Golf Digest India - April 2017

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 12

RNI NO. HARENG/2016/66983 APRIL 2017 `150

THINK YOUNG | PLAY HARD

PUBLISHED BY

industry special

masters preview india golf expo EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

asian tour ceo rafa cabrera bello

DIMINUTIVE DYNAMO ssp chawrasia tames treacherous course to defend hero indian open title

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how to play. what to play. where to play.

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Contents 04/17

ArgentinA l AustrAliA l Chile l ChinA l CzeCh republiC l FinlAnd l FrAnCe l hong Kong l IndIa l indonesiA l irelAnd KoreA l MAlAysiA l MexiCo l Middle eAst l portugAl l russiA l south AFriCA l spAin l sweden l tAiwAn l thAilAnd l usA

India Digest 16

Cover Story DIMINUTIVE DYNAMO SSP Chawrasia Clinches Back-To-Back Hero Indian Open Titles & 4th Euro Tour Crown At Demanding Gary Player Layout

by Rohit bhaRdwaj

16

inducsitarly spe

51 Golf Course Revenues – Where do they come from?

36

Junior Golf

38

Club Round Up Updates from courses across India

98 Masters Preview

58

Corporate Digest MercedesTrophy

61

SARA DGP Invitational Golf

Pros Dish on Who Can Win and Who Can’t Candid and catty comments about the field at Augusta.

62

TATA HITACHI World Corporate Golf Challenge

by john huggan and dave shedloski

66

Business Of Golf Industry updates

69

Lifestyle

70

Health & Fitness Carly Booth

72

Tête-À-Tête With Rafa Cabrera Bello

76

45 New Golf Projects In India

48 India Golf Expo 2017

Newsmakers Update on Indian golfers around the world

by Rohit bhaRdwaj

42 Building A Golf Course

46 People Behind The Scenes

30

Interview with Asian Tour CEO Josh Burack

98

112 Closeout

Masters mementos anybody can buy

Features 87

Butch Harmon Less wrist = better pitches

88

Swing Sequence: Dustin Johnson What we can learn from his booming drives

90

Jack Nicklaus How to play a second-shot course like Augusta

91

David Leadbetter Curing the shanks

92

Tom Watson How’d you like to hit draws on command?

93

New Looks Is high-end equipment worth the investment?

by Rohit bhaRdwaj 78

Short is sweet for patient SSP

by Chuah Choo Chiang

72

79

Two Asian teams confirmed for inaugural GolfSixes event

52 GIA Research Report 53 Residential Golf Projects Lend Best Returns

by mike staChuRa

54 Courses Are A Boon For Environment 55 Golf 2.0 For The Millennials

10 golf digest india | april 2017

70

85

“New formats a gamechanger for golf”

86

Fitness Tips Strong legs = Better golf

94

Phil’s Driver Secrets Why I have more confidence than ever off the tee—and how you can, too. by phil miCkelson

Cover Photograph: European Tour/Getty Images/Stuart Franklin

Editor’s Letter

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Dear Readers,

T

his issue marks the first anniversary since we took over publishing Golf Digest in India after nearly a decade of the magazine being published here by India Today Group. I would like to thank our readers, advertisers and other supporters besides my editorial, advertising and marketing team for a very successful first year.

In fact the India edition has been recognised by Golf Digest at the global Editors and Publishers International Summit in Orlando where I was asked to present on the innovative ways we have struck alliances and added value to the game in India in our very first year.

Jack Nicklaus

Write to me at rishi@teamgolfdigest.com or For the game to progress even further in India on Twitter @RishiNarain_ and reach its potential, all stakeholders in the game have to come together and create a common agenda. The 6th annual India Golf Expo, traditionally staged in April provides just that platform. The event sees all the major golf bodies coming together – the Indian Golf Union, Professional Golf Tour of India, Golf Industry Association, Golf Course Superintendents and Managers Association of India, Women’s Golf Association of India and National Golf Academy of India. All their senior representatives will be at the Expo in Gurgaon to chart out a course for golf over the coming decade. Some important announcements will be made at that Forum which should have a profound effect on the game’s future in this country. Hence Golf Digest India has put together a special section this month on the Golf Industry which helps all golfers better understand what makes the game tick behind the scenes. Anyone interested in being involved or learning more about golf business should walk into DLF Club V in Gurgaon on April 20th & 21st for a front row view of the business of golf.

SSP Chawrasia’s masterful defence of his Hero Indian Open title last month and the awesome vistas that the new DLF course provided to viewers around the world are well documented in our pages. Along with that we have the usual top instruction articles from our unparalleled panel of legends and a collector’s swing sequence of the current World No. 1 Dustin Johnson – a feast for the eyes.

Hope you enjoy this issue and keep sending us your feedback and suggestions.

Keep on Swinging!!

TEAM GOLF DIGEST INDIA Editor & Publisher Rishi Narain Managing Editor Rohit Bhardwaj

Contributing Editor Bharath Arvind

Editorial Assistant Vineet Mann

Marketing & Advertising Nikhil Narain nikhil@teamgolfdigest.com , +91-9999990364

Assistant Art Director Guneet Singh Oberoi

Srijan Yadav Subscriptions Chitwanmeet Cour/ Monika Chhabra srijan@teamgolfdigest.com , +91-9416252880 subscribe@teamgolfdigest.com Phone: +91-9999868051 Published and Printed by Rishi Narain on behalf of Rishi Narain Golf Management Private Limited and Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, 18-35 Mile Stone, Delhi-Mathura Road, Faridabad-121 007, Haryana and published from 501, Sushant Tower, Sector-56, Gurgaon-122 011, Haryana. Editor: Rishi Narain. Contains material reprinted by permission from Golf Digest® and Golf World®.

Golf Digest India is a monthly publication of Rishi Narain Golf Management Private Limited.

12 golf digest india | april 2017

Rishi Narain

GOLF DIGEST INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS AND EDITORS-IN-CHIEF GD ArGentinA Hernán SimÓ, Jorge R. Arias AustrAliAn GD Brad Clifton GD Chile Rodrigo Soto GD ChinA Echo Ma GD CzeCh republiC Robin Drahonovsky GD FinlAnD Sami Markkanen GD FrAnCe Henry Trouillet GD honG KonG Echo Ma GD inDonesiA Irwan Hermawan GD irelAnD Linton Walsh GD KoreA Eun Jeong “EJ” Sohn GD MAlAysiA Patrick Ho GD MexiCo Rafa Quiroz GD MiDDle eAst Robbie Greenfield GD portuGAl João Morais Leitão GD russiA Fedor Gogolev GD south AFriCA Stuart McLean GD spAin Óscar Maqueda GD sweDen Oskar Åsgård GD tAiwAn Jennifer Wei GD thAilAnD Chumphol Na Takuathung GD usA Jerry Tarde

Popularly known as The ‘Golden Bear’, Nicklaus is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time. He won a record 18 Majors during his playing career and is regarded as the ultimate thinker and strategist on the golf course. He lies third on the all-time winner list on the PGA Tour behind Sam Snead and Tiger Woods with 73 titles.

Tom Watson

Watson is an eighttime Major champion, with five British Open titles to his credit, who defied age by becoming the oldest professional golfer at 60 years to lead the second and third rounds of the 2009 British Open. He topped the World Rankings from 1978 to 1982.

Butch Harmon

Harmon is best known for having been Tiger Woods’ golf coach during the prime of his career from 1993 to 2004. He has also worked with other Major champions such as Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Justin Leonard. Has topped many lists as the No. 1 rated golf instructor in the world.

David Leadbetter

Leadbetter, is without doubt the most celebrated golf instructor in history. His books, videos and DVD’s have sold in the millions worldwide. He came to wide notice in the 1980s when he rebuilt the swing of Nick Faldo, who then went on to win six Major championships. Apart from Faldo his students included Greg Norman (1997) and Ernie Els (1990–2008). Leadbetter changed golf instruction for all future generations from guesswork to science.

Feedback

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RNI NO. HARENG/2016/66983 MARCH 2017 `150

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THINK YOUNG | PLAY HARD

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Cover Story

DIMINUTIVE DYNAMO Chawrasia Outclasses The Field For 4th European Tour Crown At Demanding Gary Player Course

1

ch awr a si a bec a me t h e f i r st i n di a n in European Tour history to successfully defend a European Tour title

16 golf digest india | april 2017

Cover Story

BY ROHIT BHARDWAJ rohit@teamgolfdigest.com

P

erseverence pays and Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia reaped its benefits by grinding out his second win on the trot in the Hero Indian Open. This was his fourth triumph on the European Tour and sixth Asian Tour crown.

With the win he matched former Asia No. 1 Jeev Milkha Singh’s record of four European Tour victories and became only the second Indian in the process to have defended the Indian Open title after Jyoti Randhawa (2006 - 07) and third golfer behind Japan’s Kenji Hosoishi ( 1967-68).

England pro Eddie Pepperell had labelled the demanding Gary Player layout as ‘Disneyland’ due to its rapid change of elevation and rollercoaster nature.

However, one of the shortest hitters on the European Tour (average drive 266 yards) knew playing ‘conservative’ was the best way to tackle the conditions.

While the other top ranked pros were dropping double bogeys or worse, the Kolkatan had only six bogeys in the four rounds he played at the DLF Golf & Country Club.

april 2017 | golf digest india

17

Cover Story The awesome view of DLF’s notorious 17th fairway showing the rock wall guarding the green

Massive bunkers typical of the DLF course align the fairway at the 13th hole as SSP Chawrasia goes about his business during the final round

1

made European tour history by becoming the first player to win his first four European Tour titles on home soil. The wins are: 2008 EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters, 2011 Avantha Masters, 2016 & 2017 Hero Indian Open

18 golf digest india | april 2017

Cover Story

The revamped DLF G&CC produced two Indian winners out of the three events it hosted since it opened in 2015. The previous champion being Aditi Ashok 4 months ago. It also produced an Indian winner (C Muniyappa) in 2009

2

“HONESTLY, THIS IS VERY SPECIAL TO WIN BACK TO BACK. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST I’VE PLAYED IN MY CAREER... I FEEL GREAT WINNING BY SEVEN SHOTS, I’M REALLY HAPPY.” – SSP CHAWRASIA

Rahil Gangjee tries to glimpse the flag from behind the deep 16th bunker

april 2017 | golf digest india

19

Cover Story

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain discusses with Anirban Lahiri of India about his ball which landed very close to the ball of Thai pro Kiradech Aphibarnrat on the 15th hole during the delayed second round of the Hero Indian Open

The manner in which Chawrasia meticulously constructed his win is a showcase of his mental fortitude. He went about taming the challenging course armed with a hot putter, wedges and precision play – always aiming for the fairways. He used the driver only on four holes 2nd, 4th, 6th and 15th.

His target for the entire week was not to be adventurous. Just like the Delhi GC, the scene of his 2016 victory, the DLF Black Knight course could be equally penalising for even the slightest error.

With overcast conditions and lightning wasting more than 8 hours of play during the first three days, Chawrasia never seemed nervous or perturbed despite a bunch of Europeans led by Spain’s Carlos Pigem pushing him hard throughout the premier event.

Chawrasia’s victory was worth US$ 291,660 (approx. Rs 1.93 crore) and it helped him ascend to second place on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit behind David Lipsky of USA. He moved to the 18th spot on the European Tour Order of Merit with a total of 289,309 Race to Dubai points. He also jumped 98 places to be placed 160th in the Official World Golf Rankings.

“Honestly, this is very special to win back to back. I think this is one of the toughest I’ve played in my career... and winning by seven shots, I’m really happy. I gave my 100% and I focused a lot on every shot,” a shivering Chawrasia told reporters after being drenched by his friends and supporters immediately after holing the winning putt.

20 golf digest india | april 2017

“When I finished the 3rd round on Sunday morning, I knew I had a few shots lead going into the final round. I didn’t need birdies, so was just aiming for pars in the final round.

After bogeys on 6 and 7, I was a little edgy and I had to make some birdies. I then got a bit serious and managed to come back with birdies on the 8th and 9th ,” he said.

Even after taming the undulating layout, the Olympian said he was nervous throughout the final round and took advice from Jeev to keep calm on the course.

CHAWRASIA NEVER SEEMED NERVOUS OR PERTURBED DESPITE A BUNCH OF EUROPEANS LED BY SPAIN’S CARLOS PIGEM (ABOVE) PUSHING HIM HARD

Cover Story

Looking down from the 17th green to the fairway, showing the deep sand trap on left which guards the approach from the main landing area

Golf Digest View

THE 17TH HOLE

Shown here are two views of the “signature� 17th at DLF. The wooden planks lining the greenside bunker can send a shot rebounding back into the rocky water hazard and is unfairly penal.

A 170-yard approach uphill which comes up just a yard short of the putting surface can cost a player 2 strokes. If the planks are removed, this will soften the landing.

2

the 38-year-old became only the second indian to defend his Indian Open title since Jyoti Randhawa (2006, 2007). He became only the third player after Kenji Hosoishi (1967-68) to retain the title since the inaugural edition in 1964

april 2017 | golf digest india

21

Cover Story

England’s David Horsey had a terrible meltdown after a one stroke lead in Round 1

Malaysia’s promising 23-year-old Gavin Green sank 6 consective birdies in the third round en route to 65 and eventual 2nd place finish

England’s Eddie Pepperell bowed out of contention after a six-over 78 in Round 3

“I CAME INTO THE WEEK NOT HITTING IT THAT WELL. MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE THE CUT BUT I SOMEHOW FOUND SOMETHING IN ROUND 2 AND 3 AND IT CLICKED WELL...

CHAWRASIA PLAYED GREAT AND HATS OFF TO HIM.” Italy’s Matteo Manassero who bagged 4 European Tour titles by age 21, made a welcome return to form with a tied 3rd result

22 golf digest india | april 2017

– GAVIN GREEN

Cover Story

3

LIQUID CELEBRATION: SSP Chawrasia’s friends pour water after his final putt

He is the third Indian after Jyoti Randhawa (2000, 2006, 2007) and Ali Sher (1991, 93) to win their home Open on two or more occasions.

“I was not comfortable on the course, I was nervous on every single shot. Jeev has been telling me to calm down and play my own game and not look at others. I told him I’ll follow his advice… Only after the tee shot on 18, I felt I had won the tournament. I still don’t understand the golf course completely. Hopefully I’ll play a few more times on this course and then only will I know how to play it better!”

The win definitely boosted Chawrasia’s confidence, who was always treated as a domestic favourite as 15 out of his 16 professional wins were recorded on home soil. His first overseas win at Resorts World Manila Masters in 2016 eliminated his self-doubt and with this victory on an unfamiliar course in Gurgaon he is set for better results in colder climes of Europe.

“I learned many things and hopefully I can play better in Europe from

Anirban with his father Dr. Tushar Lahiri

now on. That’s my target next, I have to win in Europe,” the diminutive Indian signed off with a smile.

LEADING SCORES:

Chawrasia receives the Indian Open trophy from Hero MotoCorp Chairman, MD & CEO Pawan Munjal

278 - SSP Chawrasia (IND) 72-67-68-71; 285 - Gavin Green (MAS) 72-73-65-75; 286 - Scott Jamieson (SCO) 70-74-70-72, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 68-73-72-73; 287 - Anirban Lahiri (IND) 76-73-67-71, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 73-73-70-71, Carlos Pigem (ESP) 69-73-67-78; 288 - David Horsey (ENG) 66-74-76-72, George Coetzee (RSA) 73-74-69-72, Michael Hoey (NIR) 71-71-71-75; 289 - Pep Angles (ESP) 73-70-77-69, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 75-72-73-69.

SELECTED INDIANS: T-22 - Chiragh Kumar (73-75-71-74); T-34 – Chikkarangappa S (72-76-75-72); T-40 – Shubhankar Sharma (72-76-71-78); T-43 – Gaganjeet Bhullar (74-74-76-74), Shamim Khan (74-74-73-77); T-55 – Arjun Atwal (74-76-72-79), Ajeetesh Sandhu (73-77-77-74).

ANIRBAN LAHIRI CAME CLOSE TO SEALING HIS ENTRY TO THE WGC-DELL MATCHPLAY, THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS FULFILLING HIS TARGET OF COMPETING IN THIS YEAR’S AUGUSTA MASTERS. ANIRBAN NEEDED TO FINISH SOLO SECOND IN ORDER TO BOOK THE WGC BERTH april 2017 | golf digest india

23

Cover Story

SSP FAST FACTS Date of Birth: May 15, 1978 Residence: Kolkata Turned Pro: 1997 Total Wins: 16 (European Tour – 4, Asian Tour – 6, Others – 10) Highest World Ranking: 151 in 2016 Team Appearances: 3 (2016 EurAsia Cup, 2016 World Cup of Golf, 2016 Rio Olympic Games)

STAT PACK l Chawrasia moved to 160

in the Official World Golf Rankings from 258th

l SSP moved to 18th spot on the European Tour Order of Merit with a total of 289,309 Race to Dubai points l He became the 39th different player in European Tour history to successfully defend a European title l Has now won a total of

Euro 668,084 in his three appearances in the Hero Indian Open since the event became part of the European Tour schedule in 2015

l Became the third Asian player to win four or more European Tour titles besides Jeev and Thongchai Jaidee (eight) l His seven-stroke

winning margin is the largest of the 2017 European Tour season so far

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS 1994-1995

Chawrasia began practicing with borrowed clubs from Neil Law an RCGC member. His elder brother Om Prakash used to work for Law.

1997-2004

RCGC member Madan Singh used to fund him for international trips to play on Asian Tour. Later Madan put him across to Sarda Plywood promoter Jaydeep Chitlangia for sponsorship.

Jaydeep served as Indian Golf Union (IGU) president in 2014-15.

24 golf digest india | april 2017

2005-2008

2008-2012

2012 onwards

IGU East Zone Council member Gaurav Ghosh also helped Chawrasia financially for three years.

Avantha Group chairman Gautam Thapar sponsored the golfer following his triumph in the EmaarMGF Indian Masters in 2008 at the Delhi GC.

Chawrasia is being supported by Take Solutions after its vicechairman & MD HR Srinivasan picked him for Take Chennai team in the franchise-based Louis Philippe Cup.

Cover Story

Applause For The Champ Absolutely delighted for my friend @ SSP_Golf winning the @HIO_2017 really, one of the greatest champions our country has produced.

Jeev Milkha Singh | @JeevMilkhaSingh Great win by @SSP_Golf!! Dominant performance by my friend chow!! Really proud of him!! 4 ET wins!!

Arjun Atwal | @Arjunatwal Congratulations @SSP_Golf #keptitathome What an effort @ HIO_2017. Hopefully we can battle again next year. #currypower Anirban Lahiri | @anirbangolf i dont think people understand how good SSP Chowrasia's perfomance was last week,was demanding of everyones game and even more for him Nicolas Colsaerts | @Coelsss If it’s 1 golfer today who deserves #arjunaaward it’s @SSP_Golf ! Take a look @VijayGoelBJP @IndiaSports at his achievements. @narendramodi Rahul Bajaj | @RahulBajajGolf

@Swinging_Swamy @SSP_Golf @ JeevMilkhaSingh @anirbangolf @ Arjunatwal @PGTITOUR how much more must he do to get it ????

Rahil Gangjee | @GangjeeR What more does a guy need to do for #arjunaward? 6 Intl titles incl 4 on Euro tour, blind selectors ?? @SSP_Golf. Please let us all campaign for #arjunaaward for @ SSP_Golf @JeevMilkhaSingh @ anirbangolf @Arjunatwal @PGTITOUR #mostdeserving V Krishnaswamy | @Swinging_Swamy Completely agree! It’s like the Beatles never winning the Grammy. Outrageous really. It would be a travesty of justice if @SSP_Golf is not awarded Arjuna this year.

Joy Chakravarty | @TheJoyofGolf Its time... @SSP_Golf truly deserves an Arjuna Award ! @IndiaSports Abhinav Lohan | @abhinavlohan

SSP Chawrasia with caddie Puneet

Man on the bag

The man who was directly responsible for SSP Chawrasia’s fabulous course management was his 22-year-old nephew Puneet. It might amuse people why SSP chose a youngster over an experienced caddy at a tournament of such magnitude. But SSP was pretty clear about that. “He is a sweet kid. Whenever I play in India I make it a point that one of my family members caddy for me. This helps them financially as they get a cut from prize money won besides getting a good experience… I read my own lines but Puneet helped me pick the right clubs whenever I got a bit confused,” SSP told Golf Digest India.

SSP’s success has enabled me to travel the world: Simantini

Simantini (L) celebrates with husband SSP Chawrasia

26 golf digest india | april 2017

It’s been almost 8 years since she got married to SSP Chawrasia, but Simantini still feels the same passion and love she felt when they met for the first time in 2009, a year after the golfer’s stupendous Emaar-MGF Indian Masters triumph in a field which included the great South African Ernie Els. Simantini says SSP’s success has helped her travel the world.

“Initially I got to travel with him for only 1 or 2 weeks as we had limited budgets.

But after the Avantha Masters win in 2011, I am pretty much travelling with him throughout the season. I have travelled to almost every country in Europe and good locations in Asia as well. His success has helped us spend more time together” Simantini told Rohit Bhardwaj from Kolkata.

Dining out or going out for a movie was not much of an option for the couple due to Chawrasia’s travelling schedule. “We didn’t get to watch movies together beyond a couple of occasions in his off-season. Now, since I travel with him everywhere, most of the latest movies we watch on the flight (giggles). We dine out almost 10 months of an year in a foreign location, that wasn’t the case earlier.”

But whenever SSP is home, he likes to have home-cooked food. “His diet has changed substantially. Overseas he eats a lot of boiled vegetables and bland pasta etc. In Kolkata, he enjoys his dal-roti (pulses-chapati), Bengali style spicy chicken and jaggery-based Sandesh (a sweet). Hilsa fish is another of his favourites.”

Next thing on Simantini’s mind is to travel to USA for some bigger events.

Cover Story

Lahiri leads Team India to Skills Challenge win

Members of Team India celebrate Anirban Lahiri’s monster 90 foot putt on the ninth hole during the Hero Skills Challenge at the DLF Golf & Country Club

A

Shiv Kapur, one of the four members of Team India shoots from the bunker during the ‘Closest to Pin’ contest

28 golf digest india | april 2017

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello, representing Rest of the World team, hit the bike during the Skills Challenge

nirban Lahiri was in full flow as he drove the longest on the 9th hole, played the bunker shot closest to the flag and then sent the crowd and his own team into wild celebrations by holing a 90-foot putt as India outplayed the Rest of the World Team 3-1 and 4-2 on points in the Hero Skills Challenge at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurgaon held on Tuesday as a sort of “curtain raiser” to the main event.

Each ‘Skill’ earned the winning team US $ 2,500 and the prizes were given away by Mr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of Hero MotoCorp.

“It was great fun. I wish I can replicate that in the coming week,” said a beaming Lahiri, who before his monstrous putt was reminded by the rival

Cover Story captain Daniel Chopra, that he had holed out a similar long putt last year. Seconds later Lahiri repeated that feat, much to the joy of his teammates.

The Indian quartet comprised 2015 Hero Indian Open champion Lahiri, defending champion SSP Chawrasia, Shiv Kapur and Chikkarangappa S and they had Jeev Milkha Singh as the non-playing captain.

The Rest of the World squad had Rafa, Kiradech Aphinbarnrat, Colsaerts and George Coetzee with Daniel Chopra as the non-playing captain.

EACH ‘SKILL’ EARNED THE WINNING TEAM US $ 2,500 AND THE PRIZES WERE GIVEN AWAY BY HERO MOTOCORP CMD PAWAN MUNJAL

Defending Hero Indian Open champion SSP Chawrasia impressed in the ‘Long Putt’ contest

Pro-Am victory for Chikka’s team Young Indian professional Chikkarangappa S showed that he is in fine form as he led his team to victory at the Hero Indian Open Pro-Am. World No. 26 Rafa Cabrera Bello, easily the most sought after foreign pro at the Pro-Am, also got off to a good start by finishing third, while George Coetzee carried his team to second place. All three teams were tied at 30-under par and the final standings were decided on a countback.

Jeev (L) and his father & legendary athlete Milkha Singh during the putting competition

Leading pro Shiv Kapur (L) poses with his goodies alongside former cricketer Murali Kartik

Images: European Tour/Getty Images/Stuart Franklin, K Jairaj Chaudhri, Dharam Diwakar

Results Winner – Chikkarangappa S. (Pro), KK Sandhu, Milkha Singh, Manish Sanwalka Runner-up – George Coetzee (Pro), Kulvinder Singh, Ravi Chopra, Ateet Gaur 2nd Runner-up – Rafa Cabrera Bello (Pro), Sunil Sawhney, Navin Raheja, Kishore Musale

Hero MotoCorp CMD Pawan Munjal watches Rafa Cabrera Bello during the Pro-Am

april 2017 | golf digest india

29

Newsmakers

PLAYERS IN THE NEWS Professional Golf Tour of India

Udayan takes flight in Bangladesh

U

dayan Mane became the first Indian to win a professional event in Bangladesh in six years when he lifted the Rs 40 lakh BTI Open trophy in Dhaka last month. Gaganjeet Bhullar was the last Indian to bag a title there at the PGTI’s Bangladesh Open in January 2011. With the win, Udayan ended his title drought of more than a year since he won the 2015 Western India Oxford Masters.

Leading from the second round onwards, Benguluru boy Udayan coasted to a comfortable four-shot win at the Kurmitola Golf Club with a tournament total of 12-under-276. Patna’s Aman Raj (69), Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta (70) and Bengaluru’s Khalin Joshi (71) shared second place at eight-under-280.

The 26-year-old also became the first Indian to win the BTI Open as the inaugural edition was won by Bangladesh’s Md Siddikur Rahman last year. Udayan pocketed Rs 6 lakh for his effort and moved to the third position on the PGTI Order of Merit.

“This win is special as it’s a testament to all the hard work I’ve put in recently.

Towards the end of last season I began changing my approach to the game and the way I practiced… It’s great to be back in the winning zone after missing out on a title last season,” an excited Udayan said later.

Anirban Lahiri was named “2016 Golfer of the Year” at the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) in Mumbai. For the first time in his career, Anirban Lahiri -ranked 73rd in the men’s game -made it to the prestigious PGA Tour. And despite a shoulder injury that hampered his performances during the season, he made the cut in 16 of 21 tournaments. He had one top-10 finish and two top-25 finishes. Teenage golfing sensation Aditi Ashok was adjudged “2016 Emerging Player of the Year”. Aditi was the youngest in the field in Rio and at the time ranked 462, Aditi finished tied-41st and in November became the first Indian to claim successive titles on the Ladies European Tour, with wins in the Indian Open and Qatar Open.

30 golf digest india | april 2017

Udayan Mane, seen here with the BTI Open trophy, became the first Indian since 2011 to win in Bangladesh

PGTI Order Of Merit After BTI Open Rank

Player

Prize Money (`)

Played

Won

Top 10

1.

Ajeetesh Sandhu

9,14,920

3

1

3

2.

Khalin Joshi

7,16,701

3

0

2

3.

Udayan Mane

6,72,080

3

1

1

4.

Shamim Khan

6,49,900

3

0

3

5.

Honey Baisoya

4,98,280

2

1

1

6.

Harendra Gupta

4,55,112

3

0

2

7.

Aman Raj

3,37,652

3

0

2

8.

Gaurav Pratap Singh

2,94,417

3

0

2

9.

Mukesh Kumar

2,39,920

1

0

1

10.

Sujjan Singh

1,78,290

3

0

2

10.

Samarth Dwivedi

1,39,987

2

0

1

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Newsmakers Women’s Golf

Amandeep wins second title of the season

Amandeep Drall carded an even par round on the third day to win her second title of the season by three strokes in the Rs 8 lakh 5th leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Classic Golf & Country Club. Finishing in second position was the overseas Thai professional Walailak Satarak with a total score of 214. Gurgaon’s Gaurika Bishnoi and New Delhi’s Vani Kapoor were tied second with identical scores of 215.

Meanwhile, Vani Kapoor claimed her first title of the season with a four-stroke margin at the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata. Amandeep Drall finished second with a total score of 217 in the Rs 7 lakh 4th leg.

The third leg of the tournament was won by Gurgaon’s Gaurika Bishnoi, who carded one-under 71 on the final day, to clinch her maiden title by four shots in the Rs 6 lakh 3rd leg at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

Kiran finishes second on SA money list

India-born Englishwoman Kiran Matharu continued her dominance in South Africa with stellar performances on the Sunshine Ladies Tour. Kiran finished ninth in the Chase to Investec Cup Final helping her end the season in second place on the Order of Merit with total earnings of Rand 198,045 (Rs 10.23 lakh) from 10 starts.

After winning her maiden title at the Rand 200,000 Ladies Tshwane Open in January, Kiran endured a minor jolt at the Cape Town Ladies Open finishing in joint 13th place before recording a hat-trick of top-10s thereafter. The 27-year-old finished fourth at the Rand 600,000 SLT Dimension Data Challenge, tied third at the Sunshine Ladies Tour Classic, before ending joint 6th at the Sun International Challenge. She then went on to finish eighth at the Jo’burg Ladies Open before the yearender tournament.

32 golf digest india | april 2017

Recent finishes

SLT Dimension Data Challenge - 4th Sunshine Ladies Tour Classic - T-3rd Sun International Challenge - T-6th Jo’burg Ladies Open - 8th Chase to Investec Cup - 9th Season’s Earnings - Rand 198,045

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HOLE-INONE CLUB

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Junior Golf

“Jr golfers in USA get more chances to compete” Hawaii Pacific University Student Aniruddh Kedlaya Of Bengaluru On College Golf In USA

BY BHARATH ARVIND bharath@teamgolfdigest.com

the evening, I attend college classes from 5:00 pm to 8:45 pm. After that, I get back home, make dinner, do some homework and go to bed.

E

very month Golf Digest India in partnership with the International Junior Golf Association (IJGA) and Albatross Junior Golf Tour India brings you tips and advice to help groom the future champions of Indian golf.

In this issue we bring you a conversation with Aniruddh Kedlaya who also attended the IJGA Golf Academy in South Carolina and has gone onto pursue college golf.

GDI: What was your biggest challenge this semester at school?

It’s the food. Food can get quite expensive out here in Hawaii and therefore we make our own food most of the time. This was a challenge for me because I have not had much training in cooking previously and this semester ended up becoming more of an experimental semester with regards to food.

GDI: What made you want to go to the US for golf training?

I heard from many people that opportunities for a golf career in the United States were better if one attended college there.

GDI: How did attending the IJGA help you accomplish your goals?

I gained access to amazing coaches, teachers and facilities that transformed me into a better golfer and student.

GDI: What is the biggest difference between junior golf in India and the US? Its the number of tournaments that are held. Junior golfers in the US are given several more opportunities to compete than in India.

GDI: How has the adjustment been transitioning from high school in the US to college?

It has not been much of a hassle for me as I followed a similar daily schedule at the IJGA as I do now in college.

GDI: What is the biggest difference between competing in junior tournaments and tournaments at the college level?

I would say, its the pressure. Your score does not only affect you as an individual it also affects the other people who play for your college team. This is because in college, golf is a team sport. The total score of the team is taken into consideration for ranking, thus putting pressure on every player to perform.

GDI: What do you love most about college golf?

I love the amount of time that I get to practice in college. With an efficient schedule, we have enough time in the day to play 2 rounds of golf, go to class and then to the gym. Time management is key in college.

The team atmosphere that exists in college also keeps the competition going and takes away any boredom.

36 golf digest india | april 2017

Meet Aniruddh

Age: 18 Height: 6 Ft Current Year: Freshman Scoring average: 77 Lowest tournament score: 68 Area of study/ Major: International Business

GDI: What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day for me starts with fitness in the morning from 6:30 am- 8:00 am. Then golf practice from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. And in

I love the amount of time that I get to practice in college. With an efficient schedule, we have enough time in the day to play 2 rounds of golf, go to class, and then to the gym. The team atmosphere that exists in college also keeps the competition going...

GDI: What advice do you have for junior golfers in practice rounds?

In practice rounds, I would advise junior golfers to focus more on the course and to take good notes. Looking at a hole from all angles can give a person a better idea as to how the hole can be played to suit their game. Marking lay-up yardages, noting down what clubs to use and drawing the slopes of the greens, can give a person more freedom to play during a tournament as all they have to do is look into their course book where all the important information is already written down.

GDI: Can you tell us what travel during tournaments is like in college?

Travel for tournaments can get pretty hectic.

We usually travel the day prior to the practice round and reach that evening. On the first day of the tournament, we play 36 holes and on the second or final day of the tournament, we play 18 holes. We usually leave in the evening of the 2nd day of the event. At the same time, we are also required to keep up with college work. Yes, it does get tiring, but if you manage your time well, it’s not too stressful.

GDI: Were academics challenging as you moved from HS to College?

Not really because the first year of college mostly contains general education classes – a lot of which we had already covered in high school.

GDI: What do you do for fun in the evenings/weekends when you are not playing golf?

I usually go to the beach or hike the mountains of Hawaii.

Junior Golf

AADIL: PROMISING KID ON THE HORIZON

Aadil Bedi is a 15-year-old teenager from Chandigarh. Aadil’s love affair with the game of golf started at CGA Golf Range at the age of four and it only took him a year to play his first round at Panchkula Golf Course. By the age of six, Aadil found himself competing on the Indian Golf Union (IGU) Junior Tour.

He topped national junior rankings in ‘10 years and under’ age group in 2011, a feat he repeated in 2013 (11-12 year age category) and in 2015 (13-14).

His most notable achievement came in July 2016 when he finished runner-up at the IJGA World Stars of Junior Golf at Las Vegas, Nevada played at the famous TPC Las Vegas. He also bagged two wins and five podium finishes on the IGU circuit last year.

In 2016, Aadil also participated in his maiden Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) tournament - TAKE Open Championship at KGA, Bengaluru in October where he finished T51. His second stint at a pro tournament was far more successful as he finished a creditable T16 (7- under- 273) at the Crompton Greaves Open.

Years) Born: 17th Februar y 2001 (16 Kg 76 ght Height - 6’1”, Wei ndigarh School: Vivek High School, Cha A) (USG Handicap: 0.3 Club, Chandigarh Golf Club Represents: Panchkula Golf , Chandigarh Golf Academy Coach: Jesse Grewal, Director an from Las Vegas, USA Special Golf Coach: Bob Bym

Aryaman picked up his first set of golf clubs at the age of 3. His foray into competitive golf began at age 5, when he competed at the Poona Club tournament in the under-9 age category and won it three successive times.

At age 6, he began competing in the Indian Golf Union sanctioned West Zone Tournaments however his first win on the tour came at age seven in 2014. Same year, the young Pune golfer also bagged the Indian Golf Union - West Zone ‘Order of Merit’ in 2014 in his age category.

A feat he repeated in 2015 and 2016 with the distinction of winning every tournament he participated in over these three years!

What’s more impressive about his feats last year is that Aryaman barely aged 9, competed with boys in the Under-11 age category in events at Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

In 2013, he became the youngest Indian to qualify and represent India at the Callaway Junior World Championship in San Diego, California, and the US Kids World Golf Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Mentors & Idols: Jeev Milkha Singh, Harmeet Kahlon and American legend Jack Nicklaus

Aryaman Singh Born: March 28, 2007 (10 years) Height: 4’ 2’’, Weight: 33 Kgs School: Vibgyor High, Pune Handicap: 8 Represents: Poona Club & Oxford Golf Resort Coach: Justin Parsons, Director of Instruction at the Butch Harmon School of Golf, Dubai; Mark Roe and Dave Stockton for Short Game Mentor and Idol: Rory McIlroy, Chikkarangappa S. april 2017 | golf digest india

37

Across The Country

CLUB ROUND-UP To share news on your club or updates from across the country, please email vineet@teamgolfdigest.com

Various golf brands displayed equipment, merchandise and accessories at Hamoni Golf Range

Bright Start

Spring Golf Carnival at Hamoni Hamoni Golf Range in Gurgaon recently organised and hosted a two day ‘Spring Golf Carnival’ to bring all the major golf brands together to display and promote their equipment, merchandise and accessories. The participating golf brands included Callaway, Mizuno, Taylormade, Titleist, Nike Golf, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, Dunlop Golf and their associated brands such as Odyssey and FootJoy. The opportunity for walkins to experience various brands coupled with complete

fitting solutions, Flight Scope and Launch Monitor analysis benefitted the exhibitors and golfers alike. Music, beautiful sunshine and a sumptuous brunch with drinks added to the festive mood and charm of the carnival.

Hamoni’s Spring Golf Carnival was the first step in a series of similar golf events planned by the Hamoni in the upcoming summer season. Hamoni Golf Range won the Golf Industry Association’s award for ‘Best Driving Range’ at the India Golf Expo 2016.

Camaraderie

Classic Golf Resort hosts IIM Masters About 100 alumni from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Calcutta and Lucknow came together to participate in the IIM Masters 2017 at Classic Golf Resort near IIM-A’s Gaurav Seth (L) Gurgaon. Kick started by IIM was declared Player of Ahmedabad alumni eleven years the Tournament ago, the event has snowballed into a larger event to include alumni from various other cities of the coveted institution. The 2017 edition belonged to IIM Ahmedabad team as they took home ‘Inter-IIM Trophy’ beating rivals IIM Calcutta.

Legacy

Digboi GC hosts 39th All Assam Amateur The 39th edition of All Assam Amateur Invitational Golf Tournament was held at Digboi Golf Course in the historic ‘Oil Town’, Digboi, located in Tinsukia District of Upper Assam. Started in 1977, the prestigious event is organised by the Upper Assam Golf Association (UAGA). Sponsored by Indian Oil Corporation’s Assam Oil Division to promote the game across the state, the prestigious golf

38 golf digest india | april 2017

tournament was inaugurated by Mritunjoy Pramanik, Executive Director, Indian Oil (Assam Oil Division).

With over 200 golfers from Assam and other north-eastern states participating in the three-day tournament, it is one of the most awaited golf event in the region.

The prizes were awarded by chief guest S Mohapatra (Director- Exploration, Oil India).

Winners MEN Winner: Deepraj Chetiya (Margherita) Runner Up: Zakhir Hussain (Naogaon) LADIES Winner: Kyra Pao (Shillong) Runner Up: C. Sailaja (Shillong)

Across The Country

Delhi Golf Club hosts CWT Charity Meet and annual Delhi NCR Cup Noble Cause

Youngsters Shine

The prestigious Delhi Golf Club recently played host to the 4th Caddies Welfare Trust (CWT) Charity Members Golf Tournament. The initiative is a result of CWT’s endeavor to devise multiple schemes to improve the lives of caddies and their families.

With over 350 golfers participating, the fund raising event by the trust Shubham Jaglan (L) with the ‘Best Gross’ score of 73 was awarded by attracted almost 50 sponsors including DGC president Siddharth Shriram SRF Welfare Trust, Genpact, Hero, Hughes and Max Foundation among others. Under the authorisation of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, CWT is listed as an NGO eligible to receive donations from corporations, under their individual CSR expenditure. Steered by Siddharth Shriram (president, DGC), CWT’s Trustees are committed to help caddies achieve an acceptable standard of living by assuring bare essentials such as life & medical insurance, primary healthcare, education for their children, retirement subsidies and adequate training.

The Caddy Welfare Trust conducts a series of welfare initiatives throughout the year that includes: Medical insurance, Health Checkup; OPD expenses, Ex- gratia subsidies in case of illness, Incentive for children of caddies in higher studies.

The annual Delhi NCR Cup was recently organised by Delhi Golf Society (DGS) in March at the prestigious Delhi Golf Club. Top amateur and local lad Kshitij Naved Kaul clinched the 2017 edition after a scintillating final round of four-under 68 for a gross total of two-under 286.

Zubin Nijhawan finished at even-par 288 to claim second spot while Kolkata’s Sunit Chowrasia finished tied third alongside defending champion Yashas Chandra and Simarjeet Singh.

The Delhi State Championship was won by Vinay K u m a r Ya d av.

Kshitij still a teenager, clinched his second victory in consecutive weeks on the IGU Amateur Tour after his exploits at the Maharashtra Open at the Poona Club Delhi Golf Society president Prakash Bhandari Golf Course. (center) is flanked by Kshitij Naved Kaul (left) and Vinay Kumar Yadav (right)

Welcome Initiative

Spectacular vintage car rally held across DLF properties It was an enthralling experience created by DLF Golf & Country Club, DLF CyberHub & DLF Emporio, in association with the Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI) when a convoy of 28 Vintage cars was seen cruising from Gurgaon to Delhi with one of the finest displays of automotive wonders across these three destinations. The rally was flagged off by the Senior Executive Director, Business Development at DLF Home Developers Ltd. Aakash Ohri at the DLF G&CC. “I am delighted to be present here amongst

some of the leading industrialists and sharing their passion and love for the Vintage class. These exquisite machines are actually timeless and leave you in complete awe,” Aakash Ohri said.

The golf course visit was made engaging and interactive by conducting a golf clinic by Karan Bindra (Director, DLF Golf Academy and ‘A’ level coach) and pro golfer Himmat Rai. The car owners and other guests were joined by Asia Pacific Rally Champion and FMSCI Motor Sports person of the year – Gaurav Gill – at the DLF CyberHub.

Golf Digest View Events such as vintage car rallies at Golf Courses is a good idea because it exposes a different set of people and audience to the club facilities and the game as well as can generate incremental revenue for the club. Such activities are healthy for the integration of golf with the local community and media.

Vintage cars displayed at the DLF Golf & Country Club arrival court in Gurgaon prior to the car rally april 2017 | golf digest india

39

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Industry Special

INSIDE 42 Building A Golf Course 45 New Golf Projects In India 46 People Behind The Scenes 48 India Golf Expo 2017 51 Golf Course Revenues – Where do they come from?

53 Residential Golf Projects Lend Best Returns 54 Courses Are A Boon For Environment 55 Golf 2.0 For The Millennials month 2016 Photograph

by First Lastname 41 | golfdigest.com

gutter credit tk

52 GIA Research Report

Industry Special

BUILDING A GOLF COURSE

BY ANIT MEHROTRA

The key to a successful and sustainable development of a golf course is to employ professionals for all aspects of the project, and create a development team that works together to problem-solve, allowing a seamless transition from master planning and design via the construction and grow-in of the golf course, right through to the successful operation and maintenance of the facility.

PHASE – I

PLANNING AND DESIGN

OWNER/DEVELOPER Procures & provides the contiguous land parcel and the capital for the development of the course and ensures that the golf course is designed, built and operated in a professional manner (and with favourable market characteristics), to provide a viable return on investment.

MASTERPLAN/LAYOUT DESIGNER Master planning is all about pragmatically fitting the pieces of the “land puzzle” together and carefully considering the inter-relationships between uses. Master planning helps Layout of the revamped DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurgaon to set the scene and brief the architectural, landscape and interior designs.

GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT It helps clients understand the best use of their The golf course architect leads the potential land to maximise the potential return on their development from concept to completion and investment. It considers the triple bottom line helps avoid the project becoming unsustainable, of sustainability – economic, environmental and complicated and unnecessarily expensive. social.

What’s paramount is that the architect makes

42 golf digest india | april 2017

each hole challenging and interesting for the better golfer, yet playable and enjoyable for the high-handicapper too. The golf course designer works closely with the constructor to realize plans for the golf course, and can play a part in other aspects of the golf development.

CLUB HOUSE ARCHITECT Creates a practical and aesthetic clubhouse for an enhanced golfer experience while optimising returns to the bottom line care must be taken to ensure it complements the course and is an enjoyable place to be. The club house architect considers the aesthetics and atmosphere to create a variety of spaces that conveys different moods. Bigger is always not better when designing a club house.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMPANY Will be responsible for pulling together all aspects of the master plan. They will have overall responsibility for delivering the development as per the plan, on time, and on budget.

Industry Special PHASE – II

I N D I A

CONSTRUCTION

CONTRACTOR – GOLF COURSE It is ex tremely impor tant for the developer to employ a specialist and experienced golf c ontrac tor because they understand the requirements of the golf course architect and have experience of all the relevant elements of the works.

They take the entire responsibility away from the developer and deliver the project within one contract. Developers should always request references from previous clients and architects, to ensure that the golf course contractor produces quality work on time and on budget. Don’t assume the lowest price represents the best value. Invariably it does not. A reputable, experienced golf course contractor working with an accurate and realistic budget will add significant value to your development team.

labour. A computerised control system will help conserve a considerable amount of water, energy and labour.

TURFCARE MACHINERY SUPPLIER Specialist Tur f care machinery and equipment is required to achieve the desired quality of maintenance work.

Machinery supplier must ensure the supply of latest and good condition machinery to ensure there are no breakdowns in the construction process which would then lead to time and cost overruns.

IRRIGATION SUPPLIERS Efficient design, product and proper installation is a key component for the long-term water requirement of the course. A properly installed efficient system will operate with minimal maintenance for many years and reduce longterm costs. Advanced computerised control systems available in the market of various international brands will help conserve a considerable amount of water, energy and

TURF SUPPLY Various types of the hybrid/native grasses are used on the golf courses depending on the geographical location, soil quality, water availability and climate. There are various agencies who deals in supply of the various kind of grasses required for greens, tees and fairways.

Most ideal strategy is to develop a nursery at site during the construction to avoid heavy cost of turf purchase. april 2017 | golf digest india

43

G O L F E X P O

Industry Special

PHASE – III

GOLF COURSE OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE

GOLF CARTS A golf cart is a small vehicle designed originally to carry two golfers and their golf clubs around a golf course with less effort than walking.

Various International/national brands of electric & petrol carts are available in various seating capacity in India.

GOLF PRO-SHOP A pro shop is a sporting-goods shop facility of some kind, most commonly at the golf course where it will typically be located in the club house building. In the case of golf pro shops, such stores usually provide equipment such as

golf balls, clubs, shoes, and apparels as well as golf-themed gift items, and sometimes snacks or refreshments. Many golf courses outsourced this facility to the golf shop operators on various business models. Strategically at most of the golf courses, registration desk is located inside the Proshop only for golfers to check-in before teeing-off.

GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE It is one of the most important division of the golf course responsible for the maintenance covering all aspects of the cultural practices applied for tur f maintenance through

mechanical and manual procedures. A well laid out maintenance plan will ensure healthy turf and better playing ground for the golfers.

There are companies offering services of giving turnkey solutions for golf course maintenance in India.

FOOD & BEVERAGE F&B facilities are located at various strategic locations inside the course called midway huts, F&B carts or 19th Hole. Facilities are also located at the club house offering various cuisines, bar etc.

UT ABO THE A U OR TH Anit Mehrotra, Director & CEO, Silverglades Golf Development Company

44 golf digest india | april 2017

SGDC: Course Maintenance Specialist As Golf Course Construction and Maintenance specialists the Silverglades Golf Development Company Pvt. Ltd (SGDC) has been at the forefront of offering turnkey solutions for projects related to the Golf Course Development from more than a decade . The Gurugram based firm was born out of a market need to have an integrated golf course development company in the country with all the attendant skill sets and expertise to deliver projects from concept stage to completion. SGDC’s team has been associated with many prestigious Golf Course Projects such as the ITC‘s Classic Golf Resort (Gurgaon),Imperial Golf Estate(Ludhiana) , Tarudhan Valley Golf Resort (Gurgaon), Sushant Golf City(Lucknow) ,Pacific Golf Estate (Dehradun) Delhi Golf Club ,Qutab Golf Course (New Delhi) , Kashmir Golf Course (Srinagar ), Thenzwal Golf Resort (Mizoram)and many more .

Industry Special

New Golf Projects In India New golf courses are the lifeblood to grow the game. Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design (Course Architects) has been tracking such developments for the past 25 years in India. Prior to 2008, Delhi NCR got the championship layouts of ITC Classic, DLF G&CC, Golden Greens GC and Jaypee Greens.

Since then the activity has spred across India with Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Pune being most active.

I N D I A

2017

Lakeview GCC x 18, Naya Raipur Thenzawl Golf x 18, Mizoram Godrej Golf Links x 9 / P3, Greater Noida Beyond 5 Golf x 9 / P3, Ahmedabad

2015

2016

Indus Golf, Bengaluru Prestige Augusta x 9 / P3, Bengaluru

RESEAR CH

Golf City Savroli x18 / P3, Navi Mumbai

Glade One GC x 9, Ahmedabad

Eagleburg GC x 18, Mysore

BY

Greentech City GC x 9, Kolkata

Calcutta Riverside GC x 9, Kolkata

Skytop Golf Village, Mysore

Poona Club GC x 18 (redesign), Pune

Bahri Beautiful GC x 9 / P3, Kodaikanal

Kashmir GC x 18 (redesign), Srinagar

M3M Golf Estate x9 / P3, Gurgaon

Vooty Golf Resort x 18, Hyderabad

Sidhra Jammu GC x 18, Jammu

Qutab GC x 18 (redesign), New Delhi

Naval GC x 18, Cochin Uplands GC x 9 / P3, Ahmedabad The Other Side GC x9 / P3, Ahmedabad

Phil Ryan, Principal, Pacific Coast Design, Australia

G O L F

2014

2013

DLF GCC (Gary Player), Delhi Lodha Navi Mumbai x9 / P3, Navi Mumbai

Kovai Hills GC, Coimbatore

Chikmagalur GC x 18, Chikmagalur, Karnataka

The Edgewater GC, Chennai

Kimmane Resort GC x 9, Shimoga

Jaypee Wishtown GC, Noida

Belvedere GCC, Shantigram Golf x 9, Ahmedabad

Palace Greens GC x9, Chennai

Leh Golf Club, Leh

Lodha Belmondo GC x9 / P3, Pune

MTC Jaipur Golf x 9, Jaipur

Mohali Hills GC x9 / P3, Chandigarh

Crossings Republik x 7 holes, Ghaziabad

CIAL GC x 18, Kerala

Imperial Golf Estate x 18, Ludhiana Sunray Beachfront x9 / P3, Vizag Sushant Golf City x 9, Lucknow

2011

2012

Zion Hills Golf County, Bengaluru

Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru

Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad

Unitech GCC x9, Noida Blue Ridge GC x 9 / P3, Pune

Kaziranga Golf Resort x 18, Assam

HGA x 18, Hyderabad Ambience GC, Gurgaon

2010

Source: Pacific Coast Design/ www.golf-designers.com

Eagleton Golf Resort, Bengaluru Panchkula Golf Club, Chandigarh

Clover Greens, Bengaluru

Karma Lakelands x9, Gurgaon Aamby Valley GC, Lonavala DLF GCC (Arnold Palmer), Gurgaon Royal Springs GC, Srinagar, Kashmir

Jaypee Greens Golf Resort, Greater Noida Tarudhan Valley Golf Resort x9, Gurgaon

< 2008

Kensville GCC, Ahmedabad

2009

Oxford Golf Resort, Pune

E X P O

Pahalgam Golf Club, Kashmir

CIDCO Kharghar Valley GC, Navi Mumbai

Classic GCC, Gurgaon

2008

Boulder Hills GCC, Hyderabad

Golden Greens GC, Gurgaon Qutab GC, Delhi Gulmohar GC x9, Ahmedabad

april 2017 | golf digest india

45

Industry Special

People behind the scenes COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS

Bhupendra Singh Dy Manager (course), Delhi Golf Club

GDI: Can you describe the duties of a golf superintendent?

Core responsibility of a golf superintendent is to grow and maintain high standard turf surfaces for the game of golf but in modern times he is also entrusted with the responsibilities of playing key roles in the overall management of a golf facility.

GDI: What are the biggest challenges you face?

Delhi has characteristic extreme seasons that ne c essitates execution of certain maintenance operations within a time frame and Delhi Golf Club is one of the highly played golf courses in India.

The challenge lies in getting the key cultural operations executed without disrupting the play because availability of course for maintenance activities is highly limited. DGC has substantial old age membership along with young generation golfers. Preparing course to meet the varying expectations of both kind of golfers is a challenge.

GDI: What special changes do you make to prepare for a top class pro or amateur tournament?

Top class tournament preparation begins several weeks prior to the event. Desired course set up parameters are determined for an

event than all maintenance activity is steadily adjusted to achieve those conditions for an event.

GDI: How and when did you get into the profession and how has been your journey?

I graduated in Agriculture Sciences from G.B. Pant University in the year 2007 and was recruited by DLF Golf & Country Club through campus placement. In a decade long journey my passion for profession took me to Singapore where I worked for Raffles Golf & Country Club and had a stint of experience learning top class tournament preparation at Wentworth Golf & Country Club, London.

GDI: What do you most enjoy about your job?

The opportunity of working with Nature! I am not for sedentary jobs and golf course gives an opportunity to work outdoors. I enjoy learning about world cultures and my job offers me opportunities to interact and work with people around the globe. This refines my understanding of people and world.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;DGC HAS SUBSTANTIAL OLD AGE MEMBERSHIP ALONG WITH YOUNG GENERATION GOLFERS. PREPARING THE COURSE TO MEET VARYING EXPECTATIONS IS A CHALLENGE.â&#x20AC;?

Narendra Sengar

Chief Horticulturist, ITC Classic Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon

Planning of turf nutrition program, identification and control of various turf diseases, insects and weeds etc. on the golf course.

GDI: Can you describe the duties of a golf superintendent?

Overall responsibility of golf course which includes general administration, Budgeting, planning, organising, daily course supervision and implementation of various programs/activities related to overall golf course management.

GDI: What are the biggest challenges you face?

To satisfy all the golfers/members is a biggest challenge for any golf course superintendent. To give golfers/members the golf course in good playing conditions on daily basis round the year and simultaneously plan and implement the major maintenance activities

46 golf digest india | april 2017

with minimal impact on members play is really a challenging job.

On golf courses, control of some specific weeds is the biggest challenge due to non-availability of certain turf herbicides in the Indian market. Also there are import restrictions on some of them as not licensed for India thus, golf managers generally try to manage either with some local herbicides combinations to control the same to some extent or hand removal practices which is pretty expensive.

Industry Special

GDI: What special changes do you make to prepare for a top class pro or amateur tournament?

For tournaments, we prepare the course to be more challenging with excellent playing conditions. Major changes we make are providing faster greens with uniform putting surface, strategic pin positioning, low height mowing of tees and fairways for better play; stronger roughs, first cut and narrower fairways to make play more interesting/challenging.

GDI: How and when did you get into the profession and how has been your journey?

After completion of my M.Sc. (Agri.), started my career in landscape & horticulture initially. Upon knowing about the golf courses, the game, I realised that this could be an ideal profession to learn, work, give the best of my knowledge to the industry and play golf too as a bonus, and thus, I Joined ITC Classic Golf Course in 1995 as part of project team involved in course development and continued with them for golf maintenance till mid 2006. In mid 2006 I joined DLF Ltd for golf projects planning and stayed with them for 5 years. For a short period provided services to various golf courses as consultant, thereafter joined Delhi GC as General Manager and now I am chief horticulturist with ITC Ltd. GDI: What do you most enjoy about your job?

Satisfaction of golfers/members, face challenges, resolve the issues and play golf.

“CONTROL OF SOME SPECIFIC WEEDS IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE DUE TO NONAVAILABILITY OF SPECIFIED TURF HERBICIDES IN INDIAN MARKET ALSO THERE ARE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS AS NOT LICENSED FOR INDIA” — NARENDRA SENGAR

OPERATIONS & MEMBER RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS

Priya Puri,

ITC Classic Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon

GDI: Can you describe the duties of an operations and member relations manager?

It is to ensure a smooth and fun environment for the golfers and for the staff. If the staff is happy, energetic and enthusiastic it will ensure the golfers have a good time.

GDI: What are the biggest challenges you face?

This is a very people centric role. So we deal with golfers who all have different natures and styles. This makes the job interesting, as you need to know how to deal with different people. The operations role has its own challenges which present in the form of having strong systems in place and also constantly trying to pre-empt any sticky situations.

GDI: What message do you have for golfers/ members of your course?

This is one of the most golfer friendly courses in India.

It is a ‘Jack Nicklaus’ signature golf course, the first

of its kind 27 hole course in South East Asia. The hillocks and knolls of the Aravallis lend themselves ideally to create enticing fairways, cunning greens and engaging waterways, which are enough to quicken any serious golfer’s heart. The salient feature of Classic Golf & Country Club is that it is fun and challenging for all golfers. We derive our dictum from our parent company which is focused on hospitality and service delight.

GDI: How and when did you get into the profession and how has been your journey?

I got in this profession in 2009, so its been nearly 8 years now. I come from an Economics background and I started working as an Economic Analyst post-graduation. However since I have a sports background and have always been an active person, there was something that was not fitting. It was perhaps destiny that I got introduced to golf and I soon knew that I needed to get back to sports. So I combined the two and ventured into this industry.

GDI: What do you most enjoy about your job?

That I get to be in this beautiful ambience surrounded by flora & fauna and its so peaceful when you come early morning before the hustle starts. The opportunity to meet people from different walks of life. It’s been a great learning experience and each year has been more eventful.

Saurabh Chopra,

Golden Greens Golf Resort, Gurgaon GDI: Can you describe the duties of an operations and member relations manager?

Duties of the operations’ team is to ensure optimum utilization of tee slots and smooth tee offs. It is also important to ensure that the flights maintain pace of play to avoid any hold ups. Caddy management including training is a Key Result Area of operation personnel.

GDI: What are the biggest challenges you face?

Biggest challenge is to improve earning by popularising golf amongst all age groups. Thereby, operating golf course at least at break even, if not profitable. Better utilize facility to learn and play golf for all age groups – amateurs as well as professionals.

Golf continues to be a weekend activity for most (particularly amateurs). It is a challenge to popularize a pre-work 9-hole game on weekdays thereby improving utilization of the Course. Tap potential of golf tourism (domestic as well as International).

GDI: What message do you have for golfers/ members of your course?

Popularise golf amongst members of the family, friends and at work place. Availability of playing Golf is far superior in Gurgaon/Delhi NCR than any other place in the country.

GDI: How and when did you get into the profession and how has been your journey?

I have been a sports lover and a sports person all

through my life, which I think has helped me get into this industry. I got associated with Golden Greens Golf Club in 2006, it was a campus recruitment and I jumped at it because it was a different industry to work with as compared to the normal banks and other office jobs. As mentioned, i have been in this industry for now around 10 years and have actually seen golf grow manifolds as compared to what it was in 2006.

GDI: What do you most enjoy about your job?

Fresh Air, where else can you get it in Delhi-NCR. Being a part of the growing industry, we face many challenges and that is what I enjoy. april 2017 | golf digest india

47

I N D I A G O L F E X P O

Industry Special

Golf’s big names descend on Gurgaon 6th India Golf Expo 2017- April 20-21, Gurgaon, India

BY BHARATH ARVIND bharath@teamgolfdigest.com

S

outh Asia’s largest Golf industry gathering – The 6th India Golf Expo is being held in Gurgaon from April 20-21, 2017. The annual event is organized by the Golf Industry Association of India (GIA) and supported by the Golf Course Superintendents & Managers Association of India (GCS&MAI), Indian Golf Union (IGU), Professional Golf Tour of India ( PGTI) and Ministry of Tourism – Government of India.

The event witnesses the participation of over 500 industry delegates from India and around the world, over 2000 walk in visitors, industry conferences, networking lunches & dinners and industry award ceremonies over two days.

public. Visitors can walk in for Free to try their hand at the latest equipment or get a chance to win exciting prizes from the Daily Lucky Draws.

Association)and Harish Bijoor (Marketing Guru) to name a few.

Conferences & Networking Dinners

Every year, the GIA confers awards upon individuals, organizations & golf courses across categories. The GIA Awards are judged by a jury of industry stalwarts & involves an online poll open to the entire golfing community in India. Past award recipients have been Pawan Munjal, KP Singh (Lifetime Contribution Awards), Jeev Milkha Singh, Rohtas Singh (Lifetime Achievement Awards) and golf courses such as DLF GCC, Karma Lakelands, Belvedere GCC, Hamoni Golf Camp & Mohali Driving Range to name a few.

One of the highlights each year are the highly informational GIA conference and GCS & MAI turf grass seminar which attract the global golf industry’s best speakers and stalwarts sharing their wealth of knowledge.

Past speakers include Gregg Patterson (former GM- Beach Club, LA), James Prusa (Sky72 Golf, Korea), Iain Roberts (PGAMaster Professional), Donato DiPonziano (PGA of Europe), , Arthur Yeo (China Golf

Golf’s biggest Industry brands showcase products

The show features over 40 of golf’s leading global brands such as maintenance and irrigation majors Toro, Rainbird, Ransomes Jacobsen and John Deere showcasing their products to business visitors from 50 golf clubs across more than 16,000 sq.ft. of exhibition area. Leading golf course architects confirmed thus far include Ernie Els Design, Pacific Coast Design and Golf Design India.

Great discounts on Equipment & merchandise

A giant pro shop featuring global equipment giants such as TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, Cleveland, Srixon, Ping, Footjoy, PXG, Honma & XXIO offer exclusive deals in the consumer section to keep visitors thronging the venue.

Visitors Walk in Free

Golf simulators, putting contests, lucky draws & SNAG golf are some of the fun activities to look forward to for the general

Free admission for Walk- In visitors For more information or to register for conferences visit www.indiagolfexpo.com

48 golf digest india | april 2017

Industry Awards

Industry Special

The R&A headlines Expo speakers list

IGE has grown steadily to become the most sought after golf industry event in India. For the first time in India - the 2017 edition witnesses the presence of the R&A (custodians of world golf) addressing the audience on the changes to the rules of golf which go into effect in 2019 Here’s a closer look at some world renowned speakers at India Golf Expo 2017:

Dominic Wall Mike Round

Director- Development, Ladies European Tour

‘Growing women’s golf’ At the beginning of September 2014, Mike joined the Ladies European Tour (LET) as its first Director of Development. In this newly created post, he has been tasked with creating a strategy for how the LET can add value to the development plans in the countries where it has a connection. Prior to the LET, he took over as Chief Executive of England Golf in May 2000 and oversaw an investment of approximately £1.7M per year into grass roots junior golf through a team of over 20 staff. In this role he was involved with the development and delivery of all of the Golf Foundation’s initiatives and sat on Boards of the England Golf Partnership, Golf Development Wales and ClubGolf (the national development partnership in Scotland).

Director- Asia-Pacific, The R&A

‘Proposed changes to the rules of Golf & impact on players’ Currently based in Singapore, Dominic Wall has over 29 years experience at national and international level sports management which includes 16 years in a number of roles for the Australian Golf Union (AGU) and Golf Australia (GA). Dominic has also been a referee and tournament director at various professional and amateur championships including the 2014 Youth Games & 2016 Rio Olympics.

Featured Conference Sessions

Session Details: A panel discussing between state tourism boards, urban development authorities and investors on developing golf related projects to boost tourism and investments.

‘Optimizing revenue from projects’ Stacey is originally from England and has spent over the past 20 years in senior management roles for companies such as Hyatt International, Hilton International and Dubai Golf, based at the famous Emirates Golf in Dubai. Stacey and his team offer expertise and advice on pre-opening, technical and operational assistance, feasibility, strategic planning, business and operating plans.

E X P O

Topic: ‘Growing Women’s Golf’

Speaker: Dominic Wall - Director, R&A

Speakers: Shri. Naveen Raj SinghSecy., Karnataka Tourism, Rajat Kumar- CEO, Naya Raipur Dev. Authority, Asheeh Mohta- Blackstone Group & Yash Gupta - Hines India

Director- Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin

April 20

Topic: ‘Changes to the rules of Golf’

Topic: Attracting Investors to Projects

Stacey James Walton

G O L F

Featured Conference Session

April 20

Session Details: An in depth look at the proposed changes to the rules of golf which take effect in 2019.

I N D I A

Asheesh Mohta

MD, Blackstone Group

‘Attracting investors to projects’ Since joining Blackstone in 2007, Asheesh has been involved in analysing real estate investments across the residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors. Blackstone is the largest real estate private equity firm in the world today with $102 billion of assets under management. He will share his wealth of knowledge on drawing investments towards golf course and real estate projects in India.

Speakers: Mike Round- Director, Ladies European Tour, Simi MehraPro Golfer, representatives from the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) & the Indian Golf Union (IGU).

Session Details: Industry experts engage in a compelling dialogue on measures being taken and planned to growing the game and increase the number of women golfers in India.

april 2017 | golf digest india

49

Industry Special

H Jay Araki

MD, Casa Blanka Consulting

Ranganath Thota

Founder & CEO, Fueladream.com

‘The power of Crowd Sourcing & Online Marketing’ A serial entrepreneur and a passionate marketer, Ranga’s Fueladream.com is a crowdfunding platform that was conceived with the mission to use technology & local knowledge to simplify raising funds for creative ideas, causes, charities and other sectors. He will share experiences on leveraging the power of crowd sourcing by golf courses and and best practices in digital marketing.

‘Generating incremental revenue from expats’ Over a decade and a half of experience doing business in India, he is one of the veterans in the Japanese community. Jay is a passionate golfer and will share his experiences on servicing the Japanese community and key nuances to keep them loyal to your golf course.

Yash Gupta MD, Hines India

‘Attracting investors to projects’ Prior to joining Hines India, a globally renowned real estate investment and development firm, Yash was associated with golf company Silverglades and the development of several golf course projects in India. He will share his expertise on planning and building golf course real estate projects and garnering investors.

Featured Conference Sessions April 21 Topic: ‘The Power of Crowd Sourcing & Digital Marketing’ Speaker: Ranganath ThotaCeo,Fueladream.com Session Details: Ranganath shares his experience on how golf clubs & golf related businesses can leverage crowd sourcing to realize their growth targets and engage the millenials to drive growth.

Topic: Unveiling the GIA Golf Industry Report

Carmen Magro

VP- Stevens Water Monitoring Systems

FJ Singh

MD, Efjay Consulting

‘Spa and Outdoor recreation – Investment & Returns’ With over two decades of experience in the luxury, spa, facilities and wellness industry F.J. Singh combines the years of experience not only as a creator but also as an operator of luxury facilities. Brand Creation & Marketing is his

50 golf digest india | april 2017

‘Innovations in Water Management’ Carmen Magro (CGCS, MBA, Prof Agronomist) has served as Certified Golf Course Superintendent, Director of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program and research facilities at Penn State University (USA), researcher and consultant in his 24 year career. For the past decade he has focused primarily on using technology to optimize turfgrass management practices, water use and integration of environmental stresses as they impact turfgrass health and performance.

Session Details: Anit MehrotraCeo, SGDC will unveil the GIA’s first comprehensive golf industry conducted

by Ken Research Topic: Open House- Laying the roadmap for growth Session Details: For the first time in India all the industry bodies get together with the golf clubs & tours to chart out a roadmap for the future of Indian Golf & steps to drive growth

Industry Special

Golf Course Revenues – Where do they come from? I COURSE DEVELOPERS MUST PLAN CLUBHOUSES WITH RESTAURANTS AND BANQUET HALLS ENJOYING THE BEST VIEWS OF THE COURSE AS THIS IS A BIG SELLER. OUTDOOR LAWNS WITH PICTURESQUE BACKDROPS FOR PERFORMING WEDDINGS ARE ALSO A HUGE REVENUE SPINNER

Once a course is built, the challenge becomes maintenance costs. An 18 hole championship quality course can cost anywhere from Rs 4 to 8 crores annually to maintain. So where does the revenue come from to meet these expenses and keep the business attractive ? The revenue source distribution shown here are both for different championship 18 hole courses. Significantly F&B and Banqueting are a major source and this follows a trend around the world. Course Developers must plan clubhouses with restaurants and banquet halls enjoying the best views of the course as this is a big seller.

Outdoor lawns with picturesque backdrops for performing weddings are also a huge revenue spinner for golf clubs from Kodaikanal to San Francisco. For anyone thinking about the commercial viability of a golf course – these charts provide valuable insights in real life examples.

Modern Commercial Club  Membership Fees  Guest Green Fee  F&B | Banquets  Tournament and Events  Branding and Sponsorship  Academy & Range  Carts /Caddies

2%

5% 2%

11%

Carts /Caddies

25%

G O L F

F&B | Banquets

38%

17%

Membership Fees

Guest Green Fee

Traditional Lifetime Membership Club  Membership Fees  Guest Green Fee + Cart Charges  F&B | Banquets  Tournament and Events  Other Sports  Driving Range  Miscellaneous

N D I A

4.8% 4.3% 7.3%

7.5%

25.7%

E X P O

23.8%

F&B | Banquets

Membership Fees

26.6%

Guest Green Fee + Cart Charges

april 2016 | golf digest india

51

Industry Special

GIA Research Report With the objective of providing sound commercial data about the Indian Golf industry to real estate developers, , state tourism bodies, urban development authorities and other entrepreneurs, the Golf Industry Association (GIA) has commissioned a historic , comprehensive research report which will be unveiled at the India Golf Expo 2017. The report covers a diverse set of verticals across golf. The key topics covered are as follows:

Segmentation of golf courses by civilian and Armed Forces, different zones, by holes, by states and cities

Number of new course developments, investment breakup for development of golf courses, time and land requirement for golf course construction

Number of golf Tournaments in India, major golf events, major golf player descriptions and broadcasting rights generated by golf tournaments

Golf Equipment and Supplies - Market introduction and size by revenues

Active number of golfers from the Armed Forces and otherwise according to gender and age

Market segmentation by regional demand, by type of products and by distribution channel

Golf Tourism Market - by number of tourist arrival, number of inbound foreign golfers, major golf tourist courses and number of golf tourists in India.

Golf course capital investment Market introduction and size by total investment

Trends and Developments for golf equipment and supplies along with future outlook and projections for the market.

Golf facility operations in India including market introduction and size by revenues

Golf tournaments and endorsements Market introduction and size by revenues

People come to play at the Pahalgam Golf Club to soak in the natural beauty of Kashmir

52 golf digest india | april 2017

Golf Based Real Estate Development - Market introduction Total Investment in Golf Based Real Estate Projects - Premium factor involved and economic value generated by these projects.

Industry Special

Residential Projects Lend Best Returns I It is often talked about how golf adds value to a proposed residential / resort project but to date no research on this has been undertaken in India. Pacific Coast Design (PCD) undertakes Site Planning (golf related projects) and Golf Course Design across India / Asia. PCD has researched (June - July 2013) the major new golf growth zones of India to compare the value of accommodation product (villas & apartments) on / overlooking golf projects versus similar (standards, amenities, size / ft2 etc.) accommodation product (villas & apartments) nearby.

The research has shown in every instance that accommodation product over looking or on golf projects gives a higher return over similar accommodation product nearby.

180%

Delhi Golf Apartments achieve an average 180% higher return

Delhi Golf Villas achieve an average 56% higher return

Noida Golf Apartments achieve an average 67% higher return

H

62%

Ahmedabad Golf Villas achieve an average 62% higher return

Pune Golf Apartments achieve 25% average higher return

Source: Phil Ryan/Pacific Coast Design

34%

G O L F E X P O

Bangalore Golf Villas achieve an average 34% higher return

Chennai Apartments Preliminary Data 26% higher return Chennai Villas Preliminary Data 34% higher return

april 2017 | golf digest india

N D I A

53

Industry Special

Golf: A Boon For The Environment I

BY RISHI NARAIN

ndian sports fans and businessmen are aware that today more people are playing and learning golf in our country than ever before. The number of active golfers in India, based on the approximately 200 golf courses in operation is around 50,000 give or take 20%.

One reservation expressed by observers of golf course development is that the environment suffers. The United States Golf Association since 1990 has supported several university research projects to evaluate the relationships between golf and the environment. The studies have revealed some interesting results:

Golf courses create good wildlife habitats: Around half the approximately 100 acres occupied by a typical golf course consists of rough areas that are not used in play. These areas feature natural grasses, trees, shrubs and other plants. Combined with lakes, streams and the open play areas, the golf course is an attractive habitat for many types of wildlife. A visit to any golf course in the country shows that from fish to birds, insects, squirrels, rabbits, mongoose, and the occasional deer, golf courses support an impressive array of species.

Dense green Turfgrass found on golf courses protects topsoil from water and wind erosion: Topsoil is not a renewable resource. Wind and water erodes the topsoil into rivers, lakes and oceans. Once gone, it cannot be replaced in our lifetime.

54 golf digest india | april 2017

But because of its dense system of roots and shoots, turfgrass prevents erosion by capturing water that flows from rainstorms.

Studies show that after intense rainstorms, the turfgrass covered soil of parks and golf courses hold 20 times more topsoil than traditional farmland or unkept areas.

Turf absorbs rain water: Water is absorbed by turf because the root system create tiny spaces that hold moisture and funnel it through the soil. The healthy turf on golf courses hosts as many as 300 earthworms per square yard. The tunnels the earthworms provide create even more places for water to go in. As water soaks into the soil below, it is filtered. Studies have shown that this process is so effective that many golf courses have become water recycling sites for their surrounding communities.

Turf can help restore damaged land areas: Many developers around the world have learned that turf is an excellent choice of surface to restore areas damaged by waste sites, strips mines, quarries and abandoned cropland. These scars on the land have in thousands of instances been transformed by building golf courses, parks or other natural areas, creating attractive landscapes that result in successful land reclamation. In nearby Phuket, Thailand, the Laguna Phuket development which supports an 18 hole golf course plus four premium resorts and play areas, has been created on an abandoned tin mine site , which 20 years ago was

completely bare dirt and abandoned.

Turf improves the air that we breathe: The turf growth process takes carbon dioxide from the air and releases some of the oxygen we need. A landscape of turf, trees and shrubs measuring 2000 square feet generates enough oxygen to sustain one person for one year. Grass areas significantly absorb heat and it is common sense that parks and golf courses are cooler than areas covered by asphalt roads and concrete sidewalks or houses. The addition of a lush green golf course will significantly cool the area in a real estate development while absorbing dust, noise while creating a low stress oasis in the urban desert.

All things considered, there is enough research and proof as well as live experiences in India and abroad that golf provides a self sustaining, value adding positive resource for any city or community. The environmental scorecard has swung in favour of golf courses as many of them have installed water recycling plants thereby using only recycled water while capturing rainwater and recharging the water table underneath through proper designed drainage systems.

As city planners and urban developers learn more about the positive environmental benefits of golf besides just the obvious commercial and sporting ones, the golf industry in India hopes to see another 50 courses underway in our country in the next five years.

Industry Special

Golf 2.0 For The Millennials

I N D I A

“We all know that participation in golf has been waning over the last few years,” said Eddy Lui, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 18Birdies. “What this study proves, however, is that there is a great opportunity for the industry to grow the game through technology and gamification, especially with today’s younger generation, who are going to be essential for growing the sport.”

A mobile golf technology s t a r t- u p, 1 8 B i r d i e s , h a s unveiled findings from a KRC Research commissioned study about the current state of golf participation. The results revealed tremendous opportunities to attract nongolfers and Millennials/ Generation Z to the game through mobile technology and unconventional play.

NON-GOLFERS

TECHNOLOGY USAGE

SOCIALIZE

RE-FORMAT

l 4/10 non-golfers are interested in learning and playing

Leveraging mobile technology would grow the game with golfers and non-golfers.

The social nature of golf is a strong characteristic and can lead to more participation. Golfers and non-golfers agree that golf is a good way to meet new people and network:

Different formats of tournaments and game play would lead to increased participation.

Additional ways to play the game are very intriguing to golfers and non-golfers:

l 67% of millennials and 73% of Gen Z non-golfers stated they want to learn to play

BETTING AND SIDE GAMES Golfers and nongolfers, particularly among younger generations, look for ways to make the game fun: l 87% of millennial golfers are interested in playing more if they could bet with others l 56% of golfers and 46% of millennial golfers play side games on the course l 61% of golfers and 69% of non-golfers would play more golf if they could play side games on the course

Source: 18Birdies/KRC Research

A majority of respondents stated they would welcome mobile technology to assist them throughout their round: l 61% of golfers would play more if their smartphone had an app that keeps score. This is even higher among younger golfers. l 94% of millennials and 78% of Gen Z-ers say they would play more with a smartphone app l 63% of non-golfers are more likely to play with the help of smartphones l 86% of golfers confess to missing a shot because they didn’t know the distance to the hole and would benefit from technology that could track distances

l 86% of millennials and 83% of Gen Z-ers would be more likely to play if they had a friend to take them l 92% of golfers and 83% of non-golfers agree that golf is a good way to network and conduct business l 90% of golfers and 81% of non-golfers agree that golf is a good way to meet people

WHAT ELSE? Other factors that would lead nongolfers to play include larger cups, being able to tee up every shot and night golf: l 72% of non-golfers would play if they could use a 15-inch hole; the number is higher with millennials at 82% l 69% of non-golfers would play if they could tee up every shot; the number rises to 82% with millennials l 63% of non-golfers would be more likely to play if they had access to night golf; with millennials, the number rises to 74%

l 80% of golfers and 69% of non-golfers would play more if there were more opportunities to play scramble formats; 80% of millennial nongolfers would also play more with scramble formats l Shorter rounds will increase frequency of play and attract new golfers: 73% of golfers and 84% of nongolfers want to play shorter rounds (three, six, or nine holes); 95% of millennial golfers and 91% of millennial non-golfers would also play more with shorter rounds.

april 2017 | golf digest india

55

G O L F E X P O

Corporate Digest

Golfers from Bengaluru, Chandigarh & Mumbai for World Final in Stuttgart!

L-R: Amit Thete (GM- Marketing & Sales, MBIL), Michael Jopp (VP - Marketing & Sales, MBIL), World Finalists - Khushaal Thackersey, Kiran C & Tajinder Singh Rihal, Dr. Jurgen Morhard (Consul General from Germany), Roland Folger (MD & CEO, MBIL), Vikas Kumaria (GM- Product Management, MBIL) and Alex Thomas (GM- Network Development, MBIL)

A

fter 23 exciting rounds of golf across 12 cities, the 17th edition of MercedesTrophy India came to a successful end at the National Final held at Oxford Golf Resort in Pune in March. 42 finalists selected from among 2500 amateur golfers competed for three coveted spots at the MercedesTrophy World Final. Khushaal Thackersey from Mumbai (3 Handicap & 38 Points) emerged victorious in 0-12 handicap category, Kiran C from Bengaluru (15 H’cap & 35 Points) won in 13-17 while in 18-24 category, Tajinder Singh Rihal from Chandigarh (20 H’cap & 39 Points) came on top.

The winning trio will now travel to Stuttgart, Germany for the World Final to representing the tricolour against players from 60 other countries - something which every golfer aspires for.

Meanwhile, Sameera Noaman from Bengaluru won the ‘Drive to the Major’straightest Drive contest and will travel to the British Open Championship at St Andrews, Scotland this July as a guest of Mercedes-Benz. She may also get a chance to play on the championship course the day following the tournament – a priceless experience!

Since 2002, 45 Indian amateurs have emerged national champions to qualify for Stuttgart to represent their country and live

58 golf digest india | april 2017

Tejendra Singh Sodhi

the ‘three pointed star’ dream!

Apart from a top class golfing experience, the amateurs get treated to a visit to the MercedesBenz plant in Sindelfingen before delving into the history of the famed car manufacturer at the Mercedes-Benz museum.

Dr. Jurgen Morhard-Consul General from Germany addressing the gathering during lunch

Corporate Digest

Saurabh Singh Mangat

Veera Singh

Off Road Experience

David Daniel & Anil Monga

Mohit Sachdev with wife Sonal

Ganesh Kumar Jaganathan with wife Vikhashini

The National Finalists in front of the Centre of Excellence in Pune

april 2017 | golf digest india

59

Corporate Digest

WINNERS OF REGIONAL ROUNDS Gurgaon Winners

Gorav Jaitly

Jaipur Winners

Ajay Singh

Rajan Chadha & Mohit Talwar

Tejinder Singh Sodhi

Tushar Saigal & Yogesh Batra

Greater Noida Winners

Mohit Sachdev & Veera Singh

60 golf digest india | march 2017

Rajesh Gupta

Varun Chadha & Anil Monga

Vijay Chhabra

Corporate Digest

Hot Par-suit!

C

handigarh Police together with SARA Group organized the 5th DGP Invitational Golf Tournament over 36 holes.

Over 220 civil servants, govt. officials and prominent businessmen came together for the two day golfing extravaganza in March played over a weekend at Panchkula Golf Club and Chandigarh Golf Club. The event even attracted participation from nearby states with as many as 40 golfers travelling from Delhi NCR. The tournament was inaugurated at Panchkula GC by chief guest Parimal Rai, IAS, Advisor to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh and Professor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Haryana graced the occasion in the evening to award the winners for their efforts.

The event culminated at Chandigarh Golf Club where V.P. Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab gave away the prizes followed by a glittering dinner at Lake Club, Chandigarh.

Few select participants included Tajender Singh Luthra, IPS (DGP, UT, Chandigarh), D.P. Singh (Managing Director, SARA International.), Ramesh Bawa (MD & CEO, IL&FS Financial Services), H.G.S. Dhaliwal (Deputy Director, Bureau Civil Aviation), Pradeep Jain (Chairman, Silverglades), Gurnam Arora (JMD, Kohinoor Foods), Deepit Singh (SARA International), S.C. Choudhry, IAS (Chief Commissioner, Haryana Right to Service Commission), Santosh Kumar, IFS (Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest & Wildlife Dept. UT Chd.), Sharat Sabharwal (Central Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission), Surinder Pall (Director Commercial, Punjab State Power Corp.), Siddhi Nath Roy (Principal Secretary, Fisheries Dept., Haryana Govt.), Devender Singh, IAS (Principal Secretary, Haryana Govt.), Justice Mohinder Pal (Hon'ble Judge, Gujarat High Court), Dr. R.C. Mishra, IPS (Commissioner of Police, Panchkula), D.S. Bains (Chairman, Punjab Electricity Regulatory Board), Honâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ble Judges from Punjab & Haryana High Court- Justice Mahesh Grover, Justice MM Bedi and Justice Jaswant Singh.

Tajender Singh Luthra, IPS (DGP, UT, Chandigarh) felicitates Professor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Haryana

THE EVENT EVEN ATTRACTED PARTICIPATION FROM NEARBY STATES WITH AS MANY AS 40 GOLFERS TRAVELLING FROM DELHI NCR.

The event was inaugurated by chief guest Parimal Rai, IAS, Advisor to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh

Justice Mahesh Grover (Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court) flanked by D.P. Singh (Managing Director, SARA International)-Left and Tajender Singh Luthra, IPS (DGP, UT, Chandigarh) Tournament trophies were up for grabs in various categories

L-R: Punjab Lady Governor Alka Singh chats with Abha Singh and Reena Luthra

V.P. Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab awards junior golfer Jujhar Singh

L-R: Alka Singh (Lady Governor, Punjab) awards ladies winner Himanshika Sehgal

april 2017 | golf digest india

61

Corporate Digest

18th World Corporate Golf Challenge tees off

Sandeep Singh (Center) (MD – Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery) with his team

O

ne of India’s most sought after corporate events, TATA HITACHI World Corporate Golf Challenge kicked off it’s west zone qualifier at Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC) in Chembur, Mumbai. Over 120 top corporates and business leaders showcased their golfing prowess in the inaugural leg of the 18th edition of the coveted tournament.

In 0-17 Handicap category Asheesh Mohta claimed top spot while Mukesh Panchal finished runner-up. Tarun Rai emerged victorious 18-24 handicap category followed

by Kamlesh Thakur in 2nd place.

Few select participants included Former cricketer Ajit Agarkar, Arjuna awardee swimmer Rehan Poncha, Jaideep Singh (MD & COO, Rabobank), Ajay Chauhan (Executive Director, Parle Products), Leo Puri (MD, UTI Asset Management), Gautam Bhandari (MD, BNP Paribas), Prashant Purker (MD & CEO, ICICI Venture), Amit Kumar (Group president & Country Head, Yes Bank), Milind Patel (Joint MD, IL&FS Financial Services), Ravikanth Konteti ( Senior MD, JP Morgan Chase Bank), Carlton Pereira (MD, Tano India Advisors), Sharad Kachalia (Director, Navnit Motors), Sandeep Batra (CFO, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals), Anirudha Chitnis (MD, Chitsons Designs Spaces) The top two golfers in each h’cap category

62 golf digest india | april 2017

National Finalist: Mukesh Panchal (MD, Kaveen Infra Solutions), Asheesh Mohta (MD, Blackstone), Kamlesh Thakur (Director, Srishti Group) and Tarun Rai (CEO South Asia, JWT)

from the regional rounds will qualify for the National Final scheduled to be played at Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru in April end. Two winners from the National Final will qualify to compete under tricolour at the coveted WCGC World Final to be held in Cascais, Portugal from June 21-25.

WCGC is the biggest international

corporate golf team event worldwide involving more than 7500 corporate executives in 40 countries. India has had an illustrious history at the WCGC and emerged world champions in 2015 courtesy the pair of Shashidhar Reddy and Sonam Chugh from Hyderabad. India made its competitive debut in WCGC in 1999.

Corporate Digest

L to R: Leo Puri (MD, UTI Asset Management), Anand Jhaveri (Chairman, Prime Agencies), Dinesh Vaswani (MD, Acuitas Capital Advisory) and Mihir Doshi (MD & CEO, Credit Suisse)

Charles Johnson from Tano India Advisors poses with TATA HITACHI excavator on the 15th Tee

Player of the day winner Devang Shah (L) receives prize from Shin Nakajima (Director – Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery)

Olympian swimmer and Arjuna awardee Rehan Poncha

Nitish Kumar from Standard Chartered presents Hari Narayan (R) Longest Drive Prize

Former cricketer Ajit Agarkar

Shalini D’Souza (Sales Account Manager, Etihad Airways) presents Straightest Drive Prize to Kamesh Gupta (R)

Sashi Natarajan from Prestige White Meadows presents Closest to Pin Prize to Venkatesh Chandramouli (R)

SCHEDULE

TATA HITACHI WORLD CORPORATE GOLF CHALLENGE Date

Venue

18th March

Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC), Mumbai

25th March

Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA), Hyderabad

22nd April

Classic Golf Resort, Gurgaon

29th April

Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru

NATIONAL FINAL Arjun Nohwar (Head – Asia Pacific, Uber for Business)

Ajay Chauhan (Executive Director, Parle Products)

Milind Patel, Jt. MD-IL&FS Financial Services

30th April

Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru

Completed legs

april 2017 | golf digest india

63

Business of Golf

Muirfield back in Open contention as it votes to let women join M

uirfield golf club, outside Edinburgh Scotland, scene of some of The Open’s most memorable victories, voted to admit women members, scrapping the all-male policy that led to the historic Scottish links course earlier being stripped of its eligibility to host Britain’s Open championship.

Club captain Henry Fairweather announced that the necessary two-thirds majority had been reached, with 80.2

percent of members voting in favour of change.

The R&A, the body that organises The Open, declared Muirfield back on its list of eligible courses, having said last year it would not stage the tournament at a venue that did not admit female members.

Muirfield has had a maleonly membership policy since the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which controls the course, was founded in 1744. Women are allowed to play there, but an initial ballot to allow women members failed in May last year when only 64

Club captain Henry Fairweather announced that the necessary two-thirds majority had been reached, with 80.2 percent of members voting in favour of change.

percent voted in favour. That result drew criticism from several top golfers, including four-times Major winner Rory McIlroy.

Muirfield has hosted the Open 16 times, most recently in 2013 when it was won by American Phil Mickelson. The Royal St George’s club in Kent was recently awarded hosting rights for the 2020 Open after it too voted to allow women members in 2015.

Sony completes acquisition of Ten Sports & Ten Golf Golfers may see more innovation with Ten Golf as Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) and its affiliates have completed the first phase of a twophase acquisition of the Ten Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises. In September last year, the two companies had announced that SPN will buy the Ten network for $385 million (about Rs 2,600 crore).

Following the completion of this phase of the acquisition, SPN will add TEN 1, TEN 1 HD, TEN 2, TEN 3, and TEN Golf HD to its already existing cluster of sports channels including Sony SIX, Sony Six HD, Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD. Ten Golf currently telecasts the European Tour, Asian Tour, LPGA and PGTI as well as syndicated content from Golf Channel USA.

66 golf digest india | april 2017

Business of Golf

Danang Gears Up for Asia’s Biggest Golf Tourism Event

B

randed ‘AGTC on the Beach’, the sixth annual International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) in Danang will be Asia’s largest-ever golf tourism event and will be held from May 7-13.

P e t e r Wa l t o n , C h i e f Executive of organiser IAGTO, visited Danang recently to announce that this year’s AGTC has broken all previous records to attract the largest number of golf tour operators to attend such an event in Asia.

More than 240 golf tour operators from 36 countries have registered to attend AGTC. Walton said 63% of the attending tour operators are from within Asia including 37 from Korea, 33 from China, 14 from Singapore and eight from both Japan and Hong Kong.

A total of 52 of the buyer delegates are from Europe (22%) with a further 22 from Australia and New Zealand and six from the United States.

India will once again be sending a contingent to the

More than 240 golf tour operators from 36 countries have registered to attend AGTC. Walton said 63% of the attending tour operators are from within Asia including 37 from Korea, 33 from China, 14 from Singapore and eight from both Japan and Hong Kong. show but more importantly, the Indian golf industry needs to learn how new golf destinations are establishing themselves and

garnering a healthy share of the billion dollar golf tourism market. As a result of hosting AGTC this year, Danang

Department of Tourism expects that Danang will be recognised as the heart of golf tourism in Vietnam and that this will be a launch-pad for Danang to become one of Asia’s most popular golf destinations.

Danang Department of Tourism expects growth as a direct result of the AGTC Convention to add US$20 million per year onto tourism receipts and for this annual increase on existing visitor revenue to double once new golf courses are opened.

Established in 2012 by IAGTO, AGTC is a three-day series of business meetings designed to give 18 Asia Pacific golf destinations, including Vietnam, the opportunity to do business with golf tour operators from around the globe, all of which are IAGTO members.

Following the meetings, 180 of these tour operators will then spend 3 days visiting the courses and hotels of Vietnam’s Central Coast region to help them sell the destination to golf travellers in key markets worldwide.

World’s largest golf course management trade show 2017 Golf Industry Show, Feb 4-9 in Orlando, Florida

P

re sente d by the Golf C ourse Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), the Golf Industry Show includes the GCSAA Golf Championships, education conferences and an innovative trade show that features unparalleled networking opportunities and hands-on access to golf course and facility management solutions for professional members of the golf industry. 13,600 attendees included golf course superintendents, owners, builders, architects, equipment managers, appraisers, developers, green chairmen, golf professionals and others from the golf course industry.

Participating partners of the Golf Industry Show are the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), the United States Golf Association (USGA), and the National Golf Foundation (NGF).

The GCSAA Education Conference, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show, is the largest educational conference in the golf course management industry. A total of 5,800 education seats were filled for more than 88 seminars focused on the professional

(L-R): V Goyal , Pramod Balal, SGDC CEO Anit Mehrotra, Rain Bird international sales manager Mohan Subramanian, Ganesh Jayavelu and Vinod Goyal at the Golf Industry Show in USA

development of attendees, with topics covering agronomy, business management, communication, environmental management and leadership. Additional education opportunities included panel discussions, sessions and forums that touched on such subjects as budget planning, government regulations, resource conservation, community

relations and much more.

The trade show, which represented the full spectrum of golf facility management and golf business, included more than 569 exhibitors spanning 250,000 net square feet of exhibit space and representing significant aspects of a golf operation – from ownership, feasibility and design, construction and operations. april 2017 | golf digest india

67

Business of Golf

Three New Golf Courses To Dot The Indian Landscape

Greater Noida, Raipur and Rae Bareli will soon see their landscape accentuated with three new golf courses come next year.

varun joins gia board of directors Varun Oberoi, who has been actively involved with the Golf Industry Association (GIA), has joined the Board of Directors in the organization as a Special Invitee in February 2017.

Varun joine d Rain Bird Corporation as Golf Area Manager for India & the SubContinent in July last year. He has got 9 years of experience in sales and marketing in the field of electronic security and life safety solutions.

He has also worked with Honeywell International and HCL Infosystems. He holds an engineering degree in electronic and communication and Masters in International Business.

G

odrej Golf Links, a 9-hole golf course, is part of a 100-acre township in Greater Noida and would feature many innovative concepts such as abstract teeing grounds, unique plantation & water management systems. Raipur would see its first 9-hole golf course, The Elysium Champions Links, where the design integrates golf with real estate housing and nongolf amenities like fishing and other outdoor activities in a cohesive manner. Rae Bareli will also have an 18hole golf course Eco-Park with a Par of 72 & a total yardage of over 7250.

All three courses are designed by Golf Design India, one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prominent golf architectural firms lead by principal architect Vijit Nandrajog.

Golf Design India leads the way in creating sustainable golf courses that are economically beneficial for Vijit Nandrajog, principal architect, Golf Design India developers while adding value The organisation has to the community... also been renovating Golf Design India leads the way in creating sustainable golf courses that are economically beneficial for developers while adding value to community and environment. Over the last decade, the company has worked on over 40 projects with an aim to deliver sustainable assets. The firm adopts an environmentally responsible approach with the use of natural resources, efficient water & energy management and pollution prevention mechanisms.

68 golf digest india | april 2017

existing golf courses to help the management & committees in bringing their maintenance costs down through sustainable design improvements that are easy to maintain yet improve the courseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playability & strategy.

We l l p l a n n e d a n d professionally designed golf courses can become great examples of responsible landscape developments & golf architects play a key role in determining the impact of golf developments on the environment.

Rain Bird is a leading global manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services. Rain Bird provides fully-integrated end-to-end solutions to address the challenges of maintaining h e a lt hy gra ss a n d t o p playability on the golf course.

Total integration of each component provides a full system that is easier to manage and runs more efficiently than mix-and-match systems.

Varun Oberoi Golf area manager (India & Sub-Continent) Rain Bird Corporation

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69

SCOT & BOLD

Health & Fitness

Scotswoman Carly Booth shares her fitness regimen that makes her such a dominant character on the fairways

Fitness is becoming very essential in golf. Everybody wants to get into a better shape and hit the ball longer.

It’s a lot about appearances – you look good, you feel good, you play better.

Even getting sponsors for that matter.

Coming from a family of sportspersons – father Wally a Commonwealth Games silver medal-winning wrestler, brother Wallace an Eisenhower and St Andrews Trophy winner in golf (2008), Ladies European Tour (LET) professional Carly Booth was puzzled initially as a kid about which sports to make a career in.

Despite being a competent gymnast and swimmer, Carly chose longevity over thrill.

70 golf digest india | april 2017

Fitness routine

During tournaments it’s a lot more chilled out as compared to when I am at home where I have more time. At home I get into heavier weights. Come tournaments I do just limited amount of cardio, stretching, some core and maybe some free weights. I try to preserve as much energy as possible for the tournament rounds. At home, I workout 5-6 days a week and focus on a certain muscle each day. I try to do cardio for just 2-3 days a week.

Fitness is becoming very essential in golf. We have seen what happened to Tiger Woods. Everybody wants to get into a better shape and hit the ball longer. It’s a lot about appearances – you look good, you feel good, you play better. Even getting sponsors for that matter.

Images: K. JaIraJ ChaudhrI, Instagram: @Carlyabooth; loCatIon Courtesy: dlF golF & Country Club

Health & Fitness

As a supremely fit athlete she adorned the pages of ESPN’s 2013 Body Issue (above) alongside legendary golfer Gary Player and Golf Punk magazine’s Swingin’ Siren spread.

MEET CARLY Date of Birth – June 21, 1992 Place of Birth – Crieff, Scotland Turned pro – 2009 Wins – 2 (2012 Ladies Scottish Open and 2012 Swiss Ladies Open on Ladies European Tour) Career Earnings – 281,760 Euros Favourite golfer – Tiger Woods Favourite team – Liverpool FC Achievements – PlayedJunior Ryder Cup in 2006 and 2008 - Rated No. 1 junior in Europe after winning the European Junior Masters in 2007 - Lifted the Scottish Under-18 and Under-21 titles in 2007

As a competent gymnast, Carly Booth is pretty comfortable doing the split (right) and hand stand (above). It helps her maintain flexibility

- Became the youngest player, aged 15, to represent Great Britain & Ireland in the 76-year history of the Curtis Cup at St Andrews in 2008 Interests - Dancing, Gymnastics stuff like hand stand, split and back flip

GOLF OVER GYMNASTICS I was a gymnast for six years and represented Scotland at age 10. A lot of things that I do now I’ve managed to keep from my younger days. I always wanted to do certain things for the rest of my life after I left gymnastics. Obviously hand stand, split and back flips. I keep practicing them every now and then. If you have never done a hand stand in your life then you must start by taking support of someone or by leaning against the wall. It will eventually get better as everything is about practice.

I had a very supportive family – my father was an Olympic wrestler, he won a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games.

He brought me and my brothers into different sports while growing up. I was also a swimmer at a high level, so at least we could choose what kind of sports we could focus on, have a chance to play and experience all sports. Having swimming and gymnastics as two of my foundation sports while growing up really helped me get the power, strength and coordination.

You can play golf till a very old age. My career would have been over with gymnastics now. I am 24. Golf takes you all over the world. You get to meet so many great people from celebrities to cricketers and wealthy businessman too, which is amazing. Plus getting to explore 20-30 countries every year is incredible.

Text: Rohit Bhardwaj

april 2017 | golf digest india

71

Tête-à-Tête with Rafa Cabrera Bello

Exclusive

“Indian golfers are naturals”

–Rafa Cabrera Bello

72 golf digest india | april 2017

Tête-à-Tête with Rafa Cabrera Bello

BY ROHIT BHARDWAJ rohit@teamgolfdigest.com

Rafa Cabrera Bello does the ‘shaka’ with his Golf Digest India instruction article during the Hero Indian Open

H

e is, at #25, the highest-ranked golfer to participate in the Hero Indian Open since Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, who was ranked 16th when he competed at Delhi Golf Club in 2006.

Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello battled it out on the challenging DLF Golf & Country Club for the 53rd edition of our national open to finish a creditable tied fifth on a course which instilled fear in the minds of many prominent names with its undulations, deep bunkers and large water bodies cutting into fairways. Rafa exclusively spoke to Golf Digest India on a variety of topics from his targets in 2017, his fitness regime and his Ryder Cup experience to his opinion on top Indian golfers Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia.

Excerpts from the interview:

GDI: How did you get into golf and who was your inspiration?

RCB: I got in to golf by chance.

One day my uncle came to my parents’ house with a golf club and a plastic ball. He and my dad just started swinging in the back yard and obviously what happens to most people is that it looks easier than it really is.

So my dad got into it. He fell in love with the complexity of golf.

It’s not just a sport of… well, ultimately the aim is to hit a ball into a hole but around that there is this really passionate world and really intriguing sport. That’s what he enjoyed about it and we started – I say we because it’s my brother and sister as well – when we were very young going to a golf course that was close to home. It kept growing from then on… I grew up watching videos of Seve (Ballesteros), hearing tales of him as well. But the one thing that inspired me or got me dreaming of turning pro was watching Jose Maria Olazabal winning the Masters in 1994 and 1999.

GDI: Rafa what is it that you love about Asia?

RCB: Well, Asia is very, very big so it’s hard to speak about Asia as only one place. I mean I played in Indonesia, which is a place I really like a lot, obviously

FAST FACTS

Date of Birth: May 25, 1984 Residence: Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain Turned Pro: 2005 European Tour Wins: 2 (2012 Dubai Desert Classic, 2009 Austria Golf Open) Challenge Tour wins: 2 (2008 Credit Suisse Open, 2006 MAN No Open) Best World Ranking: 25 Best finish in a Major: T-17 at 2016 Masters Team Appearances: 2016 Ryder Cup, 2013 & 2016 World Cup of Golf

in the Middle East I have had some good amount of success there. And places like Malaysia, India I’ve also played good. I like to play all over the world. I like to play on all types of different courses. I think that helps me to grow as a player. It gets my game very complete and that’s maybe why I’ve had a little bit of success all over the world. I just enjoy travelling.

GDI: Have you had the chance to play with Anirban or SSP in the US or Europe? What is your opinion of them?

RCB: I think both are good examples. Anirban and SSP, both are great players. They are very, very complete. Anirban I really think is a world class player. What I have always enjoyed and valued a lot about

Indian players is how naturally talented they seem to be. The majority of them you look at their swings and they don’t look mechanical at all. It seems like they have been born with it and almost self-taught.

GDI: You made your Ryder Cup debut last year, what was the experience like?

RCB: I think I would put my two wins alongside the Ryder Cup as the best moments in my golf career. For me, obviously apart from the final score, losing, I wouldn’t change a thing from the Ryder Cup. I was very fortunate to be able to play a four ball match with my friend, whom I admire, Sergio (Garcia).

And then in particular about that game against Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth, we played

I grew up watching videos of Seve (Ballesteros), hearing tales of him as well.

But the one thing that inspired me or got me dreaming of turning pro was watching Jose Maria Olazabal winning the Masters in 1994 and 1999.” great, we were just struggling at the beginning because they were really playing brilliant. I think they had something like seven birdies in the first eleven, twelve holes, which for that format is remarkable. And you know, Sergio and I were speaking, we were just trying to stay calm. We were playing good it’s just that they were outplaying us, but we will have our chance. Obviously they made a few mistakes coming in the last five, six holes. We took advantage of that. We also made some birdies on the last few holes, it turned the match around completely. A match that seemed totally lost, all of a sudden we got all square to the 18th. That was really nice to be able to fight back and get half a point for Europe.

GDI: You also had the opportunity to play the Olympics, obviously there are very few Olympians in golf, how was that experience?

RCB: It was a very nice experience. Since golf wasn’t in the Olympics when I was a little kid, I never really dreamt about being an Olympian, but I did enjoy very much the whole experience of sharing a week with some, or probably the biggest, athletes of my country and the best athletes in the world.

Watching them train, talking, and sharing the village with them. It was very nice.

april 2017 | golf digest india

73

Tête-à-Tête with Rafa Cabrera Bello Rafa Cabrera Bello discusses with his caddie Colin Byrne during the final round of the Hero Indian Open

Rafa’s Favourites Movie Gladiator Actor Russell Crowe Music Pop, soul but open to all kinds of music Food Steak with rice Superstitions I always have 3 No. 1s, 3 No. 2s, 3 No. 3s and 3 No. 4s among golf balls in my bag every time I play. I don’t want to pick a number so I stick my hat and shuffle out whichever number ball is coming out on that day.

2016 was a memorable year as I began the season at 115th and ended being World No. 27. I had seven top-5 finishes, plus I played the Ryder Cup for the first time and represented my country in the Olympics.”

GDI: You’ve got a place in Bali.

So what attracted you to buy a place in Bali?

RCB: (Laughs) Surfing! I love to surf when I have some time off.

It’s really my hobby. To be there, I have some really good friends there and I enjoy it outside of golf when my schedule allows it.

What does the federation do at the grassroots to nurture talented amateurs?

RCB: Over the last decade or so I have not been so involved with the Spanish federation.

But I can speak of from when I was an amateur. They helped me a lot financially to travel to the best tournaments in Europe and compete against the best players in the continent as part of the national team.

GDI: Being one of the fittest players on the European Tour, what is your usual fitness routine?

RCB: I try to work out 4-5 days a week. While competing, 3 of those days are spent on strength and conditioning and other two are more of injury prevention, recovery and balance and mobility exercises, which I think are very important for longevity in golf. At home on my weeks off, depending on the time of the year, a little harder weights or full recovery time.

GDI: How will you sum up 2016 – a year of near misses or a memorable season?

RCB: Definitely a memorable year as I began the season at 115th and ended being World No. 27. I had seven top-5 finishes, plus I played the Ryder Cup for the first time and represented my country in the Olympics. So it’s not even close to a year of near misses.

GDI: Young kids like John Ram are coming up from Spain.

GDI: What are your goals for 2017?

RCB: My goal is to get back to the winning circle soon as I came close on many occasions last year and the year before that as well. I finished second since my last win. I know what to do as I have done it before.

GDI: You also have a namesake in tennis, Rafa, who is coming back. What do you think about him?

RCB: I think he is a remarkable athlete. One of the best – if not the best – in the history of his sport. I’ve been lucky enough to meet him and he’s an extremely nice and humble person. He exemplifies a lot of the values that I really love about sport in general. It’s really nice to watch him compete every single time…

I think he’s playing much better again. I think he has won tournaments this year, he got to the Australian Open final as well.

I am sure he will be winning many more events.

Essentials in your travel bag My laptop Mentor/Idol My dad Sport apart from golf Surfing, skiing, football on beach, tennis game once in an year Clubs in your bag All Titleist Golf course around the world Pebble Beach, USA Golf course on wish list Cypress Point, California

South African legend Ernie Els is the highest-ranked golfer to ever participate in a professional event in the country.

Els was World No. 4 when he participated in the Emaar-MGF Indian Masters in 2008.

74 golf digest india | april 2017

Images: K. Jairaj Chaudhri, Vineet Mann, European Tour/Getty Images

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On the Asian Tour

Josh Burack: Walking The Extra Mile Exclusive

H

e has been entrusted with the task of expanding the reach and generating higher revenue for the Asian Tour. In the first five months of his stint as the Asian Tour CEO, Josh Burack has added four new tournaments that will feature on the 2018 calendar. The former Senior Vice-President at Dentsu Sports Asia, a subsidiary of the sports division of Dentsu Inc. Japan, is also strengthening ties with the PGA Tour of Australasia and other leading golf bodies in the region. In an exclusive chat with Golf Digest India Managing Editor, Rohit Bhardwaj, Josh revealed his plans of bringing a new event to India besides disclosing the tenets of the strategic alliance with the European Tour. Excerpts from the interaction:

GDI: What are your plans to increase the number of events on the Asian Tour in the next couple of seasons?

JB: Last year we had 24 tournaments. This year we have 25 already on the schedule.

We have added new events for 2018 like the

76 golf digest india | april 2017

“WE WILL COMMENCE SOME ADT EVENTS FROM 2018 AS AUSTRALIAN SWING...

IT’S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR WILL BECOME ASIA-PACIFIC DEVELOPMENT TOUR.” — JOSH BURACK, ASIAN TOUR CEO Philippine Masters (co-sanctioned with the European Tour) and the New Zealand Open (co-sanctioned with PGA Tour of Australasia). We sent some 10 pros to New Zealand during the Indian Open week due to respect for Hero MotoCorp as we wanted all our top players competing in New Delhi.

We are in active discussion with a number of promoters, brands and golf associations around the region. We added an event in Fiji (tri-sanctioned with ET and PGA Tour of Australasia) earlier this year as well. I think we have started 2017 on a decent note. We also have plans of bringing a new event to India. So, 4 new tournaments in the first 5

months I believe is not bad. Our ultimate ambition is to stage an event almost every week of the year. We have a long way to go but with the right team in place at the Asian Tour office, I am sure we will eventually be able to fulfill that objective.

GDI: What exactly does the strategic alliance with the European Tour mean? How will it benefit the Asian Tour players?

JB: The deal is simple, we have the full autonomy as an independent Tour. As you know we have a 20-year-old proud history ever since the Asian PGA days. When our members last year rejected what essentially would have been European Tour buying the Asian Tour 15-16 months ago, it was clear that we wanted to keep our Tour independent. So, what the alliance has done is that it allows us to still add scale to the Asian Tour with a big brother tour with whom we work on a regular basis. We already have 6 cosanctioned tournaments with Europe. The main tenet of the alliance is that any event European Tour sanctions in Asia, they must co-sanction it with us. At times, external

On the Asian Tour parties don’t deal with us. So the alliance gives us protection, an assurance that we are part of any new tournament created in Asia by the European Tour.

GDI: So will this alliance lend more chances to Asian Tour pros to play in Europe? Will there be more spots on offer for Asians?

JB: Both Tours have their separate Order of Merit but from next year what will happen is that whatever money our players make in Asia and also what European players pocket in co-sanctioned tournaments here will be counted on the European Tour money list.

The details I will require technical people to explain. Basically it’s to have a combined money list to help the progression of Asian players onto Europe. This will be formalized in 2018.

GDI: How much of a return on investment you have been able to find through the Asian Development Tour (ADT)?

JB: Bluntly speaking it’s the lifeline of our Tour. We have got lot of guys like Pavit (Tangkamolprasert) who have graduated to the main tour and have done well. After six years of sowing the seeds, it is bearing fruit and we are very happy with it helping more guys get new starts. The ADT has been the secondary avenue to grow golf in the region.

But we are losing good money, it’s not at all profitable. It’s a big investment we are putting in as a commitment to the sport. We would love to find a title sponsor to fund the ADT or even individual sponsors. We believe for any new brand ADT is a strong platform.

“THE PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT AT PGA AUSTRALASIA WAS ALIGNED WITH THE ONEASIA TOUR BUT THE NEW GUY IS ALIGNED WITH EUROPEAN TOUR AND US. THAT’S WHY WE HOPE POSITIVE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.” ADT helped Malaysia in getting two guys to the Olympics as its providing world ranking points. We need more corporate support if we want to expand ADT.

GDI: Reigning Asian Tour No. 1 Scott Hend said it’s embarrassing to see only three premier events in Australia. Is Asian Tour planning to penetrate into that market as there’s no conflict with OneAsia Tour anymore?

JB: It’s a very good observation. I just came back after the Perth International event on the European Tour and we have now developed a very close relationship with the PGA Tour of Australasia. We already have co sanctioned events in Perth, Fiji and New Zealand.

Their problem is that most of their events barring the above three are in the higher prize money band of the ADT (AUD 100,000 to 200,000). We had some preliminary discussions that we will commence some ADT events from 2018 as Australian swing.

Potentially, I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, it’s quite possible that Asian Development Tour will become Asia-Pacific Development Tour. They are interested in it

as they are also losing money like us and if we could amalgamate things it would add more scale that will be good for both of us. What we discussed was we start off with a swing of 3-4 tournaments in a row in Australia and if that is received well we might begin our bigger collaboration of re-christening the ADT to Asia-Pacific tour from 2019. The previous management at PGA Australasia was aligned with the OneAsia Tour but the new guy is aligned with European Tour and us. That’s why we hope positive things are going to happen. We see them as the closest geographical member of the international federation. It makes perfect sense for us besides also strengthening ties with the JGTO (Japan Golf Tour Organisation).

GDI: What is the Tour’s relationship with PGA Tour events in Asia like the CIMB Classic?

JB: We have got a good relationship with the PGA Tour. We would love to partner with them more. Though US PGA doesn’t seem to have the dates. However, they have just announced the CJ Cup in Korea which was part of their Asian swing besides CIMB and WGC in Shanghai. So, it’s a 3-week swing with CJ Cup in the middle. But at the moment, we are not the sanctioning party and we told the US PGA we need to be made part of the event. Hopefully, they will agree to sanction it with the Asian Tour.

ASIAN TOUR FORGES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA GOLF ASSOCIATION The China Golf Association (CGA) and Asian Tour have announced their strategic par tnership which aims to further grow the game through the creation of new tournaments in China that will be co-sanctioned by both organisations.

Under this new collaboration, the CGA and Asian Tour plan to stage up to four new events in China this year where earnings will count towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit and the China Tour Order of Merit.

Golfers from the China Tour will be eligible to take up associate memberships with the Asian Tour, with the top-five non-exempt players from the China Tour Order of Merit receiving exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2018.

Winners of these new cosanctioned tournaments in China will also earn their exemption on the Asian Tour under the winner’s

category.

The prize purses of the new events will range from US$300,000 to US$500,000. More CGA and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournaments will be staged from

2018 and beyond.

Mr. Wang Liwei, Vice-President of China Golf Association said: “On behalf of the CGA, we are delighted to announce our new and exciting partnership with

China Golf Association vice-president Wang Liwei (sitting left) and Asian Tour CEO Josh Burack sign the strategic alliance agreement

the Asian Tour. The last time the CGA worked with the Asian Tour was back in 2008. We welcome the Asian Tour back to China and look forward to co-sanctioning a number of tournaments so as to develop the game of golf in China and also in Asia.”

Asian Tour CEO Josh Burack expressed his delight with the milestone partnership with the CGA and believes it will further develop golf in China and across the region. “We are honoured to forge a strategic partnership with the CGA which is truly a significant development for professional golf in Asia... Re-starting cooperation is a game changer for the Asian Tour and CGA as the creation of new tournaments will greatly enhance playing opportunities for many talented players coming up from China. Winners of these new tournaments in China will receive their playing cards on the Asian Tour,” Josh said in a statement.

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On the Asian Tour

Short is sweet for patient SSP

BY CHUAH CHOO CHIANG

S

tanding at a mere 1.65m and weighing 67kg, SSP Chawrasia certainly punche s ab ove his weight in a game that is fast becoming all power and strength as epitomized by current world number one golfer, Dustin Johnson.

Chawrasia ranks a lowly 168th out of 174 golfers in driving distance on the Asian Tour with his average of 270 yards – a distance probably matched by club amateur golfers – while on the European Tour, the 38-year-old is presently dead last amongst 233 golfers with 265 yards next to his name. In contrast, Johnson leads the PGA Tour driving stats with 316.2 yards!

But like the old cliché ‘drive for show, putt for dough’, the slightly built Chawrasia is proving that golfing success is not just all about driving the ball a mile but also rewards those with a midas touch with the irons around the greens.

And after all these years, he has finally earned the recognition of being one of the most gifted and greatest golfers to emerge from India.

S S P CHAWRASIA

LIKE THE OLD CLICHÉ ‘DRIVE FOR SHOW, PUTT FOR DOUGH’, THE SLIGHTLY BUILT CHAWRASIA IS PROVING THAT GOLFING SUCCESS IS NOT JUST ALL ABOUT DRIVING THE BALL A MILE BUT ALSO REWARDS THOSE WITH A MIDAS TOUCH WITH THE IRONS AROUND THE GREENS.

10-under 278 (72-67-68-71) Stats: Asian Tour

16 Birdies

6 Bogeys

76.79%

66.67%

Fairways

GIR

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1.49 Avg. Putts

266.4 Avg. Drive

Despite five previous victories on the Asian Tour, including three which were co-sanctioned with the European Tour on home soil, Chawrasia’s name has often been left out of discussions amongst pundits and golf fans whenever it touched on Indian golf.

Image: European Tour/Getty Images/Stuart Franklin

On the Asian Tour

Of course the names of Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa and Anirban Lahiri, all former Asian Tour No. 1s, are often mused as the sub-continent’s flagbearers and rightly so too due to the amount of success they have achieved.

This all changed when Chawrasia successfully defended his Hero Indian Open title at the ultra-demanding DLF Golf and Country Club’s Gary Player course in early March by romping to a majestic sevenshot victory.

Hosting its first men’s international competition following a total revamp of its course, the eye-catching Player design measured at a beastly 7,373 yards on the tournament scorecard, and that too with tournament officials opting to not use all the championship tees due to the severity of the design, which included tough and penal driving holes, elevated and undulating greens.

After his first practice round, Chawrasia, who had won most of his titles at the Delhi Golf Club, shook his head in disbelief at how challenging the golf course was but he took it all in his stride, probably adhering to Player’s advice via a tweet which said “patience will be rewarded”.

Indeed, Chawrasia showed all his traits to earn a sixth Asian Tour win and fourth European Tour title, which he emulated the total European wins held by Singh. He also became the first Indian to successfully defend a title on the European Tour and only the third to do so in the tournament’s rich history.

With only seven golfers breaking par throughout four days of brutal golf, which saw scores soaring into the 80s, Chawrasia stood tallest amongst the men, and despite the disadvantage of being a short hitter, he won by using his guile, touch and patience to prevail in such convincing manner that his peers took to twitter to pay tribute.

Belgian Nicolas Coelsarts tweeted his admiration. “I don’t think people understand

how good SSP Chawrasia’s perfomance was last week, was demanding of everyone’s game and even more for him.”

Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, the highest ranked in the field that week, wrote: “Congrats to SSP for a superb performance in a very challenging track and winning again on home soil!” while the legendary Player also extended a congratulatory tweet by saying: “Wonderful, hard fought win at DLF G&CC to go back-to-back #hio2017. Title defense is the best defense!

THE GARY PLAYER LAYOUT MEASURED AT A BEASTLY 7,373 YARDS, WITH TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS OPTING TO NOT USE ALL THE CHAMPIONSHIP TEES DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DESIGN Congratulations. GP” The local media were truly in awe of Chawrasia’s heroics, remembering that he had grown up in such a simple manner in Kolkata to a father who worked as one of the greenskeeper at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

The boy who once climbed over the club walls to sneak in a few holes and used torch lights to help him practice his chipping and putting in the dark is now one of India’s golfing heroes.

And Singh, a double Asian Tour No. 1, was amongst those who are now pushing for Chawrasia to be recognised with the nation’s Arjuna Award, which is one of the highest accolades given to sportsmen.

Singh also took to twitter to message the country’s Prime Minister. He wrote: “Dear Mr PM @narendramodi - how about some message for Indian Open champion @SSP_Golf - truly Made in India and world-class.”

Indeed, Chawrasia is truly Made in India and worthy to be called a world-class golfer.

(The writer is Director, Communications at Asian Tour)

Asian Tour Order of Merit After Hero Indian Open POS

PLAYER

EARNINGS (US$)

1.

David Lipsky (USA)

333,330

2.

SSP Chawrasia (IND)

301,323

3.

Phachara Khongwatmai (THA)

251,722

4.

Gavin Green (MAS)

213,827

5.

Prayad Marksaeng (THA)

191,812

6.

Carlos Pigem (ESP)

166,450

7.

Todd Sinnott (AUS)

151,600

8.

Anirban Lahiri (IND)

145,150

9.

Shubhankar Sharma (IND)

113,781

10.

Panuphol Pittayarat (THA)

93,105

11.

Johannes Veerman (USA)

72,368

12.

Juvic Pagunsan (PHI)

69,905

13.

Jbe Kruger (RSA)

69,090

14.

Jazz Janewattananond (THA)

66,775

15.

Younghan Song (KOR)

66,000

16.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND)

65,743

17.

K.T. Kim (KOR)

65,650

18.

Sam Brazel (AUS)

58,339

19.

Chiragh Kumar (IND)

55,113

20.

Shiv Kapur (IND)

52,320

TWO ASIAN TEAMS CONFIRMED FOR INAUGURAL GOLFSIXES EVENT ON EUROPEAN TOUR

National pride will be at stake as some of the most exciting talents in golf are set to take part in the innovative new GolfSixes event on the European Tour in May. Newly crowned Hero Indian Open champion SSP Chawrasia and his 2016 World Cup of Golf teammate Chikkarangappa S. will be representing India in the 16-team tournament.

Besides India, Thailand is the only country in fray from Asia with Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat likely to put up a strong challenge. The two Asian countries will face stiff opposition from all over the world in shape of two-man teams representing England, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, USA and Wales.

Ryder Cup stars Chris Wood and Andy Sullivan will be hoping that home advantage pays off when they team up to represent England.

Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen already has national pedigree after claiming the World Cup of Golf title for his country in 2016.

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On the Asian Tour

On The Web

This section showcases the social media initiatives undertaken by the Asian Tour to connect with the young and urban golf aficionados 80 golf digest india | april 2017

Images: Asian Tour

AC TIO N

.

AT TITU D E

TE NACIT Y .

TR I U M P H

#whereitsAT

asiantour.com

Tour partners

Official sponsor

Web partner

On the European Tour

TOUR SNIPPETS European Tour and PGA of Australasia ink strategic partnership

Australia’s Brett Rumford with World Super 6 Perth trophy

Rumford makes history with home triumph in world-first Super 6

Brett Rumford claimed his sixth European Tour title in emphatic fashion as he beat Phachara Khongwatmai in the final of the inaugural ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

The European Tour was breaking new ground in Western Australia, with an event consisting of 54 holes of stroke play before a 24-man six-hole match play competition on Sunday.

Rumford was utterly dominant in both, leading after all three days of stroke play - by five shots at 17-under on Saturday night - and then sealing four wins in match play to complete a wonderful turnaround after losing his playing privileges last season.

His 2 and 1 victory over Thai teenager Khongwatmai in the final delighted the home fans, who saw a Perth native lift the trophy at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

GEORGE O’GRADY TO TAKE THE ROLE OF EUROPEAN TOUR AMBASSADOR The European Tour is pleased to announce that George O’Grady CBE, who ser ved as Chief Executive from January 2005 until August 2015 and from then until now as President of International Relations, is to take up the role of European Tour Ambassador with immediate effect.

The move will continue O’Grady’s association with the European Tour, which began in 1974 when he joined as a Tournament Administrator after a spell in the City of London. It also continues the recent restructuring

programme initiated by Chairman David Williams and the Board of Directors.

Central to that programme has been the desire to utilise the experience of people within the game to promote the European Tour globally in the Ambassador role and O’Grady will join Angel Gallardo in the position – the Spaniard having accepted the honour in December following the announcement he was stepping down as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.

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The relationship between the European Tour and the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia has been officially ratified through a Strategic Alliance, which was announced at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

The Strate gic A llianc e formalises a partnership which will continue to create new opportunities in the Australasia region, for the membership of both Tours, and build additional pathways for southern hemisphere professionals to progress their careers on the European Tour.

The announcement follows the success of the Strategic Alliance between the European Tour and the Asian Tour, which was agreed in July of 2016 and has seen the working relationship between both Tours go from strength to strength – with four events co-sanctioned between the European Tour and Asian Tour in the 2017 season and two more tri-sanctioned alongside the PGA Tour of Australasia.

This new Alliance will see both the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia explore ways of combining their marketing and commercial resources to maximise potential growth of the game in the region.

On the European Tour

Fichardt claims Jo’burg Open title

Home favourite Darren Fichardt held his nerve to win the weatheraffected Joburg Open and claim his fifth European Tour title.

The South African fired a birdie at the last in his third and final round to post a four-under-par 68 and finish one shot clear of nearest challengers Stuart Manley and Paul Waring.

Manley had set the clubhouse target on 14 under par courtesy of a third-successive round of 67, with Waring producing a closing 69 to join him in a share of second place.

By finishing in the top three, Fichardt, Manley and Waring all secured spots in this summer's 146th British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The tournament was reduced to 54 holes after thunder, lightning and subsequent course flooding at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club forced play to be abandoned before the leaders had started their third rounds on Saturday afternoon.

Burmester wins maiden title at Tshwane

Dean Burmester fired a closing 65 to win his first European Tour title in emphatic fashion at the Tshwane Open.

The South African turned in 29 and opened up a six-shot lead at one point on Sunday before the nerves appeared to kick in and he came home in level par to finish the week at 18 under.

That jittery finish allowed Spaniard Jorge Campillo and Finn Mikko Korhonen to get within three shots but it was a comfortable win in the end for Burmester.

He entered the week without playing privileges on the European Tour after finishing 140th on last season's Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex but Sunday's win represented a continuation of some excellent early season form.

A top ten finish at the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni earned him a spot in the field for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship where he went on to claim seventh spot.

STORM NAMED HILTON GOLFER OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY

Graeme Storm defeated Rory McIlroy in a playoff to claim BMW SA Open title

Graeme Storm has been announced as the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Month for January after completing a remarkable comeback story courtesy of a play-off victory over Rory McIlroy at the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni.

The Englishman showed nerves of steel as he came up against the four-time Major Champion, who had made up a three-shot deficit on the final day to pile the pressure on Storm, whose only other European Tour victory had come ten years ago in the Open de France.

While the crowd cheered McIlroy’s name, Storm was not to be outdone and he emerged victorious after the third extra hole thanks to a par four on the 18th hole.

It marked an incredible resurgence for the 38-year-old from Hartlepool, who had seemingly lost his European Tour card by just €100 at the end of the 2016 season only to be handed a reprieve after Patrick Reed was removed from the Race to Dubai Rankings, having not played the requisite number of events.

Storm receives Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Status – the exclusive highest tier of the hotel’s renowned loyalty scheme – for winning the Golfer of the Month, having beaten Tommy Fleetwood, Jeunghun Wang and Jordan Smith to the award. april 2017 | golf digest india

83

On the European Tour

Jordan Smith – from EuroPro Tour to world top 100 R eigning European Challenge Tour Number One Jordan Smith continues to rise up the ranks of world golf with impressive performances – proving he is capable of competing at the highest level.

After only taking up the sport at the age of 12, the Englishman has so far excelled at every level he has played at – whether that be in the Walker Cup as an amateur, on the satellite EuroPro Tour or the Challenge Tour.

In just 15 months Smith went from topping the EuroPro Tour’s Order of Merit on golf’s third tier, to winning the 2016 Road to Oman Rankings on the Challenge Tour, to challenging four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy and eventual champion Graeme Storm in the final round of the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni.

That result pushed the 24 year old into the top 100 in the world for the first time, and into the golfing spotlight.

As the man from Wiltshire seems to look more at home on the European Tour each week, he credits his time on Europe’s top developmental tour for making him the player he is today.

“Playing the Challenge Tour has definitely set me up for this year,” said Smith, who triumphed twice last season in Egypt and Ras Al Khaimah.

“Obviously we do a lot of travelling, outside Europe, to China and everywhere, so it gives you a good sense of what the European Tour is going to be like.

“I didn’t really expect to get my European Tour card to be honest. My first goal was just to keep my Challenge Tour card and then I won the second event in Egypt and my goals completely changed and it was to win the Road to Oman Rankings, and I managed to accomplish that.

“I then won the second to last event in Ras Al Khaimah and then obviously I won it overall, so I was really chuffed with how I played all year and over the moon with how it turned out. It was a hell of a year, a year that I’ll probably never forget.”

The referee’s view – with Andy McFee A s the European Tour’s Desert Swing got underway at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Grégory Bourdy became the first beneficiary of a new local rule applied by all Tours regarding the accidental movement of a ball on the putting green.

As he grounded his putter immediately behind the ball on the 12th green, during the final round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the ball noticeably moved a dimple or two.

The new local rule meant Grégory had not incurred a penalty under Rule 18-2, but as the movement was caused by him, the ball had to be replaced.

In previous years and prior to the introduction of this local rule, these types of rulings were notoriously difficult to sort out as the decision as to whether or not the player had caused the ball to move was usually finely balanced.

84 golf digest india | april 2017

It would turn on the time lag between the player’s action and when the movement of the ball occurred.

These discussions were often time consuming as efforts had to be made to fully understand what exactly had happened, but now that the penalty has been removed, the conclusion is reached more quickly.

The following week at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, Haotong Li had a similar ruling but with a slightly different outcome. On the 12th green during round three, he grounded his putter behind the ball and after a short time lag, the ball moved slightly.

In this case, the ball was on a slope on a green notorious for its exposure to the wind and just as the movement of the ball occurred, there was a decent gust of wind noticeable to all the players in the group.

On the European Tour

RULES

“New formats a gamechanger for golf”

T

he recent ISPS Handa World Super 6’s Perth hosted by The Lake Karrinyup Golf Club allowed the European Tour and Asian Tour to join with the host the PGA Tour of Australasia and present the first of an innovative golf event.

Two days of 36-hole strokeplay enabled us to have a normal cut with leading 65 players and those tied for 65th place, who teed it up for another round of strokeplay, but with the added pressure of a second cut which left only the leading 24 players.

To minimize any possible effects of changing weather conditions, we decided that it would be best to play the field in one reverse-looped two-tee start which ensured those on a similar score were playing at almost exactly the same time.

Our 36-hole leader, Brett Rumford, extended his lead to 5 shots through 54 holes, which assured him the number one seed with the remaining seven seeds being decided on the countback. But there were eight players tied for 19th place which resulted in a hole-by-hole play-off on the 18th hole, eight players playing for five places to continue into the final day knock-out stages.

We played two four-ball games and the four players making pars qualified. We then returned twice more to the 18th hole before we had our final qualified player for the

six-hole match-play segment of the competition, 17-year-old Thai player Phachara Khongwatmai.

All 24 qualified players, comprising eight seeded players exempt through to the second round of match-play and the other 16 players attended a dinner where the seeds drew envelopes containing the names that would play each other, with the winner going forward to play the seed who had drawn them together.

Each match would be contested over 6 holes, the 10th, 2nd, 8th, 11th 12th and 18th holes of Lake Karrinyup and any matches all square after six holes would play-off from a specially built teeing ground which would

IT (WORLD SUPER 6) IS A GREAT FORMAT AND PROVIDES THRILLS AND SPILLS FOR SPECTATORS, VIEWERS, PLAYERS AND EVEN THE OFFICIALS AND WILL FEATURE AGAIN IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT.

require a shot in the region of 75 yards.

The atmosphere around the 18th green was electric as matches finishing their final hole of regulation play alternated with matches playing the specially-designed par-three play-off hole and although trying to make a plan for any subsequent match to start was extremely taxing, the thrill of all the close matches made it well worthwhile.

The weather was bright sunshine and the temperature was rising rapidly on the course too. As the matches progressed, we started to shuttle players firstly up the hill from the 18th tee to the fairway and later added rides from the 11th tee and the 11th fairway, both considerably up hill. The players were extremely grateful for this assistance.

Again because of the high temperatures I felt that each player should have at least 1012 minutes to re-hydrate before starting his next match.

It was a fantastic day of match-play golf and even though the final did not reach the last hole, it was perhaps fitting for local hero and clear leader after round three, Brett Rumford, to win 2 and 1 over Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai.

It is a great format and provides thrills and spills for spectators, viewers, players and even the officials and almost certainly will feature again and again in the right environment.

Events like World Super 6 will help popularise golf, feels rules official John Paramor

april 2017 | golf digest india

85

On the European Tour

FITNESS

Strong legs = Better golf

The golf swing uses all areas of the body and requires both mobility and strength throughout the whole kinetic chain. The legs are a fundamental part of the golf swing, assisting in the generation and delivery of force and power to the golf club. This month we are looking at one in particular called the ‘squat’.

How it benefits your body

Strong legs are important for staying active and performing a huge variety of day-to-day activities including sitting, walking and stairs. Squats are a fantastic exercise for building strength throughout the legs (hamstrings, quads, gluts and calves). They also help to improve strength in your core and upper body, whilst developing stability and balance.

How it benefits your golf game

Numerous studies show a strong correlation between strength itself and strength training, and improved golf performance plus increased club head speed.

The force put into the club head comes from our ability to generate ground reaction forces from the floor up, through the body and into the club via the hands. Strong and stable legs are able to apply more force to the ground and therefore generate more ground reaction forces that can be directed to the club head.

Squats are part of a number of exercises that help to build a strong and stable foundation for the golf swing.

HOW TO DO A SQUAT

The squat is an exercise that should be part of nearly everyone’s training. It is relatively easy to perform and in its simplest form can be done anywhere with no equipment. There are also numerous progressions with a variety of pieces of equipment that can increase the difficulty.

1 2

Stand with your feet just over shoulder width apart.

Keep your back in a neutral position and aim to keep your chest up rather than dropping forward as you go down.

3

86 golf digest india | april 2017

Slowly bend at the hips, knees and ankles until your

thighs get to horizontal with the floor. Breathe in as you lower and breath out as you push back up to standing.

The photos show the squat initially being performed with a seat or box to use as a point to touch lightly as you go down (but not rest fully on). You can start

with a high chair/box and lower it as you improve, with the aim of progressing to a level where your thighs get to horizontal with the floor. This can be made harder by putting your hands behind your head, but make sure to keep your weight through the mid-foot during the whole movement and don’t fall forward.

Nigel Tilley, Rob Hillman European Tour Performance Institute & Physio Unit

Do This, Not That by Butch Harmon Play Your Best

Y

N

best drill

ILLUSTRATION by FELIX SOCKWELL

Hinge Watching Pitch it better with less wrist action

n pitch shots, the No. 1 skill is controlling distance. If you work that back, the key to distance control is making predictable contact with the ball. Hitting it fat or thin—even a little—puts your distance all over the map.

A common reason for poor contact in pitching is too much wrist hinge during the backswing (above, right). A big hinge leads to a steep downswing and, often, hitting behind the ball. Even when steep swingers hit it solid, they take deep divots—they’re always on the verge of fatting it.

I prefer less wrist hinge going back (above, left) so you can

O

brush the ground through impact. Steve Stricker is the best practitioner of this style: He keeps his wrists firm going back and turns his body in sync with his arms. Then, coming through, everything turns together again.

It’s very solid, very repeatable.

So pitch like Strick. Use your most lofted wedge, play the ball about middle and favor your front foot. Swing back wide, with minimal hinge, then turn and swing through. You’ll see quick improvement in your contact— and start sticking them close.

Butch Harmon is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional.

Like wrist hinge, reducing weight shift on pitch shots will lead to better contact.

You want to favor your front foot, because that’ll help you hit the ball before the ground.

Try this drill: Set up to hit a pitch, then lean toward the target and angle your back foot in and up on the toes (above). Hit shots like this, and you’ll learn to stay on your front side.

Photographs by Dom Furore

Play Your Best Swing Sequence nly a few tour pros have a shot that can make other tour pros stop what they’re doing on the range and have a look. Dustin Johnson has one.

Some golfers hide big power in a deceptively compact package. But Johnson is built like an NBA guard, so the 340-yard lightning bolts he hits with his 122-mile-per-hour clubhead speed don’t seem that surprising.

O

Dustin Johnson Kids, don’t try this swing at home

88 golf digest india | april 2017

His PGA Tour Player of the Year season in 2016 came in big part after moving away from a more volatile draw to a consistent baby fade. “I don’t try to fade it,” Johnson says. “I just set up a hair more open, aim at the left side of the fairway, and I swing. If I’m working to make the ball go left to right, something is off.”

Not much was off last season when he

won three times, including the U.S. Open, led the tour in money, scoring and birdies, and was second in driving distance and strokes gained off the tee.

“He probably drove it better than anybody all year,” says Butch Harmon, who has worked with Johnson since 2010. “I think he’ll have an even bigger year this year.”

—matthew rudy

CREATING SPACE

THE RIGHT SHIFT

FULLY TORQUED

Johnson’s swing is among the biggest and fastest on tour, and it requires a foundation that can handle that extra horsepower. “He’s very athletic at address in that nice, wide stance,” says his coach, Butch Harmon. “His upper body is angled a little back, which sets his head behind the ball and gives his left shoulder room to turn.”

One of Johnson’s tendencies is to leave his weight on his left side going back—which can cause him to lift the club too abruptly. Harmon says better knee action will help any player make a good weight transfer.

“When DJ gets that left knee moving in and not toward the ball, his weight moves to his right side perfectly.”

Johnson’s bowed left wrist, which shuts the clubface, is his swing’s signature.

But notice his windup, Harmon says. “His hands are high, and his head has rotated away from the target, which lets him make a massive shoulder turn.

From there, he knows he has to move left and fully unwind, or he risks hitting a hook.”

▶ CLUBHEAD SPEED

▶ AVG. CARRY DISTANCE

122.4 MPH

112.9 MPH

125.5 MPH

299.7 YDS

275 YDS

304.8 YDS

Dustin Johnson (8th)

Tour average

Andrew Loupe (1st)

Dustin Johnson (5th)

Tour average

J.B. Holmes (1st) S O U RC E : S H OT L I N K ( 2 0 1 6 )

GROUND GAME

FULL THROTTLE

WATCH IT GO

PRO-FILE

Copying Johnson’s swing isn’t easy, but there is one part you can steal for your game: his smooth transition from backswing to downswing. “Look at how his left hip moves toward the target,” Harmon says. “This shows he’s making his transition from the ground up. Also, his footwork is very quiet.”

There’s no laying up with this swing, Harmon says. “His right heel is leading his right toe at impact, so there’s no hang back. His head is rotating toward the target, which helps him keep turning through with his body. And look at that firm left wrist.

My dad used to say that wrist should feel like steel, not linguine, when you hit the ball.”

One indicator for Harmon that this sequence is perfect is Johnson’s ideal finish.

“Dustin is straight up and down over his left foot. You can see there’s no weight scrunched down on the toe of his right foot,” Harmon says. “And his right shoulder is closer to the target than his left, proving he made a great body rotation.”

dustin johnson 32 / 6-4 / 190 pounds Columbia, S.C. driver TaylorMade M1 10.5 degrees ball TaylorMade TP5x + ADIDAS shirt, pants, belt, shoes, hat.

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

Play Your Best Strategy by Jack Nicklaus

‘A difference of 10 or 15 yards might mean everything.’

Setting up the Second Shot It’s part of Augusta’s charm

REMEMBER THE WIND Here’s a snag that might exist somewhere at your course, too. The ninth tee box at Augusta is nestled in a protected perch. You don’t sense the wind much, so you have to remember to pay attention to its strength and direction as you’re walking up the eighth.

WORK THE ANGLE On first glance, this wide fairway seems to say “hit it anywhere.” But a tee shot that’s worked right to left makes this 460-yarder play shorter and easier. A really big drive that reaches the downslope with speed can roll all the way to the bottom. Now you’ve got a short-iron approach from the only flat spot in the fairway. Going into this small, three-tiered green, every yard closer makes a difference.

Of course, the risk is commensurate with the reward.

Overcook a drive into the left trees, and you’ll find that the angle of the green, along with the bunkers, make it impossible to hold.

the way we were

For my six Masters wins, Augusta National was even more of a second-shot course than it is today. Take the seventh hole. We used to play a wide variety of tee shots there, but now with trees thick along the left, everyone just hopes to hit it straight.

Anywhere in the fairway works. The inventiveness on the second shot begins and ends with the location of the flag.

90 golf digest india | april 2017

Illustration by Chris O’Riley

AugustA NAtioNAl/getty imAges

Maybe you prefer to hit a fade, or you just like the idea of making sure you don’t take yourself out of the hole early.

Either way, there’s plenty of room along the right. The trade-off is a longer second shot, which is a real cost because of this tiny green.

Come up just a few paces short with your approach, and the ball might roll 60 or 70 yards back down the hill. Go long, and you’ll face a delicate chip back across the green that could wind up in the same place. The consolation is, if you push the drive way right, there are windows in those trees. A well-judged punch from that pine straw can hold the green.

ugusta National is the quintessence of a second-shot golf course.

Wide fairways prevent you from feeling like you’re in a straightjacket off the tee, but that doesn’t mean you can mindlessly whale away. The perceptive player recognizes that his ability to attack the flag with the approach is largely determined by the drive—much more than on an average course. A difference in position of just 10 or 15 yards in the fairway might mean everything. On a secondshot course, you use the tee shot to truly create your second.

This type of design happens to be my favorite. To me, hitting driver is the most fun part of the game. A second-shot course encourages everyone to let it fly all day. Low-handicappers are engaged by the spectrum of conservative-to-aggressive choices off every tee. Beginners take comfort in the relative ease of starting with a ball in play.

Illustrated here is Augusta’s par-4 ninth, which runs back to the clubhouse.

It’s a perfect example of the second-shot philosophy, though we could’ve analyzed almost any par 4 on the property.

—with max adler

A

JUST GET IT IN PLAY

Step by Step by David Leadbetter Play Your Best

33%

13%

33%

21%

5 at least ________ It’s been HDCP since my last shank. ▶ A couple of holes: 33% ▶ 6 months: 33% ▶ 3 weeks: 21% ▶ 2 years: 13%

42% 34% 27% 20%

SOURCE: GOLF DIGEST READERS

15

illustrations: todd detwiler • jos. a . bank: shirt • house of fleming: belt

10

20

25

30

35

Holy Shank!

Don’t let one bad shot become an epidemic itting just one shank can put fear in your mind that another’s on its way, and that kills your confidence. They often happen because your hands are farther away from your body at impact than they were at address, causing the club to strike the ball off the hosel. Fear not the shanks.

Use these steps to cure them.

H

David Leadbetter operates 34 golf academies worldwide.

1.CHILL OUT

2.WATCH YOUR TOES

3.STAY BACK

4.YELL ‘FORE!’

▶ Anxiety from shanking leads to a lot of tension in the forearms and hands. So before you swing again, be sure to lighten your grip pressure and relax your arms.

If you don’t, you won’t be able to swing the club smoothly.

▶ If you stand too far from the ball, you’ll shift your weight out to your toes, and that can force the club farther from you when you swing.

Try standing a little closer to the ball and turning your toes upward so the weight shifts back toward your heels.

▶ When you hit your next shot, maintain the “toes up” feel.

Losing your balance is one of the main causes of the shanks.

That’s why it’s important to keep your weight toward the back portion of the feet. You have to swing in control.

▶ Just kidding!

Your final thought should be to feel as if you swing the handle of the club in closer to your legs through impact.

This helps slot the club on the right path and encourages centerface contact. Do this and kiss your shanks goodbye.

Photograph by J.D. Cuban

Play Your Best For Better Players by Tom Watson

Draws on Command Vary your trajectory for better accuracy y natural shot is a draw, and most good players know how to curve it right to left when they need to.

But sometimes, bending the ball isn’t enough. There are times when the height of the shot is just as important as the draw itself. This is certainly true at a course such as Augusta National. Whether you need to take it up and around the trees on the famous par-5 13th, or you need to chase it up to a green from under some branches off a fairway, the trajectory is crucial to success.

I’m going to make the “how to” adjustments simple: When you grip the club, do so in a stronger position than normal.

That means turning both hands to the right a bit, but make sure the face is still square with your target. Now adjust your setup.

For a low draw (right), play the ball back an inch or two from your normal ball position, which will naturally set your left shoulder lower than it would be for a standard shot.

For a high draw, play the ball forward in your stance an inch or two, which will set your left shoulder slightly higher.

These alterations in your grip, ball and shoulder positions will result in your shot drawing left at the desired height. Remember, if you can change trajectory on command, you’re playing at a higher level than most.

Set it, then grip it Make sure the club is square to the target after you strengthen your grip.

ELEMENTARY WATSON Sometimes you don’t need a draw; you need a hook. To really get the shot curving to the left, focus on making sure the clubface is significantly closed in relation to its path as you strike the ball.

This is a feel shot as much as any, so be sure to practice it a lot to get a sense of how much the ball will curve.

Tom Watson is a Golf Digest Playing Editor.

92 golf digest india | april 2017

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

illustration: felix sockwell • polo golf: shirt • ralph l auren: pants, belt • call away: hat • g/fore: glove

M

Equipment by Mike Stachura Play Your Best

honm a t1 1 7 l im ite d ▶ Made to commemorate the gold Beres S-05 model given by the Japanese prime minister to President Trump, this driver is one of only 10 available in the United States.

pxg 0 8 1 1 x /0 8 1 1 l x ▶ The standard X and lighter LX are low-spin upgrades.

The sole has the same damping material found in the PXG irons.

$5,000

$850

miura pp- 9 0 0 5 ge ne s is ▶ These midsize irons have a forged, carbon-steel body and a flexible, highstrength steel-face insert for maximum distance.

Money Players Are high-end clubs worth the investment?

ob Parsons, founder of Parsons Xtreme Golf, has compared his clubs to a Ferrari, and he prices them accordingly. The idea of golf clubs as luxury goods isn’t new, but it’s trending up: Average selling prices have risen sharply as sales have stayed flat. This reflects a search for new materials, processes and ideas to stretch what’s possible. But given that golf’s governing bodies want to ensure that skill, not technology, determines performance, are these clubs worth your investment? It might depend on whether you would rather drive a Ferrari than a Ford to your high school reunion. If so, here are five new highoctane entries for you to aspire to.

$2,070 (six irons)

xxio prim e

veg a a lcor

▶ The titanium face maximizes distance, a tungsten-weighted body supplies plenty of forgiveness, and the ultralight shaft helps you swing the club faster.

▶ The milling pattern on the face of this wedge provides extra friction, and channels cut in the back raise the center of gravity for a penetrating launch.

$2,080 (eight irons)

$270 (per wedge)

Photograph by Victor Prado

stylist: Alex BrAnniAn • illustrAtion By felix sockwell

B

get the most out of your driver by phil mickelson & andrew getson

d u r i n g t h e o f f s e a s o n I had to address some things to drive the ball better—

SPLIT THE

poor footwork, swing inefficiencies, relying too much on my hands to square the face at impact. I went to work with my instructor Andrew Getson to shore things up. I fixed my swing plane, my footwork is better, and I’m using a new driver properly weighted for those changes. It’s taken some getting used to, but the results are encouraging. I feel great with the driver and look forward to seeing what I can do with it at the Masters and the other big tournaments coming up. Here, Andrew is going to go over some of the changes I’ve made and explain how they can help you get the most out of the longest club in your bag. — w i t h r o n k a s p r i s k e

94 golf digest india | april 2017

Photographs by Dom Furore

▶ ge ts on: Phil knows how to hit it hard, but if you’re trying to get more distance, remember to swing only as fast as you can without losing your balance. You’ll be surprised how far the ball goes with what feels like 80-percent effort.

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FAIRWAY!

l e ave s om e g a s i n t he ta nk

Photograph by First Lastname

by Dom Furore month 2017Photographs 95 | golfdigest.com

1

2

‘PHIL’S SWING PLANE

transition and ▶ downswing

racy suffered because he relied on his hands too much to square the club at impact. We went to work on improving his swing plane so he wouldn’t have to rely on timing as much. Now he’s a little more vertical as he approaches the top of his swing (photo No. 1, right). If you looked at the same position a year ago, the club’s shaft would be a lot less upright. The lesson is, a slightly steep backswing can give you a feeling of having more room to properly swing the club down from inside the target line. You can see him taking advantage of that as he swings down. Notice how the shaft gets flatter. When Phil looks at photos like this, he likes to see it dropping below the logo on his left arm (No. 2). Also, look at where his hands are late in the downswing. If they’re here (No. 3), we know he’s got the club slotted and his arms have caught up with his body rotation. He’s going to rip it. I tell my students not to worry about making contact with the ball. Instead, let the ball get in the way of a good swing. Just like this one.

1

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W

ith phil’s old swing, his driving accu-

andrew getson began coaching Phil Mickelson in late 2015. The Australia native teaches at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale.

96 golf digest india | april 2017

Photograph by First Lastname

▶ setup and

takeaway

O

ne of the first things to note about Phil’s

3

offseason work is that his address posture has really improved. His back is straighter and his chin isn’t tucked as much (photo No. 1, left).

This creates more space to swing the club. You can’t make a good swing if you don’t have good posture. When he starts the club back, another thing I really like is that his swing arc is wider (No. 2). The club is moving back straighter, less to the inside. He’s got a long backswing, but it’s a hair shorter than it used to be.

The thing he’s really been working on with his backswing is his footwork. His back leg is much more anchored than it has been in the past (No. 3), so he can swing from a more stable platform. You might also notice his head stays fairly still. It’s not drifting away from the target. That’s key to getting the club back to the ball for a solid strike. If you anchor your back leg and make a swing without swaying, you’re going to hit it in the sweet spot a lot more often.

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IS MORE VERTICAL GOING BACK AND FLATTER COMING DOWN.’

2

Photograph by First Lastname

3

month 2017 | golfdigest.com

97

2017 â&#x20AC;˘ masters

candid & catty comments about the field at augusta b y j o h n h u g g a n a n d d av e s h e d l o s k i

â&#x20AC;&#x153; yo u c a n ta l k a l l yo u like abo ut rory winning the masters, b u t t h at d e p e n d s o n h i m h av i n g h i s b e st putting week ever. and it has to happen at a u g u s ta n at i o n a l . r e a l ly ? â&#x20AC;?

WHO CAN WIN, WHO CANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T AND WHY Photographs by Nick Laham

O

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only 50 players have won the previous 80 Masters tournaments. Only 32 of them are still with us. And only 19, some of them playing ceremonially, are expected to tee it up April 6-9 at Augusta National. Which means a lot of players—including Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and many more—are still trying to figure out how to earn a green jacket. Then there’s Tiger Woods, who is trying to figure out how to win his fifth (but his first in a dozen years). ▶ Who’s got what it takes, and who doesn’t? What are their strengths, and what’s holding them back? To get the answers, Golf Digest interviewed dozens of players, caddies, coaches and other keen observers for candid observations on past champions and those who are still trying to break through. Our interviewees didn’t hold back.

100 golf digest india | april 2017

m a nagi ng f l aw s

“I

look at all the top players, and every one of them has a flaw.

The question is, how big is the flaw, and how do they make it less of one for that week? Every guy is clearly talented enough to win. Are you going to tell me Jason Day or Rory McIlroy or Justin Rose aren’t going to win the Masters? Rickie Fowler? Jon Rahm, eventually? Patrick Reed? Dustin Johnson could still win two or three. But they all have their issues. Or maybe it’s just that they don’t play to their strengths as well to make up for the weaknesses. Adam Scott won a Masters, and he’s a terrible putter—well, he’s below average.

But his ball-striking is so good, and those weeks he’s really on hitting the ball, he only has to be a below-average putter to win.” . . . “People these days learn golf on the range, not on the course, and we’re seeing the results of that at the top level. Everyone learns how to hit it rather than how

“ t h e o n ly t h i n g t h at h u r t s j a s o n i s t h at h e d o e s n ’ t s e e m t o h a v e a h a l f - s h o t.

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e v e r y t h i n g i s f u l l t i lt. ”

to play, which is not how to play Augusta.

Seve learned how to play with one club, and not many played the Masters better than he did. To me, only Phil, Bubba and Sergio learned how to play golf the right way.

They play golf, not swing, which is the way to play Augusta. But it goes the other way, too. Tiger was a real golfer when he came on tour, but he ended up a scientist. Padraig Harrington, the same. Justin Rose, too. And Adam is a scientist with his short game.

None of which helps them at Augusta. It isn’t a science course.” bombers vs . s hort hitte rs

“I

n this day and age, the guys who don’t hit it very far—Jim Furyk, for example—have no chance to win the Masters. Matt Kuchar is another. You can’t win there if all you have is guile and strategy. Dufner won’t win there.” . . . “You have to go with guys who hit the ball a long way and high.

For Jason, Dustin, Adam, Rory, Bubba, the par of the course is closer to 68.” . . .

“It’s the easiest event to predict because you can break it down. Who can putt, and who can’t? Who can reach the par 5s in two? And so on. Jordan Spieth’s par is 70.

He can reach the par 5s on the back nine.

But he’s also the best putter. So that brings him down to, say, 69. Rory’s ball-striking starts him at 68. But his putting takes him up to 72. Any time a player wins without that formula, it has to be because weather takes away that inherent edge—say, when no one can reach some of the par 5s. Then you get Zach Johnson or Mike Weir winning.” . . . “Pure yardage is way more important than creating the right angle into the flag. Hitting a 9-iron instead of a 6-iron makes up for a bad angle. You can argue that it shouldn’t be that way, but it is.” . . . “Lee Trevino always said he didn’t like Augusta because he hit the ball left to right.

But the truth is that he knew he wasn’t long

enough off the tee. He couldn’t get to the tops of some of the hills. Well, today’s shorter hitters have pretty much the same issues.” . . . “It’s just too hard over four days to hit hybrids and long irons to holes where the long guys are hitting 7-irons. You can’t compete with that.” . . . “If I have, say, two more short irons than you do into those greens, that’s eight more scoring opportunities in the tournament. Odds say I’m going to whip your ass.” . . . “Phil, Bubba, Adam, [Charl] Schwartzel—they have proven that long and crooked can work there.” . . . “Between the 5,000 trees they planted and the second cut, you don’t have the luxury of a bit of leeway off the tee. I know Phil says he doesn’t care where his tee shots go, that he can recover, but believe me, he cares.” . . .

“The way Tiger played it in 1997, bombing it all around, you can’t do that anymore. You might get away with it on a hole or two, but that’s not a strategy that’s going to work for 72 holes. They make you play Augusta the way they want you to play Augusta.” patie nce , patie nce

“T

en times in every round you’re going to have a shot where, if you get too aggressive and miss, you’re going to make a bogey at best. Sergio is impatient. So is Rory. And Bubba. And Dustin. Jason can get too aggressive because he likes to take shots on.

Jordan is the most patient of the elite guys.

As much as he carries on between shots, he knows his limitations. And he’s the best scorer of that bunch. Phil is impatient. So is Patrick Reed. And Louis Oosthuizen—he switches off if things aren’t going well.” . . .

“The biggest thing every player has to get his head around is the Mickey Mouse pin positions. So much of Augusta is unfair. You can hit a shot to eight feet, and you can hit another shot that lands three inches from the first ball, then finishes 60 yards down a hill. If that’s f------ right, I know nothing about golf. It’s dramatic, but it’s not right.

And that sort of stuff gets to players.” . . .

“Experience is everything. I know caddies who have been going there for years and have books on the place. Yet they add to those books every year. Something changes every year, even if it’s just a little thing.” . . .

‘ t her e isn’ t a pin [ja son day] doesn’ t t hink he ca n ge t at, bu t y ou h av e t o h av e t he discipline t o no t go r igh t at some of t hem.’ april 2017 | golf digest india

101

‘[jor d a n spie t h] doesn’ t w or r y so much a bou t t he shor t p u t t s. he ne v er t hink s a bou t t he ne x t pu t t because he a s sumes t his one is going in.’

“A

fade is the shot.

What does everybody do who plays golf for a living? He fights a hook. You can’t play at a high level playing a hook because you end up spending so much time fighting it off. Or holding it off entirely. The ideal shot is a fade. So for a lefty hitting some kind of powerful shot you can control—a fade—on that golf course, it’s definitely a weapon.” . . . “Take the 12th hole. Left-handers can aim at the front bunker, and if they pull the shot, it’ll make the carry. And if they push it, they can make the shorter carry on the left. A right-handed push is wet, and a pull goes too far onto the bank at the back. Other shots are easier, too. They can hit fades off the tee at 13 and 14. They can cut it off the fairway bunker on 2.

They can go for it more off the 15th tee because their draw moves away from the trees on the left.” . . .

“You can play the course with a right-handed fade—Nicklaus proved that. But it’s a massive advantage to move it right to left. Turning over a modern driver is very difficult, which is why Phil and Bubba have such an inherent advantage.” . . . “The left-hander theory is total bullshit.

You have to move it both ways at Augusta. I think Phil likes people to think there’s more to it. That’s totally Phil to gain an edge.” . . . “I wish I were left-handed that week.” . . .

“Was Augusta Tiger-proofed? What they did is, they right-hand-proofed it. I think if I could play it left-handed, even I would have a chance.”

102 golf digest india | april 2017

to u gh d ec is ions

“O

ne of the best things Augusta does is mess with you. And the way they mess with you is they give you options. Pros don’t like options, because then they have to make a decision. At the U.S. Open, when you’re sitting in four inches of rough around the green, you have one option: You take out your sand wedge, open it up and hope it lands soft.

But at Augusta you can bump-and-run it, you can putt it, you can loft it, you can use a hybrid or a 3-wood—that makes you uneasy because you’re praying you don’t pick the wrong option. It puts doubt in your mind.” . . . “Augusta is the greatest setup of any tournament in the world. And that’s without long rough. Short grass is used as a hazard there. People think narrow fairways and a bunch of rough is hard. Driving it, yes. But around the greens, short grass is a hazard, and it’s expertly used that way at the Masters.” . . . “Mowing the fairways toward the tees is just one trick they use at Augusta, but it does more than just slow down the ball. You hit the fairway and think you’re OK, but because of the way they mow it, the ball can nestle down a little bit. It’s tough to always get a clean lie. That adds to the anxiety when you’re trying to get the distance right into the green.”

tees he’ll be sick that week. He’s like Tiger in that respect—there’s always something wrong with him.” . . . “He hasn’t quite learned to play the golf course correctly.

You can’t just play all out, and he seems to do that a bit too much. There isn’t a pin he doesn’t think he can get at, but you have to have the discipline to not go right at some of them because your misses are so magnified there. But he’ll learn, and I think he’ll eventually win.” . . . “The only thing that hurts Jason is that he doesn’t seem to have a half-shot. Everything is full tilt.” . . .

“He just hasn’t put it all together in one week there, and the game is filled with guys who did that, be it Tom Weiskopf or Ernie

a c loser lo ok at the conte nd e rs

jason day

best at au gu sta: t-2 (2011)

“Jason is the No. 1 putter on tour, and he hits it long and high. He’s perfect for Augusta.” . . . “There isn’t a spot on that course where he’s going to be uncomfortable.” . . .

“What he doesn’t need is a windy Masters.

His ball flight is too high when the wind is swirling. Plus, he’s always sick. He wants to win Augusta so bad it pretty much guaran-

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lef t-h ande rs vs. r i ght- h ande rs

“More than patience, it also takes someone who isn’t afraid to lose and who has really big balls—I don’t know any other way to say it. You have to be able to stomach the thought of winning, believe it or not.” . . .

“Each round there are probably nine holes you can make birdie and nine holes you can make par, depending on the pins, and you can’t really alter that equation a whole lot.”

Els. Not saying Jason won’t win. But the longer he waits, the harder it gets.” . . . “He maybe wants it too badly.” . . . “He has great patience. I just wish he would do it faster.

I mean, the guy wears out everyone else’s patience.” ●●●

rickie fowler

best at au gu sta: t-5 (2014)

shot away from him, he looks a little lost.” . . . “He’s starting to put double bogeys back on his card, and I thought he’d gotten over that when he went to Butch. He’s overly aggressive at the wrong times. Bogeys aren’t bad sometimes, but double bogeys—and then you press some more. Bad combo.” ●●●

sergio garcia

best at au gu sta: t-4 (2004)

“Rickie seems to have a textbook game for the Masters. If you can win at Sawgrass, you can move the ball both ways. And he can finish well. So he’s not afraid of the big situation. But his putting is the weak link, like so many of the leading players other than Jordan.” . . . “The problem is his chipping.

He’s a little flippy at the bottom. Hitting to greens that don’t give him much margin for error, that leads to a lot of bogeys if he isn’t holing out from 15 feet all day. At Augusta, you have to be comfortable chipping into the grain, and I just don’t think Rickie is. When you take the little bump-and-run

“The irony is that, ball-striking-wise, Sergio is suited to Augusta more than anyone other than Bubba. Sergio hits it both ways.

He can hit the draw off the tee and the fade into the greens. He plays old-school golf. But he’s talked himself out of winning there. He clearly hates the place. He’s beaten before he gets to the first tee. His putting weakness is a problem, of course.

As Ernie showed, you can be exposed on the first hole of the Masters. [Els six-putted the opening hole in 2016.] The same could happen to Sergio. Three-footers in the Mas-

ters are as stressful as 10-footers on other courses. If you miss, you’re going to be as far away again. And to hole them properly, you have to risk having an eight-footer coming back. Sergio’s worried about the next one, so he doesn’t hit the first one very well.” . . . “He sees it as a tricked-up course, one they would never build today. But he should like it more than he does. The most striking aspect of the course is that the shape asked off the tee is so often the opposite of the approach shot. That should suit Sergio. But he can’t get his head out of his arse.” . . . “His history in the majors only compounds his bad mood when he plays in the Masters. It’s a shame. He has everything, all the shots. And now he’s putting just fine. But his attitude is awful at Augusta. He can’t escape his past there, especially when he’s reminded of some of the things he has said.” [After a third-round 75 at the 2012 Masters, Garcia said, “I’m not good enough . . . I don’t have the thing I need to have. . . . I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to play for second or third place . . .

“ j o r d a n ’ s o n ly w e a k n e s s i s w h a t happened l ast year,” a quadruple-

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b o g e y 7 at t h e 1 2 t h h o l e .

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“the low cut shot doesn’t work at a u g u s ta , b u t t h e h i g h cut can. so someone like dustin johnson can compete there.”

‘i t ’s ob v ious w h at hol ds b ack dus t in johns on: no t hing. i t ’s jus t h a r d t o win m a jor s.’

ch i p p i n g and p i tching

“T

here are a lot of guys who are a bit nervous chipping off short grass. And Augusta exposes that lack of confidence.

I’ve seen guys chipping from everywhere Monday through Wednesday, but come Thursday, they get their putters out.” . . .

“Anyone who has that steep ‘swing left’ action has a problem with the chipping. Graeme McDowell does that. So does Westwood. And Kaymer. That tendency to swing through impact with the hands in front of the club, it’s no good for chipping. The leading edge of the club is exposed to the ground before it gets to the ball. So they’re prone to stick the club in the ground. And when you do that often enough, it’s in your head.” . . . “Bad chippers get found out by the precision required around the greens at Augusta. You get away with nothing.” . . . “Jason Day and Stricker chip with very little hinge motion. That works well from the tight lies you get at Augusta. Maybe that action isn’t the best when a flop shot is called for from a really tight lie, but you can get by.” . . . “You can putt from nearly everywhere. The fairways are cut so close, so you don’t have to chip. Everyone plays ‘Scottish golf’ around the greens. All of which helps the bad chipper. Which is why Lee Westwood has had some success.” . . . “The grass around the greens is actually a little longer than it used to be, so the run-offs are not as long. I suspect that’s to stop guys from putting from just about anywhere. They want you to chip, albeit from lies that are not quite as tight as they used to be.”

in any major.”] . . . “He doesn’t handle adversity well, and yet he’s been a pretty good U.S. Open player. I think he’s just fed up with trying and coming up short.” . . . “I think he’ll win a major, but I don’t think it will be the Masters. Some people turn up and relish the prospect. Others dread it, and Sergio is one of those.”

you’re going to get. Tiger lived on making 10-footers when he had to.” . . . “People don’t give Dustin enough credit for his putting. I think he putts it pretty decently.

He misses some, but his speed is usually not too far off.” . . . “It’s obvious what holds back Dustin Johnson: nothing. It’s just hard to win majors.” ●●●

zach johnson

best at au gu sta: 1 (2007)

“It would take a perfect storm of circumstances for a Zach Johnson to win again.

A three-to-four-club difference into those greens is too much to overcome.”

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●●●

branden grace

smylie kaufman

“Someone like Branden, even though he drives it so well, has little or no chance to win. He simply hits the ball too low, both off the tee and with his irons.” . . . “He shapes his shots left to right. He’s likely to be exposed by that. It’s a massive disadvantage to be up the right side on, say, 10. It’s like a half-shot penalty. The same is true at 13 and 14. Holes where a 20-yard draw gives you a big advantage, he’s going to be found out.

And you can’t see him stopping a long-iron second to the 15th green.”

“He played in the final group last year when the course was a lot harder than when Jordan killed it in 2015. I like his game, but his development is a little behind the curve of the others in his age group. Nothing wrong with that. Just give him more time.”

best at au gu sta: t-18 (2013)

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dustin johnson

best at au gu sta: t-4 (2016)

“It looks like someone told him he doesn’t have all the shots to win at Augusta, and he hasn’t actually realized that he does. The only nitpick I see is, his right hand rides a little high when he’s putting. Under pressure, that can lead to taking the club back closed and having to make a compensation coming through.” . . . “The low cut shot doesn’t work at Augusta, but the high cut can. So someone like Dustin Johnson can compete there. He hits it way high and can hold balls into the slopes if it happens to get hard and fast.” . . .“His biggest problem is his caddie [brother Austin]. At Augusta, you have to really be on your toes.

And he’s not that experienced there. So I do wonder if they have any idea strategically on the ultimate strategic course. He has already gone for way too many flags.” . . . “I’ve seen Rory be really good at putting.

I’ve never seen Dustin be really good at putting. Even when he won at Oakmont.” . . . “He misses so many of those 10-footers that inevitably you’re going to have there, but maybe he overcomes that for one week.

Sometimes, a 10-footer for par is the best

best at au gu sta: t-29 (2016)

●●●

martin kaymer

best at au gu sta: t-31 (2014)

“Basically he won with putting at Pinehurst [2014 U.S. Open], and he’d have to do the same thing in the Masters because his driving isn’t as good as some of the other top players.” . . . “Maybe the worst chipper out there.” ●●●

russell knox

best at au gu sta: cut as rookie (2016)

“He hits it only 285 yards off the tee. That isn’t an advantage at Augusta, but it isn’t the end of the world, either, if only because he hits it so straight. I’m not sure he putts nearly well enough to even contend at Augusta, never mind win. Because the greens there are so fast, the hole is, in effect, smaller. Look at how many times we see crazy lip-outs there. Not good for guys who putt like Russell.”

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matt kuchar

best at au gu sta: t-3 (2012)

“There’s always someone playing better than him. There’s nothing bad about his game, but nothing that makes him particularly well-suited to Augusta, either. It’s hard to imagine him beating everyone on that course.” ●●●

hideki matsuyama

best at au gu sta: 5 (2015)

He carries the weight of a nation, a bit like Adam Scott used to do for Australia. Can he manage the expectations? That’s a hard way to play.” . . . “Matsuyama’s putting stroke is too slow. It lacks pace. He takes it back too far and too slowly. So there’s a built-in deceleration. You can’t hit it well enough at Augusta to make up for bad putting.” ●●●

rory mcilroy

best at au gu sta: 4 (2015)

“I look at this year as sort of a free pass when everyone is going to be talking about Spieth, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Dustin and Jason Day. That said, I would always put Rory in the top 10 even coming off an injury.” . . . “Any injury is serious when you swing a stick and hit a ball. Sometimes those rib injuries tend to linger.” . . . “Rory goes at the ball so hard. I’m not sure the body is meant to be going at shots with that sort of violence.” . . . “When he’s not injured, he always seems to be on the edge of being injured.

Part of the problem is this mania for power in the modern game.” . . . “There’s a link between Rory and Tiger. I’m convinced Tiger’s body broke down because he overdid

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it in the gym. He shortened his career by 10 years—at least. I’ve never seen any of the heavier guys injured. I’m not sure any of the gym rats will have great longevity.” . . . “If he’s fully healed in time, this will be a good thing for him. He won’t have to over-think his preparation or how he’s playing. It takes a little pressure off him with all the talk about the career Grand Slam, etc. Down deep, he knows what he’s playing for, and he’s probably been thinking about it the last few years. But now I think he’ll be more relaxed and could come in with a different mind-set entirely.” . . . “Rory can’t win there because he’s a below-average putter. He has been his whole career, and not too many of them win at Augusta National. He’s been streaky-good at times, but he’s had one good putting week in the past two years. You can talk all you like about Rory winning the Masters, but that depends on him having his best putting week ever.

And it has to happen at Augusta National.

Really?” . . . “You have to putt well every day to win there, and Rory hasn’t done that yet. But he is getting better through his work with Phil Kenyon, who is a brilliant putting coach.” . . . “Rory’s speed control is sometimes dodgy. It isn’t something you can easily learn, either. You can work on mechanics and produce an efficient stroke, but speed control is innate, and Augusta is the ultimate test of that.” . . . “Rory just got away from what he was doing as a kid with his putting technique. He came out as this amazing young player, and he was successful and then he said, ‘You know what? I’m going to start dragging the handle toward the cup with my putting stroke.’

That’s the Stockton thing with the forward press and drag the handle, instead of the release method he was using. Either one works, but not when you’ve been doing one your whole life and then you go to the other. Why did he do that?” . . . “When he gets into trouble he’s tempted to try to get out of it with one swing. You can’t do that in the Masters. The course can make you feel like you can be a hero, but all too often you end up with a big old black eye.” . . . “Whatever happened to him in 2012 [a 77-76 finish], maybe that’s just stuck in his head.” . . . “Rory is an in-and-out chipper, and his clubbing is suspect at times.

How often do you see him and [caddie J.P. Fitzgerald] looking at each other in shock

after his ball has finished 20 yards over the back?” . . . “If you listen to them on the course, you often hear Rory asking, ‘What happened there?’ More than once I’ve heard J.P. saying something like, ‘OK, hit a soft draw with a 6-iron off that tree.’

And I’ve immediately thought, This ball is going over the green. And sure enough, it does. So you have to wonder. I see Rory up close only occasionally, and I know he’s going to hit the ball over the green when his caddie clearly doesn’t. It makes no sense.” . . . “Rory needs someone to tell him what he needs to hear, not what he wants to hear.” . . . “Why he doesn’t employ Billy Foster is a mystery. Rory would have 10 majors by now if he did. Of course, we know what Rory is like. He’s as stubborn as anyone on tour. The more people tell him that J.P. is not the right caddie for him, the more he’ll keep him on.”

gutter credit tk

‘[l ee w es t wood] pl ay s t o his s t r eng t h, w hich is hi t t ing l o t s of gr eens.’

phil mickelson

best at au gu sta: 1 (2004, 2006, 2010)

“Phil’s notes for Augusta are 100 pages thick. He contends because he knows every inch of the golf course. But he also has imagination for the chipping and the putting required around there, and all the notes in the world aren’t going to help you if you can’t handle the tough shots around the greens that everyone has to face eventually.” . . . “Billy Foster caddied for Seve, but he reckons Phil is the better chipper.

That’s good enough for me. And Phil is phenomenal out of bunkers.” . . . “Phil is the ultimate for chipping at Augusta. He’s far and away the most accomplished.” . . .

“Phil has some issues with his body that I’m not sure we fully appreciate—the arthritis thing is still there. On the course,

the ‘hero’ potential is too often too much for him to deal with. He lives for shots like the one he hit from the pine straw at the 13th [in his 2010 Masters win]. But they don’t come off too often. There’s always the potential for disaster with Phil. And at Augusta, that’s a thin line.” . . . “There isn’t a shot he won’t try. There also isn’t a shot he hasn’t seen at Augusta. He hasn’t lost his nerve, either.” ●●●

louis oosthuizen

best at au gu sta: 2 (2012)

“Louis should win every time he tees it up.

He has the best swing out there. But it comes down to how interested he is. He knows what he wants to do when he finishes playing, and he is, in a very quiet way, trying to get there. Golf for him is not everything.

And, yet again, putting is his weakness.

That, and a mind that tends to wander.

Neither of which works too well at Augusta.” ●●●

jon rahm

best at au gu sta: rookie

“Perfect for Augusta. High hooks—the opposite of Bubba’s high slices.” . . . “I haven’t seen him play away from too many pins, and that sort of aggression can get you into trouble, especially on the water holes.” ●●●

patrick reed

best at au gu sta: t-22 (2015)

“His biggest handicap is actually his familiarity with the place [Reed played at Augusta State] and his expectation level.

“ l e e d o e s o k at a u g u s ta because he accepts the c h i p h e h a s t o p l a y.

gutter credit tk

h e n e v e r g e t s t o o f a n c y. ”

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‘ t iger migh t sur pr ise us a l l , bu t i t woul d be t h at: a sur pr ise.’

He knows he should play well because he’s been around there so often. But I think he turns his shots too hard from right to left.

He doesn’t have a controlled draw. So he’s never completely sure where the ball is going to finish.” ●●●

justin rose

best at au gu sta: t-2 (2015)

“Putting is his Achilles’ heel. He hits the ball like a world-beater. With putting, you have to feel it and see it and visualize it. And none of those things come out of a computer. But that’s the [instructor] Sean Foley way.” . . .

“Justin is yet another guy who gets better the farther he is from the hole. He was the other way around as a kid. He’s mentally strong. But majors are such a big deal now, and he’s one who tries too hard. He puts too much importance on them, especially

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smylie kaufman was just a stroke behind leader jordan spieth after 54 holes last year before shooting a final-round 81.

the Masters because of the long build-up, which is why we see some of the top guys have complete nightmares at majors now and then.” . . . “When you first get into majors you treat them pretty much like any event. You pitch up on Monday, play a couple of practice rounds and go for it.

But when you start contending in them and even winning, the tendency is to put too much importance on them. And nowhere is that more true than at Augusta. Guys just make it too big a deal. Justin and Rickie have certainly fallen into that trap. Their expectations are off the charts.” ●●●

adam scott

best at au gu sta: 1 (2013)

“Adam hits the ball as well as anyone, but he doesn’t spin the ball an amazing amount. Rory, Dustin, Jason and Bubba all spin the ball a lot. So Adam’s not a guy who can stop a 5-iron really quickly. That can be important at Augusta, where you can sometimes have shots over 200 yards to incred-

ibly small targets. As for Adam’s putting, he was a good putter for a long time. But now he just seems worn out by having birdie putts roll over the edge so much of the time. And that happens a lot at Augusta.

Plus, his short game isn’t as good as Jason’s or Jordan’s. There isn’t a hole at Augusta that he can’t play well tee to green, but his putting does get exposed. When someone’s weakness is putting, it’s hard to pick out a hole at Augusta where they’re always going to struggle. It could be anywhere.” ●●●

jordan spieth

best at au gu sta: 1 (2015)

“Jordan’s only weakness is what happened last year [the final-round quadruple-bogey 7 after hitting two balls into the water at the 12th hole]. It has to be in his head. Every eye is going to be on him, and he’ll be aware

of that.” . . . “That is such a hard shot. I’ve hit the ball in the water there once in 30 to 40 tournament rounds, and it was tough the time after I did it. It’s especially hard if your miss is to the right under pressure, which is the case for many modern righthanders. There are a lot more blocks than hooks these days.” . . . “Olazabal was the classic example of someone made for Augusta. Rubbish off the tee. Great iron player.

Wonderful putter. That’s Spieth.” . . . “All he has to do is put the ball in play off the tee. From there, he can play that course as well as anyone. Perhaps his only weakness is that his bad shots are really, really bad.

His misses are off the planet. But so were Tiger’s early in his career, and he did OK in the Masters. Besides, Augusta is not a ‘chip-out’ course.” . . . “Jordan gets exposed a little because of his relative lack of length.

He’s prone to stretches where he doesn’t hit many good shots. In every four-day event, he’s likely to have one off-day.” . . .

“Jordan isn’t afraid to take on different shots. He isn’t afraid to hit a bump-and-run if he has to hit that shot. Everyone else just takes out their 60 or 62 and hits a flop shot of some kind and throws it up in the air.” . . . “Spieth is such a great chipper. First time there you can see guys chipping off the first green 20 times. But he never did that.” . . . “Someone like Jordan can walk more freely at Augusta because he doesn’t worry so much about the short putts. He never thinks about the next putt because he assumes this one is going in. The others— even if they’re holing out well—are just more anxious.” . . . “Pure striking doesn’t necessarily get rewarded at Augusta. Hitting the ball less than perfectly puts less spin on shots, and that works better more often than not. Guys who hit solid shots can see their balls spin back off the greens.

And when that happens a few times, their confidence is shot. Spieth doesn’t hit the ball nearly as well as, say, Day or Rory or Henrik.” . . . “If Jordan’s putting is anything other than hot, he has no chance.

And he can’t hoist irons high in the air like Rory can.” . . . “I’ve never seen a better putter than Jordan. As a whole package, he’s amazing. How do you explain how he holes from 25 feet so often? No one else is close. His speed control is incredible.

Virtually every putt is traveling at exactly the right speed, which is huge at Augusta.

That’s a massive weapon.”

to u g h s hots

“O

henrik stenson

best at au gu sta: t-14 (2014)

“Henrik is another guy who will never putt well enough to win the Masters. He’s putted well enough to win one major. So has Adam Scott. And when they win, everyone thinks they’re going to win every major. But they’ve done it only once.” . . .

“Henrik is a great ball-striker, but he needs to hit more drivers to take full advantage of that. He’s a 3-wood guy. He averages about 290 yards off the tee. That is such a waste. You can’t look at him and say, ‘He’s my pick for Augusta.’ I’d put him in the same category with Adam and Justin Rose. They have all putted well enough to win one major.” . . . “The best ball-striker in golf, maybe, but definitely not the best short game. And you’re going to have to chip it and make a bunch of four-, six-, eight-footers. Just not a guy I would pick to win.” . . . “He might ball-strike the place to death and win, but since they changed it, I have yet to see anyone ball-strike Augusta into submission. They just don’t allow it.” . . . “He tends to do better on courses where the greens are not like concrete or super burned out, so he feels free to stroke the ball rather than ‘hope’ the ball. But he can do it anywhere. When he won the Players [in 2009], the greens were almost dead and really fast. So if the greens get so tough that no one is making anything, his chances of success increase. Holding him back, too, is that he clearly doesn’t enjoy the golf course.

Like Sergio, his inherent dislike of the place is a problem.” ●●●

justin thomas

best at au gu sta: t-39 (2016)

“Well, he’s only 23, but there’s a big difference between winning the odd PGA Tour event and winning the Masters. Don’t get me wrong, four wins, and three here pretty recently, a 59 on the board, he’s obviously playing very well.” . . . “Justin seems to have a scoring gear he just sort of discovered.

Or grew into.” . . . “He appears made for the Masters, but we’ve seen a lot of great players who were made for the Masters who didn’t win it. He certainly looks like he has all the tools—length, explosion at the ball (which is incredible), he’s proven he can go

ver the first green might be the worst spot on the course that is not in water or trees. It’s easy to go there when it’s into the wind.

The first 10 yards of the green are basically unusable. The ball just rolls back off the front. So you have a choice sometimes of coming up short or going over the back. That’s hard to deal with mentally on the first hole: The best spot is 25 yards short of the pin? But it is.” . . . “The drive on 2 is tough. So is the sixth hole when the pin is up on the right. Seven is a tough drive. So is the approach to 11.

And the drive at 13. And the pitch to the 15th, from short of the water or over the green. And the drive on 17.” . . . “There are cardinal sins, of course. You can’t be short on 5 when the pin is up in the front. It’s like trying to land a 6-iron on the roof of a car to get close there.” . . .

“The one shot I never want to hit at Augusta is the second shot on 11.

It’s hard because you’ve seen the shot so many times that you’re just petrified to hit it in the water. So you bail out, sometimes way too far—I’ve seen balls on the 12th tee—and that’s not an easy up-and-down for par. Everyone makes it into a par 4½.

They’ve made that hole so long now that it’s the least-exciting hole on the golf course. If guys had 7-or 8-iron in their hands more, it would tempt them to go at some pins, and it would be more exciting. Now, though, it’s so long and uninviting—who’s going to aim at the green? No one. That’s an example of overcompensation for how far the ball goes. So now it’s a boring hole because it’s a superhard hole that no one plays properly.

Everyone takes the risk out, so there’s no drama. Crazy.” . . . “The tee shot at 12 is the hardest shot there. With the wind swirling, the shallowness of the green—there’s no good bailout there.

The way the hole sits, it sets up for a fade, and your eye says it sets up for a fade, but you saw what happened to Jordan Spieth.” . . . “The 12th can be the easiest hole on the course, but it can be a beast. And it’s harder with the modern ball. The ‘Pinnacles’ they play with can take off through the wind and one-hop into the garbage at the back.” . . . “The most dramatic hole is 12, followed by 13, and they’re two of the shortest holes on the course. So what does that say?”

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‘[da nn y wil l e t t] h a s no t hing t o pr o v e now t h at he’s won t he m a s t er s, bu t he needs t o hi t t he ba l l higher if he wa n t s t o con t end in a l l condi t ions.’

low, and he obviously has a good head on his shoulders. Augusta is just a different animal, though. Does he have the touch to manage the short shots? That will be important. But with his length he can make up for that with great approaches. You can set yourself up to score with ball-striking.”

he can use his ability to the fullest and do something to set himself up to score.” . . .

“Bubba’s short game is really good, but sometimes he can get a lie that he can’t maneuver because he tends to be steep on chip shots, and if it’s too tight he might stick it.” . . . “Which player has the most/ least patience at Augusta? The answer to both is Bubba Watson. Seriously.” . . .

“Bubba’s problem is not knowing which Bubba will show up. If he gets going early, he’s fine. But if he has to grind to find something, he throws in the towel, which is odd.”

jimmy walker

lee westwood

“Jimmy Walker’s obvious weakness is that when he gets a little loose, the ball goes left.

But now that he’s won a major, there’s no reason why he can’t contend at Augusta.

He hits it plenty high.” . . . “When I think of some ugly short games, Jimmy Walker comes to mind. He doesn’t appear comfortable chipping anywhere he plays.”

“Lee does OK at Augusta because he accepts the chip he has to play. He never gets too fancy. He plays to his strength, which is hitting lots of greens. And if he does that, he doesn’t have to chip very often, maybe three times a day. Besides, he’s better than he used to be. I’d say he’s just below average now.”

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●●●

bubba watson

danny willett

“Bubba is such an unconventional player that he turns out being the perfect guy for Augusta National. First, of course, is that he pounds it, and he can be as long as he chooses to be. But then the way he moves it around and curves the ball, does all those little shots, it’s just the best playground for his imagination.” . . . “He doesn’t get bored there. He loves the course—and we all know how much that means to Bubba.” . . . “His preferred shot is perfect for Augusta, apart from the tee shots at the first and 18; 7, too—the holes where he has to hit a straight one off the tee.” . . . “He has the most magical short game in golf. He has the most touch, the most imagination. And he likes the challenge of that. Being creative is his game.” . . .

“There’s no shot Bubba can’t hit, but he has to hit the appropriate shot at the time.

But he can afford to be patient, because if it’s not this shot, then it’s the next, when

“He has nothing to prove now that he’s won the Masters, but he needs to hit the ball higher if he wants to contend in all conditions. Nothing seems to bother him, though. So you never know. He played great [winning in 2016]. And then when his whole world changed as he stood on the 16th tee, he never batted an eye. That was impressive.” . . . “He seems to have been on a celebration tour since he won at Augusta.”

best at au gu sta: 1 (2012, 2014)

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best at au gu sta: 2 (2010), t-2 (2016)

best at au gu sta: 1 (2016)

tiger woods

best at augusta: 1 (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005)

“We all watched him when he played in Dubai. It was sad to see. He didn’t hit one shot like he used to. And the man could hardly walk. Then he comes in and says he wasn’t in any pain. It really is getting harder and harder to believe anything Tiger says about anything. You even wonder if

gutter credit tk

best at au gu sta: t-8 (2014)

he ever had back spasms on the second day. There was a lot of suspicion that he took one look at the strong wind, thought, I can’t break 85 in that, and opted out.

Long before we even teed off for the second round, my caddie was taking bets that Tiger would pull out—because of the weather.” . . . “If you’re shooting 77 in almost perfect conditions [in Dubai], I find it hard to believe he wasn’t scared to play on the second day.” . . . “You can’t play golf worried about your back. He’s also fighting the embarrassment of being so bad right in front of his fellow players.” . . . “As for the Masters, he has no chance to play well—if he plays at all. That course is too hard and too long for him in his present state.” . . . “I can’t say that I

like anything about Tiger’s golf swing. He needs to be looser in his left foot, more old-style, letting the heel come up—that would give him more hip rotation and help him get his left knee behind the ball. He’d also have more power. With his left foot on the ground, there’s too much strain on the spine. He isn’t going to compete anywhere, especially not at Augusta, if he’s short and crooked. It’s OK if he’s not as long as he used to be. A power thrower has to become a pitcher, to use a baseball analogy.

But Tiger looks like he’s not ready to be a pitcher. He still wants to be a thrower, and he can’t be at 41 with back issues.” . . .

“Tiger might surprise us all, but it would be that: a surprise. We all have that expiration

date, and it’s different for everyone.” . . . “He’s been so successful for so long. He’s got a family now. Does he want to put the time in to be ready? And will his body hold up as he tries to get himself ready? When you’ve won a billion dollars, there has to be some questions. Like, I’ve just gone double bogey/bogey; do I really need to grind this thing out? But if he decides that he wants to do that, then I think he can be good.” . . .

“If he wins another major, it would be the Masters. He’s played there so many times, it’s not as demanding as, say, the U.S. Open. He knows those greens and could maybe get his putter going. And if he gets into a good form and good rhythm, he’ll be able to get in the mix,

and from there, who knows?” . . . “If he knows where it’s going, then he could win.” . . . “At one point, it looked like he had seven different golf swings going. He has to tighten up and get back to playing golf like he knows he can. Then, if he putts well, he wins.” . . . “A healthy Tiger is still a player to be reckoned with.” . . . “Throw out all the great young competition and just concentrate on Tiger. What can he bring to the table now? Does he putt well? Does he have the chipping figured out? He can’t dominate with length anymore, so he has to do all the other things really well, and I’m not sure he can do that to the degree it takes to win the Masters.” . . . “You never say never with him.”

“nothing seems to bother him,” o n e o b s e r v e r s ay s o f 2 0 1 6 m a s t e r s

gutter credit tk

w i n n e r d a n n y w i l l e t t.

april 2017 | golf digest india

111

Closeout ant to load up on Masters merchandise?

It used to be you had to attend the tournament or ask a friend with tickets to shop for you. These days, you can find any number of Masters items online—including some that were only for competitors and club members.

W

BALL MARKER $9

▶ Simple. Economical.

Hey, it’s better than a mouse pad (also $9).

COFFEE MUG $40 ▶ Say “Yes, Sir!” to the morning.

GREEN CAP $50

▶ Autographs were rare in the 1930s, and more so on golf balls.

▶ Berckmans Place is a VIP section, with its own VIP merchandise.

MASTERS PIN FLAG $120

▶ This gets far more valuable when signed by winners (see top of next column).

CUFF LINKS $130

▶ They change from year to year. Pictured here: 2015.

1934-STYLE HEADCOVER $130 ▶ Why 1934? That was the year of the first tournament.

1953 LOWAMATEUR TROPHY $16,000 ▶ Frank Stranahan won it the same year he was low am at the British Open.

1934 MASTERS BADGE, FINAL ROUND $32,000 ▶ Paper badges (pre-1961) are the scarcest and most prized among collectors.

ARNOLD PALMER MASTERS TROPHY $444,000 ▶ A private investor sold it at auction in December 2016.

PERFORMANCE GOLF SHIRT $220

▶ A Peter Millar shirt available only to members and Berckmans Place guests.

HORTON SMITH 1936 GREEN JACKET $682,000

1996 MASTERS PLATE $500

▶ The priciest piece of Masters memorabilia—so far—changed hands in 2013.

1947 MASTERS SCRAPBOOK $2,400

pricing info: ebay.com puregolfauctions.com mmogolf.com thegolfauction.com greenjacketauctions .com

▶ Members and players used to get two plates a year as gifts.

▶ A gift from the club to competitors.

Illustration by Doug Chayka

Photos courtesy of mmogolf.com, thegolfauction.com, greenjacketauctions.com

BERCKMANS RED CAP $80

112 golf digest india | april 2017

▶ Woods, Nicklaus, Palmer and Tom Watson in the center make it extra valuable.

HORTON SMITH SIGNED BALL $12,000

▶ This is regulation caddie gear, along with those famous white jumpsuits.

You Must Remember This Pricing Masters mementos

MASTERS FLAG WITH 34 CHAMPIONS’ SIGNATURES $10,500

THE #1 CHOICE WHEN IT MATTERS MOST.

Jordan Spieth

Henrik Stenson

Adam Scott

Rickie Fowler

Jimmy Walker

Justin Thomas

Charl Schwartzel

Louis Oosthuizen

Rafa Cabrera Bello

Matthew Fitzpatrick

Zach Johnson

Scott Piercy

NEW TITLEIST PRO V1® AND PRO V1x™ THE #1 BALL AT THE MASTERS®.

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©2017 Acushnet Company. Source: Darrell Survey. MASTERS® is a registered trademark owned by Augusta National, Inc. and is being used with permission.

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