6 seconds. The Porsche can reach a top speed of 306 km/h. These are impressive figures that illustrate just how easily the engine can propel the Panamera with its power-to-weight ratio of just 3.6 kg/ hp. These extraordinary performance figures contrast with lower combined fuel consumption figures which, at 9.4-9.3 l/100 km, are up to 1.1 l/100 km less than that of the previous model (New European Driving Cycle or NEDC). These figures equate to CO2 emissions of 214-212 g/km.

catch the next world-changing trends

Recently, consumers are fully embracing the Screen Age and everyone owns either a smartphone or a tablet. From this, we can see a fast shift in the society and birth of new businesses and careers that did not exist in the past. And a variety of new interesting careers have been introduced on a daily basis from the various technological platforms such as Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Wireless Sensor Network, Ride Sharing, Industries 4.0, Connected Car, Gigabit Internet, Cloud Compacity, FinTech, EduTech, AutoTech, FoodTech, and AgriTech, etc.

Even though the world has witnessed changes at a much faster pace than before, certain things that will be happening in the future can be predicted. This is similarly true for dtac, Thailand’s leading telecommunications company, striving to

94 • G o l f V a c a t i o n s • noV-DEc 2016

become the Digital Brand in Thailand. dtac truly understands the ever-changing consumer trends through behavioral patterns of the mass and its analytical projection on trends. dtac has always focused on studying, being observant and attentive to the changes in people’s behavior, particularly its customers. This has enabled dtac to have a full grasp of the global trends for better business opportunities and future success and prosperity.

This is another reason why today dtac is encouraging people to experience the changing world together especially to be exposed to various business opportunities through future trends by hosting an exclusive seminar dtac presents TREND WATCHING: GLOBAL – TREND – SEMINAR 2016 with Trendwatching. com and GM Group’s GM Biz magazine.

Trendwatching.com is a website that features worldwide consumer trends and related business opportunities.

The event on October 12, 2016 brought tremendous excitement to KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha, Siam Square One, as audience could interact with those involved sharing important global trends currently happening and expected to be happening in 1-5 years from now. The event was broadcasted on various communication platforms including a live streaming session and onsite video clips. The event attendees had a memorable experience with information presented in visual graphic live on stage by Ajarn Poon (Pinit Tanyamongkolsawadhi).

Trendwatching Managing Director, Henry Mason started the seminar by giving the audience an overview of trends that have tangible impacts to the world. He was not able to attend the event in person; however, participated in the event through live streaming to greet the audience and share with them the fast evolving world and society. He revealed now the world has to face a vast amount of data and continuous consumers’ changes and expectations. So both creativity and innovative ideas should be developed based on presenting a solution to the consumer’s problem. An innovation will succeed if it can meet or exceed consumer’s expectations.

He mentioned that consumer behavior has been changing and can turn around at any time.

The expectation of change will be progressively relentless, similarly to the Olympic Games that

he took as an example. Athletes in the past could win a gold medal from doing techniques that were considered challenging then but simple now. But even with the complicated techniques that did not exist in that time, athletes may not get any medal nowadays.

“Trend is not for everyone, or every business; however, everyone is able to gain insights from studying trends and this seminar will help you explore the various trends that affect the world”, said Henry to kick start the presentation.

InsIght to 2021 global Mega trends for the next 5 years The next session focused on the Mega-Trends in the topic “Insight to 2021 Global Mega-Trends for the Next 5 Years” by Ms. Victoria Foster, Head of tw:in who forecasted trends of the next 5 years or 2021 that featured the following 3 main items: Consumer Status - status of products/brands or services for consumers used to be about premium quality, expensive or more luxurious – this may need to abruptly change. The physical status of those items may have to change to the total experience acquired by the consumer.

Then brands must demonstrate and make consumers understand and adopt the character of the brands. In a recent research conducted, 80% of consumers shopped for the luxurious and exclusive experience over the physical luxury of that brand in the past.

Post-Demographic - the conventional method to structure and classify particular sectors of a population in the past. This may

not be applicable any more as consumers are able to express their identities and values, without regard to being classified as a specific demographic group again. For instance, youths usually have their own respective way on how they think and act, similarly the elderly surely have their own sets of identities and values.

In the past, these were considered two different lifestyles but they are not necessarily clear-cut these days. The factors supporting the trend are as follows: increased access of consumers through various types of products, especially when cross-continent trade is increasingly available, more liberty and approval for varieties of lifestyles. This includes dress codes and self-expression – people can live the way they want with the facilitation of technological advances, and finally the autonomy to express themselves which coincides to the trend stated previously.

Digital Disruption takes on an important role in the digital world that will take over everything. An interesting issue is that we should review the perspective based on the “consumer need” rather than “the development of technology” in the past. This will help broaden various business opportunities from available technological platforms such as the Waze application, that helps give traffic advice during the Olympic Games in order to avoid traffic in the city. Samsung developed special glasses featuring virtual reality capabilities that help parents to remotely tell bedtime stories to their children while they are away from home.

Victoria Foster Fredrik Härén

Panit Thanyamongkolsawat

busIness CreatIvIty Another interesting topic, brought to the presentation by Mr. Fredrik Härén, Partner of Trendwatching, was the importance of creativity.

This caught a lot of attention, giving quite a jolt to many attendees, to which the action to creativity in Thailand has seemingly been outmatched by those of other countries. In western countries, leads are taken by the US and several countries in Europe that include Sweden, which is his country of birth – he sees that India is the leader in creativity in the Asian region.

And then came the trends of the future and their inevitable power. No one could ignore and escape from the trend of creative possibilities and more. Creativity is usually developed through a combination of ideas from various factors and things happening around us. Many situations and circumstances came to a fuse into something new or innovative to meet the expectations of consumers.

10 Key asIan trends The afternoon session was led by Ms. Acacia Leroy, Trend Strategist – Apac. She brought thorough insight with the “10 Key Asia Trends” that was divided into 2 parts: Part 1 was a talk that focused on the subject “Serving the Next Billion”. This covered key issues on urbanization in Asia and changes that affected consumer behavior such as 1. All Hours Access 2. Life On-Demand 3. Effortless Earning 4. Borders Breached and 5. Fair Consumer Protection.

Part 2 covered the topic “Tech of Tomorrow” or technological trends. The session focused on topics such as 1. Message Control 2. Virtual Reality 3. Virtual Experience Economy 4. Human Renewed Experience, and 5. Internet of Citizen.

Mr. Alberian Saefullah, tw:in Community Manager – Apac, closed the seminar with a talk on “How to be Spotter”, and tips on how to identify new trends through good observation, staying up-to-date with current news and being able to collect information from conversing with the right people – to help identify possible shifts and movement of things around us.

The recent TREND WATCHING: GLOBAL – TREND – SEMINAR 2016, organized in Thailand for the first time by Trendwatching. com, received very positive response from the public. The event was fully booked and there was eager demand from those attending to have Trendwatching.com organize many more of such events in Thailand in the near future. Follow GM Group for further updates on the event.

Moments

PATEK PHILIPPE 2016 NOVELTIES PRIVATE PREVIEW

BY CORTINA WATCH BANGKOK, August19, 2016 – Cortina Watch, Thailand’s leading luxury watch retailer and distributor recently welcomed their esteemed clients to a private preview of the new Patek Philippe BaselWorld 2016 Novelties at Cortina Watch Espace, 1st floor, The Erawan Bangkok.

During the event, Krist Chatikaratana, Executive Director of Cortina Watch (Thailand) Co., Ltd. presented some of the latest timepieces from Patek Philippe such as the World Time Chronograph Ref.5930, the first World Time watch in the current Patek Philippe collections that has been endowed with a chronograph. Inspired by a unique piece date back to 1940, this highlight model is equipped with a self-winding mechanical movement that comes in a 39.5 mm white gold case with blue opaline hand-guilloched dial and matte navy blue alligator strap.

The next timepiece showcased is the Aquanaut Travel Time Ref.5164 in rose gold with a brown embossed dial.

The exceptionally convenient traveler’s companion is endowed with a self-winding mechanism featuring dual zones which indicate local and home time, day/night indications in apertures and local date by hand at 6 o’clock. The Annual Calendar Ref.5396 pays tribute to the 20th anniversary of Patek Philippe patented Annual Calendar, which only needs to be corrected once a year.

Powered by self-winding movement in 38.5 mm rose gold case with large applied Breguet numerals in gold on silvery opaline dial and also available in white gold version with charcoal gray sunburst dial. Last but not least, the Calatrava Timeless White Ref.7122 for ladies comes in an immaculate shade of white that underscored its feminine elegance. Hosted a manually wound mechanism in a refined 33 mm white gold or rose gold case with artistic gem setting featuring white flawless diamonds on the bezel. The white lacquered dial with hobnail-patterned hour markers coordinates perfectly with the iridescent white alligator strap.

สถานที่ใดในโลกนี้ที่พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช เสด็จฯ ไปประทับ อยู่นานที่สุดนอกเหนือจากประเทศไทย ที่แห่งนั้นก็คือ สวิตเซอร์แลนด์ นับตั้งแต่ปี พ.ศ. ๒๔๗๖-๒๔๙๓ เป็นเวลาร่วม ๑๗ ปี ที่ทรงด เนินชีวิตในวัยเยาว์ วัยรุ่น วัยหนุ่ม จนกระทั่งเสด็จขึ้นครองราชสมบัติ สวิตเซอร์แลนด์เป็นพื้นที่ที่บ่มเพาะประสบการณ์ ชีวิตแต่เยาว์วัย ให้กับพระมหากษัตริย์อันเป็นที่รักยิ่งของพสกนิกรชาวไทย ตลอดระยะเวลาที่เสด็จฯ ประทับอยู่ในสวิตเซอร์แลนด์พร้อมกับสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทราบรมราชชนนี และครอบครัวราชสกุลมหิดล เป็นช่วงปีทองอันแสนสุขที่ทรงใช้ชีวิตเยี่ยง สามัญชนและเจ้าฟ้าเจ้าแผ่นดินไปพร้อมกัน สวิ ต เซอร์ แ ลนด์ จึ ง เป็ น เสมื อ นบ้ า นหลั ง ที่ ส อง เป็ น สถานที่ ที่ ค นไทยทุ ก คนอยาก ตามรอยทางแห่งความทรงจ ๑๗ ปี นับตั้งแต่ปี พ.ศ. ๒๔๗๖ จนถึงวันสุดท้ายที่เสด็จนิวัต ประเทศไทย ว่ามีเรื่องราวมากมายเพียงใดเกิดขึ้นบ้าง ทุกๆ สถานที่แห่งความทรงจ นั้นอยู่ที่ไหน ปัจจุบันยังมีอยู่หรือไม่ หรือเปลี่ยนแปลงไป อย่างไร และยังมีสิ่งใดที่คงประทับอยู่ในความทรงจ ของชาวสวิสไม่รู้ลืม ตามรอยเสด็จฯ ประเทศสวิตเซอร์แลนด์ คือสารคดีเฉลิมพระเกียรติพระบาทสมเด็จ พระปรมินทรมหาภูมพ ิ ลอดุลยเดช เนือ ่ งในโอกาสมหามงคลเสด็จเถลิงถวัลยราชสมบัติ ครบ ๗๐ ปี ในปี พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๙ ตลอดความยาวกว่า ๑๕๐ นาที ทีบ ่ น ั ทึกเรือ ่ งราวอันทรงคุณค่า ทั้งหมดนี้ กาหนดออกอากาศทางสถานีโทรทัศน์ชอ ่ ง ๙ (โมเดิรน ์ ไนน์ทวี )ี เริม ่ วันที่ ๑๔ พฤศจิกายน ๒๓ ธันวาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๙ เวลา ๐๘.๕๕ - ๐๙.๐๐ น. ทุกวัน เว้นวันเสาร์-อาทิตย์ รวม ๓๐ ตอน ตอนละ ๕ นาที (ให้เสียงโดย : นิรุตติ์ ศิริจรรยา)

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